2015 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
File:2015FinalFourLogo.png | |||||
Season | 1998–1999 | ||||
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Teams | 68 | ||||
Finals site | Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, Indiana | ||||
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The 2015 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involves 68 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. The 77th edition of the tournament began on March 17, 2015, and will conclude with the championship game on April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
2015 NCAA Tournament schedule and venues
The following are the sites selected to host each round of the 2015 tournament:[1]
First Four
- March 17 and 18
Second and Third Rounds
- March 19 and 21
- Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida (Hosts: Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida)
- KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Kentucky (Host: University of Louisville)
- Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Host: Duquesne University)
- Moda Center, Portland, Oregon (Host: University of Oregon)
- March 20 and 22
- Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, North Carolina (Host: University of North Carolina at Charlotte)
- Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio (Host: The Ohio State University)
- CenturyLink Center Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska (Host: Creighton University)
- KeyArena, Seattle, Washington (Host: University of Washington)
Regional Semifinals and Finals (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight)
- March 26 and 28
- Midwest Regional, Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio (Host: Mid-American Conference and Cleveland State University)
- West Regional, Staples Center, Los Angeles, California (Host: Pepperdine University)
- March 27 and 29
- East Regional, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York (Host: Syracuse University)
- South Regional, NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas (Hosts: Rice University, and University of Houston)
National Semifinals and Championship (Final Four and Championship)
- April 4 and 6
- Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana (Hosts:IUPUI and the Horizon League)
Notables
This section needs additional citations for verification. (March 2015) |
Kentucky entered the tournament unbeaten. After 22 years without an unbeaten team in the tournament, following UNLV in 1991, this is the second consecutive tournament with an unbeaten team (after Wichita State in the previous). The Wildcats, by beating Cincinnati in the third round, set an NCAA men's record with 36 straight wins to start a season.
Defending national champion Connecticut did not qualify.
Kansas extended its streak of consecutive tournament appearances to 26 in a row. They have made each NCAA Tournament dating back to 1990. Should Kansas make the tournament next year, they will tie the record for consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances held by North Carolina (1975-2001).
Atlantic Sun Conference champion North Florida, Big West Conference champion UC Irvine, and Mid-American Conference champion Buffalo made their first respective appearances in the Division I tournament.
With both Buffalo and Albany winning their respective conferences and reaching the tournament, this is the first time two schools in the State University of New York system have reached the Division I tournament in the same year.[2]
Two teams broke appearance droughts of over 20 years with their bids: Colonial Athletic Association champion Northeastern made its first NCAA appearance since 1991, and American champion Southern Methodist made its first NCAA appearance since 1993.
Harvard and Yale played a one-game playoff at the Palestra. Harvard won in dramatic fashion.[3]
Dayton played a First Four game at their home arena, which is usually not allowed during the men's tournament. The NCAA selection committee indicated that putting Dayton in its home arena “falls within the context” of the committee's procedures.[4]
For the first time since 1995, two 14 seeds recorded wins in the Second Round. On March 19, Georgia State defeated Baylor and UAB defeated Iowa State.
Of the sixteen games played on March 19, five were decided by one point, a single-day record.
For the first time since 2007 and the fourth time since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985, all four 5 seeds won their Second Round games. This was also the first time since 2007 that there were four 4 vs. 5 matchups in the Third Round.
On March 20, all but one "chalk" team won their game (there was only one upset), compared to the four upsets the previous day.
For the first time since 2009, multiple 1 seeds reached the Final Four.
Qualifying and selection procedure
Out of 333 eligible Division I teams, 68 participate in the tournament. Eighteen Division I teams were ineligible due to failing to meet APR requirements, self-imposed postseason bans, or reclassification from a lower division.[7]
Of the 32 automatic bids, 31 were given to programs that won their conference tournaments. The Ivy League does not hold a tournament, and awards its bid to the team with the best regular-season record. However, whenever two or more teams are tied for the conference title, league rules call for a one-game playoff between the top two teams (or a series of such playoffs if more than two teams are tied), which occurred in this year.[3] The remaining 36 bids were granted on an "at-large" basis, which were extended by the NCAA Selection Committee to the teams it deemed to be the best 36 teams that did not receive automatic bids.
