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Rick Pitino supports the NCAA Tournament's expansion from 68 to 76 teams, questioning the backlash against it. He emphasizes that more teams will enhance the experience of March Madness.
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Rick Pitino questions expanded March Madness pushback: 'Why and who cares?'
Consider Rick Pitino on board with the expanded NCAA Tournament.
The Hall of Fame coach alluded to as much on Monday, May 11 when he went onto X (formerly Twitter) to question why there is pushback on March Madness expanding from 68 to 76 teams on both the men's and women's side of college basketball starting this upcoming 2026-27 season.
"When I hear people are upset the NCAA expanded to 76 teams, I think "why and who cares?" The best teams advance and more teams get to experience the greatest tournament on earth," the St. John's basketball coach wrote on X.
LIKE IT OR NOT: March Madness is expanding to 76 teams, starting next season
The expanded tournament won’t impact the first round or any that follow, since games will still tip off from noon to midnight ET on that opening Thursday when 32 teams take the floor. The real impact will come in the days leading up to the first round.
On the men's side, the First Four will expand from eight teams playing four games in Dayton to 24 teams playing 12 games across two sites. Dayton will remain a host for the play‑in round, while the NCAA will announce the second location at a later date.
The 73-year-old Pitino isn't one to be shy about giving his opinions on NCAA-related topics and the current landscape of college basketball. He told a group of reporters, including USA TODAY Sports, that he wanted college basketball to create 18- to 20-team "super leagues" to "combat football" at the then-height of conference realignment, which was triggered by football.
Rick Pitino expressed support for the NCAA Tournament's expansion, questioning the reasons behind the pushback and stating that more teams will enhance the tournament experience.
The NCAA Tournament is set to expand to 76 teams starting in the 2026-27 season.
Some individuals are upset about the expansion due to concerns over the quality of competition and the integrity of the tournament format.
The expansion is expected to allow more teams to participate, providing additional opportunities for schools and players to experience the tournament.
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The May 11 social media post also isn't the first time Pitino has expressed his pro-expansion thoughts. He told CBS Sports' Matt Norlander at Big East Media Day in October of 2025 that expanding the field "can only help" and he'd be on board for it.
"What makes the difference?" Pitino said. "I don't think it could hurt, it can only help. Anytime you get more teams, more excitement, more TV coverage, more things to speak about, more athletes participating, it can only be a good thing.
"For people who say, 'No, we got to keep it.' C'mon. I was around when I think it was 24, 32 (teams) whatever it was. ... In this situation, you talk about eight more games. ... It doesn't hurt anything. It only helps. ... What bad could come from it?"
Pitino has led St. John's to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments (after being left out of the tournament in 2024 as a bubble team), and has led six different programs — others being Kentucky, Louisville, Providence, Iona and Boston University — to the NCAA Tournament.
2026: Michigan Wolverines
2025: Florida Gators
2024: Connecticut Huskies
2023: Connecticut Huskies
2022: Kansas Jayhawks
2021: Baylor Bears
2019: Virginia Cavaliers
2018: Villanova Wildcats
