Uncategorized NCAA Tournament: Duke, Arizona, Michigan and Florida Claim No. 1 Seeds in Men’s Bracket
The men’s NCAA Tournament bracket is set: Duke, Arizona, Michigan and Florida have claimed the four No. 1 seeds.
The Associated Press | March 16, 2026 | 1:17 AM
Cameron Boozer and Duke are ready for the NCAA tourney. The men’s NCAA Tournament bracket is set, and Duke, Arizona, Michigan and Florida have claimed the four No. 1 seeds.
Duke, the No. 1 overall seed, will take on No. 16 Siena in the first round. Arizona, No. 1 in the West, will face Long Island University. Michigan and Florida will learn their opponents after the First Four, set for Mar. 17-18. Florida will play the winner of Lehigh vs. Prairie View, and Michigan will host the winner of UMBC vs. Howard.
The Wolverines (31-3) are the third overall seed behind Duke and Arizona and will be trying to win the Big Ten’s first national championship since Michigan State in 2000. This is the fourth time the Wolverines have earned a No. 1 seed.
Led by Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan set a conference record with 19 league wins. They enter the tournament after an 80-72 loss to Purdue in the Big Ten championship game.
Top overall seed Duke (32-2) headlines a stacked East Region. Dan Hurley’s UConn is the 2-seed, followed by teams led by Hall of Fame coaches Tom Izzo, Bill Self, and Rick Pitino.
Arizona, the Big 12 champion, is the No. 1 seed in the West Region and will open against Long Island University in San Diego. The region also features No. 2 seed Purdue, Gonzaga, and Arkansas.
Defending champion Florida’s path could include a South Region final rematch with No. 2 seed Houston. No. 3 Illinois and No. 4 Nebraska are also top contenders in the region.
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