NCAA Tournament

All 68 teams in the 2021 men's NCAA tournament are cleared to play ahead of First Four games Thursday.

NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt announced Wednesday the tournament will not have to enact any contingency plans for replacement teams.

The NCAA announced five positive tests among the 2,300 conducted Tuesday. The deadline to contact a replacement team was 6 p.m. Tuesday. 

Louisville was the top replacement team and would have traveled to Indianapolis had one of the 68 teams selected not been able to compete.

The men's NCAA tournament is set to take place in Indianapolis and surrounding areas over the next three weeks, with teams bubbling in place to limit their exposure to COVID-19. The 2020-21 college basketball season has been wrought with turmoil due to the virus, with many teams in the field affected by a postponement or cancellation on their schedule.

The NCAA is providing daily testing to ensure the safety of the student-athletes, coaches and other officials in attendance for the event. There will be limited fan attendance allowed for the tournament. 

The selection committee doesn't always get its due for this, but it can be a clever bunch.

Hidden beneath those starchy exteriors lie savvy, knowledgeable people who operate with a sense of history and even—dare I say it—humor. The harder you look at the 2021 bracket, the more tasty potential matchups you see, like chocolate Easter eggs hidden in the grass.

A potential matchup can be fun or compelling for several reasons. It could be because of the teams, the individual players, a coaching matchup, historic programs or rivalries, or the sheer novelty factor. You don't think the committee knew what is was doing when it pitted UCLA and Michigan State—two blue-blood teams in notably down seasons—against each other in one of the play-in games?

Oh, it knew. And it knows about these six potential blockbusters too. For various reasons, these are the six matchups we'd most love to see, listed from lowest to highest. 

           

No. 6 San Diego State Aztecs vs. No. 2 Houston Cougars (Midwest Region)

Records: San Diego State (23-4, 14-3 in Mountain West Conference); Houston (24-3, 14-3 in American Athletic Conference)

When they'd meet: Sweet 16

Any way you slice it, both of these teams are among the defensive elites.

The Cougars led the nation in opponent field-goal percentage (37.0 percent), while the Aztecs held the opposition to just 38.7 percent, which ranks sixth.

How about scoring? Houston held opponents to 57.9 points per game, which was good for second in the nation. Again SDSU was close behind, just six spots below at 60.6 points per contest.

But SDSU leads Houston in the KenPom.com defensive rankings, which put the Aztecs and No. 11 and Houston No. 18.

You get the idea. This will be an exquisite rock fight if it happens.

            

No. 14 Colgate Raiders vs. No. 15 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (South Region)

Records: Colgate (14-1, 11-1 in Patriot League); Oral Roberts (16-10, 10-5 Summit League)

When they'd meet: Sweet 16

Batten down the hatches. These two mid-majors have work to do before they meet in the Sweet 16, but if it happens, each side could put up 30 three-point attempts. Just two sharp-shooting mid-majors throwing bombs at each other from all over the court. Both teams could hit triple digits in scoring.

These aren't just any sharp-shooting mid-majors. They're kind of the best, at least this season. Colgate is third in the nation with a 40.2 percent three-point shooting average; Oral Roberts sits eighth at 39.0 percent.

Two players stand out. Oral Roberts has the nation's leading scorer in Max Abmas, who nets 24.4 points per contest. Abmas trails only Luka Garza in offensive win shares with 4.6.

Colgate has Jack Ferguson, who leads the nation in offensive rating (145.2) and sits second in true shooting percentage with an even 70.

So there would be a lot going on in this game, with the winner likely being crowned the belle of this season's March Madness ball. This time around, a shredded South Region might give us a riveting instant classic.

          

No. 1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No. 12 Georgetown Hoyas (East Region)

Records: Michigan (20-4, 14-3 in Big Ten); Georgetown (13-12, 7-9 in Big East)

When they'd meet: Sweet 16

Just 11 days ago, Georgetown was sitting at 9-12 following a 16-point loss to UConn. Now the Hoyas are the Big East tourney champs and the early feel-good story of March Madness, and they've got their first Big Dance berth of Patrick Ewing's four-year coaching tenure. (For Madison Square Garden staff and others: Ewing also used to play for Georgetown and was actually a professional player for a number of years as well.)