2017: North Carolina Tar Heels
2016: Villanova Wildcats
2015: Duke Blue Devils
2014: Connecticut Huskies
2013: Louisville Cardinals (title later vacated)
2012: Kentucky Wildcats
2011: Connecticut Huskies
2010: Duke Blue Devils
2009: North Carolina Tar Heels
2008: Kansas Jayhawks
2007: Florida Gators
2006: Florida Gators
2005: North Carolina Tar Heels
2004: Connecticut Huskies
2003: Syracuse Orangemen
2002: Maryland Terrapins
2001: Duke Blue Devils
2000: Michigan State Spartans
1999: Connecticut Huskies
1998: Kentucky Wildcats
1997: Arizona Wildcats
1996: Kentucky Wildcats
1995: UCLA Bruins
1994: Arkansas Razorbacks
1993: North Carolina Tar Heels
1992: Duke Blue Devils
1991: Duke Blue Devils
1990: UNLV Runnin' Rebels
1989: Michigan Wolverines
1988: Kansas Jayhawks
1987: Indiana Hoosiers
1986: Louisville Cardinals
1985: Villanova Wildcats
1984: Georgetown Hoyas
1983: North Carolina State Wolfpack
1982: North Carolina Tar Heels
1981: Indiana Hoosiers
1980: Louisville Cardinals
1979: Michigan State Spartans
1978: Kentucky Wildcats
1977: Marquette
1976: Indiana Hoosiers
1975: UCLA Bruins
1974: North Carolina State Wolfpack
1973: UCLA Bruins
1972: UCLA Bruins
1971: UCLA Bruins
1970: UCLA Bruins
1969: UCLA Bruins
1968: UCLA Bruins
1967: UCLA Bruins
1966: Texas Western Miners
1965: UCLA Bruins
1964: UCLA Bruins
1963: Loyola Ramblers
1961: Cincinnati Bearcats
1960: Ohio State Buckeyes
1 / 65
2026: Michigan Wolverines
1 / 65
2026: Michigan Wolverines
2 / 65
2025: Florida Gators
3 / 65
2024: Connecticut Huskies
4 / 65
2023: Connecticut Huskies
5 / 65
2022: Kansas Jayhawks
6 / 65
2021: Baylor Bears
7 / 65
2019: Virginia Cavaliers
8 / 65
2018: Villanova Wildcats
9 / 65
2017: North Carolina Tar Heels
10 / 65
2016: Villanova Wildcats
11 / 65
2015: Duke Blue Devils
12 / 65
2014: Connecticut Huskies
13 / 65
2013: Louisville Cardinals (title later vacated)
14 / 65
2012: Kentucky Wildcats
15 / 65
2011: Connecticut Huskies
16 / 65
2010: Duke Blue Devils
17 / 65
2009: North Carolina Tar Heels
18 / 65
2008: Kansas Jayhawks
19 / 65
2007: Florida Gators
20 / 65
2006: Florida Gators
21 / 65
2005: North Carolina Tar Heels
22 / 65
2004: Connecticut Huskies
23 / 65
2003: Syracuse Orangemen
24 / 65
2002: Maryland Terrapins
25 / 65
2001: Duke Blue Devils
26 / 65
2000: Michigan State Spartans
27 / 65
1999: Connecticut Huskies
28 / 65
1998: Kentucky Wildcats
29 / 65
1997: Arizona Wildcats
30 / 65
1996: Kentucky Wildcats
31 / 65
1995: UCLA Bruins
32 / 65
1994: Arkansas Razorbacks
33 / 65
1993: North Carolina Tar Heels
34 / 65
1992: Duke Blue Devils
35 / 65
1991: Duke Blue Devils
36 / 65
1990: UNLV Runnin' Rebels
37 / 65
1989: Michigan Wolverines
38 / 65
1988: Kansas Jayhawks
39 / 65
1987: Indiana Hoosiers
40 / 65
1986: Louisville Cardinals
41 / 65
1985: Villanova Wildcats
42 / 65
1984: Georgetown Hoyas
43 / 65
1983: North Carolina State Wolfpack
44 / 65
1982: North Carolina Tar Heels
45 / 65
1981: Indiana Hoosiers
46 / 65
1980: Louisville Cardinals
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1979: Michigan State Spartans
48 / 65
1978: Kentucky Wildcats
49 / 65
1977: Marquette
50 / 65
1976: Indiana Hoosiers
51 / 65
1975: UCLA Bruins
52 / 65
1974: North Carolina State Wolfpack
53 / 65
1973: UCLA Bruins
54 / 65
1972: UCLA Bruins
55 / 65
1971: UCLA Bruins
56 / 65
1970: UCLA Bruins
57 / 65
1969: UCLA Bruins
58 / 65
1968: UCLA Bruins
59 / 65
1967: UCLA Bruins
60 / 65
1966: Texas Western Miners
61 / 65
1965: UCLA Bruins
62 / 65
1964: UCLA Bruins
63 / 65
1963: Loyola Ramblers
64 / 65
1961: Cincinnati Bearcats
65 / 65
1960: Ohio State Buckeyes
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rick Pitino defends expanded 76‑team March Madness: 'Best teams still advance'