A bigger NCAA Tournament field could strain office copiers: editorial
By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board
February 04, 2010, 4:31AM
The NCAA is considering expanding the field for its men's basketball tournament from 65 teams to 96.
Ohio State coach Thad Motta likes the idea. Cleveland State coach Gary Waters doesn't.
Count us among the skeptical.
As the tournament now stands, a 64-team bracket fits nicely on a legal-size sheet of paper. Bump the field to 96, and the manager of the office pool is looking at bumping the paper, too -- to the larger, more cumbersome 11-by-14-inch stock. Two-sided printing on something smaller doesn't seem like a practical option -- much too confusing.
Leave to the insiders the question of how inviting 31 more Cinderellas to the "big dance" would affect overall basketball quality. Think in terms of more paper, more toner, more photocopier electricity use.
This idea has "environmental impact statement" written all over it.
Original Post