NCAA Tournament expansion could help Colorado basketball

If you're a Colorado basketball fan, but are sick and tired of the Buffaloes annual struggle to make the NCAA Tournament? Well then, you are in luck because this week the NCAA announced it is likely to add eight teams, bringing the total to 76, expanding for the first time since 2011, when the First Four was added.

With a formal announcement expected in May, it is a great time to take a look at how Colorado's chances of becoming a tournament team have increased.

What the new ruling means for Colorado basketball

Obviously, Tad Boyle's Buffs would not have made it last year with a 17-16 overall record, but Oklahoma, a team Colorado took to overtime in the College Basketball Crown, would make the new 76-team field. That goes to show you that a couple more wins, whether during the regular season or the Big 12 Tournament, CU could have been dancing.

The new ruling puts significantly more pressure on Boyle and company to assemble a competitive team, knowing that 18 quality wins might be enough to get into the tournament.

Colorado's 2026 offseason additions

Colorado has brought in three transfers so far this offseason, two being big men with rebounding upside, a major need for the program. A few more additions are definitely needed, especially with the carrot of making the NCAA Tournament a more realistic goal.

Bottom Line

It will be fascinating to see how the expanded tournament affects roster building, the transfer portal, and, obviously, the tournament games themselves. While most college basketball fans are voicing their staunch opposition to expansion, Colorado is one of the many schools that would theoretically benefit greatly from a larger field.

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