Last spring, Mechelle Voepel complained bitterly about the NCAA tournament site selection system. I defended the system as a necessary evil and as better than the previous set-up.

Mechelle's complaints may have had something to do with the fact that her Wildcats had to play my Gophers at Williams. My defense may have had something to do with the fact that her Wildcats had to play my Gophers at Williams.

Today, Voepel explains the new 8-pod system for the early rounds, and she also reports on the committee's plans to move us toward neutral sites, which everyone agrees is the ultimate goal. As a first step, beginning in 2007, there will be no homecourt sites for the regionals.

She makes the important points that fans have a responsibility to show up and watch other teams play, and the media have a professional responsibility to cover other teams.

Also at ESPN.com, Mechelle reminisces about how she got started covering women's basketball.