NCAA March Madness: A History in Nashville

Nashville, Tennessee, has a rich history with the NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, hosting various rounds and events that have captivated fans and contributed to the excitement of March Madness. From early-round matchups to the prestigious Women’s Final Four, Nashville has proven to be a vibrant and enthusiastic host city.

Early Tournament History in Nashville

Nashville's involvement with the NCAA Tournament dates back to the early years of the competition.

March 22, 1951: St.
March 22, 1952: St.
March 25, 1978: Arkansas defeated W64 - 59 at the NCAA Final Four.
March 27, 1978: Duke defeated W94 - 88 at the NCAA Championship.

NCAA Tournament Games in Nashville (1985-2014)

Nashville has hosted numerous NCAA Tournament games over the years, featuring exciting matchups and memorable moments.

March 22, 1985: (1) St.
March 18, 1994: (14) Tennessee State defeated W83 - 70 at the NCAA Southeast Regional First Round.
March 20, 1994: (6) Marquette lost to L63 - 75 at the NCAA Southeast Regional Second Round.
March 16, 1995: (16) Mount St.
March 20, 1997: (4) St.
March 15, 1998: (10) St.
March 20, 1998: (6) UCLA defeated W94 - 68 at the NCAA South Regional Semifinals.
March 22, 1998: (1) Duke defeated W86 - 84 at the NCAA South Regional Finals.
March 19, 1999: (10) Miami (OH) defeated W58 - 43 at the NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinals.
March 21, 1999: (1) Michigan State lost to L66 - 73 at the NCAA Midwest Regional Finals.
March 16, 2000: (12) St.
March 14, 2002: (13) Valparaiso defeated W83 - 68 at the NCAA East Regional First Round.
March 16, 2002: (12) Tulsa defeated W87 - 82 at the NCAA East Regional Second Round.
March 19, 2004: (16) Florida A&M defeated W96 - 76 at the NCAA St.
March 21, 2004: (9) Alabama-Birmingham lost to L75 - 76 at the NCAA St.
March 17, 2006: (9) Alabama-Birmingham defeated W69 - 64 at the NCAA Washington D.C.
March 19, 2006: (1) Connecticut lost to L83 - 87 at the NCAA Washington D.C.
March 21, 2014: (9) Kansas State defeated W56 - 49 at the NCAA Midwest Regional Second Round.
March 23, 2014: (1) Wichita State defeated W78 - 76 at the NCAA Midwest Regional Third Round.

The 2014 Women’s Final Four in Nashville

One of the highlights of Nashville's NCAA hosting history was the 2014 Women’s Final Four. This event brought more than 30,000 fans to the city, showcasing Nashville's ability to host large-scale sporting events and provide a memorable experience for attendees. The tournament was accompanied by various community outreach programs, including:

NCAA Community Outreach 101 Program

The NCAA Community Outreach 101 Program was one of several outreach programs.

Coca-Cola NCAA Youth Clinics

Four-hundred fifty Nashville youth participated in the Coca-Cola NCAA Youth Clinics conducted at McGavock High School, Cane Ridge High School and Tourney Town as part of the 2014 Women’s Final Four Super Saturday festivities.

Broadway Bounce Refreshed by Coca-Cola

Broadway Bounce Refreshed by Coca-Cola was one of several outreach programs.

Tourney Town Presented by Capital One

Tourney Town Presented by Capital One was one of several outreach programs.

NCAA Girls Junior Journalism Workshop

The NCAA Girls Junior Journalism Workshop was one of several outreach programs.

4Kay Run Presented by Northwestern Mutual

4Kay Run Presented by Northwestern Mutual was one of several outreach programs.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

Equipment Donations through Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Equipment donations through Wilson Sporting Goods Co. was one of several outreach programs.

Nashville as a Desirable Host City

Nashville's success in hosting NCAA Tournament events has made it a desirable location for future competitions. The city's infrastructure, hospitality, and enthusiastic fan base make it an attractive destination for the NCAA.

