<!–>
NCAA President Charlie Baker said Thursday he sees value in expanding the NCAA Tournament by a handful of teams and wants to reach a decision on the matter in the next few months.
Baker spoke during Big 12 spring meetings, where conference leaders are discussing everything from the multibillion-dollar revenue-sharing House settlement to complexities brought on by the transfer portal and name, image and likeness compensation.
Baker discussed the idea of expanding from 68 teams to 72 or 76.
“We’ve had good conversations with CBS and WBD,” Baker said, referring to Warner Bros. Discovery, whose holdings include the Turner networks that air NCAA Tournament games. “Our goal here is to try to sort of get to either yes or no sometime in the next few months because there’s a lot of logistical work that would be associated with doing this. If we were to go down this road, you just think about the opening weekends, who has to travel the longest, it gets complicated.”
Zach Freemantle of the Xavier Musketeers celebrates as the clock runs out against the Texas Longhorns during the First Four round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. (Photo by Grace Bradley/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) –> <!–>
ADVERTISEMENT
–>
The NCAA Men’s tournament expanded from 64 to 68 teams in 2011, with the Women’s tournament jumping to 68 teams after the 2020-2021 season, following a review of gender equality between the men’s and women’s side that also allowed the latter to use “March Madness” branding. The change introduced the First Four round, a set of pre-tournament games where the four lowest-seeded at-large teams and four lowest-seeded conference champions compete for spots in the traditional 64-team bracket.
Baker indicated that the current formula has flaws and said it would be beneficial to give more opportunities to worthy teams.
“If you have a tournament that’s got 64 or 68 teams in it, you’re going to have a bunch of teams that are probably among what most people would consider to be the best 68 or 70 teams in the country that aren’t going to make the tournament, period,” Baker said. “The point behind going from 68 to 72 or 76 is to basically give some of those schools that were probably among the 72, 76, 68, 64 best teams in the country a way into the tournament.”
Baker cited a competitive Indiana State team falling short of the tournament as an example. Indiana State went on to play Seton Hall in the 2024 NIT title game, which he referred to as one of the best games that spring.
Kansas coach Bill Self said fellow Big 12 coaches seem to favor an NCAA tourney expansion. The Big 12 had seven bids in 2025, half the total of the SEC.
“There was a little bit that was brought forth and the consensus among the coaches, even though it was very little, would be in favor of that,” he said. “I don’t know if you could make it where it was totally equitable all the way across the board for everybody. Certainly, there’s going to be outliers on every situation.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
College Basketball
<!–>
recommended
Get more from College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
–>
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool and a transfer 15 years in the making
Jeremie Frimpong’s first taste of life in England was not easy.He was six years old when he came to live in a council house in Moston, a suburb north-east of Manchester. He came with his brothers and sisters — he is the fifth of seven children — and mother Bernice, who had recently separated from Jeremie’s father, Jeffrey.AdvertisementIt must have felt a long way from Amsterdam, the Dutch capital where he had grown up. He borrowed boots and hitched lifts to play for local club Clayton, all the while motivated by incentives from his big brother, also called Jeffrey.Liverpool were interested in offering him a trial back then, but the distance from his home was an obstacle so it was Manchester City — who had scouted him as a prolific nine-year-old striker — who won the race to sign him, almost […]
2025 Champions League final odds, PSG vs. Inter Milan player prop picks: Back Lautaro Martinez to score
Getty Images The 2025 UEFA Champions League final features PSG taking on Inter Milan in a star-studded showdown Saturday on CBS and Paramount+. Both teams had to battle a gauntlet to reach Munich. PSG knocked off Liverpool, Brest, Aston Villa and Arsenal in the knockout phase, while Inter Milan got past Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Feyenoord to reach Saturday's Champions League final. The latest PSG vs. Inter Milan odds from FanDuel list the Parisians as +120 favorites (risk $100 to win $120) on the 90-minute money line. Inter Milan are the +240 underdog, a draw is priced at +230, and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. PSG are the -160 favorites to lift the cup. The latest Inter Milan vs. PSG player props list Inter's Lautaro Martinez at +230 to score and +1600 to score two or more goals. […]
