When does March Madness Start?

Last Modified Jan 24, 2024 12:02 GMT
March Madness 2023- 2024
Source: Official Facebook Page of NCAA March Madness

The National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I men's basketball tournament, also known as March Madness, is a single-elimination competition held in the United States to determine the men's college basketball national champion.

The championship, which has 68 teams and is primarily held in March, was held for the first time in 1939. It has grown to be one of the biggest yearly sporting events in the US, known for upsetting favoured teams.

In addition to the 36 schools that are given at-large berths, the tournament teams comprise winners from 32 Division I conferences. Following their selection by an NCAA selection committee, these "at-large" teams are revealed on Selection Sunday, a nationally broadcast event.

Teams are grouped into four regions, each of which has a seed assigned to it ranging from 1 to 16. Over the course of three consecutive weeks, there are seven rounds of the tournament. Eight teams compete in the First Four to begin the first week, and the four winners advance to the first and second rounds along with 60 other teams.

For the sake of the number of competitors in the round, the 16 winners move on to the second weekend to compete in the regional semifinals and finals, which are also referred to as the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, respectively.

After that, four teams—collectively known as the Final Four—move on to the third weekend of the tournament to compete for the national semifinals and national championship. After the victorious team is proclaimed the national champion, the nets are cut down and a tournament montage set to One Shining Moment is viewed.

When does March Madness start in 2023-24?

The 85th NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament will take place in Glendale, Arizona's State Farm Stadium, from March 19, 2024, until April 8. There will be 68 teams participating in the single-elimination tournament.

Any program that wins a conference tournament receives one of 32 automatic berths. The NCAA Selection Committee extends selections for the 36 "at-large" bids that remain. Additionally, the entire field was seeded from 1 to 68 by the Selection Committee.

The First Four features eight teams: four at-large teams and four automatically qualified teams with the lowest seeding. The winners of these matches will move on to the tournament's main bracket.

The schedule for the 2023-24 March Madness, as per the NCAA, is as follows:

  • Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 17

  • First Four: March 19-20

  • First round: March 21-22

  • Second round: March 23–24

  • Sweet 16: March 28-29

  • Elite Eight: March 30-31

  • Final Four: April 6 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

  • NCAA championship game: April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The locations for the men's tournament in 2024, as per the NCAA, are as follows:

RoundCityVenueDatesHost
First FourDayton, OhioUD ArenaMarch 19 - 20University of Dayton
First/SecondBrooklyn. N.Y.Barclays CenterMarch 22 -24Atlantic 10 Conference
First/SecondCharlotte, N.C.Spectrum CenterMarch 21 - 23University of North Carolina at Charlotte
First/SecondIndianapolisGainbridge FieldhouseMarch 22 - 24IUPUI / Horizon League
First/SecondOmaha, Neb.CHI Health CenterMarch 21 - 23Creighton University
First/SecondPittsburghPPG Paints ArenaMarch 21 -23Duquesne University
First/SecondSalt Lake CityVivint Smart Home ArenaMarch 21 - 23University of Utah
First/SecondSpokane, Wash.Spokane Veterans Memorial ArenaMarch 22 - 24University of Idaho
First/SecondMemphis, Tenn.FedExForumMarch 22 - 24University of Memphis
East RegionalBostonTD GardenMarch 28 - 30Boston College
South RegionalDallasAmerican Airlines CenterMarch 29 -31Big 12 Conference
Midwest RegionalDetroitLittle Caesars ArenaMarch 29 - 31University of Detroit Mercy / Oakland University
West RegionalLos AngelesCrypto.com ArenaMarch 28 - 30Pepperdine University
Final FourPhoenix State Farm StadiumApril 6 - 8 Arizona State University

What time is the March Madness Championship?

Reportedly, the 2023–24 March Madness Championship will begin with Selection Sunday on March 17 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.

What time is the March Madness Championship game?

Reportedly, the 2023–24 March Madness Championship game will be available on April 8 at 9:20 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.

When does March Madness begin?

After Selection Sunday, the First Four rounds of the 2023–24 March Madness will take place in Dayton, Ohio, at the UD Arena on March 19–20, hosted by the University of Dayton.

When does March Madness end?

The 2023–24 NCAA March Madness will end by April 8, which is the championship game, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

FAQs

A. March Madness begins on March 19, 2024, and concludes with the championship game on April 8.

A. The March Madness Championship selection day is on March 17 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.

A. The March Madness Championship game is on April 8 at 9:20 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.

A. Watch the NCAA 2023–24 March Madness on CBS Sports, TNT Sports, and TBS. Stream online via various platforms.

A. March Madness concludes with the championship game on April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Related Stories

Dan Hurley details "frustrating" yet "relieving" experience this season for the UConn Huskies since Maui Dan Hurley details "frustrating" yet "relieving" experience this season for the UConn Huskies since Maui
Dan Hurley details "frustrating" yet "relieving" experience this season for the UConn Huskies since Maui
1d
Dawn Staley compares 18yr old South Carolina star to Aliyah Boston, thinks she's found the future "best player in college basketball" Dawn Staley compares 18yr old South Carolina star to Aliyah Boston, thinks she's found the future "best player in college basketball"
Dawn Staley compares 18yr old South Carolina star to Aliyah Boston, thinks she's found the future "best player in college basketball"
Kansas coach Bill Self decares SEC "hands down" the nation's best basketball conference Kansas coach Bill Self decares SEC "hands down" the nation's best basketball conference
Kansas coach Bill Self decares SEC "hands down" the nation's best basketball conference
Paige Bueckers drops 3-word reaction to JMU legend Darren McLinton’s induction to Hall of Fame Paige Bueckers drops 3-word reaction to JMU legend Darren McLinton’s induction to Hall of Fame
Paige Bueckers drops 3-word reaction to JMU legend Darren McLinton’s induction to Hall of Fame
"It really is a blur": Dawn Staley questions team discipline but lauds "gritty" defense to overcome LSU "It really is a blur": Dawn Staley questions team discipline but lauds "gritty" defense to overcome LSU
"It really is a blur": Dawn Staley questions team discipline but lauds "gritty" defense to overcome LSU
Dawn Staley reveals why Sania Feagin is 1 of her favorite players after Gamecocks stun LSU: "Stuck with us when it's so much easier to leave" Dawn Staley reveals why Sania Feagin is 1 of her favorite players after Gamecocks stun LSU: "Stuck with us when it's so much easier to leave"
Dawn Staley reveals why Sania Feagin is 1 of her favorite players after Gamecocks stun LSU: "Stuck with us when it's so much easier to leave"
Major Upset in Alabama: Mikayla Blakes scores half her team's points as Crimson Tide loses to unranked Vanderbilt Major Upset in Alabama: Mikayla Blakes scores half her team's points as Crimson Tide loses to unranked Vanderbilt
Major Upset in Alabama: Mikayla Blakes scores half her team's points as Crimson Tide loses to unranked Vanderbilt
13h
“We haven’t done that much this year”: Alabama coach Nate Oats seemingly takes a shot at Mark Sears after benching him “We haven’t done that much this year”: Alabama coach Nate Oats seemingly takes a shot at Mark Sears after benching him
“We haven’t done that much this year”: Alabama coach Nate Oats seemingly takes a shot at Mark Sears after benching him
19h
Kentucky fans show love to Georgia Amoore for impressive game as Arkansas suffers blowout loss Kentucky fans show love to Georgia Amoore for impressive game as Arkansas suffers blowout loss
Kentucky fans show love to Georgia Amoore for impressive game as Arkansas suffers blowout loss
8h
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl believes winning on road is difficult for SEC team after beating “great team” Tennessee Auburn coach Bruce Pearl believes winning on road is difficult for SEC team after beating “great team” Tennessee
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl believes winning on road is difficult for SEC team after beating “great team” Tennessee
13h
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications