Last year’s tournament was considered one of the most consequential and exciting in the history of the tournament. This one? Could be even MORE consequential and exciting.
2023 produced several massive upsets and probably one of the most strange championship game matchups ever in San Diego State Vs. UConn. Now we move to the 2024 NCAA Tournament, where with how unbelievably wild this season was with over 150 upsets including a week in which 9 out of 10 top 10 teams were upset in a day.
Tournament Locations:
Thursday and Saturday Games:
March 21 and 23
Spectrum Center – Charlotte, North Carolina
CHI Health Center – Omaha, Nebraska
PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Delta Center – Salt Lake City, Utah
Friday and Sunday Games:
March 22 and 24
Barclay Center – Brooklyn, New York
Gainbridge Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, Indiana
FedEx Forum – Memphis, Tennessee
Spokane Veterans Memorial Coliseum – Spokane, Washington
Regional Games (Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight):
Thursday and Saturday Games
March 28 and 30
East – TD Garden – Boston, Massachusetts
West – Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles California
Friday and Sunday Games
March 29 and 31
South – American Airlines Arena – Dallas, Texas
Midwest – Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, Michigan
EAST REGION
| 1 Connecticut | 16 Stetson |
| 8 Florida Atlantic | 9 Northwestern |
| 5 San Diego State | 12 Alabama-Birmingham |
| 4 Auburn | 13 Yale |
| 6 Brigham Young | 11 Duquesne |
| 3 Illinois | 14 Morehead State |
| 7 Washington State | 10 Drake |
| 2 Iowa State | 15 South Dakota State |
Teams on upset alert:
Illinois, Florida Atlantic
Team winning the East Region: Connecticut
SOUTH REGION
| 1 Houston | 16 Longwood |
| 8 Nebraska | 9 Texas A&M |
| 5 Wisconsin | 12 James Madison |
| 4 Duke | 13 Vermont |
| 6 Texas Tech | 11 North Carolina State |
| 3 Kentucky | 14 Oakland |
| 7 Florida | 10 Play-In (Boise State/Colorado) |
| 2 Marquette | 15 Western Kentucky |
Teams on upset alert:
Wisconsin, Florida, Nebraska
Team winning the South Region: Marquette
MIDWEST REGION
| 1 Purdue | 16 Play-In (Montana State/Grambling State) |
| 8 Utah State | 9 Texas Christian University |
| 5 Gonzaga | 12 McNeese State |
| 4 Kansas | 13 Samford |
| 6 South Carolina | 11 Oregon |
| 3 Creighton | 14 Akron |
| 7 Texas | 10 Play-In (Virginia/Colorado State) |
| 2 Tennessee | 15 Saint Peter’s |
Teams on upset alert:
Gonzaga, Texas, Kansas
Team winning the Midwest Region: Purdue
WEST REGION
| 1 North Carolina | 16 Play-In (Howard/Wagner) |
| 8 Mississippi State | 9 Michigan State |
| 5 Saint Mary’s | 12 Grand Canyon |
| 4 Alabama | 13 College of Charleston |
| 6 Clemson | 11 New Mexico |
| 3 Baylor | 14 Colgate |
| 7 Dayton | 10 Nevada |
| 2 Arizona | 15 Long Beach State |
Teams on upset alert:
Clemson, Alabama, Dayton
Team winning the West Region: Arizona
The post The Field of 68 Prepares for Combat: NCAA Tournament 2024 Preview appeared first on Marylandsportsblog.com.