With the 2024 Ncaa Tournament schedule finally unveiled, college basketball fans can start counting down the days until March Madness takes over our screens. This year’s tournament promises to be one of the most exciting yet, with a talented field of teams vying for the ultimate prize, and a new set of storylines sure to captivate audiences across the country. So, whether you’re a die-hard fan of your favorite team or just looking for some thrilling basketball action, here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 NCAA Tournament schedule.
As always, the tournament will begin with the First Four games, which will be held on Tuesday, March 19th and Wednesday, March 20th. These opening-round games will determine the final four teams to advance to the Round of 64, which will begin on Thursday, March 21st. From there, the tournament will progress through the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, and Final Four, before culminating in the National Championship game on Monday, April 1st.
Ncaa Tournament Schedule 2024
Excitement awaits in March Madness.
- First Four Games: March 19-20
- Round of 64: Begins March 21
- Sweet 16: March 28-29
- Elite Eight: March 30-31
- Final Four: April 6
- National Championship: April 8
- Host Cities: Various locations
- TV Coverage: CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV
Get ready for a month of thrilling basketball action!
First Four Games: March 19-20
The First Four games are a thrilling start to the NCAA Tournament, where eight teams compete for the final four spots in the Round of 64.
- Play-In Format: The First Four games feature four play-in games, with the winners advancing to the Round of 64.
- Location: The First Four games are typically held at various regional sites, such as Dayton, Ohio, and Greensboro, North Carolina.
- Selection Process: The teams that participate in the First Four are determined by the NCAA Tournament selection committee. These teams are typically the last four teams to receive at-large bids to the tournament.
- Cinderella Stories: The First Four games are often where Cinderella stories begin. In recent years, we’ve seen several lower-seeded teams make a run in the tournament after winning their First Four game.
Tune in to the First Four games on March 19th and 20th to catch all the excitement and drama as these teams battle it out for a chance to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
Round of 64: Begins March 21
The Round of 64 is where the NCAA Tournament really starts to heat up. The 64 teams that have survived the First Four and earned their place in the main draw will compete in this round for a chance to advance to the Sweet 16.
Key Points:
- Number of Games: There are 32 games played in the Round of 64, with the winners advancing to the Sweet 16.
- Game Format: The games are single-elimination, meaning that the loser of each game is eliminated from the tournament.
- Seeding: The teams are seeded from 1 to 64 based on their performance during the regular season and conference tournaments. The higher-seeded teams are given a more favorable matchup in the first round.
- Upsets: The Round of 64 is known for its upsets, where lower-seeded teams knock off higher-seeded teams. This is what makes the NCAA Tournament so unpredictable and exciting.
How to Watch:
The Round of 64 games will be broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. You can also stream the games online through NCAA March Madness Live.
Don’t miss the Round of 64, where the road to the Final Four begins!
Sweet 16: March 28-29
The Sweet 16 is the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and it’s where the competition starts to get really intense. The 16 teams that have survived the Round of 64 will compete in this round for a chance to advance to the Elite Eight.
Key Points:
- Number of Games: There are 8 games played in the Sweet 16, with the winners advancing to the Elite Eight.
- Game Format: The games are single-elimination, meaning that the loser of each game is eliminated from the tournament.
- Seeding: The teams are seeded from 1 to 16 based on their performance during the regular season and conference tournaments. The higher-seeded teams are given a more favorable matchup in the Sweet 16.
- Upsets: While upsets can happen in any round of the NCAA Tournament, they are less common in the Sweet 16. This is because the teams that have made it this far are typically the best teams in the country.
How to Watch:
The Sweet 16 games will be broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. You can also stream the games online through NCAA March Madness Live.
Don’t miss the Sweet 16, where the road to the Final Four continues!
Elite Eight: March 30-31
The Elite Eight is the third round of the NCAA Tournament, and it’s where the Final Four berths are on the line. The 8 teams that have survived the Sweet 16 will compete in this round for a chance to advance to the Final Four.
