Ayrton Oneill
There are several men's basketball tournaments, including the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, the NBA play-in tournament, and the NBA Playoffs. The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, also known as March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament played in the United States to determine the men's college basketball national champion. The tournament consists of 68 teams and was first held in 1939. The NBA play-in tournament, on the other hand, is a more recent addition, having been introduced during the 2020-21 season. This tournament involves teams that finish 7th through 10th in the standings competing for a chance to advance to the NBA Playoffs. The NBA Playoffs are the final tournament, where the top teams from the regular season and the play-in tournament compete for the NBA championship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Tournament | NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament |
| Alternate Names | March Madness, The Big Dance, Final Four |
| Year Started | 1939 |
| Number of Teams | 68 |
| Tournament Format | Single-elimination |
| Number of Teams Appeared in Tournament | 333 |
| Number of Teams in Playoffs | 20 |
| Number of Teams in Play-in Tournament | 8 |
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What You'll Learn
NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, also referred to as March Madness, is a highly anticipated annual event. The tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, and now features 68 teams. The First Four marks the official start of the tournament.
The 2025 tournament, for example, featured a rare Final Four of only top seeds. The Duke Blue Devils defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide during the Elite Eight round, and in the first-ever all-No. 1 seeds edition of the Final Four, Kansas defeated North Carolina. The Florida Gators also celebrated after defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders to advance to the Final Four.
The 2024 tournament will see which colleges fans pick most often to win the championship, according to the Bracket Challenge Game. This has only happened five times since the expansion to 64 teams in 1985.
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NBA play-in tournament
The NBA play-in tournament is a preliminary tournament that occurs before the NBA playoffs, which is the main tournament of the postseason. The NBA play-in tournament was first introduced in the 2019-2020 season as part of the NBA's plan for a bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic. The format of the tournament sees teams finishing the regular season in positions 7 through 10 in the standings for each conference compete to determine the number 7 and 8 seeds in each conference's bracket tournament.
The NBA play-in tournament was initially a temporary format, but it was made permanent in 2022 by the NBA Board of Governors. The tournament features six games in total, with teams ranked 7th and 8th having two opportunities to win one game to earn a playoff spot, while the teams ranked 9th and 10th need to win two straight games to advance. The winners of the 7th vs 8th seed games secure the 7th seed in the playoffs, while the losers get another chance to play against the winners of the 9th vs 10th seed games. The winners of these final games secure the 8th seed in the NBA playoffs, while the losers are eliminated.
The 2024-25 NBA play-in tournament took place from April 15-18, with the first round of the NBA playoffs starting on April 19. The teams competing in the play-in tournament were the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, and Sacramento Kings. The Magic, Warriors, Heat, and Mavericks won their respective games to advance to the playoffs.
The NBA play-in tournament is televised by TNT and ESPN, with Amazon Prime Video acquiring the rights to broadcast all NBA play-in tournament games beginning in 2026.
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Teams and seeding
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness or The Big Dance, is a single-elimination tournament played in the United States to determine the men's college basketball national champion. The tournament consists of 68 teams and was first held in 1939. The field was restricted to conference champions until 1975, when at-large bids were introduced, and teams were not fully seeded until 1979.
The tournament has seen several format changes over the years, with the size varying from 8 to 53 teams before the adoption of the 64-team format in 1985. The current 68-team format was introduced in 2011.
The seeding process in the NCAA Tournament is based on a selection committee's evaluation of each team's performance during the regular season. The committee considers various factors, including win-loss record, strength of schedule, and key metrics, to determine the seeding. The top teams in each region are typically given higher seeds, indicating their perceived strength and favourable positioning in the tournament bracket.
In 2025, the NBA Play-In Tournament determined the final two playoff spots in each conference. The teams that finished 7th through 10th in the East and West standings participated, with the winners advancing as the 7th and 8th seeds. The 7th seed in each conference hosted the 8th seed, with the winners securing a playoff spot. The losing teams then played the winners of the 9th vs. 10th matchups, with the ultimate winners grabbing the 8th seeds.
The NBA's regular season concluded with all 30 teams playing, after which the Play-In Tournament determined the final playoff spots. This tournament format provides an opportunity for teams on the cusp of the playoffs to compete for a chance to advance and showcase their talent.
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Qualification
The tournament has a rich history, dating back to 1939, and has evolved over the years. The current format includes 68 teams, with 32 teams automatically qualifying by winning their respective conference tournaments. These conference tournaments are intense competitions among colleges, usually occurring during the two weeks leading up to March Madness. The winners of these conferences earn their spot in March Madness without further qualification requirements.
For the remaining 36 teams, qualification is determined through at-large bids. These bids are based on a team's performance and are highly competitive. The selection committee evaluates and considers various factors, including a team's overall record, strength of schedule, and notable wins or losses. This process aims to identify the most deserving teams to fill the at-large bid slots.
The expansion of the tournament over the years has provided more opportunities for teams to qualify. In 1985, the tournament expanded to 64 teams, and in 2011, it adopted the current 68-team format. This expansion has allowed for greater participation and added excitement to the qualification process.
The qualification process for the NBA Play-In Tournament is equally intense. This tournament serves as a precursor to the NBA Playoffs, with teams vying for the final playoff spots. Typically, the top six teams from each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs. The remaining teams, usually those ranked 7th to 10th, compete in the Play-In Tournament for a chance to advance. This tournament provides an opportunity for lower-ranked teams to prove their mettle and secure a playoff berth.
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History
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball tournament, also known as March Madness or The Big Dance, is an annual single-elimination tournament held in the United States to determine the men's college basketball national champion. The tournament was first conducted in 1939 and has since become one of the greatest annual sporting events in the country.
The tournament size varied from as little as 8 to as many as 53 teams before it was expanded to 64 teams in 1985. In 2011, the tournament was expanded again to 68 teams, and the First Four was created to trim the number of teams from 68 to 64 for the first round. The First Four consists of eight teams, including the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams. The First Four games have traditionally been hosted at the University of Dayton in Ohio, except in 2021 when they were played in Indiana due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NCAA tournament is known for its upsets of favoured teams, with an average of 8.5 upsets per tournament between 1985 and 2024. The 2021 tournament saw a record-breaking 14 upsets, breaking the previous record of 13 set in 1985 and 2014. The 2021 tournament was also unique in that, for logistical considerations due to the pandemic, all tournament games were held in Indiana instead of across the country, making it the only time in the tournament's history that a single state has hosted the entire event.
The 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament saw the Baylor Bears defeat the previously undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70 to earn their first-ever title. This marked the second consecutive year of first-time NCAA champions, following the Virginia Cavaliers in 2019.
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Frequently asked questions
68 teams participate in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness.
Eight teams compete in the NBA Play-In Tournament, with four spots up for grabs.
333 teams have appeared in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament since it began in 1939.
32 teams automatically qualify by winning their conference tournaments, while 36 teams qualify by receiving an at-large bid.
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