The No. 2 seed UConn Huskies look to get off on the right foot in the NCAA Tournament. Dan Hurley's team faces the No. 15 seed Furman Paladins in the first round on Friday night.
The back-to-back title years seems like an eternity ago in Storrs. The Huskies are trying to become the first school to win three national titles in four years since UCLA and John Wooden did it starting in 1972. Furman has played the role of being a giant killer in the past. They stunned No. 4 seed Virginia in the first round in 2023.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round East Region in Philadelphia.
The fourth-seeded Kansas Jayhawks face a March Madness newcomer in the No. 13 seeded California Baptist Lancers in an East Regional first-round game on Friday at Viejas Arena in San Diego. This is the first-ever meeting between the schools.
Kansas' season has been rocky with great wins and terrible losses. Freshman Darryn Peterson averages 19.8 points and is projected by many as the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. On the other side, California Baptist clipped top-seeded Utah Valley 63-61 for the Western Athletic Conference title. Dominique Daniels Jr. leads the Lancers with an average of 23.2 points.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round East Region game in San Diego.
The No. 16 Prairie View A&M Panthers will battle the top-seeded Florida Gators in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday night. This will be the start of the defending national champions run to repeat. Prairie View A&M is coming off a 67-55 win over Lehigh in Wednesday's First Four matchup.
On the other hand, Florida didn't make it to the SEC Championship game. The Panthers (19-17) have won eight in a row to walk away with a SWAC title. The Gators (26-7) won 12 of their last 13 in the regular season.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round South Region game in Tampa.
Prairie View A&M vs. Florida March Madness box score
The 12-seed Northern Iowa Panthers will battle the 5-seed St. John's Red Storm in a first-round matchup in the East Region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Northern Iowa (23-12) won the MVC Tournament as the lowest seed in history.
The Red Storm (28-6) won the Big East regular-season title and conference tournament. St. John's boasts the Big East Player of the Year, Zuby Ejiofor, who averages an impressive 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. The Panthers have won their last five games, while the Red Storm have won 19 of their last 20.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round East Region game in San Diego.
Northern Iowa vs St. John's March Madness box score
The most exciting part of the NCAA Tournament is that small programs are given the chance to play against big schools on a national stage. It gives smaller schools a chance to show they can hang with the best of the best, especially since the tournament is single-elimination.
The NCAA Tournament field comprises 68 teams, with four teams having to win play-in games to secure their spots in the bracket. The field is broken down into four regions of 16 teams each. Given that teams are ranked in descending order, there is a "favorite" and an "underdog" in every matchup. Some are close, like the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game, while others are far apart in terms of seeding and expected talent, like a No. 1 seed facing a No. 16 seed.
In the history of the NCAA Tournament since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985, the Final Four has been made up entirely of No. 1 seeds just twice. That means in all but two of the last 41 tournaments, there has been at least one upset.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament began with No. 8 Ohio State taking on No. 9 TCU. It was the Horned Frogs that emerged victorious with a 68-66 win, marking the first upset of this year’s tournament. As things played out, all four No. 9 seeds beat the No. 8 seeds.
Here is more on all of the upsets that have happened so far in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Here is a look at the upsets in 2026 March Madness so far.
No.
Upset
1.
No. 9 TCU beat No. 8 Ohio State 66-64
2.
No. 11 VCU beat No. 6 North Carolina 82-78 in OT
3.
No. 10 Texas A&M beat No. 7 Saint Mary's 63-50
4.
No. 9 Saint Louis beat No. 8 Georgia 102-88
5.
No. 11 Texas beat No. 6 BYU 79-71
6.
No. 12 High Point beat No. 5 Wisconsin 83-82
7.
No. 9 Utah State beat No. 8 Villanova 86-76
7.
No. 9 Iowa beat No. 8 Clemson 67-61
No. 9 TCU beat No. 8 Ohio State
The Horned Frogs in Buckeyes met in the first game of the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. TCU came to play and went into halftime 39-24. Ohio State battled back throughout the second half, though, and nearly completed the full comeback. The Buckeyes scored 40 points in the second half compared to the Horned Frogs' 27, but they came just shy of the win and TCU advanced.
The Horned Frogs were led by Micah Robinson, who had 18 points, and David Punch, who had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
No. 11 VCU beat No. 6 North Carolina
North Carolina went into halftime 39-28. The Tar Heels led by 19 points at one point, but the Rams battled all the way back and scored 47 points in the second half to force the game to go into overtime. VCU used that momentum to sustain them through the extra period, beating North Carolina 82-78, in what was one of the Tar Heels' worst losses in program history.
Texas A&M got out to an early lead over Saint Mary's and never looked back. The Aggies went into halftime up 11 points and maintained their lead throughout the second half. When the dust settled, Texas A&M cruised to the 63-50 victory.
The Aggies were led by Rashaun Agee, who finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and three assists.
No. 9 Saint Louis beat No. 8 Georgia
Saint Louis was matched up with Georgia in the first round, pitting an Atlantic-10 at-large team against an at-large team from the SEC. The Billikens took the opportunity to ball out for the mid-majors and took some frustrations out on Georgia. Saint Louis took a 17-point lead into halftime and didn't take its foot off the gas.
The Billikens beat the Bulldogs 102-77, one of the largest point spreads at that point in the tournament. Saint Louis had five different players finish with double-digit points.
Texas was one of the last at-large teams in the NCAA Tournament, which meant it had to play in for its spot as an 11-seed. The Longhorns beat NC State in the play-in game, which may have helped them build momentum. Texas was then matched up with BYU in the first round. The Longhorns led by nine at halftime but were outscored by the Cougars in the second half, 34-33.
Texas still hung on for the eight-point win. The Longhorns were led in scoring by Matas Vokietatis, who recorded a double-double with 23 points and 16 rebounds in 33 minutes of action.
No. 12 High Point beat No. 5 Wisconsin
High Point had the biggest upset win on the first day of the first round. The Panthers entered the tournament as the Big South Champions and were given a No. 12 seed to take on Wisconsin, an at-large team from the Big Ten. High Point hung with Wisconsin throughout the game, keeping the game close. Chase Johnston, infamously known for only making three pointers during the regular season, hit his first two of the year and it ended up being the two points the Panthers needed to clinch the win.
Despite having a 10-point lead early in the second half, the Villanova Wildcats were unable to hold on against Utah State. The Cougars never believed they were out of the running to win this game, and their determination showed. The team shot just 12.6% (2/16) from beyond the arc today, compared to Villanova's 46.7% (14/30), so the Cougars had to adapt. Utah's guards were what pulled them away from Villanova, and helped lead the team on a 20-6 run to close out the game, largely thanks to MJ Collins Jr.
No. 9 Iowa beat No. 8 Clemson
Iowa confirmed that every No. 9 seed would advance in this year's bracket. The Hawkeyes took down Clemson, 67-61, fending off some late Tigers pushes to move forward in the South Region. Even on a day where star guard Bennett Stirtz shot just 4 of 17 from the field, Iowa built a halftime lead and held on thanks to 14 points from Alvaro Folgueiras off the bench, plus an efficient 15-point night for Kael Combs. The Hawkeyes took 31 trips to the free-throw line and out-rebounded Clemson 40-27 in the first-round matchup.
Any upsets in college basketball today?
Today is Friday, March 21 and is the second and final day of the first round matchups.
There have been two upsets on the day, both from No. 9 seeds beating No. 8 seeds.
The NBA conducts its playoffs in a series format. After a single elimination play-in tournament for the final two spots, the rest of the playoffs are four best-of-seven series.
The NCAA playoff system is extremely exciting because it is a single-elimination tournament. The No. 1 team in the field could beat the No. 16 team 99 times out of 100. But the excitement comes from the fact that it has now been proven that the No. 16 team has a chance to pull off a miraculous win, and that 100th time the two would've played, and the upset would've occurred, just happens to be in the tournament.
The 11th-seeded Miami (OH) Redhawks will face the sixth-seeded Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday. The MAC-SEC matchup will be interesting on many levels.
Tennessee went 22-11 this season and was 11-7 in the SEC, while Miami won all 31 of its regular-season games before a stunning loss to UMass in the first round of the MAC Tournament.
Rick Barnes has guided the Vols to Elite Eight runs in the last two seasons, while the RedHawks are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round Midwest Region game in St. Louis.
The No. 15 Queens University Royals will make their NCAA Tournament debut on Friday night. The former Division II program led by Grant Leonard faces the second-seeded Purdue Boilermakers in a first-round matchup in the West Region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday.
This matchup of two conference champs will be interesting. Queens (21-13) won the Atlantic Sun tournament title. On the other hand, Purdue (27-8) won the 2026 Big Ten Tournament, beating Michigan 80-72 to win its third conference tournament title and first since 2023.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round West Region game in St. Louis.
