Category: NBA

The East Region of the men’s NCAA Tournament is not for the faint of heart.

There’s No. 1 and top overall seed Duke, the recently crowned champions of the ACC Tournament.

There’s No. 2 Connecticut, which flirted with the tournament’s top line before an uneven close to the regular season.

March Madness printable bracket: Fill out for predictions, picks in NCAA Tournament

There’s No. 3 Michigan State, one of the top teams in the Big Ten. No. 4 Kansas, which will be a Final Four threat if star freshman Darryn Peterson can showcase the form that has made him the most likely top pick in this year’s NBA draft.

There’s even No. 5 St. John’s, last seen crushing the Huskies at Madison Square Garden to repeat as Big East champs.

Best of luck to everyone involved – because someone is going to need some good fortune to make a run through this gauntlet.

March Madness region breakdown: South | Midwest | West

But despite this depth, the favorite in the East are the Cameron Boozer-led Blue Devils. Here’s what you need to know about the region:

East Region best first-round matchup: No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida

Two of the nation’s highest-scoring teams are destined to get into an up-and-down affair that could see the winner crack triple digits.

USF ranks eighth nationally in scoring (87.7 points per game), first in free throws made per game (20.2), second in rebounds per game (42.7) and third in offensive rebounds per game (15.5).

Louisville ranks first in the ACC and 20th nationally in scoring (84.7 points per game) while topping the ACC in 3-pointers attempted (32.3) and made per game (11.5).

Overall, the Bulls have been held under 70 points just three times this season.

East Region potential upset in first round: No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 UCF

There’s always the chance of an even more eye-opening upset, such as No. 15 Furman knocking off UConn or No. 13 Cal Baptist taking down the Jayhawks.

But one matchup that seems ripe for an upset is No. 7 UCLA against No. 10 UCF, largely because of the unpredictability that has defined the Bruins’ season.

They put things together down the stretch to climb to a No. 7 seed, beating Nebraska and Michigan State this month before being bounced from the Big Ten Tournament against Purdue. And UCLA has a distinct talent edge against the Knights thanks to senior forward Tyler Bilodeau (17.6 points per game) and guard Donovan Dent (7.6 assists per game).

Still, this a team that went a combined 10-11 against Quad 1 and Quad 2 competition during the regular season.

NCAA Tournament East Region sleeper: St. John's

In this case, the Red Storm qualify as a sleeper by being outside the region’s top four seeds.

While not reflecting how well St. John’s is currently playing, the seeding stems from a weaker schedule that saw it split 10 games against Quad 1 foes.

But let’s be clear: This is not your typical No. 5 seed. The Red Storm showed that in a dominant 72-52 win against the Huskies in the Big East championship. They’ve also lost just once since Jan. 3 and just twice this calendar year.

St. John’s is led by potential All-America big man Zuby Ejiofor, who paces the team in scoring (16.3 points per game) and assists (3.5 per game). Former Providence transfer Bryce Hopkins has also played very well of late, including 18 points on 7 of 9 shooting against UConn.

NCAA Tournament East Region winner: Duke

Duke remains the team to beat in this loaded region.

The Blue Devils are short point guard Caleb Foster, who is out indefinitely with a foot fracture. But backup Cayden Boozer has stepped up in Foster’s absence, delivering 16 points against Clemson in the ACC semifinals and then another 16 points, five rebounds and four assists in the final against Virginia.

The biggest reason to like Duke’s chance is star freshman forward Cameron Boozer, the clubhouse leader for national player of the year after averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game during the regular season.

His ability to score in the paint and control the flow of the game on both ends, along with his competitive drive, will help Duke avoid a shocking pre-Final Four slipup like the one that derailed Cooper Flagg and last year’s loaded roster.

NCAA Tournament East Region schedule

All times Eastern

First round

Thursday, March 19

Greenville, S.C.

• No. 8 Ohio State (21-12) vs. No. 9 TCU (22-11), 12:15 p.m., CBS
• No. 1 Duke (32-2) vs. No. 16 Siena (23-11), 2:50 p.m., CBS

Buffalo, N.Y.

• No. 6 Louisville (23-10) vs. No. 11 South Florida (25-8), 1:30 p.m., TNT
• No. 3 Michigan State (25-7) vs. No. 14 North Dakota State (27-7), 4:05 p.m., TNT

Friday, March 20

Philadelphia

• No. 7 UCLA (23-11) vs. No. 10 Central Florida (21-11), 7:25 p.m., TBS
• No. 2 Connecticut (29-5) vs. No. 15 Furman (22-12), 10 p.m., TBS

San Diego

• No. 5 St. John's (28-6) vs. Northern Iowa (23-12), 7:10 p.m., CBS
• No. 4 Kansas (23-10) vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist (25-8), 9:45 p.m., CBS

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA tournament 2026 East Region predictions for March Madness

After a long, often excruciating wait, a 68-team Men's NCAA basketball tournament bracket has been revealed.

The field and matchups for the March Madness were unveiled Sunday, March 15, setting the stage for millions of fans across the country to stress over their Final Four picks and first-round upsets.

