March Madness 2026: Full field revealed for women’s bracket with UConn at top

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 09: Azzi Fudd #35 of the Connecticut Huskies is defended by Jasmine Bascoe #11 of the Villanova Wildcats in the first half of the championship game of the Big East Women’s Basketball Tournament at Mohegan Sun on March 09, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The brackets are rolling out for the 2026 women’s NCAA basketball tournament.

Connecticut secured the No. 1 overall seed, and is the No. 1 seed in Fort Worth Region 1. The Huskies enter March Madness with an unblemished record, marking the 11th time in program history that Connecticut entered the tournament undefeated. The Huskies are also riding a 50-game winning streak.

The UCLA Bruins secured the No. 2 overall seed, and are the No. 1 seed in the Sacramento 2 Region. LSU, Duke, and Minnesota are the other top-four seeds in the Sacramento 2 Region.

Here are the brackets as they are announced.

Fort Worth 1 Region

1. Connecticut
16. UTSA

8. Iowa State
9. Syracuse

5. Maryland
12. Murray State

4. North Carolina
13. Western Illinois

6. Notre Dame
11. Fairfield

3. Ohio State
14. Howard

7. Illinois
10. Colorado

2. Vanderbilt
15. High Point

Sacramento 2 Region

1. UCLA
16. Cal Baptist

8. Oklahoma State
9. Princeton

5. Ole Miss
12. Gonzaga

4. Minnesota
13. Green Bay

6. Baylor
11. Nebraska or Richmond

3. Duke
14. Charleston

7. Texas Tech
10. Villanova

2. LSU
15. Jacksonville

Fort Worth 3 Region

1. Texas
16. Missouri State or Stephen F. Austin

8. Oregon
9. Virginia Tech

5. Kentucky
12. James Madison

4. West Virginia
13. Miami (OH)

6. Alabama
11. Rhode Island

3. Louisville
14. Vermont

7. NC State
10. Tennessee

2. Michigan
15. Holy Cross

Sacramento 4 Region

1. South Carolina
16. Southern or Samford

8. Clemson
9. USC

5. Michigan State
12. Colorado State

4. Oklahoma
13. Idaho

6. Washington
11. South Dakota State

3. TCU
14. UC San Diego

7. Georgia
10. Virginia or Arizona State

2. Iowa
15. FDU

March Madness printable bracket for predictions, picks in NCAA Tournament

Follow Selection Sunday live with USA TODAY Sports’ live blog as the bracket is revealed.

The men’s 2026 NCAA Tournamentbracket for March Madness was released on CBS’ Selection Sunday show.

Can Florida become just the second school to win back-to-back championships twice (joining John Wooden’s UCLA)?

Will Arizona reach its first Final Four since 2001?

And can Michigan finally break the Big Ten men’s basketball title drought?

Print your bracket with all the teams and follow along. You can also join USA TODAY’s Bracket Challenge and Survivor Pool.

2026 March Madness printable bracket

SURVIVOR POOL: Free to enter. $10,000 to win. Can you survive the madness?

When does 2026 March Madness start? NCAA Tournament schedule 

The 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament will take place over the next three weeks, which will end with the Final Four and the national championship game in Indianapolis.

Here’s a rundown of the schedule for the 2026 NCAA Tournament:

  • First Four: March 17-18 (Buy tickets)
  • First round: March 19-20
  • Second round: March 21-22
  • Sweet 16: March 26-27
  • Elite Eight: March 28-29
  • Final Four: April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis (Buy tickets)
  • National championship game: April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis (Buy tickets)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Printable bracket NCAA Tournament 2026: Complete March Madness field

Grimes leads short-handed 76ers to a 109-103 win over the Trail Blazers

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Quentin Grimes scored 14 of his season-high 31 points in the fourth quarter as the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 109-103 Sunday night.

The Sixers were playing without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. due to injuries.

