Full steam ahead: No CBB teams withdraw from tournament consideration by NCAA deadline

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament is moving full steam ahead. Even teams that have recently been affected by a positive COVID-19 test are keeping their names in consideration for March Madness.

Because of the unique circumstances this year, the NCAA established an 11 p.m. deadline for teams to contact the association to withdraw their names from consideration for this year’s tournament if they felt they could not compete because of COVID-19. That deadline had come and gone with no response from anyone in college basketball.

The 11 p.m. deadline passed and no teams contacted the NCAA men's basketball selection committee to withdraw from consideration for the NCAA tournament. So, that means Kansas and Virginia both expect to be selected and play next week after having to forfeit games this week.

— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) March 14, 2021

That means everyone who earns a bid into this year’s tournament is expecting to play. That includes Kansas and Virginia, both of which had positive COVID-19 tests this week within their program.

This year, the NCAA Tournament is being held only in Indiana. There are multiple venues that will host March Madness, including: Assembly Hall (Indiana University) Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indiana Pacers) Farmers Coliseum (IUPUI), Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler University), Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis Colts) and Mackey Arena (Purdue University).

Selection Sunday is set for 6 p.m. ET on CBS.