5 Reasons Why Your Team Will Win The 2026 NCAA Tournament

Georgia Bulldogs

• The Bulldogs lead the nation in fast-break points, averaging 20 per game, essentially turning every possession into a track meet.

• Sophomore sensation Kanon Catchings is a human microwave, headlining an offense that ranks 5th nationally with 90 points per game.  He might be catching(s) fire at the right time.

• Coach Mike White has the most boring name in all of college basketball but his teams are fantastic to watch.  He led UGA to a program-record 22 regular-season wins by bringing a fast-paced, aggressive style of basketball to Athens.

• The fanbase recently learned that the school features other sports besides football and the fans are very excited by the novelty of rooting for players that don’t have significant head injuries.

• After beating ranked powers like Alabama and Arkansas this season, this squad has already shown they can play with some of the best teams in the country.  No off-nights in the SEC.

By Keith Spillett

Iowa Hawkeyes

• After winning four Division II national titles, McCollum has immediately brought wins to Iowa, becoming the first coach since Dr. Tom Davis in 1987 to lead the program to the tournament in year one.

• The Hawkeyes rank No. 30 in the nation in turnovers, giving away only 9.7 per game, ensuring they don't beat themselves in high-stakes March games.

• Former MVC Player of the Year Bennett Stirtz leads the offense with 20.0 points and 4.5 assists, providing the kind of high-level guard play that is historically essential for a deep tournament run.

• With a starting lineup largely composed of veteran transfers who followed McCollum from Drake and from D2, this squad possesses a rare level of chemistry and big game experience.

• Having developed a reputation as a team that considers defense the brief and annoying interval between taking shots under Fran McCaffrey, this team surprisingly ranks 17th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 66.0 points per game and proving they can grind out close wins.

  
  

By Keith Spillett

Kennesaw State Owls

1 In just his third season, Antoine Pettway has increased the team's win total every year, culminating in a 21-win season and a return to March Madness.  The Owls have been inspired by his infectious positivity and are peaking at the right time.

2 The Owls annihilate opponents on the glass ranking 7th nationally in offensive rebounds (13.9 per game) and 15th in total rebounds, ensuring they get plenty of second-chance looks.

3 Guard RJ Johnson has emerged as the heart of the team, averaging 14.5 points and 4.0 assists while shooting a lethal 43.3% from beyond the arc.  Johnson’s physical presence makes him look like a genetically created mashup between Mark Jackson and Brian Urlacher and presents significant matchup problems for smaller guards.

4 The Conference USA All-Tournament freshman has been unstoppable lately, scoring in double figures in six straight games and providing a massive interior presence to go with his Flock of Seagulls haircut.

5 This team was left for dead after star guard Simeon Cottle left the team due to a federal indictment for point shaving.  Their ability to overcome adversity is unquestionable and they are in the midst of a genuinely magical season.

By Keith Spillett

Louisville Cardinals

• Star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. is expected back from injury, and when he's on, he’s historic—literally, he broke the ACC freshman scoring record with 45 points earlier this year.

• Ranking 20th nationally with nearly 85 points per game, this team can simply outscore anyone on a given night.

• With seniors like Ryan Conwell and Isaac McKneely, the roster is packed with experienced guards who "shoot the cover off the ball."

• Louisville is one of only eight teams in the country to rank in the Top 25 for both offensive and defensive efficiency per KenPom.

• Reserve Vangelis Zougris (aka "Clark Kent") proved in the ACC Tournament that he can step up as a high-impact starter when the pressure is highest.  As long as he can get to a phonebooth.

By Keith Spillett

McNeese State Cowboys

• Under first-year coach Bill Armstrong, McNeese has maintained its elite status, entering the Big Dance on a scorching 10-game winning streak.  Unlike his predecessor, the only show-cause associated with him is that he shows other teams his players can cause havoc.

• They rank in the top 50 nationally in offensive efficiency, averaging 80.0 points per game while shooting an efficient 47% from the floor.

• Freshman phenom Larry Johnson is averaging 17.5 points per game and has already proven he can carry the load on the biggest stages.  He’s not Grandmama, but he’s a heck of a player.