- Number of Games: There are 4 games played in the Elite Eight, with the winners advancing to the Final Four.
- Game Format: The games are single-elimination, meaning that the loser of each game is eliminated from the tournament.
- Seeding: The teams are seeded from 1 to 8 based on their performance during the regular season and conference tournaments. The higher-seeded teams are given a more favorable matchup in the Elite Eight.
- Upsets: Upsets can still happen in the Elite Eight, but they are rare. This is because the teams that have made it this far are typically the best teams in the country.
How to Watch:
The Elite Eight games will be broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. You can also stream the games online through NCAA March Madness Live.
Don’t miss the Elite Eight, where the road to the Final Four comes down to the final four teams!
Final Four: April 6
The Final Four is the fourth and final round of the NCAA Tournament, and it’s where the national championship is decided. The 4 teams that have survived the Elite Eight will compete in this round for a chance to cut down the nets and be crowned NCAA champions.
Key Points:
- Number of Games: There are 2 games played in the Final Four, with the winners advancing to the championship game.
- Game Format: The games are single-elimination, meaning that the loser of each game is eliminated from the tournament.
- Seeding: The teams are seeded from 1 to 4 based on their performance during the regular season and conference tournaments. The higher-seeded teams are given a more favorable matchup in the Final Four.
- Upsets: Upsets can still happen in the Final Four, but they are very rare. This is because the teams that have made it this far are typically the best teams in the country.
How to Watch:
The Final Four games will be broadcast on CBS. You can also stream the games online through NCAA March Madness Live.
Don’t miss the Final Four, where the road to the national championship comes to an end!
National Championship: April 8
The National Championship is the final game of the NCAA Tournament, and it’s where the national champion is crowned. The 2 teams that have survived the Final Four will compete in this game for the ultimate prize in college basketball.
- Game Format: The game is a single-elimination game, meaning that the loser of the game is eliminated from the tournament.
- Location: The National Championship game is played at a different location each year. In 2024, the game will be played at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Seeding: The teams are seeded 1 and 2 based on their performance during the regular season and conference tournaments. The No. 1 seed is given a slight advantage by playing the lower-seeded team.
- Upsets: Upsets can happen in the National Championship game, but they are very rare. This is because the teams that have made it this far are typically the best teams in the country.
How to Watch:
The National Championship game will be broadcast on CBS. You can also stream the game online through NCAA March Madness Live.
Don’t miss the National Championship game, where one team will be crowned the NCAA champion!
Host Cities: Various locations
The NCAA Tournament is held in various locations across the United States each year. This allows fans from all over the country to experience the excitement of March Madness in person.
First Four:
- Greensboro, North Carolina: Greensboro Coliseum
- Dayton, Ohio: UD Arena
Round of 64:
- Birmingham, Alabama: Legacy Arena
- Buffalo, New York: KeyBank Center
- Cleveland, Ohio: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
- Des Moines, Iowa: Wells Fargo Arena
- Fort Worth, Texas: Dickies Arena
- Greensboro, North Carolina: Greensboro Coliseum
- Indianapolis, Indiana: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Fiserv Forum
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: PPG Paints Arena
- Portland, Oregon: Moda Center
- Sacramento, California: Golden 1 Center
- San Diego, California: Viejas Arena
- Seattle, Washington: Climate Pledge Arena
- Tampa, Florida: Amalie Arena
Sweet 16 and Elite Eight:
- East Region: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
- West Region: Chase Center, San Francisco, California
- Midwest Region: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
- South Region: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Final Four and National Championship:
U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
No matter where you live, there’s sure to be an NCAA Tournament game happening near you. So grab your tickets and cheer on your favorite team!
TV Coverage: CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV
The NCAA Tournament is one of the most-watched sporting events in the world, and for good reason. The games are always exciting, and there’s always the potential for an upset. If you’re a fan of college basketball, then you won’t want to miss the NCAA Tournament.
