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BrackEYEtestology: Ranking the First 11 Teams in the Tourney

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Each March, the NCAA Tournament introduces college basketball fans to a new group of mid-major champions who earned automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments. This blog article will evaluate the visual “eye test” qualities of each mid-major team that secured a place in the 2026 Men’s College Basketball Tournament bracket, focusing on those who punched their ticket prior to Gonzaga.

While Gonzaga appears on this conference outline, the program is widely regarded as a national power despite competing in a traditionally weaker conference structure. The goal of this article is to provide quick-hit visual scouting impressions of these mid-major qualifiers.

BY MATTY D.

Tennessee State Jumps Off the Page when Comparing Hype to the Eye Test

One of the first teams to punch their tickets to the 2026 Men’s College Basketball Tournament could be one of the most dangerous and dramatic upset candidates in the entire tourney. If you like riding underdogs on your bracket, you may enjoy how this team’s entry will be old news by the time Selection Sunday gets sorted out.

Guard Aaron Nkrumah absolutely jumps off the page. Or, should I say, he jumps off the TV screen with athleticism. The bouncy 6-6 senior scored 14 points in the championship win against Morehead State, but it was actually noteworthy that the Tigers enjoyed five players scoring in the teens during that game. This is on par with how Tennessee State has been finishing up its regular season. Since losing its last time this season to Morehead State, the Tigers have been beating teams by an average of 18 points, including two lopsided wins of 27 and 26 points against SIUE and Morehead State, respectively.

If you needed any more reasons to like Tennessee State as a sleeper team, consider its head coach. This past summer, former 4-year starting Duke point guard Nolan Smith was announced at the Tigers head coach. This, after serving as an assistant with Memphis and Louisville.

Rookie head coach Nolan Smith was nominated as a finalist for one of the best mid-major coaches in America.

Tennessee State’s announcement of the Nolan news put it in context the best:

“Smith spent his entire playing career at Duke under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history. That experience helped shape Smith’s foundation as a tactician, motivator, and leader.”

Seniority “On Brand” as UNI Finds the Field Once Again

In this age of NIL, it’s hard to find examples of seniority thriving in college basketball.

Yet, there’s a perfect example of hard work paying off in the Missouri Valley Conference. The University of Northern Iowa is led by 4-year senior guard Trey Campbell, who also led an Iowa high school team to a state championship.

Of course, it wouldn’t be “on brand” to say that UNI is a one man show. Campbell leads the team with 13 points per game, but has four other teammates averaging around double digits.

Northern Iowa also has seniority when it comes to its long tenured head coach. Ben Jacobson has been at the helm for the Panthers since 2006.

Furman Finds Itself As Another Fiesty 6 Seed to Fight Its Way Into the Tournament

Ironically, both the Furman Paladins and that Northern Iowa Panthers teams are making it into the tournament as former 6 seeds in their own conferences.

Furman is a well-put-together roster with capable athletes everywhere. Led by a true freshman in Alex Wilkins, he has brothers Cooper and Cole Bowser attacking the rim at his side.

Not only do UNI and Furman share similarities as 6 seeds to win their conference championship, but they also squared off earlier this season in non-conference play.

Former Syracuse Fan Favorite Fanning the Flames of Upstate New York Revival

If you live in New York, you might be happy to hear that three of the first 11 teams to make the NCAA Tournament are from the Empire State. Upstate New York may have been hopeful of a rejuvenation of Syracuse basketball with Carmelo Anthony’s son playing for the orange and blue.

However, it’s another former Syracuse Orange player who is making a splash.

Syracuse cult hero Gerry McNamara, aka “G-Mac” has led another Upstate New York program to prominence. You’ll remember Gerry McNamara as the starting point guard on the 2001 Syracuse Orange championship team. Now, the Siena Saints of the capital region will return to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament with McNamara as their head coach.

Siena Saints head coach Gerry McNamara courtesy SienaSaints.com Potographer Josh Miller

True to the script of how the universe is unfolding as it should, McNamara’s Saints are led by another gritty undersized under-recruited combo guard from Upstate New York. Gavin Doty of Fulton, NY is averaging 18 points for the Saints in his sophomore season. Siena was dominating Merrimack in the MAC Championship game in the first half before they had to fend off a more serious run.

What Else You Should Know about the First 10 Teams to Make March Madness 2026

As the bracket continues to take shape, six additional mid-major champions who punched their tickets before Gonzaga deserve at least a quick closing nod. Queens (N.C.) arrives from the ASUN with one of the nation’s most aggressive transition attacks, routinely pushing tempo behind dynamic guard play. High Point leaned on a prolific perimeter scoring profile during its Big South title run, spacing the floor with multiple double-figure shooters. Wright State brings a physically imposing interior presence that has powered one of the Horizon League’s most efficient paint-scoring units. Long Island surged late with disruptive on-ball pressure that fueled a top-tier steal rate in Northeast Conference play. And North Dakota State, long respected for disciplined execution, once again showcased a methodical half-court offense that finished near the top of the Summit League in shooting efficiency — a reminder that even in a tournament defined by chaos, structure and shot-making still travel well when the lights get brightest. Hofstra returns to March Madness with a reputation for elite ball security, consistently ranking among conference leaders in assist-to-turnover efficiency.

