NCAA Tournament Expansion

[GatorGrad]

Check out these two articles:

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/Goodman-NCAA-tournament-expansion-020110

http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/source-march-madness-with-96-teams-done-deal-27742

What do you guys think about this? Going to 96 teams with the top 32 getting a "bye" with the other 64 playing a first round game to determine the other 32 teams in the field of 64. Essentially, the NIT merges with the NCAA Tournament. I don't like it. If anything, I wish they went down from 65 back to an even 64 which is perfect. If you go to 96, making the tournament is not even a big deal anymore and the regular season will seem even more meaningless to the average fan who already thinks as much.

[CJHawkeyes]

They could make the regular season mean more even if the expand the tournament by playing on campus up until the sweet 16. Expanding doesn't bother me as much as opinion deciding who gets the byes does.

[HellYeahHokie]

It's just plain stupid.

March Madness is an event. And the first 2 rounds in the first 4 days are some of the most exciting and interesting games of the entire tournament. Expanding would just dilute the intensity and interest of the early rounds. As it is, conferences like the ACC or Big 12 can get 7/12 teams in the tourney. Do we really need to make sure that 9 or 10/12 of these teams make it? Because that's what will happen.

[Blue Hen]

I don't like it at all....but the NCAA is in the sports entertainment business.

[Hail to the Victors Valiant]

They could make the regular season mean more even if the expand the tournament by playing on campus up until the sweet 16. Expanding doesn't bother me as much as opinion deciding who gets the byes does.

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Seems like a done deal unless the NCAA renews and revises its contract with the post-season NIT.

Drawing from a few points of yours, the first round of 16 games should be played on the campus of the 9 to 16 seed. This takes one plus from the NIT tourney, which is on campus sites until the final 4. Of course, there could be some scheduling challenges as the larger conference tourneys end when this new first should be played. However, teams seeded 1 thru 8 could benefit from a 10 to 14 day rest between their last conference tourney game and their first NCAA tourney game. But with rest comes rust, sometimes especially if you lose the first weekend.

Playing the rounds of 64 and 32 at the home sites of the 1 thru 8 seeds seems like such a huge advantage to the host teams that I'm sure that I'm all in on that one. As an alternative, teams seeded 1 thru 4 could host the entire weekend's games for the 4-teams intra-bracket and that would reward regular season and conference tourney performances. Also, NCAA would likely make much more money as these host sites would be filled to the max for sure and the 'deadness' of neutral site fans that sometimes occurs would be eliminated, which I like.

What would be left for the final 16 teams would be 4 'neutral' sites spread across 4 regions nationally and the Final Four itself. I think this is fine because the 'intermediate'-level sites that often host the Round of 64/32 games can still mostly be used by a 'host' team that would rather play at a larger capacity site versus their own campus arena.

[GatorGrad]

I agree with the idea of all games prior to the Sweet 16 being played on campus. That would be fantastic. I have been to four Final Fours, a couple of Sweet 16 / Elie 8's, and a couple of opening weekend round games. The atmosphere at the Final Four and Regional Semi-Finals & Finals is great but the first and second round games have zero atmosphere, unless one of the teams is playing near campus ie Florida playing in Jacksonville in the first and second round in 2006. Keep the Sweet 16 and on at neutral sites, but move the earlier games on campus. Then seeding (and the regular season) would be more important and all of the games would sell out and have great atmospheres. Of course, then you might have more corruption in the seeding process as the NCAA would find ways to favor certain schools with better and larger arenas like they do in I-AA and in college baseball. Of course an objective system would fix that issue, right CJ? ;)

[CJHawkeyes]

I agree with the idea of all games prior to the Sweet 16 being played on campus. That would be fantastic. I have been to four Final Fours, a couple of Sweet 16 / Elie 8's, and a couple of opening weekend round games. The atmosphere at the Final Four and Regional Semi-Finals & Finals is great but the first and second round games have zero atmosphere, unless one of the teams is playing near campus ie Florida playing in Jacksonville in the first and second round in 2006. Keep the Sweet 16 and on at neutral sites, but move the earlier games on campus. Then seeding (and the regular season) would be more important and all of the games would sell out and have great atmospheres. Of course, then you might have more corruption in the seeding process as the NCAA would find ways to favor certain schools with better and larger arenas like they do in I-AA and in college baseball. Of course an objective system would fix that issue, right CJ? ;)

Absolutely. I compare my system to the selection committee each year and there is typically agreement on 60 teams with most teams seeded within two spots of their NCAA seed. The higher seeds win just often. I wonder how much the NCAA gets paid for the selection show. Personally, I think it would add more excitement to the games to know precisely where you stand and what is at stake.

