Mar 17, 2021 NCAA senior vice president Dan Gavitt announced Tuesday there will be no replacement teams for the 2021 men's NCAA tournament, Louisville, Colorado State, Saint Louis and Ole Miss were selected as the replacement teams for the men's tournament, which kicks off with the First Four on Thursday night. But with no teams opting to withdraw, each team in the original field of 68 will take the floor in Indianapolis. Sign Up to Play SI's Bracket Challenge and Compete For a Chance to Win Prizes. Create Your Group Now | Official Rules There will be no replacement teams in the 2021 tournament, though teams could still be forced to exit Indianapolis due to COVID-19 concerns. If a program cannot continue its season due to medical reasons, its opponent will advance per the NCAA's no-contest policy.