Wichita selected to join Dayton as opening-round site of 2027 NCAA Tournament
CBS Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Wichita, Kansas, has been selected as a new host site for the men's NCAA Tournament opening round starting in 2027 through 2028, joining Dayton, Ohio, which has hosted the First Four since 2001.
- The games will take place at Wichita's InTrust Bank Arena, which seats about 15,000 fans, offering a larger venue and a central geographic location favorable for team travel and fan attendance.
- The men's tournament will expand from 68 to 76 teams beginning next year, with 12 opening-round games split evenly between Dayton and Wichita, featuring both automatic qualifiers and at-large teams.
- The NCAA selection committee adjusted its Wins Above Bubble (WAB) metric to reflect the expanded field, lowering the bubble cut line from around the 45th to the 55th team, affecting team selection and scrutiny levels.
- West Coast Conference commissioner Stu Jackson was promoted to vice chair for 2026-27 and is expected to chair the men's NCAA Tournament in 2027-28, bringing extensive coaching and administrative experience to the role.