• They rank 2nd in the nation in turnover margin, forcing opponents into nearly 17 turnovers per game with a relentless, high-pressure defense.

• History loves a No. 12 seed upset, and, coincidentally, they were a 12-seed last year when they held Clemson to 13 first half points on the way to victory.  And once a team gets rolling, you never know how far they can take it.

By Keith Spillett

Michigan Wolverines

1. Dusty May has turned the Wolverines into a mirror image of their football program (historically) elite size, balanced scoring, and clutch execution when it matters.  He is the rare coach who can adapt to anything mid-game.

2. Michigan showed remarkable dominance in the regular season. They were 19-1 in regular season conference play.

   
   

3.  They have size and versatility inside and out. Towering bigs with skill, guards who can defend and stretch the floor, and have a physical edge over most opponents.

   
   

4. They are battle tested, handling tough Big Ten wars, blowing away the field in the Players Era Festival, and nearly getting revenge against Duke for the Fab 5.  They showed late game poise in close contests, positioning them to thrive when the lights are brightest in the tournament.

   
   

5. They play with a chip on their (our) shoulder. This group is thinking title and nothing less. They have fire and leadership that is not typical of portal transfers. They believe in their coach and have a loyal well traveled fan base that can take over any arena. 

   
   

By Justin Matteo

Justin is a host of the "Sports Live With Steve and Justin" which is available every week at Steveandjustin.com or on any Podcast platform.

NC State Wolf Pack

• In just his first season, Coach Wade has revitalized Raleigh by leading the Pack to a 20-win season and a return to the Big Dance.  If they can get past “The COINTELPRO Bowl”, a battle between coaches who have appeared on FBI wiretaps (Sean Miller at Texas being the other), they can get some momentum going.

• They rank 12th nationally in 3-point percentage (38.8%), with Paul McNeil Jr. leading the charge with a near-program-record 102 triples.

• The roster is built for March, featuring five key transfers who combined for nearly 400 minutes of NCAA Tournament action just last season.  Darrion Williams was a huge part of the run Texas Tech made last year and has shown the ability to shine in March.

• The Wolfpack offense features four different starters averaging nearly 14 points-per-game.  Balanced scoring is tough to stop.

• It seems like it should be harder to have to play in an 11-seed play-in game, but several teams have launched deep tournament runs from that spot including VCU (2011) and UCLA (2021) who made it from the First Four to the Final Four. Getting the momentum of a tough early win can propel teams a long way.

Queens Royals

1.  Queens can be extremely powerful.  Queen Victoria reigned over England for 80 years or something like that.

2.  Unless your playing blackjack, Queens are better than Kings.  

3.  Because their mascot Buddy the Street Dog sounds really mean and German Shepherds are likely tougher than Boilermakers, whatever those are.

4.  Because their school motto is "Not To Be Served, but to Serve", they will likely serve their opponents a can of whoop-a$$.

5. They rank 20th nationally in Effective Field Goal Percentage (56.5%) and 13th in Two-Point Percentage (59.2%).  Which is good.

Keep Calm and Dribble On,

Shannon McGinty-Spillett

St. Louis Billikens

1. Variety of Offensive Weapons

The Billikens were one of the hottest teams in the country up until recently, but the offense still has some sparks left. They’re one of the premier offensive units in the country, averaging 87.2 points a game (11th) and an offensive rating of 121.1 (14th), but not based off one star. Their leading scorer is A-10 Player of the Year Robbie Avila, who averaged 12.9 points a game. Including Avila, seven Billikens average nine points or more, which gives head coach Josh Schertz a lot of different options to outsmart opposing defenses.

2. Making ‘Em Miss

While the offense has been elite as it gets, the defense was just as effective in the Billikens’ incredible year. They held opponents to 69.5 points per game, 63rd in the country, but their defensive rating of 96.5 ranks 13th in the country. Their strength is making opponents miss shots, ranking first overall in opponent field goal percentage at a 37.9% clip. Avila and fellow frontcourt members Amari McCottry and Paul Otieno play a big role in closing off the paint while Dion Brown, Trey Green, Kellen Thames, Ishan Sharma, Brady Dunlap and Quentin Jones help shrink the three-point line, holding opponents to 29.4% from beyond the arc.

