2026 NCAA Tournament @ The College Basketball Nostalgic

It is time to close down my coverage of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, one I will always remember quite well for the Illinois Fighting Illini getting back to the Final Four. Here's hoping that I don't have to wait another 21 years for the Illini to return, and that you enjoy all of my writing about the greatest sporting event, the NCAA Tournament. 

2026 NCAA Tournament Coverage at The College Basketball Nostalgic

Region Previews and Observations  

• East Region: 10 Bracket Observations.
• West Region: 10 Bracket Observations. 
• South Region: 10 Bracket Observations. 
• Midwest Region: 10 Bracket Observations. 

First Four Games: 

• First Four Tourney Memories for UMBC, Howard, Texas and N.C. State. 
• First Four Tourney Memories for Prairie View A & M, Lehigh, Miami (OH) and SMU.
• First Four, Game #1: Live Running Reactions of UMBC vs. Howard. 
• First Four, Game #2: Live Running Reactions of Texas vs. N.C. State. 
• First Four, Game #3: Live Running Reactions of Prairie View A & M vs. Lehigh. 
• First Four, Game #4: Live Running Reactions of Miami (OH) vs. SMU. 
• First Four Full Game Replays via March Madness.

First Round Games 

• Day 1 Thursday Afternoon Tip Times and First-Round Memories for Each Team.
• Day 1 Thursday Evening Tip Times and First-Round Memories for Each Team.
• Day 2 Friday Afternoon Tip Times and First-Round Memories for Each Team.  
• Day 2 Friday Evening Tip Times and First-Round Memories for Each Team. 
• First Round, Game #1: Live Running Reactions of TCU vs. Ohio State. 
• First Round, Game #4: Live Running Reactions of Second Half of High Point vs. Wisconsin. 
• First Round, Game #5: Live Running Reactions of Second Half of Siena vs. Duke. 
• First Round Day 1 Afternoon Updates. 
• First Round, Game #9: Live Running Reactions of VCU vs. North Carolina. 
• First Round, Game #13: Live Running Reactions of Penn vs. Illinois. 
• First Round, Game #24: Live Running Reactions of Miami (OH) vs. Tennessee.
• First Round Day 2 Afternoon Updates. 
• First Round Day 2 Live Evening Whip Around. 
• First Round, Day 1 Full Game Replays via March Madness.
• First Round, Day 2 Full Game Replays via March Madness. 

Second Round Games

• Second Round Saturday Game Predictions. 
• Second Round, Game #33: Live Running Reactions of St. Louis vs. Michigan. 
• Second Round, Game #34: Live Running Reactions of Louisville vs. Michigan State. 
• Second Round, Game #35: Live Running Reactions of TCU vs. Duke. 
• Second Round, Game #38: Live Running Reactions of VCU vs. Illinois. 
• Second Round Sunday Game Predictions and Reactions. 
• Second Round, Day 1 Full Game Replays via March Madness.
• Second Round, Day 2 Full Game Replays via March Madness.

Opening Weekend Reactions for the First and Second Rounds 

• Opening Weekend Awards and Flowers. 
• Opening Weekend Final Reflections, What I Got Right and Wrong, What I Regret and Want to Forget.

Sweet Sixteen

• Sweet Sixteen Tip Times and Suggestions.
• Sweet Sixteen Preview: Texas vs. Purdue. 
• Sweet Sixteen Preview: Iowa vs. Nebraska. 
• Sweet Sixteen Preview: Arkansas vs. Arizona. 
• Sweet Sixteen Preview: Illinois vs. Houston. 
• Sweet Sixteen, Game #50: Live Running Reactions of Second Half of Iowa vs. Nebraska. 
• Sweet Sixteen, Game #52: Live Running Reactions of Illinois vs. Houston. 
• Sweet Sixteen Preview: St. John's vs. Duke. 
• Sweet Sixteen Preview: Alabama vs. Michigan. 
• Sweet Sixteen Preview: Michigan State vs. UCONN.
• Sweet Sixteen Preview: Tennessee vs. Iowa State. 
• Sweet Sixteen, Game #54: Live Running Reactions of Alabama vs. Michigan. 
• Sweet Sixteen, Game #55: Live Running Reactions of Michigan State vs. UCONN.
• Sweet Sixteen, Game #56: Live Running Reactions of Second Half of Tennessee vs. Iowa State. 
• Sweet Sixteen, Night 1 Full Game Replays via March Madness. 
• Sweet Sixteen, Night 2 Full Game Replays via March Madness. 

Elite Eight 

• Saturday and Sunday Tip Times, and One Elite Tourney Memory for Each Program. 
• Elite Eight, Game #57: Live Running Reactions of Iowa vs. Illinois. 
• Elite Eight, Game #58: Live Game Updates of Purdue vs. Arizona.  
• Elite Eight, Game #59: Live Game Updates of Tennessee vs. Michigan. 
• Elite Eight, Game #60: Live Game Updates of UCONN vs. Duke. 
• Elite Eight Full Game Replays via March Madness. 

Final Four

• Saturday Tip Times and Initial Thoughts about Illinois vs. UCONN and Michigan vs. Arizona. 
• Reflections on the Illinois Fighting Illini Returning to the Promised Land, The Final Four. 
• Final Four Program Profiles: Illinois Fighting Illini. 
• Final Four Program Profiles: UCONN Huskies. 
• Final Four Program Profiles: Michigan Wolverines. 
• Final Four Program Profiles: Arizona Wildcats. 
• Final Four, Illinois vs. UCONN Tale of the Tape (11-28-25 Game Review).
• Final Four, Position Breakdowns: Illinois vs. UCONN. 
• Final Four, Position Breakdowns: Michigan vs. Arizona. 
• Final Four Histories of Illinois, UCONN, Michigan and Arizona. 
• Complete Guide to the 2026 Final Four. 
• Final Four, Game #61: Live Updates of Illinois vs. UCONN. 
• Final Four, Game #62: Live Updates of Michigan vs. Arizona. 
• Final Four Recap: Four Observations from Saturday's Games. 
• Final Four: A Heartfelt Thank You to the 2025-26 Illinois Fighting Illini. 
• Final Four Full Game Replays via March Madness. 

National Championship Game 

• National Championship Game Preview: UCONN vs. Michigan. 
• National Championship, Game #63: Live Running Reactions of UCONN vs. Michigan. 
• National Championship Game: Ten Reactions to Michigan Winning Its First Title Since 1989. 
• National Championship Full Game Replay via March Madness. 
  

2026 NCAA Tournament Final Reflections

• Final Reflections #1: The College Basketball Nostalgic's 1st, 2nd & 3rd Teams for Final Four Teams. 
• Final Reflections #2: Ranking Each Round of Games by the Stud, Mud, Dud and Crud System. 
• Final Reflections #3: Ranking the Best and Worst, Most Memorable and Disappointing Tourney Games. 
• Final Reflections #4: Five Takeaways from Watching and Writing about This Year's March Madness. 

March Madness YouTube Channel Videos of the 2026 NCAA Tournament

• Best Dunks, Assists and Blocks of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. 
• Uncut Top Finishes of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. 
• Alex Karaban and Braden Smith Career Highlights in the NCAA Tournament.