In the Midwest region, No. 1 seed Michigan will look to follow through on its stellar regular season, with Big Ten player of the year Yaxel Lendeborg leading the way and coach Dusty May looking to get to his second Final Four in the past four seasons (and at his second school).

Selection Sunday winners, losers: Miami Ohio gets in, St. John's gets hosed

The Wolverines will face some challenges on their way there, though. No. 2 seed Iowa State has one of the sport's best, most tenacious defenses and is battle tested after a full season through the relentless Big 12. No. 3 seed Virginia has been one of the biggest turnaround stories this season. And No. 4 seed Alabama showed everyone last season that it can win in March, with a run to the Final Four two years ago.

March Madness region breakdown: South | East | West

How will things shake out in the Midwest region? Here's a look at the best matchups, potential upsets and more:

Midwest Region best first-round matchup: Georgia vs. Saint Louis

Two years ago, the country was wrongfully denied a shot at seeing Robbie Avila, Ryan Conwell and Josh Schertz's fun, high-powered offense in the NCAA tournament when the selection committee didn't include a 32-win Indiana State team in the field. Now, Schertz and Avila are racking up wins at Saint Louis, which earned an at-large berth with a 28-5 record and an Atlantic 10 regular-season championship. The Billikens stumbled a bit down the stretch, going 4-4 in their final eight games after a 24-1 start, but they have one of the fastest-paced teams in the country that, for all of its offensive excellence, is stout on the defensive end, too.

They'll get a first-round matchup with a Georgia team that won 22 games, tied for its most victories in a season since 1997. The Bulldogs play even faster than Saint Louis, ranking 16th nationally in adjusted tempo, according to KenPom, and have a balanced offense in which four players are averaging at least 11.9 points per game, led by Jeremiah Wilkinson at 17 points per game.

This game will be anything but a slog, with the winner likely safely getting into the 80s.

Midwest Region potential upset in first round: Akron vs. Texas Tech

The 5-over-12 upset is a time-honored tradition, often for a good reason, with the 12 seed often going to top teams from the mid- and low-major ranks. Texas Tech has been a top-20 team throughout the season and is one of the toughest teams in the country, but it's also a diminished version of itself, with All-American forward JT Toppin out for the season with a torn ACL and star guard Christian Anderson recovering from a groin injury he suffered on the Big 12 tournament's ill-advised glass court.

The Red Raiders will take on an Akron team with tournament experience, one that has played in the Big Dance in each of the past two seasons. The Zips haven't gotten particularly close either time, losing by 28 to Arizona last year and 17 to Creighton in 2024, but they have one of the country's top scorers in Tavari Johnson, who averages 20.1 points per game, and have won 19 of their past 20 games. There's not an upset in this region that's particularly enticing, but this one's probably the closest thing there is to one.

March Madness snubs: Oklahoma leads teams left out of NCAA tournament

NCAA Tournament Midwest Region sleeper: Kentucky

The Wildcats have been one of the biggest disappointments in the sport this season, with a roster worth a reported $22 million going just 21-13 and finishing ninth in the SEC. They're without two of the highest-priced players on the team, big man Jayden Quaintance and point guard Jaland Lowe, but they have a proven bucket-getter in Otega Oweh and a solid supporting cast. They've shown they can beat top competition this season, with wins over Vanderbilt, St. John's, Tennessee and Arkansas to their name.

If coach Mark Pope's team can survive a first-round matchup against a Santa Clara team over which it should have a decided talent advantage, it could cause some fits in the second round for an Iowa State program that, for all of its regular-season accomplishments, has regularly underplayed its seed in the NCAA tournament in recent years.

NCAA Tournament Midwest Region winner: Michigan

A season-ending injury to guard L.J. Cason could end up preventing Michigan from cutting down the nets in Indianapolis the first Monday of April, but the Wolverines still have more than enough talent and cohesion to get there. Lendeborg has been one of the best players in the country this season and is part of an absolutely loaded frontcourt that also includes 7-3 Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr.

There's nobody in this region who can go toe-to-toe with them.

NCAA Tournament Midwest Region first round schedule

All times Eastern

First Four

Tuesday, March 17

Dayton, Ohio

• No. 16 Maryland-Baltimore County vs. No. 16 Howard, 6:40 p.m., truTV (Sling TV)

Thursday, March 19

First round

Buffalo, N.Y.

• No. 1 Michigan (31-3) vs. No. 16 UMBC/Howard, 7:10 p.m., CBS
• No. 8 Georgia (22-10) vs. Saint Louis (28-5), 9:45 p.m., CBS

Friday, March 20

St. Louis

• No. 7 Kentucky (21-13) vs. No. 10 Santa Clara (26-8), 12:15 p.m., CBS
• No. 2 Iowa State (27-7) vs. No. 15 Tennessee State (23-9), 2:50 p.m., CBS

Tampa, Fla.

