Dan Wetzel says adding teams like Auburn into NCAA Tournament is 'world-class dumb'

Dan Wetzel says adding teams like Auburn into NCAA Tournament is 'world-class dumb' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Dan Wetzel delivered a blunt assessment of the NCAA’s ongoing discussion about expanding the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, calling the idea “world-class dumb” during the latest edition of the College GameDay Podcast.

Expansion of March Madness has been debated for years, but momentum has recently increased after NCAA president Charlie Baker indicated in February that he supports growing the tournament field beyond its current 68 teams. The tournament last expanded in 2011, when it grew from 64 to 68 teams with the addition of the “First Four” play-in games.

Wetzel argued that expanding the tournament risks damaging one of college basketball’s most valuable traditions, including the opening Thursday and Friday of March Madness.

“The NCAA wants to expand the basketball tournament,” Wetzel said. “They want to take away the magic of the first Thursday and Friday of March Madness, which is an unbelievable, valuable thing.”

Under proposals discussed within college athletics, the tournament could expand to 76 teams as soon as the 2026-27 season. The plan would add eight teams to an expanded play-in round, creating a 24-team preliminary stage before the traditional first-round weekend.

Wetzel mocked the idea, suggesting the additional bids would primarily benefit mediocre teams.

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“All so we can get like 15-14 Auburn into the tournament?” Wetzel said. “What they’re thinking of doing with this tournament is world-class dumb.”

The proposal has drawn mixed reactions across the sport. While the NCAA continues studying expansion, several coaches and analysts argue the current 68-team format already strikes the right balance between inclusivity and preserving the drama that has made March Madness one of the most popular events in American sports.

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