65, 68, or 96?

The NCAA tournament has had expansion rumors for the Division 1 men's basketball tournament for some time. The current model supports 65 of the best teams to play for a National Championship. There were other proposals for a 68-team tournament and even a massive 96-team tournament. Well according to the Associated Press, the NCAA tournament is inching towards a... 96-team tournament! An ESPN SportsNation poll had as many as 78% of sports fans vocally disapproving of a 96-team playoff. I'm here to blog about my own ideas about what should be the best playoff model.

UPDATES
4/22/2010: The NCAA is pushing towards taking the field of 65 to a field of 68. If the NCAA does this, I'll be very happy because it gives just three more deserving teams a chance to play for a National Championship. That would mean four play-in games and would not be a hot mess of tournament mayhem.

RECENT UPDATE: The NCAA has recently approved a 68-team playoff. However, some think the change to 96 is still very possible.

--- Why Do We Have the Tournament As it Is? ---

It's not easy picking 65 teams. Every conference champion from all 31 or so conferences automatically get in while the remainder have to be at-large picks. As is the case, there are a number of teams who get snubbed. For example, "how can (insert overrated team here) get in over (insert very good team here) when (very good team) lost to (cupcake team)?" The process is difficult. The NCAA tourney committee has their own thoughts on who should and shouldn't be in the tournament. You can only do so much to make your claim to play for a National Championship.

So with all of this said, you have a series of teams that make it, and those that don't. You have your Last Four In, and Last Four Out teams. Some teams are very good, but not good enough to make the NCAA tournament. Let's examine the playoff models with my own commentary.

--- The 65-Team Model ---

These are my thoughts concerning certain playoff models.

The 65-Team Model.
Don't fix what isn't broken. The 65-team model means that 63 teams are already locked... except for two. I like the 65-team model because that Play-In Game basically sets the mood for who should play to enter the tournament. These are usually two not-very-good teams that may likely get creamed by the #1 seed easily. At least this 65-team model gets you ready for the NCAA tournament. It sets the mood for when the real tournament games begin.

The 68-Team Model.
Personally, I'd be happy with a 68-team model. What this model calls for is for all four #16 seed slots to have two teams willing to play their way into March Madness. This would give only three more deserving teams a chance to play for a National Championship. It offers a competitive balance unlike any other. If you want to talk about Last Four In and Last Four Out, why not have some of those teams (especially the Last Four Out or really good mid-major and low-major teams) play their way into the Big Dance? A 68-team model would be VERY understandable.

The 96-Team Model.
Okay. Let's do a little math here. There are 65 teams in the current NCAA Tournament model. The 65 teams will be shortened to 64 once the NCAA tournament gets started proper. How many teams play in the NIT tournament model? Right- 32. Add 64 to 32, and you get 96. The only way I can think of the NCAA Tournament going from 65 to 96 is if the NIT gets phased out. Because very few people care about the NIT Tournament (since it isn't for the major championship), that is my idea that the NCAA Tournament wants to go to 96 because since people don't watch the NIT, why not make it so that the NIT teams have as much of a chance to win a National Championship as the NCAA tournament teams?

Now in practice, this is a great idea because it means that more teams have a chance to win a National Championship. However, you mean to tell me that there are, I don't know... 32 more teams deserving of a National Championship? I'm sorry- 60+ schools have an amazing chance to win a National Championship. They are all (or most of them) are very talented and are well equipped and appointed to win a National Championship, should the opportunity presents itself. Think about this for a moment- teams like Virginia Tech and North Carolina (despite UNC's laughable 2010 season) made it to the NIT. Their seasons could have been over and done, but the NIT gives them some hope. The NIT helps in recruiting. It helps strong programs become stronger for next season. There are (let's guess) 330 or so NCAA basketball teams. It means that about 25% or less of teams can play for a National Championship. You up that to about 40 or 35 percent of teams can realistically play for a National Championship. Some of those 32 NIT teams (I'm sorry) just weren't good enough to play for a National Championship in the NCAA Tournament. Don't give liabilities a National Championship hope- let the real champions come through to play for all the marbles.

Or think about it like this- why are there Bowl Games and BCS Bowl Games? Only ten of the best teams play in major Bowl games with a chance to play in major games, and only two can be among the chosen few to play for a National Championship. Every other team not good enough play in any of the non-BCS Bowl Games. I can understand 96 teams, but don't underrate the NIT. There are really 65 teams great enough for a National Championship, not 96, though I do appreciate the love and respect for other teams.

--- Thoughts on a 96-Team Playoff ---

What the bloody hell are you thinking, NCAA? Going with a 96 team playoff is absolutely ludicrous. The very best teams (and sometimes the most fortunate teams) are those who are the immortal ones among mortals. You can't have 32 very good teams to go along with the 65 that have already proven themselves this season. Championships and playoffs celebrate some of the best a sport has to offer. Think pro sports for a moment. Only so few can play for a major championship because they earned it. Granted the field is smaller for most pro sports, at least there are those teams worthy enough to play for the championship. You can't have several more championship-worthy teams when there are a number of teams that could all realistically win a championship. This is a bad idea. How do you even set up the TV deals to cover everything? You may have to start the season earlier or get rid of some of the exhibitional tournaments (such as the Maui Invitational, Great Alaska Shootout, Cable Car Classic, etc.) to make enough room to make the season be complete before the NBA playoffs begin.

You want to expand the tournament? Go with 68 teams. Give three more deserving teams a chance because there just aren't 96 teams that could realistically win a National Championship. You can't have 32 more teams that should have gotten in. Some of the higher-ranked NIT teams include some of the "BCS" conference schools. Then look at the mid-majors that were very good, but not good enough to be among the power teams.





I can't understand the NCAA going to 96 teams. A field of 65 is good, but 68 would be better. NOT 96. But, that's my idea. Feel free to offer your comments on this deal.