In the rush to cash in on the popularity of March Madness, more and more schools are declaring themselves Division I basketball programs. The number this year is 326.
But the NCAA needs to draw the line and set up some criteria to avoid disasters like the one we saw Monday night when Kansas State embarrassed Savannah State, 85-25, in Manhattan in a game that made everyone involved in the sport a little nervous. The Tigers - who joined Division I in 2002 - shot just 1-for-23 and were outscored 48-4 in the second half, setting NCAA records for worst field goal percentage and fewest points in a half in the shot-clock era.
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Saint Louis set a modern Division I record for fewest points in a game Thursday night, falling 49-20 to George Washington in the Atlantic 10 opener for both teams. The Billikens (9-6), playing their first season under coach Rick Majerus, missed 23 consecutive shots at one point and finished 7-for-48 (14.6 percent) from the field, including 1-for-19 from 3-point range. They trailed 25-7 at halftime.
Some middle school kids can chunk in from half court and score 20.
The previous low since the shot clock was introduced in 1985-86 was 21 by Georgia Southern in a 40-point loss to Coastal Carolina in 1997. It was matched by Princeton in a 20-point loss to Monmouth in 2005. The fewest points ever by a Division I team was set by Arkansas State in a 75-6 loss to Kentucky in 1945. It was matched by Temple in an 11-6 loss to Tennessee in 1973.
So, should Saint Louis University consider moving down to Division II? Savannah State had a valid excuse--it was over matched with a 10-4 Big 12 Conference powerhouse program in Kansas State. What's Saint Louis excuse with GW not being an Atlantic 10 powerhouse this season?
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