Iowa basketball coach Ben McCollum has voiced his opposition to the NCAA tournament's upcoming expansion, preferring a traditional format with fewer teams.
The national governing body is scheduled to transition to a 76-team field starting next year for both the men's and women's tournaments.
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McCollum, whose Hawkeyes advanced to the Elite 8 last season, believes regular-season performance should be the primary benchmark for postseason qualification.
“I'd rather have it smaller, but I'm just going to play by the rules they put in front of me,” McCollum said.
“I think there is a level of earning it throughout the regular season and I think if you earn it you go and I think 64 teams is plenty.
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The objective is to win it.
Ya know, if you don't have an opportunity to win it, then I don't know that you should be in it, but I'm good with what they did.
It's fine.”
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The expansion to 76 teams will take effect in the upcoming season, sparking discussions about access and eligibility criteria across collegiate athletics.
