The 2026 men’s NCAA tournament 68-team field is finally set. With each team setting its sights on the Big Dance through 31 auto bids and 37 at-large, here’s a breakdown of each team that will be competing.
Teams are listed in alphabetical order.
Akron
For the first time in Mid-American Conference history, there is a back-to-back-to-back champion: the Akron Zips (29-5, 17-1 MAC). It’s been a historic season for the Zips, who clinched their eighth NCAA tournament berth behind a program record 29 wins. If there was ever a mid-major squad opposing teams don’t want to see in the tournament, it’s Akron. The Zips are top-10 nationally in scoring offense (88.4 ppg) and field goal percentage (50.3%) and are top-20 in 3-point percentage (37.9%).
Alabama
Alabama (23-9, 13-5 SEC) has tinkered with its lineup throughout the season, which ended on a stunning 80-79 loss to Ole Miss in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. The Crimson Tide average a country-best 91.7 points per game, capable of scoring triple-digits against any opponent it matches up against. Alabama is led by sophomore guard Labaron Philon Jr. (21.7 ppg), along with four other players who average 10-plus points per game.
Arizona
March Madness came early for Big 12 champions Arizona (32-2, 16-2 Big 12). After Jason Bradley’s buzzer-beating shot to beat Iowa State in the conference semifinals, Arizona returned the following night, holding off Houston in the title game to secure an automatic bid and No. 1 seed. Arizona is a favorite to win the tournament, and for good reason. The Wildcats are one of the most prolific offenses (86.1 points per game) with all five starters averaging double-digits and have one of the best rebounding margins (10.8) to go along with it.
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Arkansas
Arkansas (26-8, 13-5 SEC) put together one of the most impressive conference tournament runs in the country, running through the gauntlet of the Southeastern Conference to secure its first SEC tournament title since 2000. The high-scoring Razorbacks are led by freshman sensations Darius Acuff Jr., who was named the SEC Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year and SEC tournament MVP, and Meleek Thomas.
BYU
Despite another 20-win season, BYU (23-11, 9-9 Big 12) struggled to live up to the lofty preseason expectations that had it ranked No. 8 in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll, finding itself on the bubble entering Selection Sunday. Still, the Cougars, led by future NBA first-round draft pick AJ Dybantsa, have all the makings of a mid-seed team that can make a deep run in this year’s tournament.
California Baptist
Down seven with just over two minutes to go in the Western Atlantic Conference championship game, California Baptist (25-8, 13-5 WAC) went on a final rally to beat Utah Valley, 63-61, and clinch the first WAC championship and NCAA tournament berth in program history. The Lancers are led by top-five national scorer Dominique Daniels Jr. (23.2 ppg) and are relentless on the glass, pulling in 39.9 rebounds per contest. Whatever happens in the tournament, this will be a season to remember for California Baptist.
Clemson
Despite losing five of its last seven regular season games, Clemson (24-10, 12-6 ACC) built some momentum in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, beating North Carolina before falling to Duke in the semifinals. The Tigers, who made the Elite Eight in 2024 and lost to McNeese in the First Round last season, return to the NCAA tournament for the third straight season and boast a stout defense.
Duke
Duke (32-2, 17-1 ACC) secured an automatic bid and the top seed in the tournament by winning the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in a back-and-forth matchup against Virginia. This will be the Blue Devils’ 30th straight tournament appearance. There’s not much else to say about Duke, which has the country’s best scoring margin, led by Cameron Boozer and company. One of the most prolific programs in college basketball history, the Jon Scheyer led Blue Devils enter the tournament seeking their first NCAA championship since 2015.
Florida
Florida (26-7, 16-2 SEC) was riding a 12-game winning streak before its 17-point Southeastern Conference semifinal loss to Vanderbilt. Even so, the Gators are one of the favorites to win this year’s tournament and for good reason. Florida, behind big men Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, boasts the country’s top rebounding margin (+14.5) to go along with its high-scoring offense (86.8 ppg).