The No. 10 seed UCF Knights face the seven-seeded UCLA Bruins in a first-round matchup in the East Region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday. This will be an interesting game to watch for several reasons.
UCLA's Donovan Dent goes up against UCF's Themus Fulks as two of the best guards in the country. Both teams took at-large bids in the tourney. The Knights (21-11) have a similar record to the Bruins (23-11) and are both middle of the pack in their respective conferences.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round East Region game in Philadelphia.
A lot of worries started to surface in the first half of the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Hofstra Pride game. Coach Nate Oats could not find the proper schemes and rotations to pull away from the 13th-seeded squad. Labaron Philon Jr. started heating up just like he did back in 2025's March Madness and it all started to click. The result? They now have a Round of 32 NCAA Tournament meeting against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Philon Jr. gets real on Alabama's winning March Madness philosophy
The Crimson Tide had a rough first half. They only had a slim 37-35 lead over Hofstra and there were a lot of problems to fix on the defensive side of the court. Coach Oats started to signal the need for someone to step up and Philon was the one who answered the call. He played 36 minutes and tormented the opposing defense which led to a 90-70 first round win.
Philon Jr. outlined how they managed to pull through and outscore Hofstra 53-35 in the second half, via CBS Sports.
"Like I said in the pregame ritual, we came ready and I think we prepared the best. I feel like all the coaches were ready. So, we were ready to get out there. We got rid of the first game, so we just have to be ready to move on. It's just about the grittiness. I mean, everybody wants to fight hard. We want to win games, we came here to prove something. I think it's close early but we kind of pulled away," the Alabama basketball star declared.
Coach Oats had his offense revolve around Philon Jr. to win in this March Madness clash. The star sophomore notched 29 points through shooting 56% from the field and knocking down six of his seven free throws. He also proved that the Hofstra defense along with other schools in March Madness should be guarding him on all levels of scoring. Philon was able to sink three shots from beyond the arc on seven attempts.
More than that, he was also a facilitator for Alabama. Philon Jr. dished out seven assists to get their offense going. On the defensive side of things, he was also amazing. The star sophomore from Alabama closed possessions well which got him eight rebounds. Not to mention, he was also a menace when playing on-ball and his three steals showed that.
Texas Tech is their next challenge in March Madness. However, there is not much worry for Philon Jr. and Alabama. He claimed that they had a deeper squad than the Jaylen Petty-led No. 5 Red Raiders.
"We got a lot of depth and the next team we play, they are going to be really good. So, we got to be ready because they play just like us," Philon added.
Alabama has been progressing really well in their March Madness performances. Coach Oats notched an Elite Eight berth last year and he may have found a star which could lead them to win the NCAA Tournament despite only being a four-seed.
On Friday afternoon, Virginia basketball got its first NCAA Tournament win since its national championship in 2019. In year one of the Ryan Odom era — who ironically was the coach of No. 16 UMBC when it defeated the No. 1 Cavaliers — era, the Cavs are on to the Round of 32 after an 82-73 win over Wright State.
At the center of the win was a fan favorite in Charlottesville, Jacari White. In the victory, White exploded for 26 points, a new career high, as the Cavaliers outscored the Raiders by 14 in the second half to secure the comeback.
Though this is White’s first and only year in Charlottesville, the graduate transfer from North Dakota State has wasted no time embedding himself into the fabric of the program. He arrived over the summer as a high-volume "sniper" to fit Odom’s more offensive-minded system, but he brought something more than just a jump shot: a personality that ignited a movement.
If you looked toward the stands in Philadelphia, you likely saw them — a sea of military-green t-shirts and headbands known as the "Jacarmy." As the Hoos prepare for the Round of 32, the Jacarmy is already mobilizing for Sunday. If Friday was any indication, the General isn't ready to end his tour of duty just yet.
White has become the emotional spark plug of year one of Ryan Odom era at Virginia. Standing 6-foot-3, the Orlando native arrived in Charlottesville after three standout seasons at North Dakota State and a stint in the JUCO ranks. White went from being an unranked recruit who once faced homelessness — at one point sleeping in his car and showering at the YMCA — to becoming one of the most feared sharpshooters in the country.
On the court, White effectively ended Virginia's reputation for stagnant offense. He etched his name into the UVA record books early in the 2025-26 season by making 12 consecutive three-pointers over a multi-game stretch, including a perfect 7-for-7 performance from deep against Dayton. While he often provides a scoring punch off the bench, his impact as a lockdown perimeter defender has made him an two-way asset in Odom’s fast-paced, redesigned system.
Jacari White was the hero with a season-high 26 points today for UVA. Their student section started dressing as the “Jacarmy” earlier this year, matching his signature white headband. Alum Dean Heflin (pictured left) and his friends wanted to get in on the fun. pic.twitter.com/3VQtifUeZ9
Beyond the box score, White has inspired a unique cultural phenomenon known as the "Jacarmy." This dedicated student fan brigade, led by second-year Ben Miller, attends games in military-themed attire and AI-generated T-shirts featuring White in uniform. The bond between the player and the "soldiers" is deeply personal; when White was sidelined with a wrist injury mid-season, the Jacarmy showed up to games with their own wrists taped in solidarity.
Friday was a pure explosion for White, who hit six of Virginia's 13 threes in the game and shot over 80% from the field overall. It marks a career high for the graduate transfer, who set that total earlier in the season against Dayton when he hit seven threes.
White was the only Cavalier to score over 12 points, providing the offense in a stage where Virginia has struggled in recent years.
How old is Jacari White?
White is 23 years old.
He was born on May 15, 2002, in Houston, Texas, before later moving to Orlando, Florida. As a graduate student in his first and only year at Virginia, he is one of the more experienced veterans on the roster, having played three seasons at North Dakota State and one year at the junior college level before arriving in Charlottesville.
Where is Jacari White from?
Originally from Orlando, Florida, White attended Olympia High School, where he averaged 13.5 points per game as a senior.
Despite his production in a competitive Florida landscape, he was largely overlooked by major programs and began his college career at the junior college level. At the State College of Florida, he quickly established himself as a high-volume threat, averaging 13.5 points and leading the region with an impressive 92.6% mark from the free-throw line.
This performance served as a springboard to North Dakota State, where White’s role expanded across three seasons. He evolved from a bench contributor into a Second Team All-Summit League selection, culminating in a senior year where he averaged 17.1 points per game. Known as much for his perimeter defense as his scoring — earning a spot on the Summit League All-Defensive Team in 2024 — White arrived in Charlottesville as a graduate transfer with over 1,000 career points and a reputation for high-efficiency shooting.
His transition to the ACC has seen that efficiency remain a constant, highlighted by a UVA-record 12 consecutive made three-pointers earlier this winter. Now a veteran presence for Ryan Odom, White’s career path from unranked high schooler to March hero has made him a natural fit for a program currently redefining its own identity.
Utah State had a real upset opportunity as the 9th-seed faced the eighth-seeded Villanova Wildcats in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Aggies did just that. Mason Falslev led the way for USU in the upset with 22 points and seven rebounds.
Villanova (24-8) earned an at-large bid and have won two of their last three games. That ended with the one-and-done loss.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round West Region game in San Diego.
Alabama enters the NCAA Tournament with a 29-6 record after finishing 16-4 in SEC play. They were added to the tourney as an at-large with a No. 2 seed in the East Region to face No. 15 Hofstra.
The Pride took home the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament championship, and came into the tournament with an auto bid, hoping to challenge the Tide early.
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round Midwest Region game in Tampa.
Iowa State meets a tough No. 15-seeded opponent in Tennessee State on Friday. This marks the third Men's NCAA Tournament appearance for the Tigers (23-9), who have won six straight games, marking its longest win streak since winning seven straight in 2017-18. The Cyclones (27-7) have hovered in the Top 10 of the AP poll most of the season.
ISU lost on a heartbreaker to the eventual Big 12 champion and No. 2-ranked Arizona on a buzzer-beater shot, 82-80. TSU was the No. 1 offensive team in the Ohio Valley Conference (80.5 points per game). Iowa State is ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense (65.1 ppg.)
Here is a look at the box score from Friday's first round Midwest Region game in St. Louis.
Iowa State vs. Tennessee State March Madness box score
The Santa Clara Broncos suffered a tough 89-84 overtime loss to the Kentucky Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It appeared the Broncos were going to win the contest in regulation, but the Wildcats hit a game-tying buzzer beater to force overtime. However, that play may have never come to fruition had the referees seen the Santa Clara head coach calling a timeout after going up three in the final seconds of the second half.
In an image taken almost immediately after the Broncos hit the three-pointer with just over two seconds left in the game, you can see Herb Sendek, the program’s head coach, calling timeout in the background, according to Chris Vannini of The Athletic. Referees were not looking at him, so the timeout was never officially called.
“Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek was calling timeout after the 3, but the ref wasn’t looking. Kentucky then tied the game.”
Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek was calling timeout after the 3, but the ref wasn't looking. Kentucky then tied the game. pic.twitter.com/5e1cE2MDTz
Just a brutal outcome for Santa Clara. The missed timeout call by the officials had sports fans jump on social media to defend the Broncos. Many criticized the poor officiating in the game against Kentucky overall, while others simply felt bad for Sendek’s team.
This user stated, “Incredible how they’ll spend several minutes Zapruder Filming whether a player’s shoelace aglet is out of bounds, but also ‘oops I wasn’t paying attention’ is also totally fine to them.”
“He was trying to get a TO from a ref running away from him. Had he gone toward the ref running toward him from the baseline (turned to his right instead of running to his left), he may have gotten the call?” explained one fan.
Another person said, “Pretty egregious considering the timeout they awarded Kentucky seconds earlier.”
“So how is this not a thing that can be overturned? We clearly see on camera him calling a timeout like wtf,” stated another individual.
Kentucky advances despite some controversial decisions from the referees. While Santa Clara exits the NCAA Tournament early, the Wildcats will prepare for their next game on Sunday when they take on the winner of Iowa State and Tennessee State.
After securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament, can Miami (Ohio) continue its momentum, or will Tennessee take the RedHawks down in the first round?
Tennessee holds a 4-2 all-time record against Miami, with the former winning the last matchup during the 1999-2000 season.
Miami (Ohio) was eliminated from the MAC tournament in the opening round despite finishing the regular season undefeated. The RedHawks still earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and beat SMU in the First Four. It was their first victory in the NCAA Tournament since 1999.
Tennessee won fewer games than it did last year, but still impressed this season. Seeded sixth, The Volunteers appear in their sixth straight NCAA Tournament. They hope to make it to the Final Four for the first time.
Here is everything you need to know in order to listen to Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio) in the NCAA Tournament.
Fans can listen to the Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio) broadcast live on the SiriusXM app or on channel 204 in vehicles.
New subscribers can enjoy SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio) start time
Date: Friday, March 20
Time: 2:50 p.m. ET
Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio) will tip off at 2:50 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20.
The game will be played at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Earning a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Virginia looks to return to the top of the mountain. The Cavaliers take on Wright State, No. 14, in the opening round.
Virginia won the NCAA Tournament in 2019. Wright State won the NCAA Tournament for Division II basketball in 1983.
In his first season as head coach, Ryan Odom has brought Virginia to the NCAA Tournament after the Cavaliers didn’t make it last year. The Cavaliers attempt to make it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. Thijs De Ridder leads the team in scoring.
Wright State won the Horizon League Tournament for the first time since the 2021-22 season, the same year it last made the NCAA Tournament. Clint Sargent turned things around in his second season as coach. Michael Cooper and TJ Burch lead the team in scoring.
Here is everything you need to know in order to listen to Virginia vs. Wright State in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Fans can listen to the Virginia vs. Wright State broadcast live on the SiriusXM app or on channel 204 in vehicles.
New subscribers can enjoy SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Virginia vs. Wright State start time
Date: Friday, March 20
Time: 1:50 p.m. ET
Virginia vs. Wright State will tip off at 1:50 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20.
The game will be played at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
After a 24-10 season and a Coastal Athletic Association title, the Hofstra University Pride is headed to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. They are a No. 13 seed and will face No. 4 Alabama in the Round of 64.
This will be the school's fifth trip to March Madness, but the Pride is still vying for its first March Madness win.
The NCAA Tournament is a great way to learn about schools that aren’t household names, and Hofstra University is one of them. Here’s more information about Hofstra.
Hofstra University is located in Hempstead, New York. The university lies east of Queens in Long Island. The school is around 30 miles from Manhattan.
The university is a private research university that was founded in 1935 as an extension of New York University, according to The Conversation. As of fall 2024, the school had an undergraduate population of 6,581, per U.S. News and World Report.
The Hofstra Pride, who have 17 varsity teams, compete in the NCAA's Coastal Athletic Association. The conference was founded in 1979 and is based in the Eastern region of the United States.
Hofstra joined the conference in 2001 and has been a member since. The CAA currently includes 13 teams, which are as follows:
Hofstra University is named after William Hofstra, who purchased the Van Wranken estate in Hempstead, New York, to head the Nassau Lumber Company in 1902, according to the school's website. Hofstra found great success with his company, which earned him the title of a millionaire.
Although Hofstra never intended to create a university, his estate eventually became a part of the Hofstra University campus posthumously. After William and his wife passed away, Howard Brower, a trustee of his estate, looked to create a tribute to the Hofstra family.
Truesdel Peck Calkins, the superintendent of public schools in the village of Hempstead, and Brower discussed creating a higher education institution, and Hofstra University was born.
Hofstra University made the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in school history in 2026. The Pride qualified by winning the CAA Championship. Previously, the Pride earned bids to March Madness in 1976, 1977, 2000, and 2001, but are still searching for their first tournament win.
They entered the tournament as a No. 13 seed to face No. 4 Alabama in the Round of 64.
One of the best aspects of March Madness is that the tournament brings together schools of all shapes and sizes. The tournament field isn't restricted to Power 5 schools, and several mid-major schools will have high-profile matchups where people learn about them by picking against them in their brackets.
Wright State made the 2026 NCAA Tournament as a No. 14 seed and got matched up with No. 3 Virginia in the first round. The Raiders are making just their fifth appearance in the tournament.
Wright State is a member of the Horizon League, and many basketball fans may not be familiar with where the school is located, given that "Wright" and "Horizon League" don't provide any geographic qualifiers.
Here is more on Wright State University's location, including city, origin and more.
Wright State University is located in Fairborn, Ohio. Fairborn is located between Columbus and Cincinnati, and is outside Dayton. The city is located 71 miles northeast of Cincinnati, 58 miles southwest of Columbus, and 16 miles northeast of Dayton.
As of fall 2025, Wright State has a total enrollment of nearly 12,000 students between its campuses, per the school's website.
Wright State is a member of Horizon League. It was founded in 1979 as the Midwestern City Conference and changed to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in 1985. The conference became the Horizon League in 2001 and has retained the name. The Horizon League fields 19 sports across men's and women's events, but it is a non-football conference.
As of March 2026, there are 11 members of the Horizon League, but the conference will be expanding to 12 teams in the summer.
Cleveland State University
University of Detroit Mercy
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Indiana University Indianapolis
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Northern Kentucky University
Oakland University
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Robert Morris University
Wright State University
Youngstown State University
Northern Illinois University (joining for 2026 season)
Wright State sits right outside Dayton, Ohio. Dayton is the home of the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, who are credited with inventing the world's first successful airplane. The brothers designed the airplane in their local bicycle shop in Dayton, so the name Wright State actually is an homage to the Wright brothers.
Wright State became a Division 1 basketball team in 1987. The Raiders were initially an independent team for four years, then joined the Mid-Continent Conference. After three years, Wright State then moved to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in 1994, and it became the Horizon League in 2001, where Wright State is still a member to this day.
The Raiders first made the NCAA men's basketball tournament in 1993. Wright State was a 16-seed and played Indiana in the first round. The Raiders lost 97-54.
Here is a look at Wright State's history at the NCAA Tournament.
Nestled in the middle of South Carolina lies Furman University. In the sports world, the home of the Paladins is most known for its 2023 tournament upset of No. 4 Virginia, 68-67, as a 13-seed. Three years later, Furman is back dancing and has drawn No. 2 UConn in the Round of 64.
Outside of its occasional recent NCAA Tournament appearances, not many people know about the history of Furman, including the fact that it is the oldest private university in South Carolina.
Here is an inside look at the small South Carolina school and the history behind this Southern gem.
Furman University is located in Greenville, South Carolina. The school lies just over 30 miles from Clemson University. Furman sits between Asheville, Charlotte, and Atlanta.
The school was founded in 1826 and is the oldest private university in South Carolina, per the university's website. The school is centralized around liberal arts and sciences.
As of fall 2024, Furman's undergraduate population sat at 2,383, according to U.S. News and World Report.
The Furman Paladins, who have 17 varsity sports, compete in the NCAA's Southern Conference. The conference was founded in 1921 and is based in the southeastern region of the United States.
Furman joined the conference in 1936 and has been a member since. The SoCon currently includes 10 teams, which are as follows:
The university is named after Richard Furman, who was one of the most important Baptist clergymen during the early decades of America's history, according to the school's website. Furman was a large advocate for educational institutions throughout the country.
Along with the university named after him, Furman was also involved with Brown University, George Washington University, the University of South Carolina, and Mercer University.
Throughout its history, Furman has played in eight NCAA Tournaments. It qualified for the Big Dance in 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1980, 2023 and 2026.
