As expected, the NCAA’s board of directors has approved an expansion of the Men’s Division I basketball tournament field. Starting next season, 68 teams will be invited to the Big Dance, up from 65.
The revised bracket format won’t be determined until later this summer, but it is expected that three new “play-in” games will be added to the tournament’s first week. Under the 65-team format, the two lowest-seeded teams in the tournament played on Tuesday of the first week, with the winner advancing to face one of the number one seeds.
The expansion comes as part of the NCAA’s new television partnership with CBS and Turner Sports.
NCAA Tournament Expansion:
- CBS, Turner to pay $10.8 Billion for Broadcast Rights to March Madness
- Your Take: 68 Teams in the Big Dance?
Expansion to 68-Team Tournament Approved originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Friday, April 30th, 2010 at 09:57:42.
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