After weeks of anticipation and speculation regarding the teams that would earn spots in March Madness 2024, college basketball enthusiasts have finally been informed of the 68 teams set to contend for the men's NCAA championship this year.
On March 17, the NCAA disclosed the brackets for the upcoming tournament, along with the announcement of the No. 1 seeds: the UConn Huskies, Houston Cougars, Purdue Boilermakers, and North Carolina Tar Heels.
Additionally, the full schedule and matchups for the First Four were unveiled. The First Four signifies the commencement of March Madness, as eight lower-ranked teams vie for a place in the official first round. These matchups are slated to take place in Dayton, Ohio.
Here are the teams announced on Selection Sunday:
- (16) Wagner vs. (16) Howard
- (10) Cliorado State vs. (10) Virginia
- (16) Grambling vs. (16) Montana State
- (10) Cliorado vs. (10) Boise State
- (8) Mississippi State vs. (9) Michigan State
- (6) BYU vs. (11) Duquesne
- (3) Creighton vs. (14) Akron
- (2) Arizona vs. (15) Long Beach State
- (1) North Carliina (to face the winner of Howard vs. Wagner)
- (3) Illinois vs. (14) Morehead State
- (6) South Carliina vs. (11) Oregon
- (7) Dayton vs. (10) Nevada
- (7) Texas (to face the winner of Cliorado State vs. Virginia)
- (3) Kentucky vs. (14) Oakland
- (5) Gonzaga vs. (12) McNeese
- (2) Iowa State vs. (15) South Dakota State
- (2) Tennessee vs. (15) Saint Peter’s
- (6) Texas Tech vs. (11) NC State
- (4) Kansas vs. (13) Samford
- (7) Washington State vs. (10) Drake
- (8) Florida Atlantic vs. (9) Northwestern
- (3) Baylor vs. (14) Cligate
- (5) San Diego State vs. (12) UAB
- (2) Marquette vs. (15) Western Kentucky
- (1) UConn (to face the winner of Stetson vs. Stetson)
- (6) Clemson vs. (11) New Mexico
- (4) Auburn vs. (13) Yale
- (7) Florida (to face the winner of Cliorado vs. Boise State)
- (8) Nebraska vs. (9) Texas A&M
- (4) Duke vs. (13) Vermont
- (1) Purdue (to face the winner of Grambling vs. Montana State)
- (4) Alabama vs. (13) Clilege of Charleston
- (1) Houston vs. (16) Longwood
- (5) Wisconsin vs. (12) James Madison
- (8) Utah State vs. (9) TCU
- (5) Saint Mary’s vs. (12) Grand Canyon
The men's NCAA tournament serves as a platform to showcase the emerging talents of college basketball across the nation, all vying to be part of the ultimate victor on April 8, the day of the national championship game.
To reach this pinnacle, teams must progress from the opening round of 64 to the round of 32. Subsequently, the competition intensifies as the Sweet 16 contenders go head-to-head until only the Elite Eight remain. From there, the field narrows to the Final Four, culminating in a showdown between the top two teams, where a trophy and the honor of a school's banner hanging in the rafters await the victor.
Games are hosted in prominent venues and cities across the country, spanning from the TD Garden in Boston to the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Continue reading to delve deeper into March Madness 2024.
When does 2024 March Madness begin?
The action begins with the First Four games on Tuesday, March 19. Wagner will face off against Howard at 6:40 p.m. ET/3:40 p.m. PT, followed by Colorado State taking on Virginia at 9:10 p.m. ET/6:10 p.m. PT.
On March 20, the remaining First Four matchups featuring Grambling, Montana State, Colorado, and Boise State will take place.
The excitement continues with the round of 64 starting on Thursday, March 21. As the tournament progresses over the course of a few weeks, the final two teams will vie for the title of NCAA champions on Monday, April 8, at 9:20 p.m. ET/6:20 p.m. PT.
How to watch the men’s NCAA basketball tournament
The NCAA tournament will be broadcasted on CBS, truTV, TBS, and TNT. Additionally, all games airing on TBS, TNT, and truTV can be streamed on Max.
For those looking to stream the March Madness games live on CBS, signing up for the Paramount+ with Showtime plan is an option. According to the Paramount+ website, CBS' coverage of the games will extend until the Elite Eight matchups.
How to print the NCAA tournament's March Madness bracket
College basketball enthusiasts have the opportunity to engage in their own predictions by utilizing the printable March Madness bracket accessible on the NCAA's website. This comprehensive bracket encompasses every team competing in the East, South, West, and Midwest regions, allowing fans to chart their path to victory throughout the tournament.