Updated March 14, 2026
At-Large Impact
Atlantic 10 semifinal: No. 1 Saint Louis vs. No. 4 Dayton, 1 (CBS Sports Network)
The Billikens rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat George Washington 88-81 in the quarterfinals, the largest comeback in school history. As long as Saint Louis (28-4) keeps winning, that’s a spot in the field that’s saved for a borderline tournament team. Dayton (22-10) clipped the Billikens by 15 late last month. The Flyers haven’t won the A-10 tournament since 2003; 11 other schools have won it since Dayton last snipped the nets.
Atlantic 10 semifinal: No. 2 VCU vs. No. 3 Saint Joseph’s, approx. 3:30 (CBS Sports Network)
The Rams (25-7) won their conference tournament opener, which is more than what a lot of teams around the edge of the field could say this week. Still, beating Duquesne only netted VCU a Quad 3 victory, and today’s date with Saint Joseph’s (22-10) falls in the same bin. The Rams wouldn’t be able to rest easy adding one of those as a closing act.
Southeastern semifinal: No. 3 Arkansas vs. No. 15 Mississippi, approx. 3:30 (ESPN)
The Rebels (15-19) won four SEC games all season, and now they have won three in as many nights. Arkansas (24-8), already due some thanks from the edge of the field thanks to finally putting away Oklahoma in Friday’s quarterfinals, can finish off the last potential bid stealer in a power conference with a semifinal victory.
Mountain West final: No. 1 Utah State vs. No. 2 San Diego State, 6 (CBS)
The Aggies (27-6) are getting in regardless, with a decent chance of being sent to an 8/9 game (perhaps opposite Arizona in San Diego?) regardless of today’s outcome in Las Vegas. They’re the preferred team for other programs populating the edge of the field. San Diego State (22-10) has reached the last five NCAA tournaments, but a profile short on high-end victories (3-6 in Quadrant 1, including Friday’s semifinal defeat of New Mexico) that features metrics scattered throughout the 40s and 50s probably won’t be enough if a loss gets tacked on at the end.
Mid-American final: No. 2 Akron vs. No. 4 Toledo, 8 (ESPN2)
The extra bid has already been snatched in the MAC, which is likely to have a two-team contingent for the first time since 1999. Miami of Ohio (31-1) is going to hard to leave out, and the Zips (28-5) are aiming for their third consecutive conference tournament title and fourth in five years. Toledo (19-14) seeks its first NCAA berth since 1980; the Rockets have dropped their last six MAC title games.
Conference Title Games (Both Already In)
Big 12 final: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 2 Houston, 6 (ESPN)
The Wildcats (31-2) are going to end up the No. 1 seed in the West, and Houston will be a No. 2 seed somewhere (likely South or Midwest) regardless of this outcome. Arizona claimed a 73-66 road victory over the Cougars on Feb. 21 and will look to win their third conference tournament in five seasons.
Big East final: No. 1 St. John’s vs. No. 2 Connecticut, 6:30 (Fox)
It’s the heavyweight matchup everyone penciled in during the offseason. Connecticut (29-4) is still in the mix for a No. 1 seed but could easily end up as a strong No. 2 seed. St. John’s (27-6) is trying to play its way up from the No. 5 line, and taking the rubber game from the Huskies would help on that front.
Atlantic Coast final: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 2 Virginia, 8:30 (ESPN)
The Blue Devils (31-2) already have a strong claim to the No. 1 overall seed, and it’ll be a no-doubt-about-it situation if they can defeat the Cavaliers (29-4). Duke had little trouble doing so two weeks ago, ripping Virginia 77-51 on Feb. 28. Virginia projects as a No. 3 or No. 4 seed.
One-Bid League Finals
America East: No. 2 Vermont at No. 1 UMBC, 11 a.m. (ESPN2)
The Retrievers (23-8) own the nation’s third-longest winning streak at 11 games (behind High Point’s 14 and Florida’s 12) and can land their first NCAA berth since 2018 with a victory. Vermont (22-11) is seeking its fourth America East title in five years. Winner likely gets a No. 16 seed, though UMBC might have enough go right to get up to the No. 15 line.
Mid-Eastern Athletic: No. 1 Howard vs. No. 3 North Carolina Central, 1 (ESPN2)
The Bison (22-10) have won 10 consecutive games against MEAC opponents, a streak that includes a 100-67 pounding of North Carolina Central on Feb. 21, and are attempting to secure their third MEAC tournament title in four years. The Eagles (14-17) are seeking their first NCAA berth since 2019. The winner will be a No. 16 seed, though Howard is a possibility to avoid Dayton.
Southwestern Athletic: No. 3 Southern vs. No. 8 Prairie View A&M, 7:30 (ESPNU)
A year after winning the SWAC regular season and promptly falling in the conference quarterfinals, the Jaguars (17-16) are on the cusp of ending a decade-long NCAA drought. Prairie View A&M (17-17) knocked out regular-season champ Bethune-Cookman in the quarterfinals as part of a six-game winning streak. The winner heads to Dayton.
Conference USA: No. 4 Louisiana Tech vs. No. 6 Kennesaw State, 8:30 (CBS Sports Network)
The Bulldogs (20-13) can book their first NCAA trip since 1991 in what looks to be their last CUSA season. Kennesaw State (20-13) is one of the wilder stories of the week. The Owls figured to lean on Simeon Cottle, CUSA’s preseason player of the year, but he was indicted as part of a point-shaving scandal in January. Kennesaw State has won six of its last eight and can lock in a second all-time NCAA berth with a victory.
Big West: No. 1 UC Irvine vs. No. 2 Hawaii, 10 (ESPN2)
The Anteaters (23-10) go for their first Big West tournament title since 2019, while Hawaii seeks its first NCAA appearance since 2016. The teams split the regular season series, and both would land on the No. 13 or No. 14 line with a victory.
Western Athletic: No. 1 Utah Valley vs. No. 2 Cal Baptist, midnight (ESPN2)
Either way, a first-time NCAA tournament team is coming out of the WAC. The Wolverines (25-7) are in their 22nd Division I season and have won seven in a row coming into their final WAC tournament game — an event the league tried to bar them from over a dispute about exit fees. Cal Baptist (24-8), in its eighth D-I season, has won 14 of its last 16.
Playing For Seeding
Big Ten semifinal: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 5 Wisconsin, 1 (CBS)
Southeastern semifinal: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 4 Vanderbilt, 1 (ESPN)
Big Ten semifinal: No. 6 UCLA vs. No. 7 Purdue, approx. 3:30 (CBS)
Other Notable Games
Ivy semifinal: No. 1 Yale at No. 4 Cornell, 11 a.m. (ESPNU)
It’s Cornell’s turn to host the Ivy tournament, so Yale (23-5) opens with a road game. The Bulldogs lost by three in Ithaca on Feb. 27. Cornell (15-12) is a deep, up-tempo bunch that lets 3-pointers fly and shows scant interest in defending. Expect lots of points for the Ivy’s two most efficient offenses.
American semifinal: No. 1 South Florida vs. No. 5 Charlotte, 3 (ESPN2)
The Bulls (23-8) are the last conference regular-season champ to take the floor in a league tournament. They’ve won nine in a row and just beat Charlotte (17-16) by 23 on Sunday.