NCAA Officials: Expansion To 96 Teams 'Will Happen,' Likely in '11, No More NIT

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Out of curiosity, would they expand the women's tournament also?

[NersEllenson]

I find it ironic that the NCAA can be willing to move the basketball tournament to 96 teams, which will add 1-week to the season...for the simple reasons: "teams want to play in the NCAA, not the NIT," many coaches advocate moving the field to 96, etc...................YET...................................The NCAA continues to defend the BCS process for college football, and cannot form an 8 or 16 team playoff - even though freakin'
Congress has considered mandating such an action.  Fans want it.  Schools want it.  But the NCAA doesn't??  The NCAA has used the excuse that forming a college football playoff system would take the kids out of school too much.  I mean seriously, NCAA?? There are 12-13 football games per year, and what, 34 basketball games per year?  It all comes down to money and the sleazy NCAA only wants expansion of basketball for money purposes, and wants to retain the current bowl system/BCS for money reasons.  

[MarquetteDano]

It is just a shame that they can't come to a middle ground on this one.  Maybe 72 teams or 80 teams?

If there is any expansion they had better give an automatic bid to the regular season winner of a conference.  Too many times we miss the best team in a smaller conference because they lost a close one in their conference tourney.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I find it ironic that the NCAA can be willing to move the basketball tournament to 96 teams, which will add 1-week to the season...for the simple reasons: "teams want to play in the NCAA, not the NIT," many coaches advocate moving the field to 96, etc...................YET...................................The NCAA continues to defend the BCS process for college football, and cannot form an 8 or 16 team playoff - even though freakin'
Congress has considered mandating such an action.  Fans want it.  Schools want it.  But the NCAA doesn't??  The NCAA has used the excuse that forming a college football playoff system would take the kids out of school too much.  I mean seriously, NCAA?? There are 12-13 football games per year, and what, 34 basketball games per year?  It all comes down to money and the sleazy NCAA only wants expansion of basketball for money purposes, and wants to retain the current bowl system/BCS for money reasons.  

I think you're confusing things.  Think about who controls the football money vs the basketball money.  One is the NCAA the other is not.

Let me put it another way, the BCS is not controlled by the NCAA.

[ChicosBailBonds]

It is just a shame that they can't come to a middle ground on this one.  Maybe 72 teams or 80 teams?

If there is any expansion they had better give an automatic bid to the regular season winner of a conference.  Too many times we miss the best team in a smaller conference because they lost a close one in their conference tourney.

That still may happen.  It could be a gradual expansion, but if I were a betting man I'd say it goes to 96.

[wojosdojo]

Just stupid. We basically don't have to play the regular season cuz everyones gunna make it. On a serious note, teams won't be playing near as hard (bubble teams or in conf, tourny) because they'll already be in it.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Just stupid. We basically don't have to play the regular season cuz everyones gunna make it. On a serious note, teams won't be playing near as hard (bubble teams or in conf, tourny) because they'll already be in it.

That statement is stupid.  Do college football teams not play hard?  Since 50% of them are in a bowl game?  This would mean 27% would make the NCAA tournament, yet somehow those college football teams still manage to play hard.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

Out of curiosity, would they expand the women's tournament also?

They can barely find 64 respectable teams to put in the UConn Invitational, er I mean women's NCAA tournament. I can't imagine how bad 96 for the women's tournament would look.

[ChicosBailBonds]

They can barely find 64 respectable teams to put in the UConn Invitational, er I mean women's NCAA tournament. I can't imagine how bad 96 for the women's tournament would look.

No kidding.

[MerrittsMustache]

And I'm REALLY sick of hearing the "It will help protect the coaches' jobs" excuse from people.  WRONG.  This is just going to get people fired faster.  13 of 16 BE teams get in?  If you finish 14-16 two years in a row in the BE, you're getting fired now.

This statement couldn't be more wrong. Do you think Norm Roberts would have gotten fired if St. John's were playing in the NCAA Tournament right now? Besides, if a coach is finishing in the bottom three in the BE, he's going to be out regardless.

[HoopsMalone]

If they expand, they should give the bottom teams only one night off or make them play back-to-back games.  There has to be a clear advantage to the teams with the best record like the NFL does it.

[Brewtown Andy]

This statement couldn't be more wrong. Do you think Norm Roberts would have gotten fired if St. John's were playing in the NCAA Tournament right now?

What about the other 200 schools who aren't getting in the NCAA tournament?