Suspect Spreads Saturday Spots Two Major Snubs

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Two of America’s most overlooked teams within the AP Top 25 are totally being disrespected by this weekend’s odds for NCAA Men’s College Basketball games. That’s where we begin this Saturday’s rundown of suspect spreads.

BY MATTY D.

UVA “Flat Better than” other NCAA Tournament Teams

Will Wade understands it. The rest of us college basketball fans better get with the picture, too.

Virginia is steamrolling teams.

The Cavaliers’ dominant win against a bubble NC State team last weekend was noteworthy. It wasn’t much of a game. Virginia put on an offensive clinic with everyone getting a turn. The 23-year-old “freshman” from Belgium, Thijs De Ridder got to the rim with ease. De Ridder is averaging 16 points and 7 rebounds this season.

He and his Cav teammates blocked 11 shots in the game, many in the opening moments.

Head Coach Ryan Odom already had his “one shining moment” when his UMBC Retrievers became the first-ever team to beat a 1 seed as a 16 seed (in 2021). Despite breaking their hearts in that fashion, UVA actually decided to hire Odom as their next head coach after the long tenure of Tony Bennett had come to a conclusion. In a coincidental turn of events, no one is really giving UVA a shot right now, either. On the heels of their dominant performance against the Wolfpack, the Cavaliers will face Duke as a 10.5 point underdog (according to DraftKings).

Darius Acuff and Arkansas Overlooked

The Florida Gators have been playing good basketball of late, but they have zero business being a 10 point favorite against Arkansas on Saturday. Arkansas carries a 20th overall ranking.

The Razorbacks look at times like a Final Four contender. Point guard Darius Acuff Jr. is among the tier of freshman following the top 5 NBA lottery pick freshmen who you hear all about. However, this kid has as high of a ceiling as the others. Texas A&M was challenging Arkansas this past week, before Acuff put on a street-ball styled flurry of plays that just reminded the Aggies who they’re dealing with.

This matchup against the Gators on Saturday might be a classic example of strengths against weaknesses, and vice versa. Florida guards have seemed to settle in after transferring into those positions this year, but it will be Florida’s front court that will have the advantage in this game.

Conversely, the Arkansas guards including Acuff Jr., Dejuan Wagner Jr., and Billy Richomond III will be a lot of athleticism for the Gator guards to have to handle.

USC Nebraska a Litmus Test Game for Both Basketball Teams

We don’t really know if USC is a tournament team and we don’t really know if Nebraska really deserves to be in this 2 or 3 seed discussion. Sure, they went undefeated for the better portion of 3 months. Still, it seems like we’re left waiting for the other shoe to drop with Nebraska.

Nebraska went undefeated until getting beat by Michigan for the first time on January 27th. In the month that followed, Nebraska hasn’t been terribly impressive. They won 3 or their last 4 games, but none of them against ranked teams. They lost their last game against a ranked opponent when they played Purdue, although they came storming back from a huge deficit in that game. It just looks like teams have figured Nebraska. Nebraska and Vanderbilt both look similar at this juncture. Their stocks were skyrocketing in December or January, but are now plateauing if not coming back down to earth.

As for USC, Chad Baker-Mazara returned from the injury report two games ago, but the Trojans have struggled in that pair. They just got routed by UCLA, which has not exactly been firing on all cylinders this season.

Injury Report: Injuries to Monitor before Filling Out Your March Madness 2026 Bracket

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Here are some injuries for you to monitor before filling out your bracket for March Madness 2026.

The end of the regular season is seeing its share of season ending injuries to stars, but there are plenty more injury statuses to keep an eye on. Even if these players have returned, its worth noting how they and their team have performed in the closing month of the season before the Madness begins.

UNC’s Caleb Wilson Out With Broken Hand

The headline of the college basketball injury landscape is Caleb Wilson’s broken hand. UNC star Caleb Wilson suffered a broken in late January, but has shared on social media how he looks forward to playing again at Chapel Hill. Because Wilson is a no-doubt NBA lottery pick, many people were speculating that he’ll never return to a UNC powder blue uniform again.

Wilson never made it back to the court to finish his freshman season, despite trying. He broke his hand again during practice while building up to game shape in early March.

Darius Acuff Ankle Acting Out to Start March

The Arkansas point guard was starting to get national player of the year consideration, led by some in the coaching community. ESPN reporter Pete Thamel reported that the star freshman’s ankle injury would keep him out for the season finale against the Missouri Tigers.

Losing to the 20th ranked Razorbacks certainly got Texas Head Coach Sean Miller’s attention. He called Acuff Jr. the best point guard he’d seen in 40 years.

