We finally made it. We’re less than 24 hours away from one of the best hours on the sports calendar: finding out the 68 teams playing in the men’s 2026 NCAA tournament.

Who’s in? Who’s out? Who are the 1-seeds? All will be answered before Selection Sunday ends. And then, of course, comes the fun part: filling out brackets.

But first, let’s get inside the minds of the 12 members on the NCAA selection committee, chaired by Keith Gill. While most of the field is already selected and bracketed, there are still 12 burning questions that will be discussed ad nauseam in the committee room in Indianapolis. Let’s run through each.

1. Are the four 1-seeds set in stone?

For a few hours on Saturday, there was a legitimate debate. Florida was comfortably headed toward the final 1-seed entering Champ Week. The Gators won 11 straight games to end the regular season, while UConn lost at a sub-.500 Marquette in the regular-season finale and Houston lost three in a row late in February. Then Todd Golden’s team was throttled by Vanderbilt in the SEC semifinals, trailing by as many as 25 before falling by 17.

The door was open for UConn or Houston to make a case by winning a conference tournament championship, but both the Huskies and Cougars lost to 1-seeds in their respective title games. As a result, all logic points to Florida joining Duke, Michigan and Arizona on the top line.

2. Is Duke the clear No. 1 overall seed?

With Duke holding off Virginia in the ACC title game, the Blue Devils are on track for the top overall seed despite recent injuries to Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II. Duke is No. 1 in the NET, in the BPI, at KenPom and BartTorvik. And the team ranked No. 1 in the other three metrics is Michigan, which Duke beat on a neutral court in Washington, D.C., just a few weeks ago.

The Blue Devils have 10 Quad 1A wins (tied for most in the country), 17 Quad 1 wins (most in the country) and 23 Quad 1 and 2 wins (tied for the most in the country). Their only two losses came in the final seconds against Texas Tech and North Carolina.

A loss to Virginia could have made it a debate, and the Cavaliers made it interesting, but it’s hard to imagine anyone jumping Duke.

3. Does Miami (Ohio) get in? Is it bound for the First Four?

Miami’s perfect record came to an end in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament, falling to UMass for its first loss in 32 games. The RedHawks finished the regular season at 31-0, and the consensus seems to be that the committee won’t leave out a team that went unbeaten in the regular season. And to be fair, their résumé metrics are impressive, with a top-40 Wins Above Bubble mark and a top-30 Strength of Record. Yet, there’s reason to believe they could end up in Dayton.

Travis Steele’s team does not have a typical at-large résumé. The RedHawks’ strength of schedule is No. 340; their nonconference strength of schedule is No. 363; they have more Quad 3 losses (one) than Quad 1 wins (zero); and their best wins are over Wright State and Akron. Their predictive metrics are also by far the lowest of any at-large contender, plus their KenPom ranking would be the lowest or second lowest in at-large history. The committee sending them to Dayton to duke it out with a middling power-conference team is a potential compromise.

4. Does Auburn have a chance at a record-breaking at-large bid?

The short answer would appear to be no. The committee has never selected an at-large team with 16 losses, nor has it ever selected an at-large team that is just one game above .500. Auburn checks both boxes.

Yes, the Tigers’ metrics are very good. They have the second-best strength of schedule in the country. The average of their résumé metrics hovers in front of most of the final at-large teams, while the average of their predictive metrics is in the mid-30s. They beat St. John’s and Florida away from home. But they’re also 4-13 in Quad 1 games, 7-15 in Quad 1 and 2 games and have a Quad 3 loss. One more win might have done it for Steven Pearl’s team, but it seems like a stretch for the committee.

5. Does VCU need to win on Sunday?

With the bubble carnage earlier in the week and VCU advancing to Sunday’s Atlantic 10 championship against Dayton (1 p.m. ET), the Rams would appear to be in a good spot entering Selection Sunday. But will the committee give the A-10 three bids if VCU does lose in the title game? The Rams’ résumé metrics are more solid than their predictive metrics, and they have zero losses outside of Quads 1 and 2. Their issue is a lack of good wins. They played a good nonconference schedule but lost to tournament teams Vanderbilt, NC State and Utah State, then were swept by Saint Louis during the A-10 campaign. Their best wins are over South Florida and Virginia Tech.

6. Who are bubble teams rooting against on Sunday?

There’s only one potential bid-stealer left on the docket, with Ole Miss’ run in the SEC tournament ending on Saturday against Arkansas. That team is Dayton, which stunned Saint Louis in the final seconds of the Atlantic 10 semifinals and now sits one win away from the NCAA tournament. The Flyers will face VCU, which might have punched its ticket with its blowout win over Saint Joseph’s in the A-10 semis. But the question remains whether the committee will award the A-10 three bids if Dayton knocks off VCU.

