The field is set for the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

With 11 teams from the West or aligned with conferences in the region making the Big Dance, there’s plenty to discuss.

The issues include controversy surrounding seeding, brackets, and placement within the four regions.

I break down each team’s position below and give a short preview of each program’s outlook.

Arizona
1 seed — West Region

The Wildcats face a challenging path to the Final Four. Receiving the No. 1 seed in the West was expected, but the top half of the bracket is tough.

A Second-Round matchup against either Villanova or Utah State won’t be easy. The Aggies are better than a 9-seed and would have a decent fan presence in San Diego.

After that, the most likely matchup is Wisconsin or Arkansas in the Sweet 16. There’s history with the Badgers and the Razorbacks, who just won the SEC Tournament.

If Tommy Lloyd gets his team all the way to the Elite 8, the potential matchups are Purdue, Gonzaga, or BYU.

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That’s a moderately tough draw for the No. 2 overall seed. But in some ways, it doesn’t matter who Arizona plays.

In 1997, the Wildcats beat three 1-seeds and won the National Championship. And in 2001, the Cats beat two 1-seeds before losing to 1-seed Duke in the finals.

If this team is going to do something special, they must beat all the lower seeds they play, regardless of how good those teams actually are.

The perception around Arizona is that it always underperforms in March. It’s up to Lloyd and this year’s team to prove that reputation wrong.

UCLA
7 Seed – East Region

The seeding is not as much of an issue for UCLA. It’s the region. Getting shipped off to the East was the worst-case scenario.

The Bruins have struggled outside the Pacific Time Zone and would have much preferred to be out West.

The matchup with UCF is one of the more difficult 10-seeds, too. Santa Clara would certainly have been an easier draw, and even Missouri or Texas A&M might have been preferable.

The Second-Round matchup would be even worse. Playing UConn in Philadelphia is a nightmare. If the matchup were to be played in San Diego or Portland, the Bruins would have a stronger chance.

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But facing Dan Hurley in the Eastern Time Zone is a problem. That could be where UCLA’s season comes to an end.

There may be an argument that the Bruins should have been as high as a 6-seed. UCLA has several respectable Big Ten wins over Purdue, Illinois, Nebraska, and Michigan State.

There are some injury concerns, but that’s not enough to justify the 7-seed. And definitely not in the East bracket.

It’s hard to see UCLA getting to the Sweet 16. But if it does get passed UConn, then it’s good enough to get to the Elite 8.

Santa Clara
10 Seed – Midwest Region

Santa Clara got a good draw with a matchup against Kentucky in the First Round. The Wildcats are not the same program that they used to be, and the game might be the most common upset pick of the Tournament.

The contest is in St. Louis, which does moderately favor Kentucky. Yet, the 10-seed line is not bad considering that some were predicting that Santa Clara would end up in the First Four.

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The potential Second-Round matchup with Iowa State is a problem, though. The Cyclones have Final Four potential and won’t overlook the Broncos if they beat Kentucky.

Even so, out of all the 10-seeds, Santa Clara got one of the better draws. Kentucky is an easier opponent than UCLA or Miami. The SEC is mostly hype and the Broncos have a reasonable chance to advance to the Second Round.

Then, Santa Clara will likely need to play its best game in several years to upset Iowa State in the Round of 32.

Hawai’i
13 Seed – West Region

The Warriors received the auto-bid from the Big West in their final year in the Conference. Staying in the West region was a great outcome, even if the opening game is a tough draw.

Arkansas just won the SEC Tournament and is coached by the legendary Jim Calipari. It’s not impossible for a 13-seed to pull off an upset, but it seems unlikely considering the opponent.

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The game being in Portland helps, and there’s no doubt the crowd will be on Hawaii’s side. Yet, it’s probably a one-and-done for the Big West Champions.

If anything, it sets the stage for a successful transition to the Mountain West next season.

North Dakota State
14 Seed – East Region

The Bison won the Summit League Tournament and get a matchup with Michigan State in Buffalo.

The seed line is somewhat questionable after the Committee gave Cal Baptist a 13-seed and let the Lancers stay in Southern California.

After winning the Summit League Regular Season and securing the auto-bid, you would have expected the Committee to show a little more respect.