In the 2023 tournament, as a 13-seed, Furman defeated 4-seed Virginia, 68-67, in the opening round before losing to San Diego State in the second round.
In the 2026 tournament, Furman qualified as the Southern Conference champion and was named a 15-seed to face 2-seed UConn.
The first round of the NCAA Tournament comes to a close in Tampa when No. 1 Florida and No. 16 Prairie View A&M tip off.
The Gators enter March Madness as the reigning champions. A task that's more daunting than being the top overall seed, the pressure is on.
Meanwhile, the Panthers outlasted Lehigh in the First Four with a 68-55 win. Now in the 64-team bracket, it's time for Prairie View to level up their dancing shoes. Don't count out the underdogs.
The Madness continues in Tampa as the Gators and Panthers face off in the first round of the tournament.
Here's what you need to know about Friday's matchup between Florida and Prairie View, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Florida vs. Prairie View on today?
Florida vs. Prairie View A&M will be broadcast on TNT. Tom McCarthy, Candace Parker, Dan Bonner and AJ Ross will be on the call.
Fans looking to stream the Gators vs. Panthers game can watch live on DIRECTV.
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What time is Florida vs. Prairie View today?
Date: Friday, March 29
Time: 9:25 p.m. ET
The NCAA tournament game between Florida and Prairie View is set to tip off at 9:25 p.m. ET from Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.
This matchup marks just the second-ever between the programs. Florida and Prairie View A&M previously faced off in 2006 when the Gators earned a dominant 94-33 win at home.
Listen to every game of the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament live on SiriusXM.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
The 2026 Men's Final Four is set for April 4 and 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The semifinals will be played Saturday night and the national championship game is set for Monday night.
The home of the Indianapolis Colts previously hosted the event in 2010, 2015 and 2021 and is set to host again in 2029. Indianapolis previously hosted the Final Four at other facilities in 1980, 1991, 1997, 2000 and 2006.
Only Kansas City has been home to the Final Four more often (10 times), but the last one held there was in 1988.
March Madness tournament schedule 2026
Here is the round-by-round schedule for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament:
After their narrow 2026 Mid-Atlantic Conference Tournament championship win, many college basketball fans became more familiar with the University of Akron Zips.
However, few fans know what a Zip is and the surprising history behind Akron's team name. While many only know a zipper as a clothing item, this wasn't always the case.
Here is everything you need to know about the history of Akron's nickname and mascot.
In 1927, the University of Akron held a contest around its campus to choose a nickname for the University's sports teams. According to the school's website, a student named Margaret Hamlin shared her idea, which was the "Zippers." This was also the name of a popular rubber overshoe sold by B.F. Goodrich Co., a local Akron shoe company. After being one of the final choices for the team name, Hamlin's idea was voted in by students.
In 1950, just 23 years later, the school's athletic director, Kenneth Red Cochrane, shortened the nickname to the "Zips." The name still stands today and is one of college sports' most unique team names.
A zip is the abbreviated name of Akron's former team name, the Zippers. They were formerly named the Zippers, but former Akron athletic director Kenneth Red Cochrane had it shortened to the "Zips."
Zippers were also the name of a popular 1920s rubber overshoe sold by Akron's B.F. Goodrich Co.
Akron's kangaroo mascot is known as Zippy. In 1953, Dick Hansford, the school's vice president, suggested recomended the kangaroo.
Zippy was eventually designed later that year and featured a zipper across its pouch. This signified that Zippy was female, which came as a surprise because a female mascot was rare across sports (and still is).
Zippy made her official debut in 1955 during Akron's Rubber Bowl football game. In 2007, she won the National Capital One Mascot of the Year Challenge.
UCF’s John Bol is 7-foot-2, but it’s his routine at the 15-foot line that has turned the sophomore center into a viral sensation during the 2026 season.
Stepping to the stripe, Bol abandons the traditional guide-hand approach for a bizarre, one-armed flick that involves twisting the ball back toward his body before a snapping release. While the form has been called everything from "AI-generated slop" to the basketball equivalent of a Charles Barkley golf swing, the logic behind the change is purely functional.
For Bol and the UCF coaching staff, the ugly mechanics are a small price to pay for a developmental project who has transformed from a bench-warmer into a legitimate postseason interior threat.
— Mostly Hoops With Mark Titus & Co. (@MostlyHoopsShow) January 4, 2026
The center takes his left hand off the ball when releasing his shot. After struggling with a severe case of the "yips" and shooting just 50% as a freshman at Ole Miss, Bol adopted the one-handed motion to simplify his mechanics and remove the extra variables of his massive 7-foot-9 wingspan.
The results, as strange as they look, are hard to argue with. Bol has defied the eye test by improving his free-throw shooting to a robust 68.1% for the Knights, becoming a reliable late-game presence in a high-octane Big 12.
Bol’s journey to the Big 12 is a story of rapid transformation that spans thousands of miles and a complete shift in athletic focus. Born in Boma, South Sudan, Bol grew up in a household where soccer was the primary passion—he was a devoted fan of Cristiano Ronaldo and initially had very little interest in basketball.
His path to the United States began at age 16, when he moved from South Sudan (having also spent time in Kenya) to pursue better educational and athletic opportunities. Remarkably, Bol did not even pick up a basketball until 2021.
After a chance encounter at a neighborhood court in Georgia, he was discovered by scouts and eventually joined the Overtime Elite program in Atlanta. By the time he graduated high school, he had transitioned from a complete novice to a consensus four-star recruit and the No. 1 ranked player in the state of Georgia. He began his collegiate career at Ole Miss before transferring to UCF for the 2025–26 season, where he has become one of the most recognizable defensive anchors in the country.
Despite their shared home country and identical last name, John Bol is not related to Bol Bol or his father, the late NBA legend Manute Bol.
While it is common for fans to assume a family connection — especially given that both are 7-foot-2 and originally from South Sudan — the name "Bol" is extremely common among the Dinka people of that region. In fact, John Bol’s journey into basketball is entirely separate from the Bol family dynasty; he grew up as a soccer fan and didn’t even pick up a basketball until 2021, nearly a decade after Bol Bol had already become a high school sensation.
The Illini (25-8) nearly led the entire way through against a Quakers (18-12) team that was overhauled by coach Fran McCaffery following a successful 15-year stint with the Iowa Hawkeyes. But the opening round belonged to Illinois, led by forward David Mirković's 29 points, 17 rebounds and three assists in one of the best games of his collegiate career, if not the best.
"David had a historic night by setting an Illinois rebounding record in the NCAA Tournament and became the second Illini to notch 20+ points and 15+ rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game," the Illinois men's basketball "X" account wrote.
Illinois led by as many as 40, 102-62, with a little over two minutes left after playing a suffocating blitz of high-octane offense and not letting the Quakers get comfortable from the perimeter after finding early success in the opening half.
More specifically, Underwood said center Tomislav Ivišić, who finished the game with 12 points and was a huge physical presence on the offensive side of the ball.
"Tomi can score down there," Underwood told reporters. "It's something we do, we don't do it frequently, but we do it when we feel we've got matchup opportunities... What he brings to our team is more than just on a stat sheet."
The focus will now quickly shift to a Saturday matchup with the VCU Rams (28-7), who overcame a 19-point deficit in the opening round as a No. 11 seed against the No. 6 seed North Carolina Tar Heels (24-9) in an 82-78 overtime appetizer in Greenville Thursday night.
Amir Khan took the college basketball world by storm in 2025. One year on, he remains a reminder of the magic of March.
Khan entered tournament play a relative unknown, having avoided the spotlight while mopping floors and handing out towels as one of McNeese State’s managers. His distinctive flair could not be blighted as the Cowboys made their run through the tourney, however — not as he wielded his trusty boombox, fired off fiery rap lyrics and dressed in the finest furs.
Khan is stitched into the quilt of March’s mayhem, placed alongside other college basketball heavyweights like the late Sister Jean and “One Shining Moment.” His passion for his alma mater knows no bounds. Still, his whereabouts have garnered interest. Khan swapped McNeese State for an ACC powerhouse ahead of the 2026 season, only to make a stunning U-turn one month later.
Here’s what you need to know about Khan, his stunning departure from McNeese State and subsequent rebirth as manager to the stars with the Cowboys.
Khan was the darling of the 2025 NCAA tournament, coming to prominence as McNeese State's manager. Known for his stirring rendition of classics like "In and Out" by Lud Foe, Khan was the name on the lips of a great many college basketball enthusiasts during the tournament. It didn't hurt that the Cowboys bested Clemson in the Round of 64, extending his time under the spotlight.
A Lake Charles, Louisiana native, Khan grew up a stone's throw from McNeese State's campus. Despite his hometown ties, Khan actually grew up an LSU fan. He watched on as Will Wade brought the Tigers back to relevance, leading the side to three tournament appearances.
