After being talked about for quite some time, it appears that, based on a report from ESPN, the NCAA Tournament for both men’s and women’s basketball is set to expand from 68 teams to 76 teams. For those who weren’t a math major, that’s eight extra teams who will now make March Madness. This past season, that means 19-15 Oklahoma, 17-16 Auburn, and 18-14 Indiana all would have made the Big Dance.
For Florida fans who have their sights set on more than just making the tournament, this expansion has zero benefit and only serves to chip away further. away at whatever value the regular season holds.
Florida doesn’t benefit from tournament expansion
We know you don’t want to, but think back to the Mike White Era and how Gator fans felt after the 2018, 2019, and 2021 seasons. The Gators made the tournament those years and even won their first game before bowing out in the second round all three of those years.
How many Florida fans were satisfied with those results?
So now, a system is about to be created where Florida could go 17-16 and make the tournament. If Florida fans weren’t happy making the tournament and winning a game in the old system, how apathetic are they going to be taking a trip to Dayton for this expanded play-in round, all to still be two additional rounds away from making the Sweet 16?
Who exactly, besides TV executives, benefits from this expansion?
Because one could maybe, and the keyword is maybe, justify this expansion if the eight new slots were all earmarked to mid-major teams who often struggle to get the same level of opportunity that a team like Florida gets.
But instead, a system will be created to sneak teams in who finish 12th in the SEC. Sure, if Todd Golden were to have a down year, this expansion creates a safety net to get Florida into the Big Dance, but if the Gators were to finish 12th in the SEC, most would be perfectly fine just letting the season be over because it probably wasn’t an enjoyable one to watch anyway.
And frankly, if teams go into each season with the goal of “Hey guys, as long as we don’t finish last in the SEC, we make the Big Dance,” what is the exact incentive of the regular season?
Unlike some others in the SEC, the goal at Florida, especially in the Todd Golden Era, is the Final Four and beyond. Participation trophies for avoiding the NIT will do little to excite Gator Nation.
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