How to pick a 15 vs. 2 upset in the NCAA tournament — if you dare
One of the most fun aspects of March Madness happens before the tournament even starts — tracking and watching all of the conference tournaments.
This year, 31 conferences held tournaments (down one from 32 with the Ivy League not playing due to COVID-19) to earn spots in the 2021 NCAA tournament.
Conference tournaments continued until right before selection show on Sunday, March 14. On Selection Sunday, Alabama (SEC), Colgate (Patriot League) and Illinois (Big Ten) were among the winners.
You can click or tap here to get a printable bracket for the tournament.
| CONFERENCE | auto-bid | SCHEDULE/RESULTS//TV SCHEDULE | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| America East (Bracket) |
Hartford | Playoff pods: Feb. 27 and 28 Semifinals: March 6 Championship: 11 a.m. March 13 on ESPN2 |
Higher seed (semis on) |
| American Athletic (Bracket) |
Houston | First round: March 11 Quarterfinals: March 12 Semifinals: March 13 Championship: 3:15 p.m. March 14 on ESPN |
Fort Worth, TX |
| Atlantic 10 (Bracket) |
St. Bonaventure | First round: March 3 Second round: March 4 Quarterfinals: March 5 Semifinals: March 6 Championship: 1 p.m. March 14 on CBS Sports |
Richmond, VA and Dayton, OH |
| ACC (Bracket) |
Georgia Tech | First round: March 9 Second round: March 10 Quarterfinals: March 11 Semifinals: March 12 Championship: 8:30 p.m. on March 13 on ESPN |
Greensboro, NC |
| ASUN (Bracket) |
Liberty | Quarterfinals: March 4 Semifinals: March 5 Championship: 2 p.m. March 7 on ESPN |
Jacksonville, FL |
| Big 12 (Info) |
Texas | First round: March 10 Quarterfinals: March 11 Semifinals: March 12 Championship: 6 p.m. March 13 on ESPN |
Kansas City, MO |
| Big East (Bracket) |
Georgetown | First round: March 10 Quarterfinals: March 11 Semifinals: March 12 Championship: 6:30 p.m. March 13 on FOX |
New York, NY |
| Big Sky (Bracket) |
Eastern Washington | First round: March 10 Quarterfinals: March 11 Semifinals: March 12 Championship: 8 p.m. March 13 on ESPNU |
Boise, ID |
| Big South (Bracket) |
Winthrop | First round: Feb. 27 Quarterfinals: March 1 Semifinals: March 4 Championship: 12 p.m. March 7 on ESPN |
Higher seed |
| Big Ten (Bracket) |
Illinois | First round: March 10 Second round: March 11 Quarterfinals: March 12 Semifinals: March 13 Championship: 3:30 p.m. March 14 on CBS |
Indianapolis, IN |
| Big West (Bracket) |
UC Santa Barbara | First round: March 9 Quarterfinal: March 11 Semifinals: March 12 Championship: 11:30 p.m. March 13 on ESPN2 |
Las Vegas, NV |
| CAA (Bracket) |
Drexel | First round: March 6 Quarterfinals: March 7 Semifinals: March 8 Championship: 7 p.m. March 9 on CBSSN |
Harrisonburg, VA |
| Conference USA (Bracket) |
North Texas | Potential prelim games: March 9 First round: March 10 Quarterfinals: March 11 Semifinals: March 12 Championship: 9 p.m. March 13 on CBSSN |
Frisco, TX |
| Horizon League (Bracket) |
Cleveland State | First round: Feb. 25 Quarterfinals: March 2 Semifinals: March 8 Championship: 7 p.m. March 9 |
Indianapolis, IN (semis on) |
| MAAC (Bracket) |
Iona | First round: March 8 and 9 Quarterfinals: March 10 and 11 Semifinals: Friday, March 12 Championship: 4 p.m. Saturday, March 13 on ESPNU |
Atlantic City, NJ |
| MAC (Bracket) |
Ohio | Quarterfinals: March 11 Semifinals: March 12 Championship: 7:30 p.m. March 13 on ESPN2 |
Cleveland, OH |
| MEAC (Bracket) |
Norfolk State | Opening round: March 7 Quarterfinals: March 11 Semifinals: March 12 Championship: 1 p.m. March 13 on ESPN2 |
Norfolk, VA (semis on) |
| Missouri Valley (Bracket) |
Loyola Chicago | First round: March 4 Quarterfinals: March 5 Semifinals: March 6 Championship: March 7 on CBS |
St. Louis, MO |
| Mountain West (Bracket) |
San Diego State | First round: March 10 Quarterfinals: March 11 Semifinals: March 12 Championship: March 13 |
Las Vegas, NV |
| Northeast (Bracket) |
Mount St. Mary's | Semifinals: March 6 Championship: 7 p.m. March 9 on ESPN2 |
Higher seed |
| Ohio Valley (Bracket) |
Morehead State | First round: March 3 and 4 Semifinals: March 5 Championship: 8 p.m. March 6 on ESPN2 |
Evansville, IN |
| Pac-12 (Bracket) |
Oregon State | First round: March 10 Quarterfinals: March 11 Semifinals: March 12 Championship: 10:30 p.m. March 13 on ESPN |
Las Vegas, NV |
| Patriot League (Bracket) |
Colgate | First round: March 3 Quarterfinals: March 6 Semifinals: March 10 Championship: 12 p.m. March 14 on CBSSN |
Higher seed |
| SEC (Bracket) |
Alabama | First round: March 10 Second round: March 11 Quarterfinals: March 12 Semifinals: March 13 Championship: 1 p.m. March 14 on ESPN |
Nashville, TN |
| Southern (Bracket) |
UNC Greensboro | First round: March 5 Quarterfinals: March 6 Semifinals: March 7 Championship: 7 p.m. March 8 |
Asheville, NC |
| Southland (Bracket) |
Abilene Christian | First round: March 10 Second round: March 11 Semifinals: March 12 Championship: 9:30 p.m. March 13 on ESPN2 |
Katy, TX |
| SWAC (Bracket) |
Texas Southern | Quarterfinals: March 10 and 11 Semifinals: March 12 Championship: March 13 on ESPNU |
Birmingham, AL |
| Summit League (Bracket) |
Oral Roberts | Quarterfinals: March 6 and 7 Semifinals: March 8 Championship: 9 p.m. March 9 on ESPN2 |
Sioux Falls, SD |
| Sun Belt (Bracket) |
Appalachian State | First round: March 5 Quarterfinals: March 6 Semifinals: March 7 Championship: 7 p.m. March 8 on ESPN2 |
Pensacola, FL |
| West Coast (Bracket) |
Gonzaga | First round: March 4 Second round: March 5 Third round: March 6 Semifinals: March 8 Championship: 9 p.m. March 9 on ESPN |
Las Vegas, NV |
| WAC (Bracket) |
Grand Canyon | Quarterfinals: March 11 Semifinals: March 12 Championship: 10 p.m. March 13 on ESPNU |
Las Vegas, NV |
