According to a release from the NCAA, all rounds of the 2021 NCAA Tournament will take place in one location.
Following the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament — which came with significant financial shortfalls — the NCAA is adamant to see the 2021 event take place. Even with rapid developments in terms of a vaccine, some of which are encouraging, the 2020-21 season will be fraught with COVID-19 concerns.
By moving the event to one setting, the NCAA at least removes some of the issues with travel and virus spread for the 68 teams.
NCAA announces it will have ALL the rounds of the NCAA Tournament in one spot, likely Indianapolis, this season.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) November 16, 2020
For now, there’s no set location; however, the NCAA is in preliminary talks with the state of Indiana and Indianapolis to potentially host the event.
The plan is for the NCAA to build in a bubble concept for this year’s tournament. However, this won’t be a full-on bubble like the NBA had in Orlando.
NCAA confirms there will be a gap between “Selection Sunday” and the start of the NCAA Tournament that is longer than usual so teams can enter a bubble
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 16, 2020
The 2020-21 men’s college basketball season will officially start Nov. 25. During a conference call on Monday, Dan Gavitt, the NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball, added that the season is still set to start Nov. 25. The tournament will take place in March and April, as scheduled.
Last week, the ACC announced its 20-game league schedule, which starts Dec. 12.