UConn's Hurley fears NCAA expansion erodes regular-season stakes

UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley expressed concerns that expanding the NCAA men's and women's tournaments to 76 teams could make the regular season meaningless. The 53-year-old two-time national champion told CBS Sports the qualification process creates intense pressure throughout November through February. He emphasized that tournament entry should remain a privilege earned through a strong regular season.

The NCAA has not added teams since expanding to 68 in 2011. Hurley questioned whether further growth to 76 teams would diminish the event's exclusivity, noting he values the challenge of qualifying when the field stood at 64 teams. He cited enjoyment of early matchups like 1-vs-16 and 8-vs-9 games but stressed preserving the difficulty of entry.

Hurley highlighted that champions currently need six wins, a point he reiterated amid proposals for eight additional at-large bids. Those bids would create 24 teams playing 12 games across two sites on the tournament's first Tuesday and Wednesday.

Surviving teams from those opening rounds would then enter the traditional 64-team bracket on Thursday, requiring seven total wins for the title. Hurley warned excessive expansion might allow mediocre seasons to suffice for inclusion, undermining the tournament's appeal.