Should March Madness expand? Rhode Island men’s basketball coach Archie Miller weighs in

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SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Men’s college basketball coaches aren’t just looking to win on the floor this time of year.

Selection Sunday on the horizon means some politicking for NCAA Tournament berths. Archie Miller did his share during his Monday media availability at the Ryan Center, and he’s not alone.

URI head coach Archie Miller would like to see more teams in the NCAA Tournament.

The University of Rhode Island coach stumped for the Atlantic 10 and an expanded field in general. Miller would like to see the current March Madness number of 68 teams grow by an undetermined amount in the coming years.

“The best thing that could happen is the field needs to expand in the NCAA Tournament,” Miller said ahead of a Wednesday night visit from Dayton. “That has to happen for our sport to continue to be at its best, especially as the conferences continue to super-load in these football leagues.

“Basketball-centric leagues like the Atlantic 10, the (West Coast Conference), the Mountain West, those leagues that aren’t in the Power 5 — how do you continue to get multiple-bid leagues? You have to expand a little bit.

“It’s the right thing to do for college basketball, especially in the landscape we’re in now with (name, image and likeness) and the tournament being so big for platforms of guys who get out there and play.”

VCU received the conference’s lone bid in 2023 after sweeping regular-season and tournament titles. The Rams are on pace to do so again, according to Bracket Matrix, which issued its most recent update on Monday. VCU was named in 97 of the 105 brackets put forward, a healthier position than the 22 of 105 that included George Mason.

“Right now VCU is 12-2 and it’s like they’re eighth out,” Miller said. “What? That’s crazy. That’s absolutely insane to think VCU navigating our league or Mason navigating our league with two conference losses heading into the back two weeks aren’t in the field.

“So much is put on nonconference, and I think…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/march-madness-expand-rhode-island-225838470.html

Author : The Providence Journal

Publish date : 2025-02-25 22:58:00

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