Uh Oh, I Figured Out How A 96-Team NCAA Tournament Can Work

Ever since I first heard the phrase “expanded NCAA Tournament,” I was against it. I didn’t even like expanding to 68, much less 90 or 96. The NCAA Tournament is perfect. Right?

My opinions changed forever on the night of Saturday, March 11, 2023.

The MAC title game between Kent State and Toledo probably seemed like an afterthought to most, especially relegated to ESPN2 while the Big East, Big 12, ACC, and Mountain West title games took place.

But on that night in Cleveland, I saw two very worthy teams go toe-to-toe in front of a raucous crowd with an atmosphere that came blasting through my television screen. This was high quality college basketball. And it was such a shame that only one team would make the…

That’s when the light bulb went off. What if the NCAA Tournament invited two teams from every conference instead of one?

Every expanded NCAA Tournament proposal has focused on essentially adding another 20–30 bubble teams from big conferences to the Big Dance. There is no fun in that. Not only would it dilute the tournament, but it would make the regular season beyond irrelevant for the top conferences.

However, one slight change in automatic bids could change everything. What if all 32 Division I basketball…