CEDAR CITY, UTAH -- The Big Sky Conference has officially announced that the Men's and Women's Championship Basketball Tournaments will expand to 11 teams for each gender, with the No. 10 and No. 11 seeds facing off for the right to play the No. 9 seed.

Head Women's Basketball Coach Tracy Mason said

"I'm excited to see the conference expand the championship and provide every team the opportunity to compete in Boise. Our student-athletes invest so much into their seasons, and having every program represented in the tournament is a great way to celebrate the continued growth of women's basketball in the Big Sky. It's another opportunity to put our league on display and create a great championship atmosphere."

With the Big Sky Conference's transition to 11 full-time members, the 2027 Men's and Women's Basketball Championships will expand to six days and 20 total games with all 22 basketball programs participating.

The event -- to be held in March 2027 for the ninth consecutive year at Idaho Central Arena in downtown Boise, Idaho -- will now begin each year on Friday night with one game per gender featuring the No. 10 and No. 11 seeds playing for the right to face the No. 9 seed on Saturday. Tip-off times and broadcast clearances for all 20 contests will be announced at a later date. 

Aside from the additional game for each gender, the brackets will remain the same as it's been for the past four years, concluding with both championship games on Wednesday. In 2027, Starch Madness will be held March 5-10, with tickets going on sale soon.

Head Men's Basketball Coach Rob Jeter said

"Anytime you have the opportunity to play postseason basketball, it is a good thing. The grind of  the college basketball season takes a toll on these student-athletes, and knowing that they will be competing in the postseason is a good goal to look forward to. We are all excited to being back in the Big Sky and to compete against a lot of quality opponents."

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