Bill Self pushes back on NCAA Tournament expansion to 76 teams

Two weeks ago, Ross Dellenger reported on the latest developments regarding an expansion of the NCAA Tournament, with executives and officials pushing for a 76-team bracket for March Madness. That has had college basketball buzzing this month, going into the regular season, including comments on it made yesterday by Kansas’ Bill Self.

At a preseason press conference on Wednesday, Self was asked for his thoughts on another expansion of the NCAA Tournament from 68 teams to 76. He said his first feel on it is a no on expanding the field, but that’s how he has always first felt when it came to past iterations of expanding the bracket.

“What, 68 to 76? Is that what you’re talking about?” Self clarified, after a pause. “Uh, you know, I would say my initial hunch would probably be no. But I thought it was no when we went from 48 to 54, and then no when you go from 54 to 64, and no when you go from 64 to 68 – you know, all that stuff.

“Going to 76, if I’m not mistaken, is basically adding four more games to the Dayton-type setup, if I’m not mistaken. And so, now, it’s a Tuesday game for a Thursday game, or a Wednesday game for a Friday game, if I’m not mistaken.”

Per Dellenger, this is a change that could take place as soon as the 2027 NCAA Tournament. Self is correct in that this expansion would simply be adding eight more play-in games to what’s currently known as the First Four, held in Dayton on Tuesday and Thursday, leading into the Rounds of 64 and 32.

However, much of the debate about it, whether for or against it, is about which eight teams on the bubble are even in contention for those additional berths, and whether the additional revenue is worth all of that. The total number of teams “in” the tournament would still remain at 68 technically, but it’s an argument nonetheless when it comes to the future of March Madness.

Self says he has been opposed to expanding the tournament several times now, and it has expanded regardless. So, while he may be another voice against it, he knows it’s going to come down to those decision makers, specifically within the NCAA and at CBS.

“I don’t know if that’s the most positive thing,” Self said. “But, as long as The Masters is with CBS, and the (NCAA) Tournament is with CBS, you’ve got to squeeze everything into that three-weekend window. I actually have no answers, but my initial gut is I think we’re okay at 68.”