The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is held each spring featuring 65 of the top college basketball teams in the United States. The 20-day tournament, colloquially known as "March Madness" or the Big Dance, has become one of the country's most prominent sports events. Basketball Basketball is a ball sport in which two teams of five players each try to score points by throwing a ball through a hoop. ... The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America, the States, or (archaically) Columbia—is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii). ... March Madness is a popular colloquial term for the process of deciding the annual champion of NCAA collegiate basketball in the United States. ...

The tournament, whose field includes regional conference champions and other top teams, is staged in a single elimination format. Since its 1939 inception, it has built a legacy that includes dynasty teams and dramatic underdog stories. In recent years, friendly wagering on the event has become something of a national pastime, spawning countless "office pools" that attract expert fans and novices alike. A tournament is an organized competition in which many participants play each other in individual games. ... An underdog is a party in a competition, frequently in electoral politics or sports, who is popularly expected to lose. ... Gambling (or betting) is any behavior involving the risk of money or valuables on the outcome of a game, contest, or other event in which the outcome of that activity is partially or totally dependent upon chance. ...

The tournament bracket is made up of champions from each Division I conference, which receive automatic bids. The remaining slots are at-large berths, with teams chosen by an NCAA selection committee. The selection process and tournament seedings are based on several factors, including team rankings, win-loss records and RPI data. Bracketology is a slang term for predicting the field of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. ... Division I is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States. ... Commonly known as RPI, the Ratings Percentage Index is a rating system where NCAA basketball teams are ranked. ...

The two lowest-seeded teams (usually the teams below .500 & the SWAC champion) play a pre-tournament game to determine which will advance into the first round of the tournament. This play-in game was added in 2001 and has been played in Dayton, Ohio each subsequent year. 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dayton, Ohio Dayton is the county seat of Montgomery County, Ohio. ...

A Most Outstanding Player honor is awarded by the Associated Press at the end of each tournament. At the conclusion of the NCAA mens and womens Division I basketball championships (the Final Four tournaments), the Associated Press selects a Most Outstanding Player. ... Associated Press logo The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency that claims to be the worlds oldest and largest. ...

See also: Division II, Division III The NCAA holds an annual tournament to determine the Division III Mens Basketball Championship. ...

Winners of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship

University of Oregon The University of Oregon (UO) is located in Eugene. ... This article is about Ohio State; there is also an Ohio University. ... Indiana University Bloomington is the principal campus of the Indiana University system. ... Seal of The University of Kansas The University of Kansas (often referred to as KU) is an institution of higher learning located in Lawrence, Kansas. ... Plaque on Bascom Hall, UW-Madison. ... Washington State University Bryan clock tower Washington State University (also referred to as WSU or Wazzu) is a public research university in Pullman, Washington. ... (The wind of freedom blows. ... For other places called Dartmouth, see Dartmouth Dartmouth College is a private university in Hanover, New Hampshire, and a member of the Ivy League. ... Categories: Land-grant universities | Universities and colleges in Wyoming | University stubs ... Georgetown University Georgetown University is a prestigious Catholic university in Georgetown, a neighborhood of Washington, DC, United States. ... The University of Utah (also The U or the U of U) opened under the name University of Deseret (see also University of Deseret) in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 28, 1850, only to be closed two years later for financial reasons. ... For other places called Dartmouth, see Dartmouth Dartmouth College is a private university in Hanover, New Hampshire, and a member of the Ivy League. ... Oklahoma State University Oklahoma State University, located in Stillwater, OK, is a institution of higher learning founded in 1890 as a land-grant university, known as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (Oklahoma A&M). ... New York University (NYU) is a large research-oriented university in New York City, and is among the most prestigious post-secondary institutions in the United States. ... Oklahoma State University Oklahoma State University, located in Stillwater, OK, is a institution of higher learning founded in 1890 as a land-grant university, known as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (Oklahoma A&M). ... The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the eleventh-oldest institution of higher education and the oldest public university in the United States. ... The College of the Holy Cross is an exclusively undergraduate college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. Founded by Bishop Benedict Joseph Fenwick as a school for boys under the auspices of the Society of Jesus, it was the first Catholic college in New England. ... The University of Oklahoma (OU) is an institution of higher learning located in Oklahoma. ... The University of Kentucky (also as UK or simply Kentucky) is a public, co-educational university located in Lexington, Kentucky. ... Pat Neff Hall Baylor University is an independent coeducational Baptist institution of higher learning located in Waco, Texas The university holds the distinction as one of the most prestigious institutions in Texas. ... The University of Kentucky (also as UK or simply Kentucky) is a public, co-educational university located in Lexington, Kentucky. ... Oklahoma State University Oklahoma State University, located in Stillwater, OK, is a institution of higher learning founded in 1890 as a land-grant university, known as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (Oklahoma A&M). ... City College of The City University of New York The City College of The City University of New York (known more commonly as the City College of New York or simply City College) is a senior college of the City University of New York, in New York City. ... Bradley University is a private, co-educational university located in Peoria, Illinois. ... The University of Kentucky (also as UK or simply Kentucky) is a public, co-educational university located in Lexington, Kentucky. ... Kansas State University (sometimes referred to as K-State) is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas. ... Seal of The University of Kansas The University of Kansas (often referred to as KU) is an institution of higher learning located in Lawrence, Kansas. ... Saint Johns University is a private coeducational Roman Catholic university in New York City, with its primary campus being located in Jamaica, a neighborhood in the borough of Queens. ... Indiana University Bloomington is the principal campus of the Indiana University system. ... Seal of The University of Kansas The University of Kansas (often referred to as KU) is an institution of higher learning located in Lawrence, Kansas. ... La Salle University is an institution of higher learning located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Bradley University is a private, co-educational university located in Peoria, Illinois. ... University logo The University of San Francisco is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic university in the United States. ... La Salle University is an institution of higher learning located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... University logo The University of San Francisco is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic university in the United States. ... The University of Iowa is a university in Iowa City, Iowa. ... The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the eleventh-oldest institution of higher education and the oldest public university in the United States. ... Seal of The University of Kansas The University of Kansas (often referred to as KU) is an institution of higher learning located in Lawrence, Kansas. ... The University of Kentucky (also as UK or simply Kentucky) is a public, co-educational university located in Lexington, Kentucky. ... Seattle University is a private, co-educational Roman Catholic university in the United States. ... The University of California, Berkeley (also known as Cal, UC Berkeley, UCB, or simply Berkeley) is a prestigious, public, coeducational university situated in the foothills of Berkeley, California to the east of San Francisco Bay, overlooking the Golden Gate and its bridge. ... WVU Mountaineer Mascot statue in front of the Mountainlair Student Union. ... This article is about Ohio State; there is also an Ohio University. ... The University of California, Berkeley (also known as Cal, UC Berkeley, UCB, or simply Berkeley) is a prestigious, public, coeducational university situated in the foothills of Berkeley, California to the east of San Francisco Bay, overlooking the Golden Gate and its bridge. ... The University of Cincinnati is located in Cincinnati, Ohio. ... This article is about Ohio State; there is also an Ohio University. ... The University of Cincinnati is located in Cincinnati, Ohio. ... This article is about Ohio State; there is also an Ohio University. ... Loyola University is located in north Chicagos Rogers Park neighborhood. ... The University of Cincinnati is located in Cincinnati, Ohio. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... Duke University is a private university located in Durham, North Carolina in the United States. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a public coeducational university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ... The University of Texas at El Paso, or UTEP, is part of the University of Texas System. ... The University of Kentucky (also as UK or simply Kentucky) is a public, co-educational university located in Lexington, Kentucky. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... The University of Dayton is a private Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the eleventh-oldest institution of higher education and the oldest public university in the United States. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... Purdue University is a public land-grant university system within the state of Indiana. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... Jacksonville University is a university located in Jacksonville, Florida on the shore of the St. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... Villanova University is a Roman Catholic university in Villanova, Penn. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... Florida State University Seal Florida State University is a public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, known for its programs in fine arts, education, public administration & policy, information studies, international affairs, music, criminology, and nursing. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... The University of Memphis was founded in Memphis, TN in 1912 as the West Tennessee Normal School. ... North Carolina State University Seal North Carolina State University is an institution of higher learning located in Raleigh, North Carolina. ... Marquette University is a private, co-educational Roman Catholic university in the United States. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... The University of Kentucky (also as UK or simply Kentucky) is a public, co-educational university located in Lexington, Kentucky. ... Indiana University Bloomington is the principal campus of the Indiana University system. ... The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a public coeducational university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ... Marquette University is a private, co-educational Roman Catholic university in the United States. ... The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the eleventh-oldest institution of higher education and the oldest public university in the United States. ... The University of Kentucky (also as UK or simply Kentucky) is a public, co-educational university located in Lexington, Kentucky. ... Duke University is a private university located in Durham, North Carolina in the United States. ... Michigan State University is a university in East Lansing, Michigan near the state capital of Lansing. ... Indiana State University Indiana State University is one of the many state-supported universities in Indiana, located in Terre Haute, Indiana. ... The University of Louisville (UofL) is a public, state-supported university located in Louisville, Kentucky. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... Indiana University Bloomington is the principal campus of the Indiana University system. ... The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the eleventh-oldest institution of higher education and the oldest public university in the United States. ... The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the eleventh-oldest institution of higher education and the oldest public university in the United States. ... Georgetown University Georgetown University is a prestigious Catholic university in Georgetown, a neighborhood of Washington, DC, United States. ... North Carolina State University Seal North Carolina State University is an institution of higher learning located in Raleigh, North Carolina. ... Missing image University of Houston logo University of Houston The University of Houston (UH) is a nationally recognized doctoral degree-granting, comprehensive research university located in Houston, Texas and is the third largest university in Texas with a student enrollment of over 35,000. ... Georgetown University Georgetown University is a prestigious Catholic university in Georgetown, a neighborhood of Washington, DC, United States. ... Missing image University of Houston logo University of Houston The University of Houston (UH) is a nationally recognized doctoral degree-granting, comprehensive research university located in Houston, Texas and is the third largest university in Texas with a student enrollment of over 35,000. ... Villanova University is a Roman Catholic university in Villanova, Penn. ... Georgetown University Georgetown University is a prestigious Catholic university in Georgetown, a neighborhood of Washington, DC, United States. ... The University of Louisville (UofL) is a public, state-supported university located in Louisville, Kentucky. ... Duke University is a private university located in Durham, North Carolina in the United States. ... Indiana University Bloomington is the principal campus of the Indiana University system. ... Syracuse University Syracuse University (SU) is an American research university. ... Seal of The University of Kansas The University of Kansas (often referred to as KU) is an institution of higher learning located in Lawrence, Kansas. ... The University of Oklahoma (OU) is an institution of higher learning located in Oklahoma. ... The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a public coeducational university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ... Seton Hall University is a Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey. ... The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a public, coeducational university located in Las Vegas, Nevada. ... Duke University is a private university located in Durham, North Carolina in the United States. ... Duke University is a private university located in Durham, North Carolina in the United States. ... Seal of The University of Kansas The University of Kansas (often referred to as KU) is an institution of higher learning located in Lawrence, Kansas. ... Duke University is a private university located in Durham, North Carolina in the United States. ... The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a public coeducational university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ... The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the eleventh-oldest institution of higher education and the oldest public university in the United States. ... The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a public coeducational university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ... The University of Arkansas (also known as the U. of A. or simply Arkansas) is a public, coeducational, land-grant university system. ... Duke University is a private university located in Durham, North Carolina in the United States. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... The University of Arkansas (also known as the U. of A. or simply Arkansas) is a public, coeducational, land-grant university system. ... The University of Kentucky (also as UK or simply Kentucky) is a public, co-educational university located in Lexington, Kentucky. ... Syracuse University Syracuse University (SU) is an American research university. ... The University of Arizona is an institution of higher learning located in Tucson, Arizona. ... The University of Kentucky (also as UK or simply Kentucky) is a public, co-educational university located in Lexington, Kentucky. ... The University of Kentucky (also as UK or simply Kentucky) is a public, co-educational university located in Lexington, Kentucky. ... The University of Utah (also The U or the U of U) opened under the name University of Deseret (see also University of Deseret) in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 28, 1850, only to be closed two years later for financial reasons. ... The University of Connecticut, commonly known as UConn, is the State of Connecticuts flagship land-grant university. ... Duke University is a private university located in Durham, North Carolina in the United States. ... Michigan State University is a university in East Lansing, Michigan near the state capital of Lansing. ... Century Tower, University of Florida. ... Duke University is a private university located in Durham, North Carolina in the United States. ... The University of Arizona is an institution of higher learning located in Tucson, Arizona. ... The University of Maryland, College Park (also known as UMD or UM, formerly UMCP) is a public coeducational university situated in suburban Maryland just outside Washington, DC. The flagship university of the University System of Maryland, it is commonly referred to as simply the University of Maryland, but the formal... Indiana University Bloomington is the principal campus of the Indiana University system. ... Syracuse University Syracuse University (SU) is an American research university. ... Seal of The University of Kansas The University of Kansas (often referred to as KU) is an institution of higher learning located in Lawrence, Kansas. ... The University of Connecticut, commonly known as UConn, is the State of Connecticuts flagship land-grant university. ... The Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech for short, is a public university in Atlanta, Georgia with over 16,000 students. ... The 2005 NCAA Mens Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of mens NCAA Division I college basketball. ... The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the eleventh-oldest institution of higher education and the oldest public university in the United States. ... Learning & Labor The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, also known as UIUC and the U of I (the officially preferred abbreviation), is the largest campus in the University of Illinois system. ...

