Men's March Madness 2026: Ranking the remaining 32 teams

Men's March Madness 2026: Ranking the remaining 32 teams

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Men's March Madness 2026: Ranking the remaining 32 teamsDuke Blue Devils1hMyron MedcalfYour guide to March Madness Day 2: Recaps, every winner's chance to advance, moreAkron Zips41mESPNFlorida starts title defense with 59-point poundingFlorida Gators2h'Drug transactions' allegedly on Holloway's phoneAlabama Crimson Tide4hMyron MedcalfMiami (OH)'s run ends in blowout loss to VolsTennessee Volunteers7hPurdue's Smith leaps Hurley as NCAA assists kingPurdue Boilermakers6hBen BabyPeterson electric in KU victory despite quiet finishKansas Jayhawks12mPaolo UggettiClark grins and bears lost tooth in UCLA's winUCLA Bruins2hIowa holds off Clemson's comeback bid to advanceClemson Tigers4hNCAA sues DraftKings for trademark infringement5hDavid PurdumChase Johnston's first 2-pointer, no subs for Siena and more men's NCAA first-round superlativesNorth Carolina Tar Heels7hKalan HooksPurdue's Smith leaps Hurley as NCAA assists kingPurdue Boilermakers6hBen BabyYour guide to March Madness Day 1: Recaps, every winner's chance to advance, moreDuke Blue Devils1dESPNWelcome to 'The Reef': LIU's 'fins up' chant has turned a near-empty gym into March magicLong Island University Sharks18hJ.J. PostMen's tournament: How to bet the Duke, Michigan St. games and more SaturdayMichigan State Spartans12hMark ZinnoMen's tournament odds: Arizona, Michigan pull ahead after Duke stumbles out of gateDuke Blue Devils15hDoug GreenbergRanking the top 50 men's college basketball players who could define March MadnessDuke Blue Devils3dJeff Borzello and Myron MedcalfBoozer, Dybantsa, Peterson, Wagler: Coaches break down freshmen built for MarchDuke Blue Devils2dJason JordanMen's coaching carousel tracker: All the intel entering the NCAA tournamentBoston College Eagles2dJeff BorzelloJoe Lunardi's ultimate guide to men's March Madness 2026Duke Blue Devils4dJoe LunardiJay Bilas predicts every game of the 2026 NCAA tournamentDuke Blue Devils5dJay BilasplayTCU set to face Duke in 2nd round of NCAA tournament (1:30)Check out some of the best highlights from TCU and Duke ahead of their round of 32 matchup in the NCAA tournament. (1:30)

We're back to rank the remaining 32 teams in the 2026 men's NCAA tournament.

In past years, we called this a reseeding, but we've scrapped that approach to answer this question: Who are the best remaining teams in the field?

This season, the answer is complicated. Partially because we don't know who will be available for the second round. Will Patrick Ngongba II return for Duke? What about Iowa State star Joshua Jefferson, who suffered an ankle injury early in Friday's win over Tennessee State? Tyler Bilodeau missed UCLA's victory over UCF in the opening round. UConn's Silas Demary Jr. similarly sat out Friday. Alabama didn't have an injury, but it did seem to take a step back without embattled star Aden Holloway as it advanced past Hofstra.

The next round also doesn't look particularly chalky. The top four seeds in each region went 4-0 in the round of 64 for the second straight year and for the seventh time since expansion in 1985. But all four 9-seeds also advanced -- the first time this has happened since 2019, and just the sixth time overall in tournament history. And, we have a handful of double-digit seeds.

Still, based on what we know right now, and looking at the results from the opening round -- and mostly the complete body of work for each team -- we've come up with these rankings.

