Updated March 13, 2026
At-Large Impact
Atlantic 10 quarterfinal: No. 2 VCU vs. No. 7 Duquesne, 5 (USA)
The Rams (24-7) have watched for the last week as much of the edge of the field self-immolated over the weekend and again in conference tournaments. Against all odds, it’s plausible VCU could earn an at-large without within the A-10 tournament. Still, better to play it safe and at least win a couple games in Pittsburgh. This is one is a de facto road game; the Dukes (18-14) play their home games a couple blocks away.
Big East semifinal: No. 1 St. John’s vs. No. 4 Seton Hall, 5:30 (Fox)
It might be last call for Seton Hall (21-11), which went 0-6 against the Big East’s top three teams and owns just one Quadrant 1 victory (against N.C. State). Coach Shaheen Holloway went to bat the league after Thursday’s defeat of Creighton, but here are the facts. Big East teams are 7-20 in Quad 1 nonconference games; the non-UConn precincts are 3-19. In Quad 2 nonconference games, the Big East is 9-11. That’s why winning 10 league games didn’t mean much this season, and why the Pirates need to win the next two nights to get into the field of 68.
Southeastern quarterfinal: No. 3 Arkansas vs. No. 11 Oklahoma, approx. 9:30 (SEC Network)
The Sooners (19-14) ambushed Texas A&M on the second day of the SEC tournament, earning their sixth victory in a row and moving ever closer to an improbable NCAA tournament appearance. They’re not there yet, making Arkansas (23-8) a popular bunch among borderline teams on Friday night.
Mountain West semifinal: No. 2 San Diego State vs. No. 3 New Mexico, approx. midnight (CBS Sports Network)
It’s an NCAA tournament elimination game as the second-seeded Aztecs (21-10) meet the third-seeded Lobos (23-9). The winner keeps its faint at-large hopes (and much better league title chances) alive for another day. The loser sees a multi-year NCAA tournament streak end.
Bid Thief Alert
Atlantic 10 quarterfinal: No. 1 Saint Louis vs. No. 9 George Washington, 11:30 a.m. (USA)
With Miami (Ohio)’s loss Thursday already squeezing the field, there’s even more reason for the Texases, Auburns and SMUs of the world to be rooting for the Billikens (27-4) to win the Atlantic 10 tournament. Two notes of caution. One, Saint Louis is coming off a 29-point loss at George Mason to close the regular season. Two, George Washington (18-14) — the unluckiest team in the country, per KenPom.com — squandered a 15-point lead in the first meeting and lost to Saint Louis on a late Robbie Avila 3.
Southeastern quarterfinal: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 15 Mississippi, 7 (SEC Network)
Ole Miss (14-19) has picked off Texas and Georgia on back-to-back nights, an unexpected push from a team that lost 12 of 13 entering the SEC tournament. It’s now up to Alabama (23-8) to bring the Rebels’ revels to an end and clear out a potential bid thief.
Big East semifinal: No. 2 Connecticut vs. No. 11 Georgetown, approx. 8 (Fox Sports 1)
The word for the Hoyas (16-17) is streaky. Since New Year’s Eve, Georgetown has lost six in a row, then won four consecutive games, then dropped its next seven. Thursday’s 78-64 defeat of Villanova gives the Hoyas a modest three-game winning streak and also extends their hopes of unexpectedly stealing a bid with a seemingly impossible Big East tournament run — just like they did five years ago. Connecticut (28-4) is imposing, but it swept the season series by a combined six points.
Mountain West semifinal: No. 1 Utah State at No. 5 Nevada, 9:30 (CBS Sports Network)
The Aggies (26-6) had no trouble brushing aside UNLV 80-60 on Thursday. Next up is Nevada (22-11), which beat Utah State at home by three on Feb. 21. Utah State is a definite tournament; no one else in the Mountain West would be a likely at-large pick. The Aggies will have some fans around the country Friday night.
Playing For Seeding
Big Ten quarterfinal: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 8 Ohio State, noon (BTN)
Southeastern quarterfinal: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 9 Kentucky, 1 (ESPN)
Big Ten quarterfinal: No. 4 Illinois vs. No. 5 Wisconsin, approx. 2:30 (BTN)
Southeastern quarterfinal: No. 4 Vanderbilt vs. No. 5 Tennessee, approx. 3:30 (ESPN)
Big Ten quarterfinal: No. 2 Nebraska vs. No. 7 Purdue, 6:30 (BTN)
Atlantic Coast semifinal: No. 2 Virginia vs. No. 3 Miami, 7 (ESPN2)
Big 12 semifinal: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 5 Iowa State, 7 (ESPN)
Big Ten quarterfinal: No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 6 UCLA, approx. 9 (BTN)
Atlantic Coast semifinal: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 Clemson, approx. 9:30 (ESPN2)
Big 12 semifinal: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Kansas, approx. 9:30 (ESPN)
Other Notable Games
Conference USA semifinal: No. 2 Sam Houston vs. No. 6 Kennesaw State, approx. 3 (CBS Sports Network)
With Liberty bounced the Conference USA quarterfinals, the Bearkats (22-10) are the top remaining seed left. They’ll face Kennesaw State (19-13) in the semis. Two more wins, and Sam Houston ends up on the No. 12 or No. 13 line.
Mid-Eastern Athletic semifinal: No. 1 Howard vs. No. 5 South Carolina State, 6
The Bison (21-10) won their final nine conference games and must win only twice to secure their third MEAC tournament title in four years. South Carolina State (10-21) knocked out defending champ Norfolk State on Thursday. Whoever wins the MEAC will end up as a No. 16 seed.
Mid-American semifinal: No. 2 Akron vs. No. 3 Kent State, approx. 7:30 (CBS Sports Network)
Overlooked all season because of Miami (Ohio)’s undefeated run, the Zips (27-5) are the top remaining seed in the MAC tournament after the RedHawks’ loss to Massachusetts. Kent State (24-8) is a quality team, too, though it lost its two meetings with Akron by double figures.
Southwestern Athletic semifinal: No. 2 Florida A&M vs. No. 3 Southern, approx. 8:30
The Rattlers (15-15) meet Southern (16-16), with the winner moving a step closer to taking the SWAC’s ticket to Dayton.
Big West semifinal: No. 1 UC Irvine vs. No. 4 Cal State Northridge, 9 (ESPNU)
The Anteaters (22-10) are a combined 64-16 in Big West regular season games over the last four seasons, but they last reached the NCAA tournament in 2019. UC Irvine needs two victories in the Vegas suburbs over the next two nights to end that drought, starting with a matchup against Cal State Northridge (20-13).
Western Athletic semifinal: No. 1 Utah Valley vs. No. 4 Texas-Arlington, 9
The most delightfully awkward possibility of the weekend is Utah Valley (24-7) winning the WAC. Long story short: The WAC banned the Big West-bound Wolverines from the league tournament due to a dispute over exit fees. A few temporary restraining order and many, many billable hours later, Utah Valley is free to chase its first NCAA tournament berth, starting with a UT Arlington (18-13) team it already beat three times this season.