This matchup is a tall order for Georgetown, as it would need to knock off No. 5 Colorado and then likely a tough No. 4 in Florida State. If the Hoyas can defy the odds two more times to reach the Sweet 16, they could well be greeted by a Juwan Howard-guided Michigan. Like Ewing, Howard is coaching at his alma mater after playing there and then enjoying a lengthy NBA career.

Howard and Ewing both went to their roots to get their big coaching opportunities, and both are making good on those chances. It would be quite a moment, especially for old people like me who remember them as players.

        

No. 1 Baylor Bears vs. No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (South Region)

Records: Baylor (22-2, 13-1 in Big 12); Ohio State (21-9, 12-8 in Big Ten)

When they'd meet: Elite Eight

Some people may equate these programs with defense, but that's not how it went this season.

According to KenPom, Baylor sits third in adjusted offense, while Ohio State is fourth. Only Iowa and Gonzaga outrank these two, and we'll get to them momentarily. 

The Buckeyes lost five of their last eight, but that's not so bad considering they play in college basketball's best conference and lost a razor-close overtime game to scorching-hot Illinois in the conference tourney final. They may continue to be without glue guy Kyle Young because of a concussion, but they still have a guard tandem in E.J. Liddell and Duane Washington Jr. that combines for 32.2 points per game.

Baylor has a dangerous three-headed backcourt in Davion Mitchell, Jared Butler and MaCio Teague, who together contribute 47.4 points per contest, among many other things.

This is your classic clash of the titans, strength against strength. Here's hoping this region stays chalk long enough for this to happen.

        

No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes (West Region)

Records: Gonzaga (26-0, 15-0 in West Coast Conference); Iowa (21-8, 14-6 in the Big Ten)

When they'd meet: Elite Eight

It's the TOY against the POY, baby.

Gonzaga ruled the West Coast Conference like its own ball pit. The Bulldogs were also the class of the regular season, and no one denies that.

Similarly, Luka Garza dominated the individual rankings and is likely to win most of the player of the year hardware.

If chalk prevails in the West Region, something will have to give between the best player and the best team. Gonzaga big Drew Timme would have his hands full with the physical Garza, but the latter could struggle trying to keep up with Timme. And this is just one small piece of the puzzle.

Garza and Gonzaga both have a touch of college basketball fairy dust on their games. When you've got the best against the best, you find some popcorn and enjoy.

             

No. 4 Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. No. 1 Illinois Fighting Illini (Midwest Region)

Records: Oklahoma State (20-8, 11-7 in Big 12); Illinois (23-6, 16-4 in Big Ten)

When they'd meet: Sweet 16

With all due respect to Garza, Cade Cunningham and Ayo Dosunmu are not only the two hottest players in the country, but they also are projected to shine in the NBA.

Like it or not, basketball is a game of stars. That means we all might remember this one 10 years from now if these two dynamos fulfill their lofty potential.

In the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, Cunningham is expected to go first overall, while Dosunmu was slated for No. 19. That was March 11. Since then, all Dosunmu has done is lead Illinois to a Big Ten tournament title and a No. 1 seed in the Dance, so you'd have to think he's in lottery territory. 

In a deep Big 12, Cunningham led the conference in scoring (20.2 ppg) and points produced per game (19.3). He was third in defensive rebounds (141) and free-throw percentage (85.4). And finally, he was fifth in both win shares (3.7), defensive win shares (1.5) and box plus/minus (8.2). In a nutshell, he does it all on both ends, is clutch and never seems to stop working.

Dosunmu is a sensation in Champaign and some kind of fun to watch. He does it all while working in the Big Ten, widely considered the nation's toughest conference. He led the league in points produced per game (21) and was second in points (20.7) and assists (5.3) per game, third in win shares (4.9) and fourth in usage percentage (30). 

These numbers don't tell the whole story of the performance and leadership both players display. But they do give a sense of the situation. These two are craftsmen at the top of the college game. Catch them before they're gone.

                       

Stats via Sports Reference unless otherwise noted. 

The 68-team field for the 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament has officially been locked, meaning that no potential replacement teams will take over spots for schools with positive COVID-19 tests.

Matt Norlander of CBS Sports provided more information:

"The 6 p.m. deadline for replacement teams has come and gone. Louisville has not been contacted, per a source, meaning the bracket is now locked. NCAA will not be putting out a statement tonight; this will be official tomorrow when Dan Gavitt briefs the media on a Zoom call.

