by TYLER HATHAWAY
The 2026 NCAA Tournament kicks off this weekend, and there will be four first round games and two second round games taking place in Buffalo. The games will feature four teams from the East region and four teams from the Midwest region with first round action taking place on Thursday. You can buy tickets here.
The teams include four of the top scoring offenses in the country, the fourth No. 1 seed to ever start the tournament in Buffalo, and multiple conference champions. Eight teams will take the floor Thursday to try and become the third national champion to start their path to a title in the City of Good Neighbors. Here’s the breakdown:
EAST REGION
No. 3 seed MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
Record: 25-7
Head coach: Tom Izzo
Conference: Big 10
First game: vs. No. 14 North Dakota State at 4:05 pm
Tournament appearance: 39th
Best finish: National champion (1979, 2000)
Trend: Finished regular season winning five of six games
Players to watch: Jeremy Fears Jr. So. G, Jaxon Kohler Sr. F, Coen Carr Jr. F
What to know: Hall of fame head coach Tom Izzo has coached the Spartans into 28 straight tournament appearances, good for the second longest streak in NCAA history. Point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. touts a nation-best 9.2 assists per game.
No. 6 seed LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
Record: 23-10
Head coach: Pat Kelsey
Conference: ACC
First game: vs. No. 11 seed South Florida at 1:30 pm
Tournament appearance: 45th*
Best finish: National champion (1980, 1986, 2013*)
Trend: 16-5 record when guard Mikel Brown Jr. plays
Players to watch: Mikel Brown Jr. Fr. G, Ryan Conwell Sr. G, J’vonne Hadley Sr. G
What to know: The backcourt tandem of Brown Jr. and Conwell have averaged a combined total of 36.9 points per game this season, the highest of any backcourt in the ACC. The Cardinals are trying to become the first No. 6 seed to reach the Final Four since 1992.
*Including 2013 title win and four appearances vacated by the NCAA.
No. 11 seed SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS
Record: 25-8
Coach: Bryan Hodgson
Conference: American (Champion)
First game: vs. No. 6 seed Louisville at 1:30 pm
Tournament appearance: 4th
Best finish: Round of 32 (2012)
Trend: 19-3 record since starting the season 6-5.
Players to watch: Wes Enis Jr. G, Izaiyah Nelson Sr. F, Joseph Pinion Sr. G
What to know: First year head coach and western New York native Bryan Hodgson has led South Florida to its first tournament appearance in 14 years. The Bulls rank eighth in the country in scoring (87.7 points per game) and second in the country in rebounding (42.7 rebounds per game).
No. 14 seed NORTH DAKOTA STATE BISON
Record: 27-7
Head coach: David Richman
Conference: Summit League (Champion)
First game: vs. No. 3 seed Michigan State at 4:05 pm
Tournament appearance: 5th
Best finish: Round of 32 (2014)
Trend: Has won 17 of their past 19 games.
Players to watch: Damari Wheeler-Thomas Jr. G, Trevian Carson Jr. G, Markhi Strickland Sr. G
What to know: North Dakota State has had seven different players lead the team in scoring and features six players who are scoring more than nine points per game.
MIDWEST REGION
No. 1 seed MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Record: 32-3
Head coach: Dusty May
Conference: Big 10
First game: vs. the winner of No. 16 seed UMBC and No. 16 seed Howard at 7:05 pm
Tournament appearance: 33rd*
Best finish: National champion (1989)
Trend: Has 12 wins this season by 25 or more points
Players to watch: Yaxel Lendeborg Sr. F, Morez Johnson Jr. So. F, Elliot Cadeau Jr. G
What to know: It’s the fourth time in program history that Michigan has earned a one seed. The Wolverines have 15 wins against teams who made the NCAA tournament and are 11th in the nation in scoring with 86.8 points per game.
*Including three appearances vacated by the NCAA.
No. 8 seed GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Record: 22-10
Head coach: Mike White
Conference: SEC
First game: vs. No. 9 seed Saint Louis at 9:45 pm
Tournament appearance: 14th*
Best finish: Final Four (1983)
Trend: Beat three tournament teams in its final six regular season games
Players to watch: Jeremiah Wilkinson So. G, Blue Cain Jr. G, Kanon Catchings So. F
What to know: Georgia opened the season with a 13-1 record. The Bulldogs rank fifth in the country in scoring offense, scoring an average of 89.8 points per game. They have scored over 100 points in eight games.
*Including two appearances vacated by NCAA.
No. 9 seed SAINT LOUIS BILLIKENS
Record: 28-5
Head coach: Josh Schertz
Conference: Atlantic 10
First game: vs. No. 8 seed Georgia at 9:45 pm
Tournament appearance: 11th
Best finish: Elite Eight (1952)
Trend: Has sank 10 or more three-pointers in three of its past five games
Players to watch: Robbie Avila Sr. C, Trey Green So. G, Dion Brown Sr. G
What to know: The Billikens are looking for their first tournament win since 2014. Saint Louis ranks second in the country in three point percentage, converting 40.1% of its attempts. They also finished as the tenth best scoring offense, averaging 87.1 points per game.
No. 16 seed HOWARD BISON
Record: 23-10
Head coach: Kenneth Blakeney
Conference: MEAC (Champion)
First game: vs. No. 16 seed UMBC at 6:40 p.m on Tuesday (winner advances to face Michigan)
Tournament appearance: 5th
Best finish: First round (1981, 1992, 2023)
Trend: Has picked up wins in 14 of its past 16 games
Players to watch: Bryce Harris Sr. G, Cedric Taylor III Jr. F, Cam Gillus Jr. G
What to know: Head coach Kenneth Blakeney has gotten Howard into the tournament for the third time in four seasons.
No. 16 seed UMBC RETRIEVERS
Record: 24-8
Head coach: Jim Ferry
Conference: America East (Champion)
First game: vs. No. 16 seed Howard at 6:40 pm on Tuesday (winner advances to face Michigan)
Tournament appearance: 3rd
Best finish: Round of 32 (2018)
Trend: On a school-record 12-game winning streak
Players to watch: Jah’Likai King Jr. G, DJ Armstrong Jr. Sr. G, Ace Valentine Jr. G
What to know: It’s the first tournament appearance for UMBC since their historic 2018 upset over No. 1 seed Virginia, the first time a 16-seed has ever beaten a one-seed.
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