NCAA Basketball: The Case for - and against a possible NCAA Tournament expansion

The NCAA has reportedly made proposals regarding the expansion of the NCAA Tournament, with four to eight teams being added being among the primary proposals. The proposal has been met with a largely negative response from fans, most of whom believe the field of 68 is the perfect size for the Big Dance. All things considered, both positives and negatives emerge from these new proposals, creating strong cases both for and against the expansion.

Should the tournament expand by just four teams - increasing the field to 72 teams, we would likely see a "first eight" rather than the current "first four" setup. However, the first eight games would likely retain the tournament schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday, as along with this, all mid-major autobids would get a first-round bye and not have a first four-game in Dayton. All in all, an expansion to 72 would largely be a minor change that wouldn't be very noticeable after Tuesday and Wednesday.

However, expanding the field by eight teams to 76 teams would be a much more noticeable change, as their first four setup would potentially become a first 12 setup, with 12 at-large teams playing in midweek play-in games. While the Tuesday and Wednesday schedules would look significantly different in this scenario, the Thursday-Sunday would remain the same, with the only difference being a few more teams playing their second game in three days.

All things considered, the most noticeable differences between these fields would be seen throughout the regular season with tournament bracketology & the bubble. The number of teams in contention for at-large bids would evidently grow and it is very likely that several weaker teams that wouldn't be close to the tournament conversation in the current format would find themselves in the tournament bubble.

This year's bubble ultimately was a different story, as several very good teams found themselves on the outside looking in on selection Sunday. Had a 72-team format been in place this year, teams such as Indiana State and Seton Hall would've made the tournament and avoided the tournament snubs they had this year. As for the postseason, the significant changes in both of these scenarios would largely be seen on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the highly anticipated opening weekend we are all accustomed to will remain as-is.

While there is a strong case for a slight expansion, there might be an even stronger case to keep the current tournament format. The NCAA Tournament is one of the most anticipated and enjoyable times of the season where teams - and players - can become household names overnight. Filling out brackets is something that almost everyone seems to participate in nowadays. At the end of the day, the NCAA Tournament is already one of the most beloved sporting events, and there's no reason to change something that is already working to perfection.

Additionally, making the NCAA Tournament is a tough task for any team, regardless of their name or size, and hearing your name called on Selection Sunday is a special moment that rewards the hard work put in throughout the year. An expansion of the tournament would absolutely alter that, and while it would remain a rewarding experience, with more teams making the tournament, it would slightly diminish the value and significance of making the NCAA tournament.

At the end of day, both options bring plenty of pros and cons to the table that must be weighed. More March Madness games certainly sounds like an enticing idea but would it be worth the cost of the reduced value of the NCAA tournament bid? While our current tournament format is almost perfect, is the addition of four at-large bids in order to allow all auto bid mid-majors to avoid playing in a first four game in Dayton worth it? There are plenty of questions like this that will need to be answered before a decision regarding potential NCAA Tournament changes can be made.

With all of these factors considered, while there is a very strong case for the slight expansion to 72 teams, the current March Madness field of 68 format is an exciting and rewarding one that continues to captivate the country year after year, and there's no reason to make any changes to what we already have.