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Arizona’s journey in the Big 12 Conference Tournament ended in a 72-64 loss to top-seeded Houston in Saturday’s championship game. Despite the defeat, the Wildcats (21-12) are poised to secure an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.
As Selection Sunday looms, teams across the nation are split between confidence and anxiety. Some programs rest assured their regular-season resumes have locked in a spot, while others await the committee’s verdict with nervous anticipation.
Date: Sunday, March 16
Time: 6 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Stream: Paramount+ | Fubo (free trial)
Worldwide: STFLIX offers live updates and streaming access (subscription may apply).
The 2025 March Madness frenzy tips off with the First Four games on March 18 in Dayton, Ohio. The tournament will then crisscross the country, culminating in the Final Four at San Antonio’s Alamodome on April 5, followed by the national championship game on April 7.
The Wildcats now await their NCAA Tournament opponent, location, and seeding, all of which will be unveiled during Sunday’s Selection Show. Arizona’s seed projection and path through the bracket remain key talking points, with FanDuel Sportsbook listing the team at +5000 to win the title and +1000 to reach the Final Four—odds likely to shift once matchups are confirmed.
Selection Sunday isn’t just a TV event—it’s the tipping point for college basketball’s most chaotic spectacle. Here’s the lowdown on how 68 teams earn their shot at glory in the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament:
The Breakdown: Automatic vs. At-Large
31 Automatic Bids: Reserved for conference champions (think Cinderella mid-majors and powerhouse league winners).
37 At-Large Bids: Handpicked by the NCAA’s 12-member selection committee, rewarding teams with strong regular-season resumes or “bubble” squads clinging to hope.
Seeding & Structure: The Roadmap to Chaos
The field splits into four regions, each with 16 teams ranked No. 1 to No. 16. But wait—16 x 4 = 64. Where do the extra four teams come from? Enter the First Four, a quartet of play-in games added in 2011 to expand the bracket to 68 teams. These matchups include:
Two Games for Underdogs: The four lowest-ranked automatic qualifiers (often small-conference champs) battle for a shot at the main bracket.
Two Games for Bubble Survivors: The last four at-large teams (typically hovering around No. 10–12 seeds) duke it out for a chance to avoid the NIT.
The committee’s bracket reveal doesn’t just set matchups—it crafts narratives. A brutal region could derail a title favorite, while a favorable path might propel a dark horse to the Final Four. For fans, it’s the starting gun for bracket pools, office debates, and three weeks of edge-of-your-seat hoops.
DateRoundVenues/LocationsMarch 16Selection Sunday6 p.m. ET, CBSMarch 18–19First FourDayton, OH – University of Dayton ArenaMarch 20First RoundLexington, KY – Rupp Arena; Providence, RI – Amica Mutual Pavilion; Wichita, KS – Intrust Bank Arena; Denver, CO – Ball ArenaMarch 21First RoundSeattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena; Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse; Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum; Raleigh, NC – PNC ArenaMarch 22–23Second RoundSame venues as First RoundMarch 27Sweet 16Newark, NJ – Prudential Center; San Francisco, CA – Chase CenterMarch 28Sweet 16Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena; Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil StadiumMarch 29–30Elite EightNewark, NJ – Prudential Center; San Francisco, CA – Chase Center; Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena; Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil StadiumApril 5Final FourSan Antonio, TX – AlamodomeApril 7National ChampionshipSan Antonio, TX – Alamodome
Once the bracket is revealed, fans will dive into predictions, bracket challenges, and betting pools. The action officially begins March 18, as 68 teams embark on the road to San Antonio.