NCAA Tournament Update: Duke, High Point Play Saturday

First Four and first round action in the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament

Mar. 21, 2026 at 6:49am

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The 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament is underway, with the First Four and first round games completed. Notable results include Howard defeating UMBC and Texas beating NC State in the First Four, while Duke, Michigan, and Gonzaga all advanced in the first round. The second round matchups for Saturday, March 21 are set, with highlights including Duke vs. TCU and High Point vs. Arkansas.

Why it matters

The NCAA Tournament is one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the year, capturing the attention of millions of college basketball fans across the country. These early tournament games provide the first glimpse at which teams have the potential to make deep runs and compete for the national championship.

The details

In the First Four, Howard defeated UMBC 86-83, while Texas beat NC State 68-66. In the first round, Duke, Michigan, and Gonzaga all advanced, setting up a second round matchup between Duke and TCU on Saturday. Other notable first round results include VCU upsetting North Carolina, Nebraska defeating Troy, and High Point pulling off an upset over Wisconsin.

  • The First Four games were played on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18.
  • The first round games were played on Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20.
  • The second round games will be played on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22.

The players

Duke

A perennial NCAA Tournament contender and one of the top teams in the country.

High Point

A mid-major program that pulled off an upset over Wisconsin in the first round.

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What they’re saying

“This tournament is always full of surprises, and we're seeing that play out again this year. It's going to be an exciting couple of weeks ahead.”

— Dick Vitale, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The second round games on Saturday and Sunday will determine which teams advance to the Sweet 16 next week.

The takeaway

The early rounds of the NCAA Tournament have delivered plenty of drama and upsets, setting the stage for an exciting finish to determine this year's national champion.