Eight teams—the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams—will play in the First Four (the successor to what had been popularly known as "play-in games" through the 2010 tournament). The winners of these games advance to the round of 64.
The Selection Committee will also seed the entire field from 1 to 68.
Automatic qualifiers
The following teams are automatic qualifiers for the 2015 NCAA field by virtue of winning their conference's automatic bid.
Conference | Team | Appearance | Last bid |
---|---|---|---|
ACC | Notre Dame | 34th | 2013 |
America East | Albany | 5th | 2014 |
A–10 | VCU | 14th | 2014 |
American | SMU | 11th | 1993 |
Atlantic Sun | North Florida | 1st | Never |
Big 12 | Iowa State | 17th | 2014 |
Big East | Villanova | 34th | 2014 |
Big Sky | Eastern Washington | 2nd | 2004 |
Big South | Coastal Carolina | 4th | 2014 |
Big Ten | Wisconsin | 21st | 2014 |
Big West | UC Irvine | 1st | Never |
Colonial | Northeastern | 8th | 1991 |
C-USA | UAB | 15th | 2011 |
Horizon | Valparaiso | 9th | 2013 |
Ivy League | Harvard | 5th | 2014 |
MAAC | Manhattan | 8th | 2014 |
MAC | Buffalo | 1st | Never |
MEAC | Hampton | 5th | 2011 |
Missouri Valley | Northern Iowa | 7th | 2010 |
Mountain West | Wyoming | 15th | 2002 |
Northeast | Robert Morris | 8th | 2010 |
Ohio Valley | Belmont | 7th | 2013 |
Pac-12 | Arizona | 30th | 2014 |
Patriot | Lafayette | 4th | 2000 |
SEC | Kentucky | 54th | 2014 |
Southern | Wofford | 4th | 2014 |
Southland | Stephen F. Austin | 3rd | 2014 |
SWAC | Texas Southern | 6th | 2014 |
Summit | North Dakota State | 3rd | 2014 |
Sun Belt | Georgia State | 3rd | 2001 |
West Coast | Gonzaga | 18th | 2014 |
WAC | New Mexico State | 19th | 2014 |
Tournament seeds
Seed | School | Conference | Record | Berth type | Overall rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kentucky | SEC | 34–0 | Auto | 1 |
2 | Kansas | Big 12 | 26–8 | At-large | 8 |
3 | Notre Dame | ACC | 29–5 | Auto | 12 |
4 | Maryland | Big 10 | 27–6 | At-large | 14 |
5 | West Virginia | Big 12 | 23–9 | At-large | 19 |
6 | Butler | Big East | 22–10 | At-large | 23 |
7 | Wichita State | Missouri Valley | 28–4 | At-large | 26 |
8 | Cincinnati | American | 22–10 | At-large | 29 |
9 | Purdue | Big 10 | 21–12 | At-large | 36 |
10 | Indiana | Big 10 | 20–13 | At-large | 37 |
11 | Texas | Big 12 | 20–13 | At-large | 41 |
12 | Buffalo | Mid American | 23–9 | Auto | 48 |
13 | Valparaiso | Horizon | 28–5 | Auto | 51 |
14 | Northeastern | Colonial | 23–11 | Auto | 56 |
15 | New Mexico State | WAC | 23–10 | Auto | 59 |
16* | Manhattan | MAAC | 19–13 | Auto | 67 |
Hampton | MEAC | 16–17 | Auto | 68 |
Seed | School | Conference | Record | Berth type | Overall rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wisconsin | Big 10 | 31–3 | Auto | 4 |
2 | Arizona | Pac 12 | 31–3 | Auto | 6 |
3 | Baylor | Big 12 | 24–9 | At-large | 10 |
4 | North Carolina | ACC | 24–11 | At-large | 13 |
5 | Arkansas | SEC | 26–8 | At-large | 18 |
6 | Xavier | Big East | 21–13 | At-large | 24 |
7 | VCU | Atlantic 10 | 26–9 | Auto | 28 |
8 | Oregon | Pac 12 | 25–9 | At-large | 30 |
9 | Oklahoma State | Big 12 | 18–13 | At-large | 34 |
10 | Ohio State | Big 10 | 23–10 | At-large | 39 |
11* | Ole Miss | SEC | 20–12 | At-large | 43 |
BYU | West Coast | 25–9 | At-large | 44 | |
12 | Wofford | Southern | 28–6 | Auto | 49 |
13 | Harvard | Ivy | 22–7 | Auto | 52 |
14 | Georgia State | Sun Belt | 24–9 | Auto | 55 |
15 | Texas Southern | SWAC | 22–12 | Auto | 61 |
16 | Coastal Carolina | Big South | 24–9 | Auto | 64 |
Seed | School | Conference | Record | Berth type | Overall rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Villanova | Big East | 32–2 | Auto | 2 |
2 | Virginia | ACC | 29–3 | At-large | 5 |
3 | Oklahoma | Big 12 | 22–10 | At-large | 11 |
4 | Louisville | ACC | 24–8 | At-large | 15 |
5 | Northern Iowa | Missouri Valley | 30–3 | Auto | 20 |
6 | Providence | Big East | 22–11 | At-large | 22 |
7 | Michigan State | Big 10 | 23–11 | At-large | 25 |
8 | North Carolina State | ACC | 20–13 | At-large | 31 |
9 | LSU | SEC | 22–10 | At-large | 35 |
10 | Georgia | SEC | 21–11 | At-large | 40 |
11* | Boise State | Mountain West | 25–8 | At-large | 45 |
Dayton | Atlantic 10 | 25–8 | At-large | 46 | |
12 | Wyoming | Mountain West | 25–9 | Auto | 47 |
13 | UC Irvine | Big West | 21–12 | Auto | 54 |
14 | Albany | America East | 24–8 | Auto | 58 |
15 | Belmont | Ohio Valley | 22–10 | Auto | 60 |
16 | Lafayette | Patriot | 20–12 | Auto | 63 |
Seed | School | Conference | Record | Berth type | Overall rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Duke | ACC | 29–4 | At-large | 3 |
