Over 130 days have elapsed since the commencement of the 2025-26 men’s collegiate basketball season. This period has been filled with intriguing narratives, ranging from the outstanding performance of the rookie cohort to Miami (Ohio)’s flawless regular-season record – and the excitement is only set to escalate.
The initial phase of the 2026 NCAA tournament is now underway, with ESPN correspondents providing immediate coverage of the excitement from their locations.
Join them and the entire editorial team as they monitor all the live developments on Thursday, with additional matchups still scheduled to begin:
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(11) VCU vs. (6) North Carolina: 6:50 p.m. ET
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(16) Howard vs. (1) Michigan: 7:10 p.m. ET
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(11) Texas vs. (6) BYU: 7:25 p.m. ET
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(10) Texas A&M vs. (7) Saint Mary’s: 7:35 p.m. ET
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(14) Penn vs. (3) Illinois: 9:25 p.m. ET
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(9) Saint Louis vs. (8) Georgia: 9:45 p.m. ET
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(14) Kennesaw State vs. (3) Gonzaga: 10 p.m. ET
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(15) Idaho vs. (2) Houston: 10:10 p.m. ET
Navigate to: Game outcome summaries
Michigan State’s Path to Victory: North Dakota State established an 8-5 advantage early in the first half when facing Michigan State. This marked the final instance the Bisons held the upper hand, as the Spartans secured their initial win in their 28th NCAA tournament outing under Tom Izzo (ranking third highest in Division I since the 1995-96 season, according to ESPN Research). Michigan State achieved a 58.9% field goal conversion rate (their best in an NCAA tournament game since 1986) and connected on 50% of their three-pointers, alongside an impressive 16-of-18 from the free-throw line. The Spartans capitalized on the Bison’s struggles from beyond the arc (6-of-25) by grabbing 31 defensive rebounds compared to their opponents’ four offensive boards. Furthermore, guard Jeremy Fears Jr. distinguished himself as the sixth distinct Michigan State athlete in the last six decades to achieve a minimum of 10 assists in an NCAA tournament contest, joining an esteemed group including Magic Johnson, Cassius Winston, Draymond Green, Mateen Cleaves, and Denzel Valentine. — Alaina Getzenberg
Michigan State’s Next Adversary: Louisville
Spartans’ Route to the Sweet 16: Michigan State’s primary advantage over North Dakota State lay in its commanding frontcourt, with Carson Cooper, Jaxon Kohler, Coen Carr, and Cam Award collectively contributing 62 points and 24 rebounds. This critical area will also be where the Spartans must prevail against Louisville. Notwithstanding their considerable size and depth upfront, the Cardinals exhibited difficulties on the defensive boards against South Florida, and Michigan State is recognized as one of the nation’s top-10 teams for offensive rebounding. The Spartans are expected to perform strongly in this aspect when competing against the Cardinals. Jeremy Fears Jr. will be a pivotal player – despite not performing strongly in scoring against North Dakota State and committing a season-high four turnovers, he possesses the capability to drive to the basket and exert significant pressure on Louisville. — Jeff Borzello
Arkansas’ Winning Strategy: This triumph represented the initial occasion the Razorbacks amassed over 90 points in an NCAA tournament match since 1999. (They had previously defeated Siena 94-80 in the opening round.) They quickly established a 17-point cushion within the first nine minutes and maintained their lead throughout. SEC Player of the Year, Darius Acuff Jr., was among five Arkansas athletes to achieve double-digit scoring, concluding with 24 points, seven assists, and one steal. Meleek Thomas accumulated 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, positioning him and Acuff as the first freshman teammates to each register 50 points and five assists in an NCAA tournament encounter. Thomas also made significant defensive contributions, logging a block and two steals. Despite the Razorbacks’ 19% shooting accuracy from beyond the arc, they asserted interior dominance, surpassing Hawai’i 64-40 in paint points. Arkansas produced 23 fast-break points and 26 assists. — Ryan McFadden
