NCAA Basketball Tourney is looking like the Final 96...

Well, it is all done but the official announcement at this point. The NCAA stopping short of saying that it is official, but is dropping some big hints that we are going to a 96 team tournament.

We would ask why, but we know the answer to the question. There is not a public groundswell for this. There is not a question that the best teams make the tournament. No, this is one thing...plain and simple, it is a quest for more money. Not from paying fans, from the TV Networks.

Read more from the Indianapolis Business Journal RIGHT HERE

Perhaps the funniest line in the story comes from the NCAA VP of Basketball and business strategies, Greg Shaheen who said that "Money isn't the only factor". Yeah...right.

The idea is generating pretty universal disdain, not only from the blogging community but most every mainstream sports person is against it as well.

Check out Jay Mariotti of aolfanhouse...RIGHT HERE

USA Today has 2 of their columnists debate it RIGHT HERE

An opinion from Dave George of the Palm Beach Post is RIGHT HERE

Here at the OSG we feel that the whole thing is stupid. Sure, we get the NCAA wants more money from their TV deal...doesn't everyone? No, there just aren't a whole lot of "Deserving" teams that are being left out. Really, it is true.

One door that they are opening is that the 1st round of the Tournament will become like the lesser College Football bowl games. Sorry, there just isn't a groundswell of support to see North Carolina A&T playing SW Missouri State in 1st round Tournament action. I would add that it would make conference tournaments completely meaningless which would be true except for the fact that the conferences and the NCAA make a lot of money off of them.

The other is purely a hypocritical argument. The NCAA has long taken the alleged high road in their explanation of no college football playoff saying that it would "Take too much time away from school", despite the fact that most colleges don't have school in December and most bowl games don't happen for at least 2 weeks after the regular season ends. If that were true, then how can you justify adding another week or round to this. The debate traces back to 1 issue and really it is the only issue...MONEY!

All the bitching in the world isn't going to change what is about to happen. It is inevitable. The NCAA is saying they "haven't decided", but in reality, it will be done. They will exercise their "

opt out" window in their TV deal with CBS and open bidding on a new deal. That new deal, will include an extra round of games and more than 1 broadcast partner. The NCAA will make Billions on the deal. The players....nothing.

So, enjoy this coming weekends Final Four. It will be the...or one of the last in its current form.

While you ruminate on this, here are the best dunks from the 2009 Final Four. Thanks CBS/NCAA and You Tube: