NCAA Making Contingency Plans For Less Than 68 Teams In Tourney

[Heisenberg]

The article asks Joe Lundari his opinion about going with less than 68 teams.  He says it is a real possibility.

The highlighted part is really interesting, Lundari seems to be suggesting they are also considering going with more than 68 teams (80?)

If the NCAA can't have 68 teams at its 2021 men's basketball tournament, bracketologist Joe Lunardi has contingency brackets at the ready

https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/villanova/pandemic-college-basketball-ncaa-mens-tournament-bracketologist-joe-lunardi-season-uncertainty-20210106.html



"For example, suppose after Jan. 20, the new administration says, 'We're going to have a national or some kind of partial lockdown for three weeks or four weeks or six weeks,'" Lunardi said Wednesday. "Some leagues might say, 'We're done.' The NCAA's intent is absolutely 68, as well it should be, and they need to plan for that. But to be certain that that's going to happen over two months out is just guessing really."

Then there's also the NCAA rule that a team must play a minimum of 13 games against Division I opponents to be considered for tournament selection. As of Wednesday, Duke had played just five games and Akron, the top-rated Mid-American Conference team in the NET rankings, had competed in four.

"I certainly don't think that the 13-game piece is going to come into play unless there is a major national shutdown," Lunardi said. "There are more teams closer to 13 than there are to two. So I don't think that's going to be an issue.

"If for some unforeseen reason a team can't get to 13, (NCAA senior vice president of basketball) Dan Gavitt has already said that waivers would be considered. If Duke somehow has 12 games heading into the ACC Tournament, and then the ACC Tournament gets canceled, I think there's a lot of pressure to have a waiver of some kind."

Regarding the 80-team bracket, Lunardi said if he headed the committee, and it could be done safely, he'd be inclined to invite more teams to the tournament. The event would begin with 16 opening-round games to be played on the home court of the higher seed. Teams that finished as regular-season and tournament champions in their conference would receive opening-round byes.

"We have fewer ways to evaluate this year," he said. "In order to capture the pool of good teams with a smaller sample size, a statistician would tell you, you need to increase the field, not decrease it. But look, any tournament is better than no tournament, so we're just trying to be prepared for as many contingencies as could still happen."

Because of limited non-conference play this season, you may see a team in the bracket with a losing record, Lunardi said, just another anomaly in an unusual year.

[tower912]

Wise to have contingency plans.

[MU82]

Wise to have contingency plans ... as long as they all include Marquette.

FIFY!

[muwarrior69]

FIFY!

Ah...Wojo gets a waiver.

[The Sultan]

While I am sure the NCAA is making such plans, this article doesn't address that.

[Boston Warrior]

Ncaa will see this as an opportunity to add more teams, make more money and create a new normal post pandemic.

[fjm]

Ncaa will see this as an opportunity to add more teams, make more money and create a new normal post pandemic.

And there is nothing wrong with that.

Look at the NFL. Added a playoff team due to this. The NFL will forever keep that 7th team and should just add an 8th while they are at it. More commercial revenue more game revenue. $$$$$$$$$

[fjm]

I should say though that it will decrease the excitement of making it.

But in the end it will still be about winning.

[MU82]

Ah...Wojo gets a waiver.

Whatever it takes.

Ncaa will see this as an opportunity to add more teams, make more money and create a new normal post pandemic.

Yeah, the title of this thread made me think that there was a chance fewer than 68 teams would be selected, but the body of the OP talked mostly about more than 68 going.

It's all uncharted territory. Whatever they do, I hope appropriate safety protocols are enacted. Beyond that, I'll be happy to watch however much NCAA tournament that the powers-that-be give us.

[brewcity77]

Typically, 100 teams get to play in the NCAA postseason. 68 NCAA, 32 NIT. Ignoring all the CBI/CIT style tournies, I actually get expanding it this year if there's no NIT. Though if they did, I would expand with an eye toward preferencing league champs that didn't win their autobids. That could be a pretty small number as many leagues will likely send their regular season champ and forgo the conference tournament.

Though that said, I actually think they should expand to 72. I think it would make for a better experience if done right and make both high and low majors happy.

[GooooMarquette]

They might very well invite 80 teams on Selection Sunday, and then lose a few to Covid testing before the opening round.

No matter what anyone decides, it's gonna be a strange tourney....

[Boston Warrior]

I do think the ncaa will view this as an opportunity to make a much bolder change.
Why not incorporate the nit? Go to 96 teams?
Everyone gets in?

