It has been discussed numerous times over the past several years, but now it may finally be in the near future for the NJCAA National Basketball Tournament. A Proposal from the NJCAA will go before the national tournament committee that would make major changes to the annual event which has been in Hutchinson for more than 60-years.

The changes call for expanding the tournament to 24-teams, and making it a single elimination format. Of the extra eight teams, four would come from each district every four years on a rotating basis. This would allow a region to have two representatives every four years. The other four teams would come from a selection committee.

The added number of teams also means an extra day for the tournament, which would now start on Monday. The changes would also affect the woman’s tournament in Salina.

If all goes according to plan, the changes could be implemented as soon as the 2013 tournament.