You guys, it's here! And no, I'm not talking about martial law. I'm talking about Championship Week -- the second-best two-week stretch in March. Selection Sunday will be here in a mere 12 days. Madness!
But before we get to the Big Dance, if I'm adding things up right, we'll have 346 teams in 31 conferences playing in 315 conference tournament games. I've said it before and I'll say it again: this is my favorite time of the sporting year. Championship Week and the NCAA Tournament are, in the words of Tina Turner, simply the best. They are more dramatic than the playoffs in any of the four major pro sports and any other major college sport. The urgency and immediacy of one-and-done college basketball is unrivaled. Seniors play their last games, and for all but a handful, not only will they finish their college careers with a loss, but likely their basketball careers. On the other end of the spectrum, watching a low-major or mid-major team win its conference tournament to clinch an NCAA Tournament berth is one of the purest forms of elation you will ever see. And the buzzer beaters. Sweet mother of God, the buzzer beaters!
Last Year's Championship Week
Teams who have no business competing put together storybook runs. Teams who should dominate fall apart. You and your team have hope until that hope is lost. The regular season means nothing. Last year, five schools punched their first-ever tickets to the dance -- High Point (Big South), UC San Diego (Big West), SIU Edwardsville (OVC), and Omaha (Summit). However. Championship Week was very chalky. Of the 31 conference tournaments, the top seed won 17 and the 2-seed won another 9. This ended up being a precursor to the NCAA Tournament, as all four 1-seeds made it to the Final Four for only the second time ever. But I digress. In Championship Week, there were only three schools seeded 4 or lower won their conference tournaments:
- 5-seeds: Alabama State (SWAC)
- 6-seeds: Mount St. Mary's (MAAC), Wofford (SoCon)
Of those schools, Alabama State was the only one to win a game in the NCAA Tournament, taking down St. Francis in a First Four game, giving the Hornets their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.
Schools Looking For Their First NCAA Tournament Bid
Army, The Citadel, and William & Mary remain the only three original Division 1 schools that have never made the NCAA Tournament (though Army was invited in 1968 and chose to play in the NIT instead). Original D-1 school St. Francis (Brooklyn) ended intercollegiate athletics after the 2022-23 school year without ever making it to the NCAA Tournament.
Overall, there are 40 Division 1 schools that are eligible to make the NCAA Tournament (i.e., that are not still in the transition period to D-1 from a lower division) that have never made the tournament. Here they are with their conference and, to the extent it has already been set, their seed in their conference tournament.
- Army - 9-seed Patriot League (lost in First Round of Patriot League Tournament)
- Bellarmine - 8-seed Atlantic Sun
- Bethune–Cookman - 1-seed SWAC
- Cal Baptist - WAC (seed TBD)
- California Riverside - Big West (seed TBD)
- Central Arkansas - 1-seed Atlantic Sun
- Chicago State - 8-seed NEC
- The Citadel - 9-seed Southern Conference
- Denver - 6-seed Summit League
- East Texas A&M - Southland (did not qualify for Southland Tournament)
- Elon - Coastal (seed TBD)
- Incarnate Word - Southland (did not qualify for Southland Tournament)
- Kansas City - 9-seed Summit League
- Lindenwood - 6-seed Ohio Valley
- Maine - 6-seed America East
- Maryland Eastern Shore - MEAC (seed TBD)
- UMass Lowell - 4-seed America East
- Merrimack - 1-seed MAAC
- New Hampshire - 8-seed America East
- NJIT - 3-seed America East
- North Alabama - 12-seed Atlantic Sun
- Presbyterian - 6-seed Big South
- Purdue Fort Wayne - 6-seed Horizon
- Queens (NC) - 3-seed Atlantic Sun
- Quinnipiac - 9-seed MAAC
- Sacramento State - 8-seed Big Sky
