New college basketball scheduling model, NCAA tournament selection process to be considered

The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee could be receiving some help in bracket-building, in the form of a new college basketball scheduling model. The proposed model that is reportedly still being developed and considered will contain two late-season games against non-conference opponents for all Division I teams.

The games will be scheduled and determined by record and expected NCAA Tournament seeding, allowing for late-season matchups between similar strength teams to help better build the NCAA Tournament bracket.

NCAA exploring new scheduling option to improve Tournament seeding

While the NCAA hasn’t officially proposed the changes, CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander detailed the concept being developed currently.

“A first-of-its-kind nationwide [non-conference] scheduling idea is developing behind the scenes in CBB that — if adopted — would adjust the sport’s landscape each February,” explained Norlander. “22 leagues are talking. Way bigger/better — and much different — than Bracket Busters ever was.”

The way it would work is, one week in February would see the nation pause their conference matchups and instead play two non-conference opponents. Every team would play one home game and one away game, with the games commencing after Valentine’s Day as a target. The matchups would be determined by an algorithm that would ensure even matchups.

By waiting until after January, it would allow teams to develop and prove their team’s strength — allowing for even matchups compared to those scheduled before the season began.

The proposal came from WAC commissioner Brian Thornton, who originally thought of the idea in 2020 while associate commissioner of the AAC. The new scheduling method does not have an attached name as of yet, states Norlander.

“It’s a home and away [setup], regardless of conference affiliation, regardless of ranking, the best teams are playing ‘like’ matchups,” Thornton said of the idea. “A Quad 2 team plays Quad 2 team. It’s merit-based. You earn your way in. … You get two great games you wouldn’t be able to get on your own.”