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2020 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

{{Short description|Edition of USA college basketball tournament}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}

{{Infobox NCAA basketball tournament

| Year = 2020

| Image = 2020 NCAA Men's Final Four logo.svg

| Teams = 68 (planned)

| FinalFourArena = Mercedes-Benz Stadium

| FinalFourCity = Atlanta, Georgia

| Canceled = Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

}}

The 2020 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was a planned single-elimination tournament of 68 teams to determine the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's college basketball national champion for the 2019–20 season. The 82nd edition of the tournament would have begun on March 17, 2020, and concluded with the championship game on April 6 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

On March 12, the tournament, as well as all other NCAA championships for the remainder of the academic year, were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, just five days before it was set to begin. It was the first time the tournament had been canceled since its creation in 1939. Four years later in 2024, Atlanta successfully bid for the right to host the 2031 tournament in lieu of the canceled event.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/41046358/final-four-back-atlanta-2031-2020-cancellation|title=Final Four back to Atlanta in 2031 after 2020 cancellation|author=Associated Press|date=August 29, 2024|access-date=October 30, 2024}}

COVID-19 impact and cancelation

{{See also|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports}}

The timing of the tournament coincided with the wider spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. On March 10, the Ivy League announced it had canceled the conference's tournament, and would award its championship and automatic qualification to Yale based on regular season records. Harvard University was scheduled to host the event at Lavietes Pavilion in Boston on March 14 and 15.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28877858/ivy-league-cancels-conference-basketball-tournaments-coronavirus|title=Ivy League cancels conference basketball tournaments because of coronavirus|date=March 10, 2020|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=March 27, 2020}} Some conferences subsequently announced they would go on with their tournaments while holding their games behind closed doors with no outside spectators and limited attendance, especially on March 11 (when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic).{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2020/03/11/ncaa-tournament-fans-banned-due-to-coronavirus-concerns/5024027002/|title=NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments will not include fans due to coronavirus concerns|last=Schad|first=Tom|date=March 11, 2020|website=USA Today|access-date=March 11, 2020}}

The NCAA subsequently announced it would go on with its winter-sport championships, including its basketball tournaments, with attendance limited to essential staff and family members. Some venues (such as those in Ohio and California) enacted further local numerical restrictions on the numbers of those who could attend an event, which the NCAA agreed to respect.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2020/03/11/ncaa-tournament-fans-banned-due-to-coronavirus-concerns/5024027002/|title=NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments will not include fans due to coronavirus concerns|author=Tom Schad|date=March 11, 2020|publisher=USA Today|access-date=March 11, 2020}} Reports also stated that for practicality reasons, the NCAA was considering re-locating some of the later rounds (including the regional finals and the Final Four, the latter scheduled to be held at the 71,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium) to smaller venues within the same host cities.{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2020/03/11/march-madness-2020-could-change-final-four-venue-amid-coronavirus-crisis/|title=March Madness 2020 could change Final Four venue amid coronavirus crisis|last=Terranova|first=Justin|date=March 11, 2020|website=New York Post|language=en|access-date=March 12, 2020}} Construction of the Final Four tournament in Mercedes-Benz Stadium would have started on March 23.{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/here-how-mercedes-benz-stadium-will-look-final-four-venue/xfOq9NmOZJrTn9zd9Y9NZI/|title=Here’s how Mercedes-Benz Stadium will look as Final Four venue|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|last=Tucker|first=Tim|date=January 16, 2020|access-date=October 30, 2024}}

On March 11, hours after the WHO's pandemic declaration, the NBA suspended its regular season after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert was diagnosed with COVID-19.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ncaa-medical-chief-says-testing-shortage-threatens-march-madness-11584030721|title=The Day Sports Shut Down|date=March 12, 2020|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=March 28, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}} On the same night, Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg fell visibly ill during a game in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. There were initial fears that Hoiberg had COVID-19, but he was ultimately diagnosed with influenza A. The following day, due in part to Gobert's diagnosis and Hoiberg's health scare,{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28908157/inside-unprecedented-48-hours-shut-ncaa-sports|title='It was like a movie': What led the NCAA to shut down competition|publisher=ESPN|date=March 17, 2020}} all conferences that had not yet concluded tournament play announced they would be scrapping their tournaments. Many of them had announced they would play without fans, but it was decided to scrap play altogether. With the decision to cancel the 2020 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament, all games that had yet to be played in the basketball season were cancelled, while the Big East called off its tournament at halftime during a quarter-final game between Creighton and St. John's. Most major conferences also announced suspensions of all athletics to varying degrees.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28891602/big-ten-sec-american-cancel-conference-tournaments|title=Power 5 leagues cancel conference tournaments; ACC, Pac-12 halt all athletics|date=March 12, 2020|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=March 28, 2020}} Later in the day, the NCAA announced the tournament would be canceled, along with all remaining winter and spring championships for the academic year.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/ncaa-cancels-remaining-winter-and-spring-championships|title=NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships|date=March 12, 2020|website=NCAA.org|language=en|access-date=March 28, 2020}}

