Not really a big mystery - I committed to getting the at-large spot as my ticket to the NBBA. That meant going 21-0 or 20-1 at worst. To do that, I have often been playing normal to get regular season wins and have not built up any enthusiasm for a playoff run. Economically, I don't think it means all that much. Even if I loose out on half a million on revenue, I'm also not paying salaries for an additional week.