March Madness 2016 Bracket: NCAA College Basketball Tournament Dates, Schedules And Challenges

By Mark Aserit
NCAA
Villanova Wildcats will face Oklahoma Sooners for NCAA Final Four March Madness

 March Madness is now here. But before we can fill out the brackets, the field of 68 has to be revealed. Twelve teams have already booked their tickets to the Big Dance by winning their conference tournaments, and another 20 teams will do so by Sunday.

March Madness can be considered as the second-biggest sporting event in the country behind the Super Bowl. The exciting matchups on the tournament will take place weeks from now at the Final Four and the national championship game. Also, fans hope their school will play at the much-anticipated NCAA basketball tournament.

Now, let's check out what sports analysts have say about the upcoming college basketball tournament and schedules.

After Oregon State defeated Arizona State on Wednesday night, ESPN's Joe Lunardi included the Beavers in his field of 68, acquiring one of the last four byes on his bracket. Lunardi also listed the Beavers 10th seed in the East region, playing in St. Louis. The last four in of Lunardi are St. Bonaventure, Pittsburgh, Saint Mary's and Monmouth, while his first four out are Tulsa, Syracuse, Connecticut and Valparaiso.

On other hand, Jerry Palm from CBS Sports said Oregon State Beavers is No. 8 seed in the West region, also playing in St. Louis. Furthermore, his latest bracketology has Connecticut, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati and Tulsa as the last four in. His last four out are George Washington, Michigan, Monmouth, and Wichita State.

 For Chris Dobbertean of SBNation.com, his first four are Wichita State, St. Bonaventure, Monmouth and VCU, and the first four out are Tulsa, Saint Mary's, Syracuse and Valparaiso

Bleacher Report predicted that top seeds are highly likely to include Villanova in the East, Michigan State in the West, Virginia in the South and Kansas in the Midwest.

Sports columnist Steve Silverman said all of those teams have a huge chance to win games and advance to the Sweet 16. However just like previous years, there could be major shocker if underdog teams beat the top-seeded teams.

The top-ranked Villanova (27-4) may be one of the most interesting teams to watch. The team has a 33-3 standing last year when it was defeated in the round of 32 by North Carolina State.

Check out the NCAA Tournament TV Coverage schedule below:

March 15-16

truTV will broadcast the First Round games

March 17-20

TNT, TruTV, TBS, CBS will broadcast the First-Second Round games

March 24-25

TBS, CBS will broadcast the Sweet 16 games

March 26-27

TBS, CBS will broadcast the Elite 8 games

April 2

TBS will broadcast the Final Four games

April 4

TBS will broadcast the Championship Game

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.

Top Stories