The 68-team discipline for the 2026 males’s basketball NCAA Event is ready, with the Duke Blue Devils, the Atlantic Coast Convention regular-season and event champions, receiving the No. 1 general seed.
Because it pertains to the No. 1 seeds, there was little drama. Duke, Arizona and Michigan have been locks for the highest line, whereas Florida edged UConn for the ultimate No. 1 seed.
On this thrilling one-and-done format, upsets are going to occur, particularly within the opening rounds. Nonetheless, the winner of this spring’s Large Dance in all probability will come from this group of heavyweight contenders.
5 squads with greatest shot at slicing down the nets
Duke Blue Devils
NCAA Event seed: No. 1 in East Area
2025-26 record: 32-2 general
AP top-25 rating: No. 1
NCAA NET rating: No. 1
KenPom score: No. 1
Duke has the nation’s greatest participant: freshman large man Cameron Boozer. One factor to watch for the Blue Devils, although, is the harm standing of junior level guard Caleb Foster and sophomore heart Patrick Ngongba II. Nonetheless, Duke is a legit menace to achieve its second consecutive Last 4.
Arizona Wildcats
NCAA Event seed: No. 1 in West Area
2025-26 report: 32-2 general
AP top-25 ranking: No. 2
NCAA NET rating: No. 3
KenPom score: No. 3
Arizona has been mighty spectacular within the 2025-26 season, with 16 quadrant-one victories and no losses outdoors of quadrant one. The Wildcats are led by senior guard Jaden Bradley, the Large 12 Convention participant of the 12 months, and a number of other excellent freshmen.
Michigan Wolverines
NCAA Event seed: No. 1 in Midwest Area
2025-26 report: 31-3 general
AP top-25 rating: No. 3
NCAA NET ranking: No. 2
KenPom score: No. 2
The Wolverines destroyed lots of their opponents in 2025-26, and Michigan ran by the rugged Large Ten Convention. Within the league’s event ultimate, nevertheless, No. 7 seed Purdue upset the No. 1 seed Wolverines, so Michigan enters the NCAA Event on a little bit of a downer. Duke additionally defeated the Wolverines final month in a non-conference battle in Washington, D.C.
Florida Gators
NCAA Event seed: No. 1 in South Area
2025-26 report: 26-7 general
AP top-25 rating: No. 4
NCAA NET rating: No. 4
KenPom rating: No. 4
Florida, the defending nationwide champion, acquired tripped up on Saturday by hometown Vanderbilt within the Southeastern Convention Event semifinals from Nashville, Tenn., however the Gators are nonetheless descending upon March Insanity on a roll. Earlier than its SEC Event setback, Florida had received 12 consecutive video games.
UConn Huskies
NCAA Event seed: No. 2 in East Area
2025-26 report: 29-5 general
AP top-25 rating: No. 6
NCAA NET rating: No. 10
KenPom score: No. 11
UConn, which received back-to-back nationwide titles in 2023 and 2024, acquired thumped on Saturday by rival St. John’s within the ultimate contest of the Large East Convention Event. Within the non-conference, the Huskies boasted a few spectacular triumphs, together with wins over BYU, Illinois, Kansas, Florida and Texas.