Wade's tenure in Baton Rouge ended in controversy. He was fired in March 2022, the same month the school was notified of allegations from the NCAA detailing several Level I violations involving Wade. He was summarily handed a two-year show-cause penalty.
McNeese State offered Wade a lifeline, hiring him upon the expiry of his ban. Khan was already enrolled at the school at the time of Wade's hire. He felt that the opportunity to serve under Wade was too good to pass up.
Khan is in his third season as the Cowboys' manager. His swiftness of feet is the stuff of legend in his slice of Louisiana, immortalized by a quote that features in his official managerial bio:
"If they kept manager stats for rebounding and wiping up wet spots on the court, I'd put up Wilt Chamberlain numbers."
That bravado rubbed off on the masses of viewers who tuned into McNeese State contests during the 2025 NCAA tourney.
"As a manager, you don't expect this kind of attention," Khan told The Sporting News in 2025. "So just seeing brands reach out to me, coaches from across the country, people saying 'I'm a big fan,' it means a lot to me. I appreciate all the love and support, but I never expected all of that. But I've definitely been enjoying all of it."
Amir Khan nickname
Khan's nickname is "Aura." The origins of the moniker are a bit murky, although it seems to have emerged after videos of Khan invoking famed rappers went viral.
"Some of the players they mess around with me and they're like, 'hey, look, it's Aura,'" Khan said. "But I definitely still go by Amir."
Amir Khan March Madness highlights
Khan racked up the highlights in his McNeese State's fifth-ever tournament appearance. He led the Cowboys out with his patented boombox ahead of their proceedings.
Amir Khan leads the McNeese walk out vs. Clemson 🔥
Following the Cowboys' memorable run in tournament play, Wade drew interest as one of the coaching carousel's biggest names. NC State was linked heavily with McNeese State's taskmaster during the tournament. Shortly after it was bounced, news broke that Wade agreed to a six-year deal with the ACC side.
Khan, a self-described Wade acolyte, planned on following him to Raleigh. CBS Sports' Matt Norlander reported that Khan was set to field "additional roles and responsibilities" in his new home. Khan was tipped to become a graduate assistant, an apparent step up from his managerial role.
"Coach Wade called me himself to say, 'Amir, we would love to have you there,'" Khan told ESPN. "'We'd love to have you here.' ... For Coach Wade to call me personally and say that he wants me [at NC State], it meant a lot to me."
Wade offered Khan a platform to become a social media sensation during his time in McNeese State. That decision proved profitable for Khan, whose earnings from his NIL deals reportedly hang somewhere in the six figures range.
Why did Amir Khan return to McNeese?
Khan tried his luck in Raleigh. But after a few months at his new campus, he felt homesick.
So he decided to go home. Khan entered the transfer portal in Dec. 2025. By the end of the semester, he was back at McNeese
His decision to transfer was motivated by a few factors. Khan’s credits didn’t properly transfer, leaving him in something of an academic quagmire
"It pushed me back to being a sophomore,” Khan said. “So I’m a senior [at McNeese], so I decided to come back and get my degree. That was really the reason why I left in the middle of the season, so I could be [at McNeese] for next semester and try to graduate this upcoming semester."
He also yearned for the chance to return to his native Lake Charles.
“I just wanted to be back home,” he said. “I think NC State was amazing. I loved the city, loved the campus, loved the players on the team. There was no animosity whatsoever. I just wanted to be back with McNeese. It means a lot more to me to work for McNeese.”
Miami (Ohio) has an array of shooters, a high-powered offense and a unique level of confidence. The RedHawks also have a secret weapon: John Cena.
Junior forward Eian Elmer is a noted fan of Cena, and a now-retired Cena is showing the love back to Elmer and the RedHawks.
Elmer did Cena's signature hand wave after Miami's First Four win over SMU, and there's no telling what the ceiling could be for the RedHawks now that they have the wrestling great on their side.
Here's what you need to know about the connection between Elmer and Cena.
Elmer is a longtime fan of Cena, and Miami has incorporated Cena's signature "You can't see me" hand wave gesture into its celebrations this season. While the exact history between Elmer and his wrestling fandom isn't clear, the RedHawks have found inspiration through Cena during their remarkable season.
After Cena heard about his role in Miami's success this season, he sent a message to Elmer in particular ahead of the RedHawks' First Four game. It may be no surprise, then, that Miami advanced past SMU despite entering as an underdog. Elmer led the team in scoring despite foul trouble limiting him to 23 minutes, as he scored 23 points and drilled six 3-pointers with the power of Cena behind him.
Elmer and the rest of the RedHawks celebrated with Cena's "You can't see me" hand wave while doing an on-court interview after their First Four win, and Elmer led another hand wave celebration in the locker room:
Cena thanked Elmer and the RedHawks for finding inspiration in him, and he offered sage advice after an undefeated regular season. "My advice to you is may we never perfect. I choose to use the word 'undefeated' because there is always reflection we can have in our moments, and we get a takeaway if life seems to hand us a plan that we haven't accounted for yet."
After watching the video, Miami coach Travis Steele joked, "AI is incredible," but Elmer knew Cena himself took the time to reach out and was nearly speechless.
The No. 3 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs will try to make a deep run in the tournament. They'll have to get by No. 14 seed Kennesaw State Owls in the first round of the Big Dance on Thursday night.
Gonzaga won the West Coast Conference title and will come in needing a boost after some down time. On the other hand, Kennesaw State won the Conference USA Tournament title to earn an automatic bid. These schools are meeting for the first time ever.
Here is a look at the box score from Thursday's first round West Region game in Portland.
Kennesaw State vs. Gonzaga March Madness box score
If you want to max out on college basketball, this is the day.
Friday features wall-to-wall NCAA men's and women's tournament games, 32 in all, with tip times ranging from 11:30 a.m. to 10:10 p.m. ET.
As always, it figures to be one of the least productive workdays of the year across America as fans monitor their brackets and sneak a peek at their favorite teams throughout the day and deep into the evening.
Among the main attractions on tap Friday in the men's bracket: Title hopefuls like Arizona, UConn, Purdue and reigning champ Florida get into action, and we'll get a look at how Kansas plans to use potential top NBA Draft pick Darryn Peterson after an erratic pattern of regular-season playing time.
On the women's side, Texas is the lone No. 1 seed set to take the court today, and dangerous LSU and Michigan teams will also get their chance to make a statement out of the gate ahead of what they hope will be a deep run through the bracket.
Whatever you're looking for, Friday should have it somewhere across about 13 consecutive hours of basketball. Here's when and where to watch every game.
Friday's 32 March Madness games will air across eight broadcast networks, with men's games on CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV and women's games portioned across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNews. See the full game-by-game schedule below.
Fans who want to stream games live have numerous options led by DIRECTV, which will carry every men's and women's game.
Men's games on CBS can also be streamed via Fubo and Paramount+, while every women's game will also be available on Fubo and the ESPN app.
St. Louis secured an impressive victory over the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday night, 102-77. The St. Louis Billikens, representing Saint Louis University (SLU) in the Atlantic 10 Conference, accomplished this remarkable win as conference champions.
This moment truly embodies the excitement of March Madness, as an Atlantic 10 team defeats an SEC team. Prior to the game, Georgia was widely favored to win against the Atlantic 10 champions, but the sportsbooks' predictions did not reflect the night's outcome.
The Houston Cougars suffered a heartbreaking end to last season in the National Championship Game. However, this is their road to redemption.
Kelvin Sampson's team took care of the No. 15 seed Idaho Vandals with a 78-47 win in the South Region in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night. Kingston Flemings had 17 points for the Cougars, who bounced back after a 79-74 loss to Arizona in the Big 12 title game. On the other side, Idaho first tourney appearance since 1990 was short-lived.
Here is a look at the box score from Thursday's first round South Region game in Oklahoma City.
AJ Dybantsa’s freshman campaign at BYU is officially over.
Despite a commendable 35-point effort from the 18-year-old star forward against Texas in the Round of 64 on Thursday night, the Cougars were unable to win the rebounding battle (40-31 in favor of Texas) and get enough stops down the stretch to pull off a come-from-behind victory over the Longhorns.
Texas secured a 79-71 NCAA Tournament victory over BYU to advance to the Round of 32.
After the crushing eight-point loss, Dybantsa, a projected top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, discussed his immediate future with reporters.
Is AJ Dybantsa declaring for the NBA Draft after BYU’s loss to Texas?
While it’s a foregone conclusion that Dybantsa will enter his name into the NBA Draft, the future pro has yet to make a final decision on the subject. However, the Boston, Massachusetts native did walk reporters through his next steps after coming up short in the Big Dance.
