Tourney Expansion

[formerlurker]

Coaches split on NCAA tournament expansion

From Tom Izzo to Bill Self, there is no clear-cut consensus from college basketball coaches on the topic of NCAA tournament expansion.

www.espn.com

I think it's good where it is. Very surprised it's a toss up with coaches.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Shocking to me as well, especially P5 coaches like Self and Larranaga.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

Expansion would suck. Whatever they do, I hope balance is maintained between power and non-power conferences once the field narrows to 64. Nobody wants to watch a sub-500 Big Ten team play as a 14 seed.

 

[Husky25]

It's a toss up with the coaches because it is currently a resume builder for low/mid-major program developers. It's huge for them in interviews to show that they can make the Tournament. OTOH, The downside of expanding the field is watering down this specific criterion.

The size of the field is near perfect as it is.

 

[Waquoit]

No matter how many teams you have, you will always have a "First Four Out" whining.

 

[gsmooth]

Exactly. When I read that article on ESPN my first reaction was "no, no, no, no, aaaannnd no" I wish the powers that be would stop screwing with this. If they decided to expand I would like to see just 4 or 6 more teams and they would go to mid majors that won their regular season but lost in their conference tournaments. Those teams can be in more play in games. It would make Tuesday and Wednesday more exciting for sure.

But overall, I don't want any change.

 

[gsmooth]

No matter how many teams you have, you will always have a "First Four Out" whining.

exactly. That conversation will never end even if the field was expanded to 128 teams or really any number you think of.

 

[Fishy]

Most coaches will want it to expand because coaches get fired for not making it.

But if it expands, and the motivation behind it, is so that the power conferences can send more schools and mop up more of the revenue. If anyone thinks this is all about getting an extra A10 school into the field, it ain’t.

 

[Bazz4A]

So so stupid. We don’t need more teams.

 

[aburks41]

They should go back to 64 teams instead. Or make the play-in games entirely at-large bid teams. The AQ shouldn't have to be a play-in

 

[gsmooth]

Most coaches will want it to expand because coaches get fired for not making it.

But if it expands, and the motivation behind it, is so that the power conferences can send more schools and mop up more of the revenue. If anyone thinks this is all about getting an extra A10 school into the field, it ain’t.

Exactly. There are contract incentives with making the NCAAT. The coaches that are supporting this are doing it out of self interest. It doesn't make them bad people, but it also means they are looking out more themselves that interest of the sport.

I am glad Dan Hurley is against expansion and so is Tom Izzo.

 

[kobe]

when the ncaa tournament expanded to 64 teams there were 283 DI programs.

there are now 363 DI programs, so keep the percentage the same the ncaa tournament needs 81 teams.

expansion in inevitable. surprised fans of a mid majors like the big east aren't in favor. theres a better chance for any of your church league members to get in.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

there are now 363 DI programs, so keep the percentage the same the ncaa tournament needs 81 teams.

Would Cincy have gotten in if the last tournament was 80 teams? At least the bubble, right?

 

[Fishy]

when the ncaa tournament expanded to 64 teams there were 283 DI programs.

there are now 363 DI programs, so keep the percentage the same the ncaa tournament needs 81 teams.

expansion in inevitable. surprised fans of a mid majors like the big east aren't in favor. theres a better chance for any of your church league members to get in.

Expansion isn’t for those newer D1 programs - they won’t be invited. It’s not even for mid programs like Cincy who expect to make a tourney every three or four years.

It’s more for the bottom third of the SEC and Big Ten.

 

[Waquoit]

Cincy has no chance in the Big 12 even if they went to 128 teams.

 

[king conn]

when the ncaa tournament expanded to 64 teams there were 283 DI programs.

there are now 363 DI programs, so keep the percentage the same the ncaa tournament needs 81 teams.

expansion in inevitable. surprised fans of a mid majors like the big east aren't in favor. theres a better chance for any of your church league members to get in.

The church league dominates this tournament, while the team you root for can't even qualify

Its really bizarre you keep going down this path.

 

[Waquoit]

Its really bizarre you keep going down this path.

It's sad really, seeing the deterioration of a sports fan in real time. Once he rooted proudly for his team; now he's reduced to throwing pathetic shade and cheering for the conference, like a S. Carolina fan. Main difference being Gamecock fans are friendlier.

 

[EZPass]

when the ncaa tournament expanded to 64 teams there were 283 DI programs.

there are now 363 DI programs, so keep the percentage the same the ncaa tournament needs 81 teams.

expansion in inevitable. surprised fans of a mid majors like the big east aren't in favor. theres a better chance for any of your church league members to get in.

 

[NCHuskie919]

This is more "participation trophy ", watered down, BS. 68 teams is plenty. Its competitive and there is parity. There is absolutely no need to add any more almost maybes to the dance. Like others have alluded to, it's a money grab by the big conference teams who barely miss. Nah. It's fine.

 

[Chuck]

I like the tournament the way it is, but here are a few reasons to like expansion:

• Watching UConn become the first 18 seed to win the tournament. Resulting, of course in Syracuse, Kentucky, Kansas fans yelling "They get so lucky in the tournament... that whole bracket just opened up for them! Almost all of their 8 championships are garbage."
• Watching the 20 seed low major automatic qualifier beat Purdue in the first round.
• Watching Rutgers fans complain about being the first team out after beating number 1 Purdue in the regular season (but finishing below 500 in the Big 10 and playing the 350th ranked out of conference schedule).

 

[metsfan2323]

So so stupid. We don’t need more teams.

I agree, It just makes the regular season more meaningless.

 

[Waquoit]

I agree, It just makes the regular season more meaningless.

I don't agree with this sentiment. Currently, every result is analyzed with a fine-toothed comb for seeding and eligibility purposes. Every game is meaningful. Now if you're saying meaningless because UConn is lock to make the Dance, I still disagree; it wasn't so long ago when UConn wasn't a lock.

 

[navery12]

They should go back to 64 teams instead. Or make the play-in games entirely at-large bid teams. The AQ shouldn't have to be a play-in

I agree, but the problem is it's the AQ teams who fight to keep them in those Dayton play in games so they actually have a chance at getting tourney credits for wins

 

[Rocktheworld]

No matter how many teams you have, you will always have a "First Four Out" whining.

This has always been Bilas’s point

 

[Rocktheworld]

I don't agree with this sentiment. Currently, every result is analyzed with a fine-toothed comb for seeding and eligibility purposes. Every game is meaningful. Now if you're saying meaningless because UConn is lock to make the Dance, I still disagree; it wasn't so long ago when UConn wasn't a lock.

I mean it would make losing in the regular season that much more acceptable which to me necessarily makes it less meaningful

If they want to expand it, they should just add more play-in games. Every bracket has 4 play-in games. Boom, 96. That way the 85th-ish + percentile teams will still fight for seeding and more teams can fight their way in despite not being that good