NCAA Tournament 2026: Four North Carolina teams, four very different March Madness storylines
Here’s a matchup-by-matchup look at Duke, UNC, High Point and Queens, including game times, TV information and key storylines.
FEELING LUCKY THE SAINT PATRICK’S DAY IT MIGHT BE YOUR TIME TO SHINE WHILE PICKING YOUR MARCH MADNESS BRACKET AFTER THIS NEXT STORY. WXII 12 SERRA SOWERS HAD THE FUN ASSIGNMENT OF THE DAY. SHE LOOKS AT JUST HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO CREATE A BASKETBALL BRACKET, AND HOW LUCKY YOU NEED TO BE TO WIN THE WHOLE THING. MARCH MADNESS BRINGS UP A LOT OF QUESTIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING YOUR BRACKET, BECAUSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE NATIONWIDE ARE SHOOTING THEIR SHOT. BUT A COUPLE QUESTIONS COME TO MIND. NUMBER ONE, WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF MAKING A PERFECT BRACKET? AND NUMBER TWO, HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU STAND TO LOSE IF YOU BET ON IT? IF YOU JUST WENT THROUGH AND RANDOMLY CHOSE, YOU’RE ACTUALLY MORE LIKELY TO CHOOSE ONE SPECIFIC GRAIN OF SAND ON THE EARTH THAN YOU ARE TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT BRACKET. SO THE ODDS ARE SOMEWHERE AROUND ONE OUT OF 9.2 QUINTILLION. YOU HEARD HIM RIGHT. THE ODDS OF CHOOSING A PERFECT WINNING BRACKET ARE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE, AND IN FACT, IT’S NEVER BEEN DONE. WELL, SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO. BET OR CHOOSE THE TEAMS THAT ARE THEIR FAVORITES. I KNOW, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEIR SEAT IS, THEY’RE GOING TO PICK THEM TO WIN. UNCG ASSOCIATE DEAN OF RESEARCH BOB HENSON SAYS THERE ARE LOTS OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO MAKING A BASKETBALL BRACKET THAT INVOLVE MORE THAN JUST LUCK. OTHERS ARE GOING TO GO BASED ON THE SEAT ALONE, SO THEY’RE GOING TO PICK YOUR TOP SEEDS, AND THEN YOU’RE GOING TO GET YOUR ONES THAT ARE LIKE REALLY DOWN IN THE DATA, AND THEY’RE GOING TO KNOW THAT SOMEBODY’S STAR PLAYER JUST GOT INJURED OR THEY’RE GOING TO KNOW HOW THEY DID JUST RECENTLY AND THINGS LIKE THAT. HE SAYS THE FOUR NORTH CAROLINA TEAMS HAVE VARIOUS LEVELS OF LUCK IN MAKING IT ALL THE WAY, THE MOST LIKELY BEING THE NUMBER ONE SEED. I THINK, AGAIN, THAT WOULD GIVE THEM LIKE A 40% CHANCE. USUALLY YOUR NUMBER SIX SEEDS, LIKE YOU CAN SEE THEY HAVE A A 3 TO 5% CHANCE OF GETTING THERE. NC STATE FANS, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES FOR NC, EVEN THOUGH AN 11 HAS MADE IT TO THE FINAL FOUR, IT’S REALLY UNLIKELY. WE’VE NEVER SEEN 11TH SEED MAKE IT TO THE FINAL FOUR, SO IT’S PROBABLY UNLIKELY THAT THEY MAKE IT TO THE FINAL FOUR, BUT THERE’S ALWAYS A CHANCE. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BETTING BIG BUCKS AGAINST THESE ODDS, ONE PSYCHOLOGIST RECOMMENDS PLAYING IT SAFE AND KEEPING SPORTS FUN. WE WANT PEOPLE TO STAY, FANS KEEP IT FUN AND NOT GET SO EMOTIONALLY INVESTED. WE DON’T WANT YOU TO APPROACH MARCH MADNESS AND BETTING ON A BRACKET LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG WIN FOR YOU. THAT’S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, COVER YOUR MORTGAGE OR PAY OFF THAT DEBT. WE WANT TO KEEP IT FUN, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY MONEY THAT WE DO RISK ON PLAYING THE BRACKETS IS MONEY THAT WE CAN AFFORD TO LOSE. FOR A FULL BREAKDOWN OF THE STATS AND TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN BRACKET, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE WXII 12 DOT COM REPORTIN
NCAA Tournament 2026: Four North Carolina teams, four very different March Madness storylines
Here’s a matchup-by-matchup look at Duke, UNC, High Point and Queens, including game times, TV information and key storylines.