"Virginia (and all teams) are not yet in the clear, though, of course. Keep in mind teams need to continue to produce negative tests in order to avoid potential contact-tracing pitfalls. UVA is still not in Indianapolis; its players won't leave quarantine until Thursday."

The NCAA outlined an official team replacement policy in advance of the tournament on Feb. 25.

Louisville, Colorado State, Saint Louis and Ole Miss were on standby, in that order, in case up to four teams with at-large bids needed to drop out.

If a team from a single-bid conference needed to leave, then the runner-up from that league would be invited to participate provided it could show seven consecutive days of negative testing.

Per the NCAA, the deadline for replacement teams was at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday. At this juncture, if a team needs to drop out because of COVID-19 issues, then its opponent will advance to the next round via the no-contest rule.

Kansas and Virginia, who are in the NCAA tournament field, were forced to drop out of their respective conference tournaments because of positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing within their programs.

As of now, both are scheduled to play Saturday against Eastern Washington and Ohio, respectively. However, as Norlander noted, UVA players are still in quarantine until Thursday. The Cavaliers are scheduled to face the Bobcats on Saturday.

Per Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, the NCAA found five positive tests among 2,300 Tier 1, 2 or 3 personnel who arrived in Indianapolis, where the tournament is primarily being held (other locations are elsewhere in Indiana). Rothstein clarified that it shouldn't be assumed the five positive tests were from players or coaches.

The tournament is officially slated to kick off with the First Four round on Thursday. Texas Southern and Mount St. Mary's will begin a four-game slate at 5:10 p.m. ET.

Virginia Tech men's basketball head coach Mike Young apologized for comments made during an NCAA tournament press conference with reporters Tuesday after he referenced Jehovah's Witnesses when explaining why his team wasn't looking ahead of their first-round opponent, the Florida Gators.

"We're not playing the Jehovah's Witness All-Star team here. We're playing the Gators, man, we're playing the Gators. I do know who our next opponent would be if we were lucky enough to win, but there's not a chance in hell you start thinking about anything, nothing—I will not clip about anything but [head coach Mike White's] Gator team, and that's the same for my team. This is it. This is one game and if you play poorly or get outplayed, I'm going to be walking out the hall after talking to you guys via Zoom, and there's going to be an NCAA representative telling me, 'Your plane leaves in 45 minutes. Good luck to you. Go get your stuff packed and get out of here.' It may not be that tough, but let's play well and play a good ballgame. Let's see what happens."

Young then issued an apology later in the day: "Earlier today on the NCAA tournament conference call, I attempted to show my respect for our upcoming opponent, the University of Florida. Regrettably, I didn't articulate that sentiment in an appropriate manner. I apologize for my insensitive remark and am sincerely sorry for anyone I may have offended."

Young has been a Division I men's basketball head coach since 2002, when he began leading Wofford. The Terriers made five NCAA tournaments under Young, who left for Virginia Tech in 2019.

The Hokies went 16-16 last year before going 15-5 (9-4 ACC) in 2020-21 en route to an NCAA tournament appearance.

Virginia Tech and Florida will be playing the opening game of the NCAA tournament's first round Friday at 12:15 p.m. ET. The Hokies are a No. 10 seed in the South Region.

The NCAA will accommodate BYU's school policy of not competing in athletic events on Sundays should the Cougars reach the Sweet 16. 

The organization announced Monday the East's regional semifinals and final would move to Saturday, March 27 and Monday, March 29 if the Cougars win their first two games. The Midwest region, which is currently slated to compete on those days, would move its last two rounds to March 28 and 30.

"That contingency will only be utilized in the event that BYU were to advance to the Sweet 16," Dan Gavitt, the NCAA's senior vice president of basketball, said of the situation. "If they do not, then there would be no change to dates for any teams for regionals."

The situation may resolve itself, considering BYU has made just one Sweet 16 appearance (2011) since 1981.

The Cougars earned a No. 6 seed after finishing 20-6 in the regular season, and they sit 29th in ESPN.com's College Basketball Power Index.

The selection committee did BYU few favors since a first-round matchup with either Michigan State or UCLA awaits Saturday. The Spartans in particular could be a tough out, having registered upsets of Illinois, Ohio State and Michigan within the last month.

Should BYU move on, a date with third-seeded Texas could beckon in the second round.