• No. 5 Texas Tech (22-10) vs. No. 12 Akron (29-5), 12:40 p.m., truTV
• No. 4 Alabama (23-9) vs. No. 13 Hofstra (24-10), 3:15 p.m., truTV

Philadelphia

• No. 3 Virginia (29-5) vs. No. 14 Wright State (23-11), 1:50 p.m., TBS
• No. 6 Tennessee (22-11) vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)/SMU, 4:25 p.m., TBS

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA tournament 2026 Midwest Region predictions for March Madness

Is this finally the year for Arizona? The Wildcats haven't been to the Final Four since falling to Duke in the national title game in 2001. The past 25 years have seen them be a No. 1 seed three times and a No. 2 seed four times. There have been six Sweet 16 appearances and four separate finishes in the Elite Eight during the drought.

This year's group in Tommy Lloyd's fourth season may be their best opportunity to break through. Arizona dominated the Big 12 and won the conference tournament with narrow defeats of Iowa State and Houston, showing it can handle postseason pressure.

March Madness printable bracket: Fill out for predictions, picks in NCAA Tournament

But there are contenders lined up to live their own dreams of making it to Indianapolis. One school nearby the Final Four destination is No. 2 seed Purdue. The Boilermakers, who are seeking their first national title, are riding high after winning the Big Ten tournament. Gonzaga is another team that has come close and not won a championship. The Bulldogs quietly ran through the West Coast Conference and will be playing on the West Coast. No. 4 seed Arkansas has won a national title and is another team that won its conference tournament.

Overall, this region ranks as the easiest with the top four teams having an aggregate of 37 in the committee's true seed line. But it is sure to have some twists and turns that maybe make it one of the most exciting.

March Madness region breakdown: South | East | Midwest

West Region best first-round matchup: Villanova vs Utah State

Sometimes it is a cop out to name the 8-9 game as the best one but this matchup between Villanova and Utah State is full of interesting storylines. The Wildcats return to the field after missing the last three tournaments following Jay Wright's departure. Kevin Willard's team in his first season has five scorers that average double figures but don't shoot great from the free-throw line and aren't a strong rebounding team. Meanwhile, Utah State is in the field for the fourth consecutive time after winning the Mountain West regular-season title and conference tournament. The Aggies are one of the best shooting teams in the country behind the scoring of MJ Collins and Mason Falslev. They have the firepower to advance.

West Region potential upset in first round: High Points over Wisconsin

These 5-12 matchups always create drama and upsets in the tournament. Two No. 12 seeds have advanced in three of the last four years. The high-scoring Panthers have the opportunity to be another one. They are third in the nation in scoring and own the longest active winning streak at 14 games. They can match up well with Wisconsin, which lost as a No. 5 seed in 2024. The Badgers rely on the three-point shot and that can be something that is difficult if the shots aren't falling. Look for this to be an up-tempo game that has a lot of possessions and will go to the team that is the most efficient.

NCAA Tournament West Region sleeper: Arkansas

The Razorbacks have found their best form in the final two months of the season with standout freshman Darius Acuff fulfilling hi,s promise as one of the nation's top recruits. Acuff has been outstanding down the stretch as Arkansas won nine of its final 11 games, including a run to the SEC tournament title. Guard play in tournament time is critical and Acuff's ability to penetrate and score gives the Razorbacks one of the best players in the country. They also have John Calipari on the sideline, too. And while the veteran coach has a history of early tournament losses, he has the experience to guide his team to the Final Four.

NCAA Tournament West Region winner: Arizona

Despite all the contenders lined up to take down the Wildcats, it's hard to see someone knocking them off after its impressive Big 12 run. They're one of the top scoring teams in the field with the backcourt of Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley leading the way. Freshman forward Koa Peat and center Motiejus Krivas lead the frontcourt that has the size to handle big opponents. There's also bench strength from Tobe Awaka and Anthony Dell'Orso if there's a need for additional firepower. Yes, there's baggage from the misses in recent years. But that shouldn't weigh them down.

NCAA Tournament West Region schedule

All times Eastern

First round

Thursday, March 19

Portland, Ore.

• No. 5 Wisconsin (24-10) vs. No. 12 High Point (30-4), 1:50 p.m., TBS
• No. 4 Arkansas (26-8) vs. No. 13 Hawaii (24-8), 4:25 p.m., TBS

Portland, Ore.

• No. 6 Brigham Young (23-11) vs. No. 11 Texas/North Carolina State, 7:25 p.m., TBS
• No. 3 Gonzaga (30-3) vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (21-13), 10 p.m., TBS

Friday, March 20

San Diego

• No. 1 Arizona (32-2) vs. No. 16 Long Island (24-10), 1:35 p.m., TNT
• No. 8 Villanova (24-8) vs. No. 9 Utah State (28-6), 4:10 p.m., TNT

St. Louis

• No. 2 Purdue (27-8) vs. No. 15 Queens (21-13), 7:35 p.m., truTV
• No. 7 Miami (Fla.) (25-8) vs. No. 10 Missouri (20-12), 10:10 p.m., truTV

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA tournament 2026 West Region predictions for March Madness

Florida’s quest to repeat as NCAA champion begins in the South Region, where the Gators are the top seed. But in order to get back to the Final Four, their trip will have to go through the city of Houston, where they might also face a potential rematch of last year’s national title game with the hometown Houston Cougars.

