March Madness Bracket History
The term "March Madness" is synonymous with the NCAA Men's Division I national basketball tournament, held each year since 1939. The bracket used to determine the champion each year has undergone significant changes since that first tournament, in which the University of Oregon was crowned the champion.
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1939-50
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The tournament's infancy featured eight teams, divided into two regions---East and West. Four teams in each region would play in semifinals games, with the semifinal champions playing in the regional championship. The regional champions would then play for the national championship.
1951-52
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The NCAA retained the two-region approach, but invited eight teams to play in each region, with first-round games determining the regional semifinal participants. From there, the tournament continued as before until a champion was crowned.
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1953-74
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In 1953, the tournament featured two regions and 22 teams, with the top six teams in the tournament receiving byes into the regional semifinals. Three years later, 16 teams played first-round games and eight teams received byes. In 1957, the tournament went to four regions, based on geography, with the winners of each region advancing to the Final Four.
1975-78
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In response to at least two high-profile omissions from the tournament (only conference champions were allowed to advance to the NCAA Tournament until 1975), the tournament expanded to 32 teams. The NCAA kept the four-region approach based on geography. Eight teams were seeded in each region with no byes.
1979
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For the first time in 1979, teams were officially seeded in the bracket. Also, 40 teams played in that year's tournament. Ten teams were seeded in each region, with the top two seeded teams in each region receiving first-round byes. For the first time, the tournament progressed as fans recognize it today---with a first round, second round, regional semifinal and regional final before the Final Four.
1980 to 1982
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From 1980 to 1982, the NCAA invited 48 teams, with 12 teams seeded in each region and the top four seeds receiving first-round byes. In 2009, 65 teams are invited; two of the lowest-ranked teams play a playoff game to determine the final team into the field of 64.
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