Everything You Need to Know About March Madness
With the NCAA Tournament March Madness fast approaching, it's always good to be prepared. Which is why Event Tickets Center is here to help you get prepared!
When does March Madness Start
March Madness starts Tuesday, March 14th, and will end on Monday April 3rd.
What is the schedule of the March madness tournament
Generally, March Madness starts off with Selection Sunday on March 12th, then will follow that with the First Four game March 14th-15th, then finish out with the Final four on April 1st & 3rd. After the First Four Game will be the Sweet sixteen match, followed shortly thereafter with the Elite Eight game.
With 14 matches to look out for, you can find an in depth schedule of the when, where, and what of the matches taking place throughout the tournament on the NCAA website.
Who has won march madness in the past (5 years)
Since 1939, there have been approximately 36 teams to have won a championship, but since 2017, we've had the following past winners:
- 2017-North Carolina (at University of Phoenix Stadium)
- 2018-Villanova (at Alamodome)
- 2019-Virginia (at U.S. Bank Stadium)
- 2020-Canceled due to COVID
- 2021-Baylor (at Lucas Oil Stadium)
- 2022-Kansas (at Caesars Superdome)
Where is march madness?
Different regions/areas of the U.S. will host different games. The March Madness Championship is in Indianapolis, IN.
For reference, here's a shortlist of the tournaments and where they'll be played at:
- First Four: Dayton, OH UD Arena
- First/Second Rounds: Birmingham, AL @ Legacy Arena
- First/Second Rounds: Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Center
- First/Second Rounds: Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
- First/Second Rounds: Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
- First/Second Rounds: Albany, NY @ MVP Arena
- First/Second Rounds: Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
- First/Second Rounds: Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
- First/Second Rounds: Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
- West Regional: Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena
- East Regional: New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
- Midwest Regional: Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center
- South Regional: Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
- Final Four: Houston, TX @ NRG Stadium
What channels is march madness on?
Most major cable networks do offer packages to watch major sporting events live, plus streaming options have become more readily available in recent years, which includes coverage of March Madness, the Final Four and Championship games.
The following platforms and networks will have March Madness games available to stream.
Major Cable Networks:
- TBS
- CBS
- TNT
- truTV
How to stream March Madness - Digital Platforms:
- Hulu (with plan or package upgrades)
- Sling
- Paramount+
Make sure to also check your local listings to see if any of the major cable networks will automatically tune in without an upgrade.
What if I want to see one of the tournaments in person?
As with any sport, there is the option to watch some of the games in person, especially if one of the rounds or regionals take place close to where you live. It can also be a great way to go visit a new town. With games all over the U.S. that have tickets to see them live, it'll be hard to find a place you won't want to visit.
For example, Orlando, of course, not only offers the Amway Center that the first round will take place at, but Universal Orlando and Disney World, which is great for those who enjoy amusement parks and rides. Similarly, 2 hours outside of Columbus, Ohio is Cedar Point Amusement Park for those who find their thrills in roller coasters.
Sacramento, California offers a great performing arts scene with the Sacramento Ballet, Philharmonic Orchestra, and Opera available to those who prefer more theatrical entertainment. New York also boasts a great performing arts scene, most famously with Broadway shows, alongside an in depth metro system to make transit a bit easier.
Greensboro, on the other hand, offers plenty of historic museums, gardens, and trails to hike for the more nature focused person. Similarly, Des Moines and Albany offer more historic aspects to them, alongside museums and botanic gardens. For those who prefer strictly more hikes and outdoorsy adventures, you may find yourself at ease in Denver, Colorado; the mountains and chill will be appreciated by those who don't mind a higher altitude.
Overall, just as with any event, you'll want to account for certain factors. Most stadiums will offer food and drinks inside the venue, but you may want to choose local cuisine, not only for costs, but to experience the city you're in. Also take into consideration how big events like March Madness are in the U.S., and make sure to give yourself time to park and get in (and even out of) the venue. Also be sure to check the stadiums/field websites to find more info on parking at the venue and the prices they may charge.
How many teams are part of March Madness
There will be 68 teams in total. 32 teams typically earn an automatic bid and qualify by winning their conference tournament.
How does March Madness seeding work
The teams tend to come from some of the major basketball conferences across the U.S.; this includes, but is not limited to:
- The ACC (HQ in Greensboro, NC, with 15 teams across 9 states.)
- Big 12 (HQ in Irving, TX with 23 teams across 5 states.)
- Big East (HQ in New York, NY, with 22 teams across 10 states.)
- Big 10 (HQ in Rosemont, IL, with 28 teams across 11 states.)
- Pac-12 (HQ in San Francisco, CA, with 24 teams across 6 states.)
- The SEC (Covers 14 teams across 11 states.)
The following conferences are also selected from, although not as frequently as the above:
- American Athletic Conference (11 teams in approximately 11 states.)
- Atlantic 10 Conference (22 teams across 8 states.)
- Mountain West Conference (18 teams across 7 states.)
- West Coast Conference (15 teams across 4 states.)
How do teams qualify for March Madness
Once teams from these tournaments are selected, a committee selects the 36 best teams that otherwise don't automatically qualify so they can fill the at large bid/berths. This committee will also decide on where each team is placed in terms of seeding and regionally in the tournament bracket. Sixteen levels are established across for regions, and each region is divided into quadrants with four levels in each. The committee will also assign all four teams in each bracket group to the same first round and second round sites.
After the majority of rounds are played, the Last four at-large teams on the overall seed list, alongside teams 65-68, will be paired up to compete in the First Four games (after the stadium or field they're playing at is announced).
How to make a march madness pool
We are ever so fortunate to live in a day and age where fans create a March Madness pool digitally. ESPN has a section on their site called Tournament Challenge that essentially has it all set up for you, and you just need to pick and choose which teams you predict will win. However, do note that seeds are there for a reason, and that the best teams are 1-seeds, and the worst are usually 16-seeds, and upsets are bound to happen, even when the committee does its best to balance out the seeding. So, whether you're rooting for the underdogs, or previous NCAA tournament champions, ESPNs Tournament Challenge can help you choose the best seeding bracket for you.
March Madness Fun Facts: What is the lowest seed to ever win the tournament
Amongst the lowest seed to ever win was UConn in 2014 against Kentucky. They became the first 7-seed winner to win a championship in tournament history, while also playing in a championship game with the highest seed of all time (15) according to NCAA.
What is the biggest upset to ever happen in the tournament
The biggest upset on record is the tournament between UMBC and Virginia. This tournament was the first time a NO. 16 seed (UMBC) beat a NO. 1 seed (Virginia). During the second half of the game, the UMBC managed to acquire 53 points, nearly the score that Virginia had for the whole game.
Other March Madness Fun Facts:
- Up until 2018, no 16th seeded team had beat a 1st seeded team. University of Maryland-Baltimore usurped this record when they beat University of Virginia.
- March Madness wasn't a name associated with the NCAA until 1982 when sportscaster Brent Mursburger used it during his coverage.
- Despite having been in operation for 84 years, only approximately 35 schools have won the top prize.
- 2008 was the only year all four #1 seeds made it to the Final Four.
