Does anyone know why there are 65 teams in the NCAA bball tourney?

[JetCityLiberal]

I always remember 64 teams and this year have read parts of articles that talk about 65 teams.

The bracket for the women's tournament shows a game between seed 16(a) and 16(b) with the winner going to the 16 seed spot in the South bracket.

http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/ncaa/04blank_Womensbracket.pdf

Not as important as getting b*sh out of office, but I was just wondering.

JetCityLiberal

[Sandpiper]

1. They added a "Play In" game

Solely for the sake of adding to the money pot. Two pissant teams with no chance face off for the right to "play in" to the field of 64, where they'll go on to be a 16 seed and lose by about 40 points to a 1 seed.

[JetCityLiberal]

5. Of coarse adding to the money pot.

That is a great description of what will happen. I'm laughing my ass off.

Thank you for the explanation.

JetCityLiberal :hi:

[retread]

10. I take exception to you calling Florida A+M a pissant team. This

is one reason the basketball play-offs are watchable the first few rounds. I like underdogs who play with spirit and pride.

[LSdemocrat]

2. So they can have one more at large bid

They make the perceived weakest conference championship teams (who get automatic bids) play against each other to get the traditional 64th spot.

[JetCityLiberal]

6. Makes good sense

and as Sandpiper said it makes more cents.

Still seems kind of silly when there are 64 slots to make two teams out of 65 play an extra game.

Thank you for responding.

Howard Dean Rocks. :hi:

JetCityLiberal

[SW FL Dem]

3. Men's brackets aren't announced yet

7 pm ESPN. Da*m Maryland

[JetCityLiberal]

7. It's on now

I was just wonder why the extra game.

JetCityLiberal

[TheFarseer]

4. did they add an automatic?

is that why they had to add a playin game?

[JetCityLiberal]

8. Sounds logical to me

Seems like if some of the conferences are so weak that they have to "play in" then maybe that conference should not get automatics and just have to earn the right through a strong regular season like the teams do that are in the middle level of the strong conferences.

Thanks for the response.

JetCityLiberal

[skippysmom]

9. They added another automatic bid

Another conference emerged that got a bid, but god forbid they take away an at large bid from a second rate team from a big conference, hence the play-in game.

I think it may have had something to do with the whole WAC/Mountain West split.

Interestingly, the women's tourney doesn't have a play in game.

[JetCityLiberal]

11. I'm still a little confused

The link in the original post shows the extra game with the winner going to the south bracket, however on this link below that has the actual teams listed, does not show the extra game and there is no south bracket.



Luckily I am used to being confused.

Thanks for the response.:hi: I had been wondering about the effects of new conferences on the tournament.

JetCityLiberal

Looking forward to the women's tourney, Seattle will host some games!

[bigwillq]

12. For this year, they eliminated the geographic name

attached to each region. The winner of the play in game will play Kentucky in the first round of the St. Louis region.

They need to go back to the geographic regions like the South, Mideast, etc. I think they will next year. I don't many will remember which cities which regions are in.