2 | Gonzaga | West Coast | 32–2 | Auto | 7 |
3 | Iowa State | Big 12 | 25–8 | Auto | 9 |
4 | Georgetown | Big East | 21–10 | At-large | 16 |
5 | Utah | Pac 12 | 24–8 | At-large | 17 |
6 | Southern Methodist | American | 27–6 | Auto | 21 |
7 | Iowa | Big 10 | 21–11 | At-large | 27 |
8 | San Diego State | Mountain West | 26–8 | At-large | 32 |
9 | St. John's | Big East | 21–11 | At-large | 33 |
10 | Davidson | Atlantic 10 | 24–7 | At-large | 38 |
11 | UCLA | Pac 12 | 20–13 | At-large | 42 |
12 | Stephen F. Austin | Southland | 29–4 | Auto | 50 |
13 | Eastern Washington | Big Sky | 26–8 | Auto | 53 |
14 | UAB | C-USA | 19–15 | Auto | 57 |
15 | North Dakota State | Summit | 23–9 | Auto | 62 |
16* | North Florida | Atlantic Sun | 23–11 | Auto | 65 |
Robert Morris | NEC | 19–14 | Auto | 66 |
*See First Four
Bracket
* – Denotes overtime period
First Four – Dayton, Ohio
March 17 – West Region | ||||
11 | BYU | 90 | ||
11 | Ole Miss | 94 |
March 17 – Midwest Region | ||||
16 | Hampton | 74 | ||
16 | Manhattan | 64 |
March 18 – East Region | ||||
11 | Boise State | 55 | ||
11 | Dayton | 56 |
March 18 – South Region | ||||
16 | North Florida | 77 | ||
16 | Robert Morris | 81 |
Midwest Regional – Cleveland, Ohio
Second Round Round of 64 March 19–20 | Third Round Round of 32 March 21–22 | Regional Semifinals Sweet 16 March 26 | Regional Final Elite 8 March 28 | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Kentucky | 79 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Hampton | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Kentucky | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
Louisville – Thu/Sat | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | Cincinnati | 51 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Cincinnati | 66* | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Purdue | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Kentucky | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | West Virginia | 39 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | West Virginia | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Buffalo | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | West Virginia | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
Columbus – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Maryland | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Maryland | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Valparaiso | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Kentucky | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Notre Dame | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Butler | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Texas | 48 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Butler | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
Pittsburgh – Thu/Sat | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Notre Dame | 67* | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Notre Dame | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Northeastern | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Notre Dame | 81 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Wichita State | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Wichita State | 81 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Indiana | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Wichita State | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
Omaha – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Kansas | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Kansas | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | New Mexico State | 56 |
Regional Final summary
TBS
|
Saturday, March 28
8:49 pm EDT |
#3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 66, #1 Kentucky Wildcats 68 | ||
Pts: Z. Auguste - 20 Rebs: Auguste, P. Connaughton - 9 Asts: J. Grant - 6 |
Pts: K. Towns - 25 Rebs: Towns, T. Lyles - 5 Asts: Towns - 4 Halftime score: tied, 31–31 |
Quicken Loans Arena - Cleveland, OH
Attendance: 19,464 Referees: Chris Rastatter, Joe DeRosa, David Hall |
Midwest Regional all-tournament team
Regional all-tournament team: Pat Connaughton, Notre Dame; Zach Auguste, Notre Dame; Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky; Andrew Harrison, Kentucky[8]
Regional most outstanding player: Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky[9]
West Regional – Los Angeles, California
