We are entering one of the most sacred times of the sports calendar. March Madness is right around the corner. Upsets will happen, favorites will find their way through challenges, and we will eventually crown a college basketball national champion.
There is still a lot that can happen between now and the opening games of the round of 68. The biggest event of note will be Selection Sunday. What is Selection Sunday? What happens and what can we expect? Here is what you should know going into one of the most important days of the college basketball season. Also, click here to learn how to bet on March Madness today.
Selection Sunday: Official Bracket Revealed
The last Sunday the official NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship bracket was officially revealed. The First Four will be played in Dayton between 19 and 20, which Colorado State and Colorado Buffaloes among the competitors.
Colorado State faced Virginia in the first four and won, qualifying for the first round where they were eliminated by Texas Texas. Meanwhile Colorado Buffs played Boise State to punch a ticket to the bracket, where they played Florida and won 102-100. The Buffaloes unfortunately were eliminated in the Second Round by Marquette.
Iowa State faced South Dakota St. in the first round and won, qualifying for the second round where they faced Washington St, who defeated the Drake Bulldogs. The Cyclones managed to get past Washington and booked a place in the Sweet 16 but they ended up losing to Illinois. It was still a very interesting deep run from the Cyclones. Check out the complete bracket here.
Unfortunately Iowa Hawkeyes missed on this year’s March Madness and will have only the women tournament to look forward to, where they are actually the no. 1 seeded team. The Women Hawkeyes are in the Final Four for the second year in a row.
Updated: 04-05-23
What is Selection Sunday?
Selection Sunday is when the NCAA Tournament committee announces its picks for the yearly NCAA Tournament. The tournament is a collection of 68 teams who battle bracket style to crown a college basketball national champion.
The selection committee looks at the resumes of hundreds of college teams to determine who should make the cut. There are automatic bids given out to conference tournament champions, but the rest go to teams who have been the best throughout the season. It’s a bit more complicated than that, but it sets the stage for March Madness, as a whole.
COLORADO STATE ROLLS INTO THE FIRST ROUND 😮💨
The Rams beat Virginia 67-42 to move on 🐏 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/KSgWJ7S30H
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2024
When Is 2024 March Madness Selection Sunday?
The expected date for March Madness selection Sunday and bracket reveal is March 17th. You can check it here on NCAA official website.
The Selection Sunday show begins at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT) on CBS.
Three more tickets were punched into March Madness Wednesday 🎟️@McNeeseMBB @ColgateMBB @MSUBobcatsMBB pic.twitter.com/lnxiHqxF5a
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 14, 2024
The Favorites
Every season, there are a handful of teams that have been dominant all season long and will no doubt be the picks of most to win it all. There are maybe three or four teams that fit the bill this year, including the team that won it all a year ago.
Currently in the Final Four the favorites Purdue and UConn are battling the underdogs Alabama (4) and NC State (11), but they are expected to battle each other in the Championship game.
Year of the Giants
Last year was notable for all of the massive upsets. It isn’t often that you see a No. 16 seed topple a No. 1 seed (or almost ever), after all. This year, however, the top teams in the nation look distinctly better than the rest of the field. Tennessee, Houston, UConn (defending national champions), and Purdue look like they are a cut above.
Traditional programs like Arizona and North Carolina could make a run as well. Upsets can and will happen. It is difficult to pull off multiple wins in a short span against the top teams in the country. This is when legacies are made and when moments become memorable.
Many love Purdue to get the monkey off their back this year. They are following a similar path to Virginia. The latter was the top seed heading into the 2018 tournament only to be shocked in the first round. They came back the next year and won the entire thing. That is what potentially lies ahead for the Boilermakers, coming off a stunning first-round exit a year ago.
The beauty of the NCAA Tournament is that anything can happen. Stories will be created. Legends will be made. But it all starts with Selection Sunday.
Closer and closer 🔜
5 days until Selection Sunday 🔥#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/9IR8jZ8ZPU
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 12, 2024
Conclusion
Like every mid-March, we have a pretty good idea of who will make the cut and which teams will be right there on the bubble at the end. There will no doubt be a couple of surprise picks, as is the case each year.
Fans of certain college basketball programs are no doubt feeling the pressure. When all is said and done, we will be left with 68 teams that will give it their all and attempt to carve out their place in history. Will we see a repeat by last year’s champion, or will we see another Cinderella story unfold? That’s the beauty of March Madness.
Charleston head coach Pat Kelsey holds a March Madness ticket after defeating Stony Brook in the NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Coastal Athletic Association conference tournament, Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