The NCAA had not ruled out publishing what would have been its at-large selections and bracket.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/ncaa-weighing-release-of-68-team-bracket-despite-cancellation-of-2020-ncaa-tournament-over-coronavirus/|title=NCAA weighing release of 68-team bracket despite cancellation of 2020 NCAA Tournament over coronavirus|website=CBSSports.com|date=March 13, 2020 |language=en|access-date=March 13, 2020}} Vice president of men's basketball Dan Gavitt told the Associated Press that he had proposed holding a shortened, 16-team tournament in Atlanta (split between State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium) as an alternative, with all participants chosen by the selection committee, before the decision was made to cancel the entire tournament due to Rudy Gobert's diagnosis.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/e8f45446377951f539c6be58294ec0f6|title=AP Exclusive: Inside NCAA's attempt to save March Madness|date=March 13, 2020|work=Associated Press News|access-date=March 13, 2020}} The NCAA ultimately decided against releasing any brackets, with Gavitt stating, "Brackets based on hypotheticals can’t substitute for a complete selection, seeding and bracketing process."{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2020-03-15/ncaas-gavitt-basketball-championship-brackets-will-not-be|title=NCAA's Gavitt: Basketball championship brackets will not be released for 2020|website=www.ncaa.com|language=en|access-date=March 21, 2020}}

As part of a cycle that began in 2016, TBS was scheduled to televise the 2020 Final Four and national championship game.{{cite web |title=CBS Sports and Turner Sports announce 2020 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship commentator teams |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2020-03-10/cbs-sports-and-turner-sports-announce-2020-ncaa-division-i |publisher=NCAA |access-date=March 10, 2020 |date=March 10, 2020 }} CBS was scheduled to televise the selection show.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2020/03/03/ncaa-tournament-selection-sunday-show-cbs-reveal-brackets-first/4942393002/|title=CBS will stick with popular brackets-first format for NCAA tournament Selection Sunday show|last=Gleeson|first=Scott|website=USA Today|language=en-US|access-date=March 5, 2020}} CBS Sports and Turner Sports announced on March 16 that all technicians and utility staff who were expected to work the NCAA March Madness coverage would still be paid.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2020/03/16/cbs-sports-will-pay-all-march-madness-technicians-and-utilities-including-freelancers/|title=CBS Sports, Turner Sports Will Pay All March Madness Techs and Utilities, Including Freelancers|last=Digital|first=Brandon Costa, Director of|website=Sports Video Group|date=March 16, 2020 |language=en|access-date=March 17, 2020}} Radio rightsholder Westwood One announced plans to offer encores of radio broadcasts from classic NCAA tournament games—accompanied by interviews with notable figures from the respective games—to fill the time slots it had originally devoted to the tournament.{{Cite web|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/ncaa/westwood-one-will-air-classic-ncaa-tournament-games-in-its-normal-tournament-windows.html|title=Westwood One will air classic NCAA Tournament games in its normal tournament windows|date=March 18, 2020|website=Awful Announcing|language=en-US|access-date=March 18, 2020}} CBS similarly announced on March 19 that it would also air nine classic Final Four games across the weekend afternoons of March 21, 22, and 29.{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2020/03/20/cbs-giving-fans-march-madness-fix-of-classic-games/|title=CBS giving fans March Madness fix of classic games|last=Joyce|first=Greg|date=March 20, 2020|website=New York Post|language=en|access-date=March 20, 2020}}

Originally scheduled dates, venues, and television coverage

{{Location map+|USA|width=450|float=right|caption=2020 First Four (orange) and first and second rounds (green)|places=

{{Location map~|USA|mark=orange pog.svg|lat_deg=39.7404|lon_deg=-84.1792|position=left|background=#FFFFFF|label=Dayton|link=UD Arena}}