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Furman
You might remember Furman (22-12, 10-8 SoCon) from its buzzer-beating upset win over No. 4 Virginia in the 2023 NCAA tournament. Furman entered the Southern Conference tournament as the No. 6 seed, but the Paladins are headed back to the NCAA tournament after beating No. 1 seed East Tennessee State by 15 in the conference championship game. The entire starting lineup for Furman stands at 6-foot-5 or taller, which has allowed it to boast one of the country’s best 2-point shooting percentage (60%).
Georgia
Georgia (22-10, 10-8 SEC) was one of several victims to fall to underdog Ole Miss in the Southeastern Conference tournament. The Bulldogs average 89.8 points per game and have one of the highest scoring benches in the country. They lead the country averaging over 19 fastbreak points and average 6.1 blocks per game.
Gonzaga
It’s no surprise to see Gonzaga (30-3, 16-2 WCC) back in the field. This marks the 27-straight appearance for the Zags, giving the Bulldogs the third-longest active streak in the nation behind only Kansas and Michigan State. Gonzaga said goodbye to the West Coast Conference with yet another dominating 30-plus win season, capped by a 79-68 victory over Santa Clara in the conference title game. The Zags are among the country’s best teams statistically in scoring offense (85.1 ppg), field goal percentage (51%), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9) and more. The only question is how far Mark Few’s squad can go this postseason.
Hawai’i
After finishing below .500 last season, Hawai’i (25-8, 14-6 Big West) mounted a remarkable comeback guided by head coach Eran Ganot, beating top-seeded UC Irvine, 71-64, to secure an automatic bid – its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2016. The Rainbow Warriors are scary in the paint with 7-foot Isaac Johnson and 6-foot-9 Harry Rouhliadeff making an impact on both ends of the floor. Last time Hawaii was in the NCAA tournament, it took down No. 4 Cal in the First Round.
High Point
Welcome back to the Dance, High Point (30-4, 15-1 Big South). After making its first NCAA tournament appearance last season, the Panthers rolled through the 2025-26 season, securing a Big South Conference record 30 wins (breaking their own record of 29 last season). High Point battled against Sweet 16 qualifier Purdue last season in the first round of the tournament, and it looks poised to bust some brackets this time around. This season, the Panthers rank fifth in points per game (90), second in turnover margin (+7.1) and fourth in free-throw attempts (26.8).
Hofstra
In his fifth season at the helm, head coach and legendary alumnus Speedy Claxton led Hofstra (24-10, 12-6 CAA) back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2001 (the Pride qualified in 2020 before the tournament was canceled due to COVID). Led by freshman Preston Edmead, the CAA Championship Most Outstanding Player, Hofstra makes its fifth NCAA tournament appearance as a Division I program. This season, Hofstra’s opposing field goal percentage (38.7%) is top-five in the country.
Houston
Houston (28-6, 14-4 Big 12) nearly erased a double-digit deficit late against Arizona in the Big 12 title game. Despite the loss, the Cougars enter this year’s tournament as one of the top seeds behind one of the best defenses in the nation, which allows just 62.9 points per game. Led by five-star freshman Kingston Flemings, the Cougars enter March Madness as capable as any team to make a deep run in the bracket.
Howard
Howard (23-10, 11-3 MEAC) is making its third NCAA tournament appearance in four seasons under head coach Kenneth Blakeney after defeating North Carolina Central in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title game to secure the automatic bid. The Bison are an efficient shooting team from the field and beyond the arc and get to the foul line at one of the highest rates in the country, averaging over 25 free throw attempts per game in which they convert successfully on 73.1% of them.
Idaho
A dream run for Idaho (21-14, 9-9 Big Sky) in the Big Sky tournament was capped off with the Vandals securing the league title. The Vandals lived up to their competitive and spirited name, securing wins over the Big Sky’s No. 2, 3 and 4 seeds to secure the league’s automatic bid. This marks Idaho’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 1990. The Vandals average better than 26 rebounds per game, not allowing their opponents many second chance opportunities.
Illinois
When Illinois’ (24-8, 15-5 Big Ten) offense is clicking, it has all the looks of one of the most dangerous teams in the country. The Fighting Ilini average 84.4 points per game and like to let it fly from beyond the arc, averaging nearly 11 3-pointers per game. Down the stretch, however, Illinois lost a handful of overtime games to Michigan State, Wisconsin (twice, including in the Big Ten tournament) and UCLA.