Padres to call up top relief prospect Bradgley Rodriguez: Source
The San Diego Padres are calling up 21-year-old right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez, a team source confirmed.Rodriguez was the Padres’ No. 13 prospect before the season, according to The Athletic’s Keith Law, and he is widely considered the organization’s best relief prospect. In 22 1/3 innings this season with Double-A San Antonio, Rodriguez has a 3.22 ERA, 31 strikeouts and only five walks. He has not issued a walk in any of his past 10 appearances.AdvertisementSigned out of Venezuela for $370,000 in 2021, Rodriguez features an upper-90s fastball and a plus changeup. When the Padres select his contract later Friday, he will be the second hard-throwing reliever promoted this week; right-hander David Morgan made his big-league debut Monday and has struck out three batters and allowed a home run.The Padres’ bullpen has encountered turbulence this month. After leading the majors with a […]
Today’s best MLB pitcher strikeout props: Back Yankees starter against Dodgers
Imagn Images The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees will stage a rematch of last year's World Series when the teams begin a three-game series on Friday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Last season the Dodgers beat the Yankees in five games to win the World Series. This year the teams are poised to make another deep postseason run. Los Angeles (34-22) leads the National League West while New York (35-20) sits atop the American League East.Max Fried (7-0, 1.29 ERA), who has arguably been the best pitcher in all of baseball this season, is set to take the mound for the Yankees. Meanwhile Tony Gonsolin (2-1, 4.68) will start for the Dodgers.The top sportsbooks have set Fried's total strikeout player prop at 4.5 (Over -154, Under +125), while Gonsolin's also is 4.5 (Over -125, Under +106). The SportsLine […]
Kyle Pitts trade rumors: Multiple teams reached out to Falcons about availability of tight end, per report
Getty Images Kyle Pitts is looking for a new deal and multiple teams have at least inquired about acquiring his services. According to Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz, a few teams have reached out to the Atlanta Falcons regarding the availability of tight end. Per Schultz's report, the Falcons would prefer to keep Pitts on their roster, but it would likely take "at least a Day 2 pick" in order to ignite trade discussions.The 24-year old was noticeably absent from the start of OTAs earlier this week along with teammate Kirk Cousins, who is seeking a trade.Pitts is slated to become a free agent following the 2025 season. The Falcons tight end is scheduled to make $10.878 million this coming season on his fifth-year player option, but according to Bleacher Report's James Palmer, the absence wasn't contract related as Pitts was dealing with a […]
Corinthians e Adidas: Nicola detalha proposta e duração de contrato; Nike é a fornecedora do Timão hoje
Camisa do Corinthians para a temporada 2025 (Tita Couto / Corinthians) O Corinthians pode ter uma mudança significativa em seus patrocinadores. Isso porque, o Timão tem uma proposta da Adidas para ser a fornecedora de camisas. Atualmente, a marca que produz seus uniformes é a Nike, em uma parceria de mais de 20 anos. A empresa norte-americana estampa sua marca na camisa corintiana desde 2003. Em seu canal no Youtube, o jornalista Jorge Nicola deu mais detalhes sobre a proposta da Adidas. Segundo o comunicador, a nova diretoria do Corinthians se reuniu esta semana com o staff da empresa alemã para saber mais sobre a negociação que se iniciou com o presidente Augusto Melo, afastado do cargo pelo Conselho Deliberativo. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Então, Nicola disse que essa oferta é de R$ 69 milhões por ano, em um contrato de 10 […]
Related
Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool and a transfer 15 years in the making
Jeremie Frimpong’s first taste of life in England was not easy.He was six years old when he came to live in a council house in Moston, a suburb north-east of Manchester. He came with his brothers and sisters — he is the fifth of seven children — and mother Bernice, who had recently separated from Jeremie’s father, Jeffrey.AdvertisementIt must have felt a long way from Amsterdam, the Dutch capital where he had grown up. He borrowed boots and hitched lifts to play for local club Clayton, all the while motivated by incentives from his big brother, also called Jeffrey.Liverpool were interested in offering him a trial back then, but the distance from his home was an obstacle so it was Manchester City — who had scouted him as a prolific nine-year-old striker — who won the race to sign him, almost […]
