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Should NCAA Tournament Be Expanded?

Larger Field Would Mean More Money, NCAA Says

POSTED: 10:23 am PDT March 18, 2010
UPDATED: 10:30 am PDT March 18, 2010

This year's Final Four in Indianapolis could mark the end of an NCAA tournament with just 65 teams.

The Indianapolis-based organization is considering an expansion of its popular men's basketball championship. More teams could be added as early as next season, Indianapolis TV station WRTV reported.

One possibility would fold the NIT into the NCAA tournament, creating a massive 96-team bracket.

Sports pundits have weighed in on the issue for months, many unfavorably, and many fans tend to agree.

"I think that's way too many," one fan said, while another felt that, 'It'd take a long time to do the tournament."

NCAA officials said an expanded tournament could still be played in three weeks.

And more teams could mean more money from a new TV rights holder. After this season, the NCAA has an opt-out clause in its current contract with CBS.

A potential new rights holder, widely speculated to be the ESPN family of networks, would likely welcome the expansion. More games would undoubtedly mean more revenue for the TV partner and the NCAA.

NCAA Vice President Greg Shaheen admitted that the extra money could provide a big boost to the NCAA's member schools.

"We have a great event, and the opportunity to expand the experience and exposure for several hundred more student athletes, and to have it make sense for the NCAA, is a prospect we need to look into," he said. "We won't do anything to tamper with March Madness in terms of affecting the greatness of it. It's just a question of, 'Can it be greater?' and that's we're going to take a look at."

While some fans question the idea, a number of college coaches, including Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, have come out in support of the plan. Others, such as the University of Kentucky's John Calipari, oppose expanding the field.

"There's nothing for certain," Shaheen said. "We're in a period right now where we're able to review our options, maybe, and we're under no obligation to even make a change."
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