See how the round of 32 was set: Thursday | Friday

1. Arizona Wildcats Original seed: No. 1 (West) First-round result: Defeated No. 16 Long Island 92-58 (Friday)

Jaden Bradley, the Big 12 Player of the Year, scored just seven in Friday's win over Long Island -- and the Wildcats still had 92 points. Brayden Burries (18 points) and Koa Peat (15 points), a pair of NBA prospects, were two of five Zona players who had eight or more points, continuing their success as a balanced squad. Also of note: Tommy Lloyd's squad is 39% from the 3-point line during its current 10-game winning streak.

Up next: vs. Utah State (Sunday, 7:50 p.m. ET, truTV)

2. Duke Blue Devils Original seed: No. 1 overall (East) First-round result: Defeated No. 16 Siena 71-65 (Thursday)

Cameron Boozer and his team were short-handed against Siena, and it showed. The Blue Devils became the first 1-seed in the history of the NCAA tournament to trail a 16-seed by double digits at halftime Thursday, per ESPN Research. They clearly missed Patrick Ngongba II's defense and Caleb Foster's 3-point shooting. But Boozer overpowered the Saints, finishing 13-for-14 from the free throw line in the win. The Blue Devils also held Siena to 8-for-34 shooting after halftime, with the same elite defense (second in adjusted efficiency on KenPom) that fueled wins this season over Kansas, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan and Michigan State.

Up next: vs. TCU (Saturday, 5:15 p.m. ET, CBS)

play1:30TCU set to face Duke in 2nd round of NCAA tournamentCheck out some of the best highlights from TCU and Duke ahead of their round of 32 matchup in the NCAA tournament.

3. Florida Gators Original seed: No. 1 (South) First-round result: Defeated No. 16 Prairie View A&M 114-55 (Friday)

The Gators' 39-point halftime advantage over Prairie View A&M is tied for the second largest lead at the break in NCAA tournament history, per ESPN Research. Their performance is also an extension of their near-flawless finish to the 2025-26 season. Florida has won 13 of its past 14 games, including 12 straight before a loss to Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament semifinal. Seven of those were won by 19 or more points, including a 100-77 win over Alabama on Feb. 1 and an 111-77 rout of Arkansas on Feb. 28. No team in America is playing better.

Up next: vs. Iowa (Sunday, 7:10 p.m. ET, TBS)

4. Michigan Wolverines Original seed: No. 1 (Midwest) First-round result: Defeated No. 16 Howard 101-80 (Thursday)

The Wolverines' massive frontcourt was the anchor of a dominant season for Dusty May's squad, which won the Big Ten regular-season title. On Thursday, those big stars were kept out of the lane by Howard's zone. Once Michigan figured it out, though -- with 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara playing over the top and dominating -- it couldn't be stopped. The Wolverines made 46% of their 3-point attempts. This season, they've only lost to a Wisconsin team that made 15 3-pointers, a Duke squad that was led by the national player of the year front-runner and a Purdue unit that made 60% of its shots inside the arc.

Up next: vs. Saint Louis (Saturday, 12:10 p.m. ET, CBS)

5. Houston Cougars Original seed: No. 2 (South) First-round result: Defeated No. 15 Idaho 78-47 (Thursday)

The Cougars' win over Idaho in the opening round was more proof Houston can pummel opponents with its defensive pressure. The Vandals scored just 47 points (72 points per 100 possessions). Beyond their three-game losing streak in February (at Iowa State, vs. Kansas, at Arizona), the Cougars have played like a national championship contender a year after losing to Florida in the title game. Freshman Kingston Flemings (18 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals against Idaho) seems capable of leading them back to the championship game.

Up next: vs. Texas A&M (Saturday, 6:10 p.m. ET, TNT)

6. Iowa State Cyclones Original seed: No. 2 (Midwest) First-round result: Defeated No. 15 Tennessee State 108-74 (Friday)

On the one hand, it's admirable Iowa State managed to score 108 points in its win over Tennessee State, despite Joshua Jefferson playing only three minutes due to a sprained ankle. On the other hand, it's hard to imagine Iowa State going on a deep run if Jefferson, the AP second-team All-American, who sat on the bench in a walking boot for the rest of the game, is unavailable. Per EvanMiya, the Cyclones have been 20.5 points per 100 possessions better this season with him on the floor. Without him, they're a different team.