3. Team Full of Currys

I didn’t find it possible to have a college basketball team full of Stephen Currys. That was until I watched Saint Louis absolutely torch St. Bonaventure at the Reilly Center a couple of months ago. It felt like they never missed, and it was reflected in the stat sheet. Well, they did miss. Everyone misses. But the Billikens are the best at not missing more shots than the other team… something like that. Of the seven players who shoot at least two threes a game (with 20 or more games played), five of them shoot over 40% from three. The best of the bunch is Green, who led the A-10 in three-point percentage at 45.7%.

4. Much-Needed Rest and Recuperation

A couple of months ago, Saint Louis was far and away the hottest team not named Miami (Ohio), reaching 24-1 as recently as February 13th. Now? They’ve lulled as of late to a 4-4 stretch, with a close loss to Rhode Island and blowouts to Dayton and George Mason to end the regular season. They then lost on a game-winning shot to the Flyers again in the A-10 Tournament and limped their way to a nine seed. They’ll take on Georgia late Thursday night, so those few days off to reset can be the difference between an early exit and a Day One win. It could even be the difference for a national title.

5. Their Mascot Will Scare Off Everyone Else

Okay, I wish I was the person I was a few hours ago before I knew what a Billiken was. Thanks to my forever friend Wikipedia, I now will likely see the little creep in my nightmares for the next week. Basically, the Billiken is a charm doll created by Kansas City art teacher Florence Pretz. Pretz said that she saw this figure in her dreams, describing it with pointy ears, a tuft of hair on its pointed head and a devious smile. Saint Louis made it their official mascot because they believed it resembled former football coach John R. Bender. End of history lesson. But yeah, if I saw a Billiken in an alleyway, I’d run the other way and implore the other 67 teams to run for the hills and give Saint Louis the title by default. Better losing out on a championship than suffering an eternity of nightmares with your shiny trophy.

By Colin Bish

St. Mary’s Gales

• Paulius Murauskas is a walking double-double who led the WCC in rebounding, making the Gaels one of the most difficult teams to guard in the paint.

• Saint Mary's ranks No. 1 in the nation in free-throw shooting at 80.5%, which is essentially a cheat code for winning close games in March.  With games often coming down to the fire, that’s a nice thing to have in your back pocket.

• Randy Bennett took over a 2-27 team in 2001 and turned them into a perennial tournament powerhouse.  Take the Covid year out of the equation and they have 18 consecutive 20-win seasons.

• They boast the 7th-ranked scoring defense in the country, allowing just 64.6 points per game and making every possession feel like an eternity for opponents.

• The Gaels play at one of the slowest paces in college basketball, a which can frustrate the hell out of more talented teams that like to play up-tempo.  Snails regularly consult Bennett for advice.

By Keith Spillett

SMU Mustangs

• Senior guard Boopie Miller is a certified star, averaging 19.2 points and 6.4 assists while leading a high-octane offense that ranks 23rd nationally.

• The Mustangs are an offensive powerhouse, ranking 13th in the nation in efficiency and averaging nearly 85 points per game.

• Their 7-foot-2 sophomore center Samet Yiğitoğlu is a dominant force in the paint, leading the team in blocks and ranking 1st in the ACC in offensive rebounds.

• In just his second season at SMU, the former mayor of “Dunk City” has shown he can put together March Magic.

• Despite an 8-10 conference record, SMU must stand for “See...Math is Useful”, building a strong tournament resume almost entirely based on analytics.  Maybe the computers know something we don’t.

By Keith Spillett

Texas Longhorns

• In his first year at the helm, Sean Miller has already secured Texas's sixth consecutive tournament bid, bringing the veteran coaching experience needed for high-stakes elimination games, in spite of the fact that he has fat fingers.

• Texas is an elite scoring unit, ranking 13th nationally in offensive efficiency and averaging 83.8 points per game, their highest mark since the mid-90s.

