Forget 64 or 96, now it's 128 being proposed

[DWadle1983]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2500025

I meant 72 not 64. Sorry.

I guess one advantage of 128 would be that there aren't a lot of BCS teams not being picked now. Now the MVC could realistically have 5 bids every year, but it will be hard to watch a 16-14 Big Ten team in the tournament. It will also make the RPI irrelevant for BCS teams, and they have less of an incentive to play a tough non-conference schedule. If they have a winning record, they're in the tournament.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Three things I take away from this:
1.) The "majors" feel really threatened by non-BCS teams getting at-large bids in the field of 65. This makes "BCS" coaches look bad that they got beaten out of at-large spots, and thus they are more inclined to get fired. Guess what coaches? You get those big paychecks b/c there is little job security in those positions. You get paid the big bucks, b/c you are suppose to win and make the tourney. Unfortunately, that's the nature of the beast in any job...you get paid more money, then you are expected to produce more.

2.) What the NABC and the BCS coaches are trying to do is two fold, IMO. This is simply a ploy to "over shoot" what they think they can get from the NCAA. They want 3-7 more teams in (some maybe want a little more). So, they realized that they probably weren't going to get those 3-7, and thus they throw a number like 128 teams into the Big Dance (literally now). All of a sudden that 68-72 team tournament doesn't sound quite so bad. Instead of 72 teams being 4-7 teams too many, 72 teams seem like a steal, bargain, and a nice compromise. It's kind of like the kids who growing up used to ask their parents for expensive items, only to get their parents to compromise at a less expensive item...which was their goal all along. Don't give in NCAA!

3.) This will allow the BCS schools to stop scheduling "mid-majors" and BCS teams all together. The strength of schedule issue is now out the window. Why would you schedule difficult teams to play if you can buy 12 home games, and not leave your state until the second week of January, and get away with it? Teams will be able to schedule 12 home games against low majors, and not face the consequences of that...b/c if they win only 4-6 games in conference, it's okay, b/c all of the sudden, your team has a record of 16-14 or 18-12, and that's more than enough to get you into the Big Dance. Non-BCS teams better be fighting this tooth and nail. The lure of making it easier to make the NCAA Tourney will be there, but look at the big picture "non-BCS school". You won't get any more shots at the BCS schools during the regular season. You won't be able to get those schools to play you at home. You won't get the regular season paydays that those games bring. It will all be over, b/c you sold yourself the regular season, for an easier shot at making the NCAA tournament. But remember, the money CBS doles out for the tourney, won't be as significant to your school anymore...b/c most of that money will be going to the winners of games in the tourney. You will now have to win one game in the tourney to make the same amount of money you would have needed to just make the tourney. Winning two games, doesn't get you to the same money as winning a game in the 65 team tourney either.

Don't give into the 72 team tourney....Don't give into the 80 team tourney...and especially don't give into the 128 team tourney. This is not junior high sports where everyone is included. This is college basketball where making the tournament is a reward...and those who win games are even more rewarded!

[uniwatcher]

Three things I take away from this:
1.) The "majors" feel really threatened by non-BCS teams getting at-large bids in the field of 65. This makes "BCS" coaches look bad that they got beaten out of at-large spots, and thus they are more inclined to get fired. Guess what coaches? You get those big paychecks b/c there is little job security in those positions. You get paid the big bucks, b/c you are suppose to win and make the tourney. Unfortunately, that's the nature of the beast in any job...you get paid more money, then you are expected to produce more.

2.) What the NABC and the BCS coaches are trying to do is two fold, IMO. This is simply a ploy to "over shoot" what they think they can get from the NCAA. They want 3-7 more teams in (some maybe want a little more). So, they realized that they probably weren't going to get those 3-7, and thus they throw a number like 128 teams into the Big Dance (literally now). All of a sudden that 68-72 team tournament doesn't sound quite so bad. Instead of 72 teams being 4-7 teams too many, 72 teams seem like a steal, bargain, and a nice compromise. It's kind of like the kids who growing up used to ask their parents for expensive items, only to get their parents to compromise at a less expensive item...which was their goal all along. Don't give in NCAA!

3.) This will allow the BCS schools to stop scheduling "mid-majors" and BCS teams all together. The strength of schedule issue is now out the window. Why would you schedule difficult teams to play if you can buy 12 home games, and not leave your state until the second week of January, and get away with it? Teams will be able to schedule 12 home games against low majors, and not face the consequences of that...b/c if they win only 4-6 games in conference, it's okay, b/c all of the sudden, your team has a record of 16-14 or 18-12, and that's more than enough to get you into the Big Dance. Non-BCS teams better be fighting this tooth and nail. The lure of making it easier to make the NCAA Tourney will be there, but look at the big picture "non-BCS school". You won't get any more shots at the BCS schools during the regular season. You won't be able to get those schools to play you at home. You won't get the regular season paydays that those games bring. It will all be over, b/c you sold yourself the regular season, for an easier shot at making the NCAA tournament. But remember, the money CBS doles out for the tourney, won't be as significant to your school anymore...b/c most of that money will be going to the winners of games in the tourney. You will now have to win one game in the tourney to make the same amount of money you would have needed to just make the tourney. Winning two games, doesn't get you to the same money as winning a game in the 65 team tourney either.

