THE LAW

ESPN’s Bracketology efforts are focused on showing the division of the NCAA tournament as we expect the NCAA Division I basketball committee to decide the division in March. ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi uses the same principles that the committee likes, including the strength of the schedule and other indicators of the season, including the NET and the data of the groups similar to those available in the NCAA, in his view of the field. Visit the NCAA website for more information NCAA qualifiers.

68-Team Bracket

The group of 68 teams is the standard form of the NCAA tournament that has existed since 2011. If the 2021 field has 68 teams, there will be a big difference from previous years.

The first change from a stellar year is playing for the entire NCAA tournament at one location. This eliminates the need to consider location when planting seeds. In addition, there will be one fewer player this season, as the Ivy League’s decision to cancel the 2020-21 season reduces the number of AQ entries to 31 this season.

48-Team Bracket

In this sense, a limited selection would reduce the field to only 10 main teams and 10 qualifiers (the finalists still receive money). The top four seeds in each region will qualify for the second round, with the first four round-robin games in each region – 5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10 and 8 vs. 9 – played without fans. the courtyard of the high seed house.

To reduce traffic, the initial integration is as geographically driven as possible. And the reduced field results in only 32 teams competing for the central position. All participants must submit at least a .500 conference essay – the “Lunardi Rule” – to be considered.

16-Team Bracket

In this exhibition, the committee selects and seeds the 16 available groups. There are no qualifiers, although all non-competitors receive a designated portion.

In order to maintain a national perspective, participation in conferences is limited to four groups. And no region will have more than one group from one conference.