USBWA PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR AWARD

TELEVISION

A representative of a cable entity, television station or network that has not purchased rights to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship shall not air live game action or description of any game while it is in progress.

USE OF FOOTAGE BY TELEVISION ENTITIES

1. Videotaped, filmed or audio excerpts of a National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) game of the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship (“Highlights”) may be used for news purposes only in regularly scheduled news programs up to 72 hours after they become available for news use under the following guidelines. A “news broadcast” shall be a regularly scheduled program devoted exclusively to general news and/or sports news. Sports entertainment programs do not qualify under this provision.

2. An approved telecaster may use a maximum of three minutes of footage on a sports news broadcast. Television entities may not air highlights until the CBS “window” for that competition has been completed.
3. A station/network may not broadcast live reports and/or live programming from the site of the tournament competition (e.g., arena proper, hallways, interview, working-media areas or locker rooms) on practice or game days.
4. Highlights may not be sold, traded, loaned or given away to any other entity and may not be used commercially for on-air promotion or in any other manner not specifically set forth in these policies without prior written permission from the NCAA. By way of illustration, but not limitation, without a specific separate license from the NCAA, championship game footage may not be used (i) in pregame shows, (ii) in weekly sports highlights shows, (iii) in commercials, (iv) in a “sponsored segment” of a program, (v) in “on-air” promotions (e.g., “tune-in” promotion or “tease”), (vi) as “file footage” or (vii) for any other use (e.g., archival) not specifically permitted by these policies.
5. Telecasters may broadcast live feeds of news conferences taken from the video and audio distribution facilities provided by the NCAA.
6. No television entity—broadcast or cable—may incorporate, superimpose, or “burn in” into any tournament highlights a logo, trademark, advertisement, scoreboard or other graphic without prior written permission from the NCAA.
7. Highlights from NCAA tournament game telecasts may only be used by a telecaster if such telecaster is party to a reciprocal agreement with CBS Sports for highlight usage.
8. In consideration for access to video and/or record audio excerpts of a tournament game, the television entity agrees, upon the request of the NCAA, to supply the NCAA with a videotape or audio recording (as may be the case) of any program incorporating highlights and hereby consents to the use of excerpts from such a program by the NCAA.
9. NCAA and CBS Sports shall have the authority to withdraw permission for the use of highlights by appropriate notice at any time and for any reason.
10. Under no circumstances may any highlights be broadcast or otherwise distributed on the Internet or via any other online service or computer service without the prior written consent of NCAA and CBS Sports.
11. Neither these policies nor the rights granted herein may be assigned or otherwise transferred in any manner without the prior written consent of the NCAA.
12. Use of highlights constitutes acceptance of these policies in the form of a licensing agreement between the telecaster and the NCAA.

MINI-CAMERA POLICIES

1. CBS is the only television entity that may transmit live from inside the arena from open-practice day until the day after competition ends at that site.

2. 
   Only CBS Sports and NCAA Productions are authorized to use mini-camera equipment in the arena during tournament competition. CBS Sports and NCAA Productions have no time restrictions except when the arena is closed for team practice or other activities approved by the basketball committee.
   

3. If a non-originating television station, network or local cable origination channel desires to receive videotape and audio of tournament games, international sound, crowd/team “color” activities and all formal news conferences, it must take a feed from the video and audio distribution facilities provided by the NCAA at the arena. Any videotape or audio highlight excerpts received from the distribution facilities that are aired by a telecaster shall include an on-air “Courtesy CBS Sports.”

a. Camerapersons representing these telecasters are not permitted to photograph game action or formal news conferences and will not have courtside access except as noted below.

(1) Non-originating telecasters have access to the arena floor until 75 minutes before the first game in each session. During this time, mini-cam operators may work from the end zones only.

(2) Access for the second session at a first-round site begins when CBS Sports discontinues its first-session coverage from the site and continues until 75 minutes before tip-off of the first game of the next session. (NOTE: The floor may not be available, depending upon the time between sessions.)

(3) From that point on, the floor (and all other areas from which the playing floor may be seen) shall remain off limits to all television or cable cinematographers until CBS Sports has discontinued its coverage of the session.

(4) Camerapersons shall not return to the arena floor between games of a session.

b. The media coordinator shall identify an area off the court for all television and cable representatives to wait until CBS has discontinued its coverage from the site. They then will be escorted to the court when it is available; they may videotape from anywhere on the court-side apron or behind the last row of the courtside media area.

c. Video equipment is limited to the dressing rooms, interview room or work room during the restricted-access times.

d. On “open” practice day, these representatives may videotape from the end zones or behind the last row of media seating or from the public seating area.

e. Locker rooms are open for postgame coverage.
4. Editing in the video distribution area is permitted any time the work room is open to the media.

