The tournament will get underway with First Four play-in games, offering an opportunity to advance to the bracket's first round.
Nebraska, Samford, Richmond and Southern will be among the teams competing in the First Four. Stephen F. Austin, Arizona State, Virginia and Missouri State will also compete in the round.
Who is playing in the First Four of Women's March Madness?
Nebraska vs. Richmond and Stephen F. Austin vs. Missouri State will kick off the First Four action on March 18.
Virginia vs. Arizona State and Samford vs. Southern will take place the following day.
When is the Women's First Four?
The First Four will be played on Wednesday, March 18 and Thursday, March 19.
It's the official start of the Women's NCAA Tournament; eight teams will compete in the play-in games to determine which two teams will punch their tickets to the dance.
Once the bracket has been cut down from 68 teams to the final 64-team field, the first round will begin on Friday, March 20.
Women's First Four schedule
Time and channel to be determined for all games. Locations via ESPN
Wednesday, March 18
Nebraska vs. Richmond: ESPN2 | 7 p.m. ET (Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, NC)
Stephen F. Austin vs. Missouri State: ESPN2 | 9 p.m. ET (Moody Center, Austin, TX)
Thursday, March 19
Samford vs. Southern: ESPN2 | 7 p.m. ET (Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC)
Virginia vs. Arizona State: ESPN2 | 9 p.m. ET (Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA)
Women's March Madness schedule
Below are all the dates for the 2026 women's NCAA Tournament:
First Four: Wednesday, March 18 through Thursday, March 19
First Round: Friday, March 20 through Saturday, March 21
Second Round: Sunday, March 22 through Monday, March 23
Sweet 16: Friday, March 27 through Saturday, March 29
Elite Eight: Sunday, March 29 through Monday, March 30
In a must-win game for Team USA, Yankees star Aaron Judge is doing all he can.
With the Dominican Republic up 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning of the World Baseball Classic semifinal, Judge showed off his arm strength with an incredible throw from right field to third base to get Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. out.
It's the second time in a week that Judge has thrown out a runner trying to go from first to third base on a single, as he nabbed Mexico's Joey Ortiz inpool play.
Judge's clutch play seemed to spark life into the US bats as they hit two homers in the top of the fourth inning, with Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony going deep to give them all the runs they needed.
Judge's defense came to the rescue again in the fourth, robbing Juan Soto of a leadoff base hit with a diving catch.
The Americans hung on – thanks to a great escape in the seventh from Yankee teammate David Bednar – as the Dominicans got the tying run to third base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, thanks to a questionable strike three call to end it. The 2-1 win means they will head to the Championship Game on Tuesday against the winner of Monday's Venezuela-Italy game.
Hagen Smith was simply phenomenal in his brief and final Cactus League start. | (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
There is exactly one baseball game truly worth watching today, and it isn’t from Spring Training. If nothing outside of tonight’s drool-worthy WBC semifinal matchup between the United States and the Dominican Republic is of interest to you, I wouldn’t be able to place any fault. Because from afar, there is exactly one thing and one thing only you need to take away from the Spring Training action that took place today, and it’s that Hagen Smith looks like he’s figured it out.
I cannot emphasize enough how much it does not matter that the White Sox (13-10-1) lost to the Royals (8-14). It doesn’t matter that Erick Fedde got shelled to the tune of seven hits and three earned runs over 3 2/3 innings. Fedde may be likely to open the year in the Sox rotation, but that likeliness remains true for exactly as long as it takes Getz to decide that one of Smith, Tanner McDougal or Noah Schultz is ready for the big leagues.
It does not matter that if it wasn’t clear that Rule 5 draft pick Alexander Alberto isn’t going to be this year’s version of Shane Smith, the four runs (two earned) in just an inning of work today ought to have all but punched his ticket back to Tampa Bay’s minor league system. He’s an intriguing prospect, for sure, but even for a team that hasn’t quite emerged from the devastation of a multi-year rebuild, there are just too many other pitchers who deserve a shot at the big league bullpen to justify rostering Alberto beyond Opening Day. Similarly, while the innings he soaked up last season are greatly appreciated, Brandon Eisert is close enough to the bullpen bubble that I simply am not terribly concerned about the four hits and three runs he gave up in his inning-and-a-third of work.
So, back to the point. There is exactly one takeaway from today, and it’s that Hagen Smith was absolutely filthy. He only threw two innings, but recorded five of those six outs via strikeout, with nothing but a single walk to blemish the final statline.
Hagen Smith’s stuff looked ELECTRIC this afternoon.
