NCAA Expands Tournament

Over the past couple of weeks the sports world has been good to me. I have had a lot to smile about (solid draft by my Bengals and the Reds look to be improving). When I saw this next story cross the wires in the newsroom I busted out my best Tiger-like-fist-pump-into-the-air.

Finally the NCAA makes the right move. They (at least for now) expand the NCAA Tournament from 65 to 68 teams as opposed to the rumored 96 teams.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The NCAA's Board of Directors has approved the new 68-team men's basketball tournament that will begin next season. It's the first expansion since 2001 when the tourney went from 64 to 65 teams.

How the new format will work isn't likely to be determined until this summer, when the men's basketball issues committee meets. It is believed the tourney will include four opening-round games, often called play-in games, instead of the one that has been used since 2001.

The NCAA recommended the expansion last week, when it also announced it had reached a new 14-year, $10.8 billion television package with CBS and Turner Broadcasting to broadcast the NCAA's marquee event.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)