March Madness Kicks Off with Conference Tournaments

The most exciting time of the college basketball season is here, as conference tournaments get underway across the country.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The 2026 college basketball postseason is set to begin, with conference tournament action kicking off on Monday night. Over the next two weeks, 32 conference tournaments will take place, with teams fighting to keep their seasons alive and earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. This period of "madness before the madness" is a beloved part of the college basketball calendar, providing high drama, heartbreak, and the opportunity for Cinderella stories to emerge.

Why it matters

March Madness is a unifying event that brings Americans together, providing a shared experience and sense of community. Despite the country's divisions, the tournament offers a rare moment where people from all backgrounds can rally behind their local teams and enjoy the thrill of the underdog's quest for glory.

The details

The conference tournament action will culminate on April 6, when the national champion is crowned inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Along the way, there will be countless nail-biting finishes, season-ending losses, and season-preserving wins that captivate fans across the country. Even teams with little chance of making the NCAA Tournament will have the opportunity to pull off an upset and punch their ticket to the Big Dance, keeping the dream alive.

  • The Horizon League Tournament opened on Monday night, kicking off the start of the conference tournament season.
  • First-round games in the Atlantic Sun, Sun Belt, Ohio Valley, Northeast and Summit League tournaments will take place on Wednesday.

The players

North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks

The reigning champions of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament, who defeated the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens in the 2025 title game.

Saint Peter's Peacocks

The small New Jersey school that stunned the college basketball world by upsetting Kentucky in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, becoming the first 15-seed to advance that far.

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What they’re saying

“March Madness is America. It is deeply flawed. There are inherent disadvantages that a majority of the participants will need a significant dose of both skill and luck to overcome if they want to become nationally known and respected.”

— Mike Rutherford (SB Nation)

“Obtaining college basketball's top prize is extremely unlikely for the vast majority of the 365 teams competing in Division-I. At least it's not impossible. At least the bottom-tier NET school that won its conference tournament gets the chance to prove itself on the sport's biggest stage.”

— Mike Rutherford (SB Nation)

What’s next

The conference tournament champions will be determined over the next two weeks, with those teams earning automatic bids to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The 68-team field for the Big Dance will be announced on Selection Sunday, March 16.

The takeaway

March Madness, with its conference tournaments and NCAA Tournament, is a unifying force in American sports that provides hope, drama, and a shared experience for fans across the country. Despite the inherent flaws and inequities in the system, the tournament's ability to captivate audiences and produce Cinderella stories makes it an essential part of the sports landscape.