Maybe it would still do well, but I would personally have no interest in the tourney without the Cinderella stories. None.
Agreed.
Same. Hence my argument for deserving 25, 26, 27 win mid-major's every year, and against the 17-15 (8-10) major conference teams every year. Reward at-large to a great season with 25+ wins, not a great schedule without wins.
There's a reason the excitement in the arena's is biggest on the first Thursday and Friday, and it's not because Duke or Kentucky were winning by 25 over a 16 seed. Hopefully the powers that be realize this and never screw with it. The moment it becomes the power conference NCAA Tournament it becomes less interesting to much of the country that watches it.