Across the country, men’s and women’s college basketball teams are making their final push toward the postseason. NCAA conference tournaments will wrap up this week before players and coaches wait to hear their names called on Selection Sunday.
Who will make their case and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament? Get your NCAA basketball tickets now to watch all the action live as March Madness tips off.
NCAA Conference Tournament Schedules
The winner of each of the 32 conference tournaments will secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The other 36 teams will qualify as at-large selections. The first Division I men’s conference tournaments began March 4 and all 32 tournaments will end by March 17.
Here are a few of the top tournaments to watch this week and a quick rundown of who is in contention for a title.
AAC Men’s Basketball Tournament
Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas — March 13-17
South Florida won the AAC title and posted a perfect home record against conference opponents. Although the Bulls lost their season finale, they won a record 15 consecutive games before that to earn a national ranking.
ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC — March 12-16
Top-seeded North Carolina is ranked No. 4 in the latest AP Top 25 poll with a 25-6 record. The Tar Heels dropped just three games in conference play. UNC is led by ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis, who averages 21.1 points per game.
Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament
T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO – March 12-16
Newcomer Houston captured the regular-season conference title with a 15-3 record. The Cougars are ranked No. 1 in the nation with a 28-3 overall record, entering their first Big 12 Tournament. Big 12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Jamal Shead leads the Cougars with 13.2 points, 6.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY – March 13-16
Second-ranked UConn won the BIG EAST title with a conference record 18 victories. They are 28-3 overall with just two losses in BIG EAST play. The Huskies posted a historic +13.9 scoring margin in conference play.
Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament
Target Center, Minneapolis, Minn. — March 13-17
Purdue repeated as Big Ten champions, posting a 17-3 mark in conference play. The Boilermakers are currently ranked third in the country with a 28-3 record. The 28 Big Ten victories is a program record. Wooden Award finalist and two-time Big Ten Player of the Year Zach Edey leads Purdue.
MEAC Basketball Tournament
Scope Arena, Norfolk, VA – March 13-16
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference will have its men’s and women’s teams both competing at one location this March. Norfolk State won the men’s and women’s regular season conference titles and will compete as the top seed in both competitions.
Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV – March 8-11
Arizona won the final Pac-12 regular season title with a 15-5 record in conference play. The Wildcats are ranked sixth in the country and will head to the Big 12 next year with Arizona and Utah after another round of conference realignment.
SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN – March 13-17
Fifth-ranked Tennessee won the SEC title with a 14-4 record in conference play. South Carolina, Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama finished the season one game back so there is a lot of potential for chaos in this particular bracket.
WAC Basketball Tournament
Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV – March 13-16
The Western Athletic Conference is another event that pairs its men’s and women’s tournaments. Grand Canyon captured the men’s regular season title and California Baptist is the top seed on the women’s side.
NCAA Teams with Automatic Bids
Below is a list of the teams that have already won their conference tournaments and secured their bid to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
- Vermont (America East)
- UAB (American Athletic)
- Atlantic 10 (Duquesne)
- NC State (ACC)
- Stetson (ASUN)
- Iowa State (Big 12)
- Connecticut (Big East)
- Montana State (Big Sky)
- Longwood (Big South)
- Illinois (Big Ten)
- Long Beach State (Big West)
- Charleston (CAA)
- Western Kentucky (Conference USA)
- Oakland (Horizon League)
- Yale (Ivy League)
- Saint Peter’s (MAAC)
- Akron (MAC)
- Howard (MEAC)
- Drake (Missouri Valley)
- New Mexico (Mountain West)
- Wagner (Northeast)
- Morehead State (Ohio Valley)
- Oregon (Pac-12)
- Colgate (Patriot League)
- Auburn (SEC)
- Samford (Southern)
- McNeese State (Southland)
- Grambling State (SWAC)
- South Dakota State (Summit League)
- James Madison (Sun Belt)
- Saint Mary’s (West Coast)
- Grand Canyon University (WAC)
2024 NCAA Tournament Sites
The First Four is scheduled for March 19 and 20 at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio. Once those final matchups are set, the first and second rounds will commence at arenas across the country from March 21 to March 24. Those include:
- Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. — March 22-24
- Spectrum Center, Charlotte, N.C. — March 21-23
- Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Ind. — March 22-24
- CHI Health Center, Omaha, Neb. — March 21-23
- PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pa. — March 21-23
- Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah — March 21-23
- Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane, Wash. — March 22-24
- FedExForum, Memphis, Tenn. — March 22-24
The regional semifinals and finals will take place the following weekend, with games scheduled from March 28 through 31:
- East Regional: TD Garden, Boston, Mass. — March 28-30
- South Regional: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas — March 29-31
- Midwest Regional: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Mich. — March 29-31
- West Regional: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, Calif. — March 28-30
The 2024 NCAA Men’s Final Four will be held at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, Ariz. The semifinals are set for April 6 and the championship will follow on April 8. The 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four is scheduled for April 5 and April 7 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
NCAA Tournament Tickets
Get ready to cheer on your alma mater as they battle for a conference title this week with NCAA basketball tickets from TicketSmarter. If your team is playing on the road, check TravelPlanner for exclusive travel deals this spring.
