A few months ago, the NCAA president commented on the likely number of teams in contention for the playoffs: “The committees have some work to do here, but I think there’s room to go to something like 72 or 76,” Charlie Baker said during his appearance on the Dan Patrick Show. It’s no secret that March Madness expansion talks have been happening for quite some time now. Since the 2025 NCAA Tournament approaches, could we see any changes soon?

“It has been 40 years since the NCAA Tournament has expanded. Forty years!” Seth Davis added on X and spoke about the expansion plans in detail. The men’s basketball committee met this week to not only seed the top 16 teams but also on the plans to include more teams. However, that topic’s discussion did not go on for long. And the final verdict still seems to be up in the air. Even the NCAA’s Vice President for Men’s Basketball chimed in with his thoughts for the future of the March Madness.

“Some people have said that it feels like expansion is a fait accompli, but that’s not true.” Dan Gavitt continued on Hoops HQ. “There’s still a possibility that after all this reviewing that the recommendation will be not to do it.”

It seems the vice president does not echo the president’s sentiments. But the three possible outcomes are still on the table: adding four teams to the current 68-team bracket, adding eight teams, or no expansion. On one hand, the expansion means more access and more opportunity for young hoopers. However, there is a downside that NBA icon Charles Barkley has been vocal about.

Chuck has completely opposite plans for the March Madness

We all know how the TNT analyst has been vocal against the NIL deals and their impact on college athletes. Similarly, Barkley raised some concerns regarding the NCAA tournament’s expansion last year. A 72-team or 76-team expansion could bring more money to the stakeholders, but at what cost?

“Listen, why y’all have to mess up everything? That’s why we can’t have nice things in America. Don’t expand March Madness. Don’t do it.” The Philadelphia 76ers legend spoke on The Steam Room podcast last year to protect the athletes. “You’re gonna have these kids out there killing themselves…Shorten the season, and don’t have these kids playing all these games because we can’t have five hundred teams playing damn more games, idiots.”

The NCAA president is in favor of expanding the March Madness. The vice president is coy about the future, and we may not see the addition of new teams. Meanwhile, Charles Barkley is completely against the idea. Only time will tell if any of the above-stated decisions come into play.