After three days of poring over your bracket and obsessing about which top seeds will fall to Cinderella, tipoff for the 2024 men’s NCAA Division I college basketball tournament field will take place this Thursday, marking the start of March Madness. This highly anticipated annual event will see 68 teams compete in both the men’s and women’s divisions over the coming three weeks. As fans fill out their brackets and make their predictions, there is excitement and anticipation about which teams will make it to the Final Four and ultimately claim the national championship.

Men’s NCAA Tournament Field

The men’s NCAA Tournament field is ready for action, with half of the final teams set to take the court on Thursday. The selections and seeding have created much debate among experts, and everyone is overthinking their picks in an attempt to build the perfect bracket. With the potential for shocking upsets, there are five matchups that are being closely watched as the most likely candidates for a bracket-busting result.

North Carolina is seeded No. 1 in the West Regional and will open play on Thursday in Charlotte.

The University of Iowa women’s basketball team will be a No. 1 Seed in the Albany Regional and will host the 2024 NCAA tournament.

Women’s NCAA Tournament Field

On the women’s side, the 68-team field for the NCAA Tournament is set, and the battle for the national championship begins in earnest. Fans are eagerly awaiting the action, and experts Michella Chester and Wayne Staats have analyzed the women’s bracket, providing insight and predictions for who may reach the Final Four and ultimately become the champions.

March Madness Excitement

March Madness has captivated millions of people across the United States, with fans filling out brackets and anxiously following every game. The tournament is steeped in tradition and is filled with excitement as underdogs challenge heavyweights, leading to potential upsets and memorable moments. As the NCAA Tournament numbers and vital stats are scrutinized during the bracket-filling process, experts have also shared their predictions for the most likely first-round stunners.

How to Watch and Follow

For those eager to catch every game of the NCAA Tournament, there are various ways to do so. The complete basketball schedule has been released, and fans can find out how to watch the games. Additionally, an explanation of March Madness and how it works has been provided to help newcomers or those unfamiliar with the tournament understand the format and excitement surrounding it.

NCAA.com provides live updates and analysis of the women’s bracket returns as of March 19th, 2024.

The stage is set for an action-packed and dramatic tournament, and basketball fans across the nation are ready to witness the thrills and unpredictability of March Madness.