Justin Edwards scored 21 points, and VJ Edgecombe had 18 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for the rookie’s third double-double this season.

Deni Avdija led Portland with 25 points, and Jerami Grant added 20. But the Trail Blazers shot just 17 for 53 from 3-point range (32.7%). Donovan Clingan added 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Portland led by one point at halftime, 54-53, before the Sixers stretched the lead to as many as 10 points in the third quarter, helped by nine points from Edwards in the period.

The Sixers took their largest lead of the game at 101-87 with 5:34 left, but Portland answered with a 10-0 run. An Edgecombe jumper with 1:53 to play and a steal and slam by Edwards with 1:20 left helped Philadelphia seal the win.

76ers: Open a three-game trip in Denver on Tuesday.

Trail Blazers: Continue a five-game trip in Brooklyn Monday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Did San Diego State make March Madness in 2026? Aztecs miss NCAA Tournament

San Diego State basketball was left out of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 15, failing to reach March Madness for the first time since 2019.

The Aztecs were one of the first four teams left out of the 68-team bracket, along with Oklahoma, Auburn and Indiana. SDSU lost to Utah State in the Mountain West Conference Championship, losing out on the conference’s automatic bid.

It’s a tough blow for the Mountain West, which only got one team in the NCAA Tournament despite being one of the best non-Power conferences in college basketball. New Mexico, another bubble team, also missed the field.

San Diego State has seen loads of NCAA Tournament success in recent years, reaching the Final Four in 2023 and the Sweet 16 in 2024 and 2025.

Did San Diego State make March Madness?

San Diego State was left out of the NCAA Tournament when the bracket was revealed on March 15’s Selection Sunday.

The Aztecs finished the season with a 22-11 record and a 14-6 mark in Mountain West play. They fell to Utah State 73-62 in the conference championship game.

San Diego State was No. 47 in the NCAA’s Net Rankings, with a 3-8 record in Quad 1 games and a 6-2 mark in Quad 2 games. Utah State, a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, is No. 26 in NET.

San Diego State’s rough stretch from late February to early March might’ve been the difference in its NCAA Tournament chances, after it lost four of five games to Grand Canyon, Colorado State, New Mexico and Boise State. It did, however, beat Utah State during that span.

NCAA Tournament Last Four In, First Four Out

Here’s a look at the Last Four In and First Four Out teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament:

Last Four In

  • NC State
  • Texas
  • SMU
  • Miami (Ohio)

First Four Out

  • Oklahoma
  • Auburn
  • San Diego State
  • Indiana

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did San Diego State make March Madness in 2026? Aztecs miss NCAA Tournament

Stephen Curry traveling on road trip with the Warriors, who lose 2 more players for at least a week

NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Curry is traveling with Golden State on its road trip, which is the closest the Warriors get to good injury news these days.

Curry missed his 17th consecutive game Sunday night because of right knee pain and inflammation when the Warriors faced the New York Knicks to open their six-game trip. But the superstar guard was with the team at Madison Square Garden, where the Warriors revealed that two more players will be sidelined for at least a week.

“Just feels better when he’s in the room,” coach Steve Kerr said. “He was in our meeting today, he got a workout in this morning. So he’s trending in the right direction and he’s in good spirits, and just having him on the trip is important for our morale.”

Curry hasn’t played since Jan. 30 and is unlikely to play on the trip, with his next evaluation not expected until next weekend, when the Warriors will have already played five games. Kerr said he is still limited to just doing individual work.

He wishes the two-time NBA MVP was on the court. Golden State is 9-18 without Curry this season, including 5-11 in the current stretch entering Sunday.

“He’s just one of one and this is the longest stretch that I can remember being without him since I think it was 2020 when he missed the basically the whole season,” Kerr said, referring to when Curry broke his left hand early in the 2019-20 season and played in just five games. “So yeah, we miss him. We miss watching him.”