There is, however, a lot of basketball to be played before we get to that point in this tough region, which also features an Illinois team that spent numerous weeks ranked in the top 10 this season, and the same Vanderbilt squad that toppled the Gators in the SEC tournament.

March Madness printable bracket: Fill out for predictions, picks in NCAA Tournament

March Madness region breakdown: East | Midwest | West

South Region best first-round matchup: No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU

The Tar Heels have had a little time to accustom themselves to life without standout freshman Caleb Wilson, but their struggles down the stretch after he was lost to injury resulted in some seed slippage. As a consequence, they pick up a tough first-round draw against the Rams, the champs of the Atlantic 10 and a program with a history of contributing to the madness of March (see 2011, First Four to Final Four).

South Region potential upset in first round: No. 13 Troy over No. 4 Nebraska

Fred Hoiberg’s Cornhuskers earned their top-16 spot on the bracket with a strong finish in the Big Ten standings. But it’s still an undeniable fact that Nebraska has yet to win a game in the NCAA Tournament. OK, to be fair, the Trojans of Troy haven’t won a game in the Big Dance in their three prior appearances either. But the Sun Belt champ can be a tough out, and Troy coach Scott Cross has led the Trojans to 20-win campaigns in five consecutive seasons.

NCAA Tournament South Region sleeper: Illinois

It’s hard to consider the No. 3 seed a true sleeper, but given the teams ahead of them the Fighting Illini will have a difficult road. In addition, their fans will be more than a little concerned with the team’s recent troubles closing out close games. But they do have the talent to match up with anyone in the region, and if they figure out how to make another play or two down the stretch, they could surprise.

NCAA Tournament South Region winner: Florida

Florida. It took a couple of months for the Gators’ new-look backcourt to find its rhythm, and they reverted to some of their earlier struggles a bit in the SEC tournament. But there are enough experienced hands from last year’s title team to presume that their bad game is behind them. Yes, that potential date with the Cougars in H-town is a concern, but the Gators are still the team to beat.

NCAA Tournament South Region schedule

First Four

Wednesday, March 18

• No. 11 Miami (Ohio) vs. No. 11 SMU, 9:15 p.m., truTV (Sling TV)

First round

Thursday, March 19

Oklahoma City

• No. 4 Nebraska (26-6) vs. No. 13 Troy (22-11), 12:40 p.m., truTV
• No. 5 Vanderbilt (26-8) vs. No. 12 McNeese State (28-5), 3:15 p.m., truTV
• No. 7 Saint Mary's (27-5) vs. No. 10 Texas A&M (21-11), 7:35 p.m., TBS
• No. 2 Houston (28-6) vs. No. 15 Idaho (21-14), 10:10 p.m. TBS

Greenville, S.C.

• No. 6 North Carolina (24-8) vs. Virginia Commonwealth (27-7), 6:50 p.m., TNT
• No. 3 Illinois (24-8) vs. No. 14 Penn (18-11), 9:25 p.m., TNT

Friday, March 20

• No. 8 Clemson (24-10) vs. No. 9 Iowa (21-12), 6:50 p.m., TNT
• No. 1 Florida (27-6) vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M/Lehigh, 9:25 p.m., TNT

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Region NCAA Tournament predictions to advance in March Madness

Here come the Hospital Sixers.

With strong contributions up and down the roster, the Sixers were able to sweep their back-to-back with a 109-103 win over the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Quentin Grimes led the way for the Sixers posting a game-high and season-high 31 points. Justin Edwards had another strong performance with 21 points. VJ Edgecombe stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points — including a couple huge clutch buckets — three assists and a career-high 12 rebounds.

The team was once again without the services of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. Jabari Walker missed his second straight game with an illness. Dalen Terry was out with left shoulder impingement after a nasty collision in the win over the Nets Saturday.

The Sixers now sit at 37-31, a half game up on the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth seed.

Here are a few thoughts from the arena.

First Quarter

• Inauspicious start with the Trail Blazers banging a three and getting two and-ones within the first minute of the contest. Justin Edwards snapped the 9-0 opening run with a three and then Dominick Barlow finished a dunk over the massive Donovan Clingan off a nice cut.
• Good, aggressive starts from Edwards and Quentin Grimes. Ahead of the game, Portland head coach Tiago Splitter mentioned how his team needed to guard against a fast Sixers start, in part by limiting their transition opportunities. The Sixers were out and running early and were even with the Trail Blazers, 14-14, midway through the first.
• Barlow airballed a three and had a layup attempt easily swallowed up by Clingan, but he was excellent otherwise. He was great defensively and finished another lob and had a beautiful spin move finish. The Sixers were genuinely executing at a pretty high level on both ends, building 24-19 lead.

