2026 NCAA Tournament

[kreed5120]

34 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

 

 

Of those schools it's not surprising to hear Gonzaga (doesn't even feel right calling them a mid-major), VCU, and St. Louis are spending significantly more than other mid-majors. I wasn't aware of High Point, but evidently it's an elitist private University.

 

There are talks of expanding the tournament, perhaps to 76 teams. Under that scenario the bubble line would be pushed back so using this year as an example instead of Akron being a 12 seed it would become a 13 seed with an expanded tournament. Things are probably going to get worse for mid-majors before they get better.

[Zipped Up]

1 hour ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Miami OH even faced a worse team. Really pathetic effort. 

Tennessee would beat that Texas Tech team without Coppin worse than they beat Miami. Akron matched up way better v TT with a Senior laden lineup and Tech was without its best player. Akron gagged on the moment as usual, while Miami just got beat by a superior physical team, kind of like Arizona huh?  Come back and mock after Akron actually wins a tournament game.  That’s what hurting the MAC prospects for the future, the fact that Akron can’t represent. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

47 minutes ago, Zipped Up said:

Tennessee would beat that Texas Tech team without Coppin worse than they beat Miami. Akron matched up way better v TT with a Senior laden lineup and Tech was without its best player. Akron gagged on the moment as usual, while Miami just got beat by a superior physical team, kind of like Arizona huh?  Come back and mock after Akron actually wins a tournament game.  That’s what hurting the MAC prospects for the future, the fact that Akron can’t represent. 

 

You're fun.

 

Talk to the committee about who the better team is. Even without Toppin, Texas Tech was a 5 seed vs. Tennessee's 6 seed. Iowa State lost to Toppin-less Texas Tech. 39.3% 3P shooting team vs. 33.4% (Tennessee). The 3 ball is the great equalizer and Texas Tech is NASTY. Arguably would've been a 3 or 4 seed at worse with Toppin. Akron did matchup better vs. them, but that doesn't mean they aren't lethal when they're on. We still needed them to be off. 

Edited 14 hours ago by Let'sGoZips94

[Let'sGoZips94]

 

 

[clarkwgriswold]

7 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

 

I have a whole new appreciation for this guy.

[GP1]

12 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

There are talks of expanding the tournament, perhaps to 76 teams.

Edited 3 hours ago by GP1

[GP1]

12 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

There are talks of expanding the tournament, perhaps to 76 teams. 

I'm not opposed to this, but it doesn't address the major problem college basketball is having. Basically, it's like crapping your pants then changing your shirt. 

 

The problem CBB is having is the regular season is getting squeezed out by the college football playoff and NFL playoffs on the front end leaving less time for regular fans to pay close attention so everything becomes about March Madness. 

 

My questions are these. Why does it have to be March Madness?  Why couldn't it be April Madness? Could it be May Madness? Could the season be pushed back to starting a month later and have more time for fan interest to grow? Is it easier for fans in many parts of the country to get to regular season games in January/February or March/April?

 

Now that the players are professionals, school doesn't matter so play whenever it makes it possible for people to be more interested in the sport. 

[kreed5120]

31 minutes ago, GP1 said:

I'm not opposed to this, but it doesn't address the major problem college basketball is having. Basically, it's like crapping your pants then changing your shirt. 

 

The problem CBB is having is the regular season is getting squeezed out by the college football playoff and NFL playoffs on the front end leaving less time for regular fans to pay close attention so everything becomes about March Madness. 

 

My questions are these. Why does it have to be March Madness?  Why couldn't it be April Madness? Could it be May Madness? Could the season be pushed back to starting a month later and have more time for fan interest to grow? Is it easier for fans in many parts of the country to get to regular season games in January/February or March/April?

 

Now that the players are professionals, school doesn't matter so play whenever it makes it possible for people to be more interested in the sport. 

 

If I'm to be honest I'm not sure there is much college basketball could do to grow in popularity. March Madness does extend into April already. The Final Four this year extends from April 4-6. If they pushed it to start in April then you would be competing directly with the Masters (April 6th-12th), NFL Draft (April 23rd-25th), NBA Playoffs (starts April 18th), and MLB opening day (it already overlaps slightly here but bulk of tournament is over beforehand).

 

IMO March Madness wouldn't be what it is today if it had to directly compete with those other events that I mentioned. You might disagree and that's okay. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

[Illini Zip]

33 minutes ago, GP1 said:

I'm not opposed to this, but it doesn't address the major problem college basketball is having. Basically, it's like crapping your pants then changing your shirt. 

 

The problem CBB is having is the regular season is getting squeezed out by the college football playoff and NFL playoffs on the front end leaving less time for regular fans to pay close attention so everything becomes about March Madness. 

 

My questions are these. Why does it have to be March Madness?  Why couldn't it be April Madness? Could it be May Madness? Could the season be pushed back to starting a month later and have more time for fan interest to grow? Is it easier for fans in many parts of the country to get to regular season games in January/February or March/April?

 

Now that the players are professionals, school doesn't matter so play whenever it makes it possible for people to be more interested in the sport. 

I’m opposed to increasing the field. I don’t want teams under .500 getting in and that’s exactly what the large conferences would be pushing for. I do have a problem with other things like the NET and every once in a while the committee goes insane, but the tournament is still the best event in all of sports, IMO. Now my friends have been using the term “March Sadness” due to the increasing lack of Cinderella stories.

 

As for changing the calendar, I think every hour of every day have been fought for and negotiated between sports executives and media so much so that it would be nearly impossible. Spring for one has been owned by the Masters for decades. 

[AkronAlumnus]

Favorites went 16-0 yesterday. 

 

Edit: article to supplement - https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/march-madness-betting-favorites-go-16-0-in-friday-s-slate-for-first-time-since-1992/ar-AA1Z6lue?apiversion=v2&domshim=1&noservercache=1&noservertelemetry=1&batchservertelemetry=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1

Edited 1 hour ago by AkronAlumnus

[ZippyRulz]

14 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Of those schools it's not surprising to hear Gonzaga (doesn't even feel right calling them a mid-major), VCU, and St. Louis are spending significantly more than other mid-majors. I wasn't aware of High Point, but evidently it's an elitist private University.

 

There are talks of expanding the tournament, perhaps to 76 teams. Under that scenario the bubble line would be pushed back so using this year as an example instead of Akron being a 12 seed it would become a 13 seed with an expanded tournament. Things are probably going to get worse for mid-majors before they get better.

 

Those 1 vs. 19 and 2 vs. 18 seed games would be glorious.

 

[kreed5120]

2 minutes ago, ZippyRulz said:

 

Those 1 vs. 19 and 2 vs. 18 seed games would be glorious.

 

 

As @Illini Zip said it's not about getting more mid or low majors in. It's about getting more .500 P4 teams in like Auburn.

 

It would be a similar setup to now. Just instead of bottom 4 conference winners competing for 2 spots it would be bottom 8 conference champions competing for 4. The same with the last 4 in for at-larges would become the last 8. This setup slide anyone below the bubble line 1 seed down since fewer low majors would make it to the round of 64.