Second Round Round of 64 March 19–20 | Third Round Round of 32 March 21–22 | Regional Semifinals Sweet 16 March 26 | Regional Final Elite 8 March 28 | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Wisconsin | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Coastal Carolina | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Wisconsin | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
Omaha – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | Oregon | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Oregon | 79 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Oklahoma State | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Wisconsin | 79 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | North Carolina | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Arkansas | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Wofford | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Arkansas | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
Jacksonville – Thu/Sat | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | North Carolina | 87 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | North Carolina | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Harvard | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Wisconsin | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Arizona | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Xavier | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Ole Miss | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Xavier | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
Jacksonville – Thu/Sat | |||||||||||||||||||
14 | Georgia State | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Baylor | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Georgia State | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Xavier | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Arizona | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | VCU | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Ohio State | 75* | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Ohio State | 58 | |||||||||||||||||
Portland – Thu/Sat | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Arizona | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Arizona | 93 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Texas Southern | 72 |
Regional Final summary
TBS
|
Saturday, March 28
3:09 pm PDT |
#2 Arizona Wildcats 78, #1 Wisconsin Badgers 85 | ||
Pts: B. Ashley, R. Hollis-Jefferson - 17 Rebs: Hollis-Jefferson - 8 Asts: T. McConnell - 5 |
Pts: F. Kaminsky - 29 Rebs: Kaminsky - 6 Asts: N. Hayes - 4 Halftime score: Arizona, 33–30 |
West Regional all-tournament team
Regional all-tournament team: Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin; Josh Gasser, Wisconsin;[10] T.J. McConnell, Arizona; Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona[11]
Regional most outstanding player: Sam Dekker, Wisconsin[12]
East Regional – Syracuse, New York
Second Round Round of 64 March 19–20 | Third Round Round of 32 March 21–22 | Regional Semifinals Sweet 16 March 27 | Regional Final Elite 8 March 29 | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Villanova | 93 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Lafayette | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Villanova | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
Pittsburgh – Thu/Sat | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | NC State | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | NC State | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | LSU | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | NC State | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Louisville | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Northern Iowa | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Wyoming | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Northern Iowa | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
Seattle – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Louisville | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Louisville | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | UC Irvine | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Louisville | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Michigan State | 76* | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Providence | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Dayton | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Dayton | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
