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 top line of the bracket has shuffled for the first time in several weeks, with Michigan slipping ahead of Baylor to No. 2 overall and two other Big Ten teams — Illinois and Ohio State — trading places for the fourth No. 1 seed. This race is nowhere near a conclusion, however, with Illinois scheduled to visit both Michigan and Ohio State to close out the regular season. A win over the Buckeyes is probably enough for the Illini to be a top seed as best we can project.