Up next: vs. Kentucky (Sunday, 2:45 p.m. ET, CBS)

7. Illinois Fighting Illini Original seed: No. 3 (South) First-round result: Defeated No. 14 Penn 105-70 (Thursday)

The best offensive team in the country might have exceeded its own expectations when it registered an unworldly 197 points per 100 possessions in the second half of its win over Penn in the first round. David Mirkovic scored 29 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, and Keaton Wagler, a second-team AP All-American, added 18 points. That game marked the ninth instance of the Illini scoring 90 or more points this season. If it wasn't clear before, Illinois' offense, at its best, can reach a level few teams in the field can match.

Up next: vs. VCU (Saturday, 7:50 p.m. ET, CBS)

8. Purdue Boilermakers Original seed: No. 2 (West) First-round result: Defeated No. 15 Queens University 104-71 (Friday)

On Dec. 6, following a lopsided home loss to Iowa State, many wrote Purdue off. There was no reason to think otherwise as the season went on. In league play, Purdue -- the AP preseason No. 1 team -- was overshadowed by more compelling storylines at Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois and Nebraska. Yet, in their current five-game winning streak, a run that includes the Big Ten tournament title game victory over Michigan, the Boillermakers have, finally, lived up to the preseason buzz. Trey Kaufman-Renn (17.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG in five games) is playing like an All-American again and Purdue has had the best offense in the country during that stretch, too.

Up next: vs. Miami (Sunday, 12:10 p.m. ET, CBS)

9. St. John's Red Storm Original seed: No. 5 (East) First-round result: Defeated No. 12 Northern Iowa 79-53 (Friday)

Last year's St. John's team was the talk of New York City and even made an appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". But what if this version of Rick Pitino's squad is even better? The metrics between the two teams may be comparable, but this group has an offensive chemistry that eluded last year's team. Led by Zuby Ejiofor (16.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.1 BPG), the Johnnies won their 11th game Saturday by a margin of 20-plus points. They've been 37th in adjusted offensive efficiency during their current 20-1 streak too. Last year's group was 74th overall.

Up next: vs. Kansas (Sunday, 5:15 p.m. ET, CBS)

10. UConn Huskies Original seed: No. 2 (East) First-round result: Defeated No. 15 Furman 82-71 (Friday)

With five minutes to go in its win over Furman in the opening round of the NCAA tournament on Friday, the Huskies were in a five-point game. They still have the pieces to win their third national title in four years -- a feat that hasn't been achieved since John Wooden walked the sidelines at UCLA -- but they didn't get through the first round with the same excellence as the other contenders in the field. They're clearly a better team when Tarris Reed Jr. (31 points, 27 rebounds against Furman) takes over, especially with Silas Demary Jr. out Friday due to an ankle injury. They just haven't looked like future champions in weeks.

Up next: vs. UCLA (Sunday, 8:45 p.m. ET, TNT)

11. Michigan State Spartans Original seed: No. 2 (East) First-round result: Defeated No. 15 Bryant 92-67 (Thursday)

The Spartans are led by one of America's best point guards in Jeremy Fears Jr., who recorded seven points and 11 assists in the first round against North Dakota State on Thursday. It was the fifth time that Michigan State, which finished in a three-way tie for second place in the Big Ten race, scored 90 points or more this season. That offensive threshold is the result of Michigan State's recent effectiveness from the 3-point line (50% from beyond the arc against NDSU). The Spartans have made 44% of their 3-point attempts over their past five games.

