The more and more I think about NCAA Expansion...

[NickZepp]

How many teams go through the NCAA tournament and to the final four with more than 7 or 8 losses? Very few make it that far.

 

[Tony]

How many teams go through the NCAA tournament and to the final four with more than 7 or 8 losses? Very few make it that far.

You are making OsoonerU's point for him/her.

 

[thebigabd]

People will complain and some team that would have been left out of the 64 team field will go on a run and justify their inclusion.

 

[sooner333]

And soonervegas is right that this does not prohibit 14 seeds from beating 3 seeds.

But 14 seeds won't be like the 14 seeds of before. We might get one matchup between what is now a 14 seed (as a 22 seed beating a 11 seed to play the 3 seed), but it certainly won't be the same.

 

[Darwin]

I see it as who is worthy to play against the top 32. Is #81 mid major a better team than a bcs 10 seed? Its the mid majors that need and get the chance. I really think the round of 32 will be stronger because the number of bcs pretenders will be diminished. Its an extra couple of glorious days instead of the nit.

 

[OsoonerU]

You are making OsoonerU's point for him/her.

I'm a him, and yes he did.

I understand people wanting to hold onto tradition, but I believe if you really take a step back, and look at this, it isn't that big of a deal. You are going to get more teams from smaller conferences that were first or second in thier league, but didn't win their conference tournament, which I think is a good thing. You are also going to get more average big conference teams, which I could care less about. But to make the argument that this will reward mediocrity isn't even remotely true, that is already being done.

 

[NickZepp]

Only 32 at large teams gets in. That's enough for about 2 at large teams per conference or something like that. Maybe even less. Now a lot of conferences get only the auto bid in so that allows for the Big East to have 8 or Big 12 to have 7 etc. Right now the tournament rewards the 32 non conference winners. Not the top 60. There's a huge difference between top 30 and top 60.

 

[NickZepp]

Here's what OU has to do to make the NCAA Tournament next year. Go 9-3 out of conference about 6-10 in conference and maybe win 1 Big 12 Tourney game that's probably enough to get in. I'm sorry but 16 win teams shouldn't be going to a post season.

 

[stoops4pres]

The more I think it really REALLY sucks.

One of your better posts, Nick.

 

[campbest]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/tournament/2010/columns/story?columnist=oneil_dana&id=5048513

One of the dumbest ideas I have ever heard. Can't believe Sheehan actually believes arenas are going to be full for this type of event in this economy.

The NCAA is thinking short-term and this is going to kill the tournament and all the pageantry involved. People are going to hate this...Championship Week is on life-support and the regular season means almost nothing. I guess this is what happens when you have a bunch of high profile NCAA administrators trying to prove to the world they have some sort of business accumen.

Un-freaking-believable.

 

[Crimson King]

Good column. Truly amazing how bad of an idea this is.

 

[rocjunkie]

I can't add much to this, but let's face it, it has nothing to do with quality, just everything to do with "big bucks". I just can't see rewarding mediocrity and that is what is happening. I assume the top 8 seeds get first round byes, then the tournament would resume normal format. Just a waste in my opinion.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I doubt those additional 16 games would make enough money to pay for the printing cost of the tickets and pay the refs.

 

[ByronHoustonsSweatyPalms]

Don't have a strong opinion butin a sense everyone is already in the tourney if you count the conference tourneys as an extension. Most of the smaller conference teams already know they have to win thier tourney or the seasons over.

What about high school basketball? They seem to have a pretty good product.

But if I had a vote, I'd keep it the way it is.

 

[Darwin]

I really think it happens for the money but I really think it's better for basketball except for it landing in the lap of espn instead of CBS. If ABC takes the lead role like CBS did then everything will be better than before with 2 extra days of greatness. Yes I said greatness and you all will be watching. Yes I said you all will be watching because college hoops will become even bigger. The downside is conference tournaments are weakened but they're just conference tournaments anyway.

 

[Cheno]

This is all a conspiracy by the NCAA for North Carolina and good 'ol Roy.
Now they've found a way they can make the big dance.