The tournament will be broadcast on four different channels this year: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. CBS will broadcast the Final Four and the National Championship game, as well as some of the earlier rounds. TBS, TNT, and truTV will broadcast the other games.
Here’s a breakdown of the TV coverage for each round of the tournament:
- First Four: truTV
- Round of 64: CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV
- Sweet 16: CBS, TBS, TNT
- Elite Eight: CBS, TBS, TNT
- Final Four: CBS
- National Championship: CBS
Streaming:
You can also stream the NCAA Tournament online through NCAA March Madness Live. This is a great option if you don’t have cable or satellite TV.
Don’t miss the NCAA Tournament, the most exciting time of the year for college basketball fans!
FAQ
Have questions about the 2024 NCAA Tournament? We’ve got you covered with this comprehensive FAQ.
Question 1: When is the 2024 NCAA Tournament?
Answer: The 2024 NCAA Tournament will take place from Tuesday, March 19th to Monday, April 8th.
Question 2: Where is the 2024 NCAA Tournament being held?
Answer: The First Four games will be held in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Dayton, Ohio. The Round of 64 games will be played in various cities across the country. The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games will be held in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, and Atlanta. The Final Four and National Championship game will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Question 3: How many teams are in the 2024 NCAA Tournament?
Answer: There are 68 teams in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. 32 teams receive automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments. The remaining 36 teams are selected by the NCAA Tournament selection committee.
Question 4: Who are the favorites to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament?
Answer: The favorites to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament are the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Gonzaga Bulldogs, the Houston Cougars, and the Kansas Jayhawks.
Question 5: How can I watch the 2024 NCAA Tournament?
Answer: You can watch the 2024 NCAA Tournament on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. You can also stream the games online through NCAA March Madness Live.
Question 6: Who is the defending champion of the NCAA Tournament?
Answer: The Kansas Jayhawks are the defending champions of the NCAA Tournament.
Question 7: What is the most successful team in NCAA Tournament history?
Answer: The UCLA Bruins are the most successful team in NCAA Tournament history, with 11 national championships.
Closing Paragraph for FAQ:
We hope this FAQ has answered all of your questions about the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Be sure to tune in to the games and cheer on your favorite team!
Looking for more information on the 2024 NCAA Tournament? Check out our tips section below for additional details and insights.
Tips
Here are a few tips to help you make the most of the 2024 NCAA Tournament:
Tip 1: Plan ahead.
The NCAA Tournament is a busy time, so it’s important to plan ahead. Purchase your tickets early, book your hotel room in advance, and make sure you have a way to get to the games.
Tip 2: Do your research.
Before the tournament starts, take some time to learn about the teams and players involved. This will make the games more enjoyable and help you make better predictions.
Tip 3: Create a bracket.
Filling out a bracket is a great way to add to the excitement of the tournament. You can compete against your friends, family, or co-workers to see who can correctly predict the most games.
Tip 4: Enjoy the games!
The NCAA Tournament is one of the most exciting sporting events of the year, so make sure you enjoy the games. Cheer on your favorite team, soak up the atmosphere, and create some memories that will last a lifetime.
Closing Paragraph for Tips:
By following these tips, you can make the most of the 2024 NCAA Tournament and have a truly unforgettable experience.
Now that you have all the information you need about the 2024 NCAA Tournament, it’s time to start planning your viewing party and cheering on your favorite team!
Conclusion
The 2024 NCAA Tournament is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. With a talented field of teams and a wide-open bracket, anything is possible. Whether you’re a fan of a powerhouse program or a Cinderella team, there’s sure to be something for everyone in this year’s tournament.
So mark your calendars, clear your schedule, and get ready for the madness! The 2024 NCAA Tournament is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
Closing Message:
We hope this article has provided you with all the information you need to know about the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Be sure to check back for updates as the tournament gets closer. In the meantime, enjoy the regular season and conference tournaments, and start dreaming about who you think will cut down the nets in Minneapolis.
Thank you for reading!