Don't give into the 72 team tourney....Don't give into the 80 team tourney...and especially don't give into the 128 team tourney. This is not junior high sports where everyone is included. This is college basketball where making the tournament is a reward...and those who win games are even more rewarded!

I agree 100%. I say that if they throw numbers like this out, let's just go to a tournament like high school districts in Iowa where EVERYONE has a shot. Break the country into sub-regions or "districts" and may the best team win 3-4 games. Of course this would open up even a bigger argument over who decides which teams go where... BCS coaches/admins could simply put their strongest teams in separate regions with inferior competition; or put a lackluster team into a region with lower-tier mids and flat out low majors. But it would be better than taking 1/3 to 1/2 of ALL DI teams...

[Marc Wigim]

It almost sounds like BCS Coaches are trying to play soccer mom here and stage a tournament that EVERYONE gets invited to!!! YAAAAAY! Then EVERYONE in the BCS gets a trophy, and EVERYONE makes the all-tournament team! OH GOLLY it will be fun.

Give me an ever-loving break.

[B.True]

how long would it take you to fill out a bracket with 128 teams.....considering the loser between my wife and i have to do the dishes for all of april, i could seriously see myself spending 3-5 hours filling out a bracket with 128-some games....so much research...so little time!

[AmesPanther]

how long would it take you to fill out a bracket with 128 teams.....considering the loser between my wife and i have to do the dishes for all of april, i could seriously see myself spending 3-5 hours filling out a bracket with 128-some games....so much research...so little time!

If you name was George and you picked teams named after you then you'd be all good.

[jordana33]

God I hate this idea. The NCAA tournament is the best thing in sports and this would RUIN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Panthers to the Bone]

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060627/SPORTS02060101/606270411/1003

Our AD Rocks!

"To expand the NCAA Tournament from where it is now - that's stupid," Hartzell said. "We've got the best sporting event in the world, so I'm not sure why you'd mess with it."

But there are more quotes in the story.

[JCPanthers]

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pb...606270411/1003

Our AD Rocks!

"To expand the NCAA Tournament from where it is now - that's stupid," Hartzell said. "We've got the best sporting event in the world, so I'm not sure why you'd mess with it."

But there are more quotes in the story.

He probably could have used a better choice of words....for some reason, I don't like the word "stupid" coming out of an AD's mouth. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but that's just my opinion.

I like the NCAA tournament the way it is...or mabe just add 3 more play in games to take on the #1 seed. To double the field...I think that's just "stupid".

[EastonWest]

He probably could have used a better choice of words....for some reason, I don't like the word "stupid" coming out of an AD's mouth. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but that's just my opinion.

I like the NCAA tournament the way it is...or mabe just add 3 more play in games to take on the #1 seed. To double the field...I think that's just "stupid".

I agree w/ this

[Hime_Peterson]

One thing you have to respect about Rick Hartzell is that he says what's on his mind. I remember when he went off about Wayne Morgan in the Register a couple years ago and how he was "afraid to get beat" by UNI.

I agree dead-on with Hartzell. I'm not a real sentimental guy, but to me, a lot of what makes the NCAA Tournament great is seeing those "Bubble Teams" jump for joy as their name gets put on the screen on Selection Sunday.

Making a 128-team NCAA Tournament is not an honor at all.

I was very surprised that Coach McDermott seems so strongly in favor of it. I'm guessing that Dr. Tom is in favor so that it would give his team a better chance of making postseason play.

Bottom line: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[DWadle1983]

I don't remember seeing this posted but as long as it's 65, here's the meaningless ESPN Bracketology projection as of last week.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology

The MVC gets 3 bids with 4 seed Creighton, along with Southern Illinois and Wichita State. Missouri State is one of the last teams out.

[AmesPanther]

More games is good for fans of BB. Drop the NIT and put 128 in. Yeah getting in won't be as big of a deal, but getting to the sweet 16 will still be as cool, Elite 8, yada yada. No one remembers the final four from years back let alone who made it in so who cares about the prestige of getting in. Win once you are in win some games and that will get you noticed.

[JCPanthers]

Actually, you could look at this way....Every team in the country is in the NCAA tournament in one way or another thru their respective conference tournaments.

[Newsbreaker]

I agree completely with RH on this. Expanding the tournament (other then adding 3 additional play-in games) is an absolutely horrible idea!