NCAA Tournament: Top Seeds, Upsets, and Cinderella Stories

On March 23rd, the 2026 men's NCAA tournament is heating up after a wild opening weekend

with experts like Nicole Auerbach and John Fansa repicking their brackets now that they've seen every team play.

Brackets are locked in, and the focus is on top seeds, potential upsets, and Cinderella stories as the field narrows down.

Meanwhile, key matchups are grabbing headlines, including St. John's facing Duke in the Suite 16, where Duke is a six and a half point favorite.

And a big SEC versus Big 12 clash between Tennessee and Iowa State.

First four games like UMBC versus Howard in Texas against North Carolina State are setting the stage for more drama.

Fans and analysts are buzzing about whether Powerhouse conferences will dominate or if mid-majors can shake things up, with many praising St. John's.

Momentum after their big East title win over Yukon under coach Rick Patino.

Reactions highlight the tough paths for teams like Duke in a loaded East region.

New picks point to Purdue and Houston as strong final four bets, while Arizona and St. John's are drawing national title hype from panels and even NBA.

Stars like Mellow and Vince Carter.

Odds favor Michigan and Duke too, amid ongoing debates on top tier dominance.

As the first weekend matchups unfold, all eyes are on these bold predictions and storylines to see who advances toward Indianapolis.