Never said it was equal. I said they are just as meaningful as todays. And they are. Plus I could make the argument that it was HARDER to win in 40's, 50's, etc, etc...Only conference champs were allowed. So in some cases, your 1st round opponent was a Top 10 team. And at worse. A conference champ, i.e. Big 10, ACC, etc, etc.. That isn't remotely close to today's format. Hell in some instances, a team won't face anyone of Top 25 nature until the 3rd game; Much less the 1st gsme. In other words, I could argue that the titles IU won in 40 and 53 were much tougher to do so, due to the fact that the tourney wasn t as watered down as it is today. Same with UK's in the 40's and 50's.I always hated the BCS system and the playoff is only slightly better. But at least the playoff includes the four perceived best teams. Not some random selection of whoever the hell decides to show up.
Since you like to split hairs, let's change the scenario. Suppose that over the next several years, teams could choose between the NCAAT and another brand new tourney, resulting in many of the top teams entering the other field. Then suppose that KU won the NCAA tourney without having to contend with 3 of the top 5 teams in the country. Are you telling me that every CBB fan on the planet wouldn't want to slap a fat asterisk on it? You're delusional. Same f***ing thing. But for some reason, since it happened in the 40s, and "thaaaat's the way it was," it's equally valid to a system in which the best teams all participate. Makes sense.
It's a silly argument. Those titles won then are just as meaningful as titles won today. The only difference is the criteria. And imagine if today's criteria was that of which only conference winners were taken? No UNC...No Duke...No UL...No UConn...No Kentucky...No Purdue. No Indiana. Or Villanova. Michigan's FF'' s don't happen. So imagine the years where Duke, UK. Nova, MSU, UNC, etc, etc...had really good teams. But didn't win their conference? They would be excluded. So instead , we'd have a toirnament field with ONLY 5 Power conference teams. Rest would include MEAC, Sun Belt, OVC, MVC, Atlantic Sun, CUSA, AAC, Ivy League, CAA, Big West. So on and so on. Oh....and of course the SECLaughing
Just kidding. Well, kinda of. My point is,we'd have a tourney, every year, with at least no Duke, UNC, UVA, UL, Syracuse, etc...No Michigan, MSU, Wisconsin, IU, Purdue, Maryland, etc...No WVU, KState, Baylor, Oklahoma, etc...No Florida, UK.... No Villanova, Butler, Cincy, Xavier, etc, etc...
You see, there's an argument for both sides. But you only want to see one. Why?