
The Ivy League men's basketball tournament, also known as Ivy Madness, is an annual postseason tournament that was first held in 2017. The tournament is marketed as The Ultimate Back-to-Back and the winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The 2019 tournament was held at Yale University and resulted in the Yale Bulldogs winning the championship. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 tournament, which was scheduled to be held at Harvard, was cancelled, and the 2020-21 season was also cancelled due to ongoing concerns. The tournament resumed in 2022 with Harvard as the host, followed by Princeton in 2023.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | Winner |
| 2025 | TBD |
| 2024 | TBD |
| 2023 | TBD |
| 2022 | TBD |
| 2019 | Yale |
| 2018 | TBD |
| 2017 | TBD |
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What You'll Learn

The 2019 tournament was hosted by Yale University
The 2019 Ivy League basketball tournament was hosted by Yale University at its Lee Amphitheater in New Haven, Connecticut. This was the third edition of the tournament, with the first two editions taking place at the Palestra, hosted by Penn. The tournament dates were March 16 and 17, during Yale's spring break.
The decision to host the tournament at Yale was influenced by several factors. One reason was to address complaints about Penn's home-court advantage during the first two tournaments. By moving the tournament to Yale, the organisers aimed to create a more level playing field for all participating teams. Additionally, the tournament dates were adjusted to avoid overlapping with Penn's spring break, as the NCAA's Selection Sunday had been moved a week later for the 2019 season.
The choice of venue sparked some controversy. Some college basketball analysts and fans disagreed with the decision, citing the Palestra's rich history and the potential lack of space at Yale's Lee Amphitheater. The Palestra has a seating capacity of 8,722, while the Lee Amphitheater can accommodate only 2,800 spectators. This raised concerns about a possible decrease in attendance, as the previous year's men's championship game had an attendance of 5,564, nearly double the capacity of Yale's gym.
Despite the criticism, many welcomed the change. Penn rising senior center Max Rothschild expressed his enthusiasm, calling Yale a "great site" and highlighting the anticipation for an "exciting environment." The Ivy League Executive Director, Robin Harris, also shared a positive outlook, stating that the league looked forward to bringing the tournament to another historic Ivy League venue.
The 2019 tournament at Yale marked a shift towards a rotation system for hosting duties. The Ivy League announced a plan to rotate future tournaments among different campuses, ensuring that each of the eight universities would have the opportunity to host by 2025. This decision was made to allow each campus community to experience the excitement of the tournaments and to showcase the unique atmosphere and energy of their venues.
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The 2020 tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
The Ivy League men's basketball tournament is a postseason conference tournament for men's basketball. It was first held in 2017 alongside the Ivy women's tournament, with both taking place at the same venue. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
The 2020 tournament, scheduled to be held at Harvard, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was made in adherence to Ivy League policy, which states that in the event of a tournament cancellation, the first-place team in the regular season is deemed the league champion. As a result, Yale, the league champion, was awarded the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Ivy League also cancelled its entire 2020-21 season due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns. This decision was made on November 12, 2020, and it affected all winter athletics for that season. The Ivy League tournament resumed in 2022, hosted by Harvard, followed by Princeton in 2023.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the Ivy League basketball tournament, causing the 2020 tournament's cancellation and the entire 2020-21 season to be scrapped. These decisions were made to prioritize the health and safety of the athletes and staff involved. The tournament eventually resumed in 2022, with Harvard serving as the host, marking a return to normalcy and the continuation of the league's tradition.
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The tournament resumed in 2022, hosted by Harvard
The Ivy League men's basketball tournament resumed in 2022 after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was hosted by Harvard, marking the return of the annual competition between the top four schools in the Ivy League standings.
The tournament follows a single-elimination format, with two semifinal games held on the first day. The No. 1 seed plays against the No. 4 seed, while the No. 2 seed competes against the No. 3 seed. The winners of these semifinals advance to the championship game, which is played on the second day (Sunday). This format ensures that the tournament is concluded swiftly, minimising the time spent out of class for the participating students.
Harvard University, as the host, would have been proud to welcome the competing teams and spectators to their campus. The atmosphere would have been intense and exciting, with the teams vying for the coveted title of Ivy League champion and the automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament that comes with it. The tournament is known for its tagline, "The Ultimate Back-to-Back," reflecting the high level of competition and the prestige associated with Ivy League basketball.
While the results of the 2022 tournament are not readily available, the competition would have been fierce among the participating teams. The Ivy League men's basketball tournament, introduced in 2017, has become a staple in the basketball community, providing an opportunity for the top Ivy League schools to showcase their talent and determination. The tournament is marketed as "Ivy Madness," reflecting the excitement and passion that encompass this annual event.
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The winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I tournament
The Ivy League men's basketball tournament is the postseason tournament for the Ivy League, which is part of the NCAA Division I. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I tournament, also known as March Madness.
Prior to the introduction of the Ivy League Tournament in 2017, the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament was awarded to the Ivy League Champion as determined by the regular season standings. If there was a tie, a playoff was held to determine the recipient of the bid. This happened on eight occasions, including in 2001-02 when a three-team, two-game tournament was held. The first two tournaments, in 2017 and 2018, were held at the Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The 2019 tournament was held at Yale University.
The Ivy League tournament follows a single-elimination format that involves the top four schools in the standings at the end of the regular season. Two semifinal games are held on the first day, with the No. 1 seed playing the No. 4 seed and the No. 2 seed playing the No. 3 seed. The championship game is played on the second day.
The automatic bid to the NCAA Division I tournament is highly coveted as it guarantees a spot in the prestigious tournament. Teams that win their way into the tournament through a conference championship effectively steal a spot from bubble teams.
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The tournament has been marketed as 'Ivy Madness'
The Ivy League men's basketball tournament is an annual postseason tournament that began in 2017. The overall event is currently marketed as Ivy Madness. The tournament is held alongside the Ivy women's tournament, introduced in the same year and hosted at the same venue. The Ivy League was the last NCAA Division I conference without a postseason tournament.
The tournament follows a single-elimination format, with the top four schools in the standings at the end of the regular season competing. Two semifinal games are held on the first day (Saturday), with the No. 1 seed playing the No. 4 seed and the No. 2 seed playing the No. 3 seed. The championship game is then played on the next day (Sunday). This schedule format is designed to minimise time spent out of classes, mimicking the usual conference season schedule.
The winner of the tournament receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The tournament's tagline is "The Ultimate Back-to-Back". Prior to the introduction of the tournament, the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament was given to the Ivy League Champion, determined by the regular season standings. In the case of a tie, a playoff was held to decide the bid recipient. This occurred eight times, including a three-team, two-game tournament in 2001-02.
The first two tournaments, in 2017 and 2018, were held at the Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The 2019 tournament took place at Yale University, and it was announced that the tournament would continue to be held at a predetermined site, rotating annually through the member schools. However, the 2020 tournament, scheduled to be held at Harvard, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2020-21 season was also cancelled due to ongoing concerns. The tournament resumed in 2022, hosted by Harvard, and was followed by Princeton in 2023.
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Frequently asked questions
Yale University hosted and won the 2019 tournament.
The 2020 tournament, which was due to be held at Harvard, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yale was awarded the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Ivy League cancelled its entire 2020-2021 season due to COVID-19 concerns.
The tournament resumed in 2022 and was hosted by Harvard.
The 2023 tournament was hosted and won by Princeton.










