But if NDSU can upset the Spartans, then a magical Cinderella run to the Sweet 16 is not out of the question.

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Both Louisville and South Florida are beatable if North Dakota State is good enough to take down MSU.

Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.

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Head coach Andy Farrell says he will “have a conversation” with the Irish Rugby Football Union about what comes next after Ireland’s Triple Crown-winning Six Nations campaign.

Speculation about Farrell’s departure from the role he has held since 2019 rose during the tournament, with English Prem side Saracens releasing a statement to distance them from “disrespectful” reports they had offered Farrell a coaching role for after the 2027 Rugby World Cup when his Ireland deal ends.

But after the 43-21 win over Scotland which closed their Six Nations campaign on a high, focus has again turned to Farrell’s future.

And as he did before the Wales game, Farrell said he will talk to the IRFU, jokingly adding that while he would not want to step away, he would sometimes rather watch Ireland from the bar than from his coaching position.

“We’ve already spoken about having a conversation. That won’t be too far away. So, we’ll see how that goes,” Farrell said.

“Nobody wants to give those away [days like Saturday]. I’d like to watch it though, sometimes. Walking down from the Shelbourne and doing a bit of a pub crawl, it sounds nice to me!

“The staff that we’ve got is second to none. Great people. Great at their jobs. As a coaching staff, I think we’re getting better. We’re learning about each other more. We’re getting more cohesive and getting better as well. It’s not just the players.

“You know that I love this. There’s all sorts of stuff that needs to be talked about. I’ve no doubt.”

In the Premier League, Tottenham stay in the race thanks to an unexpected draw at Liverpool. France finish sixth at the Winter Paralympics. Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka won their titles at Indian Wells. Félix Lebrun makes table tennis history.

Bruno Fernandes is having an incredible season for Manchester United but he put a question mark next to his future with an interview he gave in December.

Michael Carrick insists Manchester United have no plans to cash in on Bruno Fernandes and are desperate to keep the 31-year-old as he closes in on another Premier League record at Old Trafford.

Fernandes set up two of United’s goals in a 3-1 win against Aston Villa at Old Trafford to take his tally to 16 assists for the season, only four behind the league record held jointly by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

The Portuguese attacking midfielder became just the third United player in the Premier League era to reach a century of goals and assists in the process and is enjoying another brilliant season at the club.

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But his future is in some doubt after an interview he gave in Portugal in December, where he said he felt United wanted to sell him last year but lacked the courage to tell him to go. It has led to questions over what will happen this summer, with Fernandes having a clause in his contract that allows him to join a foreign club for £57million.

The fact that United are on track to return to the Champions League could be enough to convince Fernandes to stay at the club and Carrick clearly doesn’t want to lose him.

“In terms of the club and moving forward, it’s difficult for me to get involved in too much of that,” he said. “Bruno’s definitely not someone we’d want to lose, I can say that. He’s important for us and he’s definitely one we wouldn’t want to lose.

“Bruno has done it for a long period of time now, in the big moments and making the difference, whether scoring or creating he’s normally around it. Two very different [assists] today.

“He has a really good understanding with Case and working with Jonny [Evans] on the set plays. There’s also the bit you can coach and then there’s a little bit of the players and the understanding. They’ve got a great connection there with that and have done it a few times before, so that was good.

“Then the passing around it, getting in positions where you can play that final pass, and it was one we’ve seen before and then he plays Ben in as well I think after that, so there’s not a lot else to say that I’ve not sat here and said before about Bruno.”

Carrick is relaxed about whether Fernandes can break the record for assists in a single Premier League season, with eight games remaining to get the four he needs to draw level or the five he needs to take it on his own.

But with eight assists in his last 10 games, he is in form and is arguably the player of the season in the Premier League so far.

“I’d much rather the points and us win than that,” Carrick said of the record, “so I don’t think it’s something you go chasing for, I think it happens naturally anyway, but yeah, if he does, then he’s obviously created goals for us, so we’ll be happy with that.

“I think he’s important for us. He’s playing in positions now where we need to find him and we need to supply him as much as we can for all the team to make the difference, but it’s not just about Bruno.

“He’s had some really important moments recently, but I think as a team, sharing that responsibility, so it’s not always on one player, I think it’s really important. And then it does make everyone else’s job that little bit easier, so he’s not taking everything on himself, which he shouldn’t and he doesn’t really for us.”

