March Madness 2026: One reason to root for every team playing in the Sweet 16
CBS Sports • • general
Key Points:
- The Sweet 16 field features nine returning teams from last year, the most since 2003, with no mid-majors and only one double-digit seed, Texas.
- Nebraska makes its first-ever Sweet 16 appearance, while St. John's and Iowa reach this stage for the first time since 1999.
- Key storylines include Iowa's coach Ben McCollum's rapid rise, Nebraska's historic tournament wins, and Houston's quest for redemption after narrowly missing last year's title.
- Duke's Cameron Boozer is the top NBA prospect remaining, while Arkansas boasts freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr., who set scoring records for a freshman in the tournament.
- Other notable teams include UConn aiming for a rare three titles in four years, Michigan's dominant frontcourt trio, and Alabama leading Division I in scoring despite recent player issues.