Columbus – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Oklahoma | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Oklahoma | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Albany | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Oklahoma | 58 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Michigan State | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Michigan State | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Georgia | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Michigan State | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
Charlotte – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Virginia | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Virginia | 79 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Belmont | 67 |
Regional Final summary
CBS
|
Sunday, March 29
2:20 pm EDT |
#7 Michigan State Spartans 76, #4 Louisville Cardinals 70 (OT) | ||
Pts: T. Trice - 17 Rebs: B. Dawson - 11 Asts: D. Valentine - 6 |
Pts: W. Blackshear - 28 Rebs: M. Harrell - 9 Asts: Harrell - 4 Halftime score: Louisville, 40–32 End of regulation: 65–65 |
East Regional all-tournament team
Regional all-tournament team: Denzel Valentine, Michigan State; Terry Rozier, Louisville; Montrezl Harrell, Louisville; Wayne Blackshear, Louisville[13]
Regional most outstanding player: Travis Trice, Michigan State. [14]
South Regional – Houston, Texas
Second Round Round of 64 March 19–20 | Third Round Round of 32 March 21–22 | Regional Semifinals Sweet 16 March 27 | Regional Final Elite 8 March 29 | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Duke | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Robert Morris | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Duke | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
Charlotte – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | San Diego State | 49 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | San Diego State | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | St. John's | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Duke | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Utah | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Utah | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Stephen F. Austin | 50 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Utah | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
Portland – Thu/Sat | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Georgetown | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Georgetown | 84 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Eastern Washington | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Duke | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Gonzaga | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | SMU | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | UCLA | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | UCLA | 92 | |||||||||||||||||
Louisville – Thu/Sat | |||||||||||||||||||
14 | UAB | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Iowa State | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | UAB | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | UCLA | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Gonzaga | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Iowa | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Davidson | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Iowa | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
Seattle – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Gonzaga | 87 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Gonzaga | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | North Dakota State | 76 |
Regional Final summary
CBS
|
Sunday, March 29
4:05 pm CDT |
#2 Gonzaga Bulldogs 52, #1 Duke Blue Devils 66 | ||
Pts: K. Wiltjer - 16 Rebs: Wiltjer, P. Karnowski, B. Wesley - 5 Asts: Karnowski, Wesley, G. Bell - 2 |
Pts: M. Jones, J. Winslow - 16 Rebs: J. Okafor - 8 Asts: T. Jones - 6 Halftime score: Duke, 31–26 |
NRG Stadium - Houston, TX
Attendance: 20,744 Referees: Mike Stuart, Doug Sirmons, Jeffrey Anderson |
South Regional all-tournament team
Regional all-tournament team: Matt Jones, Duke; Justise Winslow, Duke; Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga; Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga[15]
Regional most outstanding player: Tyus Jones, Duke[16]
Final Four
During the Final Four round, regardless of the seeds of the participating teams, the champion of the top overall top seed's region plays against the champion of the fourth-ranked top seed's region, and the champion of the second overall top seed's region plays against the champion of the third-ranked top seed's region.
Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana
National Semifinals April 4 | National Championship Game April 6 | ||||||||
MW1 | Kentucky | 8:49pm | |||||||
W1 | Wisconsin | TBS | |||||||
9:10pm | |||||||||
CBS | |||||||||
E7 | Michigan State | 6:09pm | |||||||
S1 | Duke | TBS |
Game summaries
Final Four
TBS
|
Saturday, April 4
6:09pm EDT |
#7 Michigan State Spartans vs. #1 Duke Blue Devils |
Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis, IN
|
TBS
|
Saturday, April 4
8:49pm EDT |
#1 Wisconsin Badgers vs. #1 Kentucky Wildcats |
Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis, IN
|
National Championship
CBS
|
Monday, April 6
9:10 pm EDT |
Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis, IN
|
Final Four all-tournament team
Record by conference
Conference | Bids | Record | Win % | R64 | R32 | S16 | E8 | F4 | CG | NC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Big Ten | 7 | 11–5 | .688 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
ACC | 6 | 15–5 | .750 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 | ||
SEC | 5 | 6–4 | .600 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
Pac-12 | 4 | 8–4 | .667 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | – |
West Coast | 2 | 3–2 | .600 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – |
Big 12 | 7 | 5–7 | .417 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – |
Big East | 6 | 5–6 | .455 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – |
Missouri Valley | 2 | 3–2 | .600 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – |
Atlantic 10 | 3 | 2–3 | .400 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
Mountain West | 3 | 1–3 | .250 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
American | 2 | 1–2 | .333 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
Conference USA | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
Sun Belt | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
MEAC | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
Northeast | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
- The R64, R32, S16, E8, F4, CG, and NC columns indicate how many teams from each conference were in the round of 64 (second round), round of 32 (third round), Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, championship game, and national champion, respectively.
- The "Record" column includes wins in the first round (First Four) for Atlantic 10, MEAC, NEC, and SEC.
- The Atlantic Sun and MAAC each had one representative, eliminated in the first round with a record of 0–1.
- The America East, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon League, Ivy, MAC, OVC, Patriot League, Southern, Southland, SWAC, Summit, and WAC each had one representative, eliminated in the second round with a record of 0–1.
Media coverage
Story headlines
The round of 64 started off with multiple upsets with majority of the upsets coming out of the Big 12 conference. The televisions coverage of CBS and Turner had one of the best overall ratings on March 20, 2015. According to Nielsen estimates, exclusive coverage of the opening full round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV averaged a 6.6 overnight household rating/14 share — up 10% from last year and the highest since the tournament expanded to four telecast windows for the entire day.[17]
One of the upsets that happened was UAB upsetting No. 3 seed Iowa State 60-59. The 19-15 UAB Blazers qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2011 by winning three-straight to earn the Conference USA tournament title and an automatic bid.[18]
Baylor, a No. 3 seed, took on No. 14 seed Georgia State and with less than three minutes to go, Georgia State staged an 13-0 run to beat Baylor. "The comeback was punctuated with a three by R. J. Hunter, son of stool-bound coach Ron Hunter, that has already produced a moment sure to go down in history – the elder Hunter, who already tore his Achilles celebrating the team's Sun Belt conference tourney victory, fell off that stool in ecstasy after his son's three dropped to give the Panthers the 57-56 lead that would be the final margin",[19] according to Andy Hutchins.
However the most talked about headline was UCLA not only making the tournament despite a poor performance in the Pac-12, but also with a call with 13 seconds left when UCLA took on SMU and coach Larry Brown. A late second goaltending that cost SMU the game sparked a lot of attention in sports media and social media. The Bruins moved on to play UAB in the Round of 32. Both teams have played each other once this season, when UCLA beat the Blazers 88-76 in the Bahamas back in November. Sam Vecenie a CBS writer, is quoted saying, "Funny part of that story? It was the last-place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. Cool to see how these two teams have turned around their season"[20]
Television
The year 2015 marks the fifth year of a 14-year partnership between CBS and Turner cable networks TBS, TNT, and truTV to cover the entire tournament under the NCAA March Madness banner. TBS will air the Final Four for the second consecutive year.
- First Four – truTV
- Second and Third Rounds – CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV
- Regional Semifinals and Finals (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight) – CBS and TBS
- National Semifinals (Final Four) – TBS, TNT, truTV
- TBS will provide traditional coverage; TNT and truTV each will give team-specific broadcasts.
