NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship Games Starting Earlier

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A prolonged complaint among college -basketball fans is treated.

Starting time for NCAA -men’s basketball championship games are moved 30 minutes earlier from 7 p.m. 21.20 one to 20.50 one, NCAA announced Tuesday.

The tip-off time for the sport’s Marquee game has long been a point in violation of the College Basketball Diehards, especially those who live in the eastern time zone and typically have to stay up at 1 p.m. 23:30 on a Monday night for the last sum to sound.

The move comes not only in the wake of years of complaints, but hanging interest. The last two title games, both won by Uconn, have drawn Two lowest TV -assessments In the event’s recorded history – 14.69 million in 2023 and 14.82 million by 2024. Only eight years ago North Carolina had championship victory over Gonzaga about 23 million viewers.

College Football Playoff made a similar decision in 2022 and moved up the kickoff time for his championship game from 1 p.m. 20 one to 7.30 pm, although this year’s title match between Ohio State and Notre Dame did not start until closer to 6 p.m. 19: 45 pm, with ESPN’s pregame covering bleeding over past the announced kickoff time.

This year’s championship game will be played on Monday, April 7 at Alamodome in San Antonio.

The news of the slightly previous tip-off time was largely met with approval, although some expressed disappointment, believing at. 20.50 is still too late in a weekday.

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