The Atlantic 10 has it right.

[BradRamFan]

We have a pretty good deal in the CAA, and our only gripe was having CAA-affiliation hurt us come Selection Sunday. With the tournament expanding to 96, this is no longer an issue.

We didn't even get into the NIT this year...what makes you think we would have made it into an expanded NCAA as a CAA #5 seed?

 

[Mercury]

We have a pretty good deal in the CAA, and our only gripe was having CAA-affiliation hurt us come Selection Sunday. With the tournament expanding to 96, this is no longer an issue.

We didn't even get into the NIT this year...what makes you think we would have made it into an expanded NCAA as a CAA #5 seed?

Agreed a 96 team field still has us in the CBI

 

[BaNgMyPrOgRaM]

It is what it is. We won the tourney we were in, yea. But, we gained much more in team chemistry and game wins. I'm fine with the CAA as it is. Now if we can get the priv-6 to share the pie...

 

[VCU Finance 2008]

We have a pretty good deal in the CAA, and our only gripe was having CAA-affiliation hurt us come Selection Sunday. With the tournament expanding to 96, this is no longer an issue.

We didn't even get into the NIT this year...what makes you think we would have made it into an expanded NCAA as a CAA #5 seed?

Agreed a 96 team field still has us in the CBI

Not necessairly, it would depend on how they determine the auto bids. With no auto bids for regular season champs we should have been in. Who knows how the selection process might change.

 

[DCDuck]

Not necessairly, it would depend on how they determine the auto bids. With no auto bids for regular season champs we should have been in. Who knows how the selection process might change.

Since it's a money pull, the NCAA would take teams that draw viewers - the UNCs, Arizonas and UConns of the world. We'd likely be out regardless of how they divvy up the auto bids.

 

[VCU Finance 2008]

Not necessairly, it would depend on how they determine the auto bids. With no auto bids for regular season champs we should have been in. Who knows how the selection process might change.

Since it's a money pull, the NCAA would take teams that draw viewers - the UNCs, Arizonas and UConns of the world. We'd likely be out regardless of how they divvy up the auto bids.

Those teams made the NIT over us this year any way. There were several teams who made the NIT with an auto bid that had very high RPI's. They wouldn't have even been considered if there were no auto bids for regular season champions. I was just saying that even if the number changes the biggest thing that would affect us is how the selection process changes. No matter what is said we likely wouldn't know how that plays out until selection Sunday.

 

[fmrick]

Not necessairly, it would depend on how they determine the auto bids. With no auto bids for regular season champs we should have been in. Who knows how the selection process might change.

Since it's a money pull, the NCAA would take teams that draw viewers - the UNCs, Arizonas and UConns of the world. We'd likely be out regardless of how they divvy up the auto bids.

Duck, the rights are sold beforehand, so CBS has already paid. It does not matter who watches, the NCAA has already go their (our) money. The tickets sell out at just about every venue, so that won't be a problem.

The NIT has to sell the advertising after the teams are announced. So ESPN goes out and says "hey, we got UNC and URI, you want to buy some time?" Now you think they sell more if they have VCU or UNC? But the NCAA tournament does not have to do that. It is all sold in advance.

The selection process is very different for the two tournaments. And there is a lot more people watching if they hose a team badly. Taking the 95 RPI team over the 66 would be a crime, one which would be looked at really hard by a lot of people.

Personally, I don't like the 96 team format. But I don't get a vote. I have expressed my feeling to those who do.