A massive blunder by the Yale Bulldogs’ men’s basketball team in the Ivy League Tournament final wound up costing them a March Madness bid. 

It was a thrilling second half that ultimately needed extra time to figure out a champion, as Penn’s T.J. Power nailed a game-tying 3-pointer with one second left to force overtime. It gave the Quakers star 40 points and kept their season alive, as the No. 1 seed Bulldogs were trying to hold off their conference foe. 

But the Quakers were able to come away with the 88-84 upset victory, marking the school’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 2018. 

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Penn Quakers forward TJ Power (12) shoots the ball over Providence Friars guard Jaylin Sellers (2) during the second half at Amica Mutual Pavilion on Nov. 11, 2025. (Eric Canha/Imagn Images)

It didn’t look to be the case, though, as Power made it 86-81 as he nailed two free throws to give him a total of 44 points with just 17 seconds left in overtime. The Bulldogs were expected to start fouling the Quakers intentionally, as to not allow them the opportunity to break the five-point lead Yale owned. 

It’s common with at least a three-point lead to foul late in the game, but Yale’s Casey Simmons let Power run down the court and have the chance to tie the game in the final seconds. Power didn’t waste the opportunity. 

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Using their momentum, the Quakers, fresh off a close win over No. 2 Harvard to advance to the Ivy League Tournament final, outscored the Bulldogs, 13-9, where Power was a key component in the end. Also, Cam Thrower’s three-pointer with 1:59 left in overtime gave Penn a four-point lead that would never be relinquished. 

Penn Quakers forward TJ Power (12) goes to the basket against Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Bryce Dortch (4) during the first half at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Dec. 20, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

As Michael Zanoni nailed both of his free throws with seven seconds left, it iced victory for the Quakers, who will now be focused on No. 3 Illinois after getting into March Madness as a No. 14 seed. 

Power, who played at Duke and Virginia before transferring to Penn, finished with 44 points on 14-of-26 shooting, including 7-of-14 three-pointers made. He had 14 rebounds for a double-double, while also dishing out two assists and picking up one steal and one blocked shot. 

Thrower finished the game with 19 points, going an efficient 6-of-10 from the field and picking up four rebounds. 

For Yale, they will have to think about the what-ifs until next season – the unfortunate other side of March Madness. That’s especially the case considering Trevor Mullin’s last-ditch heave to win the game hit off the back rim on the other side of the court to confirm overtime was needed for these two rivals. 

Penn Quakers forward TJ Power (12) looks to pass during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Dec. 20, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

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Sometimes, it’s heroics. Other times, it’s head-scratching blunders that help determine who goes dancing and who heads home. 

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Actor Wayne Brady briefly saw some action in a match during All Elite Wrestling’s Revolution pay-per-view on Sunday night in Los Angeles.

Brady’s involvement came during the Zero Hour portion of the pay-per-view. The tag team of Boom & Doom, featuring social media influencer and one part of the “Costco Guys,” “Big Boom” A.J., and Q.T. Marshall, took on The Infantry, consisting of Shawn Dean and Carlie Bravo.

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A.J., Liz Claman, Big Justice, and Tony Khan pose on The Claman Countdown preceding the 2024 Fox News All-American Christmas Tree Lighting at FOX Square on Nov. 22, 2024 in New York City. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Shane Taylor, who was aligned with Dean and Bravo, got into Brady’s face as the comedian sat in the front row in the Crypto.com Arena. The two had words with each other before Brady slapped Taylor across the face.

“Now what? Now what?” Brady said, taunting Taylor.

Taylor dragged Brady onto the floor and then got into the face of another influencer, The Rizzler, before he got speared by A.J.’s son, Big Justice.

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Wayne Brady performs in concert at City Winery on June 8, 2025, in New York City. (Al Pereira/Getty Images)

The distractions outside of the ring helped A.J. and Marshall gain the upper hand. They won the match that kicked started the pre-show.

As for Brady, he celebrated in the ring with the “Costco Guys” and Marshall. He was asked before the match what his finishing move would be.

“Um, the b—h slap,” Brady said. “Yeah, but it’d be in air quotes. The ‘b—h slap.’”

