If true, I applaud the NCAA for resisting the urge to ruin the tournament with 96 teams. 68 teams makes the most sense for expansion
INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA is on the verge of expanding the men's basketball tournament from 65 to 68 teams beginning next year and has a new, $10.8 billion TV deal that will allow it to show every game live.
The NCAA said Thursday that the Division I Men's Basketball Committee unanimously passed the proposal and it will now be reviewed by the Board of Directors on April 29.
The NCAA also said it reached a new, 14-year agreement with CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting System Inc. that is worth more than $10.8 billion. The deal, which runs from 2011 through 2024, will show every game live across four national networks for the first time.
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee unanimously passed a recommendation to expand the tournament to 68 teams last Wednesday, the NCAA said in its release. The Division I Board of Directors will consider the recommendation at its April 29 meetings.
Beginning in 2011, first- and second-round games will be shown on four networks: CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. CBS and Turner will equally split coverage of the regional semifinals.
CBS will televise the regional finals, the Final Four (including the national title game) through 2015. Starting in 2016, CBS and Turner will split coverage of the regional finals. The Final Four and title game will alternate between CBS and Turner starting in 2016.
"This is an important day for intercollegiate athletics and the 400,000 student-athletes who compete in NCAA sports," NCAA interim president Jim Isch said in a news release. "This agreement will provide on average more than $740 million annually to our conferences and member schools to help student-athletes in 23 sports learn and compete.
"We're excited this agreement continues our long-standing relationship with CBS, a partner company that has captured the unique spirit of the collegiate model of athletics, and brings a new partner in Turner Broadcasting to the championship and NCAA basketball."
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5125307