Dom Barlow is in his BAG. 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/agJh3oo8Aq

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 15, 2026

• It was an understated but solid start for VJ Edgecombe — until this …

RISE ON 🆙 VJ. pic.twitter.com/naqckFApGS

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 15, 2026

• The Sixers simply did not let up in transition as Edgecombe found Grimes for a lob to cap off a 30-point first quarter for the team. Edwards and Grimes had eight points apiece as the Sixers took a 30-27 lead after one.

Second Quarter

• Even though Edgecombe’s stats weren’t gaudy, his impact was obvious as the Trail Blazers started the second on a run with the rookie on the bench. Give the Sixers credit for pushing back. It was again Grimes and Edwards leading that charge with Cam Payne providing a nice spark off the bench.

🔟 points and counting for @Jedwards3_pic.twitter.com/hul7FH2f6i

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 15, 2026

• The Sixers had done a decent job on Deni Avdija to start the game, but the All-Star forward started to shake loose a bit. Andre Drummond was giving the Sixers all he could, but Portland had him in a real bind running pick-and-roll with Avdija and Clingan. The Trail Blazers took a 42-41 lead midway through the quarter.
• This was some of the best basketball Grimes has played this season, even with his recent uptick in usage. He was getting downhill and out in transition. The Sixers needed every bit of his 15 points. Fun fact: the Sixers made more threes in the first half Sunday (4) than they did the entire game Saturday (3).

.@qdotgrimes leads all scorers with 15 early! 🪣 pic.twitter.com/j6Oxxg3e4X

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 15, 2026

• Kyle Lowry checks in! It was a strange lineup choice as Nick Nurse also went with Tyrese Martin during this stretch, but it’s hard to scrutinize lineup decisions too much with this current group.
• It was a rough shooting half for Edgecombe (3-of-10), but he stuffed the stat sheet otherwise with nine rebounds, three assists and a block. It was a defensive-heavy first half, but the Sixers hung in there, trailing Portland by just one at the break, 54-53.

Third Quarter

• Another scary collision as Clingan crushed Barlow on an attempted dunk on a fast break. It didn’t seem intentional from Clingan, but it felt like one that could rise to the level of a Flagrant 1. Secaucus disagreed as it was just deemed a common foul. In any case, it was Barlow’s third steal.
• Portland isn’t exactly a well-oiled machine offensively, but the Sixers’ defense was excellent for much of the night. The team also appeared to be hunting threes out of the break — all of Edgecombe, Barlow and Edwards nailed a triple. The Sixers were also balanced scoring with four guys in double figures and Payne chipping in nine off the bench. That effort helped them build a 68-61 lead roughly midway through the dreaded third.
• Credit where it’s due — Drummond gave the Sixers some damn good minutes in this one. He had 10 rebounds before he even scored his first points (a hook shot over Clingan, no less). Clingan leads the NBA in offensive rebounds per game, so Drummond’s efforts were much needed. He also led the team in assists at this juncture of the game (4). Another nice Edwards bucket followed by Edgecombe getting to his spot in the midrange and the Sixers held a double-digit advantage, 78-68, in the latter stages of the third.
• Another bucket from Payne and a nice dish to Drummond helped win the Sixers a third quarter(!) and give them an 82-76 advantage heading to the fourth. Edgecombe with a career-high 12 rebounds and the Sixers held an advantage on the glass as a team.

Fourth Quarter

• The Sixers did an excellent job on Avdija. He was held scoreless in the third and MarJon Beauchamp had an excellent defensive possession to start the third on him. Beauchamp played a big chunk of the third and was stout against Avdija the entire period.
• They needed contributions up and down the roster in this one and they got a few. Beauchamp gave them a nice boost in the third, especially defensively. Trendon Watford was able to get a bucket in the post and draw a foul. Grimes’ aggressiveness also continued as he finished a tough basket on Clingan and then drew a foul a few possessions later. Doesn’t feel hyperbolic to say this might’ve been Grimes’ best game of the season as he eclipsed the 20-point mark.
• And Grimes just kept coming, ripping off four straight points out of a timeout to give the Sixers their largest lead at 101-87, forcing a Portland timeout. Grimes had already put up a season-high 29 points with 5:34 left in the game.

QUENTIN GRIMES.

he's scored our last 10. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/iscg76vCWY

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 16, 2026

• Things started to get dicey as Avdija started finding looks and Portland started to win more on the offensive glass. The Trail Blazers trimmed the lead down to 101-95 as Nurse wisely went back to Edgecombe and Edwards after a long rest.
• The Sixers’ offense was leaking oil pretty badly as Portland stepped up the defensive intensity. A timely Edgecombe short pull-up and an Edwards’ steal and emphatic dunk over Robert Williams III helped stem the tide.

THE PHILLY KID. 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Tz5bE89jWi

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 16, 2026

• And Edgecombe buried a massive midrange jumper over the relentless Toumani Camara which essentially put the game away. That clutch gene sure is prominent in this 20-year-old.

ice in his veins. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/6oY88LEQY4

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 16, 2026

Miami (Ohio) finished the regular season undefeated with a 31-0 record but fell to Massachusetts in the first round of the MAC tournament, putting its 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament resume into question.

