The NCAA will expand its men's and women's basketball tournaments by eight teams, giving a better opportunity to the top conferences, but not necessarily more mid-majors, according to the author.
The March Madness logo is displayed at center court during the opening rounds of the NCAA college basketball tournament March 20, 2024, in Pittsburgh. If the NCAA had taken my college chemistry class — don’t smile; the course was a requirement — it would have been the teacher’s pet.
My professor loved to say, “A little’s good, but a lot’s better. ” Me, I worried about a mini-Three Mile Island and glowing in the dark. It is official. The NCAA will expand its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments by eight teams, bringing the total to 76.
Normally, I wouldn’t care — if it were for a good reason, for giving the poor a chance and more exposure during this day of NIL and the NCAA Transfer Portal. But this is for two bad reasons. One, of course, is money, the rich getting more. The other is the NCAA desperately trying to survive, not allowing basketball to become football, over which it has lost complete control to the FBS .
This will help the four power conferences. If you think this is going to mean more mid-majors, such as San Diego State, then you believe in the possibility of peace in our time. Maybe the 2025-26 Aztecs could have made it under the new system. A few mid-majors may now.
I don’t think SDSU deserved a Tournament bid this year, but others, from the big conferences, made it who didn’t deserve to go. More than half of this year’s NCAA Tournament schools were from the Power Four — the ACC , Big 12 , Big Ten and ACC . Why, for the love of Mike , should even weaker teams from those leagues get a break?
Miami of Ohio won its first 30 games, lost in its stupid Mid-American Conference tournament, and barely slipped between the sheets. It wasn’t going to win, but surely deserved to make it without perspiration. One of these days, the Padres are going to be different. I just don’t know when.
And it’s frustrating as hell. … Nineteen or the original 20 horses entered in the Kentucky Derby were descendants of Secretariat, including unlikely winner Golden Tempo. After watching the race, Secretariat refused to claim any of them. … Golden Tempo has excused itself from the Preakness.
The trainer knows it’s too short for him to win. … The Preakness should not be moved back a week. Just 13 horses have won the Triple Crown. Why?
Because it’s hard. … How does a horse that has never won a race get to the Derby? Twenty horses, a distance of 1 ¼ miles, 150,000 people. It’s amazing the best horse ever wins it.
… Among the 151 runnings of the Derby, 56 favorites have won — 40 since pari-mutual wagering came along in 1908. Justify was the last fave to win. In 2018. … The Derby people should have cut their field in half years ago.
You should have to do something well to get to Churchill Downs. … The NFL strength-of-schedule lists are out. What a waste. How many list-makers knew the Patriots and Seahawks would be Super Bowl finalists?
…The Seahawks are for sale, and interest isn’t strong. Owners are seeking $11 billion, and may get only $9 billion. The poor Allen family will take a beating. Paul, the late Allen with the money, paid $190 million for the team.
… The Steelers reportedly are set to re-sign Aaron Rodgers. Pittsburgh is no longer afraid of being ordinary. … Did the NFL know about the alleged Diana Russini-Mike Vrabel embrace a year before it became a Thing and swept it under the bed? I would guess.
Even though it’s certainly not as scandalous or important as under-inflating a football. … Maybe some writers/voters denied Bill Belichick first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame recognition because of the cheating scandals? I find them all innocuous, but The League apparently thought them more serious than domestic abuse. …Tony Gwynn once told me Nolan Ryan was the toughest pitcher he faced.
His batting average vs. Nolan? .302. …In 1988, 48% of all MLB starting pitchers went at least seven innings. Thus far in 2026?
Nine percent. I don’t want to hear computer nerds who live in their basements and garages have helped baseball. … RIP, Bobby Cox, a manager who managed. Had a bone to pick with the umps, and he picked them clean.
Good for him. … Speaking of officials, the NFL has renewed its deal with the zebras. Now they get to wear contacts. … Did you know Jamahl Mosley, fired as head coach of the Orlando Magic, was county player of the year at Rancho Buena Vista High School in 1997?
That’s what happens when you get a team to the playoffs three straight years. . … Don Mattingly, who, in my little book, belongs in the Hall of Fame, played baseball for 14 years. He hit six grand slams, all of them in 1987.
… Happy birthday, Ricky Nelson. One of the most important figures in rock ‘n’ roll history. Rock was verboten in some places. He brought it into our living rooms, legitimizing it.
… In that six of the past seven NBA Most Valuable Players have been European, the Aztecs at least have a chance for one to be on their 2026-27 roster. … RIP, La Jolla High School’s Bob Skinner. A fine baseball player, twice an All-Star. He was in Jack Murphy Stadium as a scout when Montreal’s Pedro Martinez threw nine perfect innings vs. the Padres in 1995, and Pedro was removed after Bip Roberts’ double in the 10th.
I was sitting in the stands with him the day after, and we talked about Bob also, amazingly, being in the outfield when Pittsburgh’s Harvey Haddix threw his famous 12 perfect innings vs. Milwaukee in 1959 — and lost 1-0 in the 13th. … Switzerland’s World Cup team will practice here before a June 6 friendly with Australia. I’d like to root for the Swiss. I love their knives, cheese, chocolate, and Guard.
But I must remain neutral. … Hoteliers are seriously concerned about the apparent lack of interest in the World Cup, meaning vacant rooms. Maybe ticket prices being higher than California rent has something to do with it. It could affect gouging.
… Is it true one ticket to the World Cup final is going for $2 million? A bargain. Two mil per goal. … Our Lady of the Rosary church in Little Italy is protesting the Bicycle Mayor and his Ham & Eggers’ insane installation of bike lanes on its State Street front.
Warning: If this doesn’t work, it does have access to a higher authority. … Another year without an invite to the Met Gala. I’m tired of being presumptuous and paying for unused tux rentals.
…CBP arrests 27 cruise line workers in San Diego as part of child sexual exploitation investigation Judge sides with San Diego on ticketing homeless people in RVs but says city has failed to improve secure parking lot Judge sides with San Diego on ticketing homeless people in RVs but says city has failed to improve secure parking lotOnlyFans creator pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Escondido fetish deathDecember Nights would be gutted by mayor’s proposed budget cuts Settlement of disputed San Diego trash fee ‘on the table,’ awaiting a decision by council, city lawyers tell judge
NCAA Basketball Tournament Expansion Power Conferences Mid-Majors Weak Teams
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