Already without Jimmy Butler because of a torn right ACL, the Warriors said that Curry’s brother, Seth, and veteran forward Al Horford both had MRI exams after their injuries. Seth Curry’s revealed a mild left groin strain and Horford’s a mild left calf strain. Both players will be evaluated again in a week.

The Warriors also rested Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis and De’Anthony Melton on the first night of back-to-back games, hoping all would play Monday at Washington. They gave Malevy Leons his first career start while using their 11th different starting lineup in the last 11 games.

To add an extra body, the Warriors signed center Omer Yurtseven to a 10-day contract Sunday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

March Madness bracket East Region predictions: Upset, sleeper, winner picks

The East Region of the Men’s NCAA Tournament is not for the faint of heart.

There’s No. 1 and top overall seed Duke, the recently crowned champions of the ACC Tournament.

There’s No. 2 Connecticut, which flirted with the tournament’s top line before an uneven close to the regular season.

There’s No. 3 Michigan State, one of the top teams in the Big Ten. No. 4 Kansas, which will be a Final Four threat if star freshman Darryn Peterson can showcase the form that has made him the most likely top pick in this year’s NBA draft.

There’s even No. 5 St. John’s, last seen crushing the Huskies at Madison Square Garden to repeat as Big East champs.

Best of luck to everyone involved – because someone is going to need some good fortune to make a run through this gauntlet.

March Madness region breakdown: South | Midwest | West

But despite this depth, the favorite in the East are the Cameron Boozer-led Blue Devils. Here’s what you need to know about the region:

East Region best first-round matchup: No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida

Two of the nation’s highest-scoring teams are destined to get into an up-and-down affair that could see the winner crack triple digits.

USF ranks eighth nationally in scoring (87.7 points per game), first in free throws made per game (20.2), second in rebounds per game (42.7) and third in offensive rebounds per game (15.5).

Louisville ranks first in the ACC and 20th nationally in scoring (84.7 points per game) while topping the ACC in 3-pointers attempted (32.3) and made per game (11.5).

Overall, the Bulls have been held under 70 points just three times this season.

East Region potential upset in first round: No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 UCF

There’s always the chance of an even more eye-opening upset, such as No. 15 Furman knocking off UConn or No. 13 Cal Baptist taking down the Jayhawks.

But one matchup that seems ripe for an upset is No. 7 UCLA against No. 10 UCF, largely because of the unpredictability that has defined the Bruins’ season.

They put things together down the stretch to climb to a No. 7 seed, beating Nebraska and Michigan State this month before being bounced from the Big Ten Tournament against Purdue. And UCLA has a distinct talent edge against the Knights thanks to senior forward Tyler Bilodeau (17.6 points per game) and guard Donovan Dent (7.6 assists per game).

Still, this a team that went a combined 10-11 against Quad 1 and Quad 2 competition during the regular season.

NCAA Tournament East Region sleeper: St. John’s

In this case, the Red Storm qualify as a sleeper by being outside the region’s top four seeds.

While not reflecting how well St. John’s is currently playing, the seeding stems from a weaker schedule that saw it split 10 games against Quad 1 foes.

But let’s be clear: This is not your typical No. 5 seed. The Red Storm showed that in a dominant 72-52 win against the Huskies in the Big East championship. They’ve also lost just once since Jan. 3 and just twice this calendar year.

St. John’s is led by potential All-America big man Zuby Ejiofor, who paces the team in scoring (16.3 points per game) and assists (3.5 per game). Former Providence transfer Bryce Hopkins has also played very well of late, including 18 points on 7 of 9 shooting against UConn.

NCAA Tournament East Region winner: Duke

Duke remains the team to beat in this loaded region.

The Blue Devils are short point guard Caleb Foster, who is out indefinitely with a foot fracture. But backup Cayden Boozer has stepped up in Foster’s absence, delivering 16 points against Clemson in the ACC semifinals and then another 16 points, five rebounds and four assists in the final against Virginia.