[ChicosBailBonds]

What about the other 200 schools who aren't getting in the NCAA tournament?

Actually the other 250+ schools

[Dr. Blackheart]

So, will the quality of play be better in the 96 team field than it has been in the brutally bad NIT?  Good for media revenue, bad for the hoops fan.  No way do conferences give up their tourneys.  Expect them to start their conference play earlier, however, to intermix with OOC.  Conference play crunch hype will mean less as the bubble will collapse, so better match-ups earlier in the season.

[PGsHeroes32]

Yup Northwestern will finally get a tourney bid. Im really impartial towards this, as it clearly takes away from the accomplishment but on the other hand it keeps MU in the tourney for years like next year when we could very well be down or also be great. So its kinda got a plus and minus too it.

[ChicosBailBonds]

So, will the quality of play be better in the 96 team field than it has been in the brutally bad NIT?  Good for media revenue, bad for the hoops fan.  No way do conferences give up their tourneys.  Expect them to start their conference play earlier, however, to intermix with OOC.  Conference play crunch hype will mean less as the bubble will collapse, so better match-ups earlier in the season.

Yes, the play will be better.  For several reasons.  The NIT is a letdown, teams have cashed it in and some don't even bother to show up.

Plus, if they do this right, some of those teams in the NIT currently won't even get a shot at this thing....UCONN, UNC, etc.  It will be the 23, 24, 25 win teams from smaller conferences that will be out to prove they belong and will bring everything they can in a national tournament.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Yup Northwestern will finally get a tourney bid. Im really impartial towards this, as it clearly takes away from the accomplishment but on the other hand it keeps MU in the tourney for years like next year when we could very well be down or also be great. So its kinda got a plus and minus too it.

Ironically, in that examination I posted last night of 96 teams seeded....the last team out was Northwestern.  At least per that sportswriter's thinking, NU still doesn't make it.   

[LovinCrowder]

After sitting through the incredibly boring and mismatched Ohio State/UCSB game yesterday and watching the massive exits at halftime, expanding the field is definitely the way to go.............it was like sitting through a glorified high school game....

[MikeyT42]

hmmmm. NCAA contract is up soon.

More games More $$. ESPN might as well just run the world. They're the only ones who could/would jump at this.

More games, 3 stations to broadcast on.

The NCAA is all about making money. They could give a #%$^ about the kids who bust their tails to make it as successful as it is.

[MarquetteDano]

Ironically, in that examination I posted last night of 96 teams seeded....the last team out was Northwestern.  At least per that sportswriter's thinking, NU still doesn't make it.   

Okay here's a question... assuming that it has always been 96 teams since 1990, what years would we have NOT made the tourney?

[ChicosBailBonds]

hmmmm. NCAA contract is up soon.

More games More $$. ESPN might as well just run the world. They're the only ones who could/would jump at this.

More games, 3 stations to broadcast on.

The NCAA is all about making money. They could give a #%$^ about the kids who bust their tails to make it as successful as it is.

Money is a fact of life.  It takes money to run college sports.  The NCAA is NOT all about making money and if you knew Myles Brand you would know that to be the case in a heartbeat.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Okay here's a question... assuming that it has always been 96 teams since 1990, what years would we have NOT made the tourney?

Not make it
1991 O'Neill's 2nd year 11-18 record
1992 O'Neill's 3rd year 16-13 record
1999 Deane's last year  14-15
2000 Crean's first year 15-14
2001 Crean's second year 15-14



The only years where we would have made it since 1990 that we didn't, IMO, would be 1995 (NIT final year).  1998 would be close.  2004 would be close

2005 we finished 7-9 in CUSA after the Diener injury...if they were going with my rule that you need a minimum .500 conference record, that would exclude them. 

[DavantesInferno]

I'm just worried how I would fill out my bracket.

[MarquetteDano]

Not make it
1991 O'Neill's 2nd year 11-18 record
1992 O'Neill's 3rd year 16-13 record
1999 Deane's last year  14-15
2000 Crean's first year 15-14
2001 Crean's second year 15-14



The only years where we would have made it since 1990 that we didn't, IMO, would be 1995 (NIT final year).  1998 would be close.  2004 would be close

2005 we finished 7-9 in CUSA after the Diener injury...if they were going with my rule that you need a minimum .500 conference record, that would exclude them. 

Sounds about right.  I would say we would have made it in 2004. Not so sure about '98 & '05

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'm just worried how I would fill out my bracket.

Modern technology will solve this huge question.