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Few sports bring people together like the NCAA tournament.

Fandom and school spirit reign supreme during March Madness and while COVID-19 shutdown the sports staple last year, the NCAA created a bubble-style event for 2021.

Here’s what you need to know about the 2021 NCAA March Madness men’s basketball tournament:

When is the NCAA tournament?

A scoreboard screen hangs above a basketball court on the south end of Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Indianapolis. The court will be used for NCAA Big Ten games and then changed over for March Madness tournament games. A second court on the opposite end of the stadium will be used solely for March Madness.
A scoreboard screen hangs above a basketball court on the south end of Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Indianapolis. The court will be used for NCAA Big Ten games and then changed over for March Madness tournament games. A second court on the opposite end of the stadium will be used solely for March Madness.

The NCAA tournament begins Mar. 14 with Selection Sunday to determine the brackets and wraps up with the national championship game on April 5.

Where is the NCAA tournament?

March Madness and Final Four signage goes up around downtown Indianapolis on Monday March 8, 2021, in preparation for the NCAA tournament.
March Madness and Final Four signage goes up around downtown Indianapolis on Monday March 8, 2021, in preparation for the NCAA tournament.

Unique to previous years, the entire NCAA tournament is being held in Indiana with the majority of games being played in Indianapolis.

According to the NCAA’s March Madness website, the Indiana Convention Center will host multiple courts for teams to practice.

Each team will be housed on dedicated hotel floors, with physically distanced meeting and dining rooms. Secure transportation will be provided to and from competition venues.

First Four: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Ind.; Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Ind. First Round: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Ind.; Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Ind.; Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis; Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis; Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Indianapolis; and Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. Second Round: All games are in Indianapolis at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum and Lucas Oil Stadium. Sweet 16: All games are in Indianapolis at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Hinkle Fieldhouse. Elite Eight: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. Final Four: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. National championship: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis.

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When does the first March Madness game begin in 2021?

A basketball court on the north end of Lucas Oil Stadium, seen on Thursday, March 4, 2021, will be used for NCAA March Madness tournament games in Indianapolis. A second court on the opposite end of the stadium will be used for Big Ten tournament games then changed over for March Madness use as well.
A basketball court on the north end of Lucas Oil Stadium, seen on Thursday, March 4, 2021, will be used for NCAA March Madness tournament games in Indianapolis. A second court on the opposite end of the stadium will be used for Big Ten tournament games then changed over for March Madness use as well.

The first official NCAA tournament game tips off at 4 p.m. Mar. 18, beginning with the First Four round of games.

What is the NCAA tournament schedule?

A basketball court on the south end of Lucas Oil Stadium, seen on Thursday, March 4, 2021, will be used for NCAA Big Ten games and then changed over for March Madness tournament games in Indianapolis. A second court on the opposite end of the stadium will be used solely for March Madness.
A basketball court on the south end of Lucas Oil Stadium, seen on Thursday, March 4, 2021, will be used for NCAA Big Ten games and then changed over for March Madness tournament games in Indianapolis. A second court on the opposite end of the stadium will be used solely for March Madness.

Here’s the NCAA tournament schedule. All times are Eastern:

Selection Sunday: 6 p.m. Mar. 14 First Four: Games begin at 4 p.m. Mar. 18. First round: Games begin at noon Mar. 19 and Mar. 20. Second round: Games begin at noon Mar. 21 and Mar. 22. Sweet 16: Games begin at 2 p.m. Mar. 27, and 1 p.m. Mar. 28. Elite Eight: Games begin at 7 p.m. Mar. 29, and 6 p.m. Mar. 30. Final Four: Games begin at 5 p.m., April 3. NCAA championship game: 9 p.m. April 5.

What is the NCAA March Madness tournament TV schedule for 2021?

Signs on the side of Lucas Oil Stadium promote the NCAA March Madness tournament on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Indianapolis.
Signs on the side of Lucas Oil Stadium promote the NCAA March Madness tournament on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Indianapolis.

The NCAA’s tournament website offers a basic TV schedule outline. All times are Eastern:

Selection Show: 6 p.m. Mar. 14, CBS. First Four: Coverage begins at 4 p.m. Mar. 18; truTV and TBS. First Round: Games begin at noon Mar. 19 and Mar. 20; TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV. Second Round: Games begin at noon Mar. 21 and Mar. 22; TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV. Sweet 16: Games are at 2 and 7 p.m. Mar. 27, and 1 and 7 p.m. Mar. 28; afternoon games, CBS; evening games, TBS. Elite Eight: Games begin at 7 p.m. Mar. 29, CBS; games begin at 6 p.m. Mar. 30, TBS. Final Four: Games begin at 5 p.m. April 3, CBS. National Championship: 9 p.m. April 5, CBS.

When do March Madness brackets start?

