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Vanderbilt Today
By the People, for the People
5 Intriguing March Madness Teams Beyond No. 1 Seeds
Arkansas, Iowa State, Miami, Purdue, and Vanderbilt offer compelling storylines in this year's NCAA Tournament
Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:35am
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While the top-seeded teams always garner attention, the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament features several intriguing mid-tier squads that could make deep runs. Among them are Arkansas, led by potential NBA lottery pick Darius Acuff Jr., Iowa State's stifling defense, Miami's dramatic turnaround under first-year coach Jai Lucas, Purdue's chase for NCAA assist records, and Vanderbilt's back-to-back tournament appearances.
Why it matters
March Madness is known for its unpredictability, and these teams outside the No. 1 seeds offer compelling storylines and potential Cinderella runs that could captivate fans throughout the tournament. Their success or failure could reshape the narrative of this year's Big Dance.
The details
Arkansas is riding a five-game winning streak and SEC tournament MVP Darius Acuff Jr., a consensus lottery pick, into the tournament. Iowa State boasts the nation's 12th-best scoring defense. Miami has engineered an 18-win turnaround in Jai Lucas' first year as head coach. Purdue is led by Braden Smith, who is one assist shy of the NCAA career record. Vanderbilt has wins over several tournament teams and features NBA prospect AK Okereke.
- Arkansas won the SEC tournament on March 12, 2026.
- Darius Acuff Jr. was named SEC tournament MVP on March 12, 2026.
The players
Darius Acuff Jr.
A 6-3 freshman guard for Arkansas and a consensus projected NBA Draft lottery pick.
Jai Lucas
The first-year head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, who engineered an 18-win turnaround from the previous season.
Braden Smith
The Purdue point guard who is one assist shy of the NCAA career assists record.
AK Okereke
The Vanderbilt forward who skipped the 2025 NBA Draft for an extra year of college and continues to generate NBA intrigue.
What they’re saying
“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee
The takeaway
This year's NCAA Tournament features several intriguing mid-tier teams beyond the No. 1 seeds, offering the potential for Cinderella runs and captivating storylines that could reshape the narrative of the Big Dance.