This is a once in a lifetime pass to go for a money grab when it is needed and people are less focused to block change.
The need to make up money lost is great.

I could also see a power 5 or 6 conference divorce.

[The Sultan]

I do think the ncaa will view this as an opportunity to make a much bolder change.
Why not incorporate the nit? Go to 96 teams?
Everyone gets in?

This is a once in a lifetime pass to go for a money grab when it is needed and people are less focused to block change.
The need to make up money lost is great.

I could also see a power 5 or 6 conference divorce.

They aren't going to expand this year IMO. Too many scheduling issues already holding everything in one place.

No idea what you mean by a "divorce" though.

[GooooMarquette]

They aren't going to expand this year IMO. Too many scheduling issues already holding everything in one place.

No idea what you mean by a "divorce" though.

I'm guessing he means a tourney just for the power conferences.

I don't see that happening, because you'd miss the shocking upsets that make the opening rounds so special. You would also be excluding the best team in the country this season....

[BrewCity83]

Ah...Wojo gets a waiver.

Wojo only gets the easy tourney bids.

[brewcity77]

They aren't going to expand this year IMO. Too many scheduling issues already holding everything in one place.

No idea what you mean by a "divorce" though.

Long been rumored the P5 football conferences will break off and have their own basketball tournament so they can keep all the money. Though obviously some of the charm of the NCAA tournament is David upsetting Goliath, which goes away when all the participants are Goliaths.

[The Sultan]

Long been rumored the P5 football conferences will break off and have their own basketball tournament so they can keep all the money. Though obviously some of the charm of the NCAA tournament is David upsetting Goliath, which goes away when all the participants are Goliaths.

I don't think it happens. Too easy to make the ncaa the bogeyman for everything. Of course if they start messing with football money or start REALLY enforcing recruiting rules, that could change.

[MU82]

You would also be excluding the best team in the country this season....

Which is also top 10 pretty much every season.

I guess such a move would force Gonzaga to join a P5/6 league ... but like Sultan, I don't see it happening.

[dgies9156]

They aren't going to expand this year IMO. Too many scheduling issues already holding everything in one place.

No idea what you mean by a "divorce" though.

Lunardi also had thought through smaller brackets, down to 48 teams. Don't see that happening either, btu you never know.

[Heisenberg]

Lunardi also had thought through smaller brackets, down to 48 teams. Don't see that happening either, btu you never know.

He noted a specific reason for this ... If the new administration announced a 4 to 6-week lockdown that meant suspending all games.  In that case, he speculated a lot of conferences would end the season and the reason we would have less than 48 teams is that might be all that can qualify.

I don't think this will happen (or I hope it will not happen).

[brewcity77]

Which is also top 10 pretty much every season.

I guess such a move would force Gonzaga to join a P5/6 league ... but like Sultan, I don't see it happening.

Boise State was a top-10 in football 5 out of 6 years and was shut out of the championship. Three straight years they entered the bowl season undefeated. If the P5 could shut Gonzaga and other teams out of their payday, they'd do it in a heartbeat.

[wadesworld]

Boise State was a top-10 in football 5 out of 6 years and was shut out of the championship. Three straight years they entered the bowl season undefeated. If the P5 could shut Gonzaga and other teams out of their payday, they'd do it in a heartbeat.

Gonzaga basketball is making the NCAA a LOT more money than, say, DePaul basketball is.

Boise State football is not making more money for the NCAA than even a program like Washington State football is.

[Badgerhater]

He noted a specific reason for this ... If the new administration announced a 4 to 6-week lockdown that meant suspending all games.  In that case, he speculated a lot of conferences would end the season and the reason we would have less than 48 teams is that might be all that can qualify.

I don't think this will happen (or I hope it will not happen).

If it happens there will not be a tournament because you don't lock down America and turn it back on overnight to the point where one can have a basketball tournament.

[GooooMarquette]

If it happens there will not be a tournament because you don't lock down America and turn it back on overnight to the point where one can have a basketball tournament.

Agreed.

I also seriously doubt the administration will shut down the country. The time to do that would have been several months ago. At this point, we are way too far along for it to make a serious difference.

[brewcity77]

Gonzaga basketball is making the NCAA a LOT more money than, say, DePaul basketball is.

Boise State football is not making more money for the NCAA than even a program like Washington State football is.

We're not talking about the NCAA. And cutting that money away from the Gonzagas of football is exactly why no G5 school will ever play in the currently constructed bowl playoff.