The biggest reason to like Duke’s chance is star freshman forward Cameron Boozer, the clubhouse leader for national player of the year after averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game during the regular season.

His ability to score in the paint and control the flow of the game on both ends, along with his competitive drive, will help Duke avoid a shocking pre-Final Four slipup like the one that derailed Cooper Flagg and last year’s loaded roster.

NCAA Tournament East Region schedule

Thursday, March 19

  • No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena
  • No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota State
  • No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida
  • No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU

Friday, March 20

  • No. 2 Connecticut vs. No. 15 Furman
  • No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist
  • No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa
  • No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Central Florida

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA tournament 2026 East Region predictions for March Madness

March Madness bracket Midwest Region predictions: Upset, sleeper, winner picks

After a long, often excruciating wait, a 68-team Men’s NCAA basketball tournament bracket has been revealed.

The field and matchups for the March Madness were unveiled Sunday, March 15, setting the stage for millions of fans across the country to stress over their Final Four picks and first-round upsets.

In the Midwest region, No. 1 seed Michigan will look to follow through on its stellar regular season, with Big Ten player of the year Yaxel Lendeborg leading the way and coach Dusty May looking to get to his second Final Four in the past four seasons (and at his second school).

The Wolverines will face some challenges on their way there, though. No. 2 seed Iowa State has one of the sport’s best, most tenacious defenses and is battle tested after a full season through the relentless Big 12. No. 3 seed Virginia has been one of the biggest turnaround stories this season. And No. 4 seed Alabama showed everyone last season that it can win in March, with a run to the Final Four two years ago.

March Madness region breakdown: South | East | West

How will things shake out in the Midwest region? Here’s a look at the best matchups, potential upsets and more:

Midwest Region best first-round matchup: Georgia vs. Saint Louis

Two years ago, the country was wrongfully denied a shot at seeing Robbie Avila, Ryan Conwell and Josh Schertz’s fun, high-powered offense in the NCAA tournament when the selection committee didn’t include a 32-win Indiana State team in the field. Now, Schertz and Avila are racking up wins at Saint Louis, which earned an at-large berth with a 28-5 record and an Atlantic 10 regular-season championship. The Billikens stumbled a bit down the stretch, going 4-4 in their final eight games after a 24-1 start, but they have one of the fastest-paced teams in the country that, for all of its offensive excellence, is stout on the defensive end, too.

They’ll get a first-round matchup with a Georgia team that won 22 games, tied for its most victories in a season since 1997. The Bulldogs play even faster than Saint Louis, ranking 16th nationally in adjusted tempo, according to KenPom, and have a balanced offense in which four players are averaging at least 11.9 points per game, led by Jeremiah Wilkinson at 17 points per game.

This game will be anything but a slog, with the winner likely safely getting into the 80s.

Midwest Region potential upset in first round: Akron vs. Texas Tech

The 5-over-12 upset is a time-honored tradition, often for a good reason, with the 12 seed often going to top teams from the mid- and low-major ranks. Texas Tech has been a top-20 team throughout the season and is one of the toughest teams in the country, but it’s also a diminished version of itself, with All-American forward JT Toppin out for the season with a torn ACL and star guard Christian Anderson recovering from a groin injury he suffered on the Big 12 tournament’s ill-advised glass court.

The Red Raiders will take on an Akron team with tournament experience, one that has played in the Big Dance in each of the past two seasons. The Zips haven’t gotten particularly close either time, losing by 28 to Arizona last year and 17 to Creighton in 2024, but they have one of the country’s top scorers in Tavari Johnson, who averages 20.1 points per game, and have won 19 of their past 20 games. There’s not an upset in this region that’s particularly enticing, but this one’s probably the closest thing there is to one.

