NCAA Reportedly Considering Expanding Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments to 76 Teams

The NCAA is reportedly considering expanding the men's and women's basketball tournaments from 68 to 76 teams. The last expansion occurred in 2011, when three teams were added.

Key Details of the Proposed Expansion

• The expansion would add eight at-large bids, increasing the total to 76 teams.
• The first two days of the tournament would feature 12 games among 24 teams at two sites, replacing the current First Four format.
• The traditional 64-team bracket would begin on Thursday after the opening games.
• Teams playing in the opening games would need to win seven games, rather than six, to win the championship.

Coach Hurley Weighs In

"Playing in the tournament should be a privilege, not a right."

UConn head coach Dan Hurley expressed concerns about the expansion. According to Hurley, the qualification process makes the regular season intense and that playing in the tournament should be a privilege, not a right.

He stated that expanding too much could diminish the tournament's value. Hurley also noted that he values the difficulty of qualifying and that teams still need to win six games to win the title.