#LopesWaiver – Why the NCAA should let the Lopes Play!

#LopesWaiver — A repost of the case for the Lopes being eligible for the NCAA Tournament

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Two years ago, the Grand Canyon Antelopes began their transition up to the Division I level.  Under NCAA rules, a team must undergo four transitional years before they can become a full-fledged member of D1.  In terms of men’s basketball, this means that a team is ineligible during those four seasons to compete in the NCAA Tournament (or the NIT Tournament for that matter).  Thus, during these four transitional years, a team’s only chance for postseason play must come from one of the other tournaments (CBI, CIT or the new Vegas 16).  The GCU Lopes have done exactly that, qualifying for the CIT in each of their first two seasons.  This year, they were our preseason selection to win the WAC regular season championship — but because they are still in transition, a return to the CIT (which is a tournament that we do have a ton of affection for here at HOOPS HD) is their cap again.  Unless, of course, we can get the rules changed.  That is what #LopesWaiver is all about.

The rules, as they are set right now, say the GCU cannot be in the NCAA or NIT this year or next, even if they win the WAC regular season title.  The WAC has determined that because GCU is ineligible, they will not be permitted to play in the WAC Tournament (though notably the NCAA does allow conferences to have ineligible teams play in conference tournaments and set rules for who receives the automatic bid if the ineligible teams wins).  We here at HOOPS HD find this rule fundamentally unfair.  A team that wins its league title should be given a shot at the automatic bid (and if they fall in the conference tournament, should get the automatic NIT bid).  Therefore, the Rule change is simple:

“Transitional teams that play a full Division I schedule, while ineligible for at-large consideration, will be allowed to participate in the NCAA or NIT Tournament if they automatically qualify for same as their conference’s representative.”

Let’s be clear, we are not asking for a special rule for Grand Canyon alone.  Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word, Mass-Lowell and Northern Kentucky are all transitional teams this year and should be given the same opportunity.  During a team’s first year of the four year transition, it is not required to play a full Division I schedule.  If it doesn’t, then it should clearly not be eligible for the national championship tournament.  However, if a team plays a full schedule against D1 competition and proves that it is the best team in its conference (as determined by the conference rules in giving out its automatic bid), they should be given a chance!

The NCAA has set forth its core values.  This is the list:

“The Association – through its member institutions, conferences and national office staff – shares a belief in and commitment to:

• The collegiate model of athletics in which students participate as an avocation, balancing their academic, social and athletics experiences.
• The highest levels of integrity and sportsmanship.
• The pursuit of excellence in both academics and athletics.
• The supporting role that intercollegiate athletics plays in the higher education mission and in enhancing the sense of community and strengthening the identity of member institutions.
• An inclusive culture that fosters equitable participation for student-athletes and career opportunities for coaches and administrators from diverse backgrounds.
• Respect for institutional autonomy and philosophical differences.
• Presidential leadership of intercollegiate athletics at the campus, conference and national levels.”

[Source: http://www.ncaa.org/about/ncaa-core-values]

The NCAA believes in participation and the highest levels of sportmanship.  It believes in excellence in athletics.  And it believes in an inclusive culture that fosters equitable participation.  How is telling a group of student athletes that has competed and won at the highest levels of its conference that they are not allowed to be one of 68 teams with a chance to compete for the national championship supporting these values?  How is it sportsmanlike?  How does it promote excellence?  How is it inclusive and equitable??????  If you want the answer to that, just ask former Nebraska-Omaha track star Sami Spenner.  You can read her story here.

LET THE LOPES PLAY!  Tweet @ncaa! Call them!  Write them! The Rules are unfair to a great group of kids that have a legitimate chance this season to play well enough to earn what may be a potentially once-in-a-lifetime dream trip to the Big Dance, but because the NCAA is not promoting participation, sportsmanship, excellence and inclusive/equitable rules, the only way that Coach Majerele’s squad will be at a Tournament game is if they buy tickets.  This is not fair!

#LopesWaiver

Let the Lopes Dance!!!!