- Sacred Heart - 9-seed MAAC
- South Carolina Upstate - 8-seed Big South
- South Dakota - 4-seed Summit League
- Southern Indiana - Ohio Valley (did not qualify for OVC Tournament)
- St. Thomas - 2-seed Summit League
- Stonehill - 5-seed NEC
- Tarleton State - WAC (seed TBD)
- Tennessee Martin - 4-seed Ohio Valley
- Texas Rio Grande Valley - 3-seed Southland
- Utah Tech - WAC (seed TBD)
- Utah Valley - WAC (seed TBD)
- Western Illinois - Ohio Valley (did not qualify for OVC Tournament)
- William & Mary - Coastal (seed TBD)
- Youngstown State - 9-seed Horizon
The following schools are still in their transition period to Division 1 and are, therefore, not eligible for this year's NCAA Tournament (with their conference and first year of eligibility for the NCAA Tournament listed):
- Le Moyne - NEC (2028)
- Mercyhurst - NEC (2029)
- New Haven - NEC (2029)
- West Georgia - Atlantic Sun (2029)
Mid- and Low-Major NCAA Tournament Success
And, of course, as the last ten NCAA Tournaments have shown us -- with the likes of Butler (2017), Creighton (2021, 2023, 2025), Dayton (2014), Florida Atlantic (2023), Gonzaga (2015-2019, 2021-2023, 2025), Loyola (IL) (2018, 2021), Nevada (2018), Oral Roberts (2021), Princeton (2023), San Diego State (2023, 2025), St. Peter's (2022), Wichita State (2015), and Xavier (2015, 2017, 2023) all making it to the Sweet Sixteen or beyond, and 16-seed UMBC upsetting 1-seed Virginia in 2018 and "17-seed" Fairleigh Dickinson taking down 1-seed Purdue in 2023 -- mid-majors and low-majors should not be overlooked in the Big Dance. Consider Championship Week your opportunity to beef up your knowledge of this year's college basketball teams before you fill out your brackets in two short weeks.
Championship Week 2026
Over the next two weeks, I will pepper you with Championship Week predictions as conference tournaments begin and/or are seeded.
Championship Week action technically started last night with a play-in game in the Horizon, in which 10-seed Cleveland State topped 11-seed IU Indy, 101-93.
Tonight we had a First Round matchup in the Horizon, where 5-seed Green Bay downed 6-seed Purdue Fort Wayne. In the First Round of the Patriot League, 10-seed Holy Cross upset 7-seed Lafayette, 82-77, and 8-seed Bucknell beat 9-seed Army, 65-55, to advance to Thursday's quarterfinals. In the First Round of the Sun Belt, 11-seed Old Dominion dropped 14-seed Louisiana-Monroe, 87-80, and 12-seed Louisiana beat 13-seed Georgia State, 84-75.
All told, 16 conferences have ended their regular seasons and/or have already set their conference tournament brackets (America East, A-Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Horizon, Ivy, MAAC, MVC, NEC, OVC, Patriot, SoCon, Southland, Summit, Sun Belt, and WCC). I'll try to update this daily.
As a frame of reference, of my initial Championship Week predictions in 2025, I was a paltry 14 of 31 in correctly predicting the eventual conference tournament champion, which is a a little lower than average. Since last year, there has been a little conference realignment (or expansion), and some conference tournaments moved up in the schedule, while several moved back. Some tournaments changed their format to where certain teams at the bottom of the standings don't qualify for the conference tournament, or (such as the Big Ten) to where all teams now make the conference tournament. And the Northeast Conference has officially changed its name to the "NEC." Gotta appreciate the brevity. And there is no Pac-12 again this year, so that means we'll have one extra at-large bid up for grabs this March.
The first bids to be clinched will be this weekend:
-Ohio Valley: March 7
-Atlantic Sun: March 8
-Big South: March 8
-Missouri Valley: March 8
-Summit: March 8
With that, here are the tournaments starting today, the tournaments with games today, bids up for grab today, who has already clinched an automatic berth, and my predictions for the remaining conference tournaments.
