Jay Bilas’s long-standing disdain for the NCAA was on display in this Saturday’s edition of College Game Day when broadcaster ESPN spoke out against the idea of expanding the NCAA tournament.
Tournament expansion has become a hot topic this season in college hoops, as various conference and NCAA executives have hinted that discussions are underway to theorize how to possibly expand the field from its current format of 68 teams. On this subject, Bilas simply said this:
“Never underestimate the NCAA’s ability to do stupid things. And if they did that, it would be profoundly stupid.
Bilas then launched into an explanation that every team wanting to participate in March Madness has the ability to do so. You just have to win your conference crown, he says.
“When someone says more teams need to get into the tournament, every team now has equal access to the tournament. All you have to do is win your conference’s automatic bid, against your peers with a group of teams you chose to be a part of, and every team is already in the tournament. All you have to do is win your conference tournament. You are already in the tournament.
Bilas then joked about what a paper format would be like with almost 100 teams on it.
“What are we going to do now?” We’re going to 96 and we’re going to print the media first on legal paper, then on a toilet paper roll and just spread it out,” he chided. “It does not mean anything.”
Additionally, Jay Bilas believes that teams would have to accomplish something remarkable to get on the field. After all, there should be some exclusivity.
“The only thing that everyone forgets is that it is not an access tournament, but a national championship. You have to do something difficult to get in there. And if you think that’s too difficult, then Division II is wide open.
Ultimately, Bilas is simply stunned as to why the powers that be decided to go after the unique postseason model in college sports that everyone seems to love in their current existence.
“I just don’t understand it. Why would you want to play with that? They always say “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Well, why doesn’t that apply to this? For example, we went to the First Four, do you want to add anything? If it’s just about money, say so. But this matter about to access is absurd. Everybody has to access NOW.”
Quite a fiery take on tournament field size from Jay Bilas, who really speaks for many college hoops fans on this issue.
