If there has been one men's basketball program that lives on what feels like the NCAA Tournament bubble most seasons, well, it's Virginia Tech. The women, on the other hand, have been a frequent team in the tournament over the years under former coach Kenny Brooks, with Megan Duffy taking them to the dance this year in her second year as the head coach after falling short last year.
It was over a year ago when it was brought up about expanding the men's and women's NCAA Tournaments to 76 teams. That's right, going from 68 to 76. What could go wrong? Honestly, do we need to water down the fields anymore? Well, we are.
NCAA Tournaments for men's and women's basketball explanded to 76 teams
Well, here we go. Seventy-six teams. Yipee. Watering down a tournament that is already, well, watered down. Let's be honest, is this necessary? Anyway, this is a year too late for Mike Young and the Hokies.
NEW: The D-I men's and women's basketball committees have officially voted to expand the NCAA tournament to 76 teams, @MattNorlander reports. https://t.co/qR2zGzwFbW pic.twitter.com/6OsryvKW2k
— On3 (@On3) May 7, 2026
This past season, despite losing some brutal games, Virginia Tech was in the mix for an at-large bid until they were bounced in the first round of the ACC Tournament in March by Wake Forest. They finished 19-13, and a couple of days after losing to the Demon Deacons, it was announced that Virginia Tech was not going to accept an NIT bid.
Well, if the 76-team field was incorporated for 2025-26, Virginia Tech likely would have been in the field. Would they have deserved to be there? That's debatable, but if two results from their three buzzer-beater losses go the other way, they were in this year.
What can't be debated is that this season's Hokies team was more than good enough to compete in the NCAA Tournament. Sure, an injury to Amani Hansberry might have changed their chances at winning a game, but more than likely, they would have sneaked into the field.
Whatever your take is in terms of whether or not the field should be expanded, the truth is, it's expanding. Times are changing. Now, Virginia Tech has a little more hope.
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