Category: Basketball

Though the Bucks dropped the tanking Pacers 134-123, Giannis left midway through the third quarter with what’s so far being called a hyperextended left knee. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Giannis Antetokounmpo

23 minutes, 31 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists, 11/22 FG, 9/13 FT, +17

Stupidly efficient. Ran the offense even while Rollins was on the floor, and everything came easy for him in his initial shift. The injury took place when he came down hard on a monster dunk over Jay Huff in the third and was so slow to get up on defense, that he hadn’t left the restricted area after the Bucks forced a quick Pacers turnover (that did get him a cherry-picked dunk). And yes, the left knee was the one he famously hyperextended in the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals and returned from a week later.

Grade: A+

Myles Turner

30 minutes, 13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 4/7 FG, 3/6 3P, +6

Maybe Turner didn’t do a whole lot on the stat sheet outside of shooting the ball well, but this was one of his better rim protection games (Indy had just 30 in the paint). Nice to see him play legit minutes over Sims.

Grade: B+

Ryan Rollins

37 minutes, 20 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 steals, 8/12 FG, 3/5 3P, +14

The most I’ve seen out of Rollins as a three-level scorer in a while. Probably could have used more of him on Aaron Nesmith rather than T.J. McConnell, who was surprisingly a non-factor.

Grade: A

Kyle Kuzma

36 minutes, 8 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, 3/7 FG, 2/6 3P, -1

Not sure when the last time Kuzma has led the Bucks, or any team, in assists. Missed a couple clean looks but this is about all you can ask for when he’s limited to standing in the corner.

Grade: B

AJ Green

24 minutes, 12 points, 4/7 3P, +8

It’s been so rough for Green lately, but he came alive in the second quarter hitting 3/4 from deep, keeping the Bucks in the game as their defense scuffled. Just under eight minutes in the second half was kind of weird.

Grade: B

Bobby Portis

27 minutes, 29 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 11/21 FG, 6/11 3P, -4

In a month of big Portis performances, this season-high output easily took the cake. Post-game, he talked about how he felt much more pressure in the three-point competition at All-Star weekend and ever since, he’s felt a lot more confident shooting in-game threes. Sure enough, he’s 28/57 from deep since then, good for 49.1%.

Grade: A+

Taurean Prince

22 minutes, 13 points, 5/7 FG, 3/5 3P, +13

Today’s first sub. Missed his only three-point attempt very long, but redeemed himself in the corner his next shift. His two triples as the third finished were big. Defense isn’t all the way back yet, as he got into Jarace Walker’s landing space in the second half, which was upgraded to a flagrant-one. Cheers to another season high.

Grade: A-

Jericho Sims

14 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1/3 FG, +1

Another game where Sims hasn’t had much impact on the glass, but was certainly the Bucks’ most active frontcourt defender. This just feels like a more right-size role for him, because even when setting aside his shooting, Turner was the more impactful Buck today.

Grade: C+

Gary Harris

22 minutes, 6 points, 2/4 FG, 2/4 3P, -2

Dusted off for real minutes for just the second time since the break, and his heaviest workload since January 23rd. Not sure why he was the choice over Thomas, but he held his own.

Grade: B-

Doc Rivers

I didn’t get some of the jumbo lineups early but I liked how Doc leaned into Portis after halftime. Seems like he’s really tried to get Portis more involved in the last week after a scoreless first half against Utah last Saturday.

Grade: B+

Limited Minutes: Pete Nance

Garbage Time: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr.

DNP-CD: Cam Thomas, Gary Trent Jr.

Inactive: Alex Antetokounmpo, Ousmane Dieng, Kevin Porter Jr., Cormac Ryan

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Doc’s comments on Giannis’ injury in the press conference were foreboding. He didn’t know whether or not Giannis would get imaging tonight, nor even which knee was hurt:

“I really didn’t see it until after the game. I thought I saw live something that didn’t look good, honestly. But I [didn’t] have video. So I just looked at it and my guess is that he hyperextended his knee. But I’m guessing.”

• For what it’s worth, Giannis agreed with the diagnosis but seemed less concerned, and confirmed that no imaging occurred this evening:

“Yeah, I think I hyperextended my knee. I haven’t seen the clip, I wanna see the clip, but it doesn’t matter. I’m just gonna go back home, sleep, see how I feel tomorrow. Try to lift some weights, and if I have a little bit of discomfort, then I’ll go from there, but as of now I’m not really bothered.”

