2026 NCAA Match daring predictions: Huge Ten drought continues, ACC doubles bids

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

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

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

Listed below are 5 daring predictions for March Insanity (Information and statistics are via Tuesday.)

The Huge Ten's title drought will proceed Not since 2000, when Michigan State reduce down the nets, has a Huge Ten Convention crew received the NCAA Match. This season, the Huge Ten has 5 groups that can 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 Match bids within the 2025 Huge Dance. This spring, search for the ACC to safe at the least eight bids, and maybe even 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 Among the best 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 crew in Division I males's hoops. Miami has a comparatively manageable path to complete the common season undefeated.

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

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 date 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 file 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 probable top-three choose 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 Huge 12 Convention championship with wins in these video games and play its approach 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 Match, incomes a file 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 Huge Dance this 12 months, however Florida will seemingly be its highest-seeded squad at No. 3.

The convention’s depth stays simple, however the SEC might not be 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.