Updated March 6, 2026
At-Large Impact
VCU at Dayton, 7 (ESPN2)
Ooh, a Quad 1 opportunity on the road for the Rams (23-7) … or is it? If VCU wins, does it knock Dayton (21-9) from No. 69 in the NET out of the top 75 and bump this game down to Quad 2? Regardless, VCU isn’t landing an at-large if it drops this game and another in the Atlantic 10 tournament.
Miami (Ohio) at Ohio, 9 (ESPN2)
No team with more than 28 victories has ever missed the NCAA tournament. No eligible team with less than three losses has ever missed the NCAA tournament. The RedHawks (30-0, 17-0 MAC) have checked the first box and can’t lose more than twice before Selection Sunday. The value in monitoring them next week will be for purposes of bid thievery.
St. John’s at Seton Hall, 9 (Fox Sports 1)
The Pirates’ average margin of defeat in three previous games against Big East co-leaders Connecticut and St. John’s: 4.7 points. Close, but not close enough for Seton Hall (20-10, 10-9), which needs a win to have any kind of at-large hopes going into the league tournament.
Playing For Seeding
Central Florida at West Virginia (8, CBS Sports Network)
Must-Win For a Longshot
UNLV at San Diego State, 10 (CBS Sports Network)
One-Bid League Notables
Central Arkansas vs. Bellarmine (noon)
Co-champions of the regular season in the Atlantic Sun, the Bears (20-11) have their most wins in 20 Division I seasons and begin a run at a league tournament title against the Knights (13-18).
High Point vs. Gardner-Webb (noon)
The Panthers (27-4), aiming for a second consecutive Big South title, beat Gardner-Webb (4-28) by 55 and 25 points during the regular season.
Belmont vs. Drake (1)
Arch Madness got underway Thursday, and the top-seeded Bruins (26-5) will try to pin down their first conference tournament title since 2020 when they meet the Bulldogs (13-19) in the quarterfinals.
Merrimack vs. Sacred Heart (6)
With a funky, aggressive zone and a deliberate tempo, the Warriors (21-10) are the top seed in the Metro Atlantic and capable of earning their first D-I NCAA bid in seven seasons at this level. First up: The Pioneers (14-18), who beat Iona in Thursday’s first round.
Tennessee State vs. Tennessee-Martin (8, ESPNU)
The top two seeds and regular-season co-champions were protected in the Ohio Valley bracket until the semifinals. Now, the Tigers (21-9 under first-year coach Nolan Smith of Duke fame) need just two victories to clinch a spot in the field for the first time since 1994.