Tournaments starting today
-Patriot League
-Sun Belt
Tournaments with games today
-Horizon
-Patriot League
-Sun Belt
Tournaments starting tomorrow (3/4)
-Atlantic Sun
-Big South
-NEC
-Ohio Valley
-Summit League
Tournaments with games tomorrow (3/4)
-Atlantic Sun
-Big South
-Horizon
-NEC
-Ohio Valley
-Summit League
-Sun Belt
Bids up for grabs today
-None
Already clinched automatic berths (I will add in parentheses the NCAA tournament appearances for each school, including the bid just clinched and last NCAA Tournament appearance where applicable, and for conferences whose tournaments have not yet ended, I'll list the date of the championship game)
-AAC (March 15)
-ACC (March 14)
-America East (March 14)
-Atlantic 10 (March 15)
-Atlantic Sun (March 8)
-Big 12 (March 14)
-Big East (March 14)
-Big Sky (March 11)
-Big South (March 8)
-Big Ten (March 15)
-Big West (March 14)
-Coastal (March 10)
-Conference USA (March 14)
-Horizon (March 10)
-Ivy League (March 15)
-MAAC (March 10)
-MAC (March 14)
-MEAC (March 14)
-Missouri Valley (March 8)
-Mountain West (March 14)
-Northeast Conference (March 10)
-Ohio Valley (March 7)
-Patriot League (March 11)
-SEC (March 15)
-Southern Conference (March 9)
-Southland (March 11)
-Summit (March 8)
-Sun Belt (March 9)
-SWAC (March 14)
-WAC (March 14)
-West Coast (March 10)
Because I am unhealthily obsessed with college basketball in March -- to the detriment of my marriage, children, friendships, work, sleep schedule, sanity, wallet, and freestyle walking -- I have not only listed out every game and my predictions, but the date, time, and TV station(s) on which the game will appear, even if it's just local, regional, or online, to the extent that information is available. Some conference tournament websites are better than others. I want this to be as comprehensive as possible, so that you can always come here to figure out when any given team is playing. I love you so much, you guys. Don't you ever forget it.
Remaining Tournaments (all times are Eastern; to the extent there are teams that have clinched seeds in tournament fields that are not completely set, I will put those in)
AAC (March 11-15; Birmingham)
3/11 – First Round
7 p.m. (ESPNU) (8) vs. (9)
9:30 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN+) (7) vs. (10)
3/12 – Second Round
7 p.m. (ESPNU) (5) vs. (8)/(9)
9:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (6) vs. (7)/(10)
3/13 – Quarterfinals
1 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) vs. (5)/(8)/(9)
9 p.m. (ESPN2) (3) vs. (6)/(7)/(10)
3/14 – Semifinals
3 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) South Florida vs. (4)/(5)/(8)/(9)
5:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) vs. (3)/(6)/(7)/(10)
3/15 – Finals
3:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Predicted winner: Wichita State
ACC (March 10-14; Charlotte)
3/10 – First Round
2 p.m. p.m. (ACCN) (12) vs. (13)
4:30 p.m. (ACCN) (10) vs. (15)
7 p.m. (ACCN) (11) vs. (14)
3/11 – Second Round
12 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (8) vs. (9)
2:30 p.m. (ESPN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)
7 p.m. (ESPN2) (7) vs. (10)/(15)
9:30 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN2) (6) vs. (11)/(14)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Duke vs. (8)/(9)
2:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) vs. (7)/(10)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)
3/13 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
3/14 – Finals
8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Predicted winner: Duke
America East (March 7, 10, 14; campus of higher seed)
3/7 - Quarterfinals
TBD (ESPN+) (8) New Hampshire at (1) UMBC. Predicted winner: UMBC
TBD (ESPN+) (7) Bryant at (2) Vermont. Predicted winner: Vermont
TBD (ESPN+) (6) Maine at (3) NJIT. Predicted winner: NJIT
TBD (ESPN+) (5) Albany at (4) UMass Lowell. Predicted winner: Albany
3/10 – Semifinals
TBD (ESPN+) (5) Albany at (1) UMBC. Predicted winner: UMBC
TBD (ESPN+) (3) NJIT at (2) Vermont. Predicted winner: Vermont
3/14 – Finals
11 a.m. (ESPN2) (2) Vermont at (1) UMBC. Predicted winner: Vermont
Atlantic 10 (March 11-15; Pittsburgh)
3/11 – First Round
11:30 a.m. (USA) (12) vs. (13)
2 p.m. (USA) (11) vs. (14)
3/12 – Second Round
11:30 a.m. (USA) (8) vs. (9)
2 p.m. (USA) (5) vs. (12)/(13)
5 p.m. (USA) (7) vs. (10)
7:30 p.m. (USA) (6) vs. (11)/(14)
3/13 – Quarterfinals
11:30 a.m. (USA) (1) vs. (8)/(9)
2 p.m. (USA) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)
5 p.m. (USA) (2) vs. (7)/(10)
7:30 p.m. (CNBC) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)
3/14 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (CBSSN)
3:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
3/15 – Finals
1 p.m. (CBS)
Predicted winner: St. Louis
Atlantic Sun (March 4, 6-8; first round at North Florida or Jacksonville; remaining rounds in Jacksonville, FL)