Updated: 11:51 AM EDT Mar 18, 2026
No. 1 Duke Blue Devils vs. No. 16 SienaGame time: 2:50 p.m. ET, Thursday Location: Greenville, South Carolina Watch: CBS OddsDuke is a 28.5-point favorite.The Blue Devils are the national title favorite at +350. Storyline The Blue Devils also enter the tournament dealing with key injuries.Caleb Foster suffered a fracture in his right foot in the UNC finale and is out until at least the Final Four.Patrick Ngongba II is day-to-day after a non-contact knee injury suffered during practice.HistoryDuke’s 2025 and 2026 teams are the program’s first to repeat as ACC Tournament champions since the 2010 and 2011 teams. This is the Blue Devils’ fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. What’s next The winner advances to face the winner of Ohio State-TCU.No. 6 North Carolina Tar Heels vs. No. 11 VCUGame time: 6:50 p.m. ET, ThursdayLocation: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South CarolinaWatch: TNTOddsNorth Carolina is a 2.5-point favorite over VCU.StorylineThis year is a redemption for UNC In 2025, the Tar Heels became the first preseason No. 1 team to miss the NCAA Tournament since the field expanded in 1985.Star freshman Caleb Wilson will miss the rest of the season after breaking his right thumb in practice in early March. Wilson’s last game was Feb. 20.UNC is 5-3 in eight games without him.Upset watchThe Tar Heel’s opponent, VCU, has been identified as an upset pick by NBC Sports. According to NBC Sports, the Tar Heels may be at a disadvantage without Caleb Wilson, and VCU has the potential to continue the Atlantic 10’s history of strong performances in the NCAA Tournament.HistoryThis is UNC’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five seasons.What’s nextThe winner will play the winner of Illinois-Penn.No. 12 High Point Panthers vs. No. 5 WisconsinGame time: 1:50 p.m. ET, ThursdayLocation: Portland, OregonWatch: TBSOddsWisconsin is a 10.5-point favorite. StorylineHigh Point enters the tournament as the Big South’s automatic qualifier.The Panthers are one of the more intriguing No. 12 seeds in the field.NBC Sports called this the best Round 1 matchup. HistoryThe Panthers are making just their second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.The 12-vs.-5 matchup has a long upset history.NBC Sports: No. 12 seeds have won 35.6% of the time against No. 5 seeds since 1985.Fun factsHigh Point broke its program record three times this season for largest margin of victory over a Division I opponent.Those wins came against Canisius (93-50), Bryant (93-47), and Gardner-Webb (81-59).In non-conference play, Head Coach Flynn Clayman set the Big South and program records for most non-conference wins by a first-year head coach with 12.What’s nextThe winner will play the winner of Arkansas-Hawaii.No. 15 Queens Royals vs. No. 2 PurdueGame time: 7:35 p.m. ET, FridayLocation: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MissouriWatch: truTVOddsPurdue is a 25.5-point favorite.Storyline The Royals are making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The school only became a full NCAA Division I member on July 1.Queens previously competed in the South Atlantic Conference as an NCAA Division II program.Fun factsIn the overtime win over No. 1 ASUN seed Central Arkansas, Queens buried 16 threes.That total was one shy of tying the ASUN Tournament single-game record. The Royal’s opponent, Purdue, is making its 11th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.What’s nextThe winner will play the winner of No. 7 Miami (FL) and No. 10 Missouri.RELATED CONTENT:
No. 1 Duke Blue Devils vs. No. 16 Siena
AP Photo/Nell Redmond
Duke celebrates winning the ACC title
Game time: 2:50 p.m. ET, Thursday
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Watch: CBS
OddsDuke is a 28.5-point favorite.
