The Road To Evansville: 5 Shocking Facts About The NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament (2025 Update)

The NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament is often overshadowed by the spectacle of March Madness, but for those who follow the small-college game, it delivers some of the most intense, high-stakes, and unpredictable basketball of the year. Unlike its Division I counterpart, the DII tournament features a unique structure and a field of 64 teams all vying for the chance to reach the coveted Elite Eight.

As of late 2024, the focus is already shifting to the 2025 championship, following a dramatic 2024 tournament that saw one school—Minnesota State—pull off a historic sweep of both the men’s and women’s titles. From the dramatic buzzer-beater that sealed the men's championship to the finalized locations for the 2025 Elite Eight, here is the most current and in-depth look at the NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament.

The 2024 Championship Shockers and the 2025 Tournament Schedule

The 2024 NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament delivered two of the most memorable championship games in recent history, culminating in a historic sweep by a single institution. Both the men’s and women’s tournaments were defined by dramatic upsets and powerhouse performances.

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The Historic 2024 Champions: Minnesota State’s Sweep

• Men's National Champion: Minnesota State Mavericks
• Championship Game Result: Minnesota State defeated the defending champions, Nova Southeastern Sharks, 88–85.
• The Defining Moment: The men's final was decided by a thrilling three-pointer from Kyreese Willingham with just 0.8 seconds left on the clock, securing the Mavericks' first-ever national title. The Nova Southeastern program, which featured D2 CCA National Player of the Year, Iraldi, saw its title defense end in heartbreaking fashion.
• Women's National Champion: Minnesota State Mavericks
• Women's Championship Result: Minnesota State defeated the Texas Woman's Pioneers, 89–73, claiming their second national title and first since 2009.

Key Dates for the 2025 DII Tournament

The road to the 2025 championship begins in March, with the entire field of 64 teams being revealed on a single night. Fans should mark their calendars for these critical dates:

• Selection Show: Sunday, March 9, 2025, on NCAA.com.
• Regional Quarterfinals: Saturday, March 15, 2025.
• Regional Semifinals: Sunday, March 16, 2025.
• Men's Elite Eight: March 25–29, 2025, in Evansville, Indiana.
• Women's Elite Eight: March 25–29, 2025, at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, PA.

5 Shocking Facts That Define the NCAA Division II Tournament

The DII tournament operates under a set of rules and a structural format that makes it uniquely challenging and often more unpredictable than the Division I tournament. Understanding these five facts is essential for following the bracket.

1. The Field is Massive: 64 Teams Compete

While the Division I Men’s tournament has expanded, the NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships have long featured a robust 64-team bracket. The field is divided into eight regions, with eight teams competing in a single-elimination regional tournament at a host site determined by the selection committee. This structure ensures that a wide array of basketball programs from conferences across the country get a chance to compete for a national title.

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2. It’s the "Elite Eight," Not a "Final Four"

Perhaps the most significant difference from the Division I format is the final round. The eight regional champions—one from each of the eight regions—advance directly to the national quarterfinal round, which is officially called the Elite Eight. These eight survivors then meet at a predetermined neutral site for the final three rounds: the quarterfinals, the semifinals, and the national championship game. This unique structure means the national champion must win four games in their regional tournament and three more games at the Elite Eight site.

3. At-Large Bids Dominate the Selection Process

The path to the tournament is split between automatic and at-large bids, but the at-large spots hold significant power. The 64-team field is comprised of:

• 23 Automatic Qualifiers (AQs): Teams that win their respective conference tournaments.
• 41 At-Large Bids: Teams selected by the NCAA Division II Selection Committee based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including in-region winning percentage, head-to-head results, and results against common opponents.

The large number of at-large bids—41 of 64 spots—means that regular-season performance and strength of schedule are heavily weighted by the selection committee, giving highly ranked teams a better chance of making the field even if they fall short in their conference championship.

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4. The 2025 Men’s Elite Eight Returns to a Historic Venue

For the men's tournament, the 2025 Elite Eight is scheduled to return to the city of Evansville, Indiana, from March 25 to March 29. Evansville has a deep history with the tournament, having hosted the event multiple times, solidifying its status as a premier destination for DII basketball. The regional hosts for the first three rounds, however, will be determined by the top-seeded team in each of the eight regions, adding a home-court advantage element to the initial stages of the bracket.

5. The Women’s Elite Eight is in Pittsburgh, PA

The women's national championship will also be held at a major venue, with the 2025 Women's Elite Eight taking place at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This dedicated venue provides a high-profile stage for the top eight women's teams to compete for the national title. The parallel structure of the men's and women's tournaments, with both culminating in separate Elite Eight events, highlights the NCAA's commitment to showcasing DII talent.

Topical Authority: Key DII Basketball Entities and LSI Keywords

To truly understand the landscape of the Division II tournament, it is important to recognize the key organizations, conferences, and teams that consistently shape the competition. The DII level features intense regional rivalries and a high level of coaching talent.

Consistent Powerhouses and Favorites

While the 2024 champions, the Minnesota State Mavericks, will be a major storyline, early predictions for the 2025 men's tournament have already begun to circulate. Teams like the Nova Southeastern Sharks (2024 runner-up), Washburn University, and Daemen University are often cited as top contenders and favorites. Other historically strong programs that frequently appear in the bracket include the West Liberty Hilltoppers, Augustana Vikings, and the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes.

Major Conferences and Selection Criteria

The tournament field is drawn from 23 automatic qualifiers representing major DII conferences, including the Sunshine State Conference (SSC), the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), the Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10), and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), which is home to Minnesota State. The selection process relies on the NCAA Power Index and regional rankings to determine the at-large bids, emphasizing a team's overall body of work throughout the season, not just their conference tournament performance. This system ensures the most deserving teams secure a spot in the 64-team field.

The NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament remains a hidden gem in college sports, offering a blend of high-level competition, incredible finishes, and a unique path to a national title. With the 2025 Elite Eight venues set and the Selection Show just around the corner, the stage is being prepared for another thrilling edition of DII March Madness.