BYU’s Richie Saunders Ruled Out for Season with ACL Tear

The headline of an injury-plagued second half of the college basketball season was this sad news. BYU sharpshooter Richie Saunders suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Saunders was a veteran leader for the Cougars, averaging around 18.8 points per game while shooting nearly 49% from the field and about 37.6% from three this season.

His absence was felt both on the scoreboard. The guard tore his ACL on Feb. 14. The Cougars were 19–6 at the time, but have gone just 2–4 in the games since the injury, dropping five of their last seven overall and sliding out of the AP Top 25. A key moment was when BYU visited Cincinnati to begin March and lose what could be a defacto playoff game if The Big 12 gets only one bubble team into the tournament.

Since Saunders went down, AJ Dybantsa has taken on an even larger scoring burden. His production has climbed from 24.4 points per game before the injury to 27.2 afterward, but the added volume has come with lower efficiency, as his field-goal percentage has dropped from 53.6% to 46.6% over the last five games.

Illinois Injury Shuffle: Boswell Returns, Stojakovic Now Sidelined

It was guard off the IL, one guard remaining on the IL for Illinois. After an extended absence from the lineup, Kylan Boswell returned to the lineup for a convincing win at home against Indiana, giving the Illini a much-needed jolt of experience and steadiness. However, Andrej Stojakovic has been now nursing an ankle injury of his own, and Illinois suddenly finds itself toggling between getting healthier and losing another key contributor.

For readers tracking bloodlines across the sport, check out our companion link following the growing list of sons of NBA players now in college hoops.

Gonzaga’s Braden Huff Injury Could Loom Larger Than Expected

Braden Huff was emerging as one of those classic Gonzaga program players who evolves from a skinny modest contributor to a major force down low. His verstality as a stretch 4 has been noticeably missing since his 4–8 week absence began a few weeks ago with a knee injury. However, as his timetable stalls and the postseason competition intensifies, this injury could become more consequential as the weeks go by.

Arizona’s Koa Peat Avoids Reported Injury List But Still Worth Monitoring

Koa Peat missed a few games in February, but Arizona did just fine without him. I’m not saying that Arizona doesn’t need him. I’m saying that Arizona is a national championship contender, even if a star goes down. They are 8 players deep, easily.

Fun Fact: One of Lebron James’ sons are on the team, but he can’t even get playing time with how talented the Wildcats are.

Click here to see a full roster of sons of NBA players in college hoops.

Kansas Star Darren Paterson: Injury Mystery or Draft Countdown?

There’s been some confusion surrounding KU basketball star Darren Paterson’s status this season. Right now, it remains unclear whether he is doing college basketball part time before cashing in his NBA Lottery ticket, or whether he has a tangible injury that we should be monitoring. Kansas has not provided a fully transparent update, and that ambiguity has fueled speculation at the worst possible time of year. A Kansas Jayhawks loss at Arizona State has the questions more about team chemistry than it does Paterson’s health status. The Jayhawks also lost at home to Cincinnati when Paterson played his most minutes of the season.

Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance Remains Sidelined With Knee Injury

Jayden Quaintance has missed an extended stretch of games for Kentucky while dealing with a knee injury, and his status remains one of the most important health questions for the Wildcats entering the heart of the postseason. The former Arizona State transfer brings rare athleticism and size to Kentucky’s frontcourt, making his absence especially noticeable in matchups against bigger opponents. Reports in mid-February indicated that the length of the injury has also begun to impact outside perceptions of his season and availability. Until Quaintance is cleared to return, Kentucky’s rotation continues to operate without one of its most physically dynamic interior pieces.

Vanderbilt’s Depth Tested as February Wears On

Vanderbilt’s backcourt and frontcourt have been thin in February and the Commodores record has suffered as a result. Duke Miles and Frankie Collins health statuses are worth monitoring, because Vanderbilt simply doesn’t have the margin for error that deeper SEC contenders enjoy down the stretch. Vanderbilt lost three straight games (Texas, Florida, Arkansas) in February while Frankie Collins was out of the lineup. Despite gaining their starting guards back, Vanderbilt suffered enough losses in 2026 to where they found themselves on the tournament bubble.

USC’s Engine: Chad Baker-Mazara Shut Down

We don’t know if feelings got injured or if a body part got injured, but USC shut down Chad Baker-Mazara to start March. The program announced that he is no longer on the team. He was tthe engine that made the Trojans go. After transferring from Auburn, Baker-Mazara has emerged as USC’s most consistent offensive force, providing scoring, shot creation, and leadership in late-game moments.

Nebraska Monitoring Multiple Questionable Rotation Pieces

Nebraska has several rotation players currently appearing on the injury board, including forward Lawrence Curtis, forward Uros Jarusevicius, and forward Harv Burt, all listed as questionable with undisclosed issues. The most statistically meaningful absence, however, is guard CJ Essegian, who remains out with an ankle injury after providing one of Nebraska’s better perimeter scoring options earlier in the year. Essegian averaged roughly 10 points per game last season and has been a career 40 percent three-point shooter at the college level, making him the most proven offensive contributor among this group as Nebraska pushes toward March.

