Expanded NCAA tournament?

Discussion in 'Out of Bounds' started by Justice, Jun 26, 2006.

  1. Justice

    Justice BBW VIP

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>June 25, 2006, 11:40AMNCAA to Weigh Expanding Basketball TourneyBy MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer? 2006 The Associated PressINDIANAPOLIS ? In a perfect world, college basketball coaches would nearly double the size of the 65-team NCAA men's tournament field. Realistically, they'd accept a smaller victory. Motivated in part by George Mason's remarkable Final Four run last season, coaches will urge the NCAA to expand its most lucrative championship event during the men's and women's basketball committee meetings in Orlando, Fla., this week."They'd love to see the tournament double to 128," said Jim Haney, executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. "It's based on several things. First, there are a lot of good teams worthy of making the NCAA field, and second, the size of 64 or 65 has been in place for a number of years."Potential models range from minor adjustments to major changes.When Haney met with NCAA officials last month, he proposed the 128-team field in part because postseason bids may help coaches keep their jobs.At this year's Final Four, though, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said he supported expansion on a smaller scale. Boeheim and others suggested adding three to seven teams, a move they claimed would allow as many as four opening-round games to be played in Dayton, Ohio, instead of the one now played between the two lowest-seeded teams in the field.Some believe such a schedule would create a more realistic tournament environment since first-round sites also play four games on the first day. [...]The coaches, however, contend there are many reasons to expand. Among their arguments:_ The number of Division I teams has increased significantly since the last major expansion more than two decades ago. The field went from 48 to 64 teams in 1985, then added a 65th team to the field in 2001 when the number of automatic bids went from 30 to 31._ George Mason, which was one of the last at-large teams to make the field this year, proved parity in college basketball is real. The combination of prominent programs losing underclassmen at faster rates and scholarship reductions have helped mid-major schools become more competitive. The coaches believe they deserved to be rewarded accordingly._ Now that the NCAA controls both postseason tournaments, coaches think it's time to include some of the bubble teams that annually complain when they are left out.Could it happen?</div>linkPersonally I don't like the idea that much, I think it's a waste of a week and just adds an extra game to potentially wear down the best teams. On the bubble teams don't seem to do that well in the NIT, and low-seeded teams in the NCAA tourney obviously don't do that well either. I think the Syracuse coach's idea is pretty good, add more play-in games for the lowest seeds in the tournament. Doubling the teams isn't going to help stop the complaining, it will just change the quality of the teams who are complaining. Luckily, it says they probably won't change it.
     
  2. valo35

    valo35 BBW VIP

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    Expanding the teams that get into the tournament would just be a waste of time. I actually think it would make it harder for us to have a George Mason, or a surprise team like that, simply because they would have to win more games. Expanded fields heavily favor the big name programs, because lets face it, they are going to have more talent to sub in and out. They will not be as tired come later games, as the small programs will be more tired. The big programs third stringers would be like some of these smaller schools first string teams. Don't like this idea.
     
  3. CelticBalla32

    CelticBalla32 Basketball is back in Boston

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    Bad idea, it would take way too long (although I would not mind watching extra basketball) and the matchups would be screwed up, and it would be WAAAAAY too hard to follow and know who is playing who.
     
  4. Justice

    Justice BBW VIP

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    It would only take an extra week, but the television thing would be a problem. Imagine if three Texas teams are playing all on the same day. Someone would be pissed.
     
  5. Wade3

    Wade3 BBW Elite Member

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    Just adds more teams with no chance and screwing up perfect brackets.
     

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