California teams could go on Cinderella runs through March Madness

California Love is displayed throughout the NCAA men's basketball tournament this year, with UCLA leading the way. However, there are some surprising California sleepers experts predict can have a Cinderella run and bust brackets along the way. California Baptist, Santa Clara and Saint Mary's College have all earned bids to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The California Baptist Lancers are going to the big dance for the first time. The Santa Clara Broncos are going for the first time in a long time; their last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 1996, when they were led by Steve Nash. For the Saint Mary's Gaels, it's their fifth straight appearance, but they have been a first- or second-round exit each year since 2022.

All three hope to make this the year of unpredictability. Here's what the experts think of their chances in the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament. More NCAA: March Madness bracket predictions, from hot takes to upsets to Final Four picks No.

10 Santa Clara could repeat history, 30 years later The last time Santa Clara made an appearance in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, no player on the current roster was born. It was 1996 and it was led by some Canadian kid named Steve Nash. The Broncos earned a No.