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While I came to the conclusion yesterday that the 2026 NCAA Tournament was a decent tourney that had some quite entertaining games but lacked enough upsets and a true Cinderella, I will fondly remember this tourney since my Illinois Fighting Illini unexpectedly returned to the Final Four for the first time in 21 years. On Thursday the amazing March Madness channel on YouTube began uploading full games of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, which is a perfect segue to review some of the most memorable and disappointing games of this past tourney. Make the jump to review the top games of each round and the entire 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Most Memorable/Best Game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament
#2 Connecticut Huskies vs. #1 Duke Blue Devils, Elite Eight
What was looking to be a disappointment turned out to be an all-time classic as Duke built a 15-point lead at halftime only for UCONN to chip away throughout the second half. Despite finally making a few threes after a 1/18 start from deep, UCONN seemingly could not get over the hump as Duke led by two with 10 seconds left. All the Blue Devils had to do was inbound the ball, hold it and get fouled. For some reason, Duke decided to play hot potato, resulting in a UCONN steal and all-time shocking and clutch three from Braylon Mullins, whose shot will be etched in NCAA Tournament lore for history!
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Most Disappointing Game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament
#1 Michigan Wolverines vs. #1 Arizona Wildcats, Final Four
The "De Facto National Championship Game" was a huge dud, with Michigan dominating Arizona from start to finish. After seeing my Illini lose to UCONN in the first National Semifinal, I was at least hoping Arizona and Michigan would prove to be a Final Four classic That was not the case as Michigan punched, punched and punched some more while Arizona never truly responded, even with Wolverines' star Yaxel Lendeborg sidelined by two early fouls and a left knee injury. Arizona tried to run with Michigan, which ran the Wildcats out of the building, leading by as much as 30 points in the second half, with the last 10 minutes of game time coming to an end not soon enough.
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Ranking the Final Four and Title Games from Best to Worst
This year's Final Four looked so good on paper but turned out to be a dud. Here's how I would rank them based upon watchability and competitiveness.
1. #2 Connecticut Huskies vs. #1 Michigan Wolverines
2. #3 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. #2 Connecticut Huskies
3. #1 Arizona Wildcats vs. #1 Michigan Wolverines
1. #2 Connecticut Huskies vs. #1 Michigan Wolverines
2. #3 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. #2 Connecticut Huskies
3. #1 Arizona Wildcats vs. #1 Michigan Wolverines
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Top Five Games of the First Round of the 2026 NCAA Tourney
1. #12 High Point vs. #5 Wisconsin
2. #11 VCU vs. #6 UNC
3. #10 Santa Clara vs. #7 Kentucky
4. #16 Siena vs. #1 Duke
5. #9 Ohio State vs. #8 TCU
High Point's thrilling upset of Wisconsin was up-and-down basketball at its best,with the Badgers not choking but the Panthers simply taking the game late in the last four minutes. Down 19 points in the second half, VCU forced overtime, where it took down a flustered UNC team during what would be Hubert Davis' last game as Tar Heels' Head Coach. Santa Clara seemed to have Kentucky beaten, until Otega Oweh banked in a three at the buzzer, forcing overtime, where the Wildcats prevailed. Trailing by 11 at half, Duke didn't take the lead until there was about five minutes left against a game Siena team that played only five players. The opening game of the first round, TCU controlled the first half while Ohio State rallied in the second half before losing when a Bruce Thornton heave fell short at the buzzer.
2. #11 VCU vs. #6 UNC
3. #10 Santa Clara vs. #7 Kentucky
4. #16 Siena vs. #1 Duke
5. #9 Ohio State vs. #8 TCU
High Point's thrilling upset of Wisconsin was up-and-down basketball at its best,with the Badgers not choking but the Panthers simply taking the game late in the last four minutes. Down 19 points in the second half, VCU forced overtime, where it took down a flustered UNC team during what would be Hubert Davis' last game as Tar Heels' Head Coach. Santa Clara seemed to have Kentucky beaten, until Otega Oweh banked in a three at the buzzer, forcing overtime, where the Wildcats prevailed. Trailing by 11 at half, Duke didn't take the lead until there was about five minutes left against a game Siena team that played only five players. The opening game of the first round, TCU controlled the first half while Ohio State rallied in the second half before losing when a Bruce Thornton heave fell short at the buzzer.