NCAA Tournament Midwest Region sleeper: Kentucky

The Wildcats have been one of the biggest disappointments in the sport this season, with a roster worth a reported $22 million going just 21-13 and finishing ninth in the SEC. They’re without two of the highest-priced players on the team, big man Jayden Quaintance and point guard Jaland Lowe, but they have a proven bucket-getter in Otega Oweh and a solid supporting cast. They’ve shown they can beat top competition this season, with wins over Vanderbilt, St. John’s, Tennessee and Arkansas to their name.

If coach Mark Pope’s team can survive a first-round matchup against a Santa Clara team over which it should have a decided talent advantage, it could cause some fits in the second round for an Iowa State program that, for all of its regular-season accomplishments, has regularly underplayed its seed in the NCAA tournament in recent years.

NCAA Tournament Midwest Region winner: Michigan

A season-ending injury to guard L.J. Cason could end up preventing Michigan from cutting down the nets in Indianapolis the first Monday of April, but the Wolverines still have more than enough talent and cohesion to get there. Lendeborg has been one of the best players in the country this season and is part of an absolutely loaded frontcourt that also includes 7-3 Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr.

There’s nobody in this region who can go toe-to-toe with them.

NCAA Tournament Midwest Region first round schedule

Tuesday, March 17

First Four Game

  • No. 16 UMBC vs. No. 16 Howard | TBD | truTV (Sling TV)

Thursday, March 19

Round of 64

  • No. 1 Michigan (31-3) vs. No. 16 UMBC/Howard
  • No. 8 Georgia (22-10) vs. Saint Louis (28-5)
  • No. 5 Vanderbilt (26-8) vs. No. 12 McNeese (28-5)

Friday, March 20

Round of 64

  • No. 5 Texas Tech (22-10) vs. No. 12 Akron (29-5)
  • No. 4 Alabama (23-9) vs. No. 13 Hofstra (24-10)
  • No. 6 Tennessee (22-11) vs. No. 11 Miami (OH)/SMU
  • No. 3 Virginia (29-5) vs. No. 14 Wright State (23-11)
  • No. 7 Kentucky (21-13) vs. No. 10 Sanata Clara (26-8)
  • No. 2 Iowa State (27-7) vs. No. 15 Tennessee State (23-9)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA tournament 2026 Midwest Region predictions for March Madness

March Madness bracket West Region predictions: Upset, sleeper, winner picks

Is this finally the year for Arizona? The Wildcats haven’t been to the Final Four since falling to Duke in the national title game in 2001. The past 25 years have seen them be a No. 1 seed three times and a No. 2 seed four times. There have been six Sweet 16 appearances and four separate finishes in the Elite Eight during the drought.

This year’s group in Tommy Lloyd’s fourth season may be their best opportunity to break through. Arizona dominated the Big 12 and won the conference tournament with narrow defeats of Iowa State and Houston, showing it can handle postseason pressure.

But there are contenders lined up to live their own dreams of making it to Indianapolis. One school nearby the Final Four destination is No. 2 seed Purdue. The Boilermakers, who are seeking their first national title, are riding high after winning the Big Ten tournament. Gonzaga is another team that has come close and not won a championship. The Bulldogs quietly ran through the West Coast Conference and will be playing on the West Coast. No. 4 seed Arkansas has won a national title and is another team that won its conference tournament.

Overall, this region ranks as the easiest with the top four teams having an aggregate of 37 in the committee’s true seed line. But it is sure to have some twists and turns that maybe make it one of the most exciting.

West Region best first-round matchup: Villanova vs Utah State

Sometimes it is a cop out to name the 8-9 game as the best one but this matchup between Villanova and Utah State is full of interesting storylines. The Wildcats return to the field after missing the last three tournaments following Jay Wright’s departure. Kevin Willard’s team in his first season has five scorers that average double figures but don’t shoot great from the free-throw line and aren’t a strong rebounding team. Meanwhile, Utah State is in the field for the fourth consecutive time after winning the Mountain West regular-season title and conference tournament. The Aggies are one of the best shooting teams in the country behind the scoring of MJ Collins and Mason Falslev. They have the firepower to advance.

