Kelvin Sampson has never been afraid to speak his mind, and with his rich history in coaching, we would hope for nothing different.
Several coaches have been critical of a possible expansion of the NCAA Tournament, but with this becoming a reality, it’s interesting to hear the perspective of coaches with a mindset that dates back a few decades and can generally be referred to as “old school”.
Sampson is far from behind the times, but his experience counts for something, and he’s presented an argument that perhaps have looked at from this particular angle.
Speaking about the expansion, Sampson made it clear that moving to a field of 76 might not be the boost that all coaches think they’re getting, as it might put even more pressure on the program to qualify for the competition.
“Since we moved it to 76, I think it puts a little more pressure too (if programs don’t make it),” Sampson said.
“But there’s always going to be a bubble. You’re not going to eliminate the bubble by moving it to 76. “You’re just going to create a bubble further down the road. Instead of the four teams that were left out – 69, 70, 71. Now it will be 77 to 80. So whoever doesn’t make it, the fan base is going to be disappointed. The players and coaches will be disappointed. But we’ll learn to accept this.
“We may not agree with it. Because I didn’t think anything was wrong with it to begin with. I loved the way the NCAA Tournament was.”
Why Did the NCAA Tournament Move to 76 Teams?
The primary reason behind expanding the teams is to increase revenue, which has sparked an outcry from some sections of fans and experts alike.
But this will definitely provide more opportunities to teams who perhaps previously weren’t able to get into the tournament and gives them a chance to enhance their own programs as a result.
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