Looking ahead, a question for those who know how the NCAAs work

[tomcat]

Hey gang!
I need some help. We are thinking about going to the games in Birmingham if UConn plays there. I recognize that there are a lot of variables that will go into scheduling these games, but is there anything more definite to be said other than "March 28-31"? Am I correct that if UConn plays in Birmingham, it would either be in the Firday-Sunday or Saturday-Monday bracket? That looks to me like how it works, but I'd just like to be sure so I can put my OCD to rest here.
As always, thank you.

 

[Vowelguy]

You are correct.
On selection day in addition to the location, it will be announced whether teams are in the Fri-Sun or Sat-Mon regional brackets.

Long story, but UConn is more likely to be in the Sat-Mon bracket.

 

[BBallF]

I saw a website for tickets putting them in the Friday-Sunday bracket like last year.

 

[Vowelguy]

I saw a website for tickets putting them in the Friday-Sunday bracket like last year.

That information is not known yet, so the website is wrong.

 

[BBallF]

That information is not known yet, so the website is wrong.

So why do you think they are in the Sat-Mon bracket?

 

[Huskee11]

You are correct.
On selection day in addition to the location, it will be announced whether teams are in the Fri-Sun or Sat-Mon regional brackets.

Long story, but UConn is more likely to be in the Sat-Mon bracket.

Since they started the Friday-Monday approach for the Round of 16 and Elite 8 in 2013, UConn has played on Friday-Sunday only once, and that was in 2019. (Great game by the way, UConn over Louisville in Albany.) Nine times it was Saturday-Monday, and in 2022 it was only Saturday as Ohio State beat us. No tournament in 2020.

I assume a big part of the long story is getting UConn on ESPN Monday evening. And this year the Elite Eight "chalk" matchup is looking like it might be against SC, USC or Notre Dame, any of which could very well have the feel of a national championship game.

I would prefer Friday-Sunday since it gives an extra day before the Final Four circus.

I had tickets for Albany last year and UConn was shipped out to Portland.

I saw a website for tickets putting them in the Friday-Sunday bracket like last year.

They were Saturday (Duke) and Monday (USC) last year.

 

[Vowelguy]

Starting last year, the overall 1 seed gets Fri-Sun, and the lower gets Sat-Mon. This gives the top seed an extra day between the regional finals and the Final 4.

So, for example, in the committee's first reveal, the Spokane bracket had overall #1 UCLA and overall #4 ND as the two one seeds. UCLA would get Fri-Sun, and ND Sat-Mon.

None of this will be known until selection day.

 

[Vowelguy]

I assume a big part of the long story is getting UConn on ESPN Monday evening.

It's the scenario described above.

I initially thought the higher #1 in each location got the earlier days, but just realized that it's only the overall #1. (Last year #4 Tex got the earlier day in Portland over #3 USC.) So my earlier statement that UConn would probably be on the later days is less strong.

Basically, the overall #1 and their bracket partner (probably #8 overall, but not necessarily) will be Fri-Sun. That leaves one Fri-Sun slot and two Sat-Mon slots for the other 6 teams.

So the other 6 teams have a 2/3rd chance at being Sat-Mon.

 

[tomcat]

Thank you, everyone. At least now I can play the waiting game with a little information in my pocket.