http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=1612289

Is the purpose of this concept elusive to anyone else, or is publicity to be expected from ESPN since they will be the ones showing the decent matchups--if any? The entire Mid-American and Missouri Valley Conferences are participating!? Reserve those tickets now for Buffalo-Indiana State...

I'm still trying to figure out how to feel about this. As a fan of the game I've come to love the idea of the conference schedule taking over the second half of the season, and there's a lot to be said of schools battling down to the wire for seeding in their respective tournaments. And since obviously Syracuse would never agree to play Indiana as the last game of the season, this arrangement is something that essentially labels conferences and schools as forever mid-major (read: second class.) (An interesting feature for the BE non-fb schools to keep in mind when considering a split!)

I'm sure it can make for some great TV, and these schools and conferences could benefit from the exposure, but there's just as much to lose from this arrangement. Bottom line, if the conferences like it and no one hets hurt, have at it I guess.

But yes, this is ESPN's puppy. Nothing like making a news story out of your own work.

expand the tournament to 128 teams and hold it at that for 5 to 10 years

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The Bear may be dead but he still hates Tennessee. Roll Damn Tide

Bracket Buster Saturday is a contrived thing, but anything that gets good mid-major teams deserved exposure on national TV is a good thing. It levels the playing field just a little bit.

Still increase the Tournament to 128 teams and leave it at that.

How many teams or in Division 1 now?

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The Bear may be dead but he still hates Tennessee. Roll Damn Tide

There were 325 D-I men's basketball teams in 2002-03. Don't know about additions or substractions for 2003-04.

If you're going to 128 teams (which wouldn't bother me), that would extend the tournament into a fourth weekend, and impact on the conference tournaments, which are a major cash cow and recruiting tool (for many conferences it is their only chance to be nationally-televised on ESPN).

325 why can't they add 63 more teams because of conference tournaments they could put an extra 4 to 6 days in push the tournament championship game back a week. By adding extra teams it would add alot of extra money period!

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The Bear may be dead but he still hates Tennessee. Roll Damn Tide

footballgod, I'm OK with 128 teams. I just wanted to point out that the conferences may have objections to moving their showcase events.

Do they have to move the conference championships when they could just add another week to the NCAA tournament?

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The Bear may be dead but he still hates Tennessee. Roll Damn Tide

i wonder who would be the first 32nd seed to win a tournament game wouldbe? lol ;D

I doubt there would be one unless its a Villanova type team.

_________________
The Bear may be dead but he still hates Tennessee. Roll Damn Tide

Do you all agree 128 Teams is the way to go.

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The Bear may be dead but he still hates Tennessee. Roll Damn Tide

No. :P

If the name "Bracket Busters" had real truth to it, the creators of this scam would include some of the "BCS" schools against which the mid-majors probably should be compared.

I don't think the current format is an accident, frankly.

BTW, I don't agree with 128.