ESPN broadcaster Jay Bilas says NCAA tournament expansion to 76 teams was not necessary

ESPN college basketball broadcaster Jay Bilas said that nan NCAA’s determination to grow nan men’s and women’s assemblage hoops tournaments to 76 teams was unnecessary.

Bilas, 62, said that while he is indifferent to nan NCAA’s determination to expand, nary 1 was clamoring for it.

"I don't want to opportunity I don't care, but I'm not bothered by it. It's not a determination I would person chosen for nan NCAA because -- I'm not 1 of those 'if it's not broke, don't hole it' guys, because cipher ever says, 'if it's not broke, don't amended it aliases or don't support it.' But I don't deliberation it was necessary," Bilas told Fox News Digital successful a caller interview.

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Sports broadcaster Jay Bilas plays play during nan first believe information astatine nan ACC Celebrity Golf Championship 2025 astatine Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course successful Stateline, Nev., connected July 9, 2025. (David Calvert/Getty Images for American Century Investments)

"Nobody was clamoring to spot a .500 squad from a awesome convention making nan tournament."

Bilas noted that had nan tourney been expanded for this past season’s tournament, location would person been .500 teams successful nan tournament.

In nan new expanded tournament, the first 2 days of nan tourney would look drastically different. On that Tuesday and Wednesday, location would beryllium 12 games played betwixt 24 teams owed to nan 8 added at-large bids. The games would beryllium played astatine 2 different sites.

Bilas said it mightiness beryllium "a small spot confusing" for nan mean instrumentality to capable retired their bracket. He called nan added play-in games "inconsequential."

"The overwhelming mostly of fans don't deliberation nan tourney starts until nan first Thursday of nan 64-team bracket," Bilas said.

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ESPN expert Jay Bilas stands courtside earlier nan crippled betwixt nan Illinois Fighting Illini and nan Florida Atlantic Owls astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York City connected Dec. 5, 2023. (Porter Binks/Getty Images)

"People still watch nan games and particularly nan hoops nerds for illustration maine will watch religiously, but for astir fans, they're benignant of — I don't want to opportunity inconsequential, but they are."

Bilas did opportunity that nan teams who triumph nan play-in games will beryllium rewarded financially for them.

"What it does is springiness a bunch of teams a chance to triumph an NCAA tourney game. Even though astir fans won't springiness them in installments for it, they'll get money credit. They'll get an NCAA tourney portion and beryllium capable to say, ‘Hey, we won an NCAA tourney game, moreover though it was against a squad pinch nan nonstop aforesaid seed,’" Bilas said.

"It's fine. I don't deliberation it's arsenic large a woody arsenic immoderate are making retired of it," Bilas continued.  "Money is simply a bully logic to do something. I'm cool pinch that."

UConn caput coach Danny Hurley was among nan coaches who were concerned tournament description could devalue nan regular season. Bilas said he understands Hurley’s constituent and agrees.

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ESPN College GameDay big Jay Bilas prepares to broadcast up of nan crippled betwixt nan North Carolina Tar Heels and nan Duke Blue Devils astatine Cameron Indoor Stadium successful Durham, N.C., connected Feb. 1, 2025. (Lance King/Getty Images)

"I understand it, and I deliberation it does a small bit. So, nan statement astir who's in, who's retired is diminished. Now, if we're going to person .500 teams retired of awesome conferences that make nan tourney now, do I deliberation that's good? No, I don't," Bilas said.

"But it's not that large of a deal. Most of those teams are going to beryllium retired by nan first play anyway. You whitethorn person personification that puts it together astatine nan extremity of nan twelvemonth and is amended than their record, but I deliberation that equine is already retired of nan barn."

American Century Tournament

Bilas will beryllium playing successful nan American Century Tournament July 10-12 astatine Edgewood Golf Course successful Lake Tahoe.

The tourney has raised much than $8 cardinal for location and nationalist charities. American Century Investments donates 40% of its profits to nan Stowers Institute for Medical Research and activates fundraising astatine nan tourney to thrust nonstop donations to Stowers each year.

Bilas said he was invited six aliases 7 years agone and called it nan balanced of a PGA Tour subordinate getting invited to nan Masters.

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ESPN hoops expert and erstwhile Duke subordinate Jay Bilas looks connected during Countdown to Craziness astatine Cameron Indoor Stadium successful Durham, N.C., connected Oct. 19, 2012. (Lance King/Getty Images)

"When I sewage invited six, 7 years agone and I was thrilled. I conscionable couldn't judge I would get to do it. And  they've been they must person a very debased bar, but they've invited maine backmost ever since. And to me, getting that invitation has sewage to beryllium nan balanced of a PGA circuit subordinate getting invited to nan Masters. So, you get nan invitation, you're like, "Oh, my God, I can't judge they invited maine backmost again." And it's an automatic yes," Bilas said.

"It's conscionable a thrill. And it's arsenic thrilling erstwhile you're location origin it's a beautiful mounting successful Lake Tahoe astatine nan Edgewood Resort. The weather's ever spectacular. Seventy 1000 group are location successful shorts and sundresses and conscionable enjoying seeing immoderate of their favourite celebs."

Bilas said he loves competing successful nan tournament, but called nan ambiance what makes it special. He credited CEO Justin Thomas for being truthful welcoming and creating a family situation that everyone loves, connected apical of nan tournament's singular charitable work. The tourney will beryllium broadcast connected NBC and Peacock.

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