Upcoming Final Four championship locations and dates

• 2006 - Indianapolis, RCA Dome, April 1 and 3
• 2007 - Atlanta, Georgia Dome, March 31 and April 2
• 2008 - San Antonio, Alamodome, April 5 and 7
• 2009 - Detroit, Ford Field, April 4 and 6
• 2010 - Indianapolis, RCA Dome, April 3 and 5
• 2011 - Houston, Reliant Stadium, April 2 and 4

The playoff term Final Four was originally popularized to refer to the final four teams in the NCAA Basketball Tournament; these are the champions of the tournaments four regional brackets, and the only teams remaining on the tournaments final weekend. ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Indianapolis skyline Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana. ... The RCA Dome is a domed stadium located in Indianapolis, Indiana. ... 2007 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the state capital of Georgia. ... The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia. ... 2008 is a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Alamo in San Antonio San Antonio is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. ... The Alamodome is an football and basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas. ... 2009 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... City motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes) City nicknames: The Motor City and Motown Location in the state of Michigan Founded July 24, 1701 County Wayne County Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (Dem) Area  - Total  - Water 370. ... Ford Field is a domed American football stadium located in Detroit, Michigan, home to the Detroit Lions. ... 2010 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Indianapolis skyline Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana. ... The RCA Dome is a domed stadium located in Indianapolis, Indiana. ... 2011 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Houston redirects here. ... Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas is the home base for the Houston Texans, a professional NFL football team. ...

Number of championships by school

• UCLA 11
• Kentucky 7
• Indiana 5
• North Carolina 4
• Duke 3
• Cincinnati 2
• Connecticut 2
• Kansas 2
• Louisville 2
• Michigan State 2
• North Carolina State 2
• Oklahoma State 2 (both times as Oklahoma A&M)
• San Francisco 2
• Arizona 1
• Arkansas 1
• California 1
• CCNY 1
• Georgetown 1
• Holy Cross 1
• La Salle 1
• Loyola (Chicago) 1
• Marquette 1
• Maryland 1
• Michigan 1
• Ohio State 1
• Oregon 1
• Stanford 1
• Syracuse 1
• UNLV 1
• Utah 1
• UTEP 1 (as Texas Western)
• Villanova 1
• Wisconsin 1
• Wyoming 1

See also

• March Madness
• NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
• Selection Sunday
• Final Four
• Bracketology

March Madness is a popular colloquial term for the process of deciding the annual champion of NCAA collegiate basketball in the United States. ... The NCAA Womens Division I Championship is an annual basketball tournament for women. ... Selection Sunday is the day when the NCAA College Basketball tournament participants are announced, placed and seeded accordingly. ... The playoff term Final Four was originally popularized to refer to the final four teams in the NCAA Basketball Tournament; these are the champions of the tournaments four regional brackets, and the only teams remaining on the tournaments final weekend. ... Bracketology is a slang term for predicting the field of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. ...

External links

• NCAA Men's Basketball (http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens)