The 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. With a number of talented teams in contention, the road to the Final Four is sure to be full of surprises.
The tournament field will again consist of 68 teams, with the top 64 teams earning automatic bids by winning their respective conference tournaments. The remaining four teams will receive at-large bids from the NCAA selection committee. The tournament will begin on March 11th with the First Four games, and the championship game will be played on April 7th.
Here’s a closer look at the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket, including the teams to watch and the potential matchups that could take place:
2024 Ncaa Tournament Bracket
Excitement, surprises, and Cinderella stories.
- 68-team field
- March 11th start
- April 7th championship
- Talented teams
- Potential upsets
- Road to Final Four
The 2024 NCAA Tournament promises to be one of the most memorable in recent history. With a wide-open field and plenty of talented teams, anything is possible.
68-team field
The 2024 NCAA Tournament will once again feature a 68-team field. The field will be divided into four regions, with each region consisting of 16 teams. The top 16 teams in the NCAA’s NET rankings will receive automatic bids to the tournament. The remaining 52 teams will receive at-large bids from the NCAA selection committee.
The at-large bids will be awarded to teams based on a number of factors, including their NET ranking, their record against other NCAA Tournament teams, and their strength of schedule. The selection committee will also consider the following factors when awarding at-large bids:
- The team’s performance in conference play
- The team’s performance in non-conference play
- The team’s overall record
- The team’s strength of schedule
- The team’s NET ranking
The 68-team field will be announced on Selection Sunday, which is the Sunday before the tournament begins. The tournament will then begin on March 11th with the First Four games.
The 68-team field is designed to give every team in the country a chance to compete for a national championship. Even teams from smaller conferences have a chance to make a run in the tournament, as evidenced by Saint Peter’s run to the Elite Eight in 2022.
March 11th start
The 2024 NCAA Tournament will begin on March 11th with the First Four games. The First Four games are played at four different sites, with the winners of each game advancing to the Round of 64.
The First Four games are typically played on Tuesday and Wednesday of the first week of the tournament. The Round of 64 games will then begin on Thursday and Friday of the same week. The tournament will continue with the Round of 32 games on Saturday and Sunday, the Sweet 16 games on Thursday and Friday of the following week, the Elite Eight games on Saturday and Sunday, and the Final Four games on Saturday and Sunday of the following week.
The championship game will be played on April 7th. All of the tournament games, except for the First Four games, will be played at predetermined sites. The sites for the tournament games will be announced in the spring of 2023.
The March 11th start date for the tournament is set by the NCAA. The NCAA wants to give teams enough time to prepare for the tournament and to avoid conflicts with other major sporting events.
April 7th championship
The 2024 NCAA Tournament championship game will be played on April 7th. The game will be played at a predetermined site, which will be announced in the spring of 2023.
The championship game is the culmination of a month-long tournament that began with the First Four games on March 11th. The tournament field will consist of 68 teams, with the top 16 teams receiving automatic bids and the remaining 52 teams receiving at-large bids from the NCAA selection committee.
The tournament will be played in four regions, with each region consisting of 16 teams. The teams in each region will be seeded 1-16, with the top four seeds receiving byes to the second round. The first round games will be played on March 13th and 14th, with the second round games being played on March 15th and 16th.
The Sweet 16 games will be played on March 22nd and 23rd, with the Elite Eight games being played on March 24th and 25th. The Final Four games will be played on April 5th and 6th, with the championship game being played on April 7th.
The championship game is one of the most watched sporting events in the United States. The game is typically played in front of a sellout crowd and is broadcast to millions of people around the world.
Talented teams
The 2024 NCAA Tournament is shaping up to be one of the most talented in recent memory. A number of teams have a legitimate chance to win the championship, including:
- North Carolina Tar Heels: The Tar Heels are the defending national champions and they return a number of key players from last year’s team, including Armando Bacot and Caleb Love.
- Gonzaga Bulldogs: The Bulldogs have been one of the most consistent teams in the country in recent years and they are always a threat to win the championship.
- Kansas Jayhawks: The Jayhawks are another team that is always in contention for a national championship. They have a number of talented players, including Jalen Wilson and Gradey Dick.
- Kentucky Wildcats: The Wildcats are known for their recruiting prowess and they have another talented roster this year. They are led by Oscar Tshiebwe, who is one of the best players in the country.
- Duke Blue Devils: The Blue Devils are another team with a rich history and they are always a threat to win a national championship. They have a number of talented players, including Dariq Whitehead and Kyle Filipowski.
These are just a few of the teams that have a chance to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The tournament is always full of surprises, so it is impossible to predict who will win it all.
Potential upsets
The NCAA Tournament is always full of surprises, and there are always a few upsets that nobody sees coming. Here are a few potential upsets that could happen in the 2024 NCAA Tournament:
- Oral Roberts over Purdue: Oral Roberts is a mid-major team that has a history of making deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. They reached the Sweet 16 in 2021 and the Elite Eight in 2022. Purdue is a top-five team in the country, but they could be vulnerable to an upset if they don’t take Oral Roberts seriously.
- Saint Mary’s over Gonzaga: Saint Mary’s is a West Coast Conference team that has been one of the most consistent mid-major teams in the country in recent years. They have made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last nine years and they have won at least one game in each of the last four tournaments. Gonzaga is the top team in the country, but they could be upset by Saint Mary’s if they are not careful.
