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The word “champion” is being kicked around and abused by college basketball. As I see it, a champion stands tall, becoming the envy of all others. Their names are recorded in history, ensuring timeless memories. They are the jewel of a crown, receiving the greatest reward for their achievement.   But a “regular season champion” in college hoops holds little significance, if having any at all. You receive a title, a trophy, and that’s it. If I’m ranking honors, that champion would fall below others, including the fast-food employee of the month. At least the guy working the register or flipping the patties earns at least 30 days of bragging rights. The opportunity to smirk and flaunt is short-lived on the hardwood floor, because you can go from “champ” to “chump” in a matter of one week.

Before you start pulling up the Webster’s definition of champion,  you really need to hear me out, because this is actually going somewhere. Outside of the Ivy League, which has no conference tournament, how much importance does the regular season basketball champion hold? Here’s the quick answer…ZILCH!

The Ivy league has the only regular season champion that receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.   All other champs must be selected for the field of 65, and some won’t be invited. It’s the “conference tournament champion” that has the automatic nod, which would make that the greater accomplishment, as it reaps greater rewards. Am I wrong?

As witnessed each year in the power divisions, you can be anywhere from 2 to 7 in your league, and still play in the NCAA tournament. Look at the Big East, and let’s say UConn defeats Pitt this weekend. The Huskies will be crowned regular season champs. One week later, if the Panthers work their way through the Big East tournament, defeating those same Huskies on the way to the tournament title, they would actually earn a higher tournament seed than the majority of “regular season” champs (possibly all), including the champion of their division. Regular season champs represent the lesser portion of the tournament’s 65 teams. So, again I ask, what’s the significance?

It’s even worse, when looking at the lower levels. Weber State is the Big Sky regular season champion. All it takes is one loss in their conference tournament and the season is over. The guys not winning the regular season earn the greater reward, with an automatic ticket to the big dance. It’s unlikely that Weber would be voted in as an at-large, so wouldn’t that diminish their season accomplishment? Doesn’t that call for a post-it-note attached to their trophy, reading “FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR WHAT MATTERS MOST”?

The college basketball season is often described as a boring movie with a great ending. Regular season trophies contribute to that dull plot. There’s little interest in anything achieved in early months, because it’s what you do in March that counts most. If you’re a season champion still battling for tournament birth and top seeding,  you’re obviously not  at the top of any totem pole, as the label and festivities would imply you to be. The season goal is to earn a spot in the playoffs, where you can then vie for a national championship. That regular season trophy, in all its shine and glory, has little or no factor in attaining that.

So, someone tell me, please, why does college basketball crown a regular season champion?