When the N.C.A.A. men’s basketball tournament bracket was announced on Sunday night, it was in keeping with sports during the pandemic: stripped down, masked up and written hopefully in pencil.
There was no slow tease because, well, what was the point? Some of the usual excitement — is the alma mater being shipped to Portland or Pittsburgh followed by a rush to book flights and hotels — was removed from the equation this year because the entire 68-team tournament, which begins Thursday with four play-in games, is being staged in and around Indianapolis.
As expected, Gonzaga, unbeaten in 26 games, was awarded the top seed and placed in the West region.