- New Mexico State over Arizona: New Mexico State is a Western Athletic Conference team that has a history of success in the NCAA Tournament. They have made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last six years and they have won at least one game in each of the last four tournaments. Arizona is a top-10 team in the country, but they could be upset by New Mexico State if they overlook them.
- Miami (OH) over Ohio State: Miami (OH) is a Mid-American Conference team that has been one of the most improved teams in the country this year. They are led by senior guard Mekhi Lairy, who is one of the best players in the MAC. Ohio State is a top-25 team in the country, but they could be upset by Miami (OH) if they don’t take them seriously.
These are just a few of the potential upsets that could happen in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The tournament is always full of surprises, so anything is possible.
Road to Final Four
The road to the Final Four is a long and difficult one. Teams have to win six games in a row in order to reach the Final Four, and they have to face some of the best teams in the country along the way.
- First Four: The First Four games are played on Tuesday and Wednesday of the first week of the tournament. The winners of the First Four games advance to the Round of 64.
- Round of 64: The Round of 64 games are played on Thursday and Friday of the first week of the tournament. The winners of the Round of 64 games advance to the Round of 32.
- Round of 32: The Round of 32 games are played on Saturday and Sunday of the first week of the tournament. The winners of the Round of 32 games advance to the Sweet 16.
- Sweet 16: The Sweet 16 games are played on Thursday and Friday of the second week of the tournament. The winners of the Sweet 16 games advance to the Elite Eight.
- Elite Eight: The Elite Eight games are played on Saturday and Sunday of the second week of the tournament. The winners of the Elite Eight games advance to the Final Four.
- Final Four: The Final Four games are played on Saturday and Sunday of the third week of the tournament. The winners of the Final Four games advance to the championship game.
The road to the Final Four is a tough one, but it is also a rewarding one. The teams that make it to the Final Four have a chance to win a national championship, which is the ultimate goal for any college basketball team.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about the 2024 NCAA Tournament:
Question 1: When is the 2024 NCAA Tournament?
Answer 1: The 2024 NCAA Tournament will begin on March 11th with the First Four games. The championship game will be played on April 7th.
Question 2: How many teams will participate in the 2024 NCAA Tournament?
Answer 2: There will be 68 teams participating in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
Question 3: How are teams selected for the 2024 NCAA Tournament?
Answer 3: The top 64 teams in the NCAA’s NET rankings will receive automatic bids to the tournament. The remaining 52 teams will receive at-large bids from the NCAA selection committee.
Question 4: Where will the 2024 NCAA Tournament games be played?
Answer 4: The First Four games will be played at four different sites. The Round of 64 and Round of 32 games will be played at 16 different sites. The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games will be played at four different sites. The Final Four games and the championship game will be played at one site.
Question 5: Who are the favorites to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament?
Answer 5: The North Carolina Tar Heels, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Kansas Jayhawks, Kentucky Wildcats, and Duke Blue Devils are all considered to be among the favorites to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
Question 6: What are some potential upsets that could happen in the 2024 NCAA Tournament?
Answer 6: Some potential upsets that could happen in the 2024 NCAA Tournament include Oral Roberts over Purdue, Saint Mary’s over Gonzaga, New Mexico State over Arizona, and Miami (OH) over Ohio State.
These are just a few of the frequently asked questions about the 2024 NCAA Tournament. For more information, please visit the NCAA’s website.
Here are some tips for watching the 2024 NCAA Tournament:
Tips
Here are a few tips for watching the 2024 NCAA Tournament:
Tip 1: Fill out a bracket.
Filling out a bracket is a great way to add to the excitement of the tournament. You can fill out a bracket online or you can print one out and fill it out by hand. There are many different ways to fill out a bracket, so you can choose the method that works best for you.
Tip 2: Watch the games with friends and family.
Watching the NCAA Tournament is a great way to spend time with friends and family. You can have a tournament party or you can simply gather around the TV to watch the games. Either way, you’re sure to have a great time.
Tip 3: Learn about the teams and players.
The NCAA Tournament is a great opportunity to learn about new teams and players. You can read articles and watch highlights online or you can follow the tournament on social media. The more you know about the teams and players, the more you’ll enjoy watching the games.
Tip 4: Don’t be afraid to root for an underdog.
The NCAA Tournament is always full of upsets. So don’t be afraid to root for an underdog team. You might be surprised by how far they can go.
These are just a few tips for watching the 2024 NCAA Tournament. By following these tips, you can make sure that you have a great time watching the tournament.
The 2024 NCAA Tournament is sure to be an exciting one. With a number of talented teams in contention, the road to the Final Four is sure to be full of surprises. So make sure to tune in and enjoy the tournament.
Conclusion
The 2024 NCAA Tournament is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. With a number of talented teams in contention, the road to the Final Four is sure to be full of surprises.
The tournament will begin on March 11th with the First Four games and will conclude on April 7th with the championship game. The tournament will feature 68 teams, with the top 64 teams receiving automatic bids and the remaining four teams receiving at-large bids from the NCAA selection committee.
Some of the teams that are expected to contend for the championship include the North Carolina Tar Heels, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Kansas Jayhawks, Kentucky Wildcats, and Duke Blue Devils. However, there are a number of other teams that could make a run in the tournament, including Oral Roberts, Saint Mary’s, New Mexico State, and Miami (OH).
The NCAA Tournament is always full of surprises, so anything is possible. So make sure to tune in and enjoy the tournament.
Here’s to a great 2024 NCAA Tournament!