{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=27.950575|lon_deg=-82.457178|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label=Tampa|link=Amalie Arena}}

{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=42.652579|lon_deg=-73.756232|position=left|background=#FFFFFF|label=Albany|link=Times Union Center}}

{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=47.666222|lon_deg=-117.422778|position=left|background=#FFFFFF|label=Spokane|link=Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena}}

{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=38.626667|lon_deg=-90.2025|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label=St. Louis|link=Enterprise Center}}

{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=38.5556|lon_deg=-121.4689|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label=Sacramento|link=Golden 1 Center}}

{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=41.496389|lon_deg=-81.688056|position=right|background=#FFFFFF|label=Cleveland|link=Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse}}

{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=36.059722|lon_deg=-79.825556|position=right|background=#FFFFFF|label=Greensboro|link=Greensboro Coliseum}}

{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=41.262667|lon_deg=-95.928206|position=left|background=#FFFFFF|label=Omaha|link=CHI Health Center Omaha}}

}}

{{Location map+|USA|width=450|float=right|caption=2020 Regionals (blue) and Final Four (red)|places=

{{Location map~|USA|mark=blue pog.svg|lat_deg=39.7667|lon_deg=-86.15|position=left|background=#FFFFFF|label=Indianapolis|link=Lucas Oil Stadium}}

{{Location map~|USA|mark=blue pog.svg|lat_deg=34.043056|lon_deg=-118.267222|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label=Los Angeles|link=Staples Center}}

{{Location map~|USA|mark=blue pog.svg|lat_deg=40.750556|lon_deg=-73.993611|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label=New York City|link=Madison Square Garden}}

{{Location map~|USA|mark=blue pog.svg|lat_deg=29.684722|lon_deg=-95.410833|position=top|background=#FFFFFF|label=Houston|link=Toyota Center}}

{{Location map~|USA|mark=red pog.svg|lat_deg=33.748995|lon_deg=-84.387982|position=left|background=#FFFFFF|label=Atlanta|link=Mercedes-Benz Stadium}}

}}

Prior to cancellation, fourteen venues had been scheduled to host games in the 2020 tournament:{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.org/championships/future-division-i-mens-basketball-championship-sites|date=April 21, 2017|publisher=NCAA|title=Future Division I Men's Basketball Championship sites}}

First Four

First and Second Rounds

Regional semifinals and finals (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight)

National semifinals and championship (Final Four and championship)

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center;"
Television channels, studio hosts, studio analysts, and commentary teams
style="vertical-align: top;"

|

  • First Four – TruTV
  • First and Second Rounds – CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV
  • Regional semifinals and final (Sweet Sixteen & Elite Eight) – CBS and TBS
  • National semifinals (Final Four) and championship – TBS
Studio hosts
style="vertical-align: top;"

|

  • Greg Gumbel (New York City and Atlanta) – First round, second round, Regionals, Final Four and National Championship Game
  • Ernie Johnson (New York City and Atlanta) – First round, second round, Regional Semi-Finals, Final Four and National Championship Game
  • Adam Zucker (Atlanta) – First Four, first round and Second Round
  • Adam Lefkoe - First round and Second Round (Game Breaks)
Studio analysts
style="vertical-align: top;"

|

  • Charles Barkley (New York City and Atlanta) – First round, second round, Regionals, Final Four and National Championship Game
  • Seth Davis (Atlanta) – First Four, first round, second round, Regional Semi-Finals, Final Four and National Championship Game
  • Brendan Haywood (Atlanta) – First Four, first round, second round and Regional Semi-Finals
  • Clark Kellogg (New York City and Atlanta) – First round, second round, Regionals, Final Four and National Championship Game
  • Candace Parker (Atlanta) – First Four, first round, second round and Regional Semi-Finals
  • Kenny Smith (New York City and Atlanta) – First round, second round, Regionals, Final Four and National Championship Game
  • Gene Steratore (New York City and Atlanta) (Rules Analyst) – First Four, first round, second round, Regionals, Final Four and National Championship Game
  • Dwyane Wade (Atlanta) – Final Four and National Championship Game
Commentary teams
style="vertical-align: top;"

|

Automatic qualifiers

Twelve teams had automatically qualified for the 2020 NCAA field by virtue of winning their conference's tournament.

All conference tournaments that had not been completed were cancelled, the majority without naming an automatic qualifier. Teams with a † next to their names were named automatic qualifiers by their conferences after their tournament was cancelled.

