The excitement level surrounding college hoops grows this time of year as we get closer and closer to “March Madness.” The format of college basketball’s postseason can be a bit confusing, however. Here’s a quick primer:
- Conference Tournaments: Most conferences (ACC, Pac-10, Big East) have their own “play-in” tournament in early to mid March, after the end of the regular season. These tournaments last 3-4 days and occur at a set, neutral site. The Big East tournament is always in New York at Madison Square Garden. The champions of these tournaments (in 90% of cases, depending on the conference), receive an automatic spot in…
- The NCAA Tournament: Sixty-four teams from around the nation get to this tournament, sometimes known as the “Big Dance”, either by virtue of winning their conference tourney, or by being selected as an “at- large” team by a committee of judges. The strongest conferences may send as many as 6 teams to the NCAA Tournament. The real fun begins when small schools who won their conference tournament, get to go up against much higher profile schools, creating a “David vs. Goliath” scenario ripe for an upset. The first four rounds lead up to:
-The Final Four: To be held this year in Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX, on April 2 & 4
IMPORTANT DATES
March 8-12 Big East Tournament- Madison Square Garden
(The winner of the tournament will obtain the conference’s automatic bid to the 2011 Tournament.)
NCAA
March 15-16 First Round
March 17-20 Second/Third Rounds
March 24-27 West, Southeast, East, Southwest Regionals
April 2 & 4 Final Four
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