Jay Bilas says NCAA tournament expansion to 76 teams was unnecessary

ESPN college basketball broadcaster Jay Bilas said the NCAA's decision to expand the men's and women's tournaments to 76 teams was unnecessary.

Bilas, 62, told Fox News Digital that he is not bothered by the change but that he would not have chosen it. He said no one was clamoring for the addition of more teams.

"Nobody was clamoring to see a .500 team from a major conference making the tournament," Bilas said.

He noted that if the expanded format had been used for last season's tournament, teams with .500 records would have been included.

Under the new format, the first two days would feature 12 games between 24 teams at two sites because of the eight added at-large bids. Bilas said the extra play-in games might confuse some fans and called them inconsequential.

"The overwhelming majority of fans don't think the tournament starts until the first Thursday of the 64-team bracket," he said.

Bilas said most fans will not give the play-in winners much credit, but the teams will receive financial rewards. Each winner will earn an NCAA tournament unit and can claim an NCAA tournament victory.

"What it does is give a bunch of teams a chance to win an NCAA tournament game," Bilas said. "Even though most fans won't give them credit for it, they'll get money credit."

He said the expansion is not as big a deal as some have claimed. "Money is a good reason to do something. I'm cool with that," he said.

Bilas also addressed concerns from UConn head coach Danny Hurley that the change could devalue the regular season. Bilas said he understands the point and agrees that the debate over which teams belong in the field will be diminished.

"If we're going to have .500 teams out of major conferences that make the tournament now, do I think that's good? No, I don't," Bilas said. "But it's not that big of a deal. Most of those teams are going to be out by the first weekend anyway."

Bilas will play in the American Century Tournament from July 10-12 at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe. The event has raised more than $8 million for charities, and American Century Investments donates 40 percent of its profits to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

Bilas said he was invited six or seven years ago and compared the invitation to a PGA Tour player being asked to the Masters. He said he has returned every year since and called the setting in Lake Tahoe a thrill.

"Seventy thousand people are there in shorts and sundresses and just enjoying seeing some of their favorite celebs," Bilas said.

He praised CEO Justin Thomas for creating a welcoming, family-like atmosphere. The tournament will be shown on NBC and Peacock.