everything you need to know about college basketball

This Tuesday, the 19th, the March Madness 2024, the most anticipated period of games in the US college basketball season. In total, 68 teams compete for the long-awaited title of NCAA. Each team’s mission is simple: win. If you lose, go home.

What is the tournament like?

It all starts with the First Fourwhere the eight worst ranked teams (four from the weakest conferences and four from the strongest) compete for four places in the First Round.

After that, the Second Roundfollowed by Sweet 16 (regional semi-finals) and the Elite 8 (regional finals). Then, each champion team from each region (East, West, South and Midwest) will go to the dream of Final Fourwhich takes place this year at State Farm Stadiumin the city of Glendale, home of the Arizona Cardinalsfrom the NFL. The semi-finals take place on April 6th, while the grand final sees the ball thrown in the air two days later, on the 8th.

March Madness 2024 phase dates

First Four: 19 and 20/3
First Round: 21 and 22/3
Second Round: 23 and 24/3
Sweet 16: 28 and 29/3
Elite 8: 30 and 31/3
Final Four: semi-finals (6/4) and final (8/4)

Choosing the 68 teams competing in March Madness

The first teams to secure their seedings are the champions of each of college basketball’s 32 conferences. The remaining 36 vacancies are defined by a committee made up of university athletic directors and conference commissioners. To select the teams, the programs with the best campaigns and number of victories against well-ranked squads are considered.

After the teams are chosen, the committee then distributes them to four regions (East, West, South and Midwest), taking into account the technical balance and geographic location of the universities. In this way, within each of the four, the teams receive a ranking number, called seed, which goes from 1 to 16. So, the lower the number, the higher the technical level of the squad. Thus, the seeding is done so that the team with the lowest seed faces the highest seed in their respective region.

Major NCAA champions

NCAA College Basketball has memorable universities and countless elite players who are and were in the NBA passed through them and were tournament champions. The program with the most titles is UCLA, which has had names like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Russell Westbrookamong others, with 11 achievements.

Then comes Kentucky, with 8 (names like Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, John Walletc.), followed by North Carolina, with 6 (Michael Jordan, Vince Carter and Chris Paul). Finally, Duke, Indiana and UConn each have 5 trophies.

Top 2024 Draft prospects who will be competing in March Madness

Reed Sheppard (SG, Kentucky, freshman)
Rob Dillingham (PG, Kentucky, freshman)
Cody Williams (SF, Colorado, freshman)
Ja’Kobe Walter (SG, Baylor, freshman)
Kyle Filipowski (C, Duke, sophomore)
Stephon Castle (PG/SG, UConn, freshman)
Donovan Clingan (C, UConn, sophomore)
Dalton Knecht (SF, Tennessee, senior)
Ryan Dunn (SF/PF, Virginia, sophomore)
Yves Missi (C, Baylor, freshman)
Kevin McCullar (SG/SF, Kansas, senior)
Jared McCain (PG, Duke, freshman)
Terrence Shannon (SG/SF, Illinois, senior)
DaRon Holmes (C, Dayton, junior)
Oso Ighodaro (PF, Marquette, senior)
Zach Edey (C, Purdue, senior)
Johnny Furphy (SG/SF, Kansas, freshman)
Tyler Kolek (PG, Marquette, senior)
Tristan da Silva (PF, Colorado, senior)
Trey Alexander (SG, Creighton, junior)

Who is the big favorite to win the 2024 edition of March Madness?

It is very difficult to select a big favorite to win the title in a tournament that has 68 teams competing for the trophy. From unbeatable teams to upsets can happen at any time. However, experts indicate some colleges that deserve extra attention in the race.

Tennessee Volunteers: In its entire history, the team only reached the Sweet 16 and dreams of the Final Four. According to experts, the university has never been in better shape to reach the final destination of the tournament and it could be one of the few times that it will actually have the chance in the coming years.

UConn Huskies: Placed as the main program this season, winning 31 matches out of 34 played, they could be champions for the first time since 2006/07. What could complicate things is the way they are placed in the table, potentially facing members of the 2023 Final Four.

North Carolina Tar Heels: Many American experts are completely in love with the way the Heels have been playing this season. Fixing last year’s defensive problems, the college arrives with a lot of potential and could surprise by reaching the 2024 Final Four.

Houston Cougars: Looking by region, the Cougars are the team that may have the easiest path to the Final Four this season among those ranked in seed number 1, being truly tested only during the Sweet 16. With a sensational defense, which further enhances the attack, the squad can benefit and suffer from its exacerbated quality.