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NCAA Tournament to ‘bubble up’ in Indiana: Selection Sunday, Final Four dates revealed

By Sravan Gannavarapu

Dec 13, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; A view of the championship banners in at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; A view of the championship banners in at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NCAA has decided to place the site of the 2021 NCAA Tournament in the state of Indiana.

The NCAA Tournament will have a bubble-like effect this year after the COVID-19 pandemic canceled March Madness last year, costing the NCAA a significant source of revenue.

Every NCAA Tournament game in 2021 will take place in the state of Indiana, according to a release from the NCAA. Selection Sunday will be on March 14 and the Final Four is on pace to begin on April 3 and the Championship Game on April 5.

Basketball is a way of life in Indiana, from the high school level to college and in the NBA, so it makes perfect sense to contain the tournament within the state’s borders. Ball State, Butler, the Horizon League, Indiana, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and Purdue will serve as the hosts for the entirety of March Madness.

Additionally, the league has administered COVID-19 policies to preserve the health and safety of players, coaches, and fans who will attend these events.

Both CBS Sports and Turner Sports will continue to broadcast all 67 games of the tournament across their various platforms including TNT and TruTv.

“This is a historic moment for NCAA members and the state of Indiana,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said. “We have worked tirelessly to reimagine a tournament structure that maintains our unique championship opportunity for college athletes. The reality of today’s announcement was possible thanks to the tremendous leadership of our membership, local authorities and staff.”

The 2021 NCAA Tournament will be a success if everything goes according to plan.

After the  NCAA Tournament’s cancellation last season due to the pandemic, the NCAA faced severe financial issues. A situation like that cannot afford to happen again, and thus, the NCAA has put in these regulations.

The current “bubble” proposal is designed to contain any issues and preserve the tournament despite the nation’s pandemic surging. It’s unsure if and how many fans will be allowed to attend the games but expect masks and social distancing to remain the norm. The league’s ultimate goal is not to have any COVID-related postponements or cancelations.

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