Teams Currently Carrying Completely Clean Injury Reports

Some of America’s top programs currently show completely free injury reports, giving them a major advantage as the season tightens:

  • UCONN
  • Florida
  • Arkansas
  • Wisconsin
  • Virginia
  • Louisville

Multiple mid-major teams pass the college basketball eye test in February

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It’s the penultimate month before March and the college basketball picture looks a lot different from what was expected at the start of the 2025-2026 season. Nebraska went from being unranked in the preseason, to currently projected as a potential 1 seed in the tournament. It took until late January for the Cornhuskers to harvest their first loss of the season. Their Big 10 counterpart and victor in that game, Michigan, went from being a preseason 12th ranked program to looking unbeatable. The Wolverines have been absolutely crushing teams.

Dangerous mid-major underdogs roam wild across college basketball

As the major programs (and their coaches) whine about the lack of loyalty that happens in the new NIL portal-crazed climate (boo-whoo), the smaller mid-major programs are quietly putting together impressive resumes.

St. Louis Billikens basketball is currently the 21st ranked team in the nation. However, it’s not only the major power teams that are leveraging the transfer portal. The Billikens sport 10 newcomers on this roster. You may remember one of their transfers in the popular “Cream Adbul Jabbar” Robbie Avila, a transfer from Indiana State. Avila’s Sycamores got totally snubbed from the NCAA Tournament last season. They enter February with only 1 loss and are competing in an Atlantic 10 division that has a favorable argument to make for two teams getting invited to the tournament. George Mason and VCU have also been putting together tourney-contention-worthy resumes.

UNCW made its loudest statement of the season by walking into Baltimore and dominating Towson in a nationally televised game between two legitimate CAA contenders. That wasn’t a hot shooting night or a matchup fluke—it was a physical, controlled performance that showed roster maturity and a clear identity. The Seahawks’ rotation leans heavily on experienced guards and upper-class forwards who understand spacing, shot selection, and how to defend without gambling. UNCW dictated tempo, owned the glass, and took Towson out of its comfort zone early, turning a big conference game into a showcase. When a mid-major can impose itself on the road, on TV, against a peer, that’s the kind of résumé line that carries weight in February and credibility in March.

Liberty Flames continue to look like one of the most structurally sound teams in the country, regardless of conference label. Their depth is real, not theoretical, with a steady rotation of players who accept roles and execute them cleanly. Liberty’s offense doesn’t rely on one scorer or one action; it wears teams down with spacing, shot discipline, and relentless rebounding, especially on second chances. The experience across the roster shows up late in halves, when possessions matter and Liberty almost always gets a good look. This is the type of team metrics love and opponents hate, because nothing feels easy and mistakes are punished immediately.

South Florida deserves more attention than it’s getting nationally, because the Bulls consistently pass the eye test in ways that translate to tournament play. Their physicality stands out, particularly on the offensive glass, where they generate extra possessions at an elite rate and grind opponents into foul trouble. The Bulls lead the country in second chance points. It’s a big reason why they easily hit triple digits in games. USF doesn’t need to shoot lights-out to win games—they overwhelm teams with effort, depth, and pressure that accumulates over forty minutes. When you watch them against quality competition, the takeaway isn’t just that they’re winning, but how they’re winning. That profile—tough, rebounding-heavy, and comfortable playing ugly—is exactly what creates first-round upsets in March.

Who is good in college basketball this year? The Answer is still TBD January of 2026

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The college basketball landscape is wide open as the calendar turns to 2026 and these teams outside of the top 5 have built a compelling tournament resume.

BY MATTY D.

Utah State Looking Like the Aztecs in Terms of Mountain West Dominance

College basketball fans like myself, who have been watching for the past 20-30 years, just assume that the San Diego State Aztecs are going to dominate the Mountain West and then represent the conference honorably in March. This year, there’s a different wrinkle to that picture. Utah State is not only winning, but they are dominating. This weekend they went into Boise State and beat the shit out of a Broncos team that actually just took those same Aztecs into triple overtime. And so they’re good. However, it wasn’t a contest when Utah State visited Boise a few days later.

Watch the first half highlights from this game. The Aggies came out angry and athletic, a deadly.combo.

AJ Storr and a talented Ole Miss orchestra of guards playing in harmony after discord

AJ Storr and his coach Chris Beard went viral to start the season because of their uncomfortable moment at the postgame podium. When you’re a player like Storr who has literally played for four college programs, it’s easy for basketball fans to critque you for your lack of coommitment to basketball’s fundamentals. But Storr’s play at times this season, justified that jeering.

This weekend, Storr had his best game in store.

He scored 26 on a highly efficient night. He shot 50% from the field, 4-6 from 3PT, and a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line.

This could be a turning point to the season to where Ole Miss starts cooking.

