NCAA tourney to 80 teams???????

[Matt Trump]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/tourney/2006-05-18-tourney-field_x.htm

I'm sure Gary Williams was part of this as well.

[ZonaPanther]

Sounds like the "little guys" will be getting it stuck to them some more.
My guess is that there will be more of the play-in games for the small conference winners and more money for the big-time conferences that will be getting 8-10 teams in the tourney.
I am thinking they are looking at 80 because it would give play-in game winners to the 1-4 seeds.

[Marc Wigim]

This bugs me... I kind of figured the bourgeoisie of basketball wouldn't be happy with the state of this year's tournament, and they want to sound like they aren't whining, but things like this are thinly veiled efforts for them to continue feeding at a trough they sometimes shouldn't be. Maybe the NCAA will do the right thing... but I doubt it.

[Newsbreaker]

Just let everybody in then.

[VeloPanther]

I've thought that since the NCAA bought the NIT, they would eventually just merge the tournaments into one. This looks like a step in that direction.

[panther2317]

I wish they'd just expand to 68 teams. They could have two teams play-in to the #16 seed in each region. It's nice and symmetrical and would allow for the committee to get some teams that might not ever get a "W" in the NCAA's to get a "W" in the opening round and then move on to play the #1 seeds.

[Hime_Peterson]

I think it's fine just the way it is. Expansion would tarnish the honor of making the Dance.

[TravelingPanther]

I've also debated if they should add play in game in each bracket for the 15 seeds. that would bring us up to 72 teams.

[panther2317]

Hime...I agree...but if it changes...I hope they consider going to 68 first...not straight to 80.

[DWadle1983]

68 won't settle the complaints, so it would likely end up at 80 even though its hard to imagine there are 15 teams who deserve invites that aren't geting in. Regardless of how many they add, they should give each team a unit or share whether or not they're in a play in game so that minor conferences don't get totally ripped off by the change.

[UNIAlum95]

Bye bye NIT

80 teams either ends the NIT or makes it a complete joke. There might be a remote amount of prestige associated with the trophy now, but that would make it completely worthless. We're the 81st best team in the country! We finished in the top half of the NCAA!

[panther2317]

I guess I'm curious as to why we're worried about complaints from teams #66-70. I know Missouri State and Hofstra had a beef, but they weren't going to win the tournament. But...if there were 68 teams...they might have gotten in too...and then who would have complained?

[AmesPanther]

Sounds fine to me. It gives more teams a shot to keep playing when it matters. In the end it won't take away anything from getting the sweet 16, elite 8, final 4... If anything they will mean more because some teams will have gone farther to get there and more teams had a shot at it.

Plus at the end of the day it's more good BB for me to watch.

[panther2317]

If it extends the tournament another weekend...I guess I am for it

[AmesPanther]

I guess I'm curious as to why we're worried about complaints from teams #66-70. I know Missouri State and Hofstra had a beef, but they weren't going to win the tournament. But...if there were 68 teams...they might have gotten in too...and then who would have complained?

I'd guess whoever is the next closest teams that feel they get left out.