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

!scope="col"|Conference

!scope="col"|Team

!scope="col" data-sort-type="number"|Record

!scope="col" data-sort-type="number"|Appearance

!scope="col"|Last bid

colspan="5"|Tournament completed
align=left|ASUN

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Liberty

|30–4

|5th

|2019

align=left|Big South

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Winthrop

|24–10

|11th

|2017

align=left|Colonial

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Hofstra

|26–8

|5th

|2001

align=left|Horizon

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Northern Kentucky

|23–9

|3rd

|2019

align=left|Missouri Valley

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Bradley

|23–11

|10th

|2019

align=left|Mountain West

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Utah State

|26–8

|22nd

|2019

align=left|NEC

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Robert Morris

|20–14

|9th

|2015

align=left|Ohio Valley

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Belmont

|26–7

|9th

|2019

align=left|Patriot League

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Boston University

|21–13

|8th

|2011

align=left|Southern

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|East Tennessee State

|30–4

|11th

|2017

align=left|Summit League

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|North Dakota State

|25–8

|5th

|2019

align=left|WCC

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Gonzaga

|31–2

|23rd

|2019

colspan="5"|Cancelled during final round
align=left|America East

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Vermont †{{cite web|url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/sports/college/vermont/2020/03/12/america-east-basketball-restricted-attendance-title-game-uvm-amid-covid-19-concerns/5030220002/ |title=America East championship, NCAA Tournament canceled amid COVID-19 concerns |access-date=March 12, 2020}}

|26–7

|8th

|2019

colspan="5"|Cancelled during semifinals
align=left|Ivy League

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Yale †{{cite web|url=https://www.nhregister.com/colleges/article/Ivy-League-tournament-canceled-Yale-men-receive-15119860.php |title=Ivy League tournament canceled, Yale men receive automatic NCAA bid |last=Fuller |first=Jim |date=March 10, 2020 |website=NHRegister.com|publisher=New Haven Register |access-date=March 13, 2020}}

|23–7

|6th

|2019

align=left|SWAC

| colspan="4"| No automatic bid awarded

colspan="5"|Cancelled during quarterfinals
align=left|ACC

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Florida State †{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2020-acc-tournament-canceled-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-concerns/live/ |title=2020 ACC Tournament canceled amid coronavirus pandemic concerns |last=Boone |first=Kyle |date=March 12, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |access-date=March 13, 2020}}

|26–5

|18th

|2019

align=left|Big 12

| colspan="4"| No automatic bid awarded

align=left|Big East

| colspan="4"| No automatic bid awarded

align=left|Big Sky

| colspan="4"| No automatic bid awarded

align=left|Big Ten

| colspan="4"| No automatic bid awarded

align=left|Big West

| colspan="4"| No automatic bid awarded

align=left|C-USA

| colspan="4"| No automatic bid awarded

align=left|MAAC

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Siena †{{cite news |url=https://maacsports.com/tournaments/?id=1577&path=mbkb |title=2020 MAAC Men's Basketball Championship |access-date=March 12, 2020}}

|20–10

|7th

|2010

align=left|MAC

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"| Akron †{{cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4HJQ5caDz4&feature=youtu.be |title=MAC Tournament Press Conference: March 12, 2020 |access-date=March 12, 2020}}

|24–7

|5th

|2013

align=left|MEAC

| colspan="4"| No automatic bid awarded

align=left|Pac-12

| colspan="4"| No automatic bid awarded

align=left|Southland

| colspan="4"| No automatic bid awarded

align=left|Sun Belt

| colspan="4"| No automatic bid awarded

align=left|WAC

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"| New Mexico State †{{cite news|url=https://twitter.com/WACsports/status/1238132722620493824/photo/1 |title=WAC Official Statement |access-date=March 12, 2020}}

|25–6

|23rd

|2019

colspan="5"|Cancelled during an earlier round
align=left|American

| colspan="4"| No automatic bid awarded

align=left|Atlantic 10

| colspan="4"| No automatic bid awarded

align=left|SEC

!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Kentucky †{{cite web |title=SEC cancels remainder of Men's Basketball Tournament |url=https://www.secsports.com/article/28891598/sec-cancels-remainder-men-basketball-tournament |website=SECSports.com}}

|25–6

|60th

|2019

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament navbox}}

{{2020 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament navbox}}

{{2019–20 NCAA Division I championships navbox}}

Ncaa tournament

Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

Category:Basketball in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:College sports in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:2020 in Atlanta

NCAA tournament