Iowa
After a two-year drought, Iowa (21-12, 10-10 Big Ten) is back in the Big Dance. The Hawkeyes allowed opponents to average just 66 points per game this season and are one of the most efficient shooting teams in the country (49.1% from the field). Despite a disappointing road record (3-8), the Hawkeyes are 4-1 in neutral site games this season.
Iowa State
Iowa State’s (27-7, 12-6 Big 12) is as impressive as it is confusing. The Cyclones have impressive victories, including lopsided wins over Purdue and Kansas, along with lopsided losses. The Cyclones beat Arizona State by 49 points in their first game of the Big 12 tournament and lost to Arizona at the buzzer in the semifinals. Iowa State is led by the three-headed attack of Milan Momcilovic, Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey. The force 15-plus turnovers per game, which results in an average 19.4 points off turnovers.
Kansas
Kansas (23-10, 12-6 Big 12) is safely in the tournament for the 36th consecutive year, but this year has brought about plenty of questions for the Jayhawks. Kansas lost five of its last seven regular season games, beating Houston by 13 points during that span, before getting blown out by the Cougars by 22 points in the Big 12 tournament. Led by veteran coach Bill Self, Kansas has as high a ceiling as anyone, but it will be interesting to see how the Jayhawks respond in March after an up-and-down season.
Kennesaw State
In just its second season in Conference USA, Kennesaw State (21-13, 10-10 CUSA) went on a run in the Conference USA tournament, winning three consecutive games to secure the league’s automatic bid. This marks just the second NCAA tournament appearance for the Owls, who made the tournament as an Atlantic Sun member in 2023. Kennesaw State has all the makings of a bracket buster – a high scoring offense (83.7 ppg) that forces turnovers and isn’t afraid to let it fly from 3.
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Kentucky
Kentucky (21-13, 10-8 SEC) was able to pick up a couple of gritty wins over LSU and Missouri in the Southeastern Conference tournament before losing to Florida after ending the regular season losing five of its final seven regular season games. While the Wildcats are a lower seed than they’ve historically been accustomed to, they’ll be ready for anyone after facing a tough SEC schedule.
Lehigh
Lehigh (18-16, 11-7 Patriot) came alive when it needed to most, beating Boston in the Patriot League title game to secure an automatic bid. The Mountain Hawks, guided by long-time head coach Brett Reed (who’s in his 19th year at Lehigh), return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2012, when they shocked No. 2 Duke in the first round as a 15-seed. Lehigh is led by junior guard Nasir Whitlock, who is one of the nation’s most prolific scorers, averaging 21 points per game.
LIU
FINS UP! Long Island (24-10, 15-3 NEC) clinched a spot in the NCAA tournament after beating Wagner in the Northeast Conference semifinals due to Mercyhurst’s current status reclassifying as a Division I institution, but LIU still took care of business in the title game with a 79-70 win. If you like fast-paced offense-heavy basketball, Long Island is a team to watch in March. The Sharks average 14.33 fastbreak points and sit in the top-50 of NCAA teams, shooting 47.86% from the field.
Louisville
Louisville (23-10, 11-7 ACC) is back in the tournament after another solid season in the always competitive Atlantic Coast Conference. The Cardinals average 84.7 points per game and are hoping that explosive freshman Mikel Brown Jr. can return to the lineup after missing the ACC tournament to give them a spark in the NCAA tournament.
McNeese
After its loss to Purdue in the Second Round of the NCAA tournament last season, McNeese (28-5, 19-3 Southland) coach Will Wade said, “We have a plan to keep this program rolling.” Now, Wade, Amir “Aura” Khan and the Cowboys — who’ve won a combined 86 games over the past three seasons – are dancing for the third straight year, securing the Southland Conference tournament title over Stephen F. Austin. After beating Clemson in a 12-over-5 upset last season, McNeese will be a popular upset pick in brackets. The Cowboys have outscored their opponents by 13.5 points per game and are one of only three schools that average more than 10 steals per game.