Iowa exposed inside on big win by the Baltic built Illinois basketball team

Illinois didn’t just beat Iowa. They physically exposed them.

This was not a game decided by hot shooting or clever sets. This was decided by mass, leverage, and a level of interior strength that Iowa simply did not have answers for. From the opening possessions, Illinois lived in the paint, and Iowa absorbed it. By halftime, Illinois had already dropped 24 points in the paint.

That production came straight from the Balkan Five. Tomislav Ivišić, Zvonimir Ivišić, Andrej Stojaković, Mihailo Petrović, and David Mirković brought a level of size and physical comfort that Iowa could not match. These are adult frames. These are players who are used to contact. And they played like it.

When Illinois rolls that group out, it doesn’t look like a college lineup. It looks like a EuroLeague frontcourt wandered into the Big Ten.

Kylan Boswell was the steady hand that made all of it work. He played 38 minutes, scored 17 points, hit timely shots, and more importantly, kept the offense organized. He didn’t over-dribble. He didn’t force. He consistently got Illinois into their actions and delivered the ball where it needed to go. In a game built on physical advantage, that kind of point guard control is everything. Iowa never disrupted him, and Illinois never lost rhythm.

Stojaković is especially interesting in this group, not just because of his strength, but because of his bloodlines. As Peja Stojaković’s son, he connects Illinois to this growing wave of sons of NBA players currently impacting college basketball (click here for the full article).

Illinois is not just international. They are grown.

Parody is Dead in College Basketball

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Parody, the primary ingredient that makes college basketball amazing, could be spoiling right in front of our very eyes. It’s the ingredient that allows for a team ranked outside of the top 100 make for a memorable Thursday in mid-March.

Last year, we watched all 1 seeds make the Final Four for the first time in nearly 20 years.

This year, we are seeing a historic streak where the basketball season is beginning with ranked teams pitching a shutout against unranked teams.

Even with ranked teams continuing their perfect record against unranked opponents, the season has already delivered moments where the upset alarm blared loud enough to make everyone look twice. In early November, Towson pushed No. 3 Houston deep into the second half before a late 13–2 run finally gave the Cougars breathing room. UC Irvine nearly stunned No. 7 Arizona, leading for long stretches until Koa Peat’s late-game heroics bailed the Wildcats out in Tucson. Charleston had No. 12 Alabama tied inside the final four minutes before the Tide’s depth finally separated. Even mid-majors like Vermont (vs. Tennessee) and Saint Peter’s (vs. Villanova) hung around into crunch time, keeping the score within a single possession late. All of these games flirted with becoming the season’s first true shocker—yet every time, the ranked favorite found a solution. Those close calls highlight how thin the margin has been, but they also underscore the larger storyline: even when threatened, the top teams simply refuse to fall.

The Rich Getting Richer Makes for a Poorer Experience for the Non-Power Schools

In the NIL era, the old saying “the rich get richer” has never felt more literal in college basketball. Money has always mattered, but now it speaks with a megaphone. The programs with deep-pocketed collectives, national brands, and massive donor networks are stacking even more advantages on top of their already dominant positions. Top-50 recruits who might have once chosen high-mid-majors for immediate playing time are now opting for Power 5 schools because the financial opportunity simply isn’t comparable. Even proven mid-major stars in the transfer portal are being pulled upward by six-figure offers and long-term visibility that only the biggest programs can provide. The result is a consolidation of talent at the sport’s wealthiest institutions—where depth charts resemble NBA benches and even the “role players” were once featured options somewhere else. As NIL accelerates this talent migration, the power dynamic continues tightening around a small handful of resource-heavy schools, making the upset landscape feel thinner than ever.

Another dynamic is clearly missing from the college game There are nearly no scenarios where the nucleus of mid-major programs are cultivating with each other, and delivering results, within a four year window. If you think of the Wichita State teams from the early 2010s, there was a senior leadership that blended young stars (like Fred Van Fleet) and then blossomed come tournament time. The Butler Bulldogs of that same era grew as a unit with a mix of one or two NBA prospects with a remainder of just solid 4 year college basketball players.

Once a player does excel at the mid-major level, he jumps squarely onto everyone’s radar and therefore, likely, into the transfer portal.

Oscar Clufff is a rare case of a player journey from major, to minor, to a major conference once again.

The transfer portal has become more important than the traditional course of coaches recruiting from high schools. Look at 247sports.com listing of the top 100 players to transfer ahead of the 2025-2026 season. You’ll see the litany of instances to where a power school robs from the fruits of the mid-major level labors.

Impact of Early Injuries on 2026 NCAA Basketball Tournament

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Believe it or not, a flurry of injuries in early November are already having an impact on the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Two of the nation’s most recognizable blue bloods have stars on the sidelines. And that will certainly have at least a trickle-down effect on the seeding and possibly even the viability of some bubble teams.

