John Calipari on NCAA Tournament expansion: "Don't screw it up"
FAYETTEVILLE — The NCAA Tournament is one of the greatest events in college sports. 68 teams all battle it out for the chance to claim a trophy in March. There are upsets, buzzer-beaters and just about everything a college basketball fan could ask for.
Now, there’s talk of expansion. NCAA leaders are going to vote on whether or not to expand to 72 or possibly 76 teams in the near future for the 2025-26 season.
This expansion has sparked debate on both sides of the aisle. Some college basketball talking heads like Seth Davis have argued in favor of expansion, while purists believe adding more teams dilutes the product.
Arkansas head coach John Calipari met with the media on Wednesday and was asked his thoughts on whether the tournament should expand, and his answer was simple.
“Don’t screw it up.”
Calipari added to that quote with a thumbs-down gesture. He then dove into what he believes the real issue with college basketball is, and that’s the transfer portal.
Calipari’s thoughts on the transfer portal
After he made his succinct but pointed opinion about NCAA Tournament expansion, he turned to the transfer portal and said that is something that needs to be reined in.
“What we got to get in check is the transfer rules,” Calipari said. “I think kids should be able to transfer, I don’t have any issue with that. Once, without penalty. Whatever happens, a coach said something, he lied to you? Good, leave. You picked the wrong school, he picked the wrong guy, leave.
“If the coach leaves and goes to another school, you should be able to leave. Because we can all say what we want, they went to the school because of the coach. Now does that make you mad? You could be sad, mad, p’d-on, p’d-off, that’s a fact. That’s why they go to the school for that. So if he leaves and you want to leave, if you want to stay, stay. If you want to leave, you leave. Other than that, sit out a year.”