• As the SEC Newcomer of the Year and a Julius Erving Award finalist, Dailyn Swain is a versatile who leads the team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals.

• Texas already proved they can take down their First Four opponent, NC State, in a 102-97 shootout earlier this season, giving them a psychological edge right out of the gate.

• Since the First Four began, a team from Dayton has reached the Sweet 16 or further in almost every tournament, proving that being a No. 11 seed can be more of a help than a hindrance.

By Keith Spillett

Texas Tech Red Raiders

• Texas Tech is potent from international waters, ranking 5th nationally in 3-point percentage (39.3%) and averaging over 11 made triples per game.

• Their star guard, Christian Anderson, is a certified bucket-getter, averaging 18.9 points and 7.6 assists who can get the whole team involved.  Like his great-great-great uncle Hans Christian Andersen, he can create a legend with the best of them.

• Coach Grant McCasland has a .709 winning percentage at Tech and has already proven he can orchestrate deep March runs with his disciplined, tough-nosed style.  His teams grind you harder than a well-compensated exotic dancer.

• They have already beat two #1 seeds in Duke and Arizona at neutral sites.  They are built to topple giants.

• JT Toppin is so good that even injured and unable to play or even walk, other teams still have to account for him on defense.

By Keith Spillett

Troy Trojans

Troy is a university in Troy, Alabama, which happens to be the worst city in America. With that fact stated, here is why Troy will win the whole thing.

1) Defense - Troy players excel at defense. Being defensive is part of the character of people in and from the city. Imagine having to answer the question, “you chose to go to school where?” constantly.

2)Rebounding - Troy is elite at rebounding. Much like the mythical city that bounced back from an embarrassing loss at the hands of a wooden horse only to become a town in Alabama with multiple Piggly Wiggly locations, this Troy team rebounds with a ferocity that is truly the stuff of legends.

3)Pace - Much like the people of Troy when they hear there’s a sale down at the Piggly Wiggly, the Trojans move fast.

4) Excitement - Have you ever taken in the atmosphere at the ole field house in Troy? Of course you haven’t. Outside of a prison sentence or having to buy a car from your uncle’s shady truck driver friend (sorry, I digress), no one goes to Troy on purpose. They are used to playing in a state and town that’s lucky to have electricity. Get them in the bright lights of Oklahoma City and watch these guys come to life!

5) X Factor - If they lose, they have to go back to Troy. If they win, they get to leave Troy again next weekend.

By Matt Bailey

UCF Knights

• Now in his 10th season, Dawkins has built a veteran squad that just set a program record with three wins over Top 25 opponents in a single season.

• Senior guard Themus Fulks is a wizard with the ball, ranking 10th nationally in assists (6.7 apg) and providing the steady leadership needed for a deep March run.

• UCF boasts one of the most productive benches in the Big 12, averaging over 23 points per game from their reserves to keep the starters fresh for 40 minutes.

• 7 foot 2 Sophomore  John “The Wall After Tacko Fall” Bol Ajak has emerged as a defensive anchor, shooting a ridiculous 76% from the floor while altering every shot that enters the paint.  

• After surviving the rigors of a Big 12 schedule —including an early-season upset of No. 17 Kansas—the Knights are officially immune to being intimidated by higher seeds.

By Keith Spillett

UCLA Bruins

• After a surprisingly sluggish regular season, the senior guard has shown significant growth in the past month including his first-ever triple-double in the Big Ten Tournament, showing that all of the transfer portal hype around him was legit.  

• UCLA ranks 7th nationally in turnovers, a safety net that ensures they won’t gift-wrap easy transition buckets to their opponents in elimination games.

• The Bruins are shooting a lethal 38.2% from three-point range (18th in the nation), giving them the floor-spacing needed to punish teams that collapse on their bigs.

• This isn’t your standard laid-back, West Coast basketball team.  They play with the grit and grime of a 1980s Big East Squad.

• Mick Cronin is clearly on the brink of a massive psychotic break.  His team will do everything they can to win in hopes of keeping him from writing love letters to Jodie Foster and trying to bite the ear off of a reporter.

By Keith Spillett