UNC Point Guard Seth Trimble drives to the basket against Kansas. Photo by Jeffrey A Camarati/GoHeels.com

Seth Trimble’s Injury Leaves UNC’s Backcourt Even More Unproven

Days following a big non-conference win against Kansas, North Carolina senior point guard Seth Trimble broke a bone in his forearm during a team workout. The injury needed surgery and Trimble was expected to be out until at least late January. This news comes “on the heels” of another news item that worked against UNC’s backcourt strength. During the offseason, fellow UNC guard Elliot Cadeau announced that he was leaving for Michigan.

One would also assume that this injury also leaves more of the offensive productivity on the shoulders of super freshman Caleb Wilson. The 6-10 former Gatorade Player of the Year from the state of Georgia was already averaging an even 20.0 points per game when this news broke.

Caleb Wilson elevates over a defender for an uncontested jump shot. Photo by Jeffrey A Camarati/GoHeels.com

McDonald’s All-American Darryn Peterson Nursing Back to Health

Darryn Peterson could be a top pick in the NBA Draft in the spring of 2026, but March Madness fans of that same season will be holding their breath about whether they’ll see him at 100%. Darryn Peterson missed two games in mid-November with a hamstring strain before being listed as “day-to-day” before The Champions Classic on November 18th. Peterson scored 22 and 21 points in the two games he did play. Before we enshrine the Canton, Ohio native into any halls of fame, we’ll have to wait and see how he recovers from this notoriously nagging injury.

Darryn Peterson of the Kansas Jayhawks rises over a defender for a shot. Photo courtesy KU Athletics.

Notable Injuries Across the College Basketball Landscape for the 2025-2026 Season

BYU – The Cougars HR department is dealing with a mix of sick calls and personal days. Keba Keita suffered a concussion in a November game against UCONN while at the same time fellow big man Kennard Davis was benched for suspicion of driving drunk.

Houston – These Cougars are known for their depth and toughness, but their injury report is riddled with some nagging injuries for rotation players. Kordell Jefferson and Jacob McFarland were spotted on the injury report early in the season.

Illinois – A pair of 7 plus footer brothers were listed on the injury report recently. They make up an interesting storyline thread of the so-called “Balkan Gang” that has been assembled at Illinois.

Georgetown’s Spark-Plug Center to Miss Significant Time after Hot Start

The Georgetown Hoyas have been one of the pleasant surprises of the early going for the 2025-2026 season. College basketball observers aren’t surprised to see head coach Ed Cooley lead another middle-tier East Coast team to postseason relevance. However, in late November the undefeated Hoyas had to adjust to life without their spark-plug center, Vince Iwuchukwu.

According to TheHoya.com, Iwuchukwu transferred to Georgetown after playing at St. John’s last year: “Prior to attending St. John’s, Iwuchukwu played two years for the University of Southern California (USC). In his first year at USC, Iwuchukwu suffered a cardiac arrest during a July practice and missed half of the season.”

Myles Rice Maryland Tenure Stumbles Out of the Gates

Myles Rice showed flashes of being the best point guard in the country as his Washington State Cougars won a tournament game. But that was two teams ago for the now Maryland Terrapin. After playing for Washington State and Indiana, an ankle injury has been keeping Rice on the sidelines, for now.

Sunday Game Picks for NCAA Men’s College Basketball March Madness

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The Ticket of Integrity: Saturday’s Smartest College Hoops Plays

A loaded slate of college basketball action means it’s time to lock in a Saturday ticket that blends sharp lines, big matchups, and teams with something to prove. This one’s dubbed The Ticket of Integrity, and there’s a lot to like. Let’s break it down pick by pick.

Florida Gators -9.5

The Gators are rolling at home and have a clear edge in both talent and tempo. They’ve been dominant in Gainesville lately, and their aggressive defense tends to overwhelm lesser opponents. Against a team that struggles to score in bunches, Florida should build a lead and keep the foot on the gas. Expect them to cover with some breathing room.

Baylor Bears +12.5

Baylor isn’t your typical double-digit underdog. Even in tough road environments, their backcourt is experienced and battle-tested. This line feels inflated—possibly reacting to a strong opponent—but Baylor’s ability to control pace and knock down timely threes makes them dangerous. They don’t even have to win, just keep it close—and they’re more than capable of that.

Jeremy Roach isn’t the only point guard who is playing his former team for a chance to advance. Roach plays a Duke program he spent three seasons with, but Tre Donaldson will be playing against his old Auburn team for a shot at the Elite 8. This fascination with revenge games, or at least awkward matchups among exes, is one of several trends fixed as annual traditions in recent years. Click here to read 5 more traditions that we now see on an every year basis.

Kentucky Wildcats +2

Kentucky’s youth is starting to gel at the right time. When they’re locked in, this is one of the most offensively explosive teams in the country. They’ll have the best player on the floor and a coaching edge in late-game scenarios. Getting them as an underdog is rare value—this is a live dog play all the way.

