Updated March 12, 2026
At-Large Impact
Atlantic Coast quarterfinal: No. 2 Virginia vs. No. 7 N.C. State, noon (ESPN2)
The Wolfpack (20-12) won’t limp into the postseason with a five-game skid, though a ticket to Dayton remains possible with enough surprises elsewhere shrinking the at-large field. A victory over Virginia (27-4) would be an achievement likely to keep N.C. State from falling to play-in territory and perhaps even get the Wolfpack back into an 8/9 game.
Big East quarterfinal: No. 4 Seton Hall vs. No. 5 Creighton, approx. 2:30 (Peacock)
The Pirates (20-11) aren’t in the top 50 of any team sheet metrics, and beating the Bluejays (15-16) isn’t going to transform their profile or vault them much closer to the edge of the field. But it would get them to the Big East semis and a chance to play St. John’s for the second consecutive Friday, and that’s where Seton Hall could make things more interesting.
Big 12 quarterfinal: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 8 Central Florida, approx. 3 (ESPN)
It’s hard to envision a team that’s 11-10 in the top two quadrants, has no bad losses and results-based metrics in the 30s being in much danger of slipping to a play-in game, let alone missing the tournament altogether. The Golden Knights (21-10) ended a three-game slide by rallying past Cincinnati on Wednesday, a triumph over regular season champ Arizona would only create greater separation from the motley lot likely headed to Dayton.
Southeastern second round: No. 5 Tennessee vs. No. 12 Auburn, approx. 3 (SEC Network)
It feels a bit gross to consider the Tigers (17-15) — losers of eight out of 10 before upending Mississippi State — a victory away from being difficult to dislodge from the field. But that’s where things stand, pending bid thievery elsewhere. If Auburn can upend Tennessee (21-10), it could very well find itself on the right side of things come Sunday.
Mountain West quarterfinal: No. 2 San Diego State vs. No. 7 Colorado State, 9 (CBS Sports Network)
There isn’t a great argument for the Aztecs (20-10) to land in the field, and there probably won’t be even if they win the next two days and then lose in the Mountain West final. But there’s not a great argument for a lot of other teams for the last spot in the field, either. San Diego State won’t gain much from beating the Rams (21-11), but a loss completely dooms them to the NIT or the Crown.
Southeastern second round: No. 6 Texas A&M vs. No. 11 Oklahoma, approx. 9:30 (SEC Network)
The Sooners (18-14) have won five in a row since the last time they met Texas A&M (21-10), a four-point loss to the Aggies on Feb. 21. Beating South Carolina on Wednesday didn’t elevate the Sooners much closer to the edge of the field, but a victory over Texas A&M would help much more.
Mountain West quarterfinal: No. 3 New Mexico vs. No. 11 San José State, approx. 11:30 (CBS Sports Network)
Like a golfer who posts a pedestrian score early in Saturday round only to watch the field come back to them as conditions worsen, the Lobos have enjoyed watching the rest of field sputter this week. Only trouble is, New Mexico (22-9) must return to the course now. The Lobos will start off with San José State (9-23), which went 3-17 in conference play but stunned Boise State 84-74 on Wednesday.
Bid Thief Alert
Mid-American quarterfinal: No. 1 Miami (Ohio) vs. No. 8 Massachusetts, 11 a.m.
One of the quickest ways to squeeze the field is to have an undefeated mid-major promptly lose in their conference tournament. The RedHawks (31-0) would be nearly impossible to exclude if they lose in the next three days, so a lot of teams around the edge of the field will be rooting for them rather than Massachusetts (16-15).
Mountain West quarterfinal: No. 1 Utah State at No. 8 UNLV, 3 (CBS Sports Network)
Like in the MAC, the Mountain West regular season champ is a certain at-large pick if it loses this week. Unlike in the MAC, you can squint closely enough and see a path for someone else in the league to land an at-large, too. But it’s not particularly likely, and the Aggies (25-6) will be a popular team so long as they can pin down an automatic bid. UNLV (17-15) beat Wyoming in Wednesday’s first round.
Playing For Seeding
Big East quarterfinal: No. 1 St. John’s vs. No. 9 Providence, noon (Peacock)
Big Ten third round: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Iowa, noon (BTN)
Big 12 quarterfinal: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Iowa State, 12:30 (ESPN)
Southeastern second round: No. 8 Missouri vs. No. 9 Kentucky, 12:30 (SEC Network)
Atlantic Coast quarterfinal: No. 3 Miami vs. No. 6 Louisville, approx. 2:30 (ESPN2)
Big Ten third round: No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 Washington, approx. 2:30 (BTN)
Big Ten third round: No. 7 Purdue vs. No. 15 Northwestern, 6:30 (BTN)
Atlantic Coast: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 8 Florida State, 7 (ESPN)
Big East quarterfinal: No. 2 Connecticut vs. No. 7 Xavier, 7 (Fox Sports 1)
Big 12 quarterfinal: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 10 Brigham Young, 7 (ESPN2)
Southeastern second round: No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 15 Mississippi, 7 (SEC Network)
Big Ten third round: No. 6 UCLA vs. No. 14 Rutgers, approx. 9 (BTN)
Atlantic Coast quarterfinal: No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 5 Clemson, approx. 9:30 (ESPN)
Big East quarterfinal: No. 3 Villanova vs. No. 11 Georgetown, approx. 9:30 (Fox Sports 1)
Big 12 quarterfinal: No. 3 Kansas vs. No. 6 Texas Christian, approx. 9:30 (ESPN2)