2026 March Madness Selections Set for Today with First Four Starting March 17

• Minnesota Timberwolves face Oklahoma City Thunder at 1 p.m. ABC; Golden State Warriors visit New York Knicks at 8 p.m. NBC/Peacock.[2] • Dallas Mavericks at Cleveland Cavaliers tips at 3:30 p.m. NBATV following Cavaliers' recent dominant win.[2] • Games impact playoff seeding in tight Western and Eastern Conferences with late-season implications.[2]

• USA men's and women's 3x3 basketball teams advanced to the knockout stage after strong pool play performances on March 14 in Bangkok. • Both squads demonstrated dominant showings, securing their spots for Sunday's elimination rounds at the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup. • This progression highlights USA Basketball's continued excellence in the fast-paced 3x3 format, positioning them as medal contenders.

• Arkansas beat No. 15 seed Ole Miss 93-90 in overtime on March 14, 2026, advancing to the SEC Tournament title game for the first time in the John Calipari era. • Ole Miss, the tournament's surprise story, won three straight as a double-digit seed over Texas, Georgia, and Alabama without trailing in regulation during those games; no at-large NCAA bid likely. • Arkansas seeks its first SEC title since 2000; Calipari's last conference tournament championship was 2018 at Kentucky; win bolsters their March Madness seeding.

• No. 3 Michigan defeated No. 23 Wisconsin 68-65 in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on March 14, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago, advancing to the championship game. • Yaxel Lendeborg, Big Ten Player of the Year, hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left after grabbing an offensive rebound; Aday Mara scored 16 points with 8 rebounds and 5 blocks, Elliot Cadeau added 15 points. • The win avenges Michigan's only regular-season conference loss (91-88 to Wisconsin on Jan. 10) and keeps them alive for the No. 1 NCAA Tournament overall seed; they face UCLA or No. 18 Purdue in Sunday's final.

• The U.S. meets the Dominican Republic in the 2026 WBC semifinals on March 15 at 8 p.m. ET at loanDepot park in Miami, after advancing with a 5-3 win over Canada. • U.S. boasts a red-hot offense with 40 runs in their last 5 games (wins over Canada 5-3, Mexico 5-3, Greece 9-1, Brazil 15-5; loss to Italy 8-6); leaders include Brice Turang (.467 AVG), Aaron Judge (2 HR). • Dominican Republic counters with strong pitching (3.40 team ERA, .184 opponent AVG); Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads at .500 AVG; U.S. favored at -141 odds, total runs over/under 8.5.

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 138-105 on March 13 in Dallas, improving their record to 41-26 while dropping Dallas to 22-45. Evan Mobley led Cleveland with 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, supported by Donovan Mitchell's 24 points and 8 assists. Cooper Flagg added 25 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds for the Mavericks in the lopsided loss. This victory strengthens Cleveland's playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference as the NBA regular season progresses.

Detroit Tigers narrowly beat Toronto Blue Jays on March 14 in Dunedin, Fla., during MLB Spring Training, aired on MLBN at 1 p.m. The close victory helps Detroit fine-tune its roster ahead of the regular season. Key performances from Tigers pitchers and hitters shone in the Grapefruit League matchup. Both teams continue preparations for Opening Day.

Cornell Big Red narrowly defeated Yale Bulldogs in the Ivy League Tournament semifinal on March 14, aired on ESPNU from Ithaca, N.Y. The close contest advances Cornell toward the championship game and a potential NCAA bid. Yale fought valiantly but fell short in the tight matchup. The winner gains crucial momentum heading into Selection Sunday.

South Florida Bulls progressed in the American Athletic Tournament semifinals by defeating TBD on March 14 in Birmingham, Ala., broadcast on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. This upset victory boosts USF's NCAA Tournament resume with a key conference win. The semifinals showcase rising mid-major contenders. USF now eyes the championship for an automatic bid.

Vermont Catamounts won the America East Tournament championship against UMBC Retrievers on March 14, securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The game aired live on ESPN2 at 11 a.m. ET, highlighting Vermont's strong postseason run. This victory marks a significant milestone for the program amid conference realignment pressures. Next, Vermont awaits its NCAA seeding reveal during the Selection Sunday show.

The United States defeated Canada 5-3 on Friday night in Houston to advance to the World Baseball Classic semifinals, rebounding from a shocking 8-6 loss to Italy in pool play that had threatened their tournament survival. Aaron Judge doubled while Pete Crow-Armstrong and Brice Turang each contributed two hits in the victory, with the team demonstrating renewed focus after manager Mark DeRosa's premature comments about advancing had drawn criticism. The U.S. will face the Dominican Republic in Sunday's semifinal in Miami, with Paul Skenes starting against Luis Severino in what Manager DeRosa called "one of the best games of all time." This marks the team's third straight appearance in the WBC semifinals and fourth overall.