Alabama Crimson Tide -250 (Moneyline)

Alabama at home is a different beast. Their offensive firepower, led by elite guard play, can torch defenses in a hurry. While laying -250 on the moneyline is steep, this is about securing a key piece of the parlay with a team unlikely to lose outright. The Tide roll here—plain and simple.

Ironically, St. Mary’s remains one of my top remaining underdog values in the tournament.
Click here to see what teams I had identified as the best 5 future values once the tourney began.

Iowa State Cyclones -5.5

Cyclone Nation is built on suffocating defense and Hilton Magic. Iowa State’s ability to force turnovers and control tempo makes them a nightmare matchup, especially in Ames. With a manageable spread, they’re in a perfect spot to not just win, but win decisively. Trust the home court to deliver once again.

Maryland Terrapins -7.5

The Terps have quietly become one of the more consistent home teams in conference play. Their defense has clamped down lately, and they’ve shown they can string together scoring runs that bury teams quickly. Against a weaker opponent, Maryland should flex early and often. A double-digit win is well within reach.

Arizona Wildcats -3.5

When Arizona is humming, they look like a Final Four team. Their inside-out balance and high tempo can overwhelm opponents who aren’t used to that kind of pace. With tournament positioning on the line, expect a focused effort and a margin that clears the number. The Wildcats know what’s at stake—and they’ll play like it.

🏆 Final 4 Fan-Favorite Articles 🏆

🔥 Top Injuries to Watch 🔥
🐶 5 Underrated Underdogs to Watch 🐶
🎉 6 March Madness Traditions 🎉
🏀 Sons of NBA Stars 🏀

Let’s see if the Ticket of Integrity lives up to the name. Seven plays, one ticket, all winners? We’ll find out soon enough.

6 March Madness Trends Fixed as Annual Traditions in 2025

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BY MATT DE SARLE

Each year unlikely but not uncommon March Madness traditions rear their ugly, gorgeous heads

  1. Play-In Game Winners Gain Momentum and Beat the Odds

In 2025, North Carolina demolished San Diego State, a historically great defensive program. Their decisive win silenced all of their detractors who said they didn’t belong in the tournament. It also turned up the volume on this tradition that is no longer a cute trend. One of the most dangerous seeds in the entire bracket is the 11 seed.

Every year, an 11 seed that finds its mojo in Dayton. As improbable as this sounds, the play-in game winner becomes very dangerous. Those teams carry momentum. They get the natural advantage of getting familiar with the arena on a Tuesday or Wednesday before they play the at-large opponent on Thursday or Friday.

In 2022, 11-seeded Notre Dame beat Rutgers in a close (play-in) game and then crushed 6-seeded Alabama by 14 points in the next matchup. Notre Dame then gave 3-seed Texas Tech trouble before losing by 6 points.

In 2021, UCLA won its play-in game as an 11 seed and continued its magical run all the way to the Final Four.

In 2018, Syracuse made the Sweet 16 as an 11 seed after beating Arizona State in the play-in game.

In 2017, 11-seed USC upset (4-loss) SMU in the first round after winning its play-in game.

In 2016, Fred VanVleet and the 11-seed Wichita State Shockers beat Vanderbilt in the playoff game before upsetting 6-seed Arizona.

And so this trend of the 11 seed gaining momentum…is gaining momentum.

Fun fact: In the last 30 years, an 11 seed is much more likely to make a Final Four as compared to a 6 seed. The last 6 seed to make a Final Four was the Fab Five in 1993. Meantime, there have been four 11 seeds to make the Final Four since 2006 (George Mason, VCU, Loyola Chicago, and UCLA).

  1. Sunday’s Made-for-TV Matchup Returns

The potential Baylor vs. Duke matchup on Sunday looms as another prime-time showdown tailor-made for TV drama. CBS and the NCAA continue their tradition of arranging Sunday games that capture maximum attention and create compelling narratives. This is nothing new. Wichita State basketball fans still aren’t over the letdown of losing to 8-seed Kentucky on Sunday, March 23rd, 2014.

Illinois basketball fans can relate, as the committee arranged a Sunday matinee for Sister Jean and Loyola-Chicago to renew their Cinderella ways against an in-state foe in 2021. Loyola was arguably a top-10 team nationally, yet they were given a 9 seed, ensuring a high-profile matchup with 1-seed Illinois within the first weekend. It was just too good of a television programming moment for the committee and/or television executives to pass up.

  1. Fear the Nation’s Leading Scorer, Regardless of Seed Line

If CJ McCollum and Harold “The Show” Arceneaux haven’t taught us anything, then Max Abmas and Oral Roberts made it officially official: The scoring abilities of a guard who ranks in the top five (or first overall) nationwide can translate in the tournament.

History tells us to keep an eye on these types of players!

  1. Shaky Teams Get Shocked in the First Showdown

Duke is limping to the finish line and is about to be shocked. The Blue Devils have two superstars nursing injuries (Click here to see the injury tracker), and while their roster is stacked with first-round projected NBA picks, that doesn’t always equate to Final Four finishes. Oftentimes, these players are preoccupied with other priorities.

