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March Madness Returns to Jacksonville with ASUN Tournaments
Central Arkansas men and Eastern Kentucky women earn top seeds as postseason basketball comes to the First Coast
Published on Mar. 2, 2026
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The ASUN men's and women's basketball tournaments are set to take place in Jacksonville from March 3-9, with the winners earning automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. Central Arkansas and Eastern Kentucky are the top seeds on the men's and women's sides, respectively. Games will be held at UNF Arena, Swisher Gym, and VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, marking the return of NCAA postseason basketball to the city for the first time since 2019.
Why it matters
Jacksonville has a rich history of hosting ASUN tournament games, but the last time the full men's and women's tournaments were played in the city was over a decade ago. The return of March Madness to the First Coast is an exciting development for local basketball fans and a chance for the city to showcase its ability to host major college sports events.
The details
The ASUN men's tournament will feature first-round games on March 4, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and the championship game on March 8 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. The women's tournament will begin with first-round games on March 3, leading up to the championship game on March 9, also at VyStar Arena. Tickets are on sale now, with premium seating options available for the later rounds.
- The ASUN men's and women's tournaments will take place from March 3-9, 2026.
- The men's championship game is scheduled for March 8 at 2 p.m. ET.
- The women's championship game is scheduled for March 9 at 5 p.m. ET.
The players
Central Arkansas
The No. 1 seed in the ASUN men's tournament, with a 20-11 regular season record.
Eastern Kentucky
The No. 1 seed in the ASUN women's tournament, with a 24-7 regular season record.
Jacksonville University (JU)
The No. 2 seed in the ASUN women's tournament, with a 21-8 regular season record.
University of North Florida (UNF)
The No. 10 seed in the ASUN men's tournament, with a 7-24 regular season record.
Bobby Kennen
The head coach of the UNF men's basketball team.
What they’re saying
“Everyone's 0-0. Everything we've talked about for the last 37 weeks together is now down to one game. We have to maximize this and put ourselves in the best position each and every play.”
— Bobby Kennen, UNF Men's Basketball Head Coach (jacksonville.com)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
The return of the ASUN men's and women's basketball tournaments to Jacksonville is an exciting development for the city, which has a rich history of hosting postseason college basketball. The tournament represents a chance for the community to come together and support their local teams as they compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
