Selection Sunday:: Men's bracket reveal on March 15, 6 p.m. ET on CBS; Women's bracket at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Tournament Dates:: First Four games begin March 17 for men and March 18 for women, with the Final Four slated for April 3-6.
Bubble Teams:: Several teams are vying for at-large bids, with critical games impacting their tournament chances. Teams like Auburn, SMU, and New Mexico are on the edge.
Top Seeds:: Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and UConn are projected as No. 1 seeds, with Florida potentially challenging UConn for the final spot.
Conference Tournaments:: Upcoming conference tournaments will significantly impact the final bracket, with potential bid-stealing upsets.
The final weekend of the regular season is crucial for teams on the bubble. Here's a look at some key matchups and their implications:
Men's Tournament Schedule & Locations
First Four:: March 17-18 in Dayton, Ohio at UD Arena.
First/Second Rounds:: Various locations including Buffalo, Greenville, Oklahoma City, Portland, Tampa, Philadelphia, San Diego, and St. Louis (March 19-22).
Regionals:: South in Houston, West in San Jose, Midwest in Chicago, East in Washington D.C. (March 26-29).
Final Four:: April 4 & 6 in Indianapolis, IN at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Women's Tournament Schedule & Locations
First Four:: March 18-19
First Round:: March 20-21
Second Round:: March 22-23
Sweet Sixteen/Elite Eight:: Fort Worth, TX and Sacramento, CA (March 27-30).
Final Four:: April 3 & 5 in Phoenix, AZ.
Bubble Watch:
Teams on the edge:: Auburn, Southern California, Miami (Ohio), SMU, New Mexico, Indiana, and Cincinnati all need strong finishes to secure bids.
Key Games:: Games between bubble teams like Indiana vs. Ohio State and Auburn vs. Alabama carry significant weight.
When is Selection Sunday?
**- A: March 15, 2026. Men's bracket at 6 p.m. ET, Women's at 8 p.m. ET.
Which teams are projected as No. 1 seeds?
**- A: Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and UConn.
What is a 'bubble team'?
**- A: A team that is on the edge of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament and whose fate depends on their performance in the final games and conference tournaments.
The NCAA Tournament bracket is highly dependent on the outcomes of the final regular-season games and conference tournaments.
Several teams are on the bubble and need strong performances to secure their spot.
Keep an eye on key matchups between bubble teams as they directly impact at-large bids.
Which bubble team do you think has the best chance of making a deep tournament run? Share your predictions below!
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