The Committee Pushing For More Upsets With 68-Team Format?

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

In the 2010 NCAA Tournament, a lot of teams were 'snubbed' by the selection committee. You had a bunch of teams with significant wins that didn't make the tournament.

You had Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Illinois and other schools that weren’t given any love on Selection Sunday.

However, the tournament still lived on. We didn't see a lot of upsets, but it was a substantial amount that kept us on our feet throughout the tournament.

However, we mostly have to wait until maybe the second round of the tournament, or if we're lucky we'll see it in the first.

For some reason, during the tournament next March things will change. I believe the committee is pushing towards a new trend. Not only to acquire more viewers but also to keep the tournament interesting.

Last week the selection committee adopted the new 68-team format. It is going to hold a "First Four" tournament of play-in games. While everybody is calling it boring already, let's look at this theory here.

The 'First Four' is going to allow teams to come into the tournament that was on the bubble. Versus allowing the mid-major teams to just proceed in. This will most likely help the cause of an upset. In fact, throughout the tournament's history, there has never been a No. 16 seed that defeated No. 1; that's what the NCAA is pushing for.

Almost like they would rather force them than let them happen. Because really, what better way to put the favorite in jeopardy than making them play against a team that's already fresh.

It's either going to help college basketball or hurt it. If we start seeing so many upsets from the higher seeds on the lower seeds it will lose it prominence. 

While on the other hand, if it happens rarely, then it was always make the tournament more exciting.

But one thing is evident, and that's the committee wants’ to see more upsets in the first round of the NCAA tournament.