https://www.si.com/college-basketball/ncaa-president-hints-march-march-madness-field-could-expand

"Yahoo! Sports' Ross Dellenger reported in the summer that the Round of 64 format would remain, meaning any expansions would increase the number of play-in games. That same report mentioned that an expansion could occur for the 2025–26 season."

Personally, I think it's fine as it is.  It's not like the expanded field would allow the MEEAC regular season champ into the field, should they get upset in the conference tourney.  It would just let a 18-12 Syracuse team in when they should be sitting at home watching.

I've always had a theory that the NCAA is going to ruin its own product with expansion because what happens when the bracket doesn't fit on a page anymore?  Have to think that starts to kill office pools.

NIT has already put the hammer down on small schools by no longer doing auto bids for regular season champs of smaller leagues, which I thought was stupid.  Like you say, expansion just means we get more middling/.500 power conference teams that should've won more regular season games to get in.

9 hours ago, Tranquility Base said:

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/ncaa-president-hints-march-march-madness-field-could-expand

"Yahoo! Sports' Ross Dellenger reported in the summer that the Round of 64 format would remain, meaning any expansions would increase the number of play-in games. That same report mentioned that an expansion could occur for the 2025–26 season."

Personally, I think it's fine as it is.  It's not like the expanded field would allow the MEEAC regular season champ into the field, should they get upset in the conference tourney.  It would just let a 18-12 Syracuse team in when they should be sitting at home watching.

If they are going to expand anymore, then they might as well get rid of the conference tournaments and just have 1 big tournament. 

Four 90 team "regions" only adds 2 more rounds and 1 round of "play-in" games.

6 minutes ago, DanvilleFan said:

I've always had a theory that the NCAA is going to ruin its own product with expansion because what happens when the bracket doesn't fit on a page anymore?  Have to think that starts to kill office pools.

NIT has already put the hammer down on small schools by no longer doing auto bids for regular season champs of smaller leagues, which I thought was stupid.  Like you say, expansion just means we get more middling/.500 power conference teams that should've won more regular season games to get in.

They are working their way in that direction in football. 
With 4 teams the 5th team is unhappy. 
With the new 12 team format, isn't the 13th team going to be unhappy? 
And just using the latest bracket that was just put out, that 13th team is Georgia.  And without going real far out on a limb, I'd give them a chance to beat any of the other 12 in the bracket.

2 hours ago, No Hiding Here....BC 21 said:

They are working their way in that direction in football. 
With 4 teams the 5th team is unhappy. 
With the new 12 team format, isn't the 13th team going to be unhappy? 
And just using the latest bracket that was just put out, that 13th team is Georgia.  And without going real far out on a limb, I'd give them a chance to beat any of the other 12 in the bracket.

Wrong thread.

1 hour ago, Voice of Reason said:

Wrong thread.

Not based on what I bolded in @DanvilleFan's comment.  "the NCAA is going to ruin its own product with expansion"

Thanks though

Brackets are what keeps a large portion of the population invested in the tournament. With even more play-in games you get more uncertainty in who the first round match-ups will be. Meaning the mad rush everyone has filling out baskets Sunday night or Monday at work, gets tempered a bit waiting on the play-in games. 

This tournament needs to stay tournament bracket friendly or risk losing a segment of casual interest that brings eyes to their tournament.