When it comes to the hot-button topic of NCAA Tournament expansion, Michigan head coach Dusty May is taking the middle ground. While the college basketball world buzzes with rumors that March Madness could grow from 68 to 76 teams as early as next season, May isn't losing any sleep over the debate.

"If I were the czar of coaching, I probably wouldn't have expanded it," May said this week. "But I could have been easily persuaded."

It's a balanced take from a coach who knows both sides of the equation. On one hand, the NCAA Tournament is the crown jewel of college athletics—a revenue machine fueled by dramatic upsets and Cinderella stories. More teams would mean more games, more TV windows, and yes, more money. But for May, it's not just about the bottom line.

He recalls his days as an assistant at Louisiana Tech, when the Bulldogs were among the "first four out" of the tournament. In an expanded 76-team field, that program—which has only made five March Madness appearances in 55 years—would have finally punched its ticket. "People can criticize the NCAA all they want, but they put on an event like no other," May said. "If more young players and coaching staffs can have an opportunity to experience March Madness, then I'm for it."

Still, the traditionalist in him hesitates. "The traditionalist in me says, 'No, let's keep it.' Just like I said when it was 64," he admitted. "But like I said, I could be easily persuaded. Whatever we decide, I'm going to see the good in that versus bemoaning the other."

Take this past season: Michigan claimed its second national title, but teams like Tulsa—which finished No. 51 in the NET rankings and sat on the wrong side of the bubble—were left watching from home. If expansion had given the Golden Hurricane a shot at dancing, May says, "that's a pretty cool deal and I'll sign up for that."

As the debate heats up, one thing is clear: whether you're rooting for tradition or opportunity, the conversation around March Madness is far from over. And for fans and coaches alike, that's what makes this time of year so special.