http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/source...one-deal-27742
Sources at ESPN and inside the administration at a powerhouse NCAA basketball school told me today that the NCAA basketball tournament going to 96 teams is a “done deal.”
An ESPN source said, “It’s a done deal with the expansion of the tournament. Depending on how soon a (TV) deal is done, the added teams could start next year. The NCAA confirmed that bidders would be interested in 96 teams, so they’re going with it.”
Another ESPN source confirmed to me that the network was in the formative stages of pondering a bid for the expanded tournament.
John Ourand and Michael Smith of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL reported this morning that if the NCAA opts out of its current broadcast rights deal with CBS, the governing body will consider, “expanding from a 65-team tournament to either 68 or 96 teams.”
better than 128 - but beyond a terrible idea.
right now, we have a situation where some losses don't kill you - but you still have to accomplish SOMETHING to go to the dance.
at 96, we're going to get some mediocre teams that beat up on some weaklings and then win 6 home conference games (0 on the road) and still get a bid.
So basically any mediocre team can get in now, awesome.
+1
I get that SOS and RPI will still factor heavily into seeding, but there's definitely less incentive to schedule good opponents for mid-tier programs. Making a 96 team NCAA tourney now holds the same weight as becoming Bowl eligible in football. Why reward mediocrity? (I know the answer is $$$ but still)
I'd back this if they played these first round games on the higher seed's homecourt. Letting the SWAC runner-up or whatnot at least get to play in Cameron or Allen Fieldhouse might be kind of cool. Anything involving a first round bye - which i suppose is inevitable - kind of sucks. I like that the champ has to play in every round, even if they draw fodder like UTSA or Belmont for their first game.
How's the math going to work on this, anyway? Is it a whole load of play in games like the one in Dayton every year or are they adding another round?
There's already three other consolation tourneys for the NCAA's rejects - the NIT, CBI, and CIT. This makes like a third of all hoop teams postseason eligible.
Horrible. March Madness is the best event in sports right now. Why change it?
Why even play a season? Just make one big ass tournament with every school in the nation that lasts 4 months. Fvcking re ed greedy assholes.
Soooooooo how do they plan on doing this, do the top 32 teams get a bye and the bottom 64 teams play in the first round. This is beyond re ed.
I guess if UA makes it in this year then their streak will go on forever.
Bad idea.
Why do people always want to mess with something that is already done right.
So rather than fix the sport that's ed up, they decide to up the one sport that works.
is the college basketball tourney still popular? I never watch it, most people I know don't either, if this is real news and not "onion" news, they are probably doing this because they've been losing viewers and are trying anything to keep the revenue flowing
meanwhile College Football remains as popular as ever
Long live the BCS!
Why not allow every team with a winning record to get in so long as it is mathematically feasible? That way the NCAA would make even more money!
Disgraceful and as others have stated getting into the Tournament should be based on doing something in the regular season. But the almightly dollar will always have a say in what is going to happen. we are seeing many major universities establishing their own TV networks in order to broadcast their sports. Pretty soon it will be PPV and if you don't like it then tough luck.
Ferengi nation and principles here we come.
Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to March Sadness
for being a 'done deal', there has been no confirmation as of yet.
this is getting almost universally HAMMERED across the sports watching world.
hopefully, somebody just floated this out there to gauge a reaction - and further hopefully, they have their response. not going to hold my breath though...
That's ing re ed. What next, participation trophies?
Boooooooo... why with the greatest sporting event on Earth?
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