March Madness Picture Becomes Clearer as Conference Tournaments Loom

With just over two weeks remaining until Selection Sunday, the race for the 2026 NCAA Tournament is reaching fever pitch as conference tournaments prepare to tip off across the nation.

Currently, bracketologists have Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and Gonzaga locked in as No. 1 seeds, but several bubble teams are making compelling cases for at-large bids in these final regular season games. The biggest storylines emerging from this weekend's action could dramatically reshape the tournament picture.

Duke's dominance in the ACC has been the story of the season, with freshman phenom Cooper Flagg averaging 22.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. The Blue Devils clinched the regular season conference title with Tuesday's 89-76 victory over Virginia, but coach Jon Scheyer isn't taking anything for granted heading into the ACC Tournament.

"Every game from here on out is a championship game," Scheyer said after practice on Thursday. "We've put ourselves in a great position, but March is when legends are made. Our guys understand the stakes."

The biggest surprise package has been Saint Mary's, who currently sits at 26-4 overall and has captured the attention of the selection committee with impressive wins over Gonzaga and San Diego State. The Gaels are positioned for their highest seed since 2019 under coach Randy Bennett.

On the bubble, teams like Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, and Florida are desperate for strong conference tournament showings. The Hokies, in particular, have won six of their last eight games and could sneak into the field with a strong ACC Tournament run.

The Big 12 continues to cannibalize itself with seven teams ranked in the current AP Top 25, creating one of the most competitive conference races in recent memory. Kansas leads the way, but Iowa State, Houston, and Baylor remain within striking distance of earning top seeds.

Mid-major conferences are providing their usual intrigue, with Vermont dominating the America East, South Dakota State controlling the Summit League, and Western Kentucky making noise in Conference USA. These automatic qualifiers could provide the Cinderella stories that make March Madness special.

The selection committee will be watching closely as conference tournaments begin Monday, with championship week traditionally producing the biggest surprises and heartbreaks. Early projections suggest this year's tournament could feature one of the most competitive fields in recent history, with very few easy first-round matchups expected.

Selection Sunday is set for March 8th, with the First Four games scheduled for March 17th-18th in Dayton, Ohio.