NCAA basketball tournament nearing expansion agreement

[BenSherman]

NCAA basketball tournament nearing expansion agreement

The NCAA basketball tournament is closer to expanding its field to 76 teams, starting in the 2026-2027 season.

www.on3.com

 

[Affirmed]

Hope the extra spots will be used almost exclusively for mid-majors, but I won't hold my breath. If this just results in more spots for underachieving, undeserving Power 4 teams with sub-.500 league records, it will be maddening.

 

[Uncheelnut3]

Gross. Keep plucking at the golden goose until you kill it.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I approve of expansion. But I don't understand going to 76. Why not 96, or even 128?

Personally I lean toward 96. We've already added the round of play-in games with 8 teams playing 4 games over 2 days. Going to 96 doesn't even add more days to the tournament. So what's the big deal?

Letting more teams play seems like a great way to get more schools and fan bases excited about basketball. How can that be a bad thing?

 

[BlueUniverse]

I approve of expansion. But I don't understand going to 76. Why not 96, or even 128?

Personally I lean toward 96. We've already added the round of play-in games with 8 teams playing 4 games over 2 days. Going to 96 doesn't even add more days to the tournament. So what's the big deal?

Letting more teams play seems like a great way to get more schools and fan bases excited about basketball. How can that be a bad thing?

Why not make the NIT the play in for the NCAA. 32 to 16 teams that then play the NCAA 5-7-9-11 seeds as the play in to the round of 64

 

[MES19]

Why not make the NIT the play in for the NCAA. 32 to 16 teams that then play the NCAA 5-7-9-11 seeds as the play in to the round of 64

Since 2005, the NCAA owns the NIT, but evidently sees profit in keeping it separate. I wouldn't expect that to change because of NCAAT expansion. They have already weakened the requirements for participation and continue to modify those requirements and use it to test rules changes being considered for future inclusion in NCAA Basketball.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Why not make the NIT the play in for the NCAA. 32 to 16 teams that then play the NCAA 5-7-9-11 seeds as the play in to the round of 64

If you want to call the play-in round the NIT, I have no problem with that. But if you run it like a real tournament in its own right, that could add too many days to post season play. That wouldn't bother me, but I suspect many people would oppose it.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I'm guessing that a 76-team field would have 12 play-in games. The bottom 24 teams whittle down to 12, which then join the 52 teams that got a first round bye to create the field of 64 we know and love.

Is that how it will work?

 

[Bartholemew]

I'm guessing that a 76-team field would have 12 play-in games. The bottom 24 teams whittle down to 12, which then join the 52 teams that got a first round bye to create the field of 64 we know and love.

Is that how it will work?

The math works, but this is the NCAA we are talking about, so who knows?