Arkansas’ Subsequent Opponent: High Point
Arkansas’ Path to the Sweet 16: Arkansas prefers an up-tempo style of play and seeks contests with high point totals. High Point appears inclined to accommodate this preference, which undeniably benefits John Calipari’s squad. The Razorbacks exhibit strong ball security, boast two elite playmakers in Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas, and their frontcourt possesses notably greater mobility and athleticism than Wisconsin’s taller players. The contest for turnovers will be paramount; High Point ranks among the top five nationally in defensive turnover percentage, yet Arkansas demonstrates superior ball protection compared to any other team in the country. Should Acuff and Thomas manage the ball effectively, and if the Razorbacks can assert their dominance in the paint as they have frequently this season, High Point will likely struggle to find a defensive response. On defense, they must prevent Chase Johnston from finding his rhythm – regardless of his position on the court. — Jeff Borzello
Vanderbilt’s Victory Method: This March Madness will no longer feature the unique charm – at least not from the widely recognized McNeese State manager, Amir Khan. The 12-seed Cowboys began strongly, building an 11-point advantage early in the first half, but Vanderbilt persevered and staged a comeback to secure a three-point lead by halftime, largely due to a commanding interior presence. The Commodores concluded the match by outscoring McNeese 34-22 in the painted area, significantly aided by a perfect 6-for-6 performance from big man Devin McGlockton. Vanderbilt’s superior height also granted them an advantage on rebounds, besting the Cowboys 37-34 overall, including 28-18 on defensive boards. Vanderbilt’s guard, Tyler Tanner, was the highest scorer with 25 points – 17 of which came in the second half – and contributed three three-pointers. McNeese maintained parity with Vanderbilt by registering 16 fast-break points and nine steals, but these efforts proved insufficient to achieve the upset. — Brooke Pryor
Vanderbilt’s Upcoming Matchup: Nebraska
Commodores’ Strategy for Sweet 16 Progression: Vanderbilt requires an outstanding performance from Tyler Tanner and needs to restrict Nebraska’s perimeter shooters to advance. The Commodores displayed a transformed performance in the second half against McNeese on Thursday once Tanner, a potential first-round NBA draft selection, acclimated to the defensive pressure from one of the nation’s premier defensive squads. He accounted for 17 of his game-leading 26 points post-intermission. Throughout the current season, Vanderbilt holds a 13-3 record when the 6-foot guard reaches at least 20 points. Nebraska, boasting the top defense in Big Ten play this season, will exert every effort to disrupt his rhythm. However, the responsibility is not solely on him. The Commodores must diligently work to neutralize the Cornhuskers’ three-point shooting: they have accumulated 34 three-pointers in their most recent three games. — Myron Medcalf
Duke’s Triumph Explained: The top-ranked overall seed, Duke, progresses to the round of 32. While this outcome may not be unexpected, Siena certainly exerted maximum effort to create an engaging contest, pushing the Blue Devils to their limits before ultimately succumbing 71-65. The Saints held an 11-point advantage at halftime and maintained their lead until the 5:08 mark, but their starting players remained on the court without relief until the concluding 90 seconds of play. This demanding workload became apparent late in the second half. Siena managed only 8-of-34 shooting from the field across the final 20 minutes, which enabled the Blue Devils to incrementally close the gap and regain control. Cameron Boozer spearheaded the Blue Devils with 22 points and 13 rebounds, while his brother Cayden contributed an additional 19 points. — David Hale
