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The Daily OrangeMBB | More madness? Jim Boeheim is one of many who wants to expand the Tournament
By Brian Tahmosh
Posted: 3/27/08, 1:07 AM EST Section: Sports
Boeheim has gained plenty of support among his colleagues with a more moderate plan to add up to seven teams, allowing for four opening round games before the field is set at 64 for the weekend.
Selection committee chair Tom O'Connor has heard all the arguments for and against expanding the Tournament. But he said there has been no formal presentation or formal discussion on the matter.
"It's really that there's a number of people that have an opinion on that, and they've expressed their opinion, which is fine," O'Connor said. "We've talked about it with the committee, and at this time both the committee and the board of directors of the NCAA feel that the Tournament field is exactly where it should be."
O'Connor said expansion is something the committee will discuss in the future, like any other matter, but the current focus is on the 2008 Tournament.
"We're not even thinking about that right now," O'Connor said. "We have a meeting in May, and then in the summer meeting we talk about some strategic planning. So for right now it's not an agenda I have sitting on the top of the list."
Mississippi State head coach Rick Stansbury, whose team did make the field of 65 this year as an eight seed, supports expansion because he said the percentage of teams involved in postseason play is too low. With 334 teams in Division I vying for 65 spots in the NCAA tournament, 32 NIT bids and 16 spots in the new College Basketball Invitational tournament, only 34 percent of programs have the chance to play a postseason game.
Meanwhile, in Division I football, 120 teams compete for the chance to play in 32 bowl games, meaning 64 teams (53.3 percent) experience postseason play.
"That's a huge difference," Stansbury said. "I think we ought to keep up with the changes of time and give more teams opportunities. I think it's definitely something that needs to be done. I think it's something in the future the game of basketball needs and a lot of coaches probably deserve."
Selection committee chair Tom O'Connor has heard all the arguments for and against expanding the Tournament. But he said there has been no formal presentation or formal discussion on the matter.
"It's really that there's a number of people that have an opinion on that, and they've expressed their opinion, which is fine," O'Connor said. "We've talked about it with the committee, and at this time both the committee and the board of directors of the NCAA feel that the Tournament field is exactly where it should be."
O'Connor said expansion is something the committee will discuss in the future, like any other matter, but the current focus is on the 2008 Tournament.
"We're not even thinking about that right now," O'Connor said. "We have a meeting in May, and then in the summer meeting we talk about some strategic planning. So for right now it's not an agenda I have sitting on the top of the list."
Mississippi State head coach Rick Stansbury, whose team did make the field of 65 this year as an eight seed, supports expansion because he said the percentage of teams involved in postseason play is too low. With 334 teams in Division I vying for 65 spots in the NCAA tournament, 32 NIT bids and 16 spots in the new College Basketball Invitational tournament, only 34 percent of programs have the chance to play a postseason game.
Meanwhile, in Division I football, 120 teams compete for the chance to play in 32 bowl games, meaning 64 teams (53.3 percent) experience postseason play.
"That's a huge difference," Stansbury said. "I think we ought to keep up with the changes of time and give more teams opportunities. I think it's definitely something that needs to be done. I think it's something in the future the game of basketball needs and a lot of coaches probably deserve."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Scott
posted 3/27/08 @ 6:36 AM EST
The tournament is perfect as is. The ones whining are the ones on the bubble a fairly regular basis. Part of the appeal of the tournement is the success of the little guys, the Sienas, the Davidsons, the George Masons that are competing. (Continued…)
student
posted 3/27/08 @ 9:15 AM EST
I think the tournament would be better if there were no "automatic" bids. You win your conference tournament? Great, let the committee decide if that's enough to get you in the tournament. (Continued…)
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