January 8, 1984 -- The NCAA announces that the men's basketball tournament would be expanded to 64 teams starting with the 1985 event. The decision to expand came on the opening day of the NCAA’s 78th convention after the Exec Committee voted to increase the field. The tournament in 1984 featured 53 teams. The first NCAA Tournament in 1939 featured eight teams and the current 68-team format was adopted in 2011.
Also happening this week:
- January 8, 1989 -- The NCAA decides to sponsor women’s championships in 5 sports.
- January 9, 1967 -- The NFL’s New Orleans franchise takes the name Saints.
- January 9, 1991 -- Baseball officially bans Pete Rose from being elected to the HOF for betting on baseball.
- January 10, 2003 -- Charlotte is awarded an NBA expansion franchise to be known as the Bobcats.
