NCAA Basketball Tournament 2021: How One State Will Monopolize March Madness

After March Madness was canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the NCAA is putting college basketball’s biggest event in one state.

Indiana will host the entire 2021 NCAA Tournament as the sport looks to crown a champion with as few hiccups as possible amid a continue surge of COVID-19 cases across the country.

“The 2021 version of March Madness will be one to remember, if for no other reason than the uniqueness of the event,” said NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt. “With the direction of the Men’s Basketball Committee, we are making the most of the circumstances the global pandemic has presented. "

Much of March Madness is expected to be the same as if this were any other season, with the exception of venue locations in the East, South, Midwest, and West. The 68-team field format is expected to remain unchanged, including the one-game elimination bracket to tip off the tournament.

Selection Sunday is scheduled for March 14 and the Final Four will take place April 3 and 5. Dates for other rounds haven’t been announced, but the tournament is likely to officially start with the First Four games on March 16. Expect the Round of 64 to begin on March 18.

Six different venues will host all the games. The sites include an NFL stadium, an NBA arena and four college basketball venues.

Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the Indianapolis Colts, is the site of the Final Four. The Indiana Pacers’ Bankers Life Fieldhouse will also host games. Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler), IUPUI’s Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Purdue’s Mackey Arena and Indiana University’s Assembly Hall are the other four sites.

"We’re fortunate to have neighbors and partners in Indianapolis and surrounding communities who not only love the game of basketball as much as anyone else in the country but have a storied history when it comes to staging major sporting events,” Gavitt said.

The NCAA said it is partnering with a local health provider to administer COVID-19 testing to players and coaches within a “controlled environment,” similar to the buble concept used by the NBA last season.

It’s not yet not known if fans will be able to attend any of the games. The NCAA says it is monitoring the pandemic and will make determinations in conjunction with local health officials. A limited number of family members of student-athletes and coaches will be allowed to watch games in-person.