The college basketball season is quickly approaching, but the start of the season will look a little bit different in 2020 compared to years past.
The start of the season was delayed and many early season games will be 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. 26, 2020 — Wooden Legacy tournament
Marcus Garrett, of Kansas.
The 2020 Wooden Legacy field is a loaded one — Georgetown, Kansas, UCLA and Virginia. Play begins on Nov. 26 in Anaheim and finishes the next day.
Nov. 29, 2020 — The Big 12-Big East Battle tips off
The preseason No. 2 Baylor men will visit Seton Hall in the first game of the Big 12-Big East Battle, which is in its second year. All 10 schools in each conference will square off, with each conference having five teams playing at home and five teams playing on the road.
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.
Here's the Maui bracket for this year:
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. 5, 2020 — A matchup between preseason No. 1 and No. 2
Men's preseason No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 2 Baylor will meet in Indianapolis at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 5 in what could be the biggest matchup of the regular season.
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.
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.
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.
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March 16, 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.
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | March 14 |
| First Four | March 16-17 |
| First/Second | March 18 and 20 |
| First/Second | March 18 and 20 |
| First/Second | March 18 and 20 |
| First/Second | March 18 and 20 |
| First/Second | March 19 and 21 |
| First/Second | March 19 and 21 |
| First/Second | March 19 and 21 |
| First/Second | March 19 and 21 |
| Sweet 16/Elite Eight | March 25 and 27 |
| Sweet 16/Elite Eight | March 25 and 27 |
| Sweet 16/Elite Eight | March 26 and 28 |
| Sweet 16/Elite Eight | March 26 and 28 |
| Final Four | April 3 and 5 |
March 19, 2021 — Women's tournament first round begins
Regionals will be played from March 26-29, 2021. Specific dates for each regional are TBD. Here is the complete women's NCAA tournament schedule:
| ROUND | DATES | SITE | VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selection Show | Monday, March 15 | N/A | N/A |
| First Round (Round of 64) |
Friday, March 19 Saturday, March 20 |
Campus sites | Campus sites |
| Second Round (Round of 32) |
Sunday, March 21 Monday, March 22 |
Campus sites | Campus sites |
| Albany Regional (Sweet 16, Elite Eight) |
TBD | Albany, New York | Times Union Center |
| Austin Regional (Sweet 16, Elite Eight) |
TBD | Cedar Park, Texas | H-E-B Center at Cedar Park |
| Cincinnati Regional (Sweet 16, Elite Eight) |
TBD | Cincinnati, Ohio | Cintas Center |
| Spokane Regional (Sweet 16, Elite Eight) |
TBD | Spokane, Washington |
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena |
| Women's Final Four National Championship |
Friday, April 2 Sunday, April 4 |
San Antonio, Texas | Alamodome |
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.
April 5, 2021 — Men's national championship game
The 2021 men's national championship game will determine the men's basketball national champion.
April 2 & 4, 2021 - Women's Final Four in San Antonio
The women's Final Four and national championship will be hosted at the Alamodome in San Antonio on April 2 & 4.