“Just talk to my family,” Dybantsa said. “My mom ultimately, she kind of is the big boss, she kind of makes the decisions in life. Just talk to her, see what she says and y’all will get an answer in the next couple of weeks.”
Although Dybantsa has stated that his mom wants him to stay in school and earn his degree, it’s challenging to envision him spending multiple years at the collegiate level. The 6-foot-9 forward possesses the contested shot-making ability off the dribble (at all three levels), downhill physicality, and above-the-rim ability necessary to succeed in today’s NBA.
Dybantsa averaged 25.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game with BYU this season, shooting 51.3% from the field and 34.0% from beyond the arc. Expect Dybantsa to declare for the NBA Draft in due time.
Robbie Avila is a 6-foot-10 center at Saint Louis University, who was key to the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament against Georgia.
Interestingly, he is gaining a lot of popularity for his protective goggles and his nickname, "Cream Abdul-Jabbar," which is basically a nod to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He is also known as "Larry Nerd" or "Larry Blurred."
Another curiosity is that due to his resemblance to Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Avila was also nicknamed College Jokic.
He was born in Oak Forest, Illinois, on Sept. 10, 2003. As a rookie, Avila averaged 10.7 points and 4 rebounds during his time at Indiana State and was named to the MVC All-Freshman Team.
During his junior year, Avila averaged 25.5 points and 11.5 rebounds at Oak Forest High School. He was subsequently ranked as the sixth-best player in the state of Illinois and the 54th-best power forward in the country, according to Patch.
Robbie Avila, aka 'College Jokic,' leads Saint Louis in March Madness
On Thursday, at the start of the game between St. Louis and Georgia, he was key to his team going into halftime up 49-32, with eight points (3-of-4 from the field), four rebounds, three assists, one block, and two turnovers. Not bad.
Avila was the constant focus of the CBS broadcast and the cameras, which also followed his family in the stands.
Robbie is now a senior, transferred from Indiana State — where he had already gone viral in 2024 for his uncommon combination of size and court vision — and comes in averaging about 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in the A-10 with St. Louis.
His reading of the game and his resources are making him a very striking figure in March Madness.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament will continue on Friday with another loaded slate of first-round games.
No. 7 Kentucky and No. 10 Santa Clara will meet in the first contest of the day, and No. 7 Miami (Fla.) and No. 10 Missouri will close out the evening. Plenty of eyes will be focused on No. 11 Miami (Ohio) after the RedHawks beat SMU in a First Four game to set up a clash with No. 6 Tennessee.
Here is everything you need to know about the first round of the NCAA Tournament, including TV and streaming options for Friday's March Madness games.
NCAA Tournament games will air on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Viewers can also stream March Madness games on DIRECTV (CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV), Fubo (CBS) and Paramount+ (CBS).
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You can listen to NCAA Tournament games live on SiriusXM. Channels for games are listed below.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
One of the better 8 vs. 9 matchups in the 2026 NCAA Tournament comes late on Thursday night. The Georgia Bulldogs face the Saint Louis Billikens in the Midwest Region.
No. 8 Georgia (22-10) has won three of its last four games coming into the tourney. No. 9 Saint Louis (28-5) won the A-10 regular season title. But they've dropped two of the last three and limp into this matchup. The Billikens are dancing for the first time since 2019 and Georgia makes a consecutive appearance.
Here is a look at the box score from Thursday's first round Midwest Region game in Buffalo, NY.
The Houston Cougars are set to face the Idaho Vandals in the NCAA First Round in Oklahoma City, and the matchup promises to be exciting. Houston, last year's tournament runners-up, reached the National Championship but lost to Florida in San Antonio. They are eager to build on a season filled with both highs and lows as they aim for a deep tournament run once again.
The Idaho Vandals enter the tournament as a 15-seed, hoping to achieve a major upset after winning their first Big Sky title in 36 years.
For the Houston Cougars, a victory will secure a game against Texas A&M, and a win there would allow them to host the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 at the Toyota Center.
Houston vs. Idaho score
Houston vs. Idaho live updates, results, highlights from NCAA First Round
FINAL: 78-47 Houston advances to take on Texas A&M in the hopes of advancing to their sixth straight Sweet 16.
11:01 PM: Houston leads 70-40 with five minutes remaining, Kingston Fleming still leads the Cougars at 18 points. Houston leads in rebounds, while Idaho has fought back it hasn't been enough for Houston's offense.
10:45 PM:Houston has maintined their momentum heading into the second half, standing at 57-33 with 12 minutes remaining. Idaho is struggling to turn plays into points.
10:09 PM HALFTIME: The Houston Cougars are dominating the first half, excelling in nearly every aspect of play against Idaho. Freshman Kingston Fleming is proving to be a valuable asset for the Cougars. Houston has secured 28 rebounds, with Chris Cenac Jr. leading the way with 12, while the Vandals have collected a total of 13 rebounds.
9:52 PM: Entering the final five minutes, the Houston Cougars have a 22-point lead. The brakes aren't being pumped anytime soon.Kingston Fleming leads the Coogs with 14 points, and the Cougars are dominating with rebounds, 23-11.
9:35 PM: Houston is on a 12-0 run with a 25-15 lead. The defensive unit is shining, forcing throws from the Idaho offensive unit.
9:30 PM: The first five minutes of action have been a thriller; Houston and Idaho are finding their rhythm.
Houston vs. Idaho start time
Date: Thursday, March 20
Time: 10:15 p.m. ET
The NCAA tournament game between Houston and Idaho is set to tip off at 10:15 pm ET.
Fans looking to stream Houston vs. Idaho can watch live on DIRECTV.
Catch every game of March Madness – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live Soccer, MLB, and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.
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Potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft AJ Dybantsa lived up to every ounce of the hype during his NCAA Tournament debut. The future lottery pick certainly would have rather come out on the winning end of Thursday's Round of 64 contest against Texas, but those who watched the game won't soon forget Dybantsa's performance.
After leading the nation in scoring at 25.3 points per game and carrying BYU to a No. 6 seed, the freshman phenom proved that his elite skill set translates perfectly to the high-stakes environment of March Madness.
In BYU's 79-71 loss to Texas in Portland, Dybantsa was electric. The Brockton, Mass., native came out blazing hot with 20 points in the first half alone. He finished the game with 35 points and eight rebounds. And while his season is now over, the legacy he leaves behind at BYU is undebatable.
Here's more on Dybantsa's performance against the Longhorns.
Dybantsa led all scorers in BYU-Texas, flashing his playmaking ability from the first minute until the final buzzer.
Points: 35
Rebounds: 10
Assists: 1
Shots/Attempts: 11/25
Three Point Shots/Attempts: 1/7
Free Throws: 12/12
His 35 points was just four shy of the all-time record for a freshman, set in 2017 by De'Aaron Fox. Dybantsa put up a double-double in his only NCAA Tournament game, flashing every bit of brilliance he's become known for. Moreover, the freshman played 40 minutes, extending a streak where he's played at least 34 dating back to January 17.
In four postseason games, Dybantsa scored at least 26 points in each game. Sadly, his heroics were not enough for BYU, who saw its season end on Thursday night.
Most points by a freshman in an NCAA Tournament game
While several freshmen have had legendary runs, the gold standard for a single-game scoring performance remains held by De'Aaron Fox. Now a star for the San Antonio Spurs, Fox solidified his place in college basketball history during the 2017 NCAA Tournament while playing for the Kentucky Wildcats.
In a highly anticipated Sweet 16 matchup against UCLA, Fox was unstoppable, pouring in 39 points to lead Kentucky to an 86–75 victory. He shot 13-of-20 from the field and 13-of-15 from the free-throw line, outplaying fellow star freshman Lonzo Ball in the process. To this day, those 39 points represent the most ever scored by a freshman in a single NCAA Tournament game, surpassing the previous record of 35 set by Michigan's Loy Vaught in 1987.
Dybantsa has put together one of the most prolific freshman campaigns in college basketball history, entering the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the nation’s leading scorer. Averaging 25.3 points per game, he is on track to become the first underclassman to lead Division I in scoring since 2021. His elite efficiency is equally impressive, shooting 51.3% from the field and 76.4% from the charity stripe while consistently drawing fouls at a high rate (8.4 FTA per game).
His impact on the record books has been immediate and historic. In the Big 12 Tournament, Dybantsa broke Kevin Durant's 19-year-old record for most points in a single tournament, totaling 93 points over three games — headlined by a 40-point masterpiece against Kansas State. That performance made him the only Division I player this century to record a line of 40+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 3+ steals on 70% shooting with zero fouls.
Dybantsa is 19 years old. He was born on Jan. 29, 2007, in Brockton, Massachusetts.