With two losses in late February and an early exit from the SEC Tournament, perhaps we should have seen the 2021-22 Kentucky Wildcats struggling with 15-seed Saint Peter’s in the NCAA Tournament. Purdue is another team that lost to this same Saint Peter’s bunch. The Boilermakers also showed signs of trouble late in the season. They lost three games in the final two weeks of the regular season (at Michigan State, at Wisconsin, and home to Iowa).

Do we expect Purdue to be undefeated the final two weeks in a tough Big Ten gauntlet of a schedule? No. Were the warning signs there for a team stacked with NBA talent? Yes.

  1. Future NBA Greats Don’t Always Dominate

Tre Johnson, the freshman phenom at Texas, is the player to watch in this category. If he’s as dominant as advertised, he has a path to shine. He would have winnable games against Illinois and Kentucky if his bracket broke according to the favorites. However, history tells us that not all elite prospects make deep runs in the tournament.

If you’re a fan of 1990s NBA hoops, think of the best players of the past three decades who actually played some college basketball: Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, Kevin Durant, Tim Duncan. None made a Final Four. In fact, most of these greats struggled to advance beyond the first weekend. Conversely, media darlings like Jimmer Fredette and Luka Garza became National Players of the Year yet never cracked the Sweet 16.

  1. Committee’s Fascination with Reunions and Revenge Games

The orchestration of great storylines goes beyond Sunday matchups. The committee loves arranging revenge games and reuniting old foes. A potential Kansas vs. Missouri game could dictate who makes an Elite Eight from the former Big Eight conference. It’s not the first time the committee has set up a meeting between exes. In case you don’t know the history, the rivalry between Kansas and Missouri goes back to the violent quarrels that led up to the Civil War itself.

The most recent example is how Michigan State transfer Foster Loyer played against his old team in round one. The committee didn’t even wait for the field of 32 to reunite that broken relationship! It happens frequently for coaches, too. One example that comes to mind is when 11-seeded Arizona State got paired with 6-seeded Buffalo in the first round, setting up an awkward meeting between Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley and his former school. Not only did Buffalo face their ex-coach, but they did so in their highest-ever tournament seeding, making for compelling drama. Buffalo beat Arizona State in 2019, proving once again that storylines drive the bracket.

Final Thought: March Madness always delivers its usual dose of insanity, and 2025 is proving to be no different. As you pick your bracket, remember that future NCAA legends should be good, but not too great. The team should be must-see TV, but not have a tragic character whose reputation could never outpace his play. Good luck with that.

March Madness 2025: First Impressions of Each Region

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Men’s College Basketball Tournament Preview

With the NCAA Tournament bracket officially revealed, the first look at each region reveals key storylines, potential upsets, and teams set up for deep runs. Here’s an initial breakdown from CollegeBasketballEyeTest.com author Matty D.

Click here to find a printable bracket as a PDF.

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South Region: Tough Roads and Underseeded Teams

Texas A&M and Michigan got no favors in their draw, facing nightmare high seeds with a potential meeting against Auburn looming. Meanwhile, under-seeded teams like Louisville, Marquette, and Creighton could create chaos in this region. The 11-seed looks dangerous and could roll through the bracket. As for upsets, Bryant has a legitimate chance to beat Michigan State outright, but at the very least, they’re a lock to cover the first half spread.

East Region: Duke on Upset Alert

Duke might be one of the biggest names in the East, but they’re far from safe. Baylor, Arizona, BYU, or Alabama all have the firepower to take them down. The SEC’s representation in this region is interesting, with Vanderbilt sneaking in as a 10-seed and Alabama managing to hold onto a 2-seed. While most lower seeds don’t pose a significant Sweet 16 threat, Liberty has the tools to take out Oregon in the first round.

Midwest Region: Houston’s to Lose, But Upsets Lurk

The Midwest Region looks like Houston’s to lose, but there’s plenty of room for chaos. The winner of the Clemson vs. McNeese matchup could make the most noise in this section of the bracket. Purdue sits as a high seed, but High Point has a real shot at taking them down. Meanwhile, Texas is a team to watch—if they build momentum, they could be a dangerous 11-seed no one wants to face.

West Region: Cinderella Runs and a Potential Border War

The West Region might be the most unpredictable of them all. The winner of Missouri vs. Drake is primed for an Elite Eight run, while a potential “Border War” clash between Kansas and Missouri could add a historic rivalry to the mix. In the first round, Maryland vs. Grand Canyon could be the best game to watch. Meanwhile, Walter Clayton Jr. and Florida is built for a deep run and could find themselves in the Elite Eight, no matter if they’re facing a No. 6, 7, or 11 seed along the way.

First Takeaway

The bracket is set, and early impressions reveal a mix of powerhouse teams, potential Cinderella stories, and major upset possibilities. As always, March Madness promises chaos, and this year’s first look suggests we’re in for another wild ride.