Miami (FL)
The only question for Miami (25-8, 13-5 ACC) entering this year’s tournament was how highly it would be ranked. The Hurricanes shoot better than 50% from the field and are led by Indiana transfer Malik Reneau (18.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg). The Canes navigated a touch Atlantic Coast Conference schedule and have several close quality losses on their resume, as well.
Miami (Ohio)
With the most polarizing resume in the country, Miami (Ohio) (31-1, 18-0 MAC) is headed to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007. The RedHawks went a perfect 31-0 in the regular season before getting stunned by No. 8 seed Massachusetts in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament. Despite having one of the worst strength of schedules in the country, Miami (OH) is one of the most prolific offenses in the country, ranking among the best in points per game (90.7), field goal percentage (52.4%) and 3-point percentage (39.2%) to go along with seven players who average double-digits. Now, the RedHawks will have their chance to prove that the committee made the right choice.
Michigan
One of the few blemishes on Michigan’s (31-3, 19-1 Big Ten) resume came in an 80-72 loss to Purdue in the Big Ten championship game. After losing just one regular season game in the multi-bid Big Ten, the Wolverines are well-equipped to make a March Madness run as one of the top seeds in the NCAA tournament. Michigan is led by Big Ten Conference Player of the Year. The Wolverines average 87.3 points per game and have been outscoring their opponents by 18.4 points per game, one of the highest marks in the country.
Michigan State
It wouldn’t be March Madness without Tom Izzo and Michigan State (25-7, 15-5 Big Ten). The Spartans safely secured their 28th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, despite losing their first game in the Big Ten tournament. Behind Jeremy Fears Jr. and veteran leaders like Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler, Michigan State will be a team to be reckoned with in this year’s tournament.
Missouri
Missouri (20-12, 10-8 SEC) found itself on the bubble entering Selection Sunday. Despite losing to Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference tournament, the Tigers did enough in the committee’s eyes to earn them a spot in this year’s bracket. The Tigers, who beat Florida, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Tennessee in the regular season, are led by Duke transfer Mark Mitchell (18.3 ppg).
NC State
Will Wade’s NC State (20-13, 10-8 ACC) owns perhaps one of the most impressive wins in the country, a 24-point victory over North Carolina in February. That was the lone win in the Wolfpack’s final seven games of the regular season, which included three lopsided losses to NCAA tournament teams Duke, Virginia and Louisville. In its 30th NCAA tournament appearance, NC State will look to replicate the magic of its Final Four run two years ago.
Nebraska
Even in a record-setting 26-win season for Nebraska (26-6, 15-5 Big Ten), the Cornhuskers enter the tournament with some questions. Nebraska started the season with a 20-0 record but went 6-6 down the stretch, which included a 20-point loss to UCLA and a 16-point loss to Purdue in the Big Ten tournament. The Cornhuskers aren’t afraid to shoot the three, averaging about 30 per game, making them a dangerous team when they’re connecting offensively.
North Carolina
North Carolina’s (24-8, 12-6 ACC) NCAA tournament hopes were never in doubt this season, but its outlook certainly shifted following the season-ending injury of star freshman Caleb Wilson. Despite Wilson’s injury, North Carolina has continued its winning ways and the Blue Blood Tar Heels are always a threat come March.
North Dakota State
It was a record-setting season in terms of wins for North Dakota State (27-7, 14-2 Summit), which took down its arch-rival North Dakota, 70-62, to claim the Summit League championship. This marks the first time the Bison have claimed the Summit League since 2020 and marks their sixth NCAA tournament appearance. This North Dakota State team, led by 1,000-point scorer Damari Wheeler-Thomas, has a deep rotation with six players averaging nine or more points per game and has outscored its opponents by 11.1 points per game.
Northern Iowa
A historic “Arch Madness” tear ends a decade-long NCAA tournament drought for Northern Iowa (23-12, 11-9 MVC). Coming in the Missouri Conference Valley tournament as a No. 6-seed, the Panthers became the conference’s first team to win four games in four days to capture the conference title and automatic bid. Northern Iowa clinched its ninth NCAA tournament appearance under head coach Ben Jacobson, who’s now in his 20th season. Northern Iowa has plenty of memorable moments in March, and this year’s squad comes in with the country’s best scoring defense (61.3 ppg).