Duke’s Next Competitor: TCU
Blue Devils’ Path to the Sweet 16: Ideally, they would perform with the same commanding presence demonstrated in the second half against Siena – rather than the lackluster performance of the first half, where they trailed by double digits. Duke’s offensive flow was noticeably impeded by the absence of Caleb Foster, their premier three-point shooter (at 40.2%), and the Blue Devils’ defense was less robust than anticipated with Patrick Ngongba II sidelined due to injury. Nevertheless, in the second half, they transitioned to a zone defense and exhibited a heightened defensive intensity. Their advancement hinges on replicating this same spirit against TCU. Isaiah Evans proved problematic for Siena on fast breaks and off-the-dribble situations following halftime; Duke has to do more to strategically position him to influence the game. Despite the messy nature of the win, Cameron Boozer was remarkably efficient from the free-throw line, hitting 13-of-14 attempts. Strong defense, impactful plays from Evans, and consistent performance from Boozer are critical factors for Duke to progress. — Myron Medcalf
High Point’s Road to Victory: Wisconsin quickly established a 15-5 lead against High Point within the initial five minutes – but the Panthers quickly negated that advantage. They orchestrated a 7-0 scoring run to narrow the deficit to 15-12 and maintained a tight contest with the Badgers, heading into halftime trailing by merely two points. Wisconsin once again secured an eight-point lead with 7:08 remaining in the game, yet High Point then outscored the Badgers 18-12 to clinch the program’s inaugural NCAA tournament victory with a decisive go-ahead layup from Chase Johnston – marking his first two-point field goal of the entire season. Prior to this game, Johnston had been 0-for-4 from two-point range, with the majority of his successful shots coming from beyond the arc, boasting a 64-of-132 three-point shooting record for the season. Three Panthers players concluded the game with double-doubles: Rob Martin (23 points, 10 assists); Terry Anderson (15 points, 11 rebounds); and Cam’Ron Fletcher (14 points, 11 rebounds). — ESPN Staff
High Point’s Next Matchup: Arkansas
Panthers’ Strategy for Sweet 16 Advancement: High Point has now triumphed in 23 of its most recent 24 games, having just overcome Wisconsin in an aggressive, high-paced contest – therefore, one should not dismiss the Panthers when they face Arkansas. They will not shy away from a fast-tempo game, though they will need to devise a method to contain Darius Acuff Jr. and his backcourt counterpart, Meleek Thomas. Both players present a challenge in preventing them from reaching their preferred scoring positions, and High Point recently allowed Nick Boyd and John Blackwell to accumulate 49 points collectively in their victory over the Badgers. High Point could find opportunities for success on the offensive end of the court. Arkansas possesses a strong defense but is susceptible to lapses in off-ball coverage and rotational errors, which High Point will aim to exploit by pushing the pace and attempting three-pointers. A repeat performance of their 15-for-40 three-point shooting effort would also be highly beneficial. — Jeff Borzello
Louisville’s Winning Account: Isaac McKneely spearheaded the effort for the Cardinals, notwithstanding a late offensive rally by South Florida that reduced what was once a 23-point advantage to single digits within the final five minutes. However, the Bulls ultimately proved incapable of matching the Cardinals’ proficiency from three-point range, particularly with star guard Wes Enis failing to convert any of his 11 attempts from beyond the arc – marking the second-highest number of missed three-point field goal attempts in an NCAA tournament game since the line’s inception in 1987 (Wofford’s Fletcher Magee, in 2019, went 0-for-12), according to ESPN Research.
