Hate how they keep referring to this as the second round of NCAA. Its the 1st rd.

[Zippy Chippy]

For some reason all the commentators have been given specific instructions to refer to todays games as the 2nd round. "Mizzou has to come back if they want to advance to the 3rd round"

I keep hearing this all day. Its not the 2nd rd. Those 4 play in games should not be considered a 1st round matchup and now the field of 64 is the 2nd round.

Today is the 1st round in my opinion. (for teams like Clemson and NC Asheville its their 2nd game, and 2nd round for them i guess)

[Valuist]

Agree totally. Adding these 4 play in games is a total waste of time. They want to give Bumblefk Univ the opportunity to believe they may actually be somewhat relevant.

[onefast99]

The whole tourney this year thus far is being run like a three ring circus. Clemson plays 2 games in less than 24 hours, the NCAA sends a private jet to pick them up. What's next?

[PhantomOnTour]

But, but ya'll....it, it's March Madness...madness I tell ya!

64 teams
6 rounds
why mess with it?

[RXB]

The whole tourney this year thus far is being run like a three ring circus. Clemson plays 2 games in less than 24 hours, the NCAA sends a private jet to pick them up. What's next?

Not quite. It was about a 36-hour gap between the end of Clemson's first game and the start of their second game.

I do agree that the "first round" moniker should go to the round-of-64, not the play-in games.

[Zippy Chippy]

If today can be half as good as yesterday it will be fun. Great start!

[OTM Al]

But, but ya'll....it, it's March Madness...madness I tell ya!

64 teams
6 rounds
why mess with it?

It started with 8 teams.
Then it had 16
Then for many years it varied between 22 and 25 teams
Then it became 32
In the year of Magic and Bird it had 40
Then it had 48
In 83 and 84 in had 4 then 5 play-in games much as this year
Then it had 64
Then it had 65
Now it has 68

Why mess with it?

Money. It's a valuable property both to the schools and the networks. I remember when the NIT was still a big deal. Between the NCAA and NIT at the end there were more teams playing than now.