Wednesday was another busy day as automatic bids were awarded to the 2026 NCAA Tournament from the Big Sky, Patriot League and the Southland. The winners of those conferences joined the 12 teams that had already clinched a berth to the Big Dance.
McNeese defeated Stephen F. Austin 76-59 in the Southland Tournament title game. The Cowboys’ win over SFA came less than 24 hours after securing a dramatic triple-overtime win over UT Rio Grande Valley in the semifinals. McNeese will make its third consecutive appearance in the Big Dance.
In the Patriot League, Lehigh defeated Boston University 74-60 to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The Mountain Hawks will be making their first appearance in the Big Dance since 2012 — the year the program upset Duke in the first round.
Bracketology locks ahead of Selection Sunday: Who’s safely in, who still has work to do
David Cobb
The Big Sky title game between Idaho and Montana will determine the final AC bid for the day as Idaho takes on Montana. Idaho hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 1990, while Montana could head to the Big Dance for the second consecutive season with a win.
The Big East and SEC will begin their respective tournaments on Wednesday, while second-round action will take place in the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12.
Wednesday’s conference tournament schedule, scores
AACBirmingham, Ala.First roundScoreboardACCCharlotte, N.C.Second roundScoreboardAtlantic 10Pittsburgh, Pa.First roundScoreboardBig 12Kansas City, Mo.Second roundScoreboardBig EastNew York CityFirst roundScoreboardBig SkyBoise, IdahoChampionshipScoreboardBig TenChicagoSecond roundScoreboardBig WestHenderson, Nev.First roundScoreboardConference USAHuntsville, Ala.QuarterfinalsScoreboardMEACNorfolk, Va.First roundScoreboardMountain WestLas VegasFirst roundScoreboardPatriot LeagueHigher seed hostsChampionshipScoreboardSECNashville, Tenn.First roundScoreboardSouthlandLake Charles, La.ChampionshipScoreboardSWACAtlantaQuarterfinalsScoreboardWACLas VegasFirst roundScoreboard
2025-26 conference tournament champions
CONFERENCE DATES LOCATION CHAMPIONSHIP (TV) / CHAMPION America EastMarch 7, 10, 14Higher seed hostsSaturday, 11 a.m. ESPN2 AmericanMarch 11-15Birmingham, Ala.Sunday, 3:15 p.m. ESPN Atlantic 10March 11-15Pittsburgh, Pa.Sunday, 1 p.m. CBS ACCMarch 10-14Charlotte, N.C.Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ESPN ASUNMarch 4,6-8Jacksonville, Fla.Queens Royals (21-13)Big 12March 10-14Kansas City, Mo.Saturday, 6 p.m. ESPN Big EastMarch 11-14New York CitySaturday, 6:30 p.m. Fox Big SkyMarch 7-11Boise, IdahoIdaho Vandals (21-14) Big SouthMarch 4, 6-8Johnson City, Tenn. High Point Panthers (30-4) Big TenMarch 10-15ChicagoSunday, 3:30 p.m. CBS Big WestMarch 11-14Henderson, Nev.Saturday, 10 p.m. ESPN2 CAAMarch 6-10Washington, D.C.Hofstra Pride (24-10)Conference USAMarch 10-14Huntsville, Ala.Saturday, 8:30 p.m. CBS Sports Network Horizon LeagueMarch 2,4,8-10IndianapolisWright State Raiders (23-11)Ivy LeagueMarch 14-15Ithaca, N.Y.Sunday, 12 p.m. ESPN2 MAACMarch 5-10Atlantic City, N.J.Siena Saints (23-11)MACMarch 12-14ClevelandSaturday, 8 p.m. ESPN2 MEACMarch 11-14Norfolk, Va.Saturday, 1 p.m. ESPN2 Missouri ValleyMarch 5-8St. Louis Northern Iowa Panthers (23-12) Mountain WestMarch 11-14Las VegasSaturday, 6 p.m. CBS NortheastMarch 4,7,10Higher seed hostsLong Island Sharks (24-10) Ohio ValleyMarch 4-7Evansville, Ind. Tennessee State Tigers (23-9) Patriot LeagueMarch 3,5,8,11Higher seed hostsLehigh Mountain Hawks (18-16)SECMarch 11-15Nashville, Tenn.Sunday, 1 p.m. ESPN SoConMarch 6-9Asheville, N.C.Furman Paladins (22-12)SouthlandMarch 8-11Lake Charles, La.McNeese Cowboys (28-5)SWACMarch 9-14AtlantaSaturday, 7:30 p.m. ESPNU Summit LeagueMarch 4-8Sioux Falls, S.D.North Dakota State Bison (27-7) Sun BeltMarch 3-9Pensacola, Fla.Troy Trojans (22-11)West CoastMarch 5-10Las VegasGonzaga Bulldogs (30-3)WACMarch 11-14Las VegasSaturday, 12 a.m. ESPN2
Furman upsets East Tennessee State to clinch autobid
In the SoCon Tournament title game, No. 6 seed Furman upset No. 1 seed East Tennessee State 76-61. Furman last made the NCAA Tournament in 2023, when it pulled off a dramatic upset win over Virginia on a last-second shot. This year will mark the program’s eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Gonzaga wins WCC, again
The biggest game of the day was in the WCC. No. 1 seed Gonzaga defeated No. 3 seed Santa Clara 79-68 to win its 21st WCC title since the turn of the century. This was Gonzaga’s final tournament as a member of the WCC, as the program is departing for the new-look Pac-12 this summer.
Santa Clara entered this week on the bubble. After pulling off an upset win over Saint Mary’s on Monday night, the Broncos are still in contention to secure their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996 by receiving an at-large berth, which would make the WCC a three-bid league.
Wright State goes dancing
Elsewhere, Wright State defeated Detroit Mercy 66-63 in the Horizon League championship game. With Detroit Mercy down two points in the final seconds, Wright State forward Kellen Pickett blocked a shot at the rim to seal the victory for his team. Wright State will be making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2022.
Hofstra advances to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001
In the CAA Championship, Hofstra advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001 with a 75-69 win over Monmouth. Siena defeated Merrimack 64-54 to punch its ticket to the Big Dance for the first time since 2010.
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