2026 NCAA Men's Tournament Preview: South Region

Featuring both of last year’s national finalists, the South Region is sure to produce a serious national title contender in Indianapolis.

Who’s coming out of Houston?

1. Florida (25-6, 16-2 SEC)

Head Coach: Todd Golden
How They Got Here: At-Large (SEC Semifinals)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (National Champions)

A 5-4 start to the season had alarm bells ringing in Gainesville in December, but 21 wins in the Gators’ next 24 games entering the Big Dance has Todd Golden’s squad looking like they could repeat as national champions, just like Billy Donovan and the “Gator Boys” did in 2006 and 2007. After dropping their SEC opener to Missouri, the Gators ripped off five consecutive wins and then finished the regular season on an 11-game run after a Jan. 24 loss to Auburn.

Returning starters Thomas Haugh (17.1 points per game), Alex Condon (15 points per game), and Ruben Chinyelu (11.2 points per game) pace the Gators offensively, while transfer guards Boogie Fland (Arkansas) and Xavian Lee (Princeton) average double figures to round out Florida’s elite starting lineup.

(Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

2. Houston (28-6, 14-4 Big 12)

Head Coach: Kelvin Sampson
How They Got Here: At-Large (Big 12 Runners-Up)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (National Runners-Up)

Both of last years’ national finalists find themselves in the South, as Kelvin Sampson’s No. 2 seed Houston Cougars join Florida in headlining the region. Houston started its Big 12 slate 11-1, but suffered three consecutive losses to Iowa State, Arizona and Kansas in February, raising questions whether this Cougar team could reach the heights last year’s did despite having what many would consider to be a stronger roster.

Fortunately, Houston ended the regular season on a three-game winning streak and won two Big 12 tournament games before falling to No. 1 overall seed Arizona in the Big 12 title game. With a pair of elite freshmen in Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr. joining a starting lineup with three returning players (Milos Uzan, JoJo Tugler and Emmanuel Sharp) from last year’s national runners-up, Houston is once again a threat to cut down the nets in Indianapolis.

3. Illinois (24-8, 15-5 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Brad Underwood
How They Got Here: At-Large (Big Ten Quarterfinals)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (Round of 32)

Likely top 10 pick Keaton Wagler headlines an Illinois roster that finished fourth in a loaded Big 10 this season, boosted by an impressive 10-game win streak in conference play that proved the Illini can put together a national title winning stretch if the bracket unfolds the right way.

The Illini boast the second best adjusted offensive efficiency in the country this season and rank in the top 10 nationally in both offensive turnover percentage and offensive rebounding percentage and in the top 30 in 2-point field goal percentage and adjusted defensive efficiency. The rebounding part certainly checks out, considering Illinois is the tallest team in all of Division I hoops.

4. Nebraska (26-6, 15-5 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Fred Hoiberg
How They Got Here: At-Large (Big Ten Quarterfinals)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2024 (Round of 64)

Nebraska is the only power conference program to never win an NCAA Tournament game, and there’s never been a better chance for the Cornhuskers to do it then the present. The darlings of college basketball this season, Nebraska started the year 20-0 before losing six of its 12 games heading into the Big Dance.

As jarring as that may sound, the Huskers should be able to right the ship and at least earn a first round victory of a tough Troy team. All of Nebraska’s losses came to teams that finished with top-30 KenPom rankings, with the Huskers “worst” loss of the season coming to a UCLA squad that many folks have as a sleeper in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

5. Vanderbilt (26-8, 11-7 SEC)

Head Coach: Mark Byington
How They Got Here: SEC Runners-Up
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2017 (Round of 64)

Mark Byington has the Commodores back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly a decade in just his second season in Nashville. A 16-0 start overall and a 3-0 start in SEC play gave Vanderbilt plenty of early attention, but an 8-7 finish down the stretch in the regular season brought the Commodores back down to earth a bit.