- National Championship – CBS
Studio hosts
- Greg Gumbel (New York and Indianapolis) – Second Round, Third Round, Regionals, Final Four and National Championship Game
- Ernie Johnson Jr. (New York, Atlanta and Indianapolis) – Second Round, Third Round, Regional Semi-Finals, Final Four, and National Championship Game
- Matt Winer (Atlanta) – First Four, Second Round, and Third Round
Studio analysts
- Charles Barkley (New York and Indianapolis) – Second Round, Third Round, Regionals, Final Four, and National Championship Game
- Mateen Cleaves (Atlanta) – First Four, Second Round, and Third Round
- Seth Davis (Atlanta and Indianapolis) – First Four, Second Round, Third Round, Regional Semi-Finals, Final Four, and National Championship Game
- Jamie Dixon (Atlanta) – Third Round
- Doug Gottlieb (New York) – Regionals
- Anthony Grant (Atlanta) – Third Round
- Ron Hunter (Atlanta) – Regional Semi-Finals
- Clark Kellogg (New York and Indianapolis) – Second Round, Third Round, Regionals, Final Four, and National Championship Game
- Reggie Miller (Indianapolis) – Final Four
- Wally Szczerbiak (Atlanta and New York) – First Four and Second Round
- Kenny Smith (New York and Indianapolis) – Second Round, Third Round, Regionals, Final Four, and National Championship Game
- Steve Smith (Atlanta and Indianapolis) – Regional Semi-Finals, Final Four, and National Championship Game
- Buzz Williams (Atlanta) – Second Round
Commentary teams
- Jim Nantz/Bill Raftery/Grant Hill/Tracy Wolfson – Second and Third Rounds at Charlotte, NC; South Regional at Houston, TX; Final Four and National Championship at Indianapolis, IN
- Marv Albert or Brian Anderson/Chris Webber/Len Elmore/Lewis Johnson – Second and Third Rounds at Omaha, NE; Midwest Regional at Cleveland, OH
- Anderson called the Midwest Regional final after Albert withdrew from the game due to illness.[21]
- Verne Lundquist/Jim Spanarkel/Allie LaForce – Second and Third Rounds at Louisville, KY; East Regional at Syracuse, NY
- Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Dan Bonner/Rachel Nichols – Second and Third Rounds at Portland, OR; West Regional at Los Angeles, CA
- Ian Eagle/Doug Gottlieb/Evan Washburn – First Four at Dayton, OH; Second and Third Rounds at Columbus, OH
- Brian Anderson/Steve Smith/Lewis Johnson (First Four)/Dana Jacobson (Pittsburgh) – First Four at Dayton, OH; Second and Third Rounds at Pittsburgh, PA
- Spero Dedes/Mike Gminski/Jaime Maggio – Second and Third Rounds at Seattle, WA
- Andrew Catalon(Jacksonville, FL) and 2015 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament Evansville, IN)/Carter Blackburn (Reese's College Basketball All Star Game Indianapolis, IN)/Steve Lappas/Doug Gottlieb (Reese's College Basketball All Star Game Indianapolis, IN)/Jamie Erdahl (Jacksonville, FL)/Evan Washburn (2015 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament National Championship Game) (Evansville, IN)/Allie LaForce (Reese's College Basketball All Star Game Indianapolis, IN) – Second and Third Rounds at Jacksonville, FL and 2015 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament National Championship Game at Evansville, IN and Reese's College Basketball All Star Game at Indianapolis, IN
Team casts
For the second consecutive year Turner will broadcast the semifinals. TBS will air the traditional neutral broadcast (Nantz, Raftery, Hill, and Wolfson). Turner will also distribute team-centered broadcasts for the Final Four broadcasts on TNT and truTV. These matches will be called "Team Stream by Bleacher Report".[24][25][26]
- Tom Werme/Alaa Abdelnaby/Chris Spatola - Duke Team Stream on TNT
- Brian Anderson/Mateen Cleaves/Shireen Saski - Michigan State Team Stream on truTV
- Dave Baker/Rex Chapman/Michael Eaves - Kentucky Team Stream on TNT
- Wayne Larrivee/Mike Kelley/Phil Dawson - Wisconsin Team Stream on truTV
Radio
Westwood One has exclusive radio rights to the entire tournament.[27]
Commentary teamsFirst Four
Second and Third rounds
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Regionals
Final Four
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See also
- 2015 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
- 2015 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament
- 2015 NCAA Men's Division III Basketball Tournament
- 2015 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
- 2015 CIS Men's Basketball Championship
References
- ^ "Preliminary round sites announced for 2014, 2015 NCAA tournaments". NCAA. December 16, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
- ^ Buffalo, UAlbany give SUNY two reps in NCAA men's hoops. Business First. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ a b "2015 Men's Basketball Playoff Details Announced" (Press release). Ivy League. March 9, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ Kollars, Brian (March 15, 2015). "Flyers staying home for start of NCAA tourney". Dayton Daily News.
