NCAA Tournament Schedule tweaked
First four on a Thursday, first round start Friday:
January 19th, 2021 at 3:10 PM ^
2021 March Madness: Complete schedule, dates
Round Dates Location
Selection Sunday Sunday, March 14
First Four: Thursday, March 18Mackey Arena, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
First Round: Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20Mackey Arena, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Lucas Oil Stadium
Second Round: Sunday, March 21 and Monday, March 22Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Lucas Oil Stadium
Sweet 16: Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse
Elite Eight: Monday, March 29 and Tuesday, March 30Lucas Oil Stadium
Final Four: Saturday, April 3 and Monday, April 5Lucas Oil Stadium
Edit: Second round changed to Sunday & Monday in above
January 19th, 2021 at 3:13 PM ^
Edited after viewing correct dates.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
January 19th, 2021 at 3:27 PM ^
OP is off slightly on their days. The link says Friday/Saturday for the first round and Sunday/Monday for round of 32.
The timing for number of games over each weekend is the same just instead of Thursday-Sunday it is Friday-Monday. Sweet 16/Elite 8 is one week after opening weekend like normal but instead of being played on Thursday-Sunday it is Saturday-Tuesday so all games can have their own TV slot.
January 19th, 2021 at 3:14 PM ^
At least msu won't be affected
January 19th, 2021 at 3:16 PM ^
Will end up being may madness
January 19th, 2021 at 3:24 PM ^
Bummer, I was hoping they took this opportunity to get rid of the first four.
January 19th, 2021 at 4:24 PM ^
What's wrong with the First Four? Just curious, I've never really heard anyone want to get rid of it.
Admittedly, I wish all 8 teams playing in those games were at-large. I do think anyone who earns a bid by winning their conference's guaranteed spot should avoid those games.
January 19th, 2021 at 8:49 PM ^
Well personally, as a First Four fan, I blame the rest of the tournament games for their conspiracy against the First Four ever since it joined the tournament. Clearly the First Four would have multiple National Championships if not for the tournament inviting the First Four in just to then sabotage its chances at national prominence. I think the First Four should go back to being an independent.
January 19th, 2021 at 4:27 PM ^
Me too
January 19th, 2021 at 4:32 PM ^
Why exactly is this happening this way? The format stays the same but is shifted by a day and 2 days the following weekend.
January 19th, 2021 at 4:56 PM ^
Just a guess but for the sweet 16 & Elite 8 this will allow every game to get it's own tv slot instead of having two sweet 16 games on at once. This likely means they can demand more money for those games and the advertisements.
For the other rounds I'm sure they think they can get more money out of that format, its just probably more nuanced.