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+) . To fill out a Tournament Challenge bracket, visit ESPN Tournament Challenge . — ESPN college basketball staff
Bracket Watch
Two years ago at this time, Saint Mary’s upset top-ranked Gonzaga in the WCC championship game to put the Bulldogs’ No. 1 seed in doubt. This time, it was BYU pushing an undefeated Gonzaga team to the limit before the Bulldogs prevailed in comeback fashion. The Zags would have remained a No. 1 seed regardless, same as two years ago, but with the door open for Baylor to ascend to the No. 1 overall seed on Selection Sunday. But the top spot is no longer in doubt, and the selection committee should feel free to move on to the other 67 slots in the bracket.