Because of his early 2007 birthday, Dybantsa is slightly older than the average college freshman, which has been a major factor in his physical readiness for the collegiate level. His age and development were key drivers in his decision to reclassify from the high school class of 2026 to 2025, allowing him to join BYU a year early. Despite playing against older competition this season, he has consistently been the most dominant physical force on the court, utilizing his 6-foot-9 frame and 19-year-old frame to lead the nation in scoring.
By the time the 2026 NBA Draft arrives in June, Dybantsa will be roughly 19 years and 5 months old.
One of the later games for the opening night of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Thursday features No. 3 seed Illinois against No. 14 seed Pennsylvania in the South Region. The Fighting Illini went 24-8 (15-5 Big Ten) during the regular season. On the other hand, the Ivy league Quakers were 18-11 overall and 9-5 in conference play.
Illinois has a 40-30 lead over Penn at halftime.
Here is a look at the box score from Thursday's first round South Region game in Greenville, SC.
The Texas Longhorns are coming off a thrilling buzzer-beater victory over NC State in the First Four and are now set to face the BYU Cougars in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday evening, with tip-off scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CDT.
Texas, under first-year head coach Sean Miller, aims to make a deep tournament run, relying on guards Jordan Pope and Tramon Mark to deliver crucial perimeter scoring and playmaking.
On the other hand, BYU boasts one of the most talked-about freshmen in the country, AJ Dybarta, a projected top NBA draft pick who has been the driving force for the Cougars throughout the season.
Texas vs. BYU score
Texas vs. BYU live updates, results, highlights from NCAA First Round
8:06 PM: Texas has maintained its lead opening the second half, leading by 12 points with 12 minutes left. BYU is struggling to keep up with small bursts of energy, but no real progression. Texas leads by more than half from points on the board vs. BYU.
7:50 PM: BYU analysts are speaking the truth; it's a matter of survival and advancement for BYU in the second half.
Sure feels like the first five minutes of this second half will determine if BYU’s season will continue or they’ll be one-and-done.
Defend with some semblance of heart/pride, clean up on the glass & keep generating high-percentage looks on offense
1ST HALF: It was a scoring sensation for both Texas and BYU. Heading into the half, the Longhorns found a last-minute push to dominate 46-37. The freshman sensation AJ Dybarta is at 20 points, 7-13 FG (54%), while the rest of BYU is dragging at 17 points, 7-15 FG (47%).
AJ Dybantsa in 1st half vs Texas: 20 points, 7 for 13 FG (54%)
BYU vs. Texas will be aired on TBS, with Brad Nessler, Wally Szczerbiak and Jared Greenberg on the call.
Fans looking to stream BYU vs. Texas can watch live on DIRECTV.
Catch every game of March Madness – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live Soccer, MLB, and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.
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The fact that the NCAA basketball tournament is unpredictable. It feels like anything can happen, and that makes every game feel exciting.
Even though a 5-seed is almost always the favorite over 12 seeds in the first round, they don't always win. With everyone hoping for upsets for maximum chaos in the tournament, it didn't take long for a 12-seed to beat a 5-seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
High Point University entered the tournament as a 12-seed after earning an automatic bid from winning the Big South conference tournament. The Panthers were matched up with No. 5 Wisconsin, which earned an at-large bid from the Big Ten.
High Point is the epitome of what makes the tournament exciting, and pulled off the 83-82 upset win, their first in the NCAA Tournament in program history.
Here is more on High Point becoming a 12-seed that beat a 5-seed.
High Point pulled off the first big upset of the tournament and it was only the fourth game of the first day of the first round. The Panthers were trailing for most of the game, but did a good job at keeping the game close. High Point was fueled by some massive three-pointers from senior guard Chase Johnston. He was infamous for not making a two-pointer the entire regular season.
Johnston caught fire in the second half, hitting a three pointer from the logo, and another moving in the corner.
The guard then finally had a play that you'd only think Hollywood could come up. Johnston was on a breakaway, took the outlet pass and made a layup. It was his first non three-pointer and non free-throw of the entire season. It put High Point up 83-82. Wisconsin tried to throw the ball down the court to attempt a buzzer beater, but High Point intercepted it, ending the game.
12 seeds to beat a 5
High Point became the 57th 12-seed to register a win over a 5-seed team since 1985. Even though the matchup looks one-sided on paper, at least one 12-seed has advanced to the second round in all but five tournaments since 1985.
Year
Result
Score
1985
Kentucky def. Washington
66-58
1986
DePaul def. Virginia
72-68
1987
Wyoming def. Virginia
64-60
1989
DePaul def. Memphis State
66-63
1990
Dayton def. Illinois
88-86
1990
Ball State def. Oregon State
54-53
1991
Eastern Michigan def. Mississippi State
76-56
1992
New Mexico State def. DePaul
81-73
1993
George Washington def. New Mexico
82-68
1994
UW-Green Bay def. California
61-57
1994
Tulsa def. UCLA
112-102
1995
Miami (Ohio) def. Arizona
71-62
1996
Drexel def. Memphis
75-63
1996
Arkansas def. Penn State
86-80
1997
College of Charleston def. Maryland
75-66
1998
Florida State def. TCU
96-87
1999
Detroit def. UCLA
56-53
1999
Missouri State def. TCU
96-87
2001
Utah State def. Ohio State
77-68 (OT)
2001
Gonzaga def. Virginia
86-85
2002
Tulsa def. Marquette
71-69
2002
Missouri def. Miami (Fla.)
93-80
2002
Creighton def. Florida
83-82 (2OT)
2003
Butler def. Mississippi State
47-46
2004
Pacific def. Providence
66-58
2005
Milwaukee def. Alabama
83-73
2006
Montana def. Nevada
87-79
2006
Texas A&M def. Syracuse
66-58
2008
Villanova def. Clemson
75-69
2008
Western Kentucky def. Drake
101-99 (OT)
2009
Wisconsin def. Florida State
61-59 (OT)
2009
Arizona def. Utah
84-71
2009
Western Kentucky def. Illinois
76-72
2010
Cornell def. Temple
78-65
2011
Richmond def. Vanderbilt
69-66
2012
South Florida def. Temple
58-44
2012
VCU def. Wichita State
62-59
2013
Ole Miss def. Wisconsin
57-46
2013
California def. UNLV
64-61
2013
Oregon def. Oklahoma State
68-55
2014
Harvard def. Cincinnati
61-57
2014
North Dakota State def. Oklahoma
80-75 (OT)
2014
Stephen F. Austin def. VCU
77-75 (OT)
2016
Little Rock def. Purdue
85-83 (2OT)
2016
Yale def. Baylor
79-75
2017
Middle Tennessee def. Minnesota
81-72
2019
Oregon def. Wisconsin
72-54
2019
Liberty def. Mississippi State
80-76
2019
Murray State def. Marquette
83-64
2021
Oregon State def. Tennessee
70-56
2022
New Mexico State def. Connecticut
70-63
2022
Richmond def. Iowa
67-63
2024
James Madison def. Wisconsin
72-61
2024
Grand Canyon def. Saint Mary's
75-66
2025
McNeese def. Clemson
69-67
2025
Colorado State def. Memphis
78-70
2026
High Point def. Wisconsin
83-82
The 8-9 game is the closest two teams can be seed-wise in the bracket. Because of this, it is pretty common for the 9-seed to upset the 8-seed, though many don't view it as a true upset because they are generally considered evenly matched.
After that matchup, though, the 12-5 upset has historically been the most common upset in March Madness, with at least one happening in 26 of the last 31 seasons. After two 12-5 upsets in 2025, the first 5-12 matchup saw the 12-seed pull the upset.
The East region in the 2026 NCAA tournament is a gauntlet that features a handful of blue bloods and experienced coaches.
While Duke leads the way as the No.1 seed, Jon Scheyer is only in his fourth season as the Blue Devils' head coach. In order to make it to Indianapolis, Scheyer may need to go through several Hall-of-Fame-caliber coaches.
Over the course of the next two weekends, some of the biggest names in the sport will have to go against each other for just one Final Four spot. Here's a breakdown of which coaches make up the East region.
Scheyer took over for Mike Krzyzewski in 2022, but Duke hasn't lost a step. The Blue Devils have improved each year under Scheyer, and are the No. 1 overall seed for the first time since 2019 this year.
Scheyer's success shows that he is one of the brightest young coaches in college basketball, and he made his first Final Four in 2025. However, Scheyer is still looking for his first NCAA championship as a coach.
Dan Hurley, UConn
Hurley was a top high school coach for a decade before making the jump to college, where he has only continued his success. The former Seton Hall guard coach Wagner and Rhode Island before taking the UConn job in 2018.
Hurley specifically rose to prominence in the last three years, leading UConn to back-to-back National Championships. However, he's only made it out of the first weekend twice, albeit during both of his NCAA championship seasons.