Up next: vs. Louisville (Saturday, 2:45 p.m. ET, CBS)

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12. Arkansas Razorbacks Original seed: No. 4 (West) First-round result: Defeated No. 13 Hawai'i 97-78 (Thursday)

No player in the country has outperformed Darius Acuff Jr. over the past month. On Thursday, the 6-foot-3 point guard finished with 24 points (2-for-5 from beyond the arc) and seven assists -- his fifth consecutive game with at least 24 points, five assists and two 3-pointers -- against Hawai'i. But this team is also not just Acuff. Trevon Brazile and Meleek Thomas have been equally important contributors for an Arkansas squad that's now won six games in a row, a run that includes the SEC tournament championship. During this streak, the Razorbacks have been 16th in adjusted offensive efficiency nationally and connected on 43% of their 3-point attempts.

Up next: vs. High Point (Saturday, 9:45 p.m., truTV/TBS)

13. Nebraska Cornhuskers Original seed: No. 4 (South) First-round result: Defeated No. 13 Troy 76-47 (Thursday)

Nebraska has the Big Ten's best defense. That was evident in its victory over Troy, which also resulted in the Huskers' first NCAA tournament win. These Trojans were not easy, either. In November, they scored 108 points in a double-overtime victory against San Diego State, a top-20 defensive team nationally. But on Thursday, they scored just 47 points and registered 77 points per 100 possessions against the Cornhuskers. Offensively, Pryce Sandfort (23 points) and his teammates connected on 34 3-pointers in their past three games, but the elite defense has been the story of their season.

Up next: vs. Vanderbilt (Saturday, 8:45 p.m., TNT)

14. Vanderbilt Commodores Original seed: No. 5 (South) First-round result: Defeated No. 12 McNeese 78-68 (Thursday)

The Commodores followed Tyler Tanner's lead again to beat a tough McNeese team. That has been the ongoing narrative for Vanderbilt. When Tanner (26 points on Thursday), a 6-foot point guard who is a projected first-round pick in the NBA draft, plays well his team usually wins. The Dores are 13-3 this season when he scores at least 20 points. The return of Duke Miles from a knee injury late last month has mattered, too: Vanderbilt has been seventh in adjusted offensive efficiency since he returned to help his team reach the SEC tournament title game and advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Up next: vs. Nebraska (Saturday, 8:45 p.m., TNT)

15. Virginia Cavaliers Original seed: No. 3 (Midwest) First-round result: Defeated No. 14 Wright State 82-73 (Friday)

This Virginia team doesn't look like the groups that were more methodical under Tony Bennett. In the Ryan Odom era, nearly half of the Cavaliers' field goal attempts are 3-pointers, which might have seemed sacrilegious under the old guard. Yet, it works: Virginia took down Wright State on Friday after making 13 shots from beyond the arc. The Cavs also play a defense that's allowed just one team (Miami) to exceed a 42% clip inside the arc over their past four games. Even Duke finished 17-for-40 from 2 against them in the ACC tournament. With Thijs De Ridder (double figures in nine of his past 10 games) and a strong defense, Virginia is a tough opponent for anyone.

Up next: vs. Tennessee (Sunday, 6:10 p.m. ET, TNT)

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16. Gonzaga Bulldogs Original seed: No. 3 (West) First-round result: Defeated No. 14 Kennesaw State 73-64 (Thursday)

The wins are not always pretty for Gonzaga, but they don't have to be. This season, the Zags have won 31 games, a WCC tournament title and defeated teams such as Kentucky, Alabama and UCLA, all with a scrappy approach that relies on second-chance opportunities, elite defense and dominance in the paint. Graham Ike (19 points, eight rebounds against Kennesaw State) is the captain of the ship for Mark Few's squad, which is ranked ninth nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. But this is the worst 3-point shooting team (33.5%) Few has had at Gonzaga. The Bulldogs overcame a 3-for-18 clip from beyond the arc against the Owls on Thursday.