The Blue Devils are the national title favorite at +350. Storyline
The Blue Devils also enter the tournament dealing with key injuries.Caleb Foster suffered a fracture in his right foot in the UNC finale and is out until at least the Final Four.Patrick Ngongba II is day-to-day after a non-contact knee injury suffered during practice.
HistoryDuke’s 2025 and 2026 teams are the program’s first to repeat as ACC Tournament champions since the 2010 and 2011 teams. This is the Blue Devils’ fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. What’s next The winner advances to face the winner of Ohio State-TCU.No. 6 North Carolina Tar Heels vs. No. 11 VCU
AP Photo/Chris Seward
UNC celebrates its win over No. 1 Duke on Feb. 7, 2026
Game time: 6:50 p.m. ET, Thursday
Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
Watch: TNT
OddsNorth Carolina is a 2.5-point favorite over VCU.StorylineThis year is a redemption for UNC In 2025, the Tar Heels became the first preseason No. 1 team to miss the NCAA Tournament since the field expanded in 1985.Star freshman Caleb Wilson will miss the rest of the season after breaking his right thumb in practice in early March. Wilson’s last game was Feb. 20.UNC is 5-3 in eight games without him.Upset watchThe Tar Heel’s opponent, VCU, has been identified as an upset pick by NBC Sports. According to NBC Sports, the Tar Heels may be at a disadvantage without Caleb Wilson, and VCU has the potential to continue the Atlantic 10’s history of strong performances in the NCAA Tournament.HistoryThis is UNC’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five seasons.What’s nextThe winner will play the winner of Illinois-Penn.No. 12 High Point Panthers vs. No. 5 Wisconsin
High Point University Athletics
HPU earns #15 seed in second tournament appearance
Game time: 1:50 p.m. ET, Thursday
Location: Portland, Oregon
Watch: TBS
OddsWisconsin is a 10.5-point favorite. StorylineHigh Point enters the tournament as the Big South’s automatic qualifier.The Panthers are one of the more intriguing No. 12 seeds in the field.NBC Sports called this the best Round 1 matchup. HistoryThe Panthers are making just their second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.The 12-vs.-5 matchup has a long upset history.NBC Sports: No. 12 seeds have won 35.6% of the time against No. 5 seeds since 1985.Fun factsHigh Point broke its program record three times this season for largest margin of victory over a Division I opponent.Those wins came against Canisius (93-50), Bryant (93-47), and Gardner-Webb (81-59).In non-conference play, Head Coach Flynn Clayman set the Big South and program records for most non-conference wins by a first-year head coach with 12.What’s nextThe winner will play the winner of Arkansas-Hawaii.No. 15 Queens Royals vs. No. 2 Purdue
Lizzie Kuebler/Queens University
Queens earns #15 seed in NCAA D1 tournament debut
Game time: 7:35 p.m. ET, Friday
Location: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Watch: truTV
OddsPurdue is a 25.5-point favorite.Storyline The Royals are making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The school only became a full NCAA Division I member on July 1.Queens previously competed in the South Atlantic Conference as an NCAA Division II program.Fun factsIn the overtime win over No. 1 ASUN seed Central Arkansas, Queens buried 16 threes.That total was one shy of tying the ASUN Tournament single-game record. The Royal’s opponent, Purdue, is making its 11th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.What’s nextThe winner will play the winner of No. 7 Miami (FL) and No. 10 Missouri.
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