Tom Izzo, Michigan State
Izzo is the second-longest tenured active coach in NCAA basketball, having coached Michigan State for the past 31 years. Over those three decades, Izzo 's Spartans have been a consistent presence in the NCAA tournament.
While Izzo has just one national championship, his five Final Four appearances is the fifth most in college basketball history. However, Izzo hasn't made the Final Four in the last five tournaments, the longest such drought in his career.
Bill Self, Kansas
Considering Bill Self has been the Kansas head coach for over two decades, his four Final Fours and two NCAA championships may be seen as a disappointment. Still, Self consistently produced one of the best teams in the country, and has 17 regular-season championships at Kansas alone.
Prior to joining the Jayhawks, Self had stops at Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois. He has also made the NCAA tournament every season since 1998-99.
Rick Pitino, St. John's
In a region full of experienced coaches, Rick Pitino is the most experienced. The 73-year-old began his head coaching career at Hawaii in 1975 and has coached seven different college teams since then.
Pitino's career includes NCAA championships at Kentucky and Louisville, although a chunk of his wins and his title at Louisville were vacated by the NCAA. Still, Pitino has always proven to be perhaps the best coach in college basketball.
Mick Cronin, UCLA
Mick Cronin is known for his consistency, as he's made 13 of the last fourteen NCAA tournaments. Cronin's coaching career began at Murray State before taking over at Cincinnati, where he led the Bearcats to nine-straight appearances.
Cronin joined UCLA in 2019, and made his first Final Four in 2021 with a 11-seeded Bruins team. UCLA has made the tournament five times in the last six seasons under Cronin.
Jamie Dixon, TCU
While Jamie Dixon doesn't have the accolades of some of his contemporaries in the East, he is extremely experienced himself. Dixon coached Pittsburgh for 13 years, making the NCAA tournament 11 times, and has now been at TCU for 10 years, making the tournament five times.
However, Dixon is still searching for his first trip to the Final Four. The 60-year-old came close a few times with Pittsburgh, but hasn't been able to make a serious run with the Horned Frogs.
The East Region has a combined seven NCAA championships, as four coaches come together to make up the total. That includes Rick Pitino's 2013 championship, which the NCAA has since vacated.
Final Four appearances
Tom Izzo: 8
Rick Pitino: 7
Bill Self: 4
Dan Hurley: 2
Jon Scheyer: 1
Mick Cronin: 1
Six coaches in the East region have reached at least one Final Four, totaling 23 overall appearances. Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino and Bill Self do the heavy lifting here, as they have a combined 19 trips to the Final Four.
March Madness appearances
The 16 East region head coaches have made a combined 131 March Madness appearances. Of those coaches, Izzo, Self and Pitino have all made the tournament at least 25 times, while Mick Cronin and Jamie Dixon have been to the dance 16 times each.
Conference championships
Of the coaches in the East region, 14 of them have won at least one conference championship. Overall, those 14 coaches have combined for 60 conference titles, as Rick Pitino leads the way with 16, while Bill Self has 10 himself
Career record
Coaches in the East region have a combined record of 5,211-2,610, which comes out to a winning percentage of around 66.7%. Eight of the 16 coaches have won at least 300 games, while five have at least 500 wins and three have at least 750 wins. Pitino once again tops everyone with 913 wins overall.
March Madness continues Thursday as North Dakota State faces Michigan State in a first-round NCAA Tournament matchup, with the Spartans looking to make another deep postseason run.
Michigan State flag is displayed as the Spartans play UCLA in a Big Ten Tournament men’s basketball quarterfinal at United Center in Chicago on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Michigan State enters the tournament as one of the more experienced teams in the field, led by head coach Tom Izzo, who has built a reputation for success in March. The Spartans are powered by guard Tyson Walker, a consistent scoring threat, along with A.J. Hoggard, who controls the pace and facilitates the offense. Their balance and tournament experience make them a dangerous team as the bracket gets underway.
North Dakota State is a potential upset candidate, bringing a disciplined offensive approach and strong perimeter shooting. The Bison are led by guard Boden Skunberg, who has been a key contributor throughout the season, helping guide the team through Summit League play and into the NCAA Tournament.
As with many 1st-round matchups, tempo will be a major factor. Michigan State will look to lean on its physical defense and half-court execution, while North Dakota State aims to spread the floor and capitalize on scoring opportunities from beyond the arc.
Fans can catch all the action as the NCAA Tournament continues Thursday.
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Games throughout the tournament are broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, with DIRECTV packages providing access to all four networks, allowing viewers to stream every round live.
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TCU delivered the first true bracket-busting moment of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament Thursday, knocking off Ohio State 66-64 in an East Region first-round matchup.
The 9-seeded Horned Frogs entered as slight underdogs against the 8-seeded Buckeyes, but quickly flipped expectations. TCU controlled the tempo early, building a double-digit lead in the first half and going up by as many as 15 points. Ohio State responded with a second-half surge, briefly taking the lead and appearing to validate the 67% of brackets that had picked the Buckeyes to advance.
Instead, TCU was stronger down the stretch. Coach Jamie Dixon’s group executed in the final two minutes with great defense and composed offensive possessions to close out the two-point victory.
The win marked the first major disruption of the bracket, with millions of entries busted before the tournament’s opening window had fully unfolded.
TCU’s path to this moment has been anything but conventional. The Horned Frogs endured an up-and-down regular season that included an early loss to New Orleans, raising questions about their consistency. However, they also proved capable of competing with elite teams, notching key wins over defending national champion Florida, along with Iowa State and Texas Tech.
Those flashes of high-level play carried into Thursday’s performance. With the victory, TCU advances to the second round and positions itself as an early tournament disruptor. They may not be finished busting brackets just yet
The First Four games marked the official start of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, but college basketball fans know that March Madness isn't in full swing until they can sit down and watch an entire day of action.
Thursday's slate will feature 16 games, beginning with No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU in the afternoon and concluding with No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho in the evening. No. 1 seeds Duke and Michigan will also hit the court and take on Siena and Howard, respectively.
Here is everything you need to know about the first round of the NCAA Tournament, including TV and streaming options for Thursday's March Madness games.
March Madness schedule today
Thursday, March 19
tr>
Game
Time (ET)
TV/Live stream
No. 9 TCU 66, No. 8 Ohio State 64
—
—
No. 4 Nebraska 76, No. 13 Troy 47
—
—
No. 6 Louisville 83, No. 11 South Florida 79
—
—
No. 12 High Point 83, No. 5 Wisconsin 82
—
—
No. 1 Duke 71, No. 16 Siena 65
—
—
No. 5 Vanderbilt 78, No. 12 McNeese 68
—
—
No. 3 Michigan State 92, No. 14 North Dakota State 67
NCAA Tournament games will air on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Viewers can also stream March Madness games on DIRECTV (CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV), Fubo (CBS) and Paramount+ (CBS).
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You can listen to NCAA Tournament games live on SiriusXM. Channels for games are listed below.
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No more debates. No more projections. Let March Madness begin.
Led by Sporting News College Basketball Player of the Year Cameron Boozer, Duke (East Region) will enter the bracket as the No. 1 overall seed. Arizona (West Region), Florida (South Region) and Michigan (Midwest Region) earned the other No. 1 seeds in this year's tournament.
Of course, there are also plenty of underdogs hoping to make Cinderella runs. Which teams will navigate their way through a challenging bracket and reach the Final Four?
Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 NCAA Tournament, including TV and streaming options for each round of March Madness.
How to watch 2026 March Madness games: TV channels, live streams
NCAA Tournament games will air on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Viewers can also stream March Madness games on DIRECTV (CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV), Fubo (CBS) and Paramount+ (CBS).
Catch every game — try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live college basketball, MLB, NHL and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1 and NFL Network — all included with DIRECTV.
Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.
You can listen to NCAA Tournament games live on SiriusXM. Channels for games are listed on the official SiriusXM website.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
March Madness bracket 2026
You can download Sporting News' printable NCAA Tournament bracket (PDF) by clicking here.
Brace yourselves, college basketball fans. March Madness has finally arrived.
The 2026 edition of the NCAA Tournament will begin with First Four games on March 17 and 18, and it will conclude with the national championship game on April 6.
Arizona, Duke, Florida and Michigan are just a few of the contenders hoping to end the 2025-26 season with a celebration. Which squad will cut down the nets in Indianapolis?
Here is everything you need to know about this year's NCAA Tournament bracket, including key dates and TV and streaming options for each round.
NCAA Tournament games will air on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Viewers can also stream March Madness games on DIRECTV (CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV), Fubo (CBS) and Paramount+ (CBS).
Catch every game — try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live college basketball, MLB, NHL and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1 and NFL Network — all included with DIRECTV.
Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.
You can listen to NCAA Tournament games live on SiriusXM. Channels for games are listed on the official SiriusXM website.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
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