Sadly, I have heard that the NCAA is considering plans to expand the NCAA Basketball Tournament to 96 teams from its current 64 (well, 65). The additional 32 teams would have to play in while the top 32 get a bye in the first round.
This would still take the three weeks of play as currently exists.
I think this would be a really bad move. As it is, some of the bottom of the current group don't have a chance and further diluting the pool would dilute the enjoyment of the whole thing.
Like I've heard before, "If it ain't broke, don't break it."
Now, what they should really do is to "fix" the way the National Championship for football is played. I'd suggest taking the top eight or sixteen teams and setting up a tournament for them, even though this would add four games to the schedule for the final two, this would eliminate the problems of the current system.
More Teams in Football, Not Basketball!! --RoadDog
Being an account of some things I'm interested in, what I'm doing, and reflections on my past, especially music.
Listen to this man. Seven years of college, you know. Trying to reason with 2020 and, now, 2022.
2 comments:
The college basketball regular season is already pretty much worthless, since it's possible to do well in the end-of-season tournament and make it into the top 64/65/96.
One of the most compelling cases against expansion that I've heard is that the NCAA purports to emphasize the "student" part of "student/athlete," yet said student athletes could be occupied with March madness for nearly a month. Presumably the fact that the top 32 teams get a bye is meant to mitigate this, but there seems to be precious little "student" in the student/athlete concept - especially since few of the elite college basketball players earn bachelor's degrees.
I definitely agree with what you said about the loss of the student-athlete. Pretty much all they do is practice and play the game.
Big money for the big schools as well.
I was impressed with Xavier's b-ball graduation rate, something that all school's, especially Maryland, should look at.
Perhaps they should have a clause when they sign saying they agree to get a degree or pay a big fine.
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