The NCAA tournament we lost last season has been found — and will be different than any previous such event.
The realities of the coronavirus pandemic mean the 2021 NCAA tournament will be held at a single destination – the state of Indiana – with multiple venues utilized and usual tournament schedule adjusted. The Final Four is slated to be held at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 3 and 5, but uncertainty will continue to reign following a regular season characterized by numerous cancellations and postponements throughout college basketball.
What is expected to remain familiar is the selection of a 68-team field, which is where Joe Lunardi comes in. Joey Brackets will continue to perform the bracket math and make projections on the field until Selection Sunday on March 14. For a deeper look at the NCAA tournament bubble, visit John Gasaway’s Bubble Watch (ESPN+) .
Bracket Watch
The 16-team “sneak preview” from the NCAA Selection Committee didn’t tell us much. Everyone agrees on the four best teams in the country: Gonzaga, Baylor, Michigan and Ohio State. Another Big Ten member, Illinois, has the best chance to crack the top line, as Villanova fell back after its lopsided loss at Creighton. Missouri, a No. 4 seed by the Committee, also dropped after suffering its second loss in a row.
