Players Era format determining teams playing for prize money needs to be fixed

LAS VEGAS — When a sporting event's format becomes a bigger story than the actual games, you've got a problem.

And for the moment, the Players Era has a problem. An image problem at least. A comprehension problem.

After two days of some really good basketball, here's what awaits on Wednesday:

No. 7 Michigan vs. No. 12 Gonzaga (championship game)

No. 17 Tennessee vs. Kansas (third-place game)

That's a terrific doubleheader, of course. The championship game will be for $1 million in additional NIL money, with $500,000 going to the loser. The Tennessee-Kansas winner will get another $300,000, with the loser getting $200,000.

Those four teams went 2-0 over the past two days.

But so did No. 15 Iowa State. But because of two plays and four points in two games 24 hours apart, Kansas will p