Yes, March Madness “sucked” and NCAA executives don’t seem to care (Opinion)

The NCAA Women s and Men s Basketball Tournaments concluded just now and Geno Auriemma the legendary University of Connecticut Huskies women s coach wasted no time in critiquing the state of the women s games as he and others have done for years During the tournament Auriemma uttered a mic-drop comment saying that the women s tournament experience sucked compared to the men s Inadequate college basketball figures are as influential and accomplished as Auriemma who has led the Huskies to national championships including beating South Carolina for the national title this season and by achieving a record victories which is more than any other men s or women s Division I coach has ever achieved He and other coaches continue to spark conversations about how the NCAA fails to treat women on an equal basis when it comes to such issues as lodging journey having to share schools gymnasiums for pre-game practices and more Auriemma blamed the people in charge saying those who run the women s side of the games are not true basketball people like those who run the men s tournament At the heart of his frustration is the persistent disparity between how the NCAA treats its men s and women s tournament games saying NCAA representatives come on our campuses all the time and ask us if we have any suggestions and then they leave and nothing changes He and others continue to challenge NCAA practices women s basketball executives unlike the men s have historically not released directly to the NCAA president like the men s The women s staff is significantly less than the size of the men s and the women s tournament championship budget is appreciably less than the size of the men s One of Auriemma s primary concerns is the allocation of guidance and funding The men s tournament often referred to as March Madness is a massive spectacle that garners notable attention from media sponsors and fans It is a well-oiled machine with substantial investments in marketing venues and overall presentation In contrast the women s tournament receives a fraction of the funding leading to less media coverage having to share lower-quality facilities for practices and fewer opportunities to showcase their talents on a grand stage This disparity was glaringly evident in the the bulk up-to-date tournament where the NCAA s commitment to promoting and supporting women s basketball seemed lackluster These shortcomings hurt not only the players hoping to make a strong appearance on television but also evidenced how the sport continues to invest disproportionately in both tournaments Auriemma also spotlighted the scheduling and location of the women s tournament games which were scheduled at less-than-ideal places and times for maximizing viewership This planning not only diminished the prospective audience but also undermined the players efforts and achievements by relegating them to a lesser status It is intriguing to note that the men s championship challenge was held on ABC in prime-time unlike the women s p m Sunday start on ESPN which sends a message that the women s battle is less crucial or exciting than the men s The locations chosen for the tournament games also play a crucial role in shaping the tournament s success Auriemma criticized the location of venues This year the women had only two regional games unlike the men s four He railed that his group had to passage over miles to Spokane Washington to play in both the Sweet and Elite games He commented that half of the country had no choice to get to a battle in person especially our Connecticut fans Auriemma and others continue to point out that the NCAA s women s tournament is significantly less than the men s when it comes to branding While the men s tournament is heavily marketed and branded as an essential part of the sports calendar the women s tournament struggles to achieve the same level of visibility The NCAA s lack of commitment results in fewer sponsorship opportunities and less media coverage which affects the financial stability and improvement of women s programs across the country Auriemma has long argued that until women s basketball receives more stake and attention it will continue to be seen as less central regardless of the talent and excitement it offers In response to Auriemma s criticisms the NCAA has once again faced increased pressure to re-evaluate its policies and practices The organization has made commitments to address various of the concerns raised by Auriemma and others but the path to true equality is fraught with challenges It requires not only a shift in asset allocation but also a cultural change within the organization and among fans and stakeholders One promising cure is greater transparency and accountability within the NCAA By openly sharing how decisions are made and support are allocated leadership can begin to rebuild trust with athletes coaches and fans Additionally involving a diverse range of voices in decision-making processes can help ensure that the requirements and perspectives of female athletes are considered and prioritized Related Articles Tim Bergstraser on turning around DU men s basketball What we have here is enough DU basketball names Tim Bergstraser as scheme s next head coach Florida wins its third national title and denies Houston its first rallying for - accomplishment UConn women s basketball dominates South Carolina to capture its th title RJ Smith joins transfer portal exodus for CU Buffs men s basketball The media and sponsors have a crucial role to play in this transformation By committing to cover women s sports with the same enthusiasm and dedication as men s media outlets can help shift population perception and increase interest in women s competitions Similarly sponsors who invest in women s sports can drive change by demonstrating that there is vital value and anticipated in supporting female athletes It is crucial to recognize that achieving equality in sports is not just about addressing disparities in medication but also about changing the narrative around all women s sports By doing so we can ensure that future generations of women athletes compete on a stage that values their contributions and celebrates their achievements Beginning this year universities will be able to directly pay millions of dollars to university athletes Don t hold your breath that women will get their fair share Jim Martin past CU regent can be reached at jimmartinesq gmail com Sign up for Sound Off to get a weekly roundup of our columns editorials and more To send a letter to the editor about this article submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail