Men’s March Madness 2024: Dates, Schedule, and Expert Picks

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, affectionately known as March Madness, stands as one of the most captivating and unpredictable sporting events in the United States. Each year, 68 college basketball teams battle it out in a single-elimination format, leading to thrilling upsets, buzzer-beating finishes, and the crowning of a national champion. The 2024 edition of this celebrated tournament delivered its fair share of excitement, culminating in a familiar victor. The UConn Huskies successfully defended their title, marking the first time a team achieved back-to-back championships since Florida in 2007. This dominant performance underscored the Huskies’ strength throughout the season and their ability to perform under the intense pressure of the tournament. As fans look back on the memorable moments and outcomes of March Madness 2024, this article serves as a comprehensive guide, detailing the key dates, the complete schedule, expert predictions, and providing a closer look at the journeys of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Key Dates for the 2024 NCAA Men’s Tournament

The journey to the national championship in March Madness is marked by several crucial dates that build anticipation and structure the tournament’s progression. The unveiling of the tournament bracket on Selection Sunday, which fell on Sunday, March 17th in 2024, officially ignited the March Madness fervor . This day is pivotal for fans as the 68 participating teams are announced, setting the stage for bracket predictions and the strategic planning of potential tournament paths. The basketball action commenced shortly after with the First Four games, held on March 19th and 20th at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio . These opening contests feature eight of the lowest-seeded teams vying for the final four spots in the official 64-team bracket, often providing early drama and potential for Cinderella stories to emerge.

The tournament then moved into the First and Second Rounds, also known as the subregionals, which took place from March 21st to March 24th . Games were hosted across various cities and venues nationwide, including Charlotte, North Carolina; Omaha, Nebraska; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Salt Lake City, Utah; Brooklyn, New York; Indianapolis, Indiana; Memphis, Tennessee; and Spokane, Washington . This widespread distribution of games in the early rounds contributes to the national appeal of March Madness, allowing fans from different regions to experience the tournament atmosphere firsthand. The intensity heightened during the Regional Semi-Finals and Finals, encompassing the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds, held from March 28th to March 31st . The four regional locations for 2024 were Boston, Massachusetts (East Regional); Los Angeles, California (West Regional); Dallas, Texas (South Regional); and Detroit, Michigan (Midwest Regional) . These rounds saw the field narrow to the final four contenders, with each game carrying immense stakes as teams battled for a coveted spot in the Final Four. The culmination of the tournament occurred with the Final Four on April 6th and the National Championship game on April 8th, both hosted at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona . This final weekend represents the pinnacle of the college basketball season, drawing massive viewership and media attention as the remaining teams compete for the national title.

The Road to the Final Four: Understanding the 2024 Bracket and Schedule

The structure of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is a key element of its enduring popularity. The tournament begins with 68 teams, meticulously selected and seeded across four different regions: East, West, South, and Midwest. The selection process involves identifying 32 automatic qualifiers, which are the champions of their respective conferences, and 36 at-large bids, awarded to the best remaining teams based on their regular-season performance, strength of schedule, and other criteria. These teams are then organized into a single-elimination bracket, meaning that one loss takes a team out of contention. The tournament progresses through six rounds: the First Four, First Round (Round of 64), Second Round (Round of 32), Sweet Sixteen (Regional Semifinals), Elite Eight (Regional Finals), and finally, the Final Four and the National Championship game.

For fans looking to follow the complete journey of each team and track potential matchups, access to the tournament bracket is essential. In 2024, the full 68-team bracket was readily available on official platforms such as CBS Sports and NCAA.com . These websites offered both printable versions, allowing fans to physically fill out their predictions, and interactive brackets, providing live updates on game scores and advancements . CBS Sports also provided a comprehensive schedule that included scores and television or streaming information for every game throughout the tournament . Similarly, Wikipedia offered a detailed schedule of games, organized by round and specifying the locations where each game was played . Having access to these resources allowed fans to stay informed about game times, locations, and how to watch their favorite teams as they navigated the tournament.

Expert Insights: Predictions and Analysis for March Madness 2024

Leading up to and during the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, numerous experts offered their predictions and analysis on potential outcomes. Several prominent voices in college basketball anticipated strong performances from teams like Duke, Florida, Houston, and Auburn, often citing their regular-season records and conference tournament success . While these teams were considered strong contenders, the ultimate champion, UConn, was also recognized for their potential, even if they entered the tournament as an No. 8 seed in some expert brackets . Purdue, who eventually reached the championship game, was another team frequently mentioned as having the potential to make a deep run .

The landscape of expert predictions showcased a wide range of potential Final Four combinations. Teams like Michigan State, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Gonzaga, St. John’s, Texas Tech, Memphis, Arkansas, and Colorado State were highlighted by various analysts as dark horse candidates or teams capable of pulling off upsets and advancing further than their seed might suggest . Betting odds provided an additional layer of insight into pre-tournament expectations, with Duke and Florida initially holding the shortest odds to win the championship, followed closely by Auburn and Houston . Statistical analysis also played a role in expert predictions, with UConn and Houston being lauded for their strong offensive and defensive efficiency, although concerns were raised about potential injuries impacting Houston’s depth . Purdue’s significant improvement in three-point shooting was also noted as a factor that could contribute to their tournament success .

The early rounds of the tournament are often ripe with potential upsets, and experts offered their insights on several key first and second-round matchups. Games like San Diego State vs. North Carolina, Wisconsin vs. Montana, Clemson vs. McNeese, Gonzaga vs. Georgia, Texas A&M vs. Yale, Vanderbilt vs. St. Mary’s, and Kentucky vs. Oakland were among those that garnered significant attention . Potential bracket-busting scenarios, such as UC San Diego upsetting Michigan, Drake defeating Washington State, James Madison overcoming Wisconsin, UAB taking down San Diego State, and Colorado State emerging as a sleeper team, were also discussed . As the tournament progressed, expert focus shifted to Final Four and Championship game predictions, with various analysts projecting different outcomes, including potential matchups like Duke vs. Gonzaga, Michigan State vs. Duke, Florida vs. Tennessee, Auburn vs. St. John’s, Houston vs. Duke, and ultimately, the actual championship clash between Purdue and UConn .

To provide a clearer picture of expert expectations, the following table summarizes some of the Final Four and Championship predictions made by various analysts:

Expert Name	South Region	West Region	East Region	Midwest Region	Champion
Nicole Auerbach	Michigan State	Florida	Duke	Houston	Duke
Ahmed Fareed	Michigan State	Florida	Duke	Gonzaga	Duke
Jordan Cornette	Michigan State	Florida	Wisconsin	Tennessee	Florida
Drew Dinsick	Iowa State	Florida	Duke	Houston	Duke
Vaughn Dalzell	Auburn	St. John’s	Duke	Clemson	Duke
Brad Thomas	Auburn	Florida	Duke	Tennessee	Duke
Matthew McCall	Michigan State	Florida	Duke	Houston	Florida
Josh Pastner	Auburn	St. John’s	Duke	Houston	Houston
Matthew Berry	Michigan State	Duke	Duke	Houston	Florida
Sweeney (SI)	Auburn	Baylor	Houston	Purdue	Purdue
Forde (SI)	UConn	Baylor	Houston	Creighton	UConn

This table illustrates the diverse opinions among experts regarding which teams were most likely to reach the Final Four and ultimately contend for the national championship in 2024.

Team Focus: Iowa Hawkeyes’ Journey in the 2024 Tournament (March Madness)

Analyzing the Iowa Hawkeyes’ performance in the 2024 NCAA Men’s Tournament requires a look at their pre-tournament standing and their journey through the bracket. Leading up to the tournament, some projections considered Iowa a team with the potential to climb up the seedings based on their performance . However, it is important to note that much of the pre-tournament analysis available in the provided material focuses on the Iowa State Cyclones, who were regarded as a potential title contender with strong offensive and defensive metrics, although the injury to a key player was a concern . Reviewing the Iowa Hawkeyes’ schedule and results from the 2023-24 season reveals their overall record of 17-16 and a conference record of 7-13 . Their performance in the Big Ten Tournament saw them reach the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Illinois . While the provided research material does not offer an in-depth review of the Iowa Hawkeyes’ specific seeding, opponents, and results in the 2024 NCAA Men’s Tournament, their pre-tournament form and conference performance provide some context for their overall season.

