Let the (March) Madness Begin! Here's What to Know About the 2024 NCAA Tournament

Spring is marked by blooming flowers and more sunshine for some. For others, spring is all about the sports! Baseball season is once again getting its start while college basketball has its famous finale. Yes, we're talking about March Madness! If you've made it here, you're probably anxiously awaiting The Big Dance—and while many begin to plan for Easter, well, you're busy filling out brackets!

The Drummonds even know a thing or two about March Madness, having once played their own (slightly less official but just as exciting) version of the tournament. Afterwards, Ree wrote, "Despite my inability to breathe and my complete lack of aggression, I was able to score eight points on nothing but pure luck. Marlboro Man scored the rest and we BEAT THOSE KIDS HANDILY... And then I hobbled over to the side and plopped down on the ground. Then all the dogs licked me and one of them tried to sit on my heaving chest... I’m much better as a spectator in situations like this."

That brings us to our next point: For those also looking to spectate the upcoming action-packed games, there are a few things you need to know—specifically when the men's NCAA tournament begins and how you can watch the path to the national title. Lucky for you, we've got all that information and more. So, bust out your brackets, lace up your dancing shoes, and let the (March) madness begin!

What day is March Madness selection?

March Madness has no shortage of thrilling buzzer-beaters, the biggest upsets, and the sweetest victories—and it all starts with Selection Sunday on Sunday, March 17, 2024. This official kickoff to announce participating teams and their respective seeds will be held at 6 p.m. ET., two days before games begin.

According to NCAA, the entire March Madness schedule is:

• Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 17

• First Four: March 19-20

• First round: March 21-22

• Second round: March 23-24

• Sweet 16: March 28-29

• Elite Eight: March 30-31

• Final Four: Saturday, April 6

• NCAA championship game: Monday, April 8

Where is the NCAA basketball tournament 2024?

If you want to join the action from a court instead of your couch, there's likely a game happening near you. March Madness 2024 will take place in arenas across the nation.

Here are the March Madness locations and sites:

• First Four: UD Arena - Dayton, Ohio

• First/Second: Barclays Center - Brooklyn, New York

• First/Second: Spectrum Center - Charlotte, North Carolina

• First/Second: Gainbridge Fieldhouse - Indianapolis, Indiana

• First/Second: CHI Health Center - Omaha, Nebraska

• First/Second: PPG Paints Arena - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• First/Second: Delta Center - Salt Lake City, Utah

• First/Second: Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena - Spokane, Washington

• First/Second: FedEx Forum - Memphis, Tennessee

• East Regional (Sweet 16/Elite Eight): TD Garden - Boston, Massachusetts

• South Regional (Sweet 16/Elite Eight): American Airlines Center - Dallas, Texas

• Midwest Regional (Sweet 16/Elite Eight): Little Caesars Arena - Detroit, Michigan

• West Regional (Sweet 16/Elite Eight): Crypto.com Arena - Los Angeles, California

• Final Four and National Championship: State Farm Stadium - Phoenix, Arizona

What is the First Four in NCAA tournament?

Before March Madness begins in earnest, you have the First Four. This refers to the play-in games that take place before the first round to determine the last four teams to qualify for the 64-team bracket. The round consists of two games between the four lowest-ranked automatic qualifiers and two games between the four lowest-ranked, at-large bids. The winners of these matchups earn their way into the main bracket to play in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

How to watch and stream March Madness

Now that you know all the details, you're probably wondering how you can actually watch the March Madness magic unfold. Well, the tournament will air on CBS and Turner Sports, which means it will be broadcast across four cable networks: CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. You can also watch on any streaming service with access to these networks such as YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV. Additionally, the games will stream on Paramount+. You can also tune into any local CBS affiliates if you have a digital antenna.

With that—tournament tip-off awaits!

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