3/4 - First Round
12 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Bellarmine vs. (9) Jacksonville. Predicted winner: Bellarmine
2:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) Florida Gulf Coast vs. (12) North Alabama. Predicted winner: Florida Gulf Goast
5 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Eastern Kentucky vs. (10) Stetson. Predicted winner: Stetson
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) West Georgia* vs. (11) North Florida. Predicted winner: West Georgia*
3/6 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Central Arkansas vs. (8) Bellarmine. Predicted winner: Central Arkansas
2:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Lipscomb vs. (5) Florida Gulf Coast. Predicted winner: Lipscomb
5 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Austin Peay vs. (10 Stetson. Predicted winner: Austin Peay
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Queens vs (6) West Georgia*. Predicted winner: Queens
3/7 – Semifinals
5 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Central Arkansas vs. (4) Lipscomb. Predicted winner: Central Arkansas
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Austin Peay vs. (3) Queens. Predicted winner: Queens
3/8 – Finals
2 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Central Arkansas vs. (3) Queens. Predicted winner: Central Arkansas
*Ineligible for the NCAA Tournament because still in transition period from D-II. If West Georgia wins the tournament, Central Arkansas will get the automatic bid.
Big 12 (March 10-14; Kansas City)
3/10 – First Round
12:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (12) vs. (13)
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (9) vs. (16)
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (10) vs. (15)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (11) vs. (14)
3/11 – Second Round
12:30 p.m. (ESPN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)
3 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) vs. (9)/(16)
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) vs. (10)/(15)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (6) vs. (11)/(14)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
12:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)
3 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Arizona vs. (8)/(9)/(16)
7 p.m. (ESPN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)/(15)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)
3/13 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (ESPN2)
9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
3/14 – Finals
6 p.m. (ESPN)
Predicted winner: Houston
Big East (March 11-14; New York)
3/11 – First Round
4 p.m. (Peacock/NCBSN) (8) vs. (9)
6:30 p.m. (Peacock/NCBSN) (7) vs. (10)
9 p.m. (Peacock/NCBSN) (6) vs. (11)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (Peacock/NCBSN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)
2:30 p.m. (Peacock/NCBSN) (4) vs. (5)
7 p.m. (FS1) (2) vs. (7)/(10)
9:30 p.m. (FS1) (3) Villanova vs. (6)/(11)
3/13 – Semifinals
5:30 p.m. (Fox)
8 p.m. (FS1)
3/14 – Finals
6:30 p.m. (Fox)
Predicted winner: UConn
Big Sky (March 7-11; Boise)
3/7 – First Round
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (9) Idaho State vs. (10) Northern Arizona. Predicted winner: Idaho State
10 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Idaho vs. (8) Sacramento State. Predicted winner: Sacramento State
Quarterfinals
3/8
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Portland State vs. (9) Idaho State. Predicted winner: Portland State
10 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Montana State vs. (8) Sacramento State. Predicted winner: Montana State
3/9
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Montana vs. (5) Northern Colorado. Predicted winner: Montana
10 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Eastern Washington vs. (6) Weber State. Predicted winner: Eastern Washington
3/10 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Portland State vs. (4) Montana. Predicted winner: Portland State
11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Montana State vs. (3) Eastern Washington. Predicted winner: Montana State
3/11 – Finals
11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Portland State vs. (2) Montana State. Predicted winner: Montana State
Big South (March 4, 6-8; Johnson City, TN)
3/4 - First Round
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) USC Upstate vs. (9) Gardner-Webb. Predicted winner: USC Upstate
3/6 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) High Point vs. (8) USC Upstate. Predicted winner: High Point
2:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Winthrop vs. (7) Charleston Southern. Predicted winner: Winthrop
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) UNC Asheville vs. (5) Longwood. Predicted winner: Longwood
