NCAA is expected to finalize expansion to 76 teams

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,376
12,798
78
I think this is ridiculous adding 12 more teams. It was perfect the way it was.

Even Krzyzewski was quoted That’s a big mistake.
“ One, there are less teams capable right now than ever before and there are many have-nots and it isn’t their fault.I don’t think you mess with something that is gold”
It’s ridiculous but money talks. They want to kill the Crown.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nuts McClanahan

Nuts McClanahan

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2022
1,049
1,074
113
I think this is ridiculous adding 12 more teams. It was perfect the way it was.

Even Krzyzewski was quoted That’s a big mistake.
“ One, there are less teams capable right now than ever before and there are many have-nots and it isn’t their fault.I don’t think you mess with something that is gold”
Can you imagine the bubble conversations when it goes to 78? People are really going to have to try hard to muster up some fake anger.

"How does Mississippi State not get in the tourney when they won five regular season SEC games?!"
 

Redscarlet

Heisman
Jun 17, 2001
32,776
10,709
113
Can you imagine the bubble conversations when it goes to 78? People are really going to have to try hard to muster up some fake anger.

"How does Mississippi State not get in the tourney when they won five regular season SEC games?!"
Yea adding teams like Auburn or Indiana or West Virginia makes no sense and unfortunately it’s just a d@mn money grab.
 

Scoop123

Senior
Jan 9, 2026
387
652
92
I haven't met anyone who likes this. Guys like Coach K, Dick Vitale, and many coaches, announcers etc are outwardly against this.

The NCAA? Meh. The keystone cops who can't figure out how to resolve anything important, sure know how to fill their coffers and dilute perhaps the greatest sporting even in the nation. Haven't had a mid-major make the Sweet 16 in a few years. Don't address the elephant in the room - just invite another one in.
 

Big bo fan

All-American
Jan 8, 2019
19,065
6,343
113
Can you imagine the bubble conversations when it goes to 78? People are really going to have to try hard to muster up some fake anger.

"How does Mississippi State not get in the tourney when they won five regular season SEC games?!"
With eight extra teams now. I am assuming this pushes the start of the 64 back a full week. That first week after selection Sunday will be all play in games
 

Scoop123

Senior
Jan 9, 2026
387
652
92
With eight extra teams now. I am assuming this pushes the start of the 64 back a full week. That first week after selection Sunday will be all play in games

My guess is they keep the length of the Tourney and just add more games to Tuesday/Wednesday's Play-in games.
 

orclover11

Senior
Dec 1, 2014
1,145
811
113
I think this is ridiculous adding 12 more teams. It was perfect the way it was.

Even Krzyzewski was quoted That’s a big mistake.
“ One, there are less teams capable right now than ever before and there are many have-nots and it isn’t their fault.I don’t think you mess with something that is gold”
The gap between mid-majors and power 4 teams is only going to grow, the bottom seeds weren't even really competitive in this tournament and obviously places like Troy aren't going to have much NIL, let alone revenue sharing, to maintain a roster like the big 10 can.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Anon1752071136

Big bo fan

All-American
Jan 8, 2019
19,065
6,343
113
More underachieving coaches will get bonuses - and isn't that what's really important?
Yes and no on that . Do you really think Queens university should be in the ncaa tournament over an Auburn or Indiana? I think that’s what this is about if the NCAA is going to continue to guarantee those spots the Power conferences are saying don’t have a 16 and 16 play each
other lets have a queens play auburn in a play-in game.
 

Poster FKA schuele

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,161
1,671
113
Yes and no on that . Do you really think Queens university should be in the ncaa tournament over an Auburn or Indiana? I think that’s what this is about if the NCAA is going to continue to guarantee those spots the Power conferences are saying don’t have a 16 and 16 play each
other lets have a queens play auburn in a play-in game.
The small conference tournament champions get in because that's why those tournaments are held, and it's the main reason a few thousand fans show up to watch them. The NCAA struck that bargain with the small conferences a long time ago, and it's been fairly successful. For example, Siena didn't "deserve" to be in the tournament either, and yet they had Duke on the ropes for much of their first-round game. And while Purdue made short work of Queens, it's only been three years since they got thumped by 16th-seed Fairleigh Dickinson.

Small-conference bids don't need to be a reason to let a 12th-place SEC team into the tourney.
 

Big bo fan

All-American
Jan 8, 2019
19,065
6,343
113
The small conference tournament champions get in because that's why those tournaments are held, and it's the main reason a few thousand fans show up to watch them. The NCAA struck that bargain with the small conferences a long time ago, and it's been fairly successful. For example, Siena didn't "deserve" to be in the tournament either, and yet they had Duke on the ropes for much of their first-round game. And while Purdue made short work of Queens, it's only been three years since they got thumped by 16th-seed Fairleigh Dickinson.

Small-conference bids don't need to be a reason to let a 12th-place SEC team into the tourney.
Unfortunately that’s the reasoning I believe they are using for this move.
 

Redscarlet

Heisman
Jun 17, 2001
32,776
10,709
113
No because everyone plays the same number of games. Having some teams play an extra game is dumb.

Just go to 128 and play the first round at home sites of the higher seeded teams.
Wat, you are not going to have any team win with home court advantage in any of the NCAA tournament games.

It isn’t the NIT.
 

Mack In Motion

All-Conference
Jun 20, 2001
5,987
3,510
113
This will give the SEC even more runway to whine about even one of their teams being left out of the tourney.

Because..... you know. They're the SEC.
 

RikeMiley

Senior
Sep 1, 2022
344
531
93
1 Seeds: Auburn, New Mexico, Tulsa, Wake Forest.
2 Seeds: Nevada, Cal, Oklahoma State, Dayton.
3 Seeds: Colorado State, George Mason, Wichita State, Yale.

You would add 10 of those NIT teams, plus Oklahoma and Stanford from the Crown if it was 76 this year. (n)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stan Raymond

Stan Raymond

Heisman
Apr 26, 2005
28,753
22,971
113
1 Seeds: Auburn, New Mexico, Tulsa, Wake Forest.
2 Seeds: Nevada, Cal, Oklahoma State, Dayton.
3 Seeds: Colorado State, George Mason, Wichita State, Yale.

You would add 10 of those NIT teams, plus Oklahoma and Stanford from the Crown if it was 76 this year. (n)

Yeah I fail to see how that makes the tournament better or where any body was complaining that these teams weren't in the tournament.

Seems like they are making changes that nobody is wanting.
 

TruHusker

All-Conference
Sep 21, 2001
12,102
2,380
98
Just an opinion, but had we not had the great year this year and high expectations suddenly surfacing for this most years, we may have been more in favor as a bubble team in a strong conference. Maybe
 

Cruel Halo

All-Conference
Jun 27, 2003
6,552
1,638
97
It won't be long until all teams make the tournament and they will change it to a round-robin double elimination with the Final 4 semi-final games being a best of 5 and the championship game will be best of 7.
 

Poster FKA schuele

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,161
1,671
113
Just an opinion, but had we not had the great year this year and high expectations suddenly surfacing for this most years, we may have been more in favor as a bubble team in a strong conference. Maybe
I thought 64 teams was plenty and my opinion hasn’t changed, whether the Huskers were comfortably in or Timmy Miles was on TV begging for a bid.

The play-in round is fine, I guess. But I’m not in favor of expanding it.