Coach K breaks down what to watch in the NCAA Tournament
The former Duke coach highlights the key matchups.
(Getty Images) Coach K breaks down what to watch in the NCAA Tournament originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Mike Krzyzewski offered his outlook on what to watch during the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Hall of Fame coach threw out some key matchups and who might have momentum during an appearance on ESPN's Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday. Krzyzewski said the first few minutes of tournament games often reveal as much as any stat line, noting that nerves can dictate early play. The higher-seeded teams frequently feel the pressure of expectations, while underdogs balance opportunity with caution, which can hurt.
“The closer the seeding, the tighter you can be,” Krzyzewski said about tight play in closely seeded matchups. "There's gonna be some great matchups on Saturday and Sunday.. Vanderbilt and Arkansas could both win their region..
John Calipari has done a great job with his team" Coach K #PMSLive pic. twitter. com/aO1KZSYQ14 — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 18, 2026 The former Duke coach mentioned several first-round games he believes could swing the bracket.