What's the right number for Division 1 basketball?

[shizzle787]

I personally believe there are too many schools in Division 1 basketball. I like the big tent nature of Division 1 but feel it has become too bloated. To me, the perfect number is somewhere between 225 and 275.

What do you think?

 

[Hey Adrien!]

IMO, there's no "wrong" number, it's just more of how to best intertwine low-majors and good mid-majors in the NCAA Tournament.

 

[husky429]

The magic of D1 ball is the cinderellas. Anyone who wants to hage just P4 is a fool

 

[ucp990411]

6.

 

[navery12]

I think the number now is fine. I could be convinced the 325 number is fine too. Anything lower doesn't make much sense to me

 

[nomar]

364 teams? That guy is definitely going to drown in a bathtub in Cow Dick, Texas.

 

[Fishy]

I personally believe there are too many schools in Division 1 basketball. I like the big tent nature of Division 1 but feel it has become too bloated. To me, the perfect number is somewhere between 225 and 275.

What do you think?

I think you need to go outside.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

The number of team is not as relevant as number of conferences with auto bids
I think it’s 32 now .
You could have 400 teams with 20 conferences getting bids .

 

[Inyatkin]

University of New Haven is moving to D1. I wonder how that could affect the lives of anyone other than New Haven and the teams they play.

 

[Waquoit]

University of New Haven is moving to D1. I wonder how that could affect the lives of anyone other than New Haven and the teams they play.

Do they have a date for the Smokey Robinson concert yet?

 

[ec33]

Make it 256 and everyone gets into the tourney. There are your Cinderellas (it would be even more interesting if the bracket was done by random draw akin to the FA Cup).

 

[Waquoit]

Make it 256 and everyone gets into the tourney.

The way I look at it, the conference tourneys are de facto 1st rounds that include everyone. And each conference gets to keep the money they generate.

 

[businesslawyer]

I personally believe there are too many schools in Division 1 basketball. I like the big tent nature of Division 1 but feel it has become too bloated. To me, the perfect number is somewhere between 225 and 275.

What do you think?

As long as we aren't giving more auto bids to new conferences of teams that have no right being D-1, or paying more money out to those who aren't trying to compete, why would anyone care?

 

[shizzle787]

As long as we aren't giving more auto bids to new conferences of teams that have no right being D-1, or paying more money out to those who aren't trying to compete, why would anyone care?

It is one of two major factors causing the tournament to expand (the other being P4 expansion) past its most popular 64-team format. If we were still around 300 like in the 90s, five or six auto bids would have evaporated due to realignment and expansion could not be argued for.

 

[businesslawyer]

It is one of two major factors causing the tournament to expand (the other being P4 expansion) past its most popular 64-team format. If we were still around 300 like in the 90s, five or six auto bids would have evaporated due to realignment and expansion could not be argued for.

I understand, but it doesn't have to follow like the night the day. If the Northeast Conference wants to triple its pitiful membership, let it go for it. But there shouldn't be more bids or money to it because it does so.

And then no one needs to or would care.

 

[imno1]

University of New Haven is moving to D1. I wonder how that could affect the lives of anyone other than New Haven and the teams they play.

It’s just one more team Syracuse will have to a hard time with.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

No option for 400+ ?

 

[ecasadoSBU]

I like the idea where 25% of the teams can make the NCAA the tournament on a given year.

with a 68-team tournament that places it a 272 member schools

 

[Inyatkin]

I like the idea where 25% of the teams can make the NCAA the tournament on a given year.

with a 68-team tournament that places it a 272 member schools

I like a system where 14.8 percent of teams make the tournament. No more, no less.

 

[temery]

There is no reason for the NCAA divisions seeing as though every player can be freely compensated.

 

[UConnJim]

Who wasn't rooting for St. Peter's as they beat #2 Kentucky and #3 Purdue on their way to the Regional Final in 2022? Or Farleigh Dickinson as the #16 seed beating #1 seed Purdue in 2023? Or Princeton going to the Sweet 16? Or Oakland beating Kentucky and Yale beating Auburn in 2024? March Madness is about inclusivity and on any given night, magic can happen.