It should come as no surprise that a number of Big East coaches are in favor of expanding the NCAA Tournament from 65 to 96 teams. After all, the 16-team Big East is the largest and, arguably, the deepest league in the nation.
A year ago, seven teams made the Big Dance, three were named No. 1 seeds and five advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. Despite finishing 10-8 in the toughest league in the nation, Providence wasn’t invited and ended up losing to Miami in the first round of the NIT.
Now, with talk swirling that the NCAA may opt out of its 11-year, $6 billion television deal with CBS after this season and then partner with ESPN on a 96-team event, Big East coaches are on board.
“I love it,” said Villanova coach Jay Wright, whose team reached the Final Four a year ago and is in line for a No. 1 seed this March. “I just think it’s an idea whose time has come.
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