It's mid-March and Selection Sunday 2024 is upon us! If you're new to sports betting, or unsure of the full details of NCAA Selection Sunday 2024, then this article is for you. Read on as we delve into the full event details of the March Madness qualifications, including where to watch it, and the full ins and outs of the day. But firstly, for any rookies, let's quickly explain about what Selection Sunday is.
What is Selection Sunday?
Selection Sunday is the big day where the 68-team fields are announced for the NCAA Division I men’s college basketball and women’s basketball tournaments initiates the countdown to March Madness. The day is a big deal for fans and players and can be an exciting, but nerve-racking wait to see who has and hasn't secured a spot in the NCAA tournament.
With the excitement of the March Madness selection process comes the anticipation for the team matchups and potential Cinderella stories. However, the selection process is far from a game of chance. Selection Sunday has a 12-person strong selection committee, made up of school athletic directors and conference commissioners, who rigorously scrutinize several resources, such as the NET ranking, to select the 36 best at-large teams for the tournament.
The selection committee also arrange where teams play in the tournament, with higher seeds typically being placed in prime locations.
How Many Teams are in Selection Sunday?
For those new to the event, there are 68 teams participating in Selection Sunday in total. This includes the 32 conference tournaments who gained automatic qualification by winning their conference championships, followed by at-large bids chosen by the selection committee.
How Are the Teams Selected?
Selection Sunday is more than just a day of announcements; it's the culmination of an intricate selection process. The 12-person selection committee meticulously evaluates teams based on things like: performance, schedule strength, Conference championships, quality wins, road wins, NET ranking.
The NCAA’s NET ranking system is used as a key evaluation tool in this process. The remaining 36 at-large team bids are determined by the selection committee based on various stats and rankings. After the teams are chosen, they are ranked from 1 to 68, and seedings are allocated accordingly. Factors such as geographic proximity and conference affiliations are also taken into account when placing teams in regional locations.
How are the Teams Ranked?
Following the team selection, ranking is the next step. The process of ranking teams involves a mix of analytical tools and human judgment, ensuring a fair and comprehensive evaluation. The selection committee employs various metrics for this like traditional statistics, advanced metrics, and subjective evaluations. The NCAA’s NET ranking tool is a pivotal and takes into account factors like game results, game location, net offensive and defensive efficiency.
All of the above makes the ranking process both results-driven and predictive. The committee also considers factors such as injuries, player availability, and the number of wins against top-50 RPI teams. While metrics play a significant role, committee members also incorporate their expertise and judgment.
When is Selection Sunday?
OK, so now you know the full ins and outs of the Selection Sunday process, let's talk details. The 2024 Selection Sunday will take place on Sunday 17th March 2024, and the full NCAA tournament brackets will be announced.
Where Can I Watch Selection Sunday Brackets?
The men's and the women's NCAA DI basketball tournament fields are announced on the same day. The men’s tournament bracket will be the first to be revealed at 6 p.m. ET on CBS, followed by the announcement of the women’s tournament bracket at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