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Radford vs. (6) Presbyterian. Predicted winner: Presbyterian
3/7 – Semifinals
12 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) High Point vs. (5) Longwood. Predicted winner: High Point
2:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Winthrop vs. (6) Presbyterian. Predicted winner: Winthrop
3/8 – Finals
12 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) High Point vs. (2) Winthrop. Predicted winner: High Point
Big Ten (March 10-15; Chicago)
3/10 – First Round
5 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) (16) vs. (17)
7:30 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) (15) vs. (18)
3/11 – Second Round
12 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) (9) vs. (16)/(17)
2:30 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) (12) vs. (13)
6:30 p.m. (BTN) (10) vs. (15)/(18)
9 p.m. (BTN) (11) vs. (14)
3/12 -Third Round
12 p.m. (BTN) (8) vs. (9)/(16)/(17)
2:30 p.m. (BTN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)
6:30 p.m. (BTN) (7) vs. (10)/(15)/(18)
9 p.m. (BTN) (6) vs. (11)/(14)
3/13 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (BTN) (1) Michigan vs. (8)/(9)/(16)/(17)
2:30 p.m. (BTN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)
6:30 p.m. (BTN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)/(15)/(18)
9 p.m. (BTN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)
3/14 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (CBS)
3:30 p.m. (CBS)
3/15 – Finals
3:30 p.m. (CBS)
Predicted winner: Indiana
Big West (March 11-14; Henderson, NV)
3/11 - First Round
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) vs. (8)
11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) vs. (7)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)/(7)
11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)/(8)
3/13 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) vs. (4)/(5)/(8)
11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) vs. (3)/(6)/(7)
3/14 – Finals
10 p.m. (ESPN2)
Predicted winner: UC Irvine
CAA (March 6-10; Washington, DC)
3/6 – First Round
2 p.m. (FloHoops) (12) North Carolina A&T vs. (13) Northeastern
3/7 - Second Round
12 p.m. (FloHoops) (8) vs. (9)
2:30 p.m. (FloHoops) (5) vs. (12)/(13)
6 p.m. (FloHoops) (7) vs. (10)
8:30 p.m. (FloHoops) (6) vs. (11)
3/8 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (FloHoops) (1) UNC Wilmington vs. (8)/(9)
2:30 p.m. (FloHoops) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)
6 p.m. (FloHoops) (2) Charleston vs. (7)/(10)
8:30 p.m. (FloHoops) (3) Hofstra vs. (6)/(11)
3/9 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (CBSSN)
8:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
3/10 – Finals
7 p.m. (CBSSN)
Predicted winner: UNC Wilmington
Conference USA (March 10-14; Huntsville, AL)
3/10 - First Round
6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) vs. (9)
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) vs. (10)
Quarterfinals
3/11
6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Liberty vs. (8)/(9)
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) vs. (7)/(10)
3/12
6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)
3/13 – Semifinals
12:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
3 p.m. (CBSSN)
3/14 – Finals
8:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
Predicted winner: Liberty
Horizon (March 2-4, 8-10; first round at campus sites of higher seed and remaining rounds in Indianapolis)
3/4 - First Round
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (10) Cleveland State at (1) Wright State. Predicted winner: Wright State
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (9) Youngtown State at (2) Robert Morris. Predicted winner: Robert Morris
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Milwaukee at (3) Detroit Mercy. Predicted winner: Detroit Mercy
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Northern Kentucky at (4) Oakland. Predicted winner: Northern Kentucky
3/8 - Second Round (two worst-seeded remaining teams)
3:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) Green Bay vs. (7) Northern Kentucky. Predicted winner: Northern Kentucky
3/9 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Wright State vs. (7) Northern Kentucky. Predicted winner: Wright State
9:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Robert Morris vs. (3) Detroit Mercy. Predicted winner: Robert Morris
3/10 – Finals
7 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Wright State vs. (2) Robert Morris. Predicted winner: Wright State
Ivy League (March 14-15; Ithaca, NY)
3/14 - Semifinals
11 a.m. (ESPNU) (1) Yale vs. (4) Cornell. Predicted winner: Yale
2 p.m. (ESPNews) (2) Harvard vs. (3) Penn. Predicted winner: Harvard
3/15 - Finals
12 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Yale vs. (2) Harvard. Predicted winner: Yale
