Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Bracket Revealed

Troy earns top seed, Marshall claims No. 2 spot in six-way tie for second place

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Sun Belt Conference has released the bracket for its 2026 men's basketball tournament, which will take place from March 3-9 at the Pensacola Bay Center in Florida. Troy University secured the No. 1 seed after winning the regular-season championship with a 12-6 conference record, while Marshall emerged from a six-way tie for second place to claim the No. 2 seed.

Why it matters

The Sun Belt Conference tournament is a highly anticipated annual event that determines the automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. With several teams vying for the top spots, the tournament is expected to be highly competitive and provide an exciting showcase of talent from the conference.

The details

The tournament features a 14-team field, with the top eight teams receiving first-round byes. Troy, the defending tournament champion, will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between the No. 4 seed Appalachian State and the winner of the first-round game between No. 8 Southern Miss and the winner of the No. 9 James Madison vs. No. 12 Louisiana game. Marshall, the No. 2 seed, will take on the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between No. 3 Coastal Carolina and the winner of the first-round game between No. 6 South Alabama and the winner of the No. 7 Arkansas State vs. No. 10 Georgia Southern game.

  • The Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament will take place from March 3-9, 2026.
  • The championship game is scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2026, at 6 p.m. Central Time and will be aired on ESPN2.

The players

Troy University

The Troy Trojans are the No. 1 seed in the 2026 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament after winning the regular-season championship with a 12-6 conference record.

Marshall University

The Marshall Thundering Herd are the No. 2 seed in the tournament, emerging from a six-way tie for second place in the regular-season standings.

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What’s next

The tournament will begin on Tuesday, March 3, with the first-round games, and the championship game is scheduled for Monday, March 9, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.

The takeaway

The 2026 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament promises to be an exciting and competitive event, with several teams vying for the conference title and the opportunity to represent the Sun Belt in the NCAA Tournament. The top-seeded Trojans and second-seeded Thundering Herd will be the teams to watch as the tournament unfolds.