7. Did San Diego State need to win for the Mountain West to get more than one bid?

Friday night’s Mountain West semifinal between San Diego State and New Mexico was essentially a bubble elimination game — but it didn’t necessarily mean the winner was getting a bid. San Diego State advanced, then fell short against Utah State in the title game. Are the Aztecs going to get a bid?

They’re 9-10 against Quadrants 1 and 2, with a Quadrant 3 loss. They have only one win against the projected tournament field, and that came at home against Utah State. Their metrics aren’t great, either. It doesn’t seem like their résumé can beat that of Texas or SMU, but the question remains: Will the Mountain West really be a one-bid conference for the first time since 2017?

8. Will any injuries impact seeding or inclusion?

Unfortunately for the sport, most of the more noteworthy injuries from the past few weeks have definitive timetables, with Texas Tech’s JT Toppin, BYU’s Richie Saunders and Michigan’s L.J. Cason all suffering season-ending injuries. All three teams have responded well without their key contributors, meaning none is likely to suffer a precipitous drop on Selection Sunday.

That said, there are a few more open-ending injuries that make things difficult for the committee.

SMU’s B.J. Edwards missed the last five games of the season with an ankle injury, but the Mustangs say he will return for the NCAA tournament. Could that impact their at-large hopes? Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. missed the final four games with a back injury after missing eight games earlier this season. He’s also hopeful to be back for the NCAA tournament. UCLA’s Tyler Bilodeau suffered a right leg injury in UCLA’s quarterfinal win over Michigan State and teammate Donovan Dent suffered a calf injury in the semifinal loss to Purdue, but both appear set to return for the Big Dance.

Gonzaga’s Braden Huff has been out since January, and his timeline is very much up in the air. Then there are the injuries to Foster and Ngongba. Foster appears unlikely to return soon, but there is more optimism for Ngongba.

One more potential injury emerged on Saturday night, with UConn’s Silas Demary Jr. going to the locker room late in the Big East title game loss to St. John’s.

9. How high can Vanderbilt or Arkansas rise with an SEC tournament title?

At the start of the SEC tournament, ESPN’s bracketologist Joe Lunardi had Arkansas as the first 5-seed and Vanderbilt as the second. After Saturday’s semifinals wins, Lunardi now has Vandy as the second 4-seed and Arkansas as the first 5-seed. Could either jump to a 3-seed with an SEC tournament championship on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, ESPN)? They would likely have to surpass Nebraska for that spot. Vanderbilt has one more Quad 1 win than Nebraska, and two more Quad 1 and 2 wins, with slightly superior metrics. Arkansas has two fewer Quad 1 wins and the same number of Quad 1 and 2 wins, but the Razorbacks don’t have the metrics edge.

There’s also the question of whether the committee will even want to shuffle the bracket — or prepare a contingency — for a Sunday afternoon game between two teams that could already be among the top-four seeds.

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10. Where will St. John’s land after sweeping the Big East titles?

The selection committee has often rewarded power-conference teams that win both the regular-season and conference tournament championships, which St. John’s just did for the second season in a row. But will the committee value the Big East in such a way that moves the Red Storm significantly up the bracket? The league is clearly the worst of the five power conferences this season, poised to land just three bids in the NCAA tournament.

Despite the regular-season title, St. John’s opened Champ Week as the third 5-seed in ESPN’s Bracketology due to a lack of nonconference heft on its résumé. The Red Storm went 7-4 in nonconference play, with their best win coming against Baylor. Their only wins against the field are against UConn (twice) and Villanova (twice). As a result, a 4-seed is likely their ceiling.

11. Which data points does the committee value the most this year?

The committee added two more metrics prior to last year, putting Bart Torvik’s rankings and Wins Above Bubble onto the team sheet. WAB has risen in importance since its arrival, with NCAA vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt saying at February’s mock Selection Sunday exercise that the committee tends to lean toward résumé metrics in selecting the field, specifically highlighting the growing importance of WAB. It helped North Carolina last March, as the Tar Heels received an at-large bid despite going 1-12 in Quad 1 games, but had a WAB ranking of No. 43. This March, a WAB focus could help Miami (Ohio) compared to another bubble team like, say, Texas.

Will another data point be the difference-maker this year?

12. Will Houston play in Houston?

This seems nailed-on to happen. The South regional takes place in Houston, but Rice replaced Houston in September as the host institution — meaning Houston is allowed to play in Houston for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight if the Cougars advance. And that will still be the case even if Houston isn’t the 1-seed in the region. Florida is likely the 1-seed in the South but could have to face the Cougars in what amounts to a home game.

Real Madrid are prepared to listen to offers from clubs looking to sign midfielder Eduardo Camavinga this summer, while Arsenal have joined the race to sign highly rated RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TRENDING RUMORS

– Real Madrid are prepared to listen to offers from clubs looking to sign midfielder Eduardo Camavinga this summer, Marca reports. Several Premier League clubs are reported to have expressed an interest in acquiring the France international’s services, but his transfer will cost upwards of €50 million. Camavinga, 23, has struggled for regular game time this season in the Spanish capital, starting just 12 of Real Madrid’s 21 LaLiga matches.

