NCAA: All of tourney in Indiana
The NCAA is giving Indiana an exclusive ticket to showcase March Madness and the basketball- crazed state can’t wait to take center stage this spring.
The NCAA announced Monday that its showcase event — the Division I men’s basketball tournament, all 67 games of it — will be played entirely in or near Indianapolis. The hope is to limit the possibility that the coronavirus pandemic cancels the tournament for a second consecutive season.
“There are a number of world- class facilities in a close location and that was critical because you have to run a large number of games simultaneously that you can manage and control,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said.
Indy was already scheduled to host the Final Four and it didn’t take long for the city to emerge as the favorite.
Instead, the buzzer- beaters and jaw- dropping performances will all take place in a state known more than any other for its love of basketball.
Logistically, Indy made sense, too.
Dozens of restaurants of hotels are within walking distance of Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Colts, and Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the NBA’s Pacers and WNBA’s Fever.
Hinkle Fieldhouse, the historic home of the Butler Bulldogs, and the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, where the IUPUI Jaguars play, are just short drives from the downtown area. Mackey Arena at Purdue and Assembly Hall at Indiana also are about an hour’s drive from downtown.
All of those venues are slated to host games.
Selection Sunday is still set for March 14, the tourney field is expected to remain at 68 and the Final Four games are still scheduled for April 3 with the title game two days later.
NCAA officials said a limited number of family members of players and coaches can attend games, but they will consult local and state public health officials to determine final attendance.