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Class of '66 Old Fart

2021 NCAA March Madness - Indianapolis

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Since it's all going to be held in our backyard seems worthwhile to get its own thread so here's the basics.

From the Indianapolis Star.

The NCAA announced Monday the organization's decision to host the NCAA tournament in an Indianapolis bubble.  There will be a lot of questions about what the NCAA tournament will look between now and mid-March.  Here's what we know about Indianapolis hosting the 2021 NCAA tournament:

Why is the NCAA men's basketball tournament being held in one location?

The coronavirus pandemic completely cancelled the NCAA tournament in 2020, which was a major blow to the NCAA and men's basketball programs across the country.  The NCAA hopes playing in a centralized location will promote safety and make the tournament more manageable.  The NCAA men's basketball committee announced Nov. 16 that preliminary discussions were in the works to host the tournament in Indiana. 

What are the March Madness 2021 dates?

March Madness begins with Selection Sunday on March 14.

Here's a look at the tentative game schedule for the NCAA men's basketball tournament:

First Four: March 16-17

First Round: March 18-19

Second Round: March 20-21

Sweet 16: March 25-26

Elite Eight: March 27-28

Final Four: April 3

National Championship: April 5

According to NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt, the tournament schedule will look similar but not exactly the same.

What are the 2021 NCAA tournament sites?

The NCAA has decided to hold a centralized bubble around Indianapolis. All games will be played across six venues. Those sites include:

Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capital Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46225. 

Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Hinkle Fieldhouse, 510 W. 49th St., Indianapolis, IN 46208.

Indiana Farmers Coliseum, 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46205.

Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, 1001 E. 17th St. Bloomington, IN, 47408.

Mackey Arena, 900 John R. Wooden Dr., West Lafayette, IN 47907.

Why aren't all the NCAA tournament sites in Indianapolis?

Some fans may be wondering why high school gymnasiums couldn't be used to keep all the games in Indianapolis, or why iconic locations such Milan High School or the Wigwam in Anderson couldn't be used.  According to Indiana Sports Corp President Ryan Vaughn, high school courts couldn't be used because they are smaller than college basketball courts.

Can I buy March Madness tickets for the 2021 NCAA tournament?

Fan attendance for Indianapolis venues and sporting events has varied since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The answer to whether tickets will be available for fans is still to be determined.  Currently, Gavitt has said family members of NCAA tournament participants, such as players and coaches, will be allowed to attend games.  As for fans buying tickets, the NCAA is "working with health officials" to determine if fans will be allowed to see games in person.  "We'll be planning every day up until that tipoff," said Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Are there any other changes to the 2021 NCAA tournament?

The tournament field is expected to remain at 68 teams with Selection Sunday through the Final Four remaining on schedule.  Gavitt expects the venues in Bloomington and West Lafayette to be used for first-round games. 

What city has hosted the most NCAA tournament games?

According to the NCAA, Indianapolis will move to No. 1 in NCAA tournament games hosted after this event.

How many Indianapolis hotel rooms will be used for the NCAA tournament?

Vaughn said there will be approximately 2,500 hotel rooms needed for players, coaches, officials and staff for the NCAA tournament. According to Visit Indy, there are 34,000 hotel rooms available in the Indianapolis Metro area.  [NOTE:  Article in IBJ suggests this is already underway]

What about the 2021 NCAA women's basketball tournament?

The women's tournament still has a lot to be determined. Dates and sites are still up in the air. According to the website, the selection show will be held Monday, March 15. The Final Four is currently slated to be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.   NCAA President Mark Emmert is still exploring San Antonio as one-city host, but the structure might include more than one location.

Will the NCAA still hold Div. II and Div. III men's basketball tournaments?

Absolutely. Indiana will also play host to those tournaments. Evansville is scheduled to host the Div. II NCAA tournament, while Fort Wayne is set to host the Div. III NCAA tournament.

Will there be a 2021 NIT tournament?

No plans have been announced for the 2021 NIT tournament.

