By Alex A. Gonzalez
Finally, the time has come, let the madness begin.
Has the madness fully engulfed everyone’s mind since Selection Sunday?
Well, if it hasn’t happened yet, you probably did not watch Tuesday night’s game between Texas and NC State, where the Longhorns almost lost the game late but came out with the win thanks to Tramon Mark’s game-winning jumper with 1.1 seconds left in regulation.
Another game you probably should have watched was SMU vs. Miami OH, where the teams went back and forth, shooting the lights out from behind the arc in Dayton.
For the next three weeks, the 2026 Men’s college basketball tournament will be streamed and consumed on every device I own so that I can keep tabs on my brackets.
However, since the bracket came out, I have a few thoughts:
“Why is St. John’s a No. 5 seed?” And “Why is the East bracket Murderers’ Row?“
Duke is the overall No. 1 seed in the tournament, and the Blue Devils are rewarded with the toughest path in the field?
With that said, if you’re reading this, then you probably have a few questions on who to pick for your bracket. So let’s take a dive into each region and see if there is a possible perfect bracket in the making.
East Region
Top four seeds: Duke, UConn, Michigan St., Kansas.
The top four seeds combined for 11 championships over the last 25 years. Danny Hurley, of course, is the most recent coach of the bunch to cut the nets down when his Huskies defeated Purdue in ‘24. That list also does not include Rick Pitino, who also hoisted the 2013 trophy after guiding his Louisville team to the title.
The East region is loaded, and whoever makes it out of that region should be the favorite to win it all when it’s all said and done.
With that said, the first round should feature one upset: South Florida defeating Louisville. The rest should be straightforward until the Sweet 16. As previously mentioned, Pitino and his St. John’s team will get past Duke to punch their ticket to the Elite Eight. They will also represent the East Region after they defeat UConn for the third time this season.
South Region
Top Four seeds: Florida, Houston, Illinois, Nebraska.
The first round shapes up just like the East, with one upset: VCU defeating North Carolina.
And congratulations, Nebraska, you are winning your first tournament game in school history. But don’t celebrate for too long, Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles of Vanderbilt are going to crash the party in the Round of 32.
Florida will get revenge against the Commodores, and the Houston Cougars defense will suffocate Illinois, setting up a rematch of last year’s National title game. This time will be different because Florida will play Houston in Houston, and the Cougars will advance to the Final Four.
West Region
Top Four seeds: Arizona, Purdue, Gonzaga, Arkansas.
This is the region where the upsets come early and often. High Point escapes with a win over Wisconsin, and Missouri defeats Miami in their backyard in the first round. Then AJ Dybantsa and his BYU squad will defeat Gonzaga in the Round of 32.
Arizona will be the first No. 1 seed to get bounced out of the tournament in the Sweet 16 by freshman Darius Acuff Jr. and Arkansas. The Razorbacks will also punch their ticket to the Final Four after they get by Purdue.
Midwest
Top Four seeds: Michigan, Iowa St., Virginia, Alabama.
Three upsets in the first round. Akron, Miami OH, and Santa Clara, all double-digit seeds, will make it to the round of 32. The upsets continue with Akron knocking out Alabama, and Miami OH getting by Virginia.
No more upsets after that because Michigan and Iowa St. will take care of business and meet up for a heavyweight fight for a chance to go to Indianapolis for the Final Four.
Michigan survives the bout and will be the only No. 1 seed in Indiana.
Championship
Michigan versus Houston.
Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars will finally break through and win their first National title in school history.
Let the games begin.
That’s where I’m going.
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