Jim Larranaga. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Final Four coach wants to see March Madness expand to at least 96 teams

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 3/30/23

Every year, college basketball fans spend weeks and months stressing over whether or not their team has the resume to make the NCAA Tournament, and it is inevitable that many of them will feel robbed when their team doesn't make it. Miami head coach Jim Larranaga has a solution for that.

Just expand the tournament to 96 teams.

That is the suggestion he made on Thursday at the Final Four as his Hurricanes get ready for their national semifinal game on Saturday against UConn.

Miami’s Jim Larranaga here at the Final Four: “Let’s expand the NCAA Tournament to at least 96 teams.” Love ya, Jim, but let’s not.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 30, 2023

The idea here is that parity in college basketball is so good right now that this would get more deserving teams into the field with a chance to make a run. Clemson and North Carolina were two of the more prominent teams that felt they had strong cases to be in this year but were left out.

The tournament already expanded several years ago going from 64 to 68 teams to include the first-four games that get played in Dayton. But a switch to a 96-team field would probably be seen as a bridge too far for most people.

It would ultimately only result in an additional round being played.

There does not seem to be any serious consideration for it anytime soon, but more teams in the field mean more people in seats, more eyes on TV, more brackets, and more interest in an event that is already one of the most popular sporting events in the country. All of that also means more money. The NCAA, like any other sports organization, is probably not going to immediately ignore that.

So while it does not seem to be on the horizon anytime soon, if more people like Larranaga start to push for it, it might get some real momentum. Especially since we know the NCAA has already shown a willingness to increase the field.

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