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+) . — ESPN college basketball staff
Bracket Watch
The bubble is getting tighter, as tends to happen at this late stage of the regular season. Minnesota was not able to stave off a drop from the projected field after a home loss to Northwestern on Thursday, and some big-name pursuers such as Duke and Michigan State are closing fast. Two other teams who’ve been in the bracket all season — Indiana and Xavier — have also fallen dangerously close to the cut line. Buckle up!