STROBE LIGHTS

The Division I Men’s Basketball Committee has determined that a maximum of three sets of strobe lights may be installed at an arena for media agencies requiring immediate news coverage. The placement of the units must be approved by the NCAA.

The purpose of this policy is to provide high-quality still photographic coverage for media agencies in deadline situations without seriously affecting the quality of the network telecasts of the games.
1. For strobe use, the following priorities have been adopted by the committee:
a. Sports Illustrated.
b. The Associated Press, Reuters and USA Today. These agencies shall pool one set of strobe lights unless Priority “A” or “C” is not enacted.
c. A single pool unit for all other media agencies may be installed upon the approval of the NCAA.
d. Porter Binks of Sports Illustrated (212/522-3325)—or an individual designated by the NCAA— will coordinate the installation of strobe units at each site and identify those photographers who will use the strobes. A fee may be assessed by the strobe coordinator to cover installation, power, arena fees and equipment costs on a shared basis among the users.
e. Should Sports Illustrated, the Associated Press, Reuters or USA Today elect not to install strobe units, the unused priority may be transferred to another agency, provided the policies in No. 2 below are observed.
f. No single agency may install more than one set of strobes at a site, regardless of the number of units that will be used.
2. The following procedures govern the placement of the strobe units:
a. Representatives of each media agency installing a unit shall meet with the media coordinator and CBS producer assigned to the site at 4:30 p.m. local time on the open practice day to test the placement of the strobes and determine if the strobes potentially have a negative impact on the telecast. The basketball committee representative has the final authority to determine if adjustments in the placement or angle of the units must be altered.
b. Strobes only may be used if approved by the basketball committee representative after the foregoing test.
c. All hanging or installed strobes must be placed as close to the playing court as possible, depending upon the physical structure of the arena, near the corners of the playing court, but not behind the baskets. If the physical structure of an arena prevents a media agency from meeting these specifications, the agency may petition the basketball committee for an exception.
d. No hand-carried strobe lights may be used during the game. They may be used during awards ceremonies and postgame celebrations.
e. No strobes may be directed toward a television lens.
f. The approved strobe-light setup shall consist of three sets of four heads each, installed in the catwalks at the four corners of the arena. The placement should be as close to directly over the corners of the court as possible. If, because of the configuration of the arena and the catwalks, an adjustment of the placement is necessary, a variation must be approved by the basketball committee.
g. The strobe lights for a conventional (non-dome) arena must not exceed 2,400 watt-seconds for each power pack, and the flash duration should be less than 1/1000-second. A typical approved installation would consist of four power packs with four-tube heads on each pack. In the instance of buildings with unusually high ceilings or domes, additional power units and strobe heads may be used, as long as they are producing an equivalent light on the court and the flash duration meets the criteria.
h. Strobe use is intended for coverage of game action by media involved in news coverage of the championship. Strobe use is not permitted by photographers who have been assigned feature profiles for current or future publications such as books or preview magazines, (e.g., photographs of a individual players, coaches or fans.)

Print Photo Policies

1. A photographer approved to work on the floor level shall secure from the media coordinator or representative an armband before the first game in each session. All other photographers are restricted to the upper photography areas.

 2. Individuals assigned by the media coordinator to assist photographers on the floor and upper photography levels will provide armbands, copies of photo policies, photographers programs and/or speed cards. Photographers should claim play-by-play and statistics in the statistical control center.

 3. Photographers working the floor level are restricted to the “photographers’ box” at each end of the playing court except as noted below.

 4. The media coordinator will assign reserved spaces for each floor photographer in the “photographers’ box.”

 5. At no time may photographers work from directly behind the official table and team benches.

 6. Photographers may work from the following areas:

Practice Day: End zones or from behind Row No. 2 of the courtside media area.

Game Day From the Beginning of Pregame Warm-ups Until End of Game: End zones only.

Between Games of a Session: End zones or along the sideline opposite the team benches, to shoot the postgame celebration. When the celebration ends, the photographers must return to their end zone positions.

After the Last Game of a Session: Anywhere on the courtside apron or behind Row No. 2, of the courtside media area to shoot the postgame celebration or the awards ceremony.

 7. A photographer assigned to the second photo row may sit on an elevation not more than six inches high.

8. Couriers. Couriers and technicians shall not photograph game action. Mike Feldman, Associated Press, New York, will coordinate the assignment of couriers for AP and most newspapers. Reuters will coordinate the assignment of its couriers. No individual agency may receive a photo courier credential.

 9. Only couriers have “in-and-out” access to the arena and these individuals are required to display a credential and an armband. They shall not loiter around the playing court or obstruct the view of any ticket patron.

