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 the 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+) .
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Bracket Watch
Until further notice, Virginia and Kansas remain in the projected field. The Jayhawks are a No. 3 seed and the Cavaliers a No. 4 seed pending additional updates to their respective COVID-19 statuses. Additional headlines overnight include Oklahoma State’s rise to a No. 2 seed and the addition of Saint Louis as the final at-large team. Potential Saturday bid stealers are Georgetown (Big East) and Oregon State (Pac-12), as well as Memphis if the Tigers can bounce Houston in the American semifinals.
