What is a Buy Game in College Basketball?
In the world of college basketball, a "buy game" is a non-conference matchup that takes place during the regular season, where a lower-ranked team (usually a mid-major or an Ivy League school) agrees to play a higher-ranked team (usually a power conference school) in exchange for a hefty payment. This payment is typically made to the lower-ranked team to compensate for the financial losses they would incur by traveling to play at the higher-ranked team’s arena.
Why Do Teams Agree to Buy Games?
There are several reasons why teams agree to buy games:
- Financial Gain: As mentioned earlier, the lower-ranked team receives a payment for playing the game, which can be a significant amount of money. This can be especially beneficial for teams that struggle to fill their non-conference schedules with attractive opponents.
- Resume Boost: By playing a higher-ranked team, the lower-ranked team can improve their overall strength of schedule and potentially boost their RPI (Ratings Percentage Index), which is used to determine NCAA Tournament bids.
- National Exposure: Playing a higher-ranked team can provide the lower-ranked team with increased national exposure, potentially attracting more fans and attention to their program.
Types of Buy Games
There are several types of buy games, including:
- Guarantee Games: In these games, the higher-ranked team guarantees a certain amount of money to the lower-ranked team for playing the game.
- Showcase Games: These games are often played at a neutral site and feature multiple teams participating in a tournament-style format.
- Tournament Games: Similar to showcase games, these games are played at a neutral site and feature multiple teams participating in a tournament-style format.
Examples of Buy Games
Here are a few examples of buy games:
| Year | Opponent | Opponent’s Record | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Kansas State | 26-8 | $350,000 |
| 2018 | Wake Forest | 23-10 | $275,000 |
| 2017 | Michigan State | 29-5 | $450,000 |
Pros and Cons of Buy Games
There are both pros and cons to buy games:
Pros:
- Financial Gain: As mentioned earlier, the financial benefits of playing a buy game can be significant.
- Resume Boost: Playing a higher-ranked team can improve a team’s strength of schedule and potentially boost their RPI.
- National Exposure: Playing a higher-ranked team can provide increased national exposure and attention to the lower-ranked team.
Cons:
- Financial Burden: Traveling to play a higher-ranked team can be expensive, and the payment received may not be enough to cover these costs.
- Rigged Schedules: Buy games can lead to unfair scheduling practices, where lower-ranked teams are forced to play multiple games on the road while higher-ranked teams play mostly at home.
- Lack of Competition: Buy games can lack competitive balance, as the higher-ranked team often has a significant advantage over the lower-ranked team.
Conclusion
Buy games are a common occurrence in college basketball, where lower-ranked teams agree to play higher-ranked teams in exchange for a payment. While there are both pros and cons to buy games, they can provide a financial boost and increased national exposure to the lower-ranked team. However, it’s important to note that buy games can also lead to unfair scheduling practices and a lack of competition on the court.