If some power conference stakeholders get their way, double-digit seeds like NC State may be the only type of Cinderella team in the NCAA Tournament of the future.

Along with the power conferences’ pursuit to expand the 68-team tournament is their not-so-subtle push, both publicly and privately, to review the merits of awarding one-bid conferences with automatic berths.

According to sources familiar with high-level expansion discussions, members of the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee are mindful of both the enormous leverage that power conferences – specifically the SEC and Big Ten – possess and that there is little anyone can do to stand in their way.

If the door shuts on mid-majors from one-bid leagues, then the only remaining underdogs will be pseudo-Cinderella teams from high-major conferences.

Don’t be surprised if watching a power conferences-only March Madness induces this collective reaction from America: Yawn.

Yes, I love the first weekend of the tournament, because of the great storylines like Yale and Oakland. Not as interested once it gets to the second weekend.

The Ncaa could take away the power of the power conferences by adding one more week to the ncaa tournament and inviting all D1 schools.

(03-25-2024 10:55 AM)ez272 Wrote:  The Ncaa could take away the power of the power conferences by adding one more week to the ncaa tournament and inviting all D1 schools.

As mjs will attest, I have been advocating for that for years. Back when Milan (Hickory) won the Indiana high school basketball championship (1953??), I believe that there were more than 300 teams who competed. You can Google and correct me, of course).

What is the downside for letting all teams in? Maybe be the end of conference tournaments.

Let all D1 schools that had a winning record in their conference play. Possibly eliminate individual conference post season tourney.

(03-25-2024 10:55 AM)ez272 Wrote:  The Ncaa could take away the power of the power conferences by adding one more week to the ncaa tournament and inviting all D1 schools.

BINGO! That is the answer. If all the teams are going to the Dance, there would be no reason to hold the conference tournaments, and you gain several days that way.

(03-26-2024 04:36 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  

(03-25-2024 10:55 AM)ez272 Wrote:  The Ncaa could take away the power of the power conferences by adding one more week to the ncaa tournament and inviting all D1 schools.

BINGO! That is the answer. If all the teams are going to the Dance, there would be no reason to hold the conference tournaments, and you gain several days that way.

Power schools won't ditch the usually meaningless conference tournaments (I guess Oregon and NC State would disagree this year) because they bring in too much money. I have always argued that the conference tournaments mean that every team is "in" the NCAA tournament. All they have to do is win their conference tournament. Chicago State, the last independent, is joining the NEC. I guess you could argue that 3 teams didn't make the OVC tournament (Not sure what other league has a similar set-up), but I just don't see #1 playing #365 drawing a lot of interest. I really don't think they should mess with the NCAA tournament. It is great the way it is. I could live with adding a few more play in games (may 8 teams?), but more than that devalues the entire season.

#1 would not play #365. #1 would get a two-game bye.

(03-27-2024 08:39 AM)ez272 Wrote:  #1 would not play #365. #1 would get a two-game bye.

Simple solution. NO SEEDING.