• Predictably, Giannis wanted to return and thought he could finish the game, but the Bucks’ training staff convinced him it wasn’t a smart idea, being up around 13 points at the time. He acknowledged they were right: “you just gotta listen… and I listened… just gotta trust them.”
• Ousmane Dieng missed his second consecutive game with illness. Kevin Porter also didn’t play in this SEGABABA after 30 minutes yesterday in Atlanta.
• Indiana had a long list of inactives too: regulars Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard, and Pascal Siakam sat out, joining Johnny Furphy and Tyrese Haliburton with their long-term injuries.
• A very awkward Bucks lineup ended the first: Harris, Kuzma, Nance, Portis, Sims. It even stayed on the floor the first 44 ticks of the second. Ballhandlers? Who needs ‘em!
• Having said that, I don’t understand why Cam Thomas didn’t see any action today. Sure, he’s not a point guard, but creation would helped, even if it was for himself.
• Can’t dispute this kind of creation, though: on 23 made threes, the Bucks assisted on 22 of them. Where was this earlier in the year?
• Somehow the Bucks outrebounded the Pacers on the offensive glass 13-10. I’d be embarrassed if I was Indy.
• After today, Nance now has four games left on his two-way contract. Decision time is coming, and everything I’ve heard suggests Andre Jackson Jr. will be cut to make way for a new deal for Nance.

Up Next

The Bucks hit the Fiserv Forum floor again on Tuesday evening as the Cavs come to town for one last matchup. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CDT on NBC, Peacock, and FanDuel Sports Wisconsin.

A 68-team NCAA men's basketball tournament bracket has finally been unveiled.

Following an eventful Selection Sunday, the path to a national championship has been set, with the country's top teams learning the road they'll have to traverse to make a Final Four and maybe, just maybe, cut down the nets on the first Monday of April and earn their one shining moment.

Not all roads to Indianapolis are created equally, though.

Think you can beat our experts? Join USA TODAY’s Bracket Challenge today!

For some teams, the mystical forces of March gift them a relatively navigable path. For others, though, tougher opponents or matchups stand in their way of the biggest stage in the sport.

So where do things stand for the NCAA tournament's four No. 1 seeds — Michigan, Duke, Arizona and Florida — and their title aspirations? Who will have to clear the highest hurdles just to make it to Naptown?

Here are the hardest roads to the Final Four:

Ready to win March Madness? Join USA TODAY’s Survivor Pool today!

Toughest roads to the Final Four

1. Duke

The Blue Devils earned the tournament's No. 1 overall seed after a 32-2 record and ACC regular-season and tournament titles, but they didn't get many other favors from the selection committee.

After an almost-certain first-round victory against college basketball legend Gerry McNamara and No. 16 seed Siena, coach Jon Scheyer's team has a taxing path to Indianapolis. In the second round, it will get either No. 8 seed Ohio State, who has one of the best players in the country in guard Bruce Thornton, or No. 9 seed TCU, which is 9-2 since Feb. 2.

In the Sweet 16, the Blue Devils will likely get No. 4 seed Kansas and potential No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick Darryn Peterson or No. 5 seed St. John's, which won the Big East regular-season and tournament championships, has won 19 of its past 20 games and has one of the best coaches in the sport's history in Rick Pitino.

Then, they'd have an Elite Eight matchup likely against No. 2 seed UConn, which has won two of the past three national titles, or No. 3 seed Michigan State, with Jeremy Fears Jr. and noted March wizard Tom Izzo. Even with likely national player of the year Cameron Boozer, Duke had enough questions with injuries to starters Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba. Now, it's got even more standing in the way of its national championship dreams.

REQUIRED READING: Jay Bilas on Duke NCAA Tournament: 'They don't have the easiest of draws'

2. Arizona

For all of their regular-season wins and overall success, the Wildcats have been among the biggest NCAA tournament underachievers under fifth-year head coach Tommy Lloyd, with no Elite Eight appearances despite being a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in three of the past four seasons. Even beyond that recent history, the path to their first Final Four in 25 years won't be easy.

A stiff challenge awaits in the Sweet 16 against either No. 4 seed Arkansas — the SEC tournament champion that has one of the country's best players in Darius Acuff Jr. and a long, athletic supporting cast — or No. 5 seed Wisconsin, which has won 15 of its past 20 and has one of the most explosive offenses in the sport.

After that, it would likely have to get through No. 2 seed Purdue, the Big Ten champion that has the nation's most efficient offense, according to KenPom, and a number of key players from its 2024 national runner-up squad, led by record-setting guard Braden Smith.

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

3. Florida

The Gators enter the tournament as one of the country's hottest teams, with 17 wins in their past 19 games after an underwhelming 9-5 start. They've got all the potential to make a second-consecutive Final Four, with Sunday's bracket reveal confirming as much.