MAAC (March 5-8, 10; Atlantic City, NJ)
3/5 - First Round
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Iona vs. (9) Sacred Heart. Predicted winner: Iona
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Fairfield vs. (10) Manhattan. Predicted winner: Fairfield
Quarterfinals
3/6
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Merrimack vs. (8) Iona. Predicted winner: Merrimack
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) St. Peter's vs. (7) Fairfield. Predicted winner: Fairfield
3/7
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Quinnipiac vs. (5) Marist. Predicted winner: Quinnipiac
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Siena vs. (6) Mount St. Mary's. Predicted winner: Siena
3/8 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Merrimack vs. (4) Quinnipiac. Predicted winner: Merrimack
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Siena vs. (7) Fairfield. Predicted winner: Siena
3/10 – Finals
TBD (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Merrimack vs. (3) Siena. Predicted winner: Merrimack
MAC (March 12-14; Cleveland)
3/12 – Quarterfinals
11 a.m. (ESPN+) (1) Miami (OH vs. (8)
1:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Toledo vs. (5)
4:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Akron vs. (7)
6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Kent State vs. (6)
3/13 – Semifinals
5 p.m. (CBSSN)
7:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
3/14 – Finals
8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Predicted winner: Miami (OH)
MEAC (March 11-14; Norfolk, VA)
Quarterfinals
3/11
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) vs. (7) Delaware State
3/12
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)
8 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)
3/13 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (ESPN+)
8 p.m. (ESPN+)
3/14 – Final
1:00 p.m. (TBD)
Predicted winner: Howard
Missouri Valley (March 5-8; St. Louis)
3/5 – First Round
4:30 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (8) Southern Illinois vs. (9) Drake. Predicted winner: Southern Illinois
7 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (7) Valparaiso vs. (10) Indiana State. Predicted winner: Valparaiso
9:30 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (6) Northern Iowa vs. (11) Evansville. Predicted winner: Northern Iowa
3/6 – Quarterfinals
1 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (1) Belmont vs. (8) Southern Illinois. Predicted winner: Belmont
3:30 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (4) Murray State vs. (5) UIC. Predicted winner: UIC
7 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (2) Bradley vs. (7) Valparaiso. Predicted winner: Bradley
9:30 p.m. (MVC TV/ESPN+) (3) Illinois State vs. (6) Northern Iowa. Predicted winner: Northern Iowa
3/7 – Semifinals
3:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) Belmont vs. (5) UIC. Predicted winner: Belmont
6 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Bradley vs. (6) Northern Iowa. Predicted winner: Bradley
3/8 – Finals
2:15 p.m. (CBS) (1) Belmont vs. (2) Bradley. Predicted winner: Belmont
Mountain West (March 11-14; Paradise, NV)
3/11 – First Round
3 p.m. (MWN) (8) vs. (9)
5:30 p.m. (MWN) (5) vs (12) Air Force
9 p.m. (MWN) (7) vs. (10)
11:30 p.m. (MWN) (6) vs. (11) San Jose State
3/12 – Quarterfinals
3 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)
5:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)
9 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)
11:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)
3/13 – Semifinals
9:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
11:59 p.m. (CBSSN)
3/14 – Finals
6 p.m. (CBS)
Predicted winner: Utah State
NEC (March 4, 7, 10; campus of higher seed)
3/4 - Quarterfinals
7 p.m. (NEC Front Row) (8) Chicago State at (1) LIU. Predicted winner: LIU
7 p.m. (NEC Front Row) (7) Wagner at (2) Central Connecticut State. Predicted winner: Central Connecticut State
7 p.m. (NEC Front Row) (6) Fairleigh Dickinson at (3) Mercyhurst*. Predicted winner: Mercyhurst*
7 p.m. (NEC Front Row) (5) Stonehill at (4) Le Moyne*. Predicted winner: Le Moyne*
3/7 – Semifinals
TBD (ESPN+, YES) (4) Le Moyne* at (1) LIU. Predicted winner: LIU
TBD (ESPN+, YES) (3) Mercyhurst* at (2) Central Connecticut State. Predicted winner: Central Connecticut State
3/10 – Finals
7 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Central Connecticut State at (1) LIU. Predicted winner: LIU
*Ineligible for the NCAA Tournament because still in transition period from D-II. If Le Moyne or Mercyhurst win the tournament, the runner up will get the automatic bid, unless both teams play each other in the title game, in which case, there will be another game between the non-advancing semifinalists to determine who gets the automatic bid.
