The Impact of Financial Disparities on NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Participation

Philadelphia schools, including Villanova and Temple, are facing significant challenges in the evolving landscape of college athletics, particularly regarding NCAA men's basketball. With the recent shifts in revenue-sharing, schools can now offer up to $20.5 million annually to compensate athletes. However, institutions outside the Power Four conferences struggle to keep pace, as they lack the financial resources to attract top talent. Villanova, despite its historical success, has not qualified for the NCAA tournament in recent years, mirroring the broader decline of the City Six schools, which have not seen tournament participation for three consecutive years. The financial arms race in college sports is intensifying, leading to concerns that mid-major programs could lose access to crucial tournaments. As the divide between wealthier and less affluent programs widens, smaller schools may find themselves relegated to secondary status, impacting both their competitiveness and their ability to draw in promising players for future seasons.