The 22-year-old struck out five over two scoreless innings, flashing the kind of arsenal that reminds you why people are so excited about his future. pic.twitter.com/jvqjhDraKO
Between Jac Caglianone, J.J. Wetherholt, and current consensus top overall prospect Konor Griffin, the Sox passed up on a LOT of talent to take Hagen Smith with the fifth overall pick of the 2024 draft. I’m not going to make a sunk-cost argument that the Sox need to get plus value out of Smith for this entire experiment to work, but it’s pretty tough to wonder what might have happened if Riley Greene or C.J. Abrams had gotten the South Side pinstripes instead of Andrew Vaughn, and goodness knows we don’t want to have those conversations again. If the Sox see any success in the late 2020s, it’s probably going to be at least in some part because Hagen Smith turned into the bonafide top-of-the-rotation pitcher that we all hoped for as recently as a year ago. Amid a frustratingly inconsistent start to his pro career, this is the most promising step forward we’ve seen in quite some time.
What else happened in this game? The Royals scored a lot of runs, and the Sox scored few. On the bright side, Miguel Vargas’ absolutely torrid spring continued with two doubles and two walks. Edgar Quero was responsible for the first RBI of the game on a single, and was successful on all three of his pitch challenges from behind the plate.
The less bright side is that the Sox other runs came courtesy of Dustin Harris and Tanner Murray, two players unlikely to have much bearing on the future of the franchise.
Similarly, the large majority of Kansas City’s damage came off of bats that are unlikely to be much of a factor at Kauffman Stadium this season. Spring Training legend Brandon Drury hit a homer for the Royals, and we sincerely hope that he finds the regular season success this year that he may have been robbed of with the White Sox after an injury spoiled his white-hot March last year.
Outfielder Lane Thomas was responsible for a pair of ribeyes via a third inning sacrifice fly that got KC on the board, as well as a run-scoring single that gave them a 3-2 lead they’d never relinquish. Thomas is likely to play a substantial role on the Royals this year, but the same can’t be said for the sources of the rest of their runs, including a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double from up-and-down infielder Gavin Cross, a dinger from second baseman Peyton Wilson, and another smash in the late innings from backup catcher candidate Luca Tresh.
That was all she wrote for this one, as the Sox prepare to take the field against the Rangers tomorrow behind Sean Burke, who will face off with Texas’ top offseason acquisition in lefthander Mackenzie Gore. First pitch is at 7 p.m. CT in some rare March evening action, and we’ll see you there!
MIAMI (AP) — Junior Caminero hit the Dominican Republic's record 15th home run of the World Baseball Classic, breaking a mark set by Mexico in 2009.
Paul Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, retired five straight batters before Caminero drove a 1-2 sweeper at the top of the strike zone 401 feet over the left field wall for a 1-0 second-inning lead against the United States in the semifinal round on Sunday night.
Caminero fired his bat about 30 feet toward teammates in the third base dugout in excitement, and they ran off the bench to greet him at the plate after he rounded the bases.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 15: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks holds his knee during the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Fiserv Forum on March 15, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
MONTREAL (AP) — Montreal forward Kirby Dach left the Canadiens’ game Sunday night against the Anaheim Ducks because of an upper-body injury after a high hit from winger Jeffrey Viel.
Viel caught the unsuspecting Dach in Anaheim’s end three minutes into the first period after the Montreal forward swatted at the puck with his arm but missed.
Dach fell to the ice with his face in his gloves before gingerly making his way to the bench, and eventually to the dressing room. Viel was not penalized.
Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj and forward Josh Anderson approached Viel later in the period, but Viel declined apparent requests to fight.
The hit came three days after Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas ended Toronto captain Auston Matthews' season with a knee-on-knee hit. Matthews has a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Gudas was given a major penalty and ejected, then suspended five games for kneeing — the maximum the Department of Safety could levy because the hearing was by phone.
10/07/06 new york mets vs la dodgers @ dodgers stadium, chavez ravine, neil miller: nlds game #3/ overhead shot of dodger stadium
Dodger Stadium’s name isn’t changing.
But for the first time in the ballpark’s 64-year history, the playing surface will have an official sponsor.
A source confirmed that the team is striking a sponsorship agreement with the clothing brand Uniqlo that will make the Japanese company the presenting sponsor of the stadium’s field.
Dodger Stadium will have an official sponsor for its playing field for the first time in its 64-year history. Neil Miller
The official branding will likely be along the lines of “Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium.” The Athletic earlier reported the news.
Dodger Stadium is one of eight ballparks in Major League Baseball that has not sold its naming rights, along with Angel Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Kauffman Stadium, Nationals Park and Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
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Known as the “Cathedral of Baseball,” it is the third-oldest venue in the league, and one of the most historic, having hosted two All-Star Games and 12 World Series.
In 2028, it will be the baseball host site during the Summer Olympics, as well.
With all that history, plus the Dodgers’ internationally recognizable team brand that has been supercharged by the arrival of Shohei Ohtani, the stadium has long had great appeal to potential sponsors.
And now, the Dodgers have found a way to cash in on that without sacrificing the building’s official name — marking just the latest way the club has capitalized upon a prime marketing opportunity (especially with a Japanese sponsor) as it continues to establish itself as the biggest revenue-driving team in baseball.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 14: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after a three against Charlotte Hornets in the first half at Frost Bank Center on March 14, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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.
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.
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:
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.
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
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).
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
