Selection Sunday is one of the most exciting days in college basketball. It marks the official start of March Madness, the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments. Fans, players, and analysts eagerly await the bracket reveal to see which teams will compete for the national championship. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
What Is Selection Sunday?
Selection Sunday is the day when the NCAA Tournament selection committee announces the full tournament field for both the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. This includes the 68 teams for the men’s tournament and 68 teams for the women’s tournament. The announcement takes place on a nationally televised special, where teams learn their seeding, matchups, and regional placements.
On March 16, 2025, Selection Sunday coverage will begin at 6 p.m. ET on CBS. During the broadcast, both brackets will be revealed, along with the full schedule for both tournaments.
How Does the Selection Process Work?
The NCAA Tournament field is made up of two groups of teams:
- Automatic Bids – 32 teams earn automatic bids by winning their respective conference tournaments. The women’s conference tournaments begin first, followed by the men’s tournaments, which start this week.
- At-Large Bids – 36 teams (for the men’s tournament) and 36 teams (for the women’s tournament) are selected by the NCAA selection committee based on performance metrics, strength of schedule, quality wins, and advanced analytics such as the NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) rankings.
Once all conference tournament winners are finalized, the NCAA selection committees determine the at-large berths to complete both tournament brackets.
How Are Teams Seeded?
Once the 68 teams are selected, they are seeded from 1 to 16 in four different regions, forming the tournament bracket. The top four overall teams receive No. 1 seeds in each region. The selection committee also considers geography and competitive balance when assigning teams to regions. Higher-seeded teams face lower-seeded teams in the first round, giving them a theoretical advantage.
What Are the First Four Games?
The tournament doesn’t officially start until a few days after Selection Sunday. It begins with the First Four, a set of play-in games held on the Tuesday and Wednesday following Selection Sunday. These games feature the four lowest-seeded at-large teams and the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers. The winners advance to the main 64-team bracket.
What Makes It Important?
Selection Sunday is vital because it dictates the entire tournament landscape. Teams anxiously await their placements, while fans fill out brackets and analyze matchups. The bracket reveal also sparks intense debate over upsets, surprises, and controversial seedings. Once the selections are made, it’s time for fans to predict their picks and decide who they think will reach the Final Four.
The tradition of Selection Sunday dates back to the early years of the NCAA Tournament, but it became a widely publicized event with the rise of television coverage in the 1980s. Over time, the selection process has evolved, incorporating advanced metrics and technology to improve fairness and accuracy.
What to Watch for on Selection Sunday
- Bubble Teams – Every year, a handful of teams are on the edge of making the tournament. These “bubble teams” anxiously wait to see if they are included.
- Bracketology Predictions – Analysts provide their upsets predictions leading up to Selection Sunday, but surprises always happen.
- Cinderella Teams – Mid-major programs that earn at-large bids can become Cinderella stories in March Madness, making Selection Sunday crucial for their tournament hopes.
- Toughest Regions – Some regions may have multiple powerhouse programs, creating a “group of death” scenario.
The NCAA Selection Show is broadcast on CBS for the men’s tournament and ESPN for the women’s tournament. Fans can also find the bracket reveal online with ESPN or NCAA.
Selection Sunday is the gateway to March Madness, setting the stage for one of the most thrilling tournaments in sports. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual viewer filling out a bracket, understanding how Selection Sunday works enhances the experience.
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