The SEC Tournament was kind to the Commodores, however, as they advanced to the SEC Championship game for the first time since 2012. Vanderbilt has the seventh-best adjusted offensive efficiency in the country, the fourth-best free throw percentage and the 11th-best offensive turnover percentage, in addition to having the 31st-best adjusted defensive efficiency and the 58th-best effective field goal percentage allowed. Few teams nationally are as balanced as Vandy, so cede caution before going against them in the 5 vs. 12.

6. North Carolina (24-8, 12-6 ACC)

Head Coach: Hubert Davis
How They Got Here: At-Large (ACC Quarterfinal)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (Round of 64)

Losing soon-to-be top five NBA Draft pick Caleb Wilson for the season certainly takes the wind out of UNC’s sails, but the Tar Heels did go 5-3 without their star player down the stretch and proved they should at least be able to win their first round matchup. It will certainly be an uphill climb, however, as Wilson leads UNC in all five major statistical categories.

Regular season wins over Kansas and Duke highlighted North Carolina’s regular season, but both occurred with Wilson on the floor and almost certainly wouldn’t have without him. Henri Veesar (16.7 points per game) and Seth Trimble (14 points per game) can carry the Tar Heels’ offense, but the collective defensive flaws will likely rear their heads at times without Wilson.

7. Saint Mary’s (27-5, 16-2 WCC)

Head Coach: Randy Bennett
How They Got Here: At-Large (WCC Semifinals)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (Round of 32)

Saint Mary’s looked like the team to beat entering the WCC Tournament, with a 70-59 win in the Gaels’ final in-conference meeting against Gonzaga headlining a resume that included a six game winning streak and a pair of eight game winning streaks.

The Gaels are among the most balanced teams in the tournament, featuring the 40th-best adjusted offensive efficiency and the 20th-best adjusted defensive efficiency. Paulus Maruskas leads Saint Mary’s with 18.8 points per game, while guards Mikey Lewis (14.2 points per game) and Joshua Dent (13 points per game) each average double figures.

8. Clemson (24-10, 12-6 ACC)

Head Coach: Brad Brownell
How They Got Here: At-Large (ACC Semifinals)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (Round of 32)

Brad Brownell has led Clemson to three straight NCAA Tournaments for just the second time in program history, and two of the Tigers last three trips to the dance have resulted in Sweet 16 berths.

A 20-4 start overall and 10-1 start in ACC play had Clemson riding high through early February, but the Tigers dropped five of their last regular season games, including four in a row between Feb. 11-21. However, they rebounded nicely with two wins in the ACC tournament and will be a tough matchup on the bracket with their hard nose defense and rebounding ability.

9. Iowa (21-12. 10-10 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Ben McCollum
How They Got Here: At-Large (Big Ten Third Round)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2023 (Round of 64)

It’s hard to believe Iowa hasn’t made a Sweet 16 since 1999, but first-year coach Ben McCollum is hoping his team full of Drake transfers can lead the Hawkeyes there. Iowa certainly didn’t have the easiest time in Big Ten play with the .500 record, but it was only a year ago that McCollum and current Hawkeye Bennett Stirtz were a popular sleeper pick on brackets across the country.

Understandably, that hype is gone after Iowa lost seven of its last 10 games entering the NCAA Tournament. Like Drake did last season, Iowa slows down the game and controls the tempo, and this Hawkeyes team is also one of the more efficient 2-point shooting teams in the country. It’s been a rough finish, but there’s still some potential here.

10. Texas A&M (21-11, 11-7 SEC)

Head Coach: Bucky McMillan
How They Got Here: At-Large (SEC Second Round)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (Round of 32)

Bucky McMillan’s “Bucky Ball” was all the rage through January after the Aggies started 17-4 overall and 7-1 in SEC play, but seven losses in their final 11 games pushed them into an unforgiving No. 10 seed in the South Region. The Aggies rank 29th in adjusted tempo this season, which is slightly below where McMillan’s Samford team ranked nationally last season. Wins over Texas and Georgia punctuated the schedule, but probably don’t expect this team to pull off anything shocking this March.