McKneely’s performance included a 7-of-10 success rate from deep – a figure that matches the record for most three-pointers made by a Louisville player in an NCAA tournament contest (shared with Taquan Dean in 2005), as per ESPN Research. He registered a team-best 23 points, which was only his second game this season reaching the 20-point mark. Collectively, Pat Kelsey’s squad concluded with a 13-for-25 (52%) record from three-point territory, in contrast to the Bulls’ 5-for-33 (15.2%) effort. — Alaina Getzenberg
Louisville’s Opponent for Round Two: Michigan State
Cardinals’ Path to the Sweet 16: Despite having established a 23-point lead over South Florida before a late surge from the Bulls significantly narrowed the final score, Louisville must address several areas to overcome Michigan State. South Florida secured 18 offensive rebounds – accounting for 37.5% of their missed shots – and Louisville will encounter even greater challenges against Michigan State, recognized as one of the nation’s premier offensive rebounding teams. The critical aspect on the offensive end, as is consistently the case for Louisville, will be their three-point shooting. The Cardinals rank among the top five nationally in three-point attempt rate and successfully converted 13 against South Florida. Michigan State exhibited an average performance in three-point defense within the Big Ten and conceded an average of 11.1 three-pointers in their losses this season. The decisive factor will be the availability of Mikel Brown Jr., although Louisville has demonstrated its capability to secure victories without him in the past five games. — Jeff Borzello
Nebraska’s Triumph: The Cornhuskers inscribed a new chapter in their program’s history by securing their inaugural NCAA tournament victory, overpowering Troy with an exceptional display on both offensive and defensive fronts; prior to this contest, they stood as the sole power conference institution without an NCAA tournament win, having accumulated an 0-8 record in past appearances. Junior forward Pryce Sandfort delivered an explosive performance, sinking a program-best seven three-pointers in an NCAA tournament game, narrowly missing his career high established earlier this season. As a collective unit, Nebraska converted 14-of-39 attempts from long range while limiting Troy to an 8-of-28 mark from beyond the arc. The Cornhuskers not only controlled the rebounding battle but also capitalized on those boards to generate 19 second-chance points – significantly exceeding their seasonal average of 9.2. Furthermore, Nebraska compelled Troy to commit 17 turnovers, transforming these errors into 17 points. — Brooke Pryor
Nebraska’s Subsequent Match: Vanderbilt
Cornhuskers’ Path to the Sweet 16: Nebraska has already carved its name in history by achieving its first-ever NCAA tournament win. Now, they stand poised to augment that accomplishment with another victory and their initial Sweet 16 berth. How? Their defensive prowess enables them to compel Vanderbilt’s star player, Tyler Tanner, into attempting challenging shots. He managed only 2-for-6 against McNeese during the first half on Thursday, struggling under their relentless defensive pressure. Nebraska possesses greater size and superior defensive capabilities (ranking among the top 10 defenses nationally) compared to McNeese, and the Cornhuskers have applied similar defensive intensity against elite opponents throughout Big Ten play. Against all other teams, their performance has been formidable. Notably, they restricted Troy to merely 47 points (77 points per 100 possessions) – arguably the finest defensive showing observed in the opening round through Thursday’s first half. Coupling this defensive strength with Pryce Sandfort, Rienk Mast, and Sam Hoiberg all connecting on crucial shots in the first round, Nebraska might just be heading towards its first Sweet 16 appearance. — Myron Medcalf
TCU’s Winning Performance: The Horned Frogs held a 15-point lead at halftime, seemingly set to comfortably advance to the second round; historically, teams with halftime advantages of 15 points or more boasted a flawless 34-0 record across the preceding three tournaments, as per ESPN Research. However, the Buckeyes demonstrated no inclination to concede without a struggle, mounting a full comeback to seize a 51-50 lead with 7:24 left on the clock. The two teams exchanged critical plays for the remainder of the contest – until a clever pass from David Punch to Xavier Edmonds with merely four seconds remaining ultimately secured a victory for TCU. Punch emerged as the late-game protagonist for the Horned Frogs, accumulating 13 of his 16 points, seven of his 13 rebounds, and two assists in the second half to ensure his team’s continued progression in the tournament. — David Hale
TCU’s Next Adversary: Duke
Horned Frogs’ Path to the Sweet 16: Siena achieved a historic feat, becoming the first 16-seed to maintain a double-digit halftime lead against a 1-seed in NCAA tournament history, according to ESPN Research, primarily due to their early command in the painted area. Francis Folefac, a 6-foot-7 forward, served as the linchpin of a Saints team that tallied 22 points in the paint during the first half against the Blue Devils. This strategy should serve as the model for TCU as well. The Blue Devils exhibited interior vulnerability in the absence of Patrick Ngongba II, their top defensive player who might remain unavailable for the second round. This presents an opportunity for the Horned Frogs to secure a win by aggressively attacking the inside and defending the rim against Boozer and his teammates. Additionally, they will require their three-point shots to connect effectively once more (39% against Ohio State), a feat that occurred only sporadically throughout the season when they ranked 15th out of 16 teams in the Big 12 for three-point shooting efficiency. — Myron Medcalf