- ^ http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Arkansas%20Pine%20Bluff%20Infractions%20Decision%20PUBLIC.PDF
- ^ Dobbertean, Chris (March 17, 2015). "2015 Conference Tournament Central". SB Nation. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ The 18 teams that are ineligible, and the reasons for ineligibility, are:
- APR: Alabama State, Appalachian State, Central Arkansas, Florida A&M, Houston Baptist, Lamar, Milwaukee, San Jose State, Southern
- Other NCAA infractions: Arkansas-Pine Bluff[5]
- Self-imposed bans: Southern Miss, Syracuse
- Reclassification: Abilene Christian, Grand Canyon, Incarnate Word, Northern Kentucky, Omaha, UMass Lowell[6]
- ^ "All-Tournament team from the Midwest Regional". Blue Gold Illustrated. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- ^ Roberts, Ben. "Karl-Anthony Towns grows from 'prima donna' into prime-time player". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ Polzin, Jim. "Badgers men's basketball: Sam Dekker's big shot clinches UW's victory over Arizona, return to Final Four". Madison.com. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ Pascoe, Bruce. "UA-Wisconsin postgame: On NBA decisions, tears and pride". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ "Wisconsin heads to Final Four after 85-78 win over Arizona". sports.yahoo.com.
- ^ Griffith, Mike. "Michigan State senior Travis Trice voted Most Outstanding Player in NCAA East Regional". MLive. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ Rexrod3, Joe. "MSU 76 Louisville 70: MSU Advances to Final Four". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Gonzaga vs Duke (3/29/15 at Houston, Texas (NRG Stadium))". GoZags.com. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ "Notes: Duke 66, Gonzaga 52". GoDuke.com. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ Kissell, Rick. "March Madness Breaks Ratings Record on Opening Day". variety.com. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
- ^ Greenberg, Neil. "UAB Blazers are tournament's first bracket buster". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
- ^ Hutchins, Andy. "2015 March Madness bracket: Georgia State stages dramatic upset of Baylor, Arizona rolls". sbnation.com. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
- ^ Vecenie, Sam. "Goaltend call lifts UCLA past SMU; should goaltending be reviewable?". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
- ^ "Marv Albert is 'under the weather', Replaced by Brian Anderson for Call of Kentucky-Notre Dame". USA Today. March 28, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
- ^ "Hill, Raftery added to Final Four, national championship broadcast team" (Press release). NCAA. February 3, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- ^ "CBS Sports, Turner Sports announce championship commentator team for 2015 DI Men's Basketball tournament". NCAA. March 4, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ "The Final Four Teamcasts Will Return In 2015". Awful Announcing. February 9, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
- ^ "TNT/truTV Final Four Teamcasts To Be Branded "Team Stream by Bleacher Report"". Awful Announcing. March 26, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ^ "This Year's Team Stream Final Four Announcers Are Revealed". Awful Announcing. March 31, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ "NCAA, Westwood One extend deal". NCAA. January 13, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2013.