Ticket Punched

Let the madness begin!

A total of 136 basketball teams were selected Sunday to compete in the 2024 NCAA Division I Men and Women’s Basketball Championships. The 68-team men’s tournament opens Tuesday with First Four competition, while the women start First Four action Wednesday.

FIRST FOUR

Tuesday, March 19, Men’s First Four in Dayton, Ohio

No. 16 seeds Howard versus Wagner, 6:40 p.m. Eastern time

• Howard is making its second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance and features eighth-year senior Seth Towns, who averages 14.2 points per game.
• The Wagner Seahawks entered the Northeastern Conference tournament with a 13-15 record before winning three games in the tournament to earn the program’s second NCAA tournament berth, their first appearance since 2003.
• North Carolina, a No. 1 seed for the 18th time — most in NCAA history — will face the winner of Howard and Wagner on Thursday in Charlotte.
   

No. 10 seeds Colorado State versus Virginia, 9:10 p.m.

• Colorado State is one of six Mountain West Conference teams in the field and one of two playing in First Four games.
• Virginia, the 2019 national champion, is making its 26th NCAA tournament appearance.
• No. 7 Texas awaits the winner of Tuesday’s First Four battle. The Longhorns are making their 38th overall appearance and fourth straight.

Wednesday, March 20, Men’s First Four in Dayton, Ohio

No. 16 seeds Grambling versus Montana State, 6:40 p.m.

• Grambling secured its program’s first NCAA Division I tournament appearance by winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.
• Montana State is making its third consecutive tournament appearance.
• No. 1 Purdue owns winning records against Grambling (1-0) and Montana State (2-1). After last year becoming the second-ever No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed in the NCAA tournament, Purdue is attempting to mimic the 2019 Virginia team and respond to the loss with a national championship the next season.
   

No. 10 seeds Colorado versus Boise State, 9:10 p.m. 

• Colorado enters the game after seeing its eight-game winning streak snapped in the Pac-12 Conference tournament title game against Oregon, an 11 seed in the NCAA tournament.
• Boise State is making its third straight NCAA tournament appearance and playing in the program’s third First Four game.
• Regardless of the winner, it will be a first-time matchup against No. 7 Florida, which opens its 22nd tournament appearance in Indianapolis on Friday.

Wednesday, March 20, Women’s First Four

No. 16 seeds Sacred Heart versus Presbyterian, 7 p.m. in Columbia, South Carolina

• Presbyterian earned its first automatic bid to the NCAA tournament after winning the Big South Conference tournament.
• Sacred Heart won its second consecutive Northeastern Conference tournament championship to earn a bid to the NCAA tournament.
• No. 1 overall seed South Carolina will face the advancing team Friday.    
   

No. 12 seeds Vanderbilt versus Columbia, 9 p.m. in Blacksburg, Virginia

• This is Columbia’s first trip to the NCAA tournament. The team won 21 of its last 23 games and set a program record of 11 straight wins.
• It’s Vanderbilt’s first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2014.
• Wednesday’s winner earns a Friday matchup with Baylor, a No. 5 seed making its 20th consecutive tournament appearance.

Thursday, March 21, Women’s First Four

No. 11 seeds Arizona versus Auburn, 7 p.m. in Storrs, Connecticut

• Auburn heads to the tournament for the first time in five years, while this is Arizona’s fourth straight appearance.
• The winner of this game gets No. 6 seed Syracuse, which is led by Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year Felisha Legette-Jack.
   

No. 16 seeds Holy Cross versus UT Martin, 9 p.m. in Iowa City, Iowa

• It’s Holy Cross’ second-straight automatic bid after winning the Patriot League tournament.
• UT Martin won the Ohio Valley Conference championship, and the Skyhawks come into the game winners of six of their last eight games. They have been ravaged by injuries with seven separate season-ending injuries.
• No. 1 seed Iowa, led by the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer Caitlin Clark, awaits the winner of the battle of 16 seeds.

TWICE AS NICE

Selection Sunday was twice as nice for 22 schools as both their men’s and women’s teams were selected to their respective fields of 68.

Eight of those programs each had a single-digit total when combining both their men’s and women’s seeds, led by UConn (4) with its overall No. 1 seed men’s program and No. 3 seed women’s team. South Carolina (No. 6 men/No. 1 women) followed the Huskies, while Baylor (3/5), Tennessee (2/6), Texas (7/1), Gonzaga (5/4), Iowa State (2/7) and North Carolina (1/8) were the other select squads. Just one school has identical seeds for both its men’s and women’s programs: Michigan State (9/9). Two identical matchups will take place, with Texas A&M (9/11) facing Nebraska (8/6) in both the men’s and women’s tournament. 

The remaining programs with teams in both brackets include Alabama (4/8), Arizona (2/11), Auburn (4/11), Colorado (10/5), Creighton (3/7), Drake (10/12), Duke (4/7), Kansas (4/8), Marquette (2/10), NC State (11/3) and South Dakota State (15/12). 

ROYALTY RETURNS

Several programs with remarkable tournament track records will return to the field in 2024. Top-seeded UConn, the defending men’s champion, earned the program’s first top overall seed and will look to build on last year’s success as it opens against No. 16 Stetson, which will be making its first tournament appearance. Ninth-seeded Michigan State, a first-round opponent to No. 8 Mississippi State, is making its 26th consecutive trip to the tournament, the third-longest streak overall and the longest in Big Ten history. All the appearances have been under head coach Tom Izzo, who has extended his record of leading his team to the most consecutive tournament appearances. No. 3 seed Kentucky extended its record for most tournament appearances to 61. The Wildcats, who open against No. 14 Oakland, also hold the NCAA record for most tournament games played (184). North Carolina is making its 53rd tournament appearance, which ranks second all-time behind Kentucky. The Tar Heels extend their record number of No. 1 seeds to 18 and will also look to extend their record 131 NCAA tournament wins as they open against the winner of the First Four game featuring Howard and Wagner. Duke, which will face Vermont on Friday, is making its 46th appearance in the NCAA tournament, fifth most in NCAA history. Illinois, which faces Morehead State on Thursday, is making its 34th all-time appearance. This includes four in a row for Illinois, one of 14 schools in the nation with a streak that long or longer. Houston earned a No. 1 seed for the second straight year and will make its 25th NCAA tournament, including six in a row. 

On the women’s side, No. 6 seed Tennessee earned its 42nd bracket selection Sunday — the only women’s team to appear in every NCAA Division I championship field. The Lady Vols have also recorded the most games played (163), and their 130 tournament victories are tied for most all-time with UConn’s 130. The third-seeded Huskies, who open against No. 14 Jackson State, return for the 35th straight time, having posted NCAA records of 14 straight Final Four appearances and 11 national titles. Tara VanDerveer, the coach of second-seeded Stanford, will take to the sidelines for a record 38th tournament and 36th with the Cardinal. Stanford, which faces Norfolk State on Friday night, will be making the trip for the 37th time, which ranks second all-time. No. 1 seed Texas follows the Cardinal with its 36th tournament appearance, which ties for third most all-time, as it opens against No. 16 Drexel. No. 9 seed Florida State is one of just eight programs to make the tournament every season since 2013, and will open against No. 8 seed Alabama, which will make its third appearance in the past four years. Maryland has now earned a bid to the NCAA tournament in each of the past 14 seasons, upping the program total to 30. Ohio State was named a top-four seed for the 15th time. It also marks the Buckeyes’ 28th NCAA tournament appearance. Louisville will be making its 26th all-time appearance in the tournament, including its 13th in a row. On Friday, the Cardinals face a familiar foe in Middle Tennessee, which has played Louisville nine times in program history and won the last meeting in the 2022-23 season. Since 2007, the Cardinals are 40-14 in the tournament and have advanced to four Final Fours and the championship game twice.

FIRST TIMERS

For six programs in the men’s and women’s tournament, 2024 will always be in the record books as their first Division I tournament. On the men’s side, No. 16 seed Stetson will meet the 2023 national champion UConn Huskies, and No. 16 seed Grambling last made an NCAA tournament appearance in the 1976 Division II tournament.

On the women’s side, No. 15 seed California Baptist, which joined Division I in 2018, makes its first appearance. It’s been a longer wait for No. 12 seed Columbia as it joined Division I in 1986. No. 16 seed Presbyterian’s first tourney appearance has given it a chance to play the No. 1 overall seed South Carolina if it manages a win against Sacred Heart in a First Four contest. No. 16 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is welcomed to its first tournament with a visit to No. 1 seed Southern California.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Ten conferences placed two or more teams in the men’s tournament, led by the Big 12 and Southeastern conferences at eight each. Eight leagues did so for women’s tournament, with the Atlantic Coast and SEC tied for the most with eight. Notably, the Ivy League placed two teams (Princeton and Columbia) in the field for the second time. 

Seven conferences placed at least two teams in both brackets: the Atlantic Coast, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 12, Big East and West Coast Conference. Between the men’s and women’s tournaments, the SEC accounted for the most teams (16) from a single conference, with eight in each bracket. The Big 12 was close behind at 15 combined (eight in the men’s bracket, seven in the women’s), while the Atlantic Coast and Big Ten each collected 13 spots between the tournaments. 

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

The fields of 68 in both the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships have been hitting the books and the hardwood to great success. Participating men’s and women’s teams have a combined four-cohort average Graduation Success Rate of 90% on the latest reporting span (2020-23), covering the cohorts that entered college between 2013 and 2016. The women’s teams scored an average of 96%, while the men’s teams registered an 84% average.

On the women’s side, Utah, West Virginia, UCLA and Princeton are among the 42 schools to earn perfect GSRs. On the men’s side, Saint Mary’s, Alabama, Clemson and Howard are among the 16 teams to earn perfect GSRs.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Fourteen coaches between the men’s and women’s tournaments are leading their alma maters, including eight on the women’s side. Those eight women are Adia Barnes (Arizona), Megan Griffith (Columbia), Amy Vachon (University of Maine), Brooke Wyckoff (Florida State), Amy Williams (Nebraska), Kellie Harper (Tennessee), Niele Ivey (Notre Dame) and Felisha Legette-Jack (Syracuse). 

On the men’s side, the six coaches at their alma mater are Anthony Grant (Dayton), Hubert Davis (North Carolina), Jamie Dixon (TCU), Andy Kennedy (University of Alabama at Birmingham), Matt Painter (Purdue) and Jon Scheyer (Duke). 

IT'S BEEN A MINUTE

While not their first trip to the NCAA tournaments, the below teams will be making their first appearance in quite some time or boasting historically high seeds. 

Men’s teams

• Duquesne: The Dukes won the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament to earn their first NCAA tournament bid in 47 years. They will face Brigham Young to start the tournament, the third matchup between the two programs and first since Dec. 28, 1953. 
• Long Beach State: Long Beach State won the Big West Conference tournament to earn a spot in its first NCAA tournament since 2012 and its 10th appearance all time. 
• Oakland: The Grizzlies won the Horizon League tournament to secure their first appearance since doing so in consecutive years in 2010 and 2011. It marks their fourth appearance overall. 
• Washington State: The Cougars will make their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2008 and their seventh all time. 
• Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers are back in the tournament for the first time since 2013 and the 24th time in program history after winning the Conference USA tournament. 
• McNeese: The Cowboys (30-3) will be appearing in The Big Dance for the first time since 2002 and just the third time in school history. The 12 seed is the highest for a Cowboys program and also matches the highest seed for a Southland Conference team in the last 40 years (Stephen F. Austin in 2014 and 2015).
   

Women’s teams

• Kent State: The Golden Flashes won the Mid-American Conference tournament and will make their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2002 and sixth overall. 
• Marshall: After winning an overtime thriller in the Sun Belt Conference tournament finale, the Thundering Herd is returning to March Madness for the second time in program history and for its first appearance in 27 years. 
• Eastern Washington: Winning the Big Sky Conference tournament, Eastern Washington punched its second ever ticket to the NCAA tournament and its first since 1987. The Eagles will face off Friday against Oregon State, led by Pac-12 Coach of the Year Scott Rueck. 
• Richmond: The Spiders are coming off an Atlantic 10 Conference tournament title run to clinch a spot in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005. It marks the program’s fourth appearance overall. 
• Southern California: As they grip their highest national ranking since 1986, the Trojans have also secured their first No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament since 1986 and will host first- and second-round action. Southern California is led by freshman phenom JuJu Watkins[MP3] , ESPN’s National Player of the Year Runner-Up. 
• UC Irvine: The Anteaters won the Big West tournament to earn their second NCAA tournament bid and first since 1995. 

PUTTING IN THE WORK

For some teams, the madness has already begun. 

On the men’s side, New Mexico enters the tournament after a record-breaking performance in the Mountain West Conference tournament. Entering the conference tournament as the No. 6 seed, the Lobos became the first team in Mountain West history to win four games in four days to claim the title and secure an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Earning the No. 11 seed in the West, they will open against No. 6 seed Clemson in what will be the first meeting between the two teams. 

NC State also put together a record-breaking performance in its conference tournament. After finishing the regular season 4-11 in the conference, the Wolfpack had five wins in the span of five days to win the Atlantic Coast Conference title and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. As the No. 11 seed in the South, they will take on the No. 6 seed, Texas Tech. 

On the women’s side, No. 14 seed Rice will face the defending champion and No 3. seed LSU. The Owls earned their spot in the NCAA tournament after being crowned American Athletic Conference champions in their debut season. Entering the AAC tournament as a No. 10 seed, Rice won four games in four days to become the lowest seed in AAC tournament history to win the championship, earning their first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2019. 

No. 16 seed Drexel will face No. 1 seed Texas, with the Dragons coming off a seven-game winning streak. Ranked No. 7 heading into the conference tournament, the team earned the Coastal Athletic Association title after winning four games in four days, three of which were decided by 2 points or less. 

RETURNING FINAL FOUR TEAMS

Seven out of the eight teams that reached their respective Final Fours in 2023 will be returning to the tournament this year. 

On the men’s side, the 2023 champion and top overall seed UConn will look to defend its title. No. 5 seed San Diego State and No. 8 seed Florida Atlantic will also look to build off last year’s success. However, all three teams will be fighting for one position in the 2024 Final Four, as they all will compete in the East Region. 

All 2023 Final Four teams will return to the tournament on the women’s side, with defending champion LSU returning as the No. 3 seed in the Albany 2 Region. No. 1 seed Iowa will compete in the same region, while No. 1 seed South Carolina and No. 4 seed Virginia Tech will compete in the Albany 1 and Portland 3 regions, respectively. 

Photos courtesy of participating school athletics departments.