Dusty May Won a Title, But He's Shrugging on NCAA Tournament Expansion and That's the Real Story

The NCAA Tournament is about to get bigger. A lot bigger. We're talking 68 teams jumping to 76, which would be the most massive expansion since 1985 when the field grew from 53 to 64. More games, more money, more March Madness for everyone. But Michigan's Dusty May, fresh off winning the national championship, isn't exactly losing sleep over it either way.

May's Take: He'd Rather Have It Stay at 64, But He's Not Married to the Idea

"If I were the czar of coaching, I probably wouldn't have expanded it," May said this week. "But I could have been easily persuaded." That's about as noncommittal as it gets from a guy who just cut down the nets. May gets why expansion makes sense. More teams equals more games, which means more television windows, more revenue, and more opportunities for mid-major programs that get left out of the dance. When May was an assistant at Louisiana Tech, the Bulldogs were "first four out" one year. In a 76-team format? They're dancing. "If more young players and coaching staffs can have an opportunity to experience March Madness, then I'm for expansion," May said.

But Here's the Traditionalist in Him

May acknowledged the flip side. Those eight extra spots could go to mid-major Cinderellas like Tulsa, who ended last season ranked No. 51 in the NET rankings and on the wrong side of the bubble. "That's a pretty cool deal and I'll sign up for that," May said about giving Tulsa a shot. But he also worries whether expansion will truly help quality mid-majors or just add middle-of-the-pack power conference teams with weak resumes.

The new format would slot 52 teams into the main bracket and expand the play-in games from four games with eight teams to 12 games with 24 teams. It's the biggest structural change to men's basketball since 2011, when the First Four was created.

Bottom Line: Whatever Happens, May's All In

At the end of the day, May isn't losing any sleep. "I don't have a strong opinion either way," he said at Big Ten media days last October. "But I know whatever we decide to do, I'm going to be a strong supporter of that way." The NCAA puts on "an event like no other," May said. More opportunities for the game? He's excited. Tournament stays lean at 64? Also fired up. That's the mind of a champion who trusts the process, whatever shape it takes.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.