The March Madness basketball tournament is one of the most highly anticipated events in college sports, drawing millions of viewers to catch the thrilling games and unpredictable upsets . In 2024, this action-packed competition will take place from March 17 to April 8, featuring the nation's top teams vying for the coveted championship title . The road to the Final Four on April 6 will begin with Selection Sunday on March 17, followed by the First Four games on March 19-20 and the first and second round matchups from March 21-24. College basketball fans can expect intense rivalries, potential Cinderella stories, and unforgettable moments as the tournament progresses through the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds from March 28-31.
Top Contenders
According to the latest rankings and projections, several powerhouse programs have emerged as top contenders for the 2024 March Madness tournament:
- UConn Huskies: The defending national champions are the betting market favorite to repeat, led by All-American guard Tristen Newton and 7'2" center Donovan Clingan . UConn is consistently ranked #1 across major polls like the AP Top 25, Coaches Poll, and CBS Sports Top 25 And 1
- Houston Cougars: With the top-ranked scoring defense in the country and strong guard play led by Jamal Shead, Houston is a dark horse pick . They strengthened their case for the #1 overall seed by defeating Kansas 76-46 and are ranked #1 in the NET rankings
- Purdue Boilermakers: After a shocking first-round loss in 2023, Purdue is seeking redemption and is a top contender this year . They are ranked in the top 5 across all major polls
- North Carolina Tar Heels: Led by RJ Davis and Armando Bacot, North Carolina is also a top pick . They won the ACC regular season title by defeating rival Duke 84-79Other notable teams consistently ranked in the top 10 include Iowa State, Tennessee, Creighton, Kentucky, Duke, Baylor, Saint Mary's, and South Carolina . ## Potential Cinderella Stories While powerhouse programs like UConn, Houston, and Purdue are expected to make deep tournament runs, March Madness is known for its underdog stories and Cinderella teams that defy the odds. Here are some potential Cinderella teams to watch out for
- NC State Wolfpack: As an 11-seed, NC State could continue their surprising run by exploiting their size advantage over Marquette
- Conference Tournament Contenders: Several mid-major programs like Wake Forest (ACC), Stetson (Atlantic Sun), UMass-Lowell (America East), South Florida (American), Loyola Chicago (Atlantic 10), St. John's (Big East), High Point (Big South), and Nebraska (Big Ten) are on the NCAA tournament bubble or seeking their first-ever bid by winning their conference tournaments
- Drought-Ending Hopefuls: Teams like Louisiana Tech (Conference USA), Youngstown State (Horizon), Quinnipiac (MAAC), Fairfield (MAAC), Toledo (MAC), Indiana State (Missouri Valley), New Mexico (Mountain West), Merrimack (Northeast), UT-Martin (Ohio Valley), Washington State (Pac-12), South Carolina (SEC), Samford (Southern), Grambling (SWAC), and Kansas City (Summit) are all looking to end lengthy NCAA tournament droughts or earn their first-ever bid With the unpredictable nature of March Madness, these teams have the potential to pull off major upsets and become this year's Cinderella stories
Key Matchups to Watch
- Whether the #1 seeds UConn, Purdue, and North Carolina will continue their dominance or show vulnerability against tough opponents
- How Houston will respond after needing overtime to beat Texas A&M, as they face a hot Duke team
- The clash between the high-powered offense of Illinois and the stifling defense of Iowa State
Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
March 28 | No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 8 Mississippi State | 12:15 PM | CBS |
March 28 | No. 14 Akron vs. No. 3 Creighton | 1:30 PM | TNT |
March 28 | No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 6 South Carolina | 4:00 PM | TNT |
March 28 | No. 14 Oakland vs. No. 3 Kentucky | 7:10 PM | CBS |
March 29 | No. 11 N.C. State vs. No. 6 Texas Tech | 9:40 PM | CBS |
March 29 | No. 13 Samford vs. No. 4 Kansas | 9:55 PM | TBS |
As the tournament progresses to the Elite Eight on March 30-31, the confirmed matchups are:
- Midwest Regional Final: No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 2 Tennessee
- South Regional Final: No. 4 Duke vs. No. 11 NC State
Predictions and Storylines
- Bubble Teams: The "First Team Out" is St. John's, while the "Last Team In" is Oklahoma . The "Last Four Byes" are Colorado St., Texas A&M, Mississippi St., and TCU, while the "Last Four In" are Florida Atlantic, Colorado, Michigan St., and Oklahoma . The "First Four Out" are St. John's, Virginia, Indiana St., and Seton Hall, with the "Next Four Out" being Pittsburgh, Providence, Kansas St., and South Florida
- Conference Representation: The Big 12 has the most teams in the 68-team bracket with 9, followed by the SEC (8), Big Ten (6), and Mountain West (6)
- Format Adjustments: The standard 68-team bracket format has been used, with some adjustments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the entire tournament being played at a single site
- Potential Format Changes: The article also discusses potential 48-team and 16-team bracket formats that could be used in the future
- Key Storylines: UConn is trying to become the first repeat champion since Florida in 2006-07, while Purdue is looking to finally break through to the Final Four under Matt Painter . Expert predictions from ESPN and Bleacher Report analysts favor UConn, Arizona, North Carolina, and Marquette
- Championship Game: The national championship game will be played on April 8, 2024