Ohio State
Ohio State (21-12, 12-8 Big Ten) went on a run at the end of the season, which included a win over a top-10 Purdue team and fell just short of beating powerhouse Michigan in the Big Ten tournament. Led by Bruce Thornton (20.2 ppg), the efficient shooting Buckeyes (49.3% from the field, 77.5% from the free throw line) aren’t a team high seeds want to see on their side of the bracket.
Penn
Penn (18-11, 9-5 Ivy League) shocked Yale in the Ivy League championship game, forcing overtime before upsetting the Bulldogs, 88-84, in an instant classic. Junior forward TJ Power quickly became a household name in the finale, scoring 44 points to go along with 14 rebounds to secure Penn’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 2018. The Quakers are among the best three-point shooting teams in the country (38.6%), quickly making them a team other programs would rather not have in their region.
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Prairie View A&M
A month ago, Prairie View A&M (18-17, 9-9 SWAC) was sitting seven games below .500, but it showed that all that if you play well at the right time, anything can happen. The Panthers won five of their last six games entering the Southwestern Atlantic Conference tournament, where they won four straight games, including a championship victory over Southern, to earn an automatic bid. Playing in a first four game in Dayton, Prairie View A&M will be seeking its first NCAA tournament victory since 1998.
Purdue
After an uncharacteristically down year inside Mackey Arena, Purdue (26-9, 13-7 Big Ten) looked every bit like the preseason No. 1 team during its run in the Big Ten conference tournament, where it earned the league’s automatic bid with an 80-72 victory over Michigan. The Boilermakers have an unmatched ability to share the ball, averaging 19.9 assists per game, don’t hurt themselves with turnovers and have a well-balanced inside and outside game. After making the national championship in 2024 and the Sweet Sixteen last season, Matt Painter’s Boilermakers will be looking to make another deep run in March Madness.
Queens (NC)
It didn’t take Queens (21-13, 13-5 ASUN) to get acclimated to the Division I ranks. The Royals outlasted Central Arkansas in a 98-93 overtime thriller to secure the Atlantic Sun Championship to qualify for their first NCAA tournament in their first year of eligibility after reclassifying to Division I in 2022. And Queens has the offensive firepower to make some noise in March, ranking near the top in the country in points per game (84.9), 3-pointers made (10.3) and field goal percentage (48.2).
Saint Louis
Four of Saint Louis’ (28-5, 15-3 A-10) five losses this season have come in the past month. The Billikins needed a rally to beat George Washington in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals before losing in the last seconds to Dayton in the semifinals. Despite that, the high-scoring Billikins (87.2 ppg), led by Robbie Avila, did enough in the committee’s mind to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament, marking the first time St. Louis will make the tournament since 2019.
Saint Mary’s
Saint Mary’s (27-5, 17-1 WCC) is making its fifth straight NCAA tournament appearance after another impressive season that included a share of the regular season West Coast Conference title and an AP Top 25 ranking. The Gaels have one of the most suffocating defenses in the country, limiting teams to 64.6 points per game. Combine that with a team that shares the ball and is top-10 in 3-point percentage (38.9%), Saint Mary’s is a team that can beat anyone in the tournament.
Santa Clara
It’s been 30 years since Santa Clara (26-8, 15-3 WCC) made the NCAA tournament, but its most impressive resume in decades, which included two victories of Saint Mary’s and non-conference wins over Xavier, Nevada and Minnesota earned the Broncos a chance to dance once more. After falling to Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference championship game, the high-scoring Broncos will look to make some noise in this year’s bracket.
Siena
Two years ago, Siena finished the regular season with a 4-28 record. In its second season under the guidance of head coach and former Syracuse legend Gerry McNamara, the Saints (23-11, 13-7 MAAC) are headed back to the NCAA tournament. This Siena squad boasts a top-20 scoring defense, with opponents averaging just 66 points per game. In the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game, Siena held No. 1 seed Merrimack scoreless for the first 9:02 of the second half.
