UConn's Dan Hurley warns NCAA tournament expansion could make the regular season 'meaningless'
Dan Hurley cautions 76-team NCAA field would undermine regular season
UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley warned that expanding the NCAA tournament to 76 teams risks rendering 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 stressed that tournament entry should remain a privilege, not a right.
The NCAA is considering expansion of both men's and women's tournaments from the current 68 teams, unchanged since three teams were added in 2011. Hurley questioned whether a larger field would dilute the event's appeal. He expressed fondness for close matchups like 1-vs-16 and 8-vs-9 games but noted the 64-team era made qualification especially challenging.
Under the proposed format, the opening Tuesday and Wednesday would feature 12 games among 24 teams, including eight added at-large bids, at two sites. The traditional 64-team bracket would follow on Thursday. Teams playing in the preliminary round would need seven wins to claim the title, compared to six now.
Hurley emphasized preserving the need to win six games while keeping access difficult. "You want it to be hard to get in," he said.
