How many perfect brackets remain? March Madness upsets have struck early March Madness has already lived up to the hype, not one full day into the 2026 Men’s Basketball Tournament. Indeed, the vast majority of fans who created their brackets, hoping against hope to beat the impossibly long odds of creating a perfect bracket, have already seen their hopes dashed. The most likely culprit? No. 12 seed High Point, led by Chase Johnston, upending Greg Gard and No. 5 seed Wisconsin. No. 9 TCU technically scored an upset over No. 8 Ohio State, to say nothing of the near-disaster of No. 1 overall Duke eking out a 71-65 win over No. 16 seed Siena. And yet, perfection yet remains — for now, at least. Here’s a look at how many perfect brackets remain in March Madness, with plenty more opportunities for upsets on the horizon. How many people still have perfect bracket in March Madness? Last updated 12:45 a.m. ET on March 20 As of 12:45 a.m. ET on March 20, less than 20,000 perfect brackets remain in either the ESPN or NCAA bracket challenges. Though the NCAA does not provide the full number of brackets submitted, ESPN does, providing some insight into just how maddening the NCAA Tournament has been. Only 10,754 perfect remain out of 26,029,409 brackets submitted — a measly 0.04% of all brackets.#high_point #wisconsin #march_madness #greg_gard #chase_johnston
Path to Phoenix: Local women’s teams take on tournament field The women’s NCAA Tournament will once again feature North Carolina as a central hub, with Duke and UNC hosting the first and second rounds. NC State and High Point, other local teams, will face challenges on the road this weekend as they navigate their paths to the Final Four in Phoenix. Each team’s journey promises historic matchups, opportunities for upsets, and a mix of familiar foes and new threats. Here’s a breakdown of their potential routes to the national championship. Duke, seeded third in the Sacramento 2 bracket, will face No. 14 Charleston in the second round. The Blue Devils aim to avenge a season-opening loss to Baylor, which ended with a 58-52 result. Taliah Scott’s 24-point performance and Duke’s 29% shooting from the floor were key factors in that defeat. If Duke advances, they could rematch LSU, which dominated them in the ACC/SEC Challenge with a 31-point second quarter. A deeper run might bring a showdown with UCLA, the tournament’s top seed, which handed Duke its worst loss of the season (89-59). Without star center Lauren Betts, UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez and Charlisse Leger-Walker combined for 43 points. If Duke continues its payback mission, they could face a formidable Final Four group including No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Louisville, or No. 4 West Virginia. UNC, seeded fourth in the Fort Worth 1 bracket, will open against No. 13 Western Illinois. A win would set up a potential clash with No. 5 Maryland or No. 12 Murray State. The Tar Heels’ path intensifies in the Sweet 16, where they could face UConn, the tournament’s No. 1 seed. UConn, led by Sarah Strong (18.5 PPG) and Azzi Fudd (17.7 PPG), has dominated its recent games, winning six straight by at least 30 points. If UNC beats UConn, they might face No. 2 Vanderbilt, No. 3 Ohio State, or No.#duke #high_point #uconn #nc_state #unc
March Madness Upsets: TCU and High Point Shock Top-Ranked Teams in NCAA Tournament The NCAA tournament kicked off with a wave of unexpected results, as lower-seeded teams delivered thrilling victories over heavily favored opponents. Among the most notable upsets were No. 12 seed High Point’s stunning 83-82 win over No. 5 Wisconsin and No. 9 seed TCU’s 66-64 overtime triumph over No. 8 Ohio State. These outcomes highlighted the unpredictable nature of the tournament, leaving fans and analysts scrambling to adjust their brackets. High Point’s victory over Wisconsin marked a historic moment for the program, which made its NCAA tournament debut last year. The win propelled the team to the round of 32 for the first time, with standout performance from freshman guard Chase Johnston. His game-winning shot, which came after a dramatic back-and-forth finish, became a defining moment for the Panthers. The game’s intensity was underscored by High Point’s ability to maintain composure in the final seconds, securing a dramatic upset over a top-five team. Meanwhile, TCU’s overtime win over Ohio State showcased the Horned Frogs’ resilience. Despite trailing by 15 points at halftime, TCU clawed back to force overtime, where Xavier Edmonds’ last-second shot sealed the victory. The win marked TCU’s first round of 32 appearance since 2023, despite being a 2.5-point underdog. Ohio State’s late surge, led by a valiant second-half effort, added to the game’s drama, as the Buckeyes fell just short of an improbable comeback. These upsets set the tone for a tournament filled with surprises, as underdog teams continued to challenge higher-ranked foes. The first round’s results emphasized the unpredictability of March Madness, with fans eagerly anticipating how these matchups will unfold in the next rounds.#high_point #wisconsin #ncaa_tournament #tcu #ohio_state
Wisconsin Badgers down only one rotation player for NCAA Tournament opener against High Point The University of Wisconsin will enter its NCAA Tournament opener with just one key rotation player missing as it