Either No. 8 seed Clemson or No. 9 seed Iowa could be a squirrely second-round opponent, but the Sweet 16 won't be nearly as daunting for Todd Golden's squad as it will for some of its fellow No. 1 seeds. No. 5 seed Vanderbilt beat Florida by 17 in the SEC tournament, but the Gators have shown they can beat the Commodores, with a 98-94 in Nashville back in January. Or they could take on No. 4 seed Nebraska, which is just 6-6 since a 20-0 start to the season. No. 2 seed Houston, a rematch of last year's national title game, or No. 3 seed Illinois would be challenging in the Elite Eight, but Florida's path to that point isn't especially arduous.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness printable bracket for predictions, picks in NCAA Tournament

4. Michigan

There's no such thing as an easy road to the Final Four, but among the 1 seeds, the Wolverines have the most manageable set of tasks in front of them.

No. 8 seed Georgia or No. 9 seed Saint Louis could offer a fun second-round game, but neither squad has the horses to keep up with coach Dusty May's squad. In the Sweet 16, they'd probably get a beat-up No. 5 seed in Texas Tech without All-American forward JT Toppin or a No. 4 seed in Alabama that has a frontcourt so thin that it went to court to try to add a 23-year-old G Leaguer to it, making it a group that Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. should feast against.

Then, in the Elite Eight, their most likely opponents would be No. 2 seed Iowa State, which is 11-7 in its past 18 games and has underplayed its tournament seed in recent years, or No. 3 seed Virginia, which has only one win this season against a team currently in the top 25 on KenPom.

It's fair to wonder whether Michigan can win a national title without injured guard L.J. Cason, but now that a bracket's out, a trip to Indianapolis should be much more of an expectation than a hope.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness predictions: Who has toughest Final Four road?

CHICAGO - Maybe next year, Big Ten.

The conference still doesn’t have a team that can win the men's NCAA Tournament and give the Big Ten its first title since 2000. That much is obvious after Michigan, which spent most of the season in the top three of the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll, including five weeks at No. 1, struggled throughout the conference tournament before finally losing to Purdue in the title game.

Oh, the Wolverines are still the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region. But Michigan looks like one of those teams that peaked too early, and has a Sweet 16 or Elite Eight exit written all over them.

“This loss … makes us know that we are not unbeatable. We can lose games, too,” Aday Mara said after the 80-72 loss to Purdue on Sunday, March 15.

“We cannot relax during games. We’ve just got to keep learning, keep improving and make sure we don’t relax during games.”

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

That’s a lovely sentiment. But when you need a reminder of that at this stage of the season, you’re already cooked.

As are the Big Ten’s big hopes for ending its title drought.

There was a time the Big Ten was as much a constant in the list of NCAA champions as Indianapolis was in the list of Final Four host cities. But you have to go back to Michigan State’s Flintstones in 2000 since a Big Ten men’s team has won it all.

That might not sound like that long ago. When you realize that was in the quaint old days of the Big Ten still having 11 teams, however, it might as well be ancient history.

It’s not that the Big Ten hasn’t had its chances. Eight teams from the conference have made the title game since 2001. Another seven teams have made the Final Four. Once there, however, it’s been clear the Big Ten wasn’t on the same level as ACC, SEC and Big East.

Michigan was supposed to be different. It has the Big Ten player of the year in Yaxel Lendeborg, the defensive player of the year in Mara and an elite point guard in Elliot Cadeau.

The Wolverines won all but two games during the regular season, and went unbeaten in road conference games. They were explosive on offense and tenacious on defense.

Yet Michigan didn’t look like a team capable of a title run during the Big Ten tournament. The Wolverines seemed to be on their heels for most of the tournament, responding rather than setting the tone.

Against Wisconsin, the Wolverines led by 15 with less than 10 minutes to play but needed a last-second 3 from Lendeborg to avoid overtime. In the title game, Purdue opened the second half with a 13-4 run and Michigan never recovered.

Even after Boilermakers center Oscar Cluff picked up his fourth foul with 5:31 still to play, he was able to bang at will down low, scoring seven of his 21 points in the closing minutes.

“I think we let Cluff get in deep catches, so he was able to score like really easy baskets around the rim,” Mara said.

Let that sink in for a second.

Michigan had three players on the Big Ten’s all-defensive team: Lendeborg, Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. Nobody should be getting easy baskets on those guys, and certainly not at this time of year.

As for Lendeborg, though in good form against Purdue — he was 4-of-7 from deep and finished with 20 points — he wasn’t a factor offensively against Ohio State and for the first half against Wisconsin.

Michigan also lost the turnover battle in each of its games; even though it only had seven against Purdue, the Boilermakers had all of two.

“We didn't want this to happen. We planned to go three-of-three: Big Ten (title), Big Ten tournament championship, NCAA,” Nimari Burnett said. “But this is a part of the process, and we're going to use this as fuel into this next month of basketball.”

Again, it’s a little late for that.

