Halftime locker room access: is it too much?
During the NCAA Tournament, primarily during this second weekend when there are fewer games to switch back-and-forth between, CBS has been showing head coaches’ locker room speeches just before the beginning of the second half.
This is something that is uncommon in general basketball coverage. Yet, this additional access to the teams and coaches is not something I’m immediately excited to receive. Rather, I’m more drawn to wonder if this takes things too far?
I already was unsure I agreed with the 30-minute open period in locker rooms after games at the Tournament. Adding nearly live coverage of teams’ halftime discussions gets to the point of seeming to go too far.
Do we really need to hear and see what Kansas State head coach Frank Martin said to his team when they were trailing 27-20 at the half to Butler? Or would we be OK just watching the game and having a reporter ask Martin or one the players about it afterward and how it related to their second-half play?
Personally, I’m fine with the second. Maybe it’s just because I have the ability to ask such questions if I see fit. And maybe it’s because I see so much value in the ability of such reporters to interpret the play and the postgame comments from the coaches and players to present it to readers.
Either way, I’m still not so sure we need to have a camera in the locker rooms during halftime of NCAA Tournament games. And I certainly cannot imagine the coaches enjoy it either.
But in the our world today, with technologies like Twitter providing greater access to coaches and athletes than ever before, I cannot say I’m all that surprised by it. And I certainly do not expect it to stop.
A Schelling For Your Thoughts 
This will sound hypocritical, but as a fan I definitely want to know what Frank Maritn said at halftime. However, as a player, there is no way I would want a camera in the locker room.
I mostly agree. I love seeing it, but my thoughts about it being too much are from a competitive viewpoint. There’s no way Frank Martin wanted that camera in there. No coach could like that idea.
At some point, I feel like the media goes to far. This is one of those points. Part of the mystique about halftime locker room speeches is not knowing exactly what was said. I’d rather hear the abridged version later.
These are student athletes not getting paid to play. Their seasons are on the line every game in the tournament. I don’t think we needed cameras in there distracting the guys.
Besides; I don’t watch the halftime stuff anyways.