Why Tennessee AD Danny White called NCAA Tournament expansion to 76 teams 'appropriate'

Tennessee athletic director Danny White voiced support for the expansion of the NCAA basketball tournament. The men's and women's tournaments are expanding to 76 teams in 2027, per an ESPN report. The men's tournament will add the new teams to the First Four play-in games, expanding from eight teams in four games to 24 teams playing in 12 games, per ESPN.

Details for the women's tournament have not been announced. White was in favor of the bigger postseason fields. "I think it's appropriate," White said at the Big Orange Caravan stop in Chattanooga on April 28.

"There's now 350-plus Division I schools and you start thinking about the percentage of that group that can make the postseason. Playing in the NCAA Tournament is an awesome experience, it's something that basketball players, men and women, will remember for the rest of their lives. So I'm all for it, I think it's healthy.

" Lady Vols basketball coach Kim Caldwell was a bit surprised about the news. Tennessee had its first opening round tournament exit since 2019 with a 76-61 loss to NC State. "Yeah, I found out about 38 seconds ago," Caldwell said.