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Topic: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening

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medinabuckeye1

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Re: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening
« Reply #28 on: April 29, 2026, 05:36:57 PM »
Man, the pre-‘85 tournament would’ve set your teeth on edge.

Beyond relegating or dropping smaller conference teams, any other ideas for making a more competitive tournament?
Yes, what I just typed.  Have the worst teams play for their spot in the 'real' 64-team tournament.  This would absolutely make the 64-team tournament more competitive by eliminating some of the worst teams.  

As discussed earlier, #13 seeds and below haven't won a game in two years.  They are undeniably slipping at least relative to the top-4 seeds which is making the tournament less competitive.  If we are expanding to 76 anyway then I'd prefer we do it by having the worst 24 teams play each other in what I would still view as a "play-in round" to get to the 'real' 64-team tournament.  Once you did that, the 'real' 64-team tournament would absolutely be more competitive.  

MaximumSam

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Re: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening
« Reply #29 on: April 29, 2026, 05:55:36 PM »
I am anti "more competitive" games. The NCAA tourney is single elimination. The top seeds earned an easier game. If their games are getting easier, then all the more reason to earn a top seed. 

bayareabadger

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Re: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening
« Reply #30 on: April 29, 2026, 05:56:40 PM »
Yes, what I just typed.  Have the worst teams play for their spot in the 'real' 64-team tournament.  This would absolutely make the 64-team tournament more competitive by eliminating some of the worst teams. 

As discussed earlier, #13 seeds and below haven't won a game in two years.  They are undeniably slipping at least relative to the top-4 seeds which is making the tournament less competitive.  If we are expanding to 76 anyway then I'd prefer we do it by having the worst 24 teams play each other in what I would still view as a "play-in round" to get to the 'real' 64-team tournament.  Once you did that, the 'real' 64-team tournament would absolutely be more competitive. 
That’s just relegating them.

So I’m seeing that answer being no?
« Last Edit: April 29, 2026, 06:01:57 PM by bayareabadger »

medinabuckeye1

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Re: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening
« Reply #31 on: April 29, 2026, 06:54:45 PM »
That’s just relegating them.

So I’m seeing that answer being no?
I mean, if you are calling that relegation and I guess it is then fine, no.

For me though it goes back to something that @Brutus Buckeye pointed out on page #1, it gives them a bona fide chance to win an NCAAT game. Granted, it is a play-in game that nobody actually cares about but a lot of MiamiOh fans were happy with their win and if they hadn't been relegated to a play-in they'd never have had that opportunity.

MarqHusker

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Re: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening
« Reply #32 on: April 29, 2026, 08:38:03 PM »
I like how they plan to get under Medinabuckeye's skin by playing half these intro games in either Pacific,, Mountain or Central time zones.

Dayton apparently is the mecca of these type games and will remain a hosr for some of them.  

medinabuckeye1

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Re: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening
« Reply #33 on: April 29, 2026, 09:02:57 PM »
I like how they plan to get under Medinabuckeye's skin by playing half these intro games in either Pacific,, Mountain or Central time zones.

Dayton apparently is the mecca of these type games and will remain a hosr for some of them. 
Where did you find info on host sites?

I hadn't seen anything but since it is 12 games total I assumed they would want three sites (2 games per site per night, 2 nights = 12 games). 

MarqHusker

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Re: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening
« Reply #34 on: April 29, 2026, 11:34:39 PM »
a passing blip in the cbssports.com   story in reference to the non-Dayton site of these additional games.   I immediately thought of an 11 v 11 seed game between tOSU vs Auburn being played in Salt Lake City on Tuesday.


One source told CBS Sports that it will for sure be in either the Central, Mountain or Pacific time zones and that a decision won't happen until either this summer or in the early fall.

OrangeAfroMan

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“The Swamp is where Gators live.  We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous." - Steve Spurrier

OrangeAfroMan

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Re: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening
« Reply #36 on: April 30, 2026, 03:42:04 AM »
“The Swamp is where Gators live.  We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous." - Steve Spurrier

bayareabadger

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Re: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening
« Reply #37 on: April 30, 2026, 08:23:39 AM »
I’m realizing the Medina-friendly tournament won’t have traditional seeds. They’re the great barrier to competitive games. The very best play the very worst when we have the most games. There’s a lower chance like teams play one another. As the theoretically most even teams are literally divided. 

If you could avoid gamesmanship, I’m thinking this Medina-run event spend the first weekend matching up like seeds. So the 1s play a four team tournament, as do the 2s, 3s etc. We think throwing VT and Stanford into a play-in is good for competitiveness, this supercharges it! In the second weekend, we can pair 1-2, 3-4, 5-6. It would make for a weird final weekend, but we’re here to maximize competitive games, damn if we haven’t done it.

The downside would be, you end up with some gamesmanship, manipulating seeds, so, an alternative would be completely random seeding. Maybe The top two seeds, meat and round one, but if more competitiveness is the Medina dream, well, that would work toward it.

ManHawk

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Re: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening
« Reply #38 on: April 30, 2026, 09:08:13 AM »
Where did you find info on host sites?

I hadn't seen anything but since it is 12 games total I assumed they would want three sites (2 games per site per night, 2 nights = 12 games).
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48621117/sources-ncaa-basketball-tournaments-set-move-76-teams

"The mechanics of the expansion in the men's tournament would include eight additional at-large bids. What's known now as the First Four -- eight teams playing four games in Dayton, Ohio -- would expand to 12 games played by 24 teams at two sites, one of which was expected to remain in Dayton.


The location of the new site has yet to be determined, but it was expected to be west of the Eastern time zone to help with logistics.

The expansion would lead to an additional eight men's games, meaning the Tuesday and Wednesday of the NCAA tournament would feature 24 of the 76 men's teams."

I take this to mean there will be 3 games in Dayton on Tues and 3 games in Dayton on Wed.  And the same for one other site that is not in the Eastern time zone.
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betarhoalphadelta

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Re: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening
« Reply #39 on: April 30, 2026, 09:21:32 AM »
Of course you know the committee will be biased and give IU preference for the Dayton site. 

MikeDeTiger

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Re: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening
« Reply #40 on: April 30, 2026, 09:35:15 AM »
at least until the 2nd round

I already ignore the CFBP's until the second round.  

FearlessF

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Re: CBB - Apparently expanding the NCAAT to 76 from 68 teams is happening
« Reply #41 on: April 30, 2026, 09:40:44 AM »
much easier for me to ignore basketball
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