Which scenerio would be best for the new play-in games in the 68 team field

With the expansion from 65 to 68 there will be 3 additional play-in games to the current one

there are two options

1. Have three more 16 seed play-in games. Meaning the 8 lowest seeded teams(60th-68th teams) in the bracket would battle for the 4 spots as 16 seeds with a chance to play a number 1 seed. This would allow for 3 additional at-large teams to be selected into the tournament

2. Have the last 8 bubble teams battle each other for spots in the bracket. I'd say it would feature the last 4 teams in the NCAA Tournament with the top 4 seeds in the NIT tournament. This would allow for the bubble squads to play it out amongst themselves

and this is an NCAA decision. Money isn't an influence since CBS and TBS said they paid their money for the whole tournament and not the opening round

Although a bubble round would be more exciting and entertaining I personally like the last 8 seeds playin in it.

This will increase the chances we see a 15-2 and 16-1 upset in the years.

Not only that but the play-in games give the small schools their chance to shine. These small schools earn a huge payout of 200,000+ dollars and get a chance to get an NCAA Tournament win on their record.

I support my NJ schools and have seen Monmouth play in a play-in game and get blown out in the 1st Round.

I was happy to see them play in the play-in game game and get an NCAA Tournament win on their record and a good payout. It was more fun at least to me than when they were given a 16 and 15 seed and just got blown out in other tournaments

The payouts and chances to win an NCAA Tournament game are a better opportunity for the smaller conferences and schools so I'd like the 4 play-in games to be the bottom 8 seeds still

and also it'd be tricky filling out a bracket if you have 2 teams playing for 12 and 11 seeds etc. although a bubble round would be more entertaining

I think they're just going to have the bottom eight seeds in a 1 v 8, 2 v 7, etc battle for the 16 seeds in the dance. The highest seeded winner plays the worst #1 seed, and so forth.

This will lengthen the dance by one week, but I would like to see a mini eight team tourney, and in the semi finals, there will be a third place game to determine the 3rd place 16 seed team.

thewiz06 wrote:

I think they're just going to have the bottom eight seeds in a 1 v 8, 2 v 7, etc battle for the 16 seeds in the dance. The highest seeded winner plays the worst #1 seed, and so forth.

This will lengthen the dance by one week, but I would like to see a mini eight team tourney, and in the semi finals, there will be a third place game to determine the 3rd place 16 seed team.

I doubt they'd make it any more than just a Tuesday thing in either Dayton or the site of the 1st Round Game. The play-in games never get much viewership so I doubt they'd make a 16 team tournmanent that takes a week. Also it would push back the NCAA Tournament and cause a dilenma with the conference tournaments.

Also I forgot to mention gambling influence is huge for the NCAA Tournament and it'd be hard to keep a blank spot in the bracket for the purposes of filling out the bracket is the 4 play-in games were amongst bubble teams.

I wanna know from the thewiz06. What would you think if they did have bubble teams play in these play-in games for spots?

I personally think it would be more exciting to watch obviously but still think it's better than it's the 16 seeds that play in the play-in game

I would like to see the last eight bubble teams fight to get those four spots. Of the bottom eight seeds, get them at one of two sites.

1 and 8
3 and 6 ALL AT SITE ONE (Put in the Eastern US)

2 and 7
4 and 5 ALL AT SITE TWO (Put in the Western US)

Next, designate all of the At large teams who make the round of 64 as a 12 seed, or maybe a 13. Either way, that way, logistics can be kept as simple as possible.

The highest seeded winner of the play in game playes the worst 5 seed, and so forth. A 5/12 matchup will then be a VERY intriguing game to see.

That'd be a great idea to just insert them as #12 seeds.

I also like when more mid-majors are in the NCAA Tournament so the extra 3 at larges should help that. If the bottom 8 teams overall play we still get to see a great chance at more upsets.

When more mid majors are in the tournament I noticed it's usually more unpredictable and there are much more upsets and those classic 12/5 matchups are always intriguing

always we have a better shot at a 16 seed upsetting a 1 seed and a 15 upsetting a 2 with the 60th-68th teams in play in games