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2025 March Madness Schedule: Key Dates for Men’s NCAA Tournament

ByCoach

The 2025 March Madness tournament is set to be an exhilarating event for college basketball fans across the nation. With Selection Sunday kicking off the festivities on March 16, a total of 68 teams will compete for the coveted NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.

This blog post will delve into the detailed schedule, key dates, and venues for the tournament, ensuring you don’t miss a moment of the action. Additionally, we’ll provide a recap of the 2024 tournament to highlight what fans can expect in the upcoming season.

2025 March Madness Schedule and Key Dates

The 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is meticulously scheduled to ensure fans experience maximum excitement and engagement. Here are the critical dates you need to mark on your calendar:

  • Selection Sunday: 6 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 16 on CBS
  • First Four: March 18-19
  • First Round: March 20-21
  • Second Round: March 22-23
  • Sweet 16: March 27-28
  • Elite Eight: March 29-30
  • Final Four: April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
  • NCAA Championship Game: April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas

First Four and Early Rounds

The tournament begins with the First Four games in Dayton, Ohio, hosted at the UD Arena by the University of Dayton on March 18-19. These initial matches are crucial as they determine the final teams that will advance to the first round.

The first and second rounds will be held across various locations, including:

  • Lexington, KY at Rupp Arena (March 20-22, hosted by the University of Kentucky)
  • Providence, RI at Amica Mutual Pavilion (March 20-22, hosted by Providence College)
  • Seattle, WA at Climate Pledge Arena (March 21-23, hosted by the University of Washington)
  • Wichita, KS at Intrust Bank Arena (March 20-22, hosted by Wichita State University)
  • Cleveland, OH at Rocket Arena (March 21-23, hosted by the Mid-American Conference)
  • Denver, CO at Ball Arena (March 20-22, hosted by the Mountain West Conference)
  • Milwaukee, WI at Fiserv Forum (March 21-23, hosted by Marquette University)
  • Raleigh, NC at Lenovo Center (March 21-23, hosted by NC State University)

Regional Rounds

The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds are where the competition intensifies. These rounds will be held in the following locations:

  • East Regional: Newark, NJ at Prudential Center (March 27-29, hosted by Seton Hall University)
  • West Regional: San Francisco, CA at Chase Center (March 27-29, hosted by the Pac-12 Conference)
  • South Regional: Atlanta, GA at State Farm Arena (March 28-30, hosted by the Georgia Institute of Technology)
  • Midwest Regional: Indianapolis, IN at Lucas Oil Stadium (March 28-30, hosted by IU Indianapolis/Horizon League)

Final Four and Championship Game

The culmination of March Madness, the Final Four, will take place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on April 5. This iconic venue will also host the NCAA Championship Game on April 7, where the two remaining teams will battle for the national title. The University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of the Incarnate Word will co-host these final rounds.

Future Final Four Sites

Looking ahead, the NCAA has already announced the future sites for the Final Four, ensuring fans can plan their trips well in advance:

  • April 6 and 8, 2024: Phoenix, State Farm Stadium, hosted by Arizona State University
  • April 5 and 7, 2025: San Antonio, Alamodome, hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of the Incarnate Word
  • April 4 and 6, 2026: Indianapolis, Lucas Oil Stadium, hosted by the Horizon League and IUPUI
  • April 3 and 5, 2027: Detroit, Ford Field, hosted by Michigan State University
  • April 1 and 3, 2028: Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium, hosted by UNLV
  • March 31 and April 2, 2029: Indianapolis, Lucas Oil Stadium, hosted by the Horizon League and IUPUI
  • April 6 and 8, 2030: North Texas, AT&T Stadium, hosted by the Big 12 Conference

Recap of the 2024 Tournament

The 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament provided fans with unforgettable moments and thrilling matchups. The tournament began with the First Four games in Dayton, Ohio, and concluded with the national championship game in Phoenix.

Early Rounds Highlights

The first round saw some major upsets and standout performances:

  • (9) Michigan State defeated (8) Mississippi State 66-51
  • (14) Oakland shocked (3) Kentucky 80-76
  • (13) Yale edged out (4) Auburn 78-76

As the tournament progressed, the intensity only increased. The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds were filled with nail-biting finishes:

  • (6) Clemson outlasted (2) Arizona 77-72
  • (4) Alabama narrowly defeated (1) North Carolina 89-87
  • (11) NC State continued their Cinderella run by beating (2) Marquette 66-58

Final Four and Championship Game

The Final Four featured four powerhouse teams: Purdue, UConn, Alabama, and NC State. In the semifinals, Purdue defeated NC State 63-50, while UConn outpaced Alabama 86-72. The championship game saw UConn triumph over Purdue 75-60, securing their place in NCAA history.

Conclusion

As we look forward to the 2025 March Madness tournament, fans can expect another season of thrilling basketball and unforgettable moments.

With a meticulously planned schedule and a variety of hosting venues, the tournament promises to deliver excitement from start to finish.

Make sure to stay updated with all the latest news and schedules by visiting the NCAA’s official site.

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