Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard isn't shying away from the biggest change coming to college basketball. The NCAA is reportedly just weeks away from expanding both the men's and women's Division I tournaments from 68 to 76 teams—a move that could reshape March Madness as we know it.
According to a report from ESPN's Pete Thamel, the expansion is all but a done deal, with formal approval from NCAA committees expected by mid-May. While some purists worry about diluting the tournament, Gard sees it differently. During a recent appearance on ESPN Madison alongside former Badger Ben Brust, the veteran coach offered a perspective rooted in the broader sports landscape.
"I think it's good," Gard said. "I know people out there will say it'll water it down, it's made for coaches job security. But we've expanded about every other sport you can think of. College football has expanded. Major League Baseball added the wild card. The NBA has the in-season tournament and expansion. The NFL added wild card games. I think it's good. We need to continue to grow the sport."
Gard's reasoning highlights a trend across professional and collegiate athletics: more teams, more games, more excitement. Since taking the helm in 2015, Gard has guided Wisconsin to seven NCAA Tournament berths in eight eligible seasons (the 2019-20 tournament was canceled). While the Badgers have reached the Sweet 16 just once during that stretch, they've consistently avoided the play-in round, never entering as a No. 10 seed or lower.
The new 76-team format will create fresh opportunities for programs that might have otherwise missed the cut. For power conference teams like Wisconsin, the impact is less clear. Will an extra four at-large bids change the calculus for bubble teams? Or will it simply add another layer of drama to Selection Sunday?
One thing is certain: Gard is ready for the change. As college basketball evolves, so does the Badgers' approach—and their head coach is already thinking about how to keep his team in the conversation when the tournament gets even bigger.