But the RedHawks heard their name called on Selection Sunday, and will face SMU in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, for a chance to play No. 6 Tennessee in the first round. Miami wasn't the last team included in the field — it was ahead of Texas, SMU and North Carolina State — but was punished, regardless, for its weak metrics and strength of schedule.

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"(Miami) came in before NC State, Texas and SMU," NCAA selection committee chair Keith Gill said on the live show. "And during our scrubbing process, those teams scrubbed above (Miami) relative to the predictive metrics and also the difference in the quality of wins."

Former NBA All-Star and Miami standout Wally Szczerbiak, now an analyst for CBS Sports, was surprised Miami is headed to Dayton for the First Four, and thought his alma mater should've been squarely in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

"Very surprised that Miami was sent to the First Four," he said. "It is in Dayton, it's an hour from campus. So they're gonna have a huge crowd, and they have a lot to prove by being put into that First Four."

Miami is the lowest-ranked team by NCAA's Net Rankings to earn an at-large bid, coming in at No. 64 in the metric. The RedHawks played zero Quad 1 games, won three Quad 2 games and their lone loss was a Quad 4 game.

CBS Sports' bracketologist Mackenzie Brooks said Miami's record outweighed its metrics when it came to earning an NCAA Tournament bid.

"Their record is clearly what's carrying them into the tournament," she said. "It's their resume-based metrics that got them here (and) it's their predictive-based metrics that are keeping them in Ohio. They did enough to prove they deserve to be here, but when it comes to your predictives, not really something they're shining in."

Miami is an 8.5-point underdog against SMU on Tuesday, March 17, according to BetMGM. The RedHawks have a lot of doubters, and they'll be looking to prove them wrong when they travel down the road to Dayton.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miami Ohio to First Four? Wally Szczerbiak 'surprised' at NCAA Tournament placement

For the second straight season, Duke men's basketball was rewarded the top-overall seed in the Men's NCAA Tournament.

The NCAA selection committee did not do the Blue Devils — who open March Madness on March 19 against 16-seed Siena — any favors with the teams they included in the East Region. The Blue Devils were paired with national championship contenders Connecticut and Michigan State and Big East champion St. John's, which is coached by Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino. There's also Kansas, which Duke beat in the Champions Classic, in the region.

Former Blue Devil and ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas pointed to the Spartans as the team that could provide some difficulty to Duke's path to the Final Four.

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"I think Duke makes it to the second weekend but they don't have the easiest of draws. St. John's is in their way. And Michigan State is in their way down at the bottom of that draw in their way," Bilas said on ESPN's post-NCAA Tournament bracket reveal show. "I think Michigan State's one of the most interesting seeded threes.

"... In my view, they're the most likely three seed to make a Final Four."

Michigan State earned a top-three seed in the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time under Tom Izzo on Sunday. The Spartans have one of the top point guards in the country in Jeremy Fears Jr., and a defense that is known to wear down opponents with the amount of attention they create inside the paint and around the rim.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness first round full schedule: NCAA Tournament dates, TV info

The earliest the Blue Devils could meet up with the Spartans is the Elite Eight on Sunday, March 29. To get there, Duke would have to beat Siena and either 8-seed Ohio State or 9-seed TCU in Greenville on the first weekend, and then any of 4-seed Kansas, 5-seed St. John's, 12-seed Northern Iowa and 13-seed Cal Baptist.

The Spartans have a tough path themselves to the Elite Eight. Izzo's squad would have to beat 14-seed North Dakota State in the first round, and then either 6-seed Louisville or 11-seed South Florida in the second round. Then they'd have to beat any of the likes of 2-seed UConn, 7-seed UCLA, 10-seed Central Florida and 15-seed Furman in the Sweet 16.

If Duke and Michigan State do meet up at Capital One Arena in The Nation's Capital in two weekends from now, it'd be a rematch of a non-conference meeting from December in East Lansing. Behind 18- and 12 points from Cameron Boozer and Caleb Foster, respectively, the Blue Devils were unable to earn one of their 17th Quad 1 wins of the season.

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Foster's availability for the NCAA Tournament, of course, is up in the air as Jon Scheyer said his guard is out for the 'foreseeable time' with a foot fracture before the ACC tournament.

Duke and Michigan State do have some recent history in the NCAA Tournament against each other. The Spartans upset the 1-seeded Blue Devils and Zion Williamson 68-67 in the Elite Eight of the 2019 NCAA Tournament thanks to a go-ahead 3-pointer from Kenny Goins. Duke then repaid the favor in the 2022 NCAA Tournament to send Michigan State home after the second round.

The Blue Devils are 14-4 in 18 meetings in the NCAA Tournament against the Spartans.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jay Bilas says Michigan State 'most likely' three seed to make Final Four

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Wes Enis scored 19 points on Sunday to help top-seeded South Florida beat No. 2 seed Wichita State 70-55 to win the American Athletic Conference Tournament and clinch a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.

South Florida (25-8) has won 11 in a row and secured its first AAC Tournament crown. The Bulls have won back-to-back conference regular-season titles.

