Tourney Expansion | The Boneyard

Tourney Expansion

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.
 
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.
 
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Waquoit said:
No matter how many teams you have, you will always have a "First Four Out" whining.
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exactly. That conversation will never end even if the field was expanded to 128 teams or really any number you think of.
 
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.
 
Fishy said:
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.
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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.
 
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.
 
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kobe said:
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.
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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.
 
Cincy has no chance in the Big 12 even if they went to 128 teams.
 
kobe said:
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.
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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.
 
king conn said:
Its really bizarre you keep going down this path.
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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.
 
kobe said:
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.
Expand ...
IMG_3094.gif
 
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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.
 
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 said:
I agree, It just makes the regular season more meaningless.
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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.
 
aburks41 said:
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
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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
 
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Waquoit said:
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.
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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
 
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Waquoit said:
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.
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It would absolutely make the regular season less meaningful. Take it to an extreme, if every team made the tournament what kind of regular season would you have? Now work your way back from that extreme by gradually eliminating teams, as you eliminate the bottom teams the regular season becomes more meaningful.
 
Waquoit said:
Currently, every result is analyzed with a fine-toothed comb for seeding and eligibility purposes. Every game is meaningful.
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Exactly, and let's keep it that way.

I know they won't, they will expand for more money. I'm half surprised they don't make the final round a round robin double elimination like baseball.
 
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navery12 said:
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
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I didn’t even think about that. Good point
 
The tournament was best at 64 teams. The NCAA tournament does not need to expand. Division 1 needs to shrink. I’m not anti-small school but there are too many of them.

There are 80 schools in the Big 6 (basketball’s rich).

There are 70 schools in the mid-major leagues (basketball’s middle class: AAC, A-10, WCC, MVC, MW, C-USA).

There are 212 schools in the rest of Division 1 (basketball poors).

If that last number were closer to 100-125, the regular season in college basketball would be a lot better, and lot of Division 2 schools could stop masquerading as Division 1.
 
kobe said:
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.
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The real question is, where does Mick stand on the issue? Prob doesn’t affect his 1 and 2 seeds, right?
 
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