The highly anticipated day, known as Selection Sunday, has finally arrived after several months of suspense. The initial fervor of the 2025 NCAA men’s tournament will be felt on Tuesday, kicking off with the First Four. The excitement continues to build until the official commencement of March Madness on March 16 when the selection committees unfold the NCAA tournament brackets for both men’s and women’s teams.
The complete roster of the men’s teams selected for the tournament will be disclosed at 6 pm ET. Following closely on its heels, the selection for women’s teams will also be presented. The NCAA tournament’s matches, however, won’t be seen in action on the court until March 18, even though Selection Sunday marks the official start of the tournament.
Here’s an overview of how the 2025 March Madness men’s schedule stands: The much-awaited Selection Sunday is set at 6 pm ET, occurring on Sunday, March 16. The introductory First Four will be taking place across the dates of March 18-19. What follows next are the series of games that will determine which teams make it further into the tournament.
The first round of matches is dated for March 20 through March 21. The second round, drawing us a step closer to the final stages, is arranged for March 22-23. The following set of rounds, named the Sweet 16, will happen on March 27 and March 28 respectively.
Next in line, we have the Elite Eight slotted for March 29-30. The penultimate round, known as the Final Four, is slated for April 5, with games held at San Antonio’s renowned Alamodome. The long trek to the top culminates with the NCAA championship game, due to take place on April 7 also at Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Pivoting to the women’s schedule for March Madness in 2025, Selection Sunday is programmed for 8 pm ET on March 16, serving as the platform for the announcement of the teams set to battle through the tournament. The First Four series, marking the actual start of the matches, falls on March 19 and March 20.
The first round for the women’s teams is scheduled for March 21, and extends through March 22. The second round will take place on March 23 and March 24, ushering the quarter-finals. This is followed by the Sweet 16, a pivotal milestone in the series, slated for March 28 and March 29.
The Elite Eight, another key tournament phase, comes next on the schedule, penciled in for March 30 and March 31. The semi-final, otherwise regarded as the Final Four, will happen on Friday, April 4, featuring a few selected teams going head-to-head at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
The tournament journey concludes with the proudest moment — the NCAA championship game. The climax intensifies as the final two contenders will stride onto the court of Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida, aiming for victory on Sunday, April 6.