TSN's top 25: … and 25 other polls, lists and must-know items to get you ready for the 2002-03 college basketball season

Sporting News, The, Nov 11, 2002 by Mike DeCourcy, Matt Hayes, Kyle Veltrop, Bob Holt, Bruce Pascoe

The particular problem is the restriction that allows teams two exempt tournament appearances in a four-year period. Several groups representing the exempt events (which count as only one game for teams) took the issue to court, but a judge upheld the restriction for at least this season.

That has led to the disappearance of many events and the dilution of others. Creighton, one of the top teams in any league this season, agreed to participate in the Guardians Classic. As opposed to last season, when the Guardians semifinalists were Memphis, Missouri, Alabama and Iowa, the only major-conference power the Bluejays will have a chance to meet in the event is Notre Dame. At No. 24, Creighton is one of three programs from outside the top 10 leagues--including No. 13 Gonzaga and No. 15 Western Kentucky--listed as a Top 25 team by THE SPORTING NEWS.

The neutral-court successes of the smaller programs last season suggested the gap between the mid-majors' best and the best of the brand-name conferences was narrowing. Without similar opportunities, it will be harder for this year's pint-sized powers to present their cases.

"College basketball is a home-court sport," Creighton coach Dana Altman says. "The larger schools have no incentive to go on the road, and the RPI is structured in such a way to give the home team a big advantage.... At least with the exempt tournaments, we had an opportunity to get them on a neutral floor.

"I hope the exemption rule is lifted, because it's always been a good opportunity for us to play some bigger schools. We look forward to that, and I know a lot of schools like ours do."--M.D.