Big 12 Basketball Coaches in Favor of March Madness Expansion

“The league’s coaches would be in favor of expanding the NCAA Tournament,” Self said, per Greenstein.

That’s not exactly a surprise coming from one of the sport’s most successful voices. Self has led Kansas to the NCAA Tournament in every eligible season since arriving in Lawrence, with two national titles and four Final Fours to his name.

But in a league as deep and cutthroat as the Big 12, even perennial contenders understand the value of widening the path to the postseason.

Seven Big 12 teams made the field in 2025, including three of the league’s recent additions, Arizona, BYU, and Houston, the latter of which made a run all the way to the National Championship.

West Virginia finished as the First Team Out and had an argument that it should’ve been relatively safelyin the field. That’s the kind of depth that makes a strong case for expansion, especially with power conferences now ballooning past 16 members.

The discussion around March Madness expansion isn’t new, but it’s gaining traction now that conference commissioners, coaches, and television partners all seem to agree: more teams, more markets, more money.

Whether it’s 68, 72, or something bolder, one thing is clear—if expansion happens, the Big 12 wants in on shaping the bracket.