2025 Champions League final odds, PSG vs. Inter Milan player prop picks: Back Lautaro Martinez to score
Getty Images The 2025 UEFA Champions League final features PSG taking on Inter Milan in a star-studded showdown Saturday on CBS and Paramount+. Both teams had to battle a gauntlet to reach Munich. PSG knocked off Liverpool, Brest, Aston Villa and Arsenal in the knockout phase, while Inter Milan got past Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Feyenoord to reach Saturday's Champions League final. The latest PSG vs. Inter Milan odds from FanDuel list the Parisians as +120 favorites (risk $100 to win $120) on the 90-minute money line. Inter Milan are the +240 underdog, a draw is priced at +230, and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. PSG are the -160 favorites to lift the cup. The latest Inter Milan vs. PSG player props list Inter's Lautaro Martinez at +230 to score and +1600 to score two or more goals. […]
Padres to call up top relief prospect Bradgley Rodriguez: Source
The San Diego Padres are calling up 21-year-old right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez, a team source confirmed.Rodriguez was the Padres’ No. 13 prospect before the season, according to The Athletic’s Keith Law, and he is widely considered the organization’s best relief prospect. In 22 1/3 innings this season with Double-A San Antonio, Rodriguez has a 3.22 ERA, 31 strikeouts and only five walks. He has not issued a walk in any of his past 10 appearances.AdvertisementSigned out of Venezuela for $370,000 in 2021, Rodriguez features an upper-90s fastball and a plus changeup. When the Padres select his contract later Friday, he will be the second hard-throwing reliever promoted this week; right-hander David Morgan made his big-league debut Monday and has struck out three batters and allowed a home run.The Padres’ bullpen has encountered turbulence this month. After leading the majors with a […]
Today’s best MLB pitcher strikeout props: Back Yankees starter against Dodgers
Imagn Images The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees will stage a rematch of last year's World Series when the teams begin a three-game series on Friday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Last season the Dodgers beat the Yankees in five games to win the World Series. This year the teams are poised to make another deep postseason run. Los Angeles (34-22) leads the National League West while New York (35-20) sits atop the American League East.Max Fried (7-0, 1.29 ERA), who has arguably been the best pitcher in all of baseball this season, is set to take the mound for the Yankees. Meanwhile Tony Gonsolin (2-1, 4.68) will start for the Dodgers.The top sportsbooks have set Fried's total strikeout player prop at 4.5 (Over -154, Under +125), while Gonsolin's also is 4.5 (Over -125, Under +106). The SportsLine […]
Kyle Pitts trade rumors: Multiple teams reached out to Falcons about availability of tight end, per report
Getty Images Kyle Pitts is looking for a new deal and multiple teams have at least inquired about acquiring his services. According to Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz, a few teams have reached out to the Atlanta Falcons regarding the availability of tight end. Per Schultz's report, the Falcons would prefer to keep Pitts on their roster, but it would likely take "at least a Day 2 pick" in order to ignite trade discussions.The 24-year old was noticeably absent from the start of OTAs earlier this week along with teammate Kirk Cousins, who is seeking a trade.Pitts is slated to become a free agent following the 2025 season. The Falcons tight end is scheduled to make $10.878 million this coming season on his fifth-year player option, but according to Bleacher Report's James Palmer, the absence wasn't contract related as Pitts was dealing with a […]
Corinthians e Adidas: Nicola detalha proposta e duração de contrato; Nike é a fornecedora do Timão hoje
Camisa do Corinthians para a temporada 2025 (Tita Couto / Corinthians) O Corinthians pode ter uma mudança significativa em seus patrocinadores. Isso porque, o Timão tem uma proposta da Adidas para ser a fornecedora de camisas. Atualmente, a marca que produz seus uniformes é a Nike, em uma parceria de mais de 20 anos. A empresa norte-americana estampa sua marca na camisa corintiana desde 2003. Em seu canal no Youtube, o jornalista Jorge Nicola deu mais detalhes sobre a proposta da Adidas. Segundo o comunicador, a nova diretoria do Corinthians se reuniu esta semana com o staff da empresa alemã para saber mais sobre a negociação que se iniciou com o presidente Augusto Melo, afastado do cargo pelo Conselho Deliberativo. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Então, Nicola disse que essa oferta é de R$ 69 milhões por ano, em um contrato de 10 […]
Be the first to leave a comment