2026 NCAA Event daring predictions: Massive Ten drought continues, ACC doubles bids

[ad_1] Imagine it or not, Choice Sunday in males's school basketball is March 15.

Applications are jockeying for place of their convention races whereas additionally working to strengthen their seeding for the 2026 NCAA Event. Bubble groups, in the meantime, are preventing to maneuver safely inside projections for the 68-team subject.

The common season has delivered — from marquee nonconference matchups to the grind of league play. Now the hope is that the Massive Dance proves simply as compelling.

Listed here are 5 daring predictions for March Insanity (Data and statistics are by Tuesday.)

The Massive Ten's title drought will proceed Not since 2000, when Michigan State minimize down the nets, has a Massive Ten Convention workforce received the NCAA Event. This season, the Massive Ten has 5 groups that may earn excessive seeds in March Insanity: No. 2 Michigan (22-1), No. 7 Nebraska (21-3), No. 8 Illinois (20-5), No. 10 Michigan State (20-4) and No. 13 Purdue (20-4). All are Ultimate 4 contenders, however none of them has the general expertise to win the entire thing. The massive prize will go to No. 1 Arizona, No. 4 Duke or No. 6 UConn.

The ACC will double its bids from final 12 months The Atlantic Coast Convention has been on a downward spiral in current seasons, culminating with simply 4 NCAA Event bids within the 2025 Massive Dance. This spring, search for the ACC to safe not less than eight bids, and even perhaps greater than that. Groups vying for berths embody Duke (22-2), No. 11 North Carolina (19-5), No. 15 Virginia (21-3), No. 20 Clemson (20-4), No. 24 Louisville (18-6), N.C. State (18-7), Miami (19-5), SMU (17-7), Virginia Tech (16-8) and California (17-7).

Undefeated Miami (Ohio) will flame out early Probably the greatest tales of the 2025-26 marketing campaign is Mid-Amertican Mid-American Convention member Miami (Ohio). The No. 23 RedHawks are 24-0 — the final remaining undefeated workforce in Division I males's hoops. Miami has a comparatively manageable path to complete the common season undefeated.

If it wins the MAC postseason match, it will be a juicy storyline for the 2026 Massive Dance. However this feel-good narrative will not final lengthy within the NCAA Event.

The RedHawks common a nation-best 92.7 factors, however they've confronted weak competitors this season, with solely a pair of quadrant two wins and no alternatives to this point in quadrant one. Protection wins championships; Miami (Ohio) is simply No. 146 nationwide in adjusted defensive effectivity, per KenPom.

Do not look now, however Kansas is on a heater On Monday night time at house, the Jayhawks handed top-ranked Arizona its first defeat this season, 82-78. Kansas has received eight consecutive video games, enhancing its general document to 19-5 and leaping to No. 9 within the Related Press High 25. Throughout that victory streak, the Jayhawks crushed then-No. 2 Iowa State and conquered ranked foes BYU and Texas Tech.

Freshman guard Darryn Peterson, a possible top-three decide within the 2026 NBA Draft, has solely suited up in 13 video games in 2025-26, however that hasn't slowed Kansas.

The Jayhawks have video games left towards Iowa State (21-3, Feb. 14), Arizona (23-1, Feb. 23) and No. 3 Houston (22-2, March 3). Kansas can management its personal future to a Massive 12 Convention championship with wins in these video games and play its manner into the No. 1 seed dialog for March Insanity.

The SEC will not dominate because it did final season The Southeastern Convention made historical past within the 2025 NCAA Event, incomes a document 14 bids. The league positioned seven groups within the Candy 16 and two within the Ultimate 4 (Auburn and Florida), with the Gators capturing the nationwide title. The SEC is anticipated to ship eight to 10 groups to the Massive Dance this 12 months, however Florida will doubtless be its highest-seeded squad at No. 3.

The convention’s depth stays simple, however the SEC is probably not as dominant in 2026. Florida (17-6), eyeing consecutive nationwide titles prefer it achieved in 2006 and 2007, ought to make a strong run this March. Nevertheless, the Gators will fall in need of a repeat championship.