SMU
SMU (20-13, 8-10 ACC) didn’t back away from competition in non-conference play, playing four Southeastern Conference schools and beating two of them (Mississippi State and Texas A&M) before opening Atlantic Coast Conference play with a 14-point victory over North Carolina. Despite its less-than-impressive record, which included four straight losses to end the regular season, the Mustangs have shown they have what it takes to compete in the NCAA tournament.
South Florida
South Florida (25-8, 15-3 AAC) had a strong at-large resume but left no doubt, beating Wichita State 70-55 in the American Athletic Conference championship game to earn an automatic bid and its first NCAA tournament bid since 2012. The Bulls connected on a program record 312 3-pointers this year and averaged 88.3 points per game as its entire starting lineup averaged double-digits. The Bulls beat Mountain West champion Utah State and lost a shootout against Alabama in the non-conference season.
St. John’s
St. John’s (28-6, 18-2 Big East) left no doubt that it remains one of the strongest teams in the nation. The Red Storm dominated UConn, 72-52, in the Big East championship to secure an automatic bid and back-to-back conference titles. St. John’s never trailed for a single second throughout its three-game conference championship run. The Red Storm lost in the second round last year, but you can bet Zuby Ejiofor and legendary coach Rick Pitino will be looking to make a deep run this time around.
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TCU
TCU (22-11, 11-7 Big 12) won eight of its last nine regular season games, including impressive victories over Iowa State and Texas Tech to get itself back into the NCAA tournament. On paper, the Horned Frogs aren’t overly impressive, but they always seem to find a way to compete against some of the most challenging teams on their schedule.
Tennessee
This year’s Tennessee (22-11, 11-7 SEC) team isn’t the powerhouse it typically is. The Volunteers lost three of their last four regular season games before, beating Auburn and losing to Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference tournament. While it’s not the highest-scoring team, Tennessee leads the nation with 16 offensive rebounds per game, giving themselves plenty of second-chance opportunities in tight games.
Tennessee State
Much like it’s done most of the season, Tennessee State (23-9, 15-5 OVC) dominated in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, beating Morehead State, 93-67, to clinch the league’s automatic bid and giving the Tigers their first NCAA tournament bid since 1994. While no one on the current roster was born the last time Tennessee State made the Big Dance, this year’s team is a near carbon copy of that team three decades ago in terms of conference winning percentage (.750), points per game (80.1) and points allowed (73.5). This year’s squad has been a problem for opposing offenses, forcing nearly 15 turnovers per game, including 9.4 steals.
Texas
Which Texas (18-14, 9-9 SEC) will we see in the NCAA tournament? The Longhorns punched their ticket as an at-large and have beaten the likes of Alabama, Vanderbilt and Georgia this season, but ended the season losing five of six games, including a 10-point loss to Ole Miss in the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Texas A&M
Texas A&M (21-11, 11-7 SEC) didn’t have to sweat during the selection show despite its 20-point loss to Oklahoma in the Southeastern Conference tournament. The Aggies, who average 87.7 points per game, secured the spot after bolstering their resume with wins over Kentucky, Auburn and Texas.
Texas Tech
Texas Tech (22-10, 12-6 Big 12) is yet another Big 12 team that went 12-6 in the conference. Grant McCasland’s Red Raiders own impressive wins over Duke and Arizona, but ended the season on a three-game losing streak, including a 20-point loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament. Texas Tech has been looking to find its new identity since star junior JT Toppin went down with an injury in February.
Troy
Troy (22-11, 12-6 Sun Belt) is back in the NCAA tournament for the second straight year after spoiling a near dream run from Georgia Southern with a 77-61 victory in the Sun Belt championship. The Trojans have a balanced scoring attack with four players averaging 12-plus points per game. As a team, Troy averages about 16 assists per game. Troy, in its fourth NCAA tournament appearance, is still looking for its first victory in the Big Dance.
UCF
No one expected UCF (21-11, 9-9 Big 12) to be in the NCAA tournament conversation at the beginning of the year. The Knights were projected to finish 14th in the conference’s preseason media poll. But UCF put the world on notice, starting the regular season 12-1, which included a home victory over Kansas. Now, UCF will make its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2019, when it nearly upset a Duke team led by Zion Williamson in the Second Round of the tournament.
