The NCAA Tournament is on the verge of its biggest shakeup in over a decade, with expansion from 68 to 76 teams looming for both the men's and women's brackets. But as the power brokers push forward, some of college basketball's most decorated coaches are pushing back—hard.

Gonzaga's Mark Few, a Naismith Hall of Fame inductee who has guided the Bulldogs to every NCAA Tournament since 1999, didn't mince words. "I am adamantly opposed. It's totally unnecessary," he told CBS Sports. "It's the dumbing down of the regular season. We're out here trying to generate more interest in the regular season and expansion doesn't help. Plus, the unit shares—what's happening there? Don't screw with something when you already know it's great. The tournament is great as is."

Few's sentiment echoes a growing unease among the sport's elite. The last expansion came in 2011, when the field grew from 65 to 68 teams. Now, with a vote expected soon, critics argue that adding more spots will inevitably invite teams with weaker résumés, diluting the intensity that makes March Madness must-watch television.

UConn's Dan Hurley—fresh off back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024, followed by another championship game appearance last month—has been one of the most vocal opponents. "What I think makes the tournament special is the qualification for it," Hurley said. "You don't want the regular season to be rendered meaningless and to take away from November, December, January, February. The qualification process makes the regular season intense and pressure-packed. It should be a privilege to play in the tournament, not a right."

Hurley admitted he feels "torn" because of the tournament's immense popularity, but he's clear on one thing: bigger isn't always better. "Does it get too big?" he asked. For now, that question remains unanswered, but the debate is far from over.