ESPN College GameDay has become grounds for a heated debate on the controversial proposed extension of the NCAA Tournament.
During a recent episode of ESPN’s College GameDay, discussions centered around the possibility of the NCAA Tournament expansion from 68 to a 96 teams.
The conversation lashed strong waves with ESPN analyst Jay Bilas describing the idea as “profoundly stupid.”
Jay Bilas blasts NCAA Tournament expansion: ‘Never underestimate the NCAA’s capacity to do something stupid’ https://t.co/oXkQPqLGhf pic.twitter.com/L8KsSafNMy
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 25, 2024
The debate sparked off when fellow panelists Andraya Carter, Jay Williams, and Seth Greenberg discussed the expansion.
While Carter disagreed, Williams and Greenberg argued in favor. They claimed that too many good teams are left out with the current March Madness structure.
Bilas, however, shared a different perspective, “Never underestimate the NCAA’s capacity to do something stupid. And if they did this, it would be profoundly stupid,” were his exact words.
“When anyone says more teams need access to the tournament, every team has the same access to the tournament now. All you have to do is win your conference automatic bid, which is against your peers with a group of teams that you have chosen to be among.”
Should the NCAA men's tournament expand? 🤔 #CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/OFzJppstiU
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) February 24, 2024
Bilas also questioned the logistics involved in managing a 96-team tournament censuring, “What are we going to do now? We’re going to go to 96, and we’re going to print the bracket out first on legal paper, then on a roll of toilet paper and roll it out. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Last week, NCAA President Charlie Baker shared that the idea of expansion could be considered, although with caution.
“If it’s done with care,” was his take.
According to Baker, various coaches, especially those on the brink of the current tournament bubble, have proposed the idea of more teams participating.
The NCAA’s basketball committee has reportedly been contemplating the idea since last summer, according to Baker.
However, concrete decisions or propositions for the same are yet to be declared.
“Most of the people who follow college sports think the NCAA tournament in basketball is perfect, right?” Baker said. “So anything that’s done to change it needs to be done with care and consideration.”
In other words: It’s perfect, so let’s go ahead and screw it up. Great call, Charlie.
The audience in the studio was evidently in favor of Bilas’s opinion with a raucous round of applause greeting his remarks.
It remains to be seen whether these discussions will fizzle out or will result in some radical decisions for the NCAA tournament.
