NCAA Approves Tournament Expansion to 76 Teams Despite Opposition from Coaches Like Calipari

The NCAA has approved expanding its Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments to 76 teams from 68, even though most people involved in college basketball oppose the move.

Division I basketball committees voted in favor of the expansion on Thursday, according to reports. Signs had pointed to growth for some time, but opinions vary widely. Arkansas head coach John Calipari, a vocal critic of expansion, has accepted the decision and offered his own proposal.

Calipari told CBS Sports he still believes in keeping a good thing intact. "I am a big believer in the idea that if it's not broke, don't fix it, and I think that applies to the NCAA Tournament," he said. "Having said that, if we are to expand, my hope is that at least half the spots are held for non-Power Four teams. If they do that, we are making the decision for the right reasons. As someone who has been both David, and won some, and Goliath, and lost some, that's what makes this tournament special. We can't afford to lose that special piece of our sport."

Calipari's proposal faces long odds. The NCAA prioritizes revenue and satisfying Power Four conferences, and more bids for mid-major teams would not advance those goals.

Expansion discussions seem off-base to some, given the tournament's current strong format and bigger problems in college sports like the transfer portal. Calipari agrees the portal deserves attention first. "Our main focus should be on fixing the transfer rules, which would help not only all the teams and athletes in our sport but teams in every sport," he said. "And I'll say it again: That's where our energy should be focused."

The expanded tournament alters the opening. On Tuesday and Wednesday of the first week, 24 teams would play 12 games at two sites, fueled by eight new at-large bids. Those teams must win one extra game compared to others to claim the title.