Hawaii Draws SEC Champion Arkansas in NCAA Tournament Opener

Rainbow Warriors to face Razorbacks in first round matchup in Portland

Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:34pm

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The University of Hawaii men's basketball team has drawn the No. 13 seed in the West Region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will face off against 4th-seeded and SEC champion Arkansas Razorbacks in the opening round. The game will take place on Thursday in Portland, Oregon, though the exact tipoff time has not yet been determined.

Why it matters

This is a high-profile matchup between two strong teams, with Hawaii looking to pull off an upset over the SEC champion Razorbacks. The winner will advance to face the winner of the Wisconsin-High Point game in the second round.

The details

Arkansas won the SEC Tournament title on Sunday with an 86-75 victory over Vanderbilt. Tournament MVP Darius Acuff Jr. led the Razorbacks with 30 points and 11 assists in the championship game. Hawaii earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Big West Conference tournament.

  • The Hawaii vs. Arkansas game will take place on Thursday in Portland, Oregon.
  • Arkansas won the SEC Tournament title on Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Darius Acuff Jr.

The tournament MVP for Arkansas, who scored 30 points and had 11 assists in the SEC Tournament championship game.

University of Hawaii

The Rainbow Warriors earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Big West Conference tournament.

Arkansas Razorbacks

The 4th-seeded team in the West Region, the Razorbacks won the SEC Tournament championship.

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What’s next

The winner of the Hawaii-Arkansas game will advance to face the winner of the Wisconsin-High Point matchup in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between Hawaii and SEC champion Arkansas is a high-profile clash between two strong teams, with the Rainbow Warriors looking to pull off an upset over the Razorbacks and advance in the NCAA Tournament.