UMD Basketball Teams Earn NCAA Tournament Bids

Both the men's and women's squads land as 8 seeds in the big dance.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 4:20am

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The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) men's and women's basketball teams have both earned bids to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The women's team will face top-seeded Minnesota State in the first round, while the men's team will take on #1 seed Washburn in Topeka, Kansas.

Why it matters

This marks the return of both UMD basketball programs to the NCAA Tournament after a few years of absence. The Bulldogs will look to pull off upsets against their highly ranked opponents and advance deeper into the tournament.

The details

The UMD women's team went 20-8 this season to earn their 16th NCAA Tournament appearance and sixth under head coach Mandy Pearson. They will face a rematch with Minnesota State, who they lost to by 3 points earlier in the season. The UMD men's team is making their 7th NCAA Tournament appearance and 4th under head coach Justin Wieck. They will take on a tough Washburn team that is 31-1 on the season and 13-0 at home.

  • The women's first round game is on Friday, March 14th at 5pm.
  • The men's first round game is on Saturday, March 15th at 5:30pm.

The players

Mandy Pearson

Head coach of the UMD women's basketball team, leading them to their 16th NCAA Tournament appearance.

Justin Wieck

Head coach of the UMD men's basketball team, leading them to their 7th NCAA Tournament appearance and 4th under his tenure.

Minnesota State Mavericks

The top-seeded opponent for the UMD women's team, coming in at 29-2 on the season and 14-0 at home.

Washburn Ichabods

The top-seeded opponent for the UMD men's team, boasting a 31-1 record on the season and a 13-0 home record.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to be back in the NCAA Tournament and have the opportunity to take on a tough opponent like Minnesota State. We know it will be a challenge, but our team is ready to compete.”

— Mandy Pearson, Head Coach, UMD Women's Basketball

“Washburn is an impressive team, but we're confident in our abilities and are looking forward to the challenge of facing them in the first round. Our guys have worked hard all season to get to this point.”

— Justin Wieck, Head Coach, UMD Men's Basketball

What’s next

The UMD women's team will face Minnesota State on Friday, March 14th at 5pm, while the men's team will take on Washburn on Saturday, March 15th at 5:30pm.

The takeaway

The return of both UMD basketball programs to the NCAA Tournament is an exciting moment for the school and its fans. While they face tough opponents, the Bulldogs have the talent and determination to pull off some upsets and make deep runs in the tournament.