The NCAA Division I men’s basketball committee has discussed the possibility of expanding the March Madness tournament but stated that there were no immediate plans to increase the field beyond the current 68 teams. Dan Gavitt, the NCAA’s senior vice president of basketball, mentioned that whether the tournament expands or not remains to be seen.
Earlier in the year, the NCAA Division I board of directors approved recommendations to allow one-quarter of teams in larger sports to compete in championship events, which could potentially lead to expanding the fields in both men’s and women’s basketball to up to 90 teams.
However, there are many individuals within the sport who believe that the current 68-team format and three weekends of play are ideal. The NCAA’s TV deal, signed in 2016, is set to run through 2032 and is worth $8.8 billion.
Gavitt stated that the men’s basketball committee is actively studying options and gathering feedback from various stakeholders regarding possible expansion. The committee aims to be responsible stewards for the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship and will conduct thorough evaluations of different models to make an informed decision that serves the best interests of the championship. This decision may or may not involve expansion.
During the three-day meeting, the committee also selected Bubba Cunningham, the athletic director of North Carolina, as the vice-chair. Cunningham will assume the role of chair in the 2024-25 season, succeeding Charles McClelland, the commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
