64 teams make the March Madness tournament. Nearly all 64 teams come from big conferences like the SEC, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, and Pac-12. Sure, it can be said that those teams probably have the best athletes because of how well-known their programs are, but that does not define the greatness of the team overall. The NCAA should give smaller programs more opportunities to participate in March Madness because it makes the tournament more unpredictable and gives smaller schools and athletes more recognition.
By placing small schools in the bracket, it makes the tournament more unpredictable. A so-called “ Cinderella” team happens nearly every year. That is when a smaller-seeded school beats the higher seed and traditionally goes on deep into the tournament. As fans, we love to see smaller teams beat the bigger ones. That is why it is called March Madness. The madness comes from these Cinderella teams. For example, teams like the 2018 Loyola Chicago, 2011 Florida Gulf Coast, and 2022 St. Peters all had a small basketball program who only made the tournament because they won their conference. Those teams had a run that nobody expected them to make. While playing their games, their fanbases grew exponentially and gained much support from viewers. No other team from a small conference is invited to the tournament besides the champions. It is unfair because conferences such as the Big 10, often have more than 6 teams who end up making the tournament.
The NCAA should also put smaller collegiate programs in the tournament because it gives them the recognition that they deserve. There is a large number of elite schools who do not get the opportunity to showcase their skill at the tournament. Athletes like Stephen Curry in 2008, who played for Davidson University, had an unbelievable performance during March Madness. It boosted his NBA Draft Stock which eventually led him to being selected 9th overall by the Golden State Warriors. It is highly likely that without his performance in the tournament he would have not been drafted that high. This demonstrates that elite athletes can be found anywhere, and March Madness is a great opportunity for stars like Stephen Curry to get recognition.
On top of that, it does not only bring individual success but it also brings college programs to be more well known. For example, Florida Atlantic University in 2023 flipped their entire program around after making it to the Final Four. With that accomplishment, the next year they switched into a conference where there was a lot more competition. They were also able to bring in highly rated recruits because of how successful they became the previous year. This is why more small schools should be invited to the tournament. The name or size of the school should not matter in the making of the bracket, and the NCAA needs a new method of qualifying teams.
The NCAA should bring in more small level schools into the tournament because of how unexpected and fun it could be and give more recognition to them. Unfortunately, this year, there is no small level Cinderella team that made it past the 2nd round. Still, though, enjoy this year’s tournament while it lasts. Who do you have winning?
