Fewer upsets threaten excitement in college basketball

March Madness is facing criticism for having fewer upsets this year. ESPN host Stephen A. Smith expressed his concerns on the show "First Take." He said that if this trend continues, it could harm college basketball's popularity. Smith noted that this year's NCAA Tournament has not seen the unexpected surprises that usually make it exciting. He pointed out that many games are not close, and most teams advancing are favorites from larger conferences. This might lessen the thrill for casual fans who enjoy seeing underdog teams succeed. He linked the lack of upsets to new developments like name, image, and likeness rights (NIL) and the transfer portal. Smith believes these changes have made it harder for smaller schools to compete effectively. While he acknowledges that dedicated fans will keep watching, he stressed that March Madness is special because of its surprises. Despite Smith's grave concerns, viewership for the tournament has been strong. Broadcasting networks CBS and TNT reported that this year's NCAA Tournament has the highest ratings since 1993, averaging 9.4 million viewers through the second round. This suggests that college basketball remains popular, even if the expected "madness" is lacking.