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THE NCAA TOURNAMENTS AND COLLEGE BASKETBALL FANS … FOR NOW
NCAA president Charlie Baker said the decision regarding NCAA Tournament expansion could come “sometime this fall,” which could mean the 2026 men’s and women’s tournaments will stay at 68 teams.
The Division I men’s and women’s basketball committees met earlier this month to discuss potential expansion to 72 or 76 teams but tabled any decision-making.Baker had previously set a loose August deadline for expansion to happen this upcoming season.
Matt Norlander has written at length many times about why expansion is a bad idea, and I share that sentiment. Most college basketball fans do, too. It might be just a small victory — one that could prove fleeting — but we’ll take it.
😁 Honorable mentions
🏈 And not such a good morning for …
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CHRISTIAN WILKINS AND THE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS …
I’m not sure we’ve ever seen something like this: The Raiders are releasing defensive lineman Christian Wilkins and voiding the $35.2 million of guarantees left on his deal after a months-long dispute regarding his rehab from last year’s foot injury.
Wilkins suffered a Jones fracture in Week 5 and had season-ending surgery. The Raiders wanted him to have another surgery; he opted to rehab, but he was placed on the physically unable to perform list ahead of training camp.The Raiders didn’t mince words in their statement, saying in part, “This franchise has a Commitment to Excellence on and off the field. With no clear path or plan for future return to play from Christian, this transaction is necessary for the entire organization to…..
