The race is on for the crown of college hoops, as the full 68-team lineup for the 2024 NCAA Tournament has been dropped, with Arizona teams Grand Canyon and Arizona Wildcats making the cut. According to 12news, the Arizona Wildcats, snagging the No. 2 seed in the west, are set to clash with the No. 15 seed Long Beach State on March 21 in Salt Lake City, while the Grand Canyon Lopes, a No. 12 seed, will battle it out against the fifth-seeded St. Mary's Gaels on March 22.
Arizona finished up regular season strong with a 24-7 record, barreling through the rankings and clinching the Pac-12 Championship. However, Oregon dashed their hopes in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals. Long Beach State, on the other hand, surprised everyone by parting ways with head coach Dan Monson before winning a ticket to the dance with a Big West Tournament win. As reported by 12news, this marks a potentially fiery matchup given the historical 8-0 winning streak the Wildcats hold over Long Beach State.
The Grand Canyon Lopes come off a stellar 27-4 season, continuing to impress with a back-to-back Western Athletic Conference Tournament win. St. Mary's, mirrored in success with its regular and tournament West Coast Conference crowns, looks to bring their A-game following a 10-day break since their last play. Grand Canyon hopes history doesn't repeat itself in this rare rematch; their only previous encounter ended in a win for the Gaels, according to 12news.
NCAA.com highlights the full schedule for this year's tournament, tipping-off with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, on March 19-20. The games will then let loose with the first round from March 21-22, followed by a swift swing into the second round on March 23-24. The tournament drills on down the road to the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight from March 28-31, leading to the final showdowns at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, including the championship game on April 8.
For those yearning to fill out brackets and follow every jump shot and buzzer-beater, a printable version is available, ensuring fans won't miss a single play. Cast eyes on NCAA.com for the game-by-game skinney, and to catch live streams of every hardwood battle on the road to glory. Grand Canyon and Arizona's quests for national prominence are set, let the madness commence.
