Jeff BorzelloCloseJeff BorzelloESPN Staff Writer Basketball recruiting insider. Joined ESPN in 2014. Graduate of University of Delaware.Follow on X, Myron MedcalfCloseMyron MedcalfESPN Staff Writer Covers college basketball Joined ESPN.com in 2011 Graduate of Minnesota State University, MankatoFollow on X, Joe LunardiCloseJoe LunardiSenior Writer, ESPN.com Resident college basketball bracketologist for ESPN Contributor to SportsCenter, ESPN Insider Published first public bracket in 1995Follow on XMultiple AuthorsMar 2, 2026, 08:00 AM ET
Duke holds on to take down Michigan (1:30)No. 3 Duke defeats Michigan 70-63 to get its 11th win all time over an AP No. 1 team. (1:30)
In exactly two weeks, we will know all the teams competing for a chance to cut down the nets in Indianapolis. But before then, there’s Champ Week, which begins Monday with the Horizon League. All 31 Division I men’s college basketball conferences will go through the process of crowning tournament champions — and naming their automatic qualifiers to the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament.
Champ Week will end on March 15, when five conferences — the Ivy League, Atlantic 10, SEC, American and Big Ten — crown their winners just before the selection committee announces the 68-team field for March Madness.
Which teams will add a trophy to the cabinet and get the honor of representing their respective leagues at the Big Dance? ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Joe Lunardi and Myron Medcalf make their predictions for all 31 conference tournaments and make a case for each. Many were unanimous this season — but not all.
Find all their picks and analysis below, listed in the order in which tourney tickets will be punched.
Why Southeast Missouri State will win: SEMO has lost just twice since Jan. 17, winning 10 of its final 12 games to end the regular season. Coach Brad Korn has the Redhawks playing the best defense in the league, limiting teams to just 26% from 3 since Feb. 1. Luke Almodovar leads a balanced offensive attack. — Borzello
Why UT Martin will win: The Skyhawks admittedly scuffled down the stretch, losing five of their last seven. But in 6-foot-7 junior Andrija Bukumirovic and 6-foot-9 freshman Matas Deniusas, they have two of the top players in the OVC. That kind of size and skill is rare at this level and will be hard to beat in Evansville, Indiana, where the tourney will be staged. — Lunardi
Why Tennessee State will win: Coach Nolan Smith’s squad snatched the No. 1 seed in the OVC tournament by winning the regular-season title with a three-game lead on second-place Morehead State. Although Smith — a former Duke and Louisville assistant — hit the transfer portal to assemble this roster, three of his top four scorers are returnees that he has developed, and they are the anchors of the league’s best offensive team. — Medcalf
Why High Point will win: The Panthers’ two-point win at Winthrop on Feb. 21 gave them the regular-season title, and we expect them to do the double. They’ve only lost once since Dec. 14. They have the best offense and defense in the league. And coach Flynn Clayman has done an impressive job mixing returnees with high-level transfers Rob Martin, Cam’Ron Fletcher and Conrad Martinez. — Borzello
Why Belmont will win: The Bruins are one of America’s best offensive teams. They entered the week on a 13-1 run in which they made 62.2% of their shots inside the arc and 40.7% of their 3-point attempts — excellent marks regardless of the competition they faced in that stretch. That offensive effectiveness has helped Belmont overcome the loss of Nic McClain (10.4 points per game) to a knee injury. — Medcalf
Why Central Arkansas will win: The Bears have lost just one game since Jan. 10 and possess the best backcourt in the league — and arguably its two best guards, period — in Ty Robinson and Camren Hunter. The latter, who started his career at Central Arkansas then spent last season at Wisconsin before returning, is an elite scorer who hit the 30-point mark five times in the last 11 regular-season tilts. — Borzello
Why Austin Peay will win: The Governors were hard-luck losers of the ASUN’s top seed, leading the conference most of the way before getting only one crack at eventual 1-seed Central Arkansas in the regular season. A projected neutral-site rematch might be another story. — Lunardi
Why St. Thomas-Minnesota will win: It has consistently been one of the best offensive teams in mid-major basketball over the past couple of seasons, and this will be the year the Tommies get to show that on an NCAA tournament stage. Nolan Minessale and Nick Janowski are big-time scorers, and the team is shooting better than 40% from 3-point range in league play. — Borzello
Why East Tennessee State will win: ETSU has soared to the top of the SoCon standings with the league’s best defense after forcing turnovers on nearly 18% of their opponents’ possessions. Cam Morris III is one of three Buccaneers averaging double figures in scoring on a squad that is in the top 50 nationally in shots inside the arc (57%). — Medcalf
Why Arkansas State will win: Seven conference teams finished the regular season within one game of first place, so picking a squad besides the 1-seed seems like the way to go. After a rocky start to league play, first-year coach Ryan Pannone has the Red Wolves playing as well as anyone in the Sun Belt over the past month. Arkansas State went 7-1 in February, pushing the tempo and crashing the offensive glass at a high level. — Borzello
Why Robert Morris will win: Unanimity for the Colonials despite Wright State winning the regular season? Here’s why: Robert Morris won seven in a row to end the regular season, including a 13-point decision over Wright State on the road. Andy Toole is a March-tested coach with three conference tournament titles on his résumé, most recently last season. And Ryan Prather Jr. and DeSean Goode form a dynamite duo. — Borzello
Why Central Connecticut will win: Coach Patrick Sellers and the Blue Devils won each of the past two NEC regular-season titles but failed to advance to the NCAA tournament. After watching Long Island University take first place this time, perhaps they’re the ones to pull the upset. The Blue Devils still have the best offense in the conference and a certified mid-major star in Darin Smith Jr. — Borzello
Why Long Island University will win: In two wins over Central Connecticut, LIU coach Rod Strickland’s squad showed it can outduel its top threat in the NEC offensively and defensively. In their 84-78 victory on Jan. 2, the Sharks registered a whopping 143 points per 100 possessions. In the rematch, they held Central Connecticut to just 59 points. — Medcalf
Why UNC Wilmington will win: Coach Takayo Siddle’s team boasts the most imposing force in the league: Patrick Wessler. Averaging 13.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks, he is one of the most dominant players in the country. Per EvanMiya, UNC Wilmington — a top-five offensive and defensive team in the CAA — is 17.2 points better per 100 possessions when Wessler is on the court. — Medcalf
Why Hofstra will win: The last time Hofstra won the CAA automatic bid, in 2020, the NCAA tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic. The current Pride suffered through a five-game losing streak midseason but were 12-1 in league play. They are a dangerous dark horse, with the CAA’s top offense and No. 3 defense. — Lunardi
Why Gonzaga will win: Our group likes Gonzaga even without Braden Huff (left knee) as the best team in the WCC. The Bulldogs have the best player in the conference in Graham Ike, who has been playing at an All-American level over the past month, and coach Mark Few has his best defensive team since 2022. The key for the Zags will be the consistency of Mario Saint-Supery at the point guard spot. — Borzello
Why Merrimack will win: Two years after finishing its transition to Division I, Merrimack could capture its first NCAA tournament bid. Freshman Kevair Kennedy (18.5 PPG) is a surprising star for a squad seeking to make history after finishing first in both offensive and defensive turnover rate in league play. — Medcalf
Why McNeese will win: In coach Bill Armstrong’s first campaign, McNeese is just three wins from matching last season’s tally under former coach Will Wade. The Southland’s best offensive and defensive team split its games with Stephen F. Austin, its toughest competition. But the development of freshman Larry Johnson (16.9 PPG) has helped the Cowboys weather the absence of Javohn Garcia, the reigning Southland player of the year who is dealing with a leg injury. — Medcalf
Why Eastern Washington will win: A month ago, coach Dan Monson’s squad was 3-6 in league play. They then turned things around, shooting 41% from 3 and 61% from inside the arc to go on an eight-win run. During that stretch, they also became a top-50 offensive team nationally. They’ve made a 180-degree turn at the right time. — Medcalf
Why Portland State will win: The Vikings were limping to the finish line following losses in four of five starts. But three of the defeats came on the road, and the Vikings still boast by far the top defense in the Big Sky. That could be enough to end a 17-year NCAA tournament drought. — Lunardi
Why UMBC will win: It already has won more conference games this season than it did across the previous two campaigns combined. The Retrievers are a complete offensive team, with Jah’Likai King leading four double-figure scorers and a unit that excels at the little things such as taking care of the ball and making free throws. It would be the program’s first NCAA tournament appearance since its historic 16-over-1 stunner versus Virginia in 2018. — Borzello
Why Norfolk State will win: The Spartans aren’t on track to win the regular-season title, but I still trust coach Robert Jones in March. He has won three of the past five conference tournaments and has the players to make another run. Anthony McComb III and Elijah Jamison form one of the best backcourts in the league, and Norfolk State can really shoot the 3. — Borzello