Wayne Brady speaks at WAYNE BRADY: IMPROV NERDVANA panel during New York Comic Con 2025 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Oct. 10, 2025 in New York City. (Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for ReedPop)

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He certainly used the move against Taylor during the night.

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Draper had been British number one since June 2024 when he took over from Norrie, who had held the position since October 2021 when he won Indian Wells.

The 24-year-old has only played two ranking tournaments since last August’s US Open, having returned from injury in February.

Before the injury, Draper was steadily building his way to the top of the game.

He reached the 2024 US Open semi-finals, won the biggest title of his career at Indian Wells six months later and reached as high as fourth in the world rankings in June.

The friendly British rivalry with Norrie could help to nudge him back towards the top 10.

“Cam is playing some great tennis,” Draper said.

“He’s been really consistent. I think it’s great for British tennis that he’s back playing really well – a former top-10 player who had a really tough injury with his forearm a couple of years ago.

“I’m really happy for him and his team and if we can keep on pushing each other to play well, that’s only a great thing.”

Rankings are calculated over a 12-month period, with players effectively defending points they won at the same tournament a year earlier.

Draper’s absence from the tour is the overriding reason why he has lost the British top spot, but Norrie has had an excellent run after falling outside the top 90 in April.

He reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals in July and beat world number one Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris Masters in October.

“I was in a tough spot,” Norrie said. “Just a little bit too much expectation, but I let that go and enjoyed my tennis a bit more, and then suddenly I finished inside the top 30 at the end of last year.”

England host Uruguay on March 27 and Japan on March 31 at Wembley Stadium as part of the 2026 Send Off Series

The Premier League will pause next week as England return to international duty in the final break before the World Cup. Thomas Tuchel has just two matches remaining to evaluate his players before naming his squad for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA this June.

The Three Lions secured their World Cup place with a perfect eight-win qualifying run that saw them finish top of their group and arrange another meeting with Croatia in their opening fixture. Before that, England are scheduled to play two friendly fixtures at Wembley Stadium as part of the 2026 Send Off Series, welcoming Uruguay on March 27 and Japan on March 31.

Tickets for both matches went on general sale in December and February respectively, with numerous general admission choices still available alongside more exclusive VIP and hospitality packages. Prices begin at £35 per person on the Wembley Stadium website for a ‘Category 4 – Licensed Standing’ ticket, whilst ‘Category 1’ tickets provide superior views and seating from £80.

VIP and hospitality packages for both fixtures are available from £75 through Seat Unique, offering ‘premium’ seating on Level Two with padded seats and an excellent pitch view. This Taphouse ticket reportedly delivers ‘the ultimate luxury matchday experience’ and grants access to Wembley 2.5 hours before kick-off, alongside premium dining, an M&S Foodhall and comfortable seating in the bar area.

England supporters wanting to splash out can reserve a table in the exclusive Bobby Moore Lounge – featuring premium halfway line seating next to the dugout – from £349 per person. This cost also covers a four-course gourmet meal, inclusive bar, live entertainment and unlimited Laurent Perrier Champagne.

England VIP and hospitality tickets

from £75

Seat Unique

Book tickets here

England fans can book their spot at Wembley for the friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan from £75 at Seat Unique.

Comparable perks are offered with the more upmarket Bobby Moore Suite, a VIP package with Level 1 seats positioned behind the dugouts from £395 per person. Nevertheless, tickets are selling quickly and only limited availability remains for selected Bobby Moore packages.

It’s also worth highlighting that prices can fluctuate from match to match. For those intending to watch from home, both England vs Uruguay and England vs Japan will be broadcast live on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.

The previous occasion England met Uruguay was during the 2014 World Cup, when two goals from then-Liverpool forward Luis Suarez effectively confirmed England’s group stage exit. Wayne Rooney’s maiden goal of the tournament wasn’t sufficient to prevent their second consecutive defeat as Roy Hodgson’s team ultimately departed early.

England have only encountered Japan three times, with the most recent meeting occurring in 2010 as their final preparation match before travelling to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup. England clinched a 2-1 victory thanks to two Japan own goals.

England are set to play two additional matches in June, taking on New Zealand and Costa Rica in South Florida as part of their World Cup preparation camp. Details regarding tickets for these fixtures haven’t been announced yet, though supporters can register their interest through The FA here.