As for the Big Ten's other top-tier teams, well, Nebraska, Illinois and Michigan State left the tournament without winning a game. Nobody eats their own quite like the Big Ten, but that doesn't bode well for the next three weeks.

The conference's best hope might actually be Purdue, which played this weekend like the No. 1 team it was when the season began.

"It's a great sign," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "There's a lot of teams, and we've been one of those teams before, that have just played great and then all of a sudden get into tourney time and not play as well.

"It's a little bit of a mix. You've got to keep working toward getting better."

With hopes for an NCAA title dimming once again, it sounds like an assignment for the entire Big Ten.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan's Big Ten tournament flop predicts more March Madness sadness

The San Antonio Spurs are one win shy of 50 wins with 15 games left. It’s the first time the team will reach that mark since the 2016-2017 season. With the league’s second-best record, the Spurs have elevated from plucky young squad to a true NBA title contender. According to a survey of SB Nation readers, the Spurs are the favorites to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy in June.

The Spurs finished 4% higher than the league’s best Oklahoma City Thunder, a team they defeated four times this season. The field and Boston Celtics round out the group of teams considered to be title favorites.

The sentiment is likely driven by the Spurs’ recent stretch in which the team has gone 17-3 over 20 games. That stretch has been defined by shut-down defense, an increase in offensive efficiency, and MVP-level play by Victor Wembanyama. During that time, the Spurs have looked like a team that can win games physically and in a variety of ways. They have a top-10 player and a good supporting cast.

What they lack is experience. Teams like the Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves have playoff experience, winning titles and reaching conference finals. The Spurs undoubtedly have the talent to compete with those teams, but the question is whether they can win without being there before. Other teams have done it, like the Thunder.

An emphatic end to the 2025/26 season could cement their status as a title favorite even further. The team has the third-easiest remaining schedule and a real chance to win 60 games. If they are considered a favorite now, ending the season with 60 wins makes them an even more real threat.

Do you think the Spurs are the title favorite? Or will another team take them out come playoff time? You can see the complete title odds at this link: https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Quentin Grimes scored 14 of his season-high 31 points in the fourth quarter as the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 109-103 Sunday night.

The Sixers were playing without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. due to injuries.

Justin Edwards scored 21 points, and VJ Edgecombe had 18 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for the rookie’s third double-double this season.

Deni Avdija led Portland with 25 points, and Jerami Grant added 20. But the Trail Blazers shot just 17 for 53 from 3-point range (32.7%). Donovan Clingan added 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Portland led by one point at halftime, 54-53, before the Sixers stretched the lead to as many as 10 points in the third quarter, helped by nine points from Edwards in the period.

The Sixers took their largest lead of the game at 101-87 with 5:34 left, but Portland answered with a 10-0 run. An Edgecombe jumper with 1:53 to play and a steal and slam by Edwards with 1:20 left helped Philadelphia seal the win.

Up next

76ers: Open a three-game trip in Denver on Tuesday.

Trail Blazers: Continue a five-game trip in Brooklyn Monday night.

___

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

San Diego State basketball was left out of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 15, failing to reach March Madness for the first time since 2019.

The Aztecs were one of the first four teams left out of the 68-team bracket, along with Oklahoma, Auburn and Indiana. SDSU lost to Utah State in the Mountain West Conference Championship, losing out on the conference's automatic bid.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracket, seeding, predictions, snubs for 2026 NCAA Tournament

It's a tough blow for the Mountain West, which only got one team in the NCAA Tournament despite being one of the best non-Power conferences in college basketball. New Mexico, another bubble team, also missed the field.

San Diego State has seen loads of NCAA Tournament success in recent years, reaching the Final Four in 2023 and the Sweet 16 in 2024 and 2025.

Did San Diego State make March Madness?

San Diego State was left out of the NCAA Tournament when the bracket was revealed on March 15's Selection Sunday.

The Aztecs finished the season with a 22-11 record and a 14-6 mark in Mountain West play. They fell to Utah State 73-62 in the conference championship game.

San Diego State was No. 47 in the NCAA's Net Rankings, with a 3-8 record in Quad 1 games and a 6-2 mark in Quad 2 games. Utah State, a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, is No. 26 in NET.

San Diego State's rough stretch from late February to early March might've been the difference in its NCAA Tournament chances, after it lost four of five games to Grand Canyon, Colorado State, New Mexico and Boise State. It did, however, beat Utah State during that span.

NCAA Tournament Last Four In, First Four Out

Here's a look at the Last Four In and First Four Out teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament:

Last Four In

• NC State
• Texas
• SMU
• Miami (Ohio)

First Four Out

• Oklahoma
• Auburn
• San Diego State
• Indiana

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did San Diego State make March Madness in 2026? Aztecs miss NCAA Tournament

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.

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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.