:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67377640/usa_today_14153697.0.jpg)
Earlier this Wednesday morning rumors began to swirl that the ACC was going to propose to the NCAA to allow all teams in Division 1 to participate in next year’s 2021 NCAA Tournament.
Jon Rothstein appears to have been the first to tweet out this rumor:
Source: The ACC will propose that ever single team in Division 1 will make the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 9, 2020
Not long after that, a few ACC coaches such as the Louisville Cardinals’ Chris Mack, Miami’s Jim Larranaga, Wake’s Steve Forbes, and Clemson’s Brad Brownell released statements in support of the movement.
Let’s think differently. pic.twitter.com/WZy5fomlfk
— Coach Brad Brownell (@Coach_Brownell) September 9, 2020
Virginia Cavalier fans did not have to wait long for the Cavaliers’ Tony Bennett to release a statement of his own in support of the idea.
— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) September 9, 2020
Given the insanity that 2020 has already seen, who knows what else could be coming in the final four months. Nobody knows when college basketball is even going to begin, let alone even happen. If college football goes smoothly it seems basketball is surely going to come to fruition.
It is also not clear if the ACC is going to support this idea or if this is just the head coaches trying to start an idea.
More importantly, how would a 300+ team tournament work? I for one cannot wait to see NC State fans get upset over being a 33rd seed instead of a 32nd seed in the Kansas regional.