Let's Dance!

From Duke’s narrow escape to Miami (Ohio)’s fall from grace, the bracket is set and the chaos is already underway.

Author

Marissa Kasch
March 17, 2026

Hey Team 👋

Between the chaos of Championship Week and the high-stakes reveal of Selection Sunday, the madness hasn't just arrived: It’s already taken over. We watched Duke escape a buzzer-beater against Florida State, saw Vanderbilt stun Florida in Nashville, and witnessed Miami (Ohio) surrender the nation’s last perfect record in a shocker. For some, the conference tournaments were a cause for panic; for others, they were the perfect palate cleanser before the real dance begins. The wait is over: The First Four tips off today, the brackets are locked, and the path to the Final Four starts now.

Letter Rip!

< CBB >

2026 Men’s Tournament Bracket

Photo: Blervis / Wikicommons

East

  1. Duke

  2. UConn

  3. Michigan State

  4. Kansas

  5. St. John’s

  6. Louisville

  7. UCLA

  8. Ohio State

  9. TCU

  10. UCF

  11. South Florida

  12. Northern Iowa

  13. CA Baptist

  14. North Dakota State

  15. Furman

  16. Siena

West

  1. Arizona

  2. Purdue

  3. Gonzaga

  4. Arkansas

  5. Wisconsin

  6. BYU

  7. Miami

  8. Villanova

  9. Utah State

  10. Missouri

  11. Winner of NC State/Texas

  12. High Point

  13. Hawai’i

  14. Kennesaw State

  15. Queens

  16. Long Island

Midwest

  1. Michigan

  2. Iowa State

  3. Virginia

  4. Alabama

  5. Texas Tech

  6. Tennessee

  7. Kentucky

  8. Georgia

  9. Saint Louis

  10. Santa Clara

  11. Winner of SMU/Miami (OH)

  12. Akron

  13. Hofstra

  14. Wright State

  15. Tennessee State

  16. Winner of Howard/UMBC

South

  1. Florida

  2. Houston

  3. Illinois

  4. Nebraska

  5. Vanderbilt

  6. North Carolina

  7. Saint Mary’s

  8. Clemson

  9. Iowa

  10. Texas A&M

  11. VCU

  12. McNeese

  13. Troy

  14. Penn

  15. Idaho

  16. Winner of Lehigh/Prairie View

First Four Schedule

Midwest: #16 Howard vs. #16 UMBC, Tuesday, March 17 — 6:40 PM

West: #11 NC State vs. #11 Texas, Tuesday, March 17 — 9:15 PM

South: #16 Lehigh vs. #16 Prairie View, Wednesday, March 18 — 6:40 PM

Midwest: #11 SMU vs. #11 Miami (OH), Wednesday, March 18 — 9:15 PM

Notable First-Round Games

East

#8 Ohio State vs. #9 TCU (OSU -2.5)

#6 Louisville vs. #11 South Florida (LOU -5.5)

#7 UCLA vs. #10 UCF (UCLA -5.5)

West

#8 Villanova vs. #9 Utah State (USU -2.5)

#7 Miami vs. #10 Missouri (MIA -1.5)

Midwest

#8 Georgia vs. #9 Saint Louis (UGA -2.5)

#5 Texas Tech vs. #12 Akron (TTU -7.5)

#7 Kentucky vs. #10 Santa Clara (UK -3.5)

South

#8 Clemson vs. #9 Iowa (IOWA -2.5)

#6 North Carolina vs. #11 VCU (UNC -2.5)

#7 Saint Mary’s vs. #10 Texas A&M (SMC -3.5)