The highly anticipated March Madness season is here! There will be 68 teams competing in 67 live matches across the country, giving National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) fans a lot of action to follow. If you are looking forward to an unmatched college basketball experience, you are in the right place. This article provides all the necessary details to ensure you have a memorable experience.
After being canceled two years ago due to the pandemic, March Madness is expected to look relatively normal this year. NCAA betting fans will also look forward to filling the March Madness brackets. If you are one of them, you can enjoy this Free Printable March Madness Bracket, especially if you prefer filling it old-school style! Keep scrolling for more details.
When Will the Tournament Begin?
The 2023 Men's NCAA tournament for March Madness kicks off with the first four games in Dayton and Ohio. After that, fans will enjoy plenty of action until the Final Hour in Houston.
Here is an overview of the March Madness schedule:
Date | Event | |
March 12 | Selection Sunday | |
March 14-15 | First Four | |
March 16-17 | First Round | |
March 18-19 | Second Round | |
March 23-24 | Sweet 16 | |
March 25-26 | Elite Eight | |
April 1 | Final Four | |
April 3 | NCAA championship game |
The men's and women's brackets will be revealed on March 12, starting with the Men's bracket and then the Women's selection. This year's tournament will be the 84th edition.
How Does it Work?
As mentioned earlier, 68 teams usually participate in the NCAA. Each program that wins its conference tournament fills 32 automatic bids. The NCAA Selection Committee will then issue the remaining 36 bids during Selection Sunday.
After that, the Selection Committee will seed the whole field from 1 to 68. Eight teams comprising the four-lowest seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams face off in the First Four. The First Four winners advance to the main bracket of the tournament.
Where will the 2023 NCAA be Held?
Different sites will host each round of the 2023 NCAA action as outlined below:
First Four- the First Four matches will be played at the University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio.
The first and second rounds (March 16 and 18)(subregionals) will be played at:
Amyway Center, Orlando, Florida, with the University of Central Florida as the host.
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California, hosted by California State University, Sacramento.
Legacy Arena, Birmingham, Alabama, hosted by Southeastern Conference
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa, with Drake University as the hosts.
First and second rounds (17 and 19)
MVP Arena, Albany, New York, hosted by California State University, Sacramento)
Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina, hosted by Atlantic Coast Conference
Nationwide arena, Columbus, Ohio, hosted by Ohio State University
Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado, hosted by Mountain West Conference.
The Regional Semi-Finals and Finals
The regional semis will be held in the following venues:
For the East Region, the hosts will be Big East Conference and St. John's University, while the West regional semis will be hosted by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The University of Louisville will host the South regional semis and finals. Additionally, the Big 12 Conference will host the Midwest regional semis and finals.
National Semi-Finals and Championship
The University of Houston, Rice University, Texas Southern University, and Houston Christian University will host the national semis and championship matches. This will be the fourth time Houston will be hosting the Final Four. It will also be the NCAA's first time in Nevada, with Las Vegas becoming the newest host city. The T-Mobile Arena will also become the 45th new host venue.