West Region potential upset in first round: High Points over Wisconsin

These 5-12 matchups always create drama and upsets in the tournament. Two No. 12 seeds have advanced in three of the last four years. The high-scoring Panthers have the opportunity to be another one. They are third in the nation in scoring and own the longest active winning streak at 14 games. They can match up well with Wisconsin, which lost as a No. 5 seed in 2024. The Badgers rely on the three-point shot and that can be something that is difficult if the shots aren’t falling. Look for this to be an up-tempo game that has a lot of possessions and will go to the team that is the most efficient.

NCAA Tournament West Region sleeper: Arkansas

The Razorbacks have found their best form in the final two months of the season with standout freshman Darius Acuff fulfilling hi,s promise as one of the nation’s top recruits. Acuff has been outstanding down the stretch as Arkansas won nine of its final 11 games, including a run to the SEC tournament title. Guard play in tournament time is critical and Acuff’s ability to penetrate and score gives the Razorbacks one of the best players in the country. They also have John Calipari on the sideline, too. And while the veteran coach has a history of early tournament losses, he has the experience to guide his team to the Final Four.

NCAA Tournament West Region winner: Arizona

Despite all the contenders lined up to take down the Wildcats, it’s hard to see someone knocking them off after its impressive Big 12 run. They’re one of the top scoring teams in the field with the backcourt of Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley leading the way. Freshman forward Koa Peat and center Motiejus Krivas lead the frontcourt that has the size to handle big opponents. There’s also bench strength from Tobe Awaka and Anthony Dell’Orso if there’s a need for additional firepower. Yes, there’s baggage from the misses in recent years. But that shouldn’t weigh them down.

NCAA Tournament West Region schedule

San Diego

  • No. 1 Arizona (32-2) vs. No. 16 Long Island (24-10)
  • No. 8 Villanova (24-8) vs. No. 9 Utah State (28-6)

Portland, Ore.

  • No. 5 Wisconsin (24-10) vs. No. 12 High Point (30-4)
  • No. 4 Arkansas (26-8) vs. No. 13 Hawaii (24-8)

Portland, Ore.

  • No. 6 Brigham Young (23-11) vs. No. 11 Texas/North Carolina State
  • No. 3 Gonzaga (30-3) vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (21-13)

St. Louis

  • No. 7 Miami (Fla.) (25-8) vs. No. 10 Missouri (20-12)
  • No. 2 Purdue (27-8) vs. No. 15 Queens (21-13)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA tournament 2026 West Region predictions for March Madness

March Madness bracket South Region predictions: Upset, sleeper, winner picks

Florida’s quest to repeat as NCAA champion begins in the South Region, where the Gators are the top seed. But in order to get back to the Final Four, their trip will have to go through the city of Houston, where they might also face a potential rematch of last year’s national title game with the hometown Houston Cougars.

There is, however, a lot of basketball to be played before we get to that point in this tough region, which also features an Illinois team that spent numerous weeks ranked in the top 10 this season, and the same Vanderbilt squad that toppled the Gators in the SEC tournament.

March Madness region breakdown: East | Midwest | West

South Region best first-round matchup: North Carolina vs VCU

The Tar Heels have had a little time to accustom themselves to life without standout freshman Caleb Wilson, but their struggles down the stretch after he was lost to injury resulted in some seed slippage. As a consequence, they pick up a tough first-round draw against the Rams, the champs of the Atlantic 10 and a program with a history of contributing to the madness of March (see 2011, First Four to Final Four).

South Region potential upset in first round: Troy over Nebraska

Fred Hoiberg’s Cornhuskers earned their top-16 spot on the bracket with a strong finish in the Big Ten standings. But it’s still an undeniable fact that Nebraska has yet to win a game in the NCAA Tournament. OK, to be fair, the Trojans of Troy haven’t won a game in the Big Dance in their three prior appearances either. But the Sun Belt champ can be a tough out, and Troy coach Scott Cross has led the Trojans to 20-win campaigns in five consecutive seasons.

