2024 MARCH MADNESS

March Madness schedule 2024: game times, dates, bracket

68 teams will take part in the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, which starts with the First Four on Tuesday 19 March.

Brian Spurlock

March Madness 2024 officially begins on Tuesday 19 March. With Selection Sunday behind us, we now know which 68 teams will be participating in the 2024 NCAA basketball tournament. The First Four takes place on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 March in Dayton, Ohio with the No. 16 and No. 10 schools playing for a spot in the First Round.

Fill out your NCAA Men’s March Madness bracket here, but try and predict the results at your peril. March Madness has become synonymous with surprise results in the last few years, with the gap between the top and bottom seeds having shrunk.

In 2023, No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson memorably defeated No 1. seed Purdue in the first round of the East regional tournament, while Florida Atlantic, No. 9 in the East, only just missed on making the National championship game, which was won by UConn.

None of the top seeds reached the final in any of the regional tournaments.

2024 NCAA March Madness tournament: full schedule (all times listed in Eastern)

First Four

Tuesday 19 March

  • 6:40 pm: (16) Wagner vs. (16) Howard
  • 9:10 pm: (10) Colorado State vs. (10) Virginia

Wednesday, March 15

  • 6:40 pm: (16) Grambling State vs. (16) Montana State
  • 9:10 pm: (10) Colorado vs. (10) Boise State

First Round

Thursday 21 March

  • 12:15 pm: (8) Mississippi State vs. (9) Michigan State
  • 12:40 pm: (6) BYU vs. (11) Duquesne
  • 1:30 pm: (3) Creighton vs. (14) Akron
  • 2:00 pm: (2) Arizona vs. (15) Long Beach State
  • 2:45 pm: (1) North Carolina vs. (16) Howard/(16) Wagner
  • 3:10 pm: (3) Illinois vs. (14) Morehead State
  • 4:00 pm: (6) South Carolina vs. (11) Oregon
  • 4:30 pm: (7) Dayton vs. (10) Nevada
  • 6:50 pm: (7) Texas vs. (10) Colorado State/(10) Virginia
  • 7:10 pm: (3) Kentucky vs. (14) Oakland
  • 7:25 pm: (5) Gonzaga vs. (12) McNeese
  • 7:35 pm: (2) Iowa State vs. (15) South Dakota State
  • 9:20 pm: (2) Tennessee vs. (15) Saint Peter's 
  • 9:40 pm: (6) Texas Tech vs. (11) NC State
  • 9:55 pm: (4) Kansas vs. (13) Samford
  • 10:05 pm: (7) Washington State vs. (10) Drake

Friday 22 March

12:15 pm: (8) Florida Atlantic vs. (9) Northwestern
12:40 pm: (3) Baylor vs. (14) Colgate
1:30 pm: (5) San Diego State vs. (12) UAB 
2:00 pm: (2) Marquette vs. (15) Western Kentucky
2:45 pm: (1) UConn vs. (16) Stetson
3:10 pm: (6) Clemson vs. (11) New Mexico
4:00 pm: (4) Auburn vs. (13) Yale
4:30 pm: (7) Florida vs. (10) Colorado/(10) Boise State
6:50 pm: (8) Nebraska vs. (9) Texas A&M 
7:10 pm: (4) Duke vs. (13) Vermont
7:25 pm: (1) Purdue vs. (16) Grambling/Montana State
7:35 pm: (4) Alabama vs. (13) College of Charleston
9:20 pm: (1) Houston vs. (16) Longwood
9:40 pm: (5) Wisconsin vs. (12) James Madison
9:55 pm: (8) Utah State vs. (9) TCU
10:05 pm: (5) Saint Mary's vs. (12) Grand Canyon

Second Round (teams TBD)

Saturday 23 March

Eight games. First game starts at 12:10 p.m.

Sunday 24 March

Eight games. First game starts at 12:10 p.m.

Sweet 16 (teams TBD)

Thursday 28 March

Four games. First game starts at 6:30 p.m.

Friday 29 March

Four games. First game starts at 6:30 p.m.

Elite Eight (teams TBD)

Saturday 30 March

Two games. First game starts at 6:09 p.m.

Sunday 31 March

Two games. First game starts at 2:20 p.m.

Final Four (teams TBD)

Saturday 6 April

Two games. First game starts at 6:09 p.m.

NCAA Championship game (teams TBD)

Monday 8 April

The National championship game tips off at 9:20 p.m. on Monday 8 April. State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the home of NFL team the Arizona Cardinals, is the venue.

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