Izaiyah Nelson had 13 points, six rebound, three steals and two blocks for USF and Josh Omojafo scored 10.

CJ Brown threw an alley-oop to Nelson for a dunk that made it 10-8 a little more than six minutes into the game and the Bulls led the rest of the way.

Wichita State (22-11) twice in the second half trimmed its deficit to a point before Isaiah Jones and Enis hit back-to-back 3s to spark a 14-4 spurt that gave South Florida a 59-45 lead with 6 1/2 minutes to play.

Dillon Battie led the Shockers with 15 points and Will Berg added 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Kenyon Giles, the team's leading scorer this season (19.7 per game), finished with five points on 2-of-11 shooting, 1 of 7 from 3-point range.

Wichita State had its seven-game win streak — which dated to a 66-58 home loss to the Bulls on Feb. 11 — snapped.

Up next

Wichita State: Awaits a potential postseason invitation.

South Florida: Will be a No. 11 seed and plays Thursday against sixth-seeded Louisville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

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The Golden State Warriors are hoping to get back in the win column tonight, but it’s going to be very difficult. Not only are they on the road, facing a far superior New York Knicks team, but they’re missing nearly every notable name on the roster.

Here’s the full injury report.

Warriors

Out — Steph Curry (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)

No new news here. Curry will miss his 17th straight game, and it’s unclear when he’ll be back, if at all this year.

Out — Draymond Green (left low back injury management)

Green has been gutting his way through lower back pain, but in this scheduled loss, and with another game Monday night, he’s finally getting some time to let it heal.

Out — Al Horford (right soleus strain)

The sick get sicker. Just when you thought the Dubs couldn’t get any more injured, Horford suffered an injury during Friday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. So it goes.

Out — Kristaps Porziņģis(general illness management)

After playing two straight games, Porziņģis is headed back to the sideline. He’s only played four times since coming to the Warriors at the deadline about six weeks ago.

Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery)

Nothing new to see here. We probably won’t get much of an update on Butler’s recovery for about nine months.

Out — De’Anthony Melton (left knee injury management)

The Dubs play again tomorrow night, so Melton will likely play in that game.

Out — Moses Moody (right wrist sprain)

Moody will hopefully return at some point during the team’s six-game road trip, which kicks off tonight at Madison Square Garden. This will be his sixth straight absence.

Out — Seth Curry (left adductor strain)

Gotta feel for the younger Curry. This could have been a really fun season for him, and instead he’s played in just four games.

Knicks

Out — Miles McBride (pelvic core muscle surgery)

McBride is having something of a breakout season, averaging a career-high 12.9 points per game in his fifth season. But a core muscle injury suffered in late January will keep him out until the playoffs.

Enjoy the game, Dub Nation. It tips off at 5:00 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.

The Washington Wizards play the Golden State Warriors tomorrow night. Let’s get to the preview.

Game info

When: Monday, Mar. 16 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Capital One Arena

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass

Injuries: For the Wizards, Kyshawn George (elbow), Anthony Davis (hand, groin), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), and D’Angelo Russell (not with team) are out.

For the Warriors, Seth Curry, Al Horford, Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler are out. There are more players who are questionable because they are missing their road game against the Knicks at 8 p.m. ET tonight.

What to watch for

The Wizards are still losing which is good for their draft lottery hopes. They now are back home to host the Warriors, who will not have a full roster themselves. Golden State is 32-34 which is safely in play in tournament territory, but have lost six of their last seven games.

A note tomorrow: there is a high risk of storms coming through from tomorrow afternoon to tomorrow night. Though the storms may be widespread, the NBA doesn’t cancel for severe storms barring something extreme. So be careful if you decide to go to the game tomorrow.

HARRISON, New Jersey (AP) — South Africa won the 2026 men's World Rugby sevens series, holding out against a late rally from Fiji on Sunday to win the final at the last tournament of the regular season.

Fiji and South Africa were tied atop the season standings heading into the New York Sevens, making the final also a series decider.

South Africa scored the only try of the first half through Selvyn Davids and increased its lead to 10-0 with a try to Tristan Leyds two minutes into the second half.

Fiji rallied with a try to Terio Veilawa to cut the margin to 10-7 with two minutes remaining. The Fijians had the last possession of the match and were five meters from the South African line when a knock-on ended their attack and ensured South Africa won the final and the series.

“It was just a massive, massive defensive effort,” South Africa captain Impi Visser said. “Fiji brought out the best in us.”

“It's funny that it all came down to the final," added Visser, who played his 50th World Series match in the final. "It's like someone scripted it, and couldn't have scripted it better.”

New Zealand rallied from 21-5 down in the second half to edge Australia 22-21 in the women's final. Australia and New Zealand have contested all six finals on the World Series this season with New Zealand winning five.

New Zealand had already won the women's World Series title when it qualified for the semifinals, gaining enough points to establish an unassailable lead. The New Zealand Black Ferns still wanted to finish the regular season with a win and did so in remarkable circumstances.

For Australia, Teagan Levi scored two tries and her sister Maddison Levi scored one to give their team a 21-5 lead two minutes into the second half.

