The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee will recommend to the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet that the University of Dayton host the opening-round game of the 2001 Division I Men's Basketball Championship.

The committee added the game to the championship because 31 conferences have automatic bids to the 2001 championship, in addition to the 34 teams the committee annually selects at large.

The committee, meeting July 3-6 in Naples, Florida, said several factors entered into its selection of Dayton.

"The committee wants to do everything it can to ensure that the student-athletes who compete in the opening-round game get the full flavor of participation in this great championship," said Craig Thompson, committee chair and commissioner of the Mountain West Conference. "The University of Dayton will host first- and second-round competition in 2001, so it will be prepared to host this game. Dayton also has a strong history of drawing tremendous crowds to NCAA tournament competition. We know the student-athletes, coaches and fans will have a terrific experience there."

The committee will select the two teams for the opening round, and the site to which the winner of the game will advance on Selection Sunday, March 11. The opening-round game will be played March 13.

In action regarding the telecast of next year's championship, the committee approved a change in the telecast windows for the first two Saturdays of the championship. Second-round games will occur between noon and 9 p.m. Eastern time. The two regional finals played Saturday will occur between 3:30 and 8 p.m. Eastern time.

In other action, the committee approved a request from the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) to permit access to selected press conferences during the 2001 Final Four to selected students participating in a USBWA journalism seminar.

The committee also directed the NCAA staff to continue its discussions with online entities and writers associations regarding the development of potential criteria for such entities to receive credentials to the championship.

Other highlights

Division I Men's Basketball Committee
July 3-6/Naples, Florida

On the recommendation of the Collegiate Commissioners Association, voted to release the official rating-percentage index (RPI) after the 2001 championship.

Approved several adjustments to the selection, seeding and bracketing principles and procedures to enhance the evaluation and selection of teams.

Voted to establish annual seminars, in conjunction with the men's fall officiating clinics, for the 96 officials who worked the first round of the championship from the previous year.

Did not support a recommendation from the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee to add "adherence to the NCAA's recommended rim-elasticity standards" to the requirements for conferences' automatic qualification to the championship.

Voted not to implement the Precision Timing System, which ties the officials' whistles to the game clock, during the championship because of uncertainty about the cost to Division I institutions and conferences.

Voted to require that hosts at all sites provide either a fluroscan or an X-ray technician and equipment on game days to enhance medical care in case of an injury.

Agreed that out-of-market games of the first three rounds of the tournament should continue to be available on DirecTV, as they have been for the past two years.

Voted to provide a complimentary videotape of its next opponent to each team winning a game in the first and second rounds and regional semifinals.

Approved guidelines for CBS's electronic news-gathering crews at sites of the championship.

Denied a proposal to permit commercial advertising on street-pole banners at the Final Four.