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Four Underrated First Round Games from the 2026 Tourney
1. #11 Texas vs. #6 BYU
2. #15 Furman vs. #2 UCONN
3. #10 Missouri vs. #7 Miami (FL)
4. #13 Cal Baptist vs. #4 Kansas
2. #15 Furman vs. #2 UCONN
3. #10 Missouri vs. #7 Miami (FL)
4. #13 Cal Baptist vs. #4 Kansas
After a first-four victory against N.C. State, Texas had to survive a heroic effort from BYU freshman A.J. Dybantsa. If it were not for Tarris Reed's 31 points and 27 rebounds, UCONN could have been bounced by a Furman team led by impressive freshman Alex Wilkins. Despite basically playing a road game in St. Louis, Miami (FL) showed great perseverance outlasting Missouri in a raucous environment. Kansas seemed to be cruising until Cal Baptist made a furious rally late, making Jayhawks Head Coach Bill Self sweat.
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Most Disappointing First Round Games of 2026 NCAA Tourney
1. #11 Miami (OH) vs. #6 Tennessee
2. #9 St. Louis vs. #8 Georgia
3. #12 Akron vs. #5 Texas Tech
I was all aboard the Miami (OH) train after watching the Redhawks bomb from three against SMU in the First Four. However, Tennessee's defense totally locked up Miami (OH), with the game not even close. St. Louis blasted Georgia in an 8/9 game that was supposed to be competitive but was not. Akron was a trendy pick to upset an injured Texas Tech team, but the Red Raiders ended up winning by 20 points after a competitive first half.
2. #9 St. Louis vs. #8 Georgia
3. #12 Akron vs. #5 Texas Tech
I was all aboard the Miami (OH) train after watching the Redhawks bomb from three against SMU in the First Four. However, Tennessee's defense totally locked up Miami (OH), with the game not even close. St. Louis blasted Georgia in an 8/9 game that was supposed to be competitive but was not. Akron was a trendy pick to upset an injured Texas Tech team, but the Red Raiders ended up winning by 20 points after a competitive first half.
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Top Five Games of the Second Round of 2026 NCAA Tourney
1. #9 Iowa vs. #1 Florida
2. #5 Vanderbilt vs. #4 Nebraska
3. #5 St. John's vs. #4 Kansas
4. #12 High Point vs. #4 Arkansas
5. #11 Texas vs. #3 Gonzaga
2. #5 Vanderbilt vs. #4 Nebraska
3. #5 St. John's vs. #4 Kansas
4. #12 High Point vs. #4 Arkansas
5. #11 Texas vs. #3 Gonzaga
The Hawkeyes controlled pace against the defending national champion Gators and hung tough late, with a beautifully-designed play leading to an Alvaro Folgueiras three and one-point victory. Just when it seemed Nebraska had won on a Braden Frager layup, Vandy's Tyler Tanner nearly stole the victory with a half-court three that dropped in and out. After controlling most of its second-round game against Kansas, St. John's needed a Dylan Darling layup at the buzzer to prevail. High Point nearly continued its miracle run but Arkansas' Darius Acuff was unstoppable in the game's last four minutes. Texas continued its run from the First Four to the Sweet Sixteen on a big three from Cam Heide late in the game to topple favored Gonzaga.
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Guttiest Game in the Second Round of the 2026 NCAA Tourney
#7 Kentucky vs. #2 Iowa State
Without star forward Joshua Jefferson, who suffered an ankle injury early in a first-round victory against Tennessee State, Iowa State fell behind Kentucky right away in the second round before turning up its defensive intensity. By halftime, Iowa State was right back in the game. The second half was all Cyclones, which dominated on both ends. It's a shame Jefferson got injured as Iowa State didn't get to show its true self in a Sweet Sixteen loss to Tennessee.
Without star forward Joshua Jefferson, who suffered an ankle injury early in a first-round victory against Tennessee State, Iowa State fell behind Kentucky right away in the second round before turning up its defensive intensity. By halftime, Iowa State was right back in the game. The second half was all Cyclones, which dominated on both ends. It's a shame Jefferson got injured as Iowa State didn't get to show its true self in a Sweet Sixteen loss to Tennessee.