 

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From Borzello -

The NCAA announces the dates for the men's basketball NCAA tournament:

- First Four: Thursday, March 18

- First Round: March 19-20

- Second Round: March 21-22

- Sweet 16: March 27-28

- Elite Eight: March 29-30

- Final Four: April 3 and 5

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Imagine if you will, an NCAA tournament played entirely in the State of Indiana including an opening round game played on our home court featuring PUke while we can only watch the entire tournament on TV.   One of Jon Rothstein's favorite phrases:  "The epitome of brutality." 

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47 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Imagine if you will, an NCAA tournament played entirely in the State of Indiana including an opening round game played on our home court featuring PUke while we can only watch the entire tournament on TV.   One of Jon Rothstein's favorite phrases:  "The epitome of brutality." 

It will be program-destroying. Certainly Archie-destroying, at any rate.

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I think we have a no-win scenario for the postseason this year with the way they’ve played: 

1. If we don’t make it, it’s probably the final insult to an otherwise lackluster career for Miller at Indiana.

2. If we do manage to squeak in, everyone will say it’s because the NCAA had to have IU in there, or else risk losing a pile of money to not have the state school playing in their home state during an unprecedented tournament. 

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AD Barry Alvarez tells the Athletic Board that it looks like the B1G men's basketball tournament will move from Chicago to Indianapolis and teams that make the NCAA tournament will just stay there afterward.

So I guess we’ll find out soon that the Big Ten will declare O$U in the title game of the BTT?


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TV information revealed for 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

Television information for the upcoming NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament has been released, with Turner Sports and CBS announcing on Wednesday games for the event will be televised across four national television networks: TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV. All games will be additionally streamed on NCAA March Madness Live. 

The Final Four National Semifinals of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, set for April 3, will air on CBS, as will the National Championship on Monday, April 5. As in past seasons, the Elite Eight Regional Finals will be split by TBS and CBS, all of which will be primetime games this spring. The Elite Eight is set to take place from Monday, March 29 through Tuesday, March 30.

As for the earlier rounds, the Sweet 16 games, set to be held from Saturday, March 27 through Sunday, March 28, will also be split between TBS and CBS. TBS will televise two games in primetime each night, while CBS will broadcast the first two games in the afternoon on each day. First and Second Round games (March 19-22), meanwhile, will air across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV, while coverage of the NCAA First Four (Thursday, March 18) will be split between truTV and TBS.

CBS will air the NCAA Selection Show, which is set to take place from 6-7 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 14.

The entire 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is being played in the state of Indiana as means of limiting travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Final Four is set to be held at Lucas Oli Stadium in Indianapolis. Whether or not fans will be able to attend any March Madness games this spring is to be determined, though various reports from January indicated that the NCAA expected to make a decision in February. 

The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is set to return after being canceled last year for the first time since its 1939 inception. After initially announcing on March 11 that no general spectators would be allowed to attend the 2020 event as the COVID-19 pandemic began to sweep across the country, the sports world began to shutter hours later when the NBA abruptly suspended its season that night after Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus. The next day, March 12, conference basketball tournaments across the nation were canceled one-by-one before the NCAA made the call that afternoon to cancel all Winter and Spring Championships for the 2019-2020 academic year. It would be several months before major professional leagues and collegiate sports alike returned to action amid the pandemic.

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Numerous reports this morning - The NCAA will allow a limited number of fans at the NCAA tournament, including all rounds and the Final Four, per release. They will allow up to 25% capacity with physical distancing.

Let's hope that Indiana's numbers don't skyrocket between now and the tournament to cause the Marion, Monroe or Tippecanoe County Health Depts. to nix that plan.

 

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And now this from Osterman -

Assembly Hall games will still be seen by limited audience, per IU release. "Up to 500 spectators," including "a limited number of seats ... for vaccinated medical personnel and first responders from Monroe County."

"Indiana University’s plan, based on recommendations from the Medical Response Team, is consistent with the attendance policy at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall during the 2020-2021 basketball season permitting immediate family members ... and staff members to attend."

 

Won't we look great if Tippecanoe and Marion counties OK 25% capacity?   If that happens, I could foresee the NCAA moving games away from SSAH to a different venue.

 

 

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