10. No photography equipment (i.e., cameras, strobes) shall be attached to the backboard or goal standards.

11. The media coordinator may approve “special need” requests to place photography equipment in upper arena areas or under the first row of press tables opposite the official table. Cameras may not protrude more than four inches from under the draping. The media coordinator should consult with Jim Marchiony before authorizing an unmanned camera at any courtside position.

12. Cameras shall not be installed over the playing court without special permission from the media coordinator. If permission is granted, the camera shall be double-secured and in position 24 hours prior to the start of the first game. Requests for such placement shall be made to the media coordinator prior to March 1.

13. See Appendix 12-D for information regarding strobe lights.

14. No tripod may be placed on or beside the playing floor.

15. A still photographer shall not utilize a flash attachment to the camera or any other courtside location.

16. Photographers will not be admitted to any potential working position over the playing court from 60 minutes prior to the first game of a session until 30 minutes after the second game.

17. 
    Newspapers covering a particular team are not guaranteed a floor location when that team is not playing.
    

RADIO POLICIES

1. Any station/network may report on events of the championship at any time (other than on a live basis from courtside) for broadcast within the framework of general and sports newscasts.

2. Only a radio station/network that has purchased rights from the NCAA may air a live description of any competition.

3. Only a station/network that has purchased rights from the NCAA may have a telephone installed at a courtside location. Any other station/network may install a telephone in the work room at the arena.

Only a station/network that has purchased rights to a game from the NCAA may originate live programming, which may include a “call-in” show from the arena or the work room beginning on practice day and continuing through midnight the last day of competition at the sites. No other station/network may originate such a program from the arena.

Non-rightsholding radio entities, e.g. ESPN Radio, Sporting News Radio, may broadcast live reports from inside the arena under the following conditions.

1. 
   Such reports may not be done in the “bowl” of the arena; instead, they must be done from a position not within sight of the court, e.g., the area in the media workroom set aside for radio entities.
   
2. 
   Such reports are limited to two per half, each not more than one minute in length.
   

6. No media entity may interview a coach or student athlete via telephone after a game until after their postgame obligations to the media at the site have been met.

7. Only the NCAA Radio Network banner may be displayed at the arena. No other station/network banner may be displayed. (See Section 6.7.9.)

8. A station/network desiring to broadcast any game or session of the tournament must make application to Host Communications, Inc., 546 East Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508 (859/226-4380).

CONFERENCES ELIGIBLE

FOR AUTOMATIC QUALIFICATION
Thirty-one Division I conferences are eligible for the automatic-qualifying positions in the championship.
East Region — America East Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference, Big East Conference, Colonial Athletic Association, Ivy Group, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Northeast Conference, Patriot League.
Midwest Region — Big Ten Conference, Conference USA, Horizon League, Mid-American Conference, Mid-Continent Conference, Missouri Valley Conference.
South Region — Atlantic Sun Conference, Big South Conference, Big 12 Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Southeastern Conference, Southern Conference, Southland Conference, Southwestern Athletic Conference, Sun Belt Conference.
West Region — Big Sky Conference, Big West Conference, Mountain West Conference, Pacific-10 Conference, West Coast Conference, Western Athletic Conference.

BRACKET HISTORY AND CURRENT FORMAT

The tournament began in 1939 with an eight-team format and continued that way for 12 years. The bracket was expanded to 16 teams for two seasons, 1951 and 1952, and then fluctuated between 22 and 25 teams between 1953 and 1974. There were 22 teams in the tournament in 1953 and 1966; 23 in 1957, 1959, 1965, 1967 and 1968; 24 in 1954, 1955, 1958 and 1961; and 25 teams in 1956, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1969 through 1974.

A 32-team bracket was adopted in 1975 and was enlarged to 40 in 1979 and 48 in 1980. In 1983, 52 teams competed and one more team was added the following year. A 64-team format began in 1985. In 1991 a play-in round was used because 33 conferences, rather than the customary 30, were eligible for automatic bids.
In 2000, the NCAA Championships/Competition Cabinet determined that, beginning with the 2001 championship, an opening-round game(s) would be played whenever more than 30 conferences qualified for automatic qualification. Unlike the “play-in” games of 1991, the teams that compete in opening-round games are considered part of the tournament field. The NCAA pays the teams’ expenses, and the institution whose team loses an opening-round game will be awarded a financial “share” equal to that received by teams losing in the first round. The committee will determine the participants of opening-round games on selection weekend, based on results of that season’s games. The winner of an opening-round game will play a No. 1 seed in the first round.
The placement of seeds appears in the same order in each of the four regions. The No. 1 seed will play No. 16, No. 8 vs. No. 9, No. 5 plays No. 12 and No. 4 meets No. 13 in the top half of each bracket. The lower half of the bracket includes No. 6 against No. 11, No. 3 vs. No. 14, No. 7 facing No. 10 and No. 2 plays No. 15.
The following winners play in the second round: No. 1-No. 16 vs. No. 8-No. 9, No. 5-No. 12 vs. No. 4-No. 13, No. 6-No. 11 vs. No. 3-No. 14 and No. 7-No. 10 vs. No. 2-No. 15.
The 16 second-round winners qualify for regional competition. The eight winners advance to the finals in each region, and the four champions compete in the Final Four.