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Disappointing Second Round Games of 2026 NCAA Tourney
1. #6 Louisville vs. #3 Michigan State
2. #5 Texas Tech vs. #4 Alabama
3. #10 Texas A & M vs. #2 Houston
Louisville and Michigan State didn't add to an impressive history of classic tourney games between the two schools, with its second-round game quite sloppy. Even without J.T. Toppin, Texas Tech was expected to compete more with Alabama, which shot the lights out. Texas A&M tried to run with Houston, but got ran out of the building after about 10 minutes.
2. #5 Texas Tech vs. #4 Alabama
3. #10 Texas A & M vs. #2 Houston
Louisville and Michigan State didn't add to an impressive history of classic tourney games between the two schools, with its second-round game quite sloppy. Even without J.T. Toppin, Texas Tech was expected to compete more with Alabama, which shot the lights out. Texas A&M tried to run with Houston, but got ran out of the building after about 10 minutes.
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Ranking the Sweet Sixteen Games from Best to Worst
1. #11 Texas vs. #2 Purdue
2. #5 St. John's vs. #1 Duke
3. #3 Michigan State vs. #2 UCONN
4. #9 Iowa vs. #4 Nebraska
5. #3 Illinois vs. #2 Houston
6. #4 Alabama vs. #1 Michigan
7. #4 Arkansas vs. #1 Arizona
8. #6 Tennessee vs. #2 Iowa State
2. #5 St. John's vs. #1 Duke
3. #3 Michigan State vs. #2 UCONN
4. #9 Iowa vs. #4 Nebraska
5. #3 Illinois vs. #2 Houston
6. #4 Alabama vs. #1 Michigan
7. #4 Arkansas vs. #1 Arizona
8. #6 Tennessee vs. #2 Iowa State
Purdue needed a last-second tip in to stop the Longhorns while St. John's had a chance to tie Duke on a Dylan Darling three in the game's final seconds. UCONN got up big in the first half before Michigan State rallied, leading to a game that went down to the last few possessions. Iowa hung around with Nebraska and stole the victory in the last two minutes. Illinois controlled Houston at a Cougars' type of game. For a half, Alabama hung with Michigan, leading by two at the break before the Wolverines cranked up the defense in the second half. Arizona and Arkansas featured a lot of offensive excellence, but the game was not as close as expected. Tennessee and Iowa State was a bit of a grinder that felt inevitable as the Cyclones couldn't overcome the loss of Jefferson.
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Ranking the Elite Eight Games from Best to Worst
1. #2 UCONN vs. #1 Duke
2. #9 Iowa vs. #3 Illinois
3. #2 Purdue vs. #1 Arizona
4. #6 Tennessee vs. #1 Michigan
2. #9 Iowa vs. #3 Illinois
3. #2 Purdue vs. #1 Arizona
4. #6 Tennessee vs. #1 Michigan
UCONN and Duke had an all-time finish. Iowa and Illinois wasn't pretty but it was close throughout. Purdue and Arizona was a tale of two halves and an entertaining game. Tennessee and Michigan was a bore as the Wolverines had the game won about halfway through the first half.
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Top 10 Games of the 2026 NCAA Tournament
1. #2 UCONN vs. #1 Duke, Elite Eight
2. #12 High Point vs. #5 Wisconsin, First Round
3. #9 Iowa vs. #1 Florida, Second Round
4. #5 Vanderbilt vs. #4 Nebraska, Second Round
5. #11 VCU vs. #6 North Carolina, First Round
6. #5 St. John's vs. #4 Kansas, Second Round
7. #10 Santa Clara vs. #7 Kentucky, First Round
8. #12 High Point vs. #4 Arkansas, Second Round
9. #16 Siena vs. #1 Duke, First Round
10. #11 Miami (OH) vs. #11 SMU, First Four
2. #12 High Point vs. #5 Wisconsin, First Round
3. #9 Iowa vs. #1 Florida, Second Round
4. #5 Vanderbilt vs. #4 Nebraska, Second Round
5. #11 VCU vs. #6 North Carolina, First Round
6. #5 St. John's vs. #4 Kansas, Second Round
7. #10 Santa Clara vs. #7 Kentucky, First Round
8. #12 High Point vs. #4 Arkansas, Second Round
9. #16 Siena vs. #1 Duke, First Round
10. #11 Miami (OH) vs. #11 SMU, First Four
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