And now, some good news

it appears the tournament expansion we've all been dreading has been postponed, at least for one season. CBS/Turner has a new deal with the NCAA, but next season's tournament will only have 68 teams. no word on whether those will be actual "play-in" games, i.e. have eight teams compete for the last four at-large spots. that would be awesome, but i expect it will instead be teams from the MEAC, SWAC, etc. playing for the right to lose to Duke, Michigan State, etc. as a 16 seed.

i strongly believe that the absence of immediate expansion to 96 teams is based solely on logistics. there simply isn't time to adjust schedules and secure arena space to pull this off in 2011, so expect the full 96 in 2012.

one interesting note is that for the first time ever, the tournament will broadcast simultaneous games at once, on four different channels (most likely CBS, TNT, TBS and Tru TV- formerly Court TV). that means we are no longer subject to the sometimes maddeningly slow trigger finger on the remote control at CBS HQ.