Up next: vs. Texas (Saturday, 7:10 p.m. ET, truTV/TBS)

17. Alabama Crimson Tide Original seed: No. 3 (Midwest) First-round result: Defeated No. 13 Hofstra 90-70 (Friday)

Nate Oats' squad steamrolled a Hofstra team that had been a popular upset pick after star Aden Holloway was arrested on a felony drug charge on Monday, removed from campus and separated from the team. Instead, Labaron Philon Jr. (29 points, eight rebounds, seven assists) proved he could carry the load without the team's most impactful offensive player, per EvanMiya. However, Philon also had five turnovers. And Alabama missed 24 of its 36 3-point attempts. Holloway is their best 3-point shooter. The Crimson Tide can still overwhelm opponents with their scoring attack in this tournament, but they will miss Holloway as the level of competition rises.

Up next: vs. Texas Tech (Sunday, 9:45 p.m. ET, TBS)

18. Texas Tech Red Raiders Original seed: No. 5 (Midwest) First-round result: Defeated No. 12 Akron 91-71 (Friday)

Despite being without All-American JT Toppin, the Red Raiders remain one of America's top 3-point shooting teams. They've also been third in adjusted offensive efficiency without Toppin -- although they're a sub-100 team defensively, per BartTorvik. That offensive strength gave them a boost when they scored 51 points in the second half against Akron on Friday. Jaylen Petty recorded a career-high 24 points, while Christian Anderson added 18. It remains to be seen if this team can reach the same heights without Toppin. But it is clearly a squad with second-weekend potential, even shorthanded.

Up next: vs. Alabama (Sunday, 9:45 p.m. ET, TBS)

19. Kansas Jayhawks Original seed: No. 4 (East) First-round result: Defeated No. 13 California Baptist 68-60 (Friday)

We never remember teams when we talk about the NCAA tournament, only the heroes. Carmelo Anthony in 2003. Kemba Walker in 2011. Anthony Davis in 2012. Jalen Brunson in 2018. For all its flaws, Kansas has a potential hero in Darryn Peterson (28 points against Cal Baptist on Friday), the most polarizing player in college basketball this season. But just when it felt safe to believe in the promise of Kansas, the Jayhawks surrendered an 18-2 run that cut Cal Baptist's deficit to six points late. (They, of course, survived and advance.) We've seen the same movie with Kansas all season. And we're still waiting for them to play 40 minutes of great basketball.

Up next: vs. St. John's (Sunday, 5:15 p.m. ET, CBS)

20. Kentucky Wildcats Original seed: No. 7 (Midwest) First-round result: Defeated No. 10 Santa Clara 89-84 in overtime (Friday)

Friday's win over Santa Clara featured the same chaos that's defined Kentucky all season -- topped by a game-tying, buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Otega Oweh near halfcourt at the end of regulation. The Wildcats have been a mess, despite the elite talent. But on Friday, Oweh, the preseason SEC player of the year, had a career high 35 points, plus eight rebounds and seven assists. Denzel Aberdeen, who won a national title with Florida last year, had 16 points. Mouhamed Dioubate and Brandon Garrison, who were both four-star recruits in high school, combined for 27 points, 15 rebounds and nine blocks. The chemistry isn't always obvious with this group -- but they have the personnel to compete against any opponent.

Up next: vs. Iowa State (Sunday, 2:45 p.m. ET, CBS)

21. Tennessee Volunteers Original seed: No. 6 (Midwest) First-round result: Defeated No. 11 Miami (Ohio) 78-56 (Friday)

The Vols stopped Miami (Ohio) on Friday even though Nate Ament, the 6-10 projected lottery pick, finished 0-for-3. Ja'Kobi Gillespie instead continued to be the catalyst, with 29 points. The Vols are the top offensive rebounding team in the country and, for the past six weeks, have also been top-10 defensively. They did have a letdown of a 2-4 stretch before the NCAA tournament after proving their potential with wins over Vanderbilt, Alabama and Tennessee. If they keep playing to their strengths, they can reach the second weekend.

Up next: vs. Virginia (Sunday, 6:10 p.m. ET, TNT)

22. Louisville Cardinals Original seed: No. 6 (East) First-round result: Defeated No. 11 South Florida 83-79 (Thursday)

Mikel Brown Jr., a projected first-round draft pick, missed his 13th game of the season Thursday and will miss his 14th on Saturday. So the team that showed up Thursday in the win over South Florida is the same one that's played more than two-thirds of this season without its young star. The good news is the Cardinals are 8-5 without Brown, including Thursday. Isaac McKneely, J'Vonne Hadley and Ryan Conwell combined to score 51 points against South Florida and steady the ship, the way they have all season.

Up next: vs. Michigan State (Saturday, 2:45 p.m. ET, CBS)

23. Miami Hurricanes Original seed: No. 7 (West) First-round result: Defeated No. 10 Missouri 80-66 (Friday)

Jai Lucas didn't waste any time in his first year as a head coach. He led Miami back to the NCAA tournament for the first time in three years. When he arrived last offseason, he built this first team around Malik Reneau, the 6-foot-9 forward who transferred from Indiana. On Friday, Reneau recorded 24 points, eight rebounds and three assists. The Hurricanes may not have secured a bunch of earth-shattering wins this season, but they were simply steady (top-five in offensive and defensive efficiency in ACC play) all year. That was enough to advance to the next round.

Up next: vs. Purdue (Sunday, 12:10 p.m. ET, CBS)

24. UCLA Bruins Original seed: No. 7 (East) First-round result: Defeated No. 10 UCF 75-71 (Friday)

The Bruins missed Tyler Bilodeau (17.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 46% from beyond the arc) when he was out against UCF on Friday due to a knee injury. As a result, they had to hold off a tough Big 12 squad in the final minutes to get the win. It wasn't a fan-friendly affair: The Bruins missed a lot of shots. But they also forced 17 turnovers. Eric Dailey Jr. (20 points) was one of four UCLA players in double figures. If anything, the Bruins proved that, despite missing their best player, they can play the suffocating defense they'll need to see the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. They'll hope Bilodeau can return, though.

Up next: vs. UConn (Sunday, 8:45 p.m. ET, TNT)

25. Saint Louis Billikens Original seed: No. 9 (Midwest) First-round result: Defeated No. 8 Georgia 102-77 (Thursday)

After winning 24 of its first 25 games, Saint Louis seemed to hit a wall in the final weeks of the regular season, finishing 4-4. Still, the Billikens' body of work always suggested they were a team with an offense capable of dominance. We witnessed the latter Josh Schertz's team registered 128 points per 100 possessions against a Georgia squad that finished 10-8 in the SEC. With Robbie Avila and five other players who've shot at least 37% from 3 this season, the Billikens remain an offensive powerhouse.

Up next: vs. Michigan (Saturday, 12:10 p.m. ET, CBS)

26. VCU Rams Original seed: No. 11 (South) First-round result: Defeated No. 6 North Carolina 82-78 in overtime (Thursday)

Down 19 points in the second half against North Carolina, VCU never lost its cool. Terrence Hill Jr. (34 points) and Lazar Djokovic (15 points, five rebounds, two blocks) led the Rams to their seventh win in a row. For the past 18 games -- that's included just one loss -- they've been around a top-50 offensive and defensive team nationally. It's that proficiency on both ends that they used to win a share of the Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament titles. It's also how the Rams can advance to the Sweet 16.

Up next: vs. Illinois (Saturday, 7:50 p.m. ET, CBS)

27. Utah State Aggies Original seed: No. 9 (West) First-round result: Defeated No. 8 Villanova 86-76 (Friday)

Mason Falslev, the Mountain West player of the year, and MJ Collins Jr., a top transfer from Saint Louis, combined to score 42 points in Friday's win over Villanova. Jerrod Calhoun's squad has registered 120 points per 100 possessions this season with Collins and Falslev on the court together, per EvanMiya. They're the spark for the Mountain West's best offense -- and Utah State's best chance to advance. The Aggies also have an improved defense in recent weeks going for them. Only one opponent in their last four games has surpassed a 45% clip inside the arc.

Up next: vs. Arizona (Sunday, 7:50 p.m. ET, truTV)

28. Texas A&M Aggies Original seed: No. 10 (South) First-round result: Defeated No. 7 Saint Mary's 63-50 (Thursday)

Thursday's win over Saint Mary's allowed the Aggies to showcase their ability to play at a slower tempo and still prevail. The 59-possession game was the slowest of the season for the Aggies, who've played at a top-20 tempo. Yet, they secured their third victory in four games with a dominant effort inside, outscoring the Gaels 28-12 in the paint. It also helped that Rashaun Agee had his sixth game with at least 20 points and eight rebounds. The Aggies are 5-1 in those matchups.

Up next: vs. Houston (Saturday, 6:10 p.m. ET, TNT)

29. TCU Horned Frogs Original seed: No. 9 (East) First-round result: Defeated No. 8 Ohio State 66-64 (Thursday)

TCU knocked off some of the top teams in America this season. Two weeks after losing to Michigan in a tight game in November, the Horned Frogs defeated Florida and Wisconsin in back-to-back contests. In Big 12 play, they beat Iowa State and Texas Tech. For the past month, they have been top 25 in offensive rebounding rate, per BartTorvik. Their gutsy win against Ohio State punctuated that 7-1 stretch. The Frogs continue to win with collective grit and a roster that doesn't have an NBA prospect but relies on four players averaging double figures -- including Xavier Edmonds, who had 16 points and eight rebounds against the Buckeyes.

Up next: vs. Duke (Saturday, 5:15 p.m. ET, CBS)

30. Iowa Hawkeyes Original seed: No. 9 (South) First-round result: Defeated No. 8 Clemson 67-61 (Friday)

For a third consecutive season, the Bennett Stirtz-Ben McCollum pairing has resulted in an NCAA tournament win. They did it at Division II Northwest Missouri State in 2024, they did it at Drake last year. And Friday, the 6-foot-4 Stirtz led all scorers with 16 points as he and McCollum did it again. It was a sloppy game against Clemson, but they did it.

Up next: vs. Florida (Sunday, 7:10 p.m. ET, TBS)

31. Texas Longhorns Original seed: No. 11 (West) First-round result: Defeated No. 6 BYU 79-71 (Thursday)

The Longhorns were 1-5 entering the tournament and ranked 161st in adjusted defensive efficiency during that stretch. They've been better this week, holding NC State to 98 points per 100 possessions in the First Four and then beating BYU despite A.J. Dybantsa's 35-point effort. Sean Miller continues to ride the hot hand, whether that's Dailyn Swain (28 assists in his past five games), Matas Vokietaitis (38 points combined in two NCAA tournament games) or Tramon Mark (18.0 PPG, 45% from beyond the arc in the tournament).

Up next: vs. Gonzaga (Saturday, 7:10 p.m. ET, truTV/TBS)

32. High Point Panthers Original seed: No. 12 (West) First-round result: Defeated No. 5 Wisconsin 83-82 (Thursday)

Entering the NCAA tournament, Wisconsin had one of the field's most impressive collections of wins, with victories over Illinois (twice), Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue. High Point couldn't match that résumé, but it had the most efficient offense and defense in the Big South this season. And the Panthers had lost just once since Dec. 14. They went on to force 10 key turnovers (they're ranked fifth in the nation in defensive turnover rate) in the upset win over Wisconsin. Rob Martin and Terry Anderson (38 points combined against the Badgers) could be a handful for Arkansas.

Up next: vs. Arkansas (Saturday, 9:45 p.m., truTV/TBS)