Team Focus: Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 2024 Tournament

Similarly, examining the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s journey in the 2024 NCAA Men’s Tournament requires careful consideration of the available research material. It is important to distinguish between the men’s and women’s basketball programs, as several snippets focus on the successful women’s team, which earned a No. 3 seed in their respective tournament . The men’s team, on the other hand, concluded their 2023-24 season with an overall record of 15-18 and an ACC conference record of 8-12 . Their journey in the ACC Tournament saw them win their first game against Pitt before losing to North Carolina in the second round . While the provided snippets discuss the men’s team’s performance in the ACC Tournament and offer insights into their upcoming 2024-25 season, there is limited information detailing their specific seeding, opponents, and results in the 2024 NCAA Men’s Tournament itself.

What Fans Were Searching For: Popular Keywords for March Madness 2024

Understanding the popular search terms related to March Madness provides valuable insights into what information fans are actively seeking online. General terms with high search volume include “march madness,” “final four,” and “basketball tournament” . Additionally, questions like “Has a 16 seed won?” reflect common user queries and the inherent unpredictability of the tournament .

For fans specifically interested in the Iowa basketball program, relevant keywords likely include “Iowa Hawkeyes basketball” and “Iowa March Madness.” While “iowa state” is also a high-volume keyword, it is crucial to differentiate between the two universities . The research suggests significant online interest in Iowa basketball, particularly the women’s team, likely due to the prominence of players like Caitlin Clark . For the Notre Dame basketball program, popular search terms would likely encompass “Notre Dame Fighting Irish basketball” and “Notre Dame March Madness.” Similar to Iowa, there appears to be considerable online engagement surrounding Notre Dame basketball, with discussions often focusing on both the men’s and women’s teams and their prospects for the upcoming season .

Answering Your Questions: Frequently Asked Questions About March Madness 2024

Fans often have numerous questions about the intricacies of March Madness. Common queries revolve around the tournament format, such as the number of participating teams (typically 68) and the breakdown of automatic and at-large bids . The selection process, including how teams are chosen and seeded, is another frequent topic of interest . Fans also seek information about key dates, including Selection Sunday and the start of the games . Historical facts and trivia, such as which teams have won the most championships or the odds of filling out a perfect bracket, also generate significant interest . For those planning to attend games, questions about ticketing are also common .

The following table provides examples of frequently asked questions and their answers based on the research material:

Question	Answer
When did March Madness 2024 start?	The First Four games began on March 19, 2024 .
How many teams participate in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament?	The tournament includes 68 teams .
Who won the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament?	The UConn Huskies won the championship .
Where was the Final Four played in 2024?	The Final Four was held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona .
When was Selection Sunday in 2024?	Selection Sunday was on March 17, 2024 .
What is the round featuring the final eight teams called?	It is called the Elite Eight .
What is the traditional anthem of March Madness?	The traditional anthem is “One Shining Moment” .
What are the odds of filling out a perfect March Madness bracket?	The odds are 1 in 9.2 quintillion .

This FAQ section aims to address some of the most common questions fans have about the NCAA Men’s March Madness tournament.

Conclusion: Reflecting on the Madness of 2024

The 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament delivered another thrilling chapter in the history of March Madness. From the initial bracket reveal on Selection Sunday to the final buzzer in the National Championship game, the tournament was filled with compelling storylines and memorable moments. The UConn Huskies’ dominant run to a repeat championship underscored their status as a powerhouse in college basketball. While the provided research material offered limited specifics on the Iowa Hawkeyes’ and Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s performances in the 2024 men’s tournament, their seasons and pre-tournament expectations contributed to the broader narrative of college basketball in 2024. As fans look ahead to future tournaments, the excitement and unpredictability that define March Madness continue to captivate audiences nationwide.

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