The NCAA men’s basketball tournament is renowned as one of the most unique sporting events in the U.S., yet discussions about expanding the field persist.
In February, NCAA President Charlie Baker told ESPN that there is potential to expand the tournament beyond its current 68-team format “if it’s done with care.” He mentioned that the NCAA’s basketball committee has been considering this idea since last summer.
Additionally, Baker and the NCAA have reportedly reached a multi-billion dollar settlement for three antitrust cases. As part of this settlement, schools will be allowed to pay their student-athletes directly under a new revenue-sharing model starting in 2025. This model could widen the gap between power conferences and smaller conferences like the West Coast Conference.
Mark Few, head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and a consistent participant in the NCAA Tournament since 1999, referred to the first two weeks of the postseason as “the greatest sporting event out there.” He is hesitant to support expansion, fearing it might reduce the regular season’s significance.
“You don’t want to lessen the regular season,” Few said on Gonzaga Nation. “I understand some of the reasoning. There is great parity now, and choosing the 68 teams is getting harder. But expanding to 96 teams could make the regular season less important and less watchable.”
Few, with a 43-24 NCAA Tournament record and nine straight Sweet 16 appearances, values the tournament’s uniqueness, especially given Gonzaga’s position early in the 2023-24 season.
“It’s a blessing to be part of [the NCAA Tournament],” Few said on Selection Sunday after Gonzaga secured a No. 5 seed for the 2024 NCAA Tournament. “People often take it for granted. They tell me in July, ‘I can’t wait for March Madness,’ but I remind them you have to earn your way in. This year, there were times it seemed uncertain, so we should really appreciate moments like this and the opportunity to be part of what I consider the greatest sporting event.”
As expansion discussions continue, Few remains open to other viewpoints but is cautious about fully endorsing the idea.
“I’m intent on listening to the case for expansion and keeping an open mind,” Few said. “But I’m very reluctant to jump all in on it.”
Few also shared his thoughts on the future of the NCAA Tournament, watching former Gonzaga players in the NBA Playoffs, and more in a new episode of Gonzaga Nation.
