New Change to NCAA Tournament Selection Process

Earlier this year, the NCAA Rules Committee proposed and passed some rule changes to the game of men's basketball, but now there is a new change to how the selection committee will pick the who will play in the First Four games of the NCAA Tournament.

Over the past few years, the rule was that the last four at-large teams in the NCAA Tournament field were automatically placed in the First Four games. Along with the last four at-large in, the four 16 seed teams were also slotted into the First Four games, and that part will not change.

However, starting this season, the last four at-large teams may necessarily not be compared to the four 16 seeds. In fact, any at-large team can now be compared to the last four at-large teams.

For example, last season the last four at-large teams were Boise State, BYU, Dayton, and Ole Miss. A lower at-large team such as Ohio State or Texas was not compared to either of the previously mentioned four teams, but now they can be. Boise State played Dayton in one of the First Four games and BYU took on Ole Miss.

Under the new rule, the last four at-large teams wouldn't be automatically slated to play each other in the First Four.

Will this change the entire outlook on the NCAA Tournament? Most likely not, but it is a step in the right direction to get the best possible match-ups in the now Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.