[MasterBevo]

What the heck are they even THINKING about this for?? 64 is PERFECT!!

As someone mentioned... It's low enough that the regular season does matter... cause, no one is guaranteed to get in (other than conference tourney winners).

More games would just dilute the product and ruin what has become the best tournament in the world.

Ditto's though.. on having the first two games on campuses.

[ZOOMBAG]

Check out these two articles:

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/Goodman-NCAA-tournament-expansion-020110

http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/source-march-madness-with-96-teams-done-deal-27742

What do you guys think about this? Going to 96 teams with the top 32 getting a "bye" with the other 64 playing a first round game to determine the other 32 teams in the field of 64. Essentially, the NIT merges with the NCAA Tournament. I don't like it. If anything, I wish they went down from 65 back to an even 64 which is perfect. If you go to 96, making the tournament is not even a big deal anymore and the regular season will seem even more meaningless to the average fan who already thinks as much.

Horrible idea. Just a money grab. Although even that is doubtable. Also notice they are giving the boot to CBS and going with ESPN. ESPN essentially OWNS college sports now.

[Hail to the Victors Valiant]

So, keeping 64 while dropping the NIT is appropriate. No one is addressing that the NCAA may drop the post-season NIT altogether, leaving 32 more teams out.

[HellYeahHokie]

So, keeping 64 while dropping the NIT is appropriate. No one is addressing that the NCAA may drop the post-season NIT altogether, leaving 32 more teams out.


Why not? It stands for "No Interest Tournament"

[Hero1957]

This seems nuts and I am sure the government will get involved.

[aufan59]

Unless we also expand the pool of eligble, talented I-A basketball players, this will dilute the quality of the NCAA tournament.

It is already too large right now. College basketball could benefit from a BCS-ification.

[CJHawkeyes]

Unless we also expand the pool of eligble, talented I-A basketball players, this will dilute the quality of the NCAA tournament.

It is already too large right now. College basketball could benefit from a BCS-ification.

Nothing could ever benefit from a BCS-ification.

[Blue Hen]

Nothing could ever benefit from a BCS-ification.

I'm with Aufan here . Why can't the NCAA just 'vote' and 'compute' a couple of teams ( out of 300+) to go somewhere and play a basketball game and call it a national championship ?? We don't need all that sweet sixteen, elite eight and final four nonsense.

[Hail to the Victors Valiant]

I'm with Aufan here . Why can't the NCAA just 'vote' and 'compute' a couple of teams ( out of 300+) to go somewhere and play a basketball game and call it a national championship ?? We don't need all that sweet sixteen, elite eight and final four nonsense.

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BH, these responses are predictable and getting a little boring to read.

[Blue Hen]

Point taken. I'll work on some fresh material

[Hail to the Victors Valiant]

Point taken. I'll work on some fresh material

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Now you have me thinking about what your intelligent wit will develop on the subject of human polls and playoffs; should be must read material for sure :)

[aufan59]

Nothing could ever benefit from a BCS-ification.

College football did.

Baby steps...

[GatorGrad]

So, keeping 64 while dropping the NIT is appropriate. No one is addressing that the NCAA may drop the post-season NIT altogether, leaving 32 more teams out.

Leaving 32 teams "out" of what, exactly? The NIT is meaningless. I would rather be a 16 seed and get blown out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament than win the NIT Championship.

[CJHawkeyes]

College football did.

Baby steps...

Really? How is college football better because of the BCS?

[aufan59]

Really? How is college football better because of the BCS?

I think we are closer to a playoff right now than we were pre-BCS.

[CJHawkeyes]

I think we are closer to a playoff right now than we were pre-BCS.

I don't see how we are closer to a playoff because of the BCS except for the fact it is a horrible system and sane fans want something better. This also does not explain how CBB would benefit from a BCS-ification.

[aufan59]

I don't see how we are closer to a playoff because of the BCS except for the fact it is a horrible system and sane fans want something better. This also does not explain how CBB would benefit from a BCS-ification.

Didn't sane fans whine about the old system and wanted something better? I would say it is better, even if it is marginal.

Baby steps...