Updated March 10, 2026
At-Large Impact
Atlantic Coast first round: No. 10 Stanford vs. No. 15 Pittsburgh, 2 (ACC Network)
There may be a path for the Cardinal (20-11) to earn an at-large berth if it can win two or three games this week. There will be none if they don’t handle business on #TuesdayInCharlotte against the Panthers (12-19).
Atlantic Coast first round: No. 11 Southern Methodist vs. No. 14 Syracuse, approx. 4:30 (ACC Network)
The Mustangs (19-12) have made things quite precarious for themselves with a four-game skid. They won’t gain much from beating the Orange (15-16), but it would be infinitely better for SMU than a loss that would leave them dangling around the edge of the field the rest of the week.
Atlantic Coast first round: No. 12 Virginia Tech vs. No. 13 Wake Forest, approx. 7 (ACC Network)
Much like the teams in home jerseys in the first two games in Charlotte today, Virginia Tech (19-12) needs to make some sort of case for itself this week. That starts with ousting Wake Forest (16-15) and moving on to a matchup tomorrow against Clemson.
West Coast final: No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 3 Santa Clara, 9 (ESPN)
It’s the 29th consecutive WCC title game for the Zags (29-3), who are seeking their 22nd conference tournament title on the way out the door to the Pac-12. Gonzaga’s going to end up a No. 3 or No. 4 seed, while Santa Clara (26-7) probably has earned passage regardless of how this game goes. With a win, the Broncos could plausibly see themselves as a No. 10 seed — maybe even a No. 9 —when the bracket is unveiled Sunday night.
Playing For Seeding
Big 12 first round: No. 10 Brigham Young vs. No. 15 Kansas State, 7
Must-Wins For At-Large Longshots
Big 12 first round: No. 9 Cincinnati vs. No. 16 Utah, approx. 3
Big 12 first round: No. 14 Oklahoma State vs. No. 11 Colorado, approx. 9:30
One-Bid League Notables
America East semifinal: No. 4 UMass Lowell at No. 1 UMBC, 6
Winners of 10 in a row, the Retrievers (22-8) will head to their first league final since 2022 with a victory over UMass Lowell (15-17). UMBC won the two regular season meetings by 24 and 23 points.
Coastal final: No. 3 Hofstra vs. No. 4 Monmouth, 7 (CBS Sports Network)
Preston Edmead’s banked-in 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds left in overtime Monday sent the Pride (23-10) past Towson. Hofstra hasn’t played in an NCAA tournament since 2001 (it won the CAA in 2020 just before the pandemic shut down the season), and it swept the season series from Monmouth (19-14) this year. The Pride would be a likely No. 13 seed, with Monmouth’s profile more suited for the No. 15 line.
Horizon final: No. 1 Wright State vs. No. 3 Detroit, 7 (ESPN)
The Raiders (22-11) are cooking, scoring 193 points in their first two conference tournament games. They would be ticketed for a No. 14 or No. 15 seed — perhaps going to Buffalo or St. Louis. While Detroit (17-14) has won nine of 11, its metrics suggest it would get slotted as a No. 16 seed and possibly even head to Dayton.
NEC final: No. 3 Mercyhurst at No. 1 Long Island, 7 (ESPN2)
Since Mercyhurst (17-16) is ineligible for the NCAA tournament, the Sharks (23-10) have already clinched the NEC’s automatic bid. They have a chance to become the first NEC champ to avoid a trip to Dayton since 2012.
Southland semifinal: No. 1 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 4 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 7 (ESPNU)
It seems like the Lumberjacks (27-4) and second-seeded McNeese (26-5) have been on a collision course all season. Stephen F. Austin gets Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (18-14), while the Cowboys face UT Rio Grande Valley (19-13) for the right to play tomorrow — on McNeese’s home court.
Metro Atlantic final: No. 1 Merrimack vs. No. 3 Siena, 9 (ESPN2)
Either the Warriors (23-10) earn their first NCAA trip in seven years at the Division I level, or Siena (22-11) earns its first MAAC tournament title since 2010. Both would be a likely No. 15 seed, though Merrimack’s ceiling could be a hair higher with upsets elsewhere.
Big Sky semifinal: No. 1 Portland State vs. No. 4 Montana, 9 (ESPNU)
It’s the penultimate day of Starch Madness in Boise, as the regular-season champion Vikings (20-10) try to keep alive their hopes of a first NCAA berth since 2009. Montana (17-15) is going for back-to-back Big Sky titles this week and swept the regular season series from Portland State.