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Loudonville Today
By the People, for the People
Siena Saints Face Duke Blue Devils in NCAA Tournament Opener
Small private school Siena takes on national title favorite Duke in first round of 2026 March Madness
Mar. 19, 2026 at 10:06am
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No. 16 seed Siena will face off against No. 1 overall seed Duke in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Siena, a small private school located in Loudonville, New York, is led by former Syracuse star Gerry McNamara and has a history of March Madness upsets, including wins over Vanderbilt and Ohio State. However, the Saints will be heavy underdogs against a Duke team that is the current national championship favorite.
Why it matters
This matchup pits a Cinderella program in Siena against one of college basketball's blue bloods in Duke, setting up a potential David vs. Goliath scenario in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Siena will look to pull off the massive upset and become just the third No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed, following UMBC's historic win over Virginia in 2018 and Fairleigh Dickinson's triumph over Purdue in 2023.
The details
Siena, a small private school with an undergraduate enrollment under 4,000, is making its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2010. The Saints have four previous NCAA Tournament wins, including victories over Vanderbilt in 2008 and Ohio State in 2009. Siena won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament this season to earn an automatic bid. Duke, the No. 1 overall seed, is the current national championship favorite and is led by a roster of elite NBA prospects.
- The first-round matchup between Siena and Duke will take place on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
The players
Gerry McNamara
Siena's head coach, a former Syracuse star who won a national championship with the Orange in 2003 and has his jersey retired at the school.
Duke Blue Devils
The No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and the current national championship favorite.
What’s next
The winner of the Siena-Duke matchup will advance to face the winner of the game between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in the same region.
The takeaway
This first-round clash between Siena and Duke represents a classic David vs. Goliath scenario in the NCAA Tournament, with the small private school Saints looking to pull off a massive upset against the national title favorite Blue Devils. Siena has a history of March Madness magic, but will need to play the game of its life to have a chance at becoming the third No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed.
