BearSD said:
BearlyCareAnymore said:
HoopDreams said:
I think adding 8 teams to 76 is the right number (~20%) because:
A. It keeps more teams engaged longer in the season. That's good for everyone (players, schools, businesses, TV)
B. Because of A. more teams will have more money for their operational expenses and NIL
C. I don't like "play in" games but if we go to 76 teams just rename to First Round with the other teams receiving a "first round bye". This is the same as most of the Conference tournaments including the P4
D. Adding 8 teams will make the first round brackets symmetrical
E. It adds no more days to the tournament schedule from today
It is ridiculous that teams with .500 records and below in conference are in the conversation. Expanding beyond 64 was already ridiculous.
This is a real headline on espn's website at the moment:
"Steven Pearl says Auburn 'deserves' NCAA berth after SEC exit". That is Auburn's coach saying his team deserves to be in the NCAA tournament… right after they lost their 16th game of the season. They are 17-16.
His statement *should* be utterly ridiculous. The fact that sports media types think a 17-16 team even has a chance of an at large bid means that there are already too many at large bids.
Expansion is a near certainty. Not becuase there are worthy teams getting left out but because these power conferences need the money. The TV money. The NCAA is under attack from many sides. They have one thing that helps feed these big conferences. The NCAA basketball tournament. It is a collosal money maker.
These conferences are pressuring the NCAA to expand. They need more money. Donors are applying pressure on the schools to win. To make the NCAA tournament and the CFP. The CFP is likely to expand for the exact same reasons.
The expansion is not to help Miami of Ohio or Belmont or Stephen F Austin it is to help teams like Auburn and the SEC that have huge athletic budgets and are beginning to experience donor fatigue in a world driven by NIL. The SEC is considering breaking away from the NCAA in football. The B1G has proposed making tampering legal or at least not punishable.The lawsuits grow by the day.
The NCAA is getting sued every 5 minutes over their policies and rules. They are being held hostage to some degree by the P4 leagues. Providing a few more spots for the NCAA tourney is just a way to provide more money to the P4 leagues that carry the NCAA. The G6 leagues are members but the P4 conferences are doing whatever they can to limit their influence. They are taking their players and the CFP expansion is now hurting bowl games. I believe 3 have ceased operation after this past season. And more will occur. The NIT basketball tournament was once a fairly prestigious event. Finals at MSG in NYC. Now many programs opt out as their players prepare to enter the portal and fan interest is down. The finals are now at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis (Butler University). And the final game drew less than 3000 fans.
The NCAA tournament is the showcase event for college hoops. Adding another 8 teams (likely all P4 teams) helps the big boy leagues. It is about money and power. Like most things are.
