NCAA Tournament expansion a "cash grab" according to these veteran sportscasters

Outside of the committee that will actually make the decision, you'll find it difficult to find anyone - media and fans alike - who actually supports the proposed plan to expand the NCAA Tournament field from 68 to 72 or 76 teams.

If the decision gets made to expand, and its fate is expected to be decided tomorrow, it will be strictly for money, and not for "inclusion" or a better fan experience. Just like every decision that has been made in the last five years regarding collegiate athletics. None of it has benefited the fan. It benefits the pockets of the powers-that-be. Don't let anyone tell you any different.

It was about time someone called it like it is. ESPN's Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser, co-hosts of the popular show "Pardon The Interruption", have never been afraid to allow their opinions to be known. On Wednesday's show, the two didn't pull any punches about the reasoning behind the proposed expansion of the popular postseason event.

“You’re leaving this to a body, up there that logo that says ‘NCAA,’ there’s not a more worthless brand in sports. There’s not a more mistrusted brand in all of sports than the logo that says ‘NCAA,'”Wilbon said. “Because the people who rule for that body, they look like clowns much of the time.”

There's not a governing body for sports that has had more egg on its face over the years than the NCAA, and that's despite Rob Manfred still being in charge of Major League Baseball.

“They’re going to screw this up,” Wilbon said. “It’s an iconic event, brand, the Final Four, March Madness, the Big Dance, all of that. And they’re not smart enough to leave it alone.”

The NCAA Tournament is perfect. Nothing needs to be changed about it. It's the best postseason in all of sports. But the NCAA operates under a policy of "if it's not broke, let's tinker with it until it is." March Madness is an easy win for the NCAA year after year. Fan interest hasn't waned a single bit, and yet the decision makers in college basketball seem intent on changing something that doesn't need to be changed.

Expansion is all about the money, not what the fans want

Tony Kornheiser piled on, and said the quiet part out loud:

“There is only one reason for expansion, just one. It is money,” Kornheiser said.

The Field of 68's Rob Dauster shared a poll on X, asking college basketball fans whether they wanted the NCAA Tournament expanded below. I've shared the results below. To summarize, nearly 12,000 people voted, and 93.5% voted "no."

Will that poll matter? No, because the folks who will make the ultimate decision wouldn't bother getting genuine feedback from the fans who actually watch the sport. Whether or not you, as a fan, want something is irrelevant in the eyes of the stakeholders.

“You try, progressively, to ruin something, and eventually you will," said Kornheiser.

It looks like the NCAA is doing their best to do just that.