NCAA Tournament Expansion Adds 12-Team Opening Round

The NCAA basketball tournaments are expanding to 76 teams this season, up from 68. The change increases the share of Division I schools receiving bids from 18% to 21%, according to the NCAA figures cited in the coverage of the new format. Wisconsin men’s coach Greg Gard supports the larger field, saying more playoff participation is preferable.

For the men, 12 of the lowest-seeded conference tournament champions and 12 of the lowest-seeded at-large teams will play in a new opening round. Six champions and six at-large teams will advance to the 64-team draw. Dayton and Wichita will each host six games across the Tuesday and Wednesday after Selection Sunday.

The expansion is expected to alter the route for mid-major teams. With 32 conferences awarding automatic bids and multiple bids likely for several leagues, projections suggest that many single-bid conference champions could face an opening-round game before reaching the traditional first weekend. Those matchups would be against other lower-seeded teams, while more first-round places could go to at-large teams from major conferences.

Early projections differ on the top seed: one puts Duke first overall, while another places Florida there. In one projection, Duke’s returning rotation players, incoming recruits and transfers, and preseason wins factor into its top spot; the projection favors the Blue Devils’ path through the ACC over Florida’s route through the SEC.

The women’s tournament will also add an opening round, with games at selected host schools. Its top 16 seeds will continue to host the round of 64 and round of 32.