The University of Green Bay has filed for a waiver from the NCAA to allow the school's basketball team to compete in The Basketball Tournament — a $1 million, winter-take-all summer tournament.
According to ESPN, the waiver application acknowledges that TBT is not certified by the NCAA, but argues that the events is comparable to a foreign tour, which permits college teams to travel abroad and play against professional teams once every four years.
"When you play overseas, these teams that go to France, Spain, Belgium, whatever, those aren't NCAA-sanctioned games," Green Bay coach Doug Gottlieb told ESPN. "So, the NCAA's argument is, 'Hey, in summer competition, you can't play these games in the United States. They're not NCAA-sanctioned.' So, if I played this exact same game three hours north of here in Canada, it'd be OK. It doesn't make sense."
Green Bay also made the case that a foreign trip is cost prohibitive for a school of its size.
"Let's not worry about the prize money right now, but that could go to a charity, just let us play," Green Bay athletic director Josh Moon said. "It's really about our team and trying to give them opportunities."
Moon argues that the original rule to allow for at least one foreign trip every four years is outdated.
"You're working in an environment that is still largely built on rules from 10, 15 years ago," he said. "There's still massive amounts of legislation that doesn't make any sense — that hasn't been adjusted in 20 years or 30 years or who knows how long."
