Andy Wittry | NCAA.com | February 15, 2021 2020-21 college basketball calendar: Schedule, NCAA tournament dates How the 2021 NCAA bracket will work, explained by Andy Katz Share The college basketball season will look a little bit different in 2020-21 compared to past years. The start of the season was delayed and many early season games were played on a neutral court, and the location of some multi-team events (MTEs) has been adjusted. Here are the important dates to know about the 2020-21 men's and women's basketball season. All are subject to change and we'll update this article as more dates and schedules are announced. Nov. 16, 2020 — NCAA announces tournament is relocated The NCAA announced that it is relocating the preliminary NCAA tournament sites to one location and that NCAA staff is in preliminary talks with the state of Indiana and the city of Indianapolis. Indianapolis was previously scheduled to host the Final Four. Nov. 25, 2020 — The men's and women's seasons begin On Sept. 16, the NCAA Division I Council approved Nov. 25 as the start date for the first men's and women's basketball games of the season. The original start date for the season was Nov. 10. The men's NIT Season Tip-Off will start on Nov. 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Nov. 30, 2020 — The Maui Invitational begins The men's basketball Maui Invitational will be held in Asheville, North Carolina, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event starts Nov. 30 and ends Dec. 2. Teams in the field are: Alabama, Davidson, Indiana, North Carolina, Providence, Stanford, Texas and UNLV. Dec. 2, 2020— Big 12 women's basketball conference play begins The Big 12 women's basketball conference will open on Dec. 2 starting with Iowa State at TCU on Dec 2, 2020. Dec. 12, 2020 — ACC play begins The ACC's 20-game conference schedule begins on Saturday, Dec. 12 with Syracuse at Boston College. ACC women's conference play begins Dec. 9. Dec. 29, 2020 — SEC, Mountain West begin men's conference play Men's basketball conference play in the Southeastern Conference will begin Dec. 29-30. The SEC's plan is to have 20 possible play dates for an 18-game schedule and two open dates. The Mountain West's 18-game league slate will kick off on Tuesday, Dec. 29. Every school will play nine home games and nine road games. Dec. 31, 2020 - SEC, Mountain West start date for women's conference play The Southeastern Conference for its women's basketball tournament is scheduled for Dec. 31, 2020. The conference schedule will still be 18-play dates that will fit a 16-league schedule. The Mountain West will also start on Dec. 31, 2020 to compete in an 18-game league schedule, including nine home games and nine away games. Dec. 31, 2020 – Men's West Coast Conference play begins The first conference games in the West Coast Conference, which is home to potential preseason No. 1 Gonzaga, tip off on Thursday, Dec. 31. BYU and Pepperdine are matched up on the first day of the conference season, as are San Diego and San Francisco. Jan. 11, 2021 — NCAA announces March Madness will be held in Indianapolis The NCAA announced that it will stage the entire 2021 men’s basketball championship in Indiana, with the majority of the tournament’s 67 games taking place in Indianapolis. Jan. 19, 2021 — NCAA announces March Madness preliminary round dates The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship will tip off with a quartet of First Four games Thursday, March 18, setting a stage for a March Madness unlike any other in the 82 years of the event. 2021 March Madness: Complete schedule, dates ROUND DATES LOCATIONS Selection Sunday Sunday, March 14 First Four Thursday, March 18 Mackey Arena, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall First Round Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20 Mackey Arena, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Lucas Oil Stadium Second Round Sunday, March 21 and Monday, March 22 Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Lucas Oil Stadium Sweet 16 Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28 Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse Elite Eight Monday, March 29 and Tuesday, March 30 Lucas Oil Stadium Final Four Saturday, April 3 and Monday, April 5 Lucas Oil Stadium Feb. 5, 2021 — NCAA announces relocation of Division I Women's Basketball tournament San Antonio and the surrounding region will play host to the 2021 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. 2021 NCAA women's basketball tournament dates, schedule ROUND DATES SITE VENUE Selection Show Monday, March 15 N/A N/A First Round (Round of 64) March 21 and 22 San Antonio Austin San Marcos Alamodome (Two Courts) Bill Greehey Arena Frank Erwin Center University Events Center UTSA Convocation Center Second Round (Round of 32) March 23 and 24 San Antonio Alamodome (Two Courts) Bill Greehey Arena UTSA Convocation Center Sweet 16 March 27 and 28 San Antonio Alamodome (Two courts) Elite Eight March 29 and 30 San Antonio Alamodome (Two courts) Women's Final Four (National Semifinals) April 2 San Antonio Alamodome National Championship April 4 San Antonio Alamodome Feb. 6, 2021 — North Carolina at Duke men's basketball Saturday, Feb. 6, will mark the first meeting of one of the greatest rivalries in the sport as North Carolina goes to Cameron Indoor Stadium to face Duke. Feb. 13, 2021 – DI Men's Basketball Committee announces its midseason top 16 teams On Saturday, Feb. 13, the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee announced its top 16 teams, which featured Gonzaga, Baylor, Michigan and Ohio State as No. 1 seeds, which reflected the games played through Feb. 12. Feb. 15, 2021 – DI Women's Basketball Committee announces its midseason top 16 teams On Monday, Feb. 15, the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee will announce its top 16 teams. March 3, 2021 — Start of the women's ACC tournament The 2021 ACC Women's Basketball tournament will be at the Greensboro Coliseum for the 21st time in the last 22 years on March 3-7, 2021. March 9, 2021 — Start of the men's ACC tournament The 68th ACC tournament is scheduled to tip off on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. March 14, 2021 — Selection Sunday for the men's tournament The 2021 men's NCAA tournament bracket will be revealed on Selection Sunday, which is March 14, 2021. March 15, 2021 — Selection Monday for the women's tournament The 2021 women's NCAA tournament bracket will be revealed on Selection Monday, March 15. COACH SPEAK: 7 insights from John Calipari, Mark Few and Tom Izzo on college hoops in 2020 March 18, 2021 — First Four begins The First Four begins, marking the first games of the 2021 men's NCAA tournament. Here is the complete March Madness 2021 schedule, which is contingent upon the finalized relocation plans for the preliminary sites in the tournament. April 3, 2021 — Men's Final Four in Indianapolis The men's Final Four in Indianapolis will tip off with the national semifinals April 3. It will be the first time the Final Four has been held in Indianapolis since 2015. 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