Ohio Valley (March 4-7; Evansville, IN)
3/4 - First Round
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) SIU Edwardsville vs. (8) Eastern Illinois. Predicted winner: SIU Edwardsville
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) Lindenwood vs. (7) Little Rock. Predicted winner: Lindenwood
3/5 - Quarterfinals
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Tennessee Martin vs. (5) SIU Edwardsville. Predicted winner: Tennessee Martin
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Southeast Missouri State vs. (7) Lindenwood. Predicted winner: Southeast Missouri State
3/6 – Semifinals
8 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Tennessee State vs. (4) Tennessee Martin. Predicted winner: Tennessee State
10:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Morehead State vs. (3) Southeast Missouri State. Predicted winner: Southeast Missouri State
3/7 – Finals
9 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Tennessee State vs. (3) Southeast Missouri State. Predicted winner: Tennessee State
Patriot League (March 3, 5, 8, 11; campus of higher seed)
3/5 – Quarterfinals
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) American at (4) Boston. Predicted winner: Boston
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Bucknell at (1) Navy. Predicted winner: Navy
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) Loyola (MD) at (3) Colgate. Predicted winner: Colgate
7 p.m. (ESPN+) (10) Holy Cross at (2) Lehigh. Predicted winner: Lehigh
3/8 – Semifinals
TBD (CBSSN) (4) Boston at (1) Navy. Predicted winner: Navy
TBD (CBSSN) (3) Colgate at (2) Lehigh. Predicted winner: Colgate
3/11 – Finals
7 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) Colgate at (1) Navy. Predicted winner: Navy
SEC (March 11-15; Nashville)
3/11 – First Round
1 p.m. (SEC Network) (9) vs. (16)
3:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (12) vs. (13)
7 p.m. (SEC Network) (10) vs. (15)
9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (11) vs. (14)
3/12 – Second Round
1 p.m. (SEC Network) (8) vs. (9)/(16)
3:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (5) vs. (12)/(13)
7 p.m. (SEC Network) (7) vs. (10)/(15)
9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (6) vs. (11)/(14)
3/13 – Quarterfinals
1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Florida vs. (8)/(9)/(16)
3:30 p.m. (ESPN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)
7 p.m. (SEC Network) (2) vs. (7)/(10)/(15)
9:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (3) vs. (6)/(11)
3/14 – Semifinals
1 p.m. (ESPN)
3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
3/15 – Finals
1 p.m. (ESPN)
Predicted winner: Alabama
Southern Conference (March 6-9; Asheville, NC)
3/6 - First Round
5 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Chattanooga vs. (9) The Citadel. Predicted winner: Chattanooga
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) UNC Greensboro vs. (10) VMI. Predicted winner: UNC Greensboro
3/7 – Quarterfinals
12 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) East Tennessee State vs. (8) Chattanooga. Predicted winner: East Tennessee State
2:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Wofford vs. (7) UNC Greensboro. Predicted winner: Wofford
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Samford vs. (6) Furman. Predicted winner: Furman
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Mercer vs. (5) Western Carolina. Predicted winner: Mercer
3/8 – Semifinals
4 p.m. (TBD) (1) East Tennessee State vs. (4) Mercer. Predicted winner: East Tennessee State
6:30 p.m. (TBD) (2) Wofford vs. (6) Furman. Predicted winner: Furman
3/9 – Finals
7 p.m. (TBD) (1) East Tennessee State vs. (6) Furman. Predicted winner: East Tennessee State
Southland (March 8-11; Lake Charles, LA)
3/8 – First Round
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) New Orleans vs. (8) Houston Christian. Predicted winner: New Orleans
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) Nicholls vs. (7) Northwestern State. Predicted winner: Nicholls
3/9 – Second Round
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Texas A&M Corpus Christi vs. (5) New Orleans. Predicted winner: Texas A&M Corpus Christi
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) UT Rio Grande Valley vs. (6) Nicholls. Predicted winner: UT Rio Grande Valley
3/10 – Semifinals
7 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Stephen F. Austin vs. (4) Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Predicted winner: Stephen F. Austin
9:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) McNeese vs. (3) UT Rio Grande Valley. Predicted winner: McNeese
3/11 – Finals
5 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Stephen F. Austin vs. (2) McNeese. Predicted winner: McNeese
Summit (March 4-8; Sioux Falls, SD)
3/4 - First Round
8 p.m. (MidcoSN/Summit League Network) (8) Oral Roberts vs. (9) Kansas City. Predicted winner: Oral Roberts
