Mizzou's Anderson Contends 96 Teams Too Much

Mike Anderson is so proud of his Missouri basketball team making the NCAA Tournament 65-team field two years in a row that, quite naturally, he views with some skepticism the notion that the field should be expanded to 96 teams.

“There may be a need for some addition,” Anderson said on Monday, “but I didn’t think 96. You can look at it as being watered down.”

That is a view of a lot of people who really DO view the proposal in just such that light.

Right now, it is hard to make the NCAA Tournament. Such a huge expansion would make it almost impossible for an average college basketball team not to make the Big Dance. Turning it into a Y’all Come affair for the sake of more money and exclusivity be darned.

“Ninety-six is a lot of teams to add to a tournament that is already spectacular in its own way,” Anderson said.

Of course, some coaches would love to risk what is already better by simply making it bigger. How can you fire a coach that makes the NCAA Tournament?

Anderson acknowledged that point. But he did not embrace it.

“I see room for expanding,” Anderson said, “but maybe not that many.”