NCAA Basketball Tournament Fast Facts

CNN Editorial Research

Updated 1732 GMT (0132 HKT) October 7, 2021

Michael Jordan of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill takes the game-winning shot to beat Georgetown 63-62 in the final of the NCAA tournament in New Orleans on March 29, 1982.
Photos: Memorable March Madness moments
Memorable March Madness moments – Michael Jordan of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill takes the game-winning shot to beat Georgetown 63-62 in the final of the NCAA tournament in New Orleans on March 29, 1982.
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Christian Laettner of Duke University shoots the game-winning shot with 2.1 seconds remaining to beat Kentucky 104-103 in overtime during the tournament on March 28, 1992, in Philadelphia.
Photos: Memorable March Madness moments
Memorable March Madness moments – Christian Laettner of Duke University shoots the game-winning shot with 2.1 seconds remaining to beat Kentucky 104-103 in overtime during the tournament on March 28, 1992, in Philadelphia.
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Lorenzo Charles' dunk at the buzzer gave North Carolina State a stunning upset victory over Houston in the 1983 championship game.
Photos: Memorable March Madness moments
Memorable March Madness moments – Lorenzo Charles' dunk at the buzzer gave North Carolina State a stunning upset victory over Houston in the 1983 championship game.
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From left, Gordon Hayward, Ronald Nored, Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard of the Butler Bulldogs celebrate after defeating the Murray State Racers 54-52 in the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament on March 20, 2010, in San Jose, California. Butler went on to advance to the Final Four for the first time in the school's history, but they were defeated by Duke 61-59.
Photos: Memorable March Madness moments
Memorable March Madness moments – From left, Gordon Hayward, Ronald Nored, Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard of the Butler Bulldogs celebrate after defeating the Murray State Racers 54-52 in the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament on March 20, 2010, in San Jose, California. Butler went on to advance to the Final Four for the first time in the school's history, but they were defeated by Duke 61-59.
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The Villanova Wildcats celebrate after Scottie Reynolds made the game-winning shot to beat the Pittsburgh Panthers 78-76 during the East Regionals of the tournament on March 28, 2009, in Boston.
Photos: Memorable March Madness moments
Memorable March Madness moments – The Villanova Wildcats celebrate after Scottie Reynolds made the game-winning shot to beat the Pittsburgh Panthers 78-76 during the East Regionals of the tournament on March 28, 2009, in Boston.
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Jason Williams of Duke drives to the basket for a layup against Maryland during the semifinal tournament game at the Metrodome in Minneapolis on March 31, 2001. Duke overcame a 22-point deficit at one point to beat Maryland 95-84 and advance to the championship game.
Photos: Memorable March Madness moments
Memorable March Madness moments – Jason Williams of Duke drives to the basket for a layup against Maryland during the semifinal tournament game at the Metrodome in Minneapolis on March 31, 2001. Duke overcame a 22-point deficit at one point to beat Maryland 95-84 and advance to the championship game.
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Bryce Drew of the Valparaiso Crusaders talks to father and coach Homer Drew during a Midwest Regional game against the Florida State Seminoles in the second round of the tournament in Oklahoma City on March 15, 1998. Drew sunk a three-pointer with seconds to go to beat the Seminoles 83-77.
Photos: Memorable March Madness moments
Memorable March Madness moments – Bryce Drew of the Valparaiso Crusaders talks to father and coach Homer Drew during a Midwest Regional game against the Florida State Seminoles in the second round of the tournament in Oklahoma City on March 15, 1998. Drew sunk a three-pointer with seconds to go to beat the Seminoles 83-77.
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From left, UCLA players J.R. Henderson, Tyus Edney and Toby Bailey celebrate after beating UConn 102-96 in the NCAA West Regional final in Oakland, California, on March 25, 1995. UCLA went on to take the title by defeating Arkansas 89-78.
Photos: Memorable March Madness moments
Memorable March Madness moments – From left, UCLA players J.R. Henderson, Tyus Edney and Toby Bailey celebrate after beating UConn 102-96 in the NCAA West Regional final in Oakland, California, on March 25, 1995. UCLA went on to take the title by defeating Arkansas 89-78.
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Tate George of the UConn Huskies sinks the game-winning shot at the buzzer to beat Clemson 71-70 on March 22, 1990, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, moving them to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1964.
Photos: Memorable March Madness moments
Memorable March Madness moments – Tate George of the UConn Huskies sinks the game-winning shot at the buzzer to beat Clemson 71-70 on March 22, 1990, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, moving them to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1964.
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(CNN)Here's a look at the NCAA Men's Basketball and Women's Basketball Tournaments. The single-elimination tournament is nicknamed "March Madness" or "The Big Dance."

2021 NCAA Men's and Women's Finals

April 5, 2021 - Men's Finals - The Baylor Bears defeat the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70. This is Baylor's first men's NCAA basketball title.
April 4, 2021 - Women's Finals - The Stanford Cardinal defeats the Arizona Wildcats 54-53. This is Stanford's third national title and first since 1992.

Men's Selection Process

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68 teams are invited to compete.
- 32 teams receive automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments.
- 36 teams receive an at-large bid from the NCAA Selection Committee.
The 12-member selection committee, comprised of athletic directors and conference commissioners, is responsible for selecting the 36 at-large teams, seeding (or ranking) all 68 teams and placing them in one of four regions within the bracket. The committee's field of 68 is revealed on the Sunday before the four first-round games, appropriately dubbed "Selection Sunday."
The selection process is based on many factors including win-loss record, strength of schedule and NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) data.

Women's Selection Process

64 teams are invited to compete.
- 32 teams receive automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments.
- 32 teams receive an at-large bid from the NCAA Selection Committee.
Similar to the men's selection process, a 10-member selection committee chooses the 32 at-large teams, seeding (or ranking) all 64 teams and placing them in one of four regions within the bracket. (There will be 12 members starting in the 2021-2022 season.) The committee's field of 64 is revealed on "Selection Monday," the day before the four first-round games.
The selection process is based on many factors including win-loss record, strength of schedule and NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) data.
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