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Signs on the side of Lucas Oil Stadium promote the NCAA March Madness tournament on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Indianapolis.
Signs on the side of Lucas Oil Stadium promote the NCAA March Madness tournament on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Indianapolis.

Selection Sunday begins at 6 p.m. Mar. 14. Brackets are widely available immediately following the selection show.

Most tournament brackets do not begin until the first round games kicking off at noon, Mar. 19. However, there are some exceptions beginning with the First Four games beginning at 4 p.m. Mar. 14.

Click here for a blank printable March Madness bracket from the NCAA.

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How do I get NCAA March Madness tournament tickets?

A basketball court on the north end of Lucas Oil Stadium, seen on Thursday, March 4, 2021, will be used for NCAA March Madness tournament games in Indianapolis. A second court on the opposite end of the stadium will be used for Big Ten tournament games then changed over for March Madness use as well.
A basketball court on the north end of Lucas Oil Stadium, seen on Thursday, March 4, 2021, will be used for NCAA March Madness tournament games in Indianapolis. A second court on the opposite end of the stadium will be used for Big Ten tournament games then changed over for March Madness use as well.

Fans can signup for updates and find links to purchase tickets by round at www.ncaatickets.com.

The NCAA announced it will allow up to 25% of capacity for all rounds. Attendance caps are:

Bankers Life Fieldhouse: About 4,500 at 25% capacity. Hinkle Fieldhouse: About 2,275 at 25% capacity. Indiana Farmers Coliseum: About 1,700 at 25% capacity. Lucas Oil Stadium: About 17,500 at 25% capacity. Mackey Arena: About 1,850 for the First Four and first round NCAA tournament games, capping at 12-13%. Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall: 500 for the First Four and first round NCAA tournament games.

Tickets are already available for First Four and First Round venues with some venues already sold out. Tickets for the Second Round go on sale at 10 a.m. Mar. 11. Sweet 16 and Elite Eight tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Mar. 16.

Terms and conditions for NCAA ticketholders can be found here.

What are the March Madness teams?

Crews complete construction of a basketball court on the south end of Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Indianapolis. The court will be used for NCAA Big Ten games and then changed over for March Madness tournament games. A second court on the opposite end of the stadium will be used solely for March Madness.
Crews complete construction of a basketball court on the south end of Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Indianapolis. The court will be used for NCAA Big Ten games and then changed over for March Madness tournament games. A second court on the opposite end of the stadium will be used solely for March Madness.

A total of 68 teams will get to play in the NCAA tournament.

Teams that win their conference tournament leading up to the NCAA tournament secure an automatic bid. In 2021, there are only 31 automatic bids since the Ivy League has opted out of the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19.

The remaining 37 at-large teams will be chosen by a committee based on a variety of criteria and announced Mar. 14 on Selection Sunday.

Seeding will be handled the same for the top four teams and the First Four competitors. However, the rest of the seeding will be done differently in 2021 with all teams playing in Indiana.

Instead of geography being a factor, an “S-curve” will be used to place teams in the bracket based on rankings.

Here are the 31 teams by conference earning an NCAA tournament automatic bid:

America East: TBD. American Athletic: TBD. Atlantic 10: TBD. ACC: TBD. ASUN: Liberty. Big 12: TBD. Big East: TBD. Big Sky: TBD. Big South: Winthrop. Big Ten: TBD. Big West: TBD. CAA: Drexel. Conference USA: TBD. Horizon League: Cleveland State. MAAC: TBD. MAC: TBD. MEAC: TBD. Missouri Valley: Loyola Chicago. Mountain West: TBD. Northeast: Mt. St. Mary’s. Ohio Valley: Morehead State. Pac-12: TBD. Patriot League: TBD. SEC: TBD. Southern: UNC Greensboro. Southland: TBD. SWAC: TBD. Summit League: Oral Roberts. Sun Belt: Appalachian State. West Coast: Gonzaga. WAC: TBD.

What are the NCAA men’s basketball tournament odds?

A basketball court on the north end of Lucas Oil Stadium, seen on Thursday, March 4, 2021, will be used for NCAA March Madness tournament games in Indianapolis. A second court on the opposite end of the stadium will be used for Big Ten tournament games then changed over for March Madness use as well.
A basketball court on the north end of Lucas Oil Stadium, seen on Thursday, March 4, 2021, will be used for NCAA March Madness tournament games in Indianapolis. A second court on the opposite end of the stadium will be used for Big Ten tournament games then changed over for March Madness use as well.

Here are the odds for the NCAA tournament champion, according to Bet MGM:

Gonzaga +275 Baylor +300 Michigan +400 Illinois +900 Ohio State +1400 Iowa +1500 Florida State +1600 Alabama +1600 Creighton +2000 Houston +2000 West Virginia +2000 Texas +2000

Chris Sims is a digital sports producer at IndyStar. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NCAA tournament 2021: What to know about TV schedule, odds, locations, tickets, brackets

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