Top freshman college basketball players to watch ahead of March Madness
As March Madness approaches, a standout freshman class is already shaping the tournament picture. Here are four rising stars poised to make an impact on the national stage.
We’re a month away from Selection Sunday, so you may be getting that March Madness itch already.
The men’s basketball conference races are heating up and the bubble is getting crowded. We’ll know soon enough who is in The Big Dance.
Here’s an early look at what you need to know, including key dates March Madness dates and conference tournament schedules. Here’s our latest bracketology.
When is Selection Sunday 2026?
The 68-team bracket for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament will be unveiled on 6 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 15.
What channel is Selection Sunday on?
The 2026 NCAA tournament selection show will air on CBS, its traditional broadcast home. Streaming options include Paramount+, CBS’s streaming site, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
When does March Madness start?
The first men’s game of the 2026 NCAA tournament will be on March 17 with the start of the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.
March Madness 2026 schedule
The 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament will transpire 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)
Men’s college basketball conference tournament dates, schedule
- ASUN: March 4-8 (Jacksonville, Fla.)
- Big South: March 4-8 (Johnson City, Tenn.)
- Summit: March 4-8 (Sioux Falls, SD)
- MVC: March 5-8 (St. Louis)
- OVC: March 4-7 (Evansville, Ind.)
- Sun Belt: March 3-9 (Pensacola, Fla.)
- SoCon: March 6-9 (Asheville, NC)
- Horizon: March 2-10 (Indianapolis)
- NEC: March 4-10 (on campus)
- MAAC: March 5-10 (Atlantic City, NJ)
- WCC: March 5-10 (Las Vegas)
- CAA: March 6-10 (Washington DC)
- Patriot: March 3-11 (on campus)
- Big Sky: March 7-11 (Boise)
- Southland: March 8-12 (Lake Charles, La.)
- America East: March 7-14 (on campus)
- Mountain West: March 7-14 (Las Vegas)
- SWAC: March 9-14 (Atlanta)
- ACC: March 10-14 (Charlotte)
- Big 12: March 10-14 (Kansas City)
- Conference USA: March 10-14 (Huntsville, Ala.)
- Big East: March 11-14 (New York City)
- Big West: March 11-14 (Henderson, NV)
- MAC: March 11-14 (Cleveland)
- MEAC: March 11-14 (Norfolk, Va.)
- WAC: March 11-14 (Las Vegas)
- Big Ten: March 10-15 (Chicago)
- American: March 11-15 (Birmingham)
- Atlantic 10: March 11-15 (Pittsburgh)
- SEC: March 11-15 (Nashville)
- Ivy: March 14-15 (Ithaca, NY)
Where is 2026 Final Four?
This year’s men’s basketball Final Four and championship games will be at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on April 4 & 6. Click here to buy tickets.
