UMBC Retrievers return to March Madness, face Howard in First Four

The Retrievers look to recreate their historic 2018 upset over a No. 1 seed

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:50pm

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The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers are back in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, looking to build on their historic 2018 upset over a No. 1 seed. UMBC will face off against Howard University in the First Four round, with both teams coming in hot after strong finishes to the regular season.

Why it matters

UMBC's 2018 victory over Virginia as a No. 16 seed is considered one of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history. The Retrievers will be aiming to capture that magic again and potentially earn another shot at a No. 1 seed, while Howard will be seeking its first NCAA tournament win.

The details

Both UMBC and Howard finished the regular season strongly, with UMBC winning 15 of their last 16 games and Howard winning 14 of 16. UMBC's offense, which ranks 27th nationally in turnover rate, will look to exploit Howard's defense that thrives on forcing turnovers. The Retrievers also shoot the ball well, which could be a key factor against a Texas team that struggles to defend the perimeter.

  • UMBC won 15 of their last 16 games to close the regular season.
  • Howard won 14 of their last 16 games to close the regular season.

The players

UMBC

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County is making its return to the NCAA tournament after pulling off one of the biggest upsets in tournament history in 2018 by defeating No. 1 seed Virginia.

Howard University

Howard University is making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1992. The Bison rely heavily on their strong defensive play to compete.

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What’s next

The winner of the UMBC-Howard matchup will advance to face the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.

The takeaway

UMBC's historic 2018 upset over a No. 1 seed has cemented the Retrievers' place in March Madness lore. As they return to the tournament, they'll be looking to recreate that magic and potentially earn another shot at a top seed, while Howard will be aiming for its first NCAA tournament victory in over 30 years.