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Defending Champ Florida Gators Headline South Region
Will the Gators roll through or will Houston or Illinois rise up to stop them?
Mar. 16, 2026 at 5:19pm
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The 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament's South Region features the defending champion Florida Gators as the #1 seed. However, there are several other strong contenders in the region, including Vanderbilt, VCU, and Illinois. Anonymous Eagle provides their "half-baked, homespun 'insight'" on the region, including their gutless pick to win it, a bold sleeper pick, an upset special, a must-watch player, the team's go-to guy, and an under-the-radar star.
Why it matters
The South Region features several high-profile teams and players that could make deep tournament runs. The defending champion Florida Gators will look to repeat, but they'll face stiff competition from the likes of Vanderbilt, VCU, and Illinois. This region could produce some exciting matchups and potential Cinderella stories as teams battle to advance to the Final Four.
The details
The South Region is headlined by the #1 seed Florida Gators, who are the defending national champions. They had a 12-game winning streak snapped in the SEC semifinals, but still won the SEC by 3 games over Arkansas and Alabama. However, they have non-conference losses to Arizona, Duke, and Connecticut. The #5 seed Vanderbilt Commodores, who are ranked 12th in KenPom and 13th in the NET, could be a dangerous sleeper pick after beating Florida by 17 in the SEC tournament. VCU, an #11 seed, is facing a struggling North Carolina team that could be ripe for an upset. Illinois' freshman star Keaton Wagler is a must-watch player, while Houston's Kingston Flemings has the ability to carry his team. Finally, Penn's TJ Power, a former top-25 recruit, has emerged as a star in the Ivy League and could cause problems for Illinois.
- Florida had a 12-game winning streak snapped in the SEC semifinals.
- Vanderbilt beat Florida by 17 points in the SEC tournament.
The players
Florida Gators
The defending national champion and #1 seed in the South Region.
Vanderbilt Commodores
The #5 seed in the region, ranked 12th in KenPom and 13th in the NET, who beat Florida by 17 in the SEC tournament.
VCU Rams
An #11 seed facing a struggling North Carolina team that could be ripe for an upset.
Keaton Wagler
A freshman leading the #3 seed Illinois in scoring and assists while shooting over 40% from three.
Kingston Flemings
Houston's leading scorer and one of the best passers in the country, who can carry his team.
The takeaway
The South Region features several intriguing storylines, from the defending champion Florida Gators trying to repeat, to potential Cinderella runs by teams like Vanderbilt and VCU, to the emergence of star players like Illinois' Keaton Wagler and Houston's Kingston Flemings. This region could produce some thrilling matchups and unexpected results as teams battle to advance to the Final Four.