# # #

NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES
FOR
ESTABLISHING THE BRACKET

There are three steps in the bracketing process:
I. Select the at-large teams (a minimum of 34 teams);
II. Seed the teams; and
III. Place the teams into the championship bracket.

General Principles for Selection, Seeding and Bracketing

The basketball committee will use the following principles when implementing the procedures for each step:
1. At no point in the process shall a member vote for a team the individual represents as an athletics director or com­missioner.
2. A member shall not be present in the meeting room during committee discussion regarding the se­lection or seeding of a team the individual represents as an athletics director. Nor may a director an­swer questions about the team the individual represents, except for factual questions (e.g., dates of injuries, status of injured players.)
3. A commissioner is permitted to answer general questions about teams in the conference the individ­ual represents; however, this committee member must leave the room during any discussion re­garding the selection or seeding of teams the individual represents.
4. An athletics director is permitted to discuss other teams in the individual’s conference only when asked.
5. When 24 or fewer teams remain in a pool of teams under consideration, a member may not partici­pate in “list X teams” votes if a team he or she represents as a commissioner or director is included. A di­rector or commissioner may not participate in "cross-country" votes that involve a team the individ­ual represents.
6. When 20 or more teams are under consideration in “list X teams” ballots, each member shall list eight.

When 14 to 19 teams are under consideration, each member shall list six.

When 13 or fewer teams are under consideration, each member shall list four.
7. At any time during the process of selecting the at-large teams, the committee may elect to begin seeding the teams. This will permit the committee to move ahead and still consider the results of games played during selection weekend.
8. At any time during the process, the chair may designate a “quiet period”, generally 15 minutes in length, to permit members to individually reflect on the way they will vote. These periods may be (a) before finalizing the vote on teams eligible for the last remaining at-large positions; (b) before the start of the seeding process, and (c) before the start of the bracketing process.
9. All votes will be by secret ballot.
10. At any time during the process, the chair may request a "nitty-gritty" report, which compares teams that are under consideration.
11. The elements of the "nitty-gritty" report are:
* Division I record;

* Overall RPI;

* Non-conference record;

* Non-conference RPI;

* Conference record;

* Conference RPI;

* Road record;

* Record in last 10 games;

* Record against teams ranked 1-50 by RPI;

* Record against teams ranked 51-100 by RPI;

* Record against teams ranked 101-200 by RPI;

* Record against teams ranked below 200 by RPI;

* Record against other teams that are under consideration (i.e., “board teams”).

I. Principles for Selecting At-Large Teams
1. The committee shall select the best available teams to fill the at-large berths, regardless of confer­ence affiliation.
2. There is no limit on the number of teams the committee may select from one confer­ence.

Procedures for Selecting At-Large Teams
First and Second Ballots
1. On the Monday preceding the March meeting, the staff will forward to each committee member indi­vidual information sheets on all teams ranked 1-105 by the RPI and two ballots listing those teams. The information will be listed alphabetically by team.
2. Each committee member will submit the two ballots Thursday evening of selection weekend.
a. On Ballot No. 1, each committee member shall identify not more than 34 teams that should be at-large selections into the tournament based upon their successful play to date, even if they could eventually rep­resent conferences as automatic qualifiers.
b. On Ballot No. 2, each committee member shall identify all other teams that should receive con­sideration for at-large berths.
3. Members are not limited to the 105 teams ranked by the RPI.
4. A member shall not vote for a team that has earned automatic qualification. A team that eventually could earn automatic qualification, but has not at the time of the initial voting, is eligible to receive votes.
5. The staff will collect the ballots by 10 p.m. on the committee's first meeting date.
6. Any team receiving all but two of the eligible votes on Ballot No. 1 shall be moved onto the at-large board.
7. The committee will form an "at-large nomination board" consisting of an alphabetical listing of all teams that:
a. Received more than one vote in either of the initial ballots but did not receive enough votes on Ballot No. 1 to move to the at-large board;
b. Did not receive more than one vote in the initial balloting, but subsequently was recommended by more than one member before closing initial nominations, or
c. Won or shared the regular-season conference championship or conference divisional championship.
8. After Step No. 7, the process for creating the initial "at-large nomination board" will be closed.
9. Once the "at-large nomination board" is closed, a team may be added to the nomination board at any time, providing it re­ceives more than two votes. A team may be removed from the nomination board if it receives all but two of the eligible votes. Oral nominations are permitted.

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