11. VCU (27-7, 15-3 Atlantic 10)

Head Coach: Phil Martelli Jr.
How They Got Here: Atlantic 10 Champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (Round of 64)

Phil Martelli Jr. had the Rams back among their rightful place as one of the nation’s best mid-major programs this season, winning both the Atlantic 10 regular season and conference tournament championships en route to an 11 seed. I’ll remind you that VCU was also an 11 seed in 2011, when Joey Rodriguez and the Miracle Rams improbably advanced to the Final Four. These Rams get to the line more than just about any other team in the tournament, and certainly have the propensity to grind out a game in the nervous March environment.

12. McNeese State (28-5, 19-3 Southland)

Head Coach: Bill Armstrong
How They Got Here: Southland Champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (Round of 32)

Will Wade is gone and his NC State Wolfpack are already eliminated, but Amir Khan and the McNeese State Cowboys are still dancing. Wade promised upon his exit last season that McNeese was in position to continue the run he began in Lake Charles and he was certainly correct, as Bill Armstrong led the Cowboys 13 wins in their final 14 games en route to the Southland tournament title. Like last year, McNeese is sure to be a popular pick in the 5 vs. 12 game against a strong Vanderbilt team.

13. Troy (22-11, 11-7 Sun Belt)

Head Coach: Scott Cross
How They Got Here: Sun Belt Champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (Round of 64)

In the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season after falling to Kentucky a year ago, Troy is looking to spoil Nebraska’s bid at winning a first ever game in the Big Dance and the Trojans are absolutely capable of doing so. Troy beat San Diego State in an impressive 2OT tilt in November, one of four games the Trojans played this season that went beyond a single overtime period. Troy has won five of its last six games en route to the Sun Belt title and should be a tough first round exit.

14. Penn (18-11, 9-5 Ivy League)

Head Coach: Fran McCaffrey
How They Got Here: Ivy League Champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2018 (Round of 64)

It didn’t take Fran McCaffrey long to land on his feet after his exit from Iowa, leading his alma mater Penn back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 in his first season coaching the team. Penn stunned Yale in a classic Ivy League title game thanks to 44 points from star TJ Power, but be wary of riding with Penn as a potential upset pick as Power reportedly missed Wednesday’s practice due to being “under the weather”

15. Idaho (21-14, 9-9 Big Sky)

Head Coach: Alex Pribble
How They Got Here: Big Sky Champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 1990 (Round of 64)

In the dance for the first time in 36 years, Idaho already made one miracle run through the Big Sky Tournament this March as the No. 7 seed by improbably winning four games in four days in Boise. Until the Vandals made their run through the Big Sky Tournament, they hadn’t won more than two straight games for the entire season. Riding a five-game streak entering the tournament, Idaho is playing its best basketball since 2018. Keep in mind, this program went 1-21 in 2021.

16. Prairie View A&M (19-17. 9-9 SWAC)

Head Coach: Byron Smith
How They Got Here: SWAC Champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2019 (First Four)

The only conference tournament run more shocking than Idaho’s tear through the Big Sky was Prairie View A&M’s run through the SWAC Tournament as the No. 8 seed, as the Panthers beat No. 1 seed Bethune-Cookman in the midst of their own four-day championship run. Not only did Prairie View A&M shock the SWAC, they beat Lehigh 67-55 in the First Four on Wednesday to earn an NCAA Tournament win and all the financial benefits that come with it.

All-Region Team (South)

Thomas Haugh, Florida

Kingston Flemmings, Houston
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa

The Favorite: Florida

Bet against the defending national champions at your own peril, but know that these Gators are just as dangerous as last season and are among the hottest teams in the country to boot.

The Wary: Nebraska

No team on the bracket has more pressure entering their Round of 64 tilt than the Cornhuskers, who are carrying over a century of frustration and the added stress of a turbulent finish to the season after a headline-drawing 20-0 start.

The Cinderella: VCU

No Caleb Wilson for UNC makes VCU one of my favorite upset picks in the first round, and who knows where the Rams can go from there. Remember what I said about 2011…