– Arsenal have joined the race to sign highly rated RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba, according to L’Equipe. The 23-year-old looks set to leave Germany this summer for a fee in the region of €70 million, with a host of clubs from the Premier League and LaLiga tracking his development. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will follow up on their interest with a bid, although scouts have been to watch the young center back in recent weeks.

– Manchester United and Liverpool are among the clubs vying to land Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton this summer, as per Football Insider. Wharton, 22, is under contract at Palace until June 2029, meaning he won’t be easy to prize away from Selhurst Park. But the England international is also wanted by Chelsea following an impressive few seasons in south London.

– Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones is facing an uncertain future as he enters the final year of his contract this summer, says The Athletic. Jones, 25, has attracted the interest of Inter and Tottenham with his deal set to expire in June 2027 and, given his status as a homegrown player, Liverpool will be keen to raise a transfer fee from his exit rather than letting him go for nothing. Meanwhile, the Reds have triggered the 12-month option to extend goalkeeper Alisson Becker‘s contract, sources have confirmed to ESPN. Alisson’s deal at the club was due to expire this summer, but he is now under contract through to the end of the 2026-27 season.

– Arsenal are tracking Club Brugge forward Nicolo Tresoldi, claims Bild. Tresoldi, 21, has 15 goals and five assists in all competitions this season and has caught the eye of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, as well as the Gunners. The Germany U21 was born in Italy and came through the ranks of Hannover 96 before moving to Belgium in 2025. Because of his family, he can still choose to play for Italy, Argentina or Germany at senior level.

EXPERT TAKE

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OTHER RUMORS

– Chelsea and Manchester United are in a battle to land Cologne forward Said El Mala. (Caught Offside)

– Newcastle United are plotting a move to re-sign for their former academy graduate Elliot Anderson this summer. The Nottingham Forest midfielder is also wanted by Manchester United and Manchester City. (TEAMtalk)

– Manchester City are in advanced talks with Phil Foden over a new contract. The England international forward wants to stay at City beyond 2027. (Football Insider)

– Liverpool are set to sign Celtic wonderkid Dara Jikiemi after he rejected a long-term contract offer from the Scottish club. (TEAMtalk)

– Nice winger Jérémie Boga has already agreed personal terms with Juventus over a summer move. (Nicolo Schira)

– A Newcastle United scout was present at Internazionale’s recent game against Atalanta to watch Inter striker Pio Esposito and Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini. (Nicolo Schira)

– Barcelona are monitoring the development of Club Brugge center back Joel Ordóñez. (Ekrem Konur)

– Chelsea are set to rival Arsenal for Brentford full back Michael Kayode‘s signature. (Ekrem Konur)

– River Plate have made Torino forward Giovanni Simeone a top transfer priority. (Fabrizio Romano)

Shohei Ohtani and his Japanese teammates will not repeat as World Baseball Classic champions after falling apart against Venezuela in the quarterfinal round.

Ohtani’s third home run of the tournament was wasted as Japan saw its 11-game WBC winning streak snapped.

Wilyer Abreu hit a go-ahead, three-run homer after Maikel Garcia sparked the comeback with a two-run shot, and Venezuela beat the defending champions 8-5 on Saturday night.

Venezuela reached its first WBC semis since 2009 and clinched a spot in the six-nation field for the 2028 Olympic baseball tournament, along with the United States and the Dominican Republic.

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Venezuela will face unbeaten Italy on Monday, a day after the U.S. plays the Dominicans.

Abreu gave Venezuela a 7-5 lead when he homered off loser Hiromi Itoh in the sixth, driving a 2-1 four-seam fastball 409 feet to right for his first home run of the tournament. Ezequiel Tovar made it 8-5 in the eighth, leading off with a double then scoring on a throwing error by Atsuki Taneichi on a pickoff attempt.

Ohtani, the 2023 WBC MVP, led off the bottom of the first by lifting a 2-1 slider from Ranger Suárez 427 feet to center after Ronald Acuña Jr. homered on the second pitch from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, driving a fastball 401 feet to right-center for his second home run of the WBC.

SHOHEI OHTANI OPENS WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC WITH EXPLOSIVE GRAND SLAM AS JAPAN ANNIHILATES TAIWAN

Enmanuel De Jesus pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the win, and Daniel Palencia got the save, ending Japan’s fate by getting Ohtani to pop out for the final out.

Japan led 5-2 after a four-run third in which Shota Morishita, who replaced the injured Seiya Suzuki at center field, hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer off Suárez. The veteran left-hander who picked up a win in a group stage game against the Netherlands pitched 2 2/3 innings on Saturday, allowing three hits, five runs and two home runs.

Garcia homered on the eighth pitch against Chihiro Sumida to pull Venezuela within 5-4 in the fifth.

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World Series MVP Yamamoto allowed four hits and two runs while striking out five in four innings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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