The NCAA March Madness Tournament Explained The NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament is single-elimination, The term March Madness was popularized by an Illinois high school official, Henry V. Porter, in 1939, but it was Brent Musburger who used it during coverage of the 1982 tournament. The winner of the tournament for the 32 Division I conferences receives an automatic bid. The selection committee also decides which school among non-qualifiers has the pedigree to earn an invite to the tournament. Selection Sunday on March 11 March Madness officially begins March 11 and runs through April 2, when the NCAA men's basketball championship takes place.