Quarterfinals
3/5
7 p.m. (MidcoSN/Summit League Network) (1) North Dakota State vs. (8) Oral Roberts. Predicted winner: Omaha
9:30 p.m. (MidcoSN/Summit League Network) (2) St. Thomas vs. (7) South Dakota State. Predicted winner: St. Thomas
3/6
7 p.m. (MidcoSN/Summit League Network) (4) South Dakota vs. (5) Omaha. Predicted winner: Omaha
9:30 p.m. (MidcoSN/Summit League Network) (3) North Dakota vs. (6) Denver. Predicted winner: North Dakota
3/7 – Semifinals
8 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) North Dakota State vs. (5) Omaha. Predicted winner: North Dakota State
10:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) St. Thomas vs. (3) North Dakota. Predicted winner: St. Thomas
3/8 – Finals
9:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) North Dakota State vs. (3) St. Thomas. Predicted winner: St. Thomas
Sun Belt (March 3-9; Pensacola, FL)
3/4 - Second Round
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (9) James Madison vs. (12) Louisiana. Predicted winner: James Madison
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (10) Georgia Southern vs. (11) Old Dominion. Predicted winner: Georgia Southern
3/5 - Third Round
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Southern Miss vs. (9) James Madison. Predicted winner: Southern Miss
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Arkansas State vs. (10) Georgia Southern. Predicted winner: Arkansas State
3/6 - Fourth Round
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) Texas State vs. (8) Southern Miss. Predicted winner: Texas State
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) South Alabama vs. (7) Arkansas State. Predicted winner: Arkansas State
3/7 – Quarterfinals
6:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) Appalachian State vs. (5) Texas State. Predicted winner: Texas State
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) Coastal Carolina vs. (6) Arkansas State. Predicted winner: Arkansas State
3/8 – Semifinals
6 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) Troy vs. (5) Texas State. Predicted winner: Texas State
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) Marshall vs. (6) Arkansas State. Predicted winner: Arkansas State
3/9 - Finals
7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (5) Texas State vs. (6) Arkansas State. Predicted winner: Texas State
SWAC (March 9-14; Atlanta)
3/9 - First Round
2 p.m. (ESPN+) (10) vs. (11)
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (9) vs. (12) Mississippi Valley State
3/10 - Second Round
2 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) vs. (10)/(11)
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) vs. (9)/(12)
Quarterfinals
3/11
2 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) vs. (8)/(10)/(11)
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (2) vs. (7)/(9)(12)
3/12
2 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)
3/13 – Semifinals
2 p.m. (ESPN+)
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
3/14 – Finals
7:30 p.m. (TBD)
Predicted winner: Bethune-Cookman
WAC (March 11-14; Paradise, NV)
3/11 - First Round
8:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) vs. (7)
3/12 - Quarterfinals
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (4) vs. (5)
11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (3) vs. (6)/(7)
3/13 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (1) vs. (4)/(5)
11:30 p.m. (ESPN2/ESPNU) (2) vs. (3)/(6)/(7)
3/14 – Finals
11:59 p.m. (ESPN2)
Predicted winner: Utah Valley
West Coast (March 5-10; Paradise, NV)
3/5 – First Round
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (9) Portland vs. (12) Pepperdine. Predicted winner: Portland
11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (10) Loyola Marymount vs. (11) San Diego. Predicted winner: Loyola Marymount
3/6 - Second Round
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (8) Washington State vs. (9) Portland. Predicted winner: Washington State
11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (7) Seattle vs. (10) Loyola Marymount. Predicted winner: Seattle
3/7 - Third Round
9 p.m. (ESPN+) (5) San Francisco vs. (8) Washington State. Predicted winner: San Francisco
11:30 p.m. (ESPN+) (6) Pacific vs. (7) Seattle. Predicted winner: Seattle
3/8 – Quarterfinals
8:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) Oregon State vs. (5) San Francisco. Predicted winner: Oregon State
11 p.m. (ESPN2) (3) Santa Clara vs. (7) Seattle. Predicted winner: Santa Clara
3/9 – Semifinals
9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Gonzaga vs. (4) Oregon State. Predicted winner: Gonzaga
11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) St. Mary's vs. (3) Santa Clara. Predicted winner: St. Mary's
3/10 – Finals
9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Gonzaga vs. (2) St. Mary's. Predicted winner: Gonzaga
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