Fun facts about each First Four team in the 2026 NCAA Tournament

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament begins with the First Four in Dayton, featuring matchups between 16-seeds Howard and UMBC, followed by 11-seeds NC State and Texas. Howard, under coach Kenny Blakeney, is aiming for its first tournament win after making the Big Dance three times in four years. UMBC returns after a historic upset in 2018, riding a 12-game winning streak. Miami University, which finished the regular season undefeated, faces SMU, while NC State and Texas look to capitalize on their strong offensive play.

Want More Context? 🔎