UCLA
UCLA (23-11, 13-7 Big Ten) earned itself some comfort on Selection Sunday thanks to the way it ended the season. After lopsided losses to Michigan and Michigan State in February, the Bruins turned things around, beating Illinois in overtime to start a run that included four wins in five games and upset Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament before falling to Purdue in the conference semifinals. The Bruins are one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country (38.2%), making them a dangerous draw.
UConn
Despite its strong resume, UConn (29-5, 17-3 Big East) enters the NCAA tournament with a bad taste in its mouth, losing by 20 to St. John’s in the Big East title game. Still, this is UConn we’re talking about. The 2023 and 24 national champions should be prepared to make a run under veteran head coach Dan Hurley, whose only NCAA tournament loss in the past three seasons came against last year’s national champion, Florida.
UMBC
UMBC (24-8, 14-2 America East) is back in the tournament for the first time since 2018, when it shocked the world by beating then top-ranked Virginia, becoming the first 16-seed to beat a 1-seed. The Retrievers dominated the America East championship to secure an automatic bid and are one of the hottest teams in the country, entering the tournament as winners of 12 straight. UMBC is one of the best scoring defenses (67 ppg) and defensive rebounding teams in the nation.
Utah State
Make that four NCAA tournament appearances in a row for Utah State (28-6, 15-5 Mountain West), who swept the Mountain West regular season and postseason titles, beating San Diego State, 73-62, in the championship game to secure the league’s automatic bid. The Aggies are one of the most efficient teams in the country, shooting 49.8% from the field and 35.8% from 3 while averaging 17.6 assists per game as a unit. Utah State challenged itself in the non-conference schedule and handled the Mountain West gauntlet to earn its spot back in the Big Dance.
Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt’s (26-8, 11-7 SEC) spot in the NCAA tournament wasn’t in question leading up to Selection Sunday, but the Southeastern Conference tournament helped the Commodores put one last exclamation point on a fantastic regular season. In the SEC tournament, Vanderbilt knocked off Tennessee and dominated reigning NCAA champion Florida before falling to Arkansas in the SEC championship game.
VCU
VCU (26-7, 15-3 Atlantic 10) won its second Atlantic 10 title in three years, defeating Dayton, 70-62, in one of the final conference championship games before Selection Sunday. VCU didn’t shy away from competition this season, either, with several of its regular season losses coming against NCAA tournament teams (Utah State, NC State, Vanderbilt and Saint Louis). It will be interesting to see if this year’s Rams can match some of the success from previous NCAA tournaments.
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Villanova
It’s been a few years, but Villanova (24-8, 15-5 Big East) is back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since its Final Four run in 2022. Despite an upset loss to Georgetown in the Big East tournament quarterfinals, the Wildcats are a battle-tested team ready to make some noise in this year’s tournament.
Virginia
Virginia (29-5, 15-3 ACC) is back on top of the basketball world, nearly knocking off top-seeded Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. The Cavaliers’ elite defense has been matched with a revolutionized offense under first-year head coach Ryan Odom. Virginia averages 80-plus points per game and are led defensively by big man Ugonna Onyenso, who had 21 blocks over the course of three ACC tournament games, including nine against Duke.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin (24-10, 12-8 Big Ten) put the country on notice during the Big Ten tournament, beating Illinois in overtime and taking Michigan down to the wire in the semifinals. Led by the two-headed attack of Nick Boyd and John Blackwell, who both average 19-plus points per game, the Badgers play one of the cleanest brands of basketball in the country, averaging just 8.9 turnovers per game.
Wright State
Wright State (23-11, 15-5 Horizon) pulled off a 12-point, come-from-behind victory against Detroit Mercy to win the Horizon League championship, 66-63. This marks the fifth-ever NCAA tournament appearance for the Raiders and first since 2022. Wright State may not be one of the highest-scoring offenses in the nation, but it’s incredibly efficient, boasting a top-25 field goal percentage (49.12). The Raiders also pose problems defensively, setting a school record 148 blocks this season.