Bridgestone Arena

Bridgestone Arena has been a key venue for NCAA events in Nashville. However, due to scheduling conflicts with the Nashville Predators hockey team and commitments to hosting the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament, the arena's availability for future NCAA Men's Tournament games is limited.

The SEC men’s basketball tournament is locked in at Bridgestone Arena for six of the next seven years (2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025). The SEC women’s tournament is here in 2022 and 2026.

Nashville Sports Council's Perspective

The Nashville Sports Council recognizes the importance of strategically managing the city's hosting commitments. While the NCAA men’s tournament sites already have been assigned, Nashville is focused on securing the 2024 Women’s Final Four and maintaining its commitment to hosting the SEC tournaments.

The Ohio Valley Conference's Role

The Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), headquartered in Brentwood, plays a crucial role in managing the NCAA Tournament site in Nashville. The OVC works with the Nashville Sports Council, Bridgestone Arena staff, and others for more than a year to host the NCAA tournament first and second rounds.

Memorable Moments and Upsets

Nashville has been the site of several memorable moments and upsets in NCAA Tournament history.

Nevada's Comeback Victory

In one notable game, Nevada rallied from a 22-point deficit with 11:37 remaining to defeat Cincinnati. Nevada's 22-point comeback was the second-largest comeback and the largest second-half comeback in NCAA tournament history.

Top Seeds Fall in Nashville

Following the loss of Cincinnati to Nevada, Virginia, Cincinnati, Tennessee and Arizona - the top four seeds in the South region - were all knocked out before the Sweet 16. It's the first time that's happened since seeding began in 1979.

Cincinnati and Xavier Fan Support

Fans of both Cincinnati and Xavier filled up Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and drowned out opposing crowds during wins over Georgia State and Texas Southern in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The SEC's Dominance and Tournament Outlook

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is a powerhouse in college basketball, and its teams often play a significant role in the NCAA Tournament. The SEC is projected to send 11 teams to the NCAA tournament, reflecting the league’s depth and competitiveness.

Top SEC Teams

South Carolina remains the league’s powerhouse. Other top teams include Texas, LSU, Tennessee and Oklahoma. Vanderbilt has jumped to third, passing LSU and Tennessee en route to emerging as one of the nation’s biggest surprises. Georgia has quietly risen from a predicted 13th to the top half of the conference, and LSU has rebounded after early losses to Kentucky and Vanderbilt, proving the Tigers are still a force.

Tennessee's Tournament History

The Volunteers have made the NCAA Tournament 25 times and in 5 of the last 6 years.

All-Time Round-by-Round Record in NCAA Tournament

Round of 64: (17-7)
Round of 32: (8-9)
Sweet 16: (1-7)
Elite 8: (0-1)

The SEC Men's Basketball Tournament

The SEC men's basketball tournament is the conference tournament in basketball for the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It is a single-elimination tournament that involves all league schools (currently 16). Its seeding is based on regular season records.

Tournament Format

Since the SEC expanded to 14 schools with the arrival of Missouri and Texas A&M, the 2013 tournament was the first with a new format. Both men's and women's tournaments have the four bottom seeds (#11 throughout #14) playing opening-round games, with the top four seeds receiving a "double-bye" into the quarterfinals.

Memorable Tournament Moments

In 2000, the Arkansas Razorbacks became the first team since the league expansion in 1992 to win the conference tournament by playing all four days, beating Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, and Auburn to receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Basketball Championships. Auburn was the first SEC team to accomplish this feat in 1985 when they defeated Ole Miss, LSU, Florida, and Alabama to win their first SEC tournament.

2008 SEC Tournament

The first seven games of the 2008 tournament were played at the Georgia Dome. During overtime of Game 7 between Mississippi State and Alabama, a tornado struck the downtown Atlanta area, damaging the Georgia Dome and several buildings surrounding it, including CNN Center. MSU and Alabama returned after a 64-minute delay to finish their game, but the last quarterfinal game of the day, between Georgia and Kentucky, was postponed until the next day, and the remaining four games of the tournament were moved to Alexander Memorial Coliseum at Georgia Tech. Only credentialed individuals were allowed to attend, including players' families, bands, cheerleaders, and media.

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