NCAA Basketball NewsThursday, Mar 19, 2026

LIU and coach Rod Strickland were the worst team in the country four years ago but are now set to take on No. 1 Arizona in the NCAA Tournament.

John Calipari wanted to rest Arkansas basketball star Darius Acuff Jr. before the postseason. It resulted in a hot streak entering March Madness.

Purdue basketball has suffered stunning upsets in March Madness. As Matt Painter tells it: "You're either humble or you're getting ready to get humbled."

The NCAA men's basketball tournament is upon us. Can any of these California teams go on Cinderella runs?

Here's a look at how Illinois freshman star Keaton Wagler went from an underrated recruit to leading the Fighting Illini to the Men's NCAA Tournament:

Illinois' Brad Underwood knows all about the traps awaiting a favored team in March Madness. “It’s what we talk about all year,” Underwood said before the third-seeded Illini faced 14th-seeded Penn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Lower-seeded teams have long filled March with shocking upsets to earn the almost honorary title of Cinderella.

What you need to know and how to watch Thursday's first-round action in the 2026 NCAA Tournament

SportsLine's model nailed 12 of the teams in the Sweet 16 last season and simulated the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket 10,000 times

When an AI robot fills out an NCAA Tournament bracket, a friendship dies.

The CBS Sports 2026 NCAA Men's and Women's Games have returned for March Madness 2026 office pools.

When does the March Madness 2026 schedule start, and when are 2026 NCAA Tournament brackets due? The 2026 March Madness bracket begins on Thursday, March 19

SportsLine's model nailed 12 of the teams in the Sweet 16 last season and simulated the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket 10,000 times