NCAA Tournament South Region sleeper: Illinois

It’s hard to consider the No. 3 seed a true sleeper, but given the teams ahead of them the Fighting Illini will have a difficult road. In addition, their fans will be more than a little concerned with the team’s recent troubles closing out close games. But they do have the talent to match up with anyone in the region, and if they figure out how to make another play or two down the stretch, they could surprise.

NCAA Tournament South Region winner: Florida

Florida. It took a couple of months for the Gators’ new-look backcourt to find its rhythm, and they reverted to some of their earlier struggles a bit in the SEC tournament. But there are enough experienced hands from last year’s title team to presume that their bad game is behind them. Yes, that potential date with the Cougars in H-town is a concern, but the Gators are still the team to beat.

NCAA Tournament South Region schedule

Wednesday, March 18

First Four

  • No. 11 Miami (OH) vs. No. 11 SMU | TBD | truTV (Sling TV)

Thursday, March 19

Round of 64

  • No. 5 Vanderbilt (26-8) vs. No. 12 McNeese (28-5)
  • No. 4 Nebraska (26-6) vs. No. 13 Troy (22-11)
  • No. 6 North Carolina (24-8) vs. VCU (27-7)
  • No. 3 Illinois (24-8) vs. No. 14 Penn (18-11)
  • No. 7 Saint Mary’s (27-5) vs. No. 10 Texas A&M (21-11)
  • No. 2 Houston (28-6) vs. No. 15 Idaho (21-14)

Friday, March 20

Round of 64

  • No. 1 Florida (27-6) vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M/Lehigh
  • No. 8 Clemson (24-10) vs. No. 9 Iowa (21-12)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA tournament 2026 South Region predictions for March Madness

Inclement weather ends Yankees vs. Orioles after just two-plus innings

SARASOTA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 26: A general view of the rain coming down at Ed Smith Stadium after a rain delay ended a 11-4 Tampa Bay Rays win over the Baltimore Orioles on February 26, 2019 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Given the forecast in Sarasota, it was always going to be a squeeze to get this Yankees/Orioles game in on Sunday night. Indeed, the heavens opened in the third inning and the rain never stopped. Rather than mill around waiting for a break in the weather that may never have come, both teams decided to call this one after two-plus, with no makeup game scheduled.

The wet conditions played their part from the get-go, Yankees starter Paul Blackburn appearing to have trouble with his grip. He issued a two-out walk to Pete Alonso in the first and then a single to top prospect Samuel Basallo. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance to scoring position, and a Tyler O’Neill single plated the pair to make it 2-0, Baltimore.*

*Those runs will not count toward Blackburn’s spring training ERA due to the game’s cancellation, so lucky for him, I suppose.

Zach Eflin set the side down in order in the first and second, striking out a pair in each frame. Spencer Jones may have been optioned to minor-league camp, but it hasn’t affected his performances in spring including a home run in the first game after receiving the news. The two issues holding him back have been production against the fastball and pitches in the zone. Leading off the third, he got a belt-high four-seamer at 93 and did what you would expect a big league player to do with a pitch like that, lashing a line drive single to right as he continues to do everything he can this spring to convince the Yankees that he has earned an opportunity. That would be the Yankees’ only hit in this very limited nightcap.

That was where the game ended as the rain really started to fall at that point. It’s a somewhat fitting end to a dreary split-squad day, the first game ending in a 12-1 drubbing by the Tigers. At least it frees up all of our evenings to watch Aaron Judge and Team USA take on the Dominican Republic in the first semifinal of the World Baseball Classic. (Join us back in the game thread to talk about that one!)

The Yankees’ next Grapefruit League game is Tuesday at the Rays. Will Warren looks to continue his strong spring showing against Ryan Pepiot. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. EDT with the broadcast on the Gotham Sports App.