Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
NCAA president Charlie Baker again voiced support for expanding the Division I basketball tournaments but stopped short of guaranteeing changes will be in place by 2027.
“We’re still talking to the various players in this one,” Baker said Thursday. “I would like to see it expand.”
While Baker has consistently advocated for growth beyond the current 68-team format, NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt later announced that formal discussions are paused until after this year’s tournament concludes.
Expansion Momentum — But No Timeline
The men’s tournament last expanded in 2011, growing from 65 to 68 teams with the addition of the “First Four.” The women’s field followed suit in 2021. Proposals in recent years have centered on expanding to 72 or 76 teams, potentially beginning in the 2026–27 season.
Baker declined to commit to a specific format for 2027 but reiterated that expanding access remains his preference.
“I think there are some very good reasons to expand the tournament,” he said.
Logistics Remain the Biggest Hurdle
According to Baker, funding is not the primary concern. Instead, scheduling presents the most significant obstacle. Conference championships conclude just before Selection Sunday, and the tournament must wrap before the week of the Masters, leaving little flexibility to add games.
Broadcast considerations and coordination with corporate partners also factor into the equation, making expansion a broader logistical challenge beyond simply adding teams.
Opportunity vs. Tradition
Baker has frequently cited recent bubble-team omissions as justification for expansion, arguing that a larger field creates more opportunities for student-athletes to compete on the sport’s biggest stage.
“From my point of view, the more teams we can get into the tournament and make it work logistically and mathematically, the better,” Baker said.
Whether expansion arrives in 2027 or later remains uncertain. But Baker continues to keep the weight of the NCAA presidency behind the idea — signaling that growth of the tournament field remains firmly on the table.
