This has nothing to do with equality, the NCAA got their asses handed to them a few years ago with their pathetic excuse for training facilities and accommodations. This is just their way of saving face while making a few more bucks along the way.
Just like college football expanding bowl games, why is the NCAA making another tournament just so more teams can play postseason basketball? If you weren't good enough to make the Big Dance, you dust yourself off and try harder next season.
The only reason some of these teams were selected is that more than a few schools declined like how does a 13-20 record get you an invitation to a postseason tournament?
We all know UCONN will be the overall #1 seed, but who else joins them? Houston just got wiped by Iowa State, Purdue let's Wisconsin get by them and Tennessee got bounced in the SEC QFs. UNC and NC State are in a tight one right now, also how high do you put Florida if they win the SEC...
For sure the B1G will send four to the Big Dance (Purdue, Nebraska, Illinois, and NW) that fifth depends on whether Indiana or Michigan State can make a deep run. I think the NIT picks the one that doesn't make it over the Gophers.