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Committee exploring possibility of expanding NCAA Tournament fields, per report
By Ethan Stone
Published:
The NCAA is reportedly considering expanding the field of one of the most-watched postseason events in American sports.
According to a report from CBS’ Matt Norlander, the Division I Transformation Committee has explored the possibility of expanding the NCAA Tournament for both Men’s and Women’s basketball, baseball and others to include roughly 90 teams.
This is around 25% of Division I basketball’s 363 teams as of the 2022-23 season.
Below is an excerpt explaining the talks from Norlander:
The committee is putting an idea on the table that all Division I sports could allow as much as 25% of a sport’s teams to be able to qualify for said sport’s NCAA bracket,” Norlander wrote. “In layman’s terms — and at its extreme — this would mean college basketball’s 363-school population could one day, theoretically, allow for as many as 90 teams in March Madness.”
Norlander’s report added that this has been considered for all NCAA tournaments, not just College basketball. This means College baseball could potentially be in for a reshuffle as well.
Part of what makes the NCAA Basketball Tournament so fun is the tradition and pomp and circumstance of it all. Depending on how this would be wheeled out, if it is truly on the table, adding undeserving teams could all but ruin the event.
One conference commissioner agrees.
“The NCAA basketball tournament is absolutely critical to college athletics,” another league commissioner said, via Norlander.” It’s one of the most unique sporting events in the world. Its value to the enterprise of college athletics is critical. The structure we have right now, it works, it’s a winner, people love it and I would hope we would not overly tinker.”
What do you think of possible field expansion? Here’s more information from Norlander below:
The math: 25% of CBB = a max 90-team NCAAT.
Good news: The appetite for major expansion seems minimal at *best* as of now.
Important: These are informal concepts in embryonic stages.
Also important: If you want to eventually expand to, say, 72, this is likely how you creep.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) October 5, 2022
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
