[jcmanson]

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sp ... _next_year

The NCAA Tournament is expanding in 2011, just not the way you expected. Starting next season the field will expand to 68 teams -- not the 96 teams many feared.

[SumItUp]

As part of the agreement, all games will be shown live across four national networks beginning in 2011 – a first for the 73-year old championship.

This is the best news of all. No more regional coverage with cutaways.

[From the class of 09]

Why expand at all if your only doing it by 3 teams

[SumItUp]

We made an aggressive bid and believe our combination of TV distribution, digital capabilities, season-long coverage and year-round marketing would have served the interests of the NCAA and college fans very well. We remain committed to our unparalleled coverage of more than 1,200 men's and women's college basketball games each season.

The quote above was from ESPN. They lost out in the bidding process. I guess they will be covering the Texas Hold'em tournament in Tunica in its place. Maybe they could bring back Australian Rules Football or BMX racing.

[LUconn]

dang, I knew they would do this eventually. Sucks for everyone in a conference like ours

[WinthropEagleFan]

I love the tv coverage aspect of the deal...that's been long overdue to have all the games carried nationally.

But 4 play-in games? Ugh...

[jcmanson]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5374116

The final four at-large teams and final four automatic qualifiers in the newly minted 68-team NCAA men's basketball tournament field will meet for the right to enter the traditional 64-team draw, tournament selection committee chairman Dan Guerrero announced Monday.

The "First Four" will be played either the Tuesday or Wednesday after Selection Sunday. The winners of the four games will advance to what will now be called the "second round" on either Thursday or Friday. The newly named third round -- with 16 games -- will be Saturday and Sunday. The rest of the tournament -- regional semifinals (Sweet 16) and regional finals (Elite Eight) -- will remain as they have been, as will the Final Four, which is set for Houston in 2011.

[WinthropEagleFan]

Interesting compromise. I'm glad they opted against having the bottom 8 automatic bid teams battle it out....it's better TV to include two games featuring the final four at-large teams. Should be fun to see how it turns out.

[LUconn]

That is the best way to go for us, but all in all it's going to make for a messy bracket. I mean you could have a "last 4 in" team in your final 4 and they could lose before the tournament has even really begun.