NCAA
Which colleges made March Madness? How do teams qualify? | NCAA Tournament
March Madness has arrived and with that we’re taking a look at the this year’s tournament, who’s in and how the games line up.
It’s that time of year again. March Madness has arrived! We had some surprises from the likes of Oregon, Duquesne and NC State while some of the favourites didn’t fulfil the expectations laid upon them, some unable to take their respective conference titles. Looking at you Purdue and Houston. So, to all those 68 teams who are now in place, and thoughts on just how to complete the perfect bracket. Before we get into, though, let’s break down how it all works.
How is the NCAA Tournament field filled?
To be clear, there are two ways to for the NCAA’s big party: you’ve either got to win your conference tournament, which means you get an automatic bid, or you receive an ‘at-large’ bid. This latter one sees the selection committee decide which 36 teams, not automatic qualifiers, deserve invitations based on their performance throughout the season. Any eligible Division I team can be chosen for an at-large bid. It should also be said that there is some fine print involved, for example, you can’t qualify if you’ve been sanctioned or are moving between divisions.
Who has secured automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament?
Here is the list of teams participating in the 2024 NCAA tournament:
1. Wagner
2. Howard
3. Colorado State
4. Virginia
5. Grambling
6. Montana State
7. Colorado
8. Boise State
9. Mississippi State
10. Michigan State
11. BYU
12. Duquesne
13. Creighton
14. Akron
15. Arizona
16. Long Beach State
17. North Carolina
18. Illinois
19. Morehead State
20. South Carolina
21. Oregon
22. Dayton
23. Nevada
24. Texas
25. Kentucky
26. Oakland
27. Gonzaga
28. McNeese
29. Iowa State
30. South Dakota State
31. Tennessee
32. Saint Peter's
33. Texas Tech
34. NC State
35. Kansas
36. Samford
37. Washington State
38. Drake
39. Florida Atlantic
40. Northwestern
41. Baylor
42. Colgate
43. San Diego State
44. UAB
45. Marquette
46. Western Kentucky
47. UConn
48. Stetson
49. Clemson
50. New Mexico
51. Auburn
52. Yale
53. Florida
54. Nebraska
55. Texas A&M
56. Duke
57. Vermont
58. Purdue
59. Alabama
60. College of Charleston
61. Houston
62. Longwood
63. Wisconsin
64. James Madison
65. Utah State
66. TCU
67. Saint Mary's
68. Grand Canyon
What’s the full March Madness schedule?
Tuesday, March 19 (First Four in Dayton, Ohio)
(16) Wagner vs. (16) Howard
(10) Colorado State vs. (10) Virginia
Wednesday, March 20 (First Four in Dayton, Ohio)
(16) Grambling vs. (16) Montana State
(10) Colorado vs. (10) Boise State
Thursday, March 21 (Round of 64)
(8) Mississippi State vs. (9) Michigan State
(6) BYU vs. (11) Duquesne
(3) Creighton vs. (14) Akron
(2) Arizona vs. (15) Long Beach State
(1) North Carolina vs. Winner of Wagner/Howard
(3) Illinois vs. (14) Morehead State
(6) South Carolina vs. (11) Oregon
(7) Dayton vs. (10) Nevada
(7) Texas vs. Winner of Colorado State/Virginia
(3) Kentucky vs. (14) Oakland
(5) Gonzaga vs. (12) McNeese
(2) Iowa State vs. (15) South Dakota State
(2) Tennessee vs. (15) Saint Peter's
(6) Texas Tech vs. (11) NC State
(4) Kansas vs. (13) Samford
(7) Washington State vs. (10) Drake
Friday, March 22 (Round of 64)
(8) Florida Atlantic vs. (9) Northwestern
(3) Baylor vs. (14) Colgate
(5) San Diego State vs. (12) UAB
(2) Marquette vs. (15) Western Kentucky
(1) UConn vs. (16) Stetson
(6) Clemson vs. (11) New Mexico
(4) Auburn vs. (13) Yale
(7) Florida vs. Winner of Colorado/Boise State
(8) Nebraska vs. (9) Texas A&M
(4) Duke vs. (13) Vermont
(1) Purdue vs. Winner of Grambling/Montana State
(4) Alabama vs. (13) College of Charleston
(1) Houston vs. (16) Longwood
(5) Wisconsin vs. (12) James Madison
(8) Utah State vs. (9) TCU
(5) Saint Mary's vs. (12) Grand Canyon