Heat Set to Sweep Title Playoffs; Fans Can't Wait for Magic Moments!
This is an interesting and mostly solid field.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 14: Head Coach Todd Golden of the Florida Gators reacts to a play during the second half in the semifinal game of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Bridgestone Arena on March 14, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images) | Getty Images We’ll do a more comprehensive look later, but here are some initial thoughts about the NCAA tournament field. First, both NC State and SMU are in the First Four.
Better in than out, but it’s also sort of damning with faint praise. Both teams need to get out there to be taken seriously. Both are favored, but both run hot and cold.
We don’t know a lot about South Florida yet, but Louisville has been vulnerable, and if Mikel Brown is still out, then that’s even more true. It’s nice to see Johnny Dawkins get his UCF Knights in. It wouldn’t shock us to see them get to the Sweet 16.
Don’t hold us to that yet, but there is a path. If we’re Brad Brownell, we’d be really leery about Iowa. Coach Ben McCollum is a brilliant rising star, and he has a brilliant point guard in Bennett Stirtz.