New Zealand rallied with tries to Alena Saili and Kelsey Tineti, who also scored in the first half, to make the score 21-15 and give themselves a chance of winning.

Jorja Miller won a penalty from a breakdown turnover in the last minute and Katelyn Vahaakolo scored the try close to the posts which was converted to give New Zealand the victory.

“I think for us, even before the game started, we knew it was all going to be about heart,” New Zealand captain Risi Pouri-Lane said. "Final footy can go either way and we all know that. But to grind it out when the odds may not be in your favor is what counts.

“But the belief within every single person beside you is huge.”

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo left Milwaukee’s game against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday after landing awkwardly as he completed a dunk late in the third quarter of the Bucks’ 134-123 victory.

Antetokounmpo briefly remained in the game and dunked again on Milwaukee’s next possession. He got fouled the possession after that and attempted a pair of free throws before heading to the locker room.

He didn’t play the rest of the way. Antetokounmpo ended up with 31 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in 30 minutes.

“My guess is he hyperextended his knee, but I’m guessing,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said.

Antetokounmpo said he wasn’t planning on getting imaging. The two-time MVP said he believed he could have finished the game but chose to follow the advice of the Bucks’ training staff.

“I’m just going to go back home, sleep, see how I feel tomorrow, try to lift some weights,” Antetokounmpo said. “If I have a little bit of discomfort, then I’ll go from there. As of now, I’m not really bothered.”

The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo has missed a career-high 31 games this season. He’s had two extended absences because of strains in his right calf. He sat out the Bucks’ 122-99 loss at Atlanta on Saturday because of a sprained left ankle.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

The Dallas Mavericks (23-45) defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers (41-27), 130-120, in their Sunday afternoon meeting. The rematch followed Dallas’ 33-point loss to the same team on Friday night. Cooper Flagg, Naji Marshall, and PJ Washington led the way for the Mavericks. Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus were the only two Cavaliers who showed up to play. I don’t love to see the Mavericks moving down in Draft Lottery odds, but it was a fun game for Dallas.

Dallas came to play at Cleveland, and the Cavs did not, spending the entire game trying to dig themselves out of a deficit they never overcame. Games like this make it hard to believe in Cleveland’s postseason chances, as the Cavaliers had the clear talent advantage across their roster.

Here are some noteworthy stats from Sunday’s win.

6: P.J. Washington steals

Washington had an incredible showing and was everywhere on both ends of the floor. Washington finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high six steals. He started at center for Dallas, and Cleveland had no answer for him in the paint. He tallied three makes from behind the arc, which is always nice to see. ‘Headband PJ’ may be a problem for the league.

27: Cooper Flagg points

Cooper Flagg followed Friday night’s 25-point performance with another physically imposing outing. He finished with 27 points, six rebounds, and 10 assists. He got into the paint with ease, and Sunday’s game was another great example of how dominant he is when he can get to the basket. He is a special player, and it has been awesome to watch how he dominates matchups against some of the league’s best defenders.

15: Dallas 3-pointers

Dallas shot 15-of-30 from three-point range against the Cavaliers, a completely out-of-character statistic for this team that led to an unlikely win. After Dallas shot 27% from three on Friday, Cleveland was uninterested in guarding the Mavericks at all in the rematch. The Mavs had their way from 3-point range, with Washington and Ryan Nembhard leading Dallas with three each. This is certainly not a trend Dallas will maintain to close the season, but it was one of the leading reasons for Sunday’s win.

The Mavericks are back in action on Monday night in New Orleans, where they will take on the Pelicans at 7 p.m. CT.

The New York Knicks (43*-25) host the Golden State Warriors (32-34) tonight at Madison Square Garden. The visitors are decimated by injuries, so look for the Knicks to take it easy tonight. You can safely flip back and forth from the Oscars.

Tonight’s tip off is 8 p.m. EST on NBC and Peacock. This is your game thread. This is Golden State of Mind. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Treat each other respectfully. And go Knicks!

* Should be one more, but Cup finals are phantoms. 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The San Francisco Giants were an out away from a perfect game and a strike away from a no-hitter before they were broken up by the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday in a spring training game.

Giants reliever Gregory Santos walked Cooper Pratt with two outs in the ninth. The next batter, Blake Burke, delivered a run-scoring double with two strikes. Santos struck out José Anderson to end the game.

So close.

Lefty Robbie Ray combined with four relievers to strike out 11 in a 7-1 win over the Brewers. Ray threw five innings and struck out eight. He has a 1.23 ERA with 15 strikeouts over five starts this spring.

Spring training no-hitters aren't all that common. The Baltimore Orioles threw a no-hitter last March against Pittsburgh.

The pitching gem for the Giants comes on a day when multiple media outlets reported that pitcher Hayden Birdsong's MRI revealed a Grade 2 strained right forearm strain along with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament. He's weighing his options, according to MLB.com.

“It’s certainly not best-case scenario, but hopefully we get best-case scenario of the unfortunate circumstances,” manager Tony Vitello said Sunday morning, according to NBC Sports Bay Area.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb