How teams currently get into the
NCAA Tournament
32 teams are automatic qualifiers as winners of their conference tournaments.
36 teams are at-large bids selected by the NCAA Selection Committee.
An estimated 9 teams will win their conference tournament who would have have qualified as an at-large bid. Therefore, a team needs to be approximately in the Top 45 in the nation to punch their ticket to March Madness.
This number is always subject to change with conference tournament upsets in the major conferences.
The NCAA Selection Committee will a use wide range of different criteria to select at-large teams. Record, strength of schedule, quadrant records, win/loss margins, etc. CRI would bring it back to wins and losses.
How CRI would fill a 68 Team Bracket:
1. Conference Champions (32)
2. Top 40 from the CRI National Standings.
3. 4-6 Wildcard Selections. With approximately 7-10 teams qualifying from both #1 and #2, that leaves about 4-6 teams that can qualify as Wildcard Selections. This is for teams who did not finish high enough in their conference, but have an outstanding non-conference resume.
CRI also feels it is time for the NCAA Tournament to expand to 80 teams. With 16 first round games determining the 2nd round opponents for each of the top 4 sides in each region.