There is talk making the rounds around college campuses all over the country of expanding the current NCAA tournament field from 65 to 96 teams. The thought process has to be that if 32 worked great, 64 was better and 65 is fantastic that 96 will be (Bill Walton voice) PHE-NOM-E-NAL! However, I am worried about such a travesty occurring and here are the top 3 reasons why this should not happen.
1. Slick 65
Sixty-five teams is currently the most that the field needs to expand. There is already enough mediocrity that gets in the tournament every year that doesn't make it far at all and are forgotten by the time the next game comes around. Yes, there are the magical runs of George Mason-esque teams but once you get to the 14-16 seeds the chances of a Cinderella being born gets minuscule. The current field still allows for the excitement and fever that all bracketologists get in mid-March, and the drama of upsets. Does anybody want to see Seton Hall play Oregon State in a 1st Round game??? That's what the NIT is for, but then again maybe it needs expanded to allow Valdosta State and Wash U.
2. The cheapening of the regular season
If 96 teams were to get into the NCAA tournament every year, what would be the point of even playing the regular season? There are some 350 ( give or take a few) teams in Division 1 basketball and you want to allow 25% of them to make the field? Ridiculous. Mid-major teams are going to be harmed the most by this if the expansion is enacted. Now if it comes down to 2 teams, 1 a mid-major with a good record will more than likely be looked over for a major conference team that has a lesser record. The Cinderella magic will be cheapened and will be replaced by a bunch of ugly stepsisters. Any conference tournaments will be useless; what is going to be the desire for Cincinnati to try to win the Big East crown when, even with their sub-par record, they'd have a great chance to make the tournament.
3. Live and Learn
I love College Football and think, next to the NFL, it has one of the most exciting regular seasons. Suspense is at its apex come the end of the season when conference titles are on the line. However, after the title games there comes Bowl Season, which is nauseating. I could care less who wins the Meineke Tire and Lube Bowl or the PapaJohns.com Bowl. Saturation of the bowl season has occured and besides getting into pools to win (ahem, defending RSS bowl pick 'em champ) there is no point to watching. Expansion to 96 teams would severely hurt the mystique and magic of March Madness and will spawn their own ShamWow and SlapChop games that I won't watch.
When necessary, I feel a Special Comment will be necessary to inject some personal feelings I have regarding a certain topic, hopefully more sensical and less insane than that other guy...
A college football playoff is something I wish would come true. The BCS, although I don't hate it, takes some suspense and drama away from the bowls and leaves more questions and answers at the end of the season. When there are multiple undefeated teams (Boise State/TCU) who don't make the big game they get an "atta boy" and a pat on the back for busting their butts all season but nothing more. A playoff would make this better but it won't happen. Why? It will run into exam time for the students. AND PUTTING 31 EXTRA TEAMS INTO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT WON'T!?!? Seriously, a 96 team playoff getting reeks of hypocrisy on the part of the NCAA. Many proposals for a football playoff only extend the season by 1 week. How long will an expansion extend the season. 1 week. WTF NCAA!? I have finals during the spring that fall around tournament time; many schools do. To make one stance regarding football and change it for basketball is quite hypocritical and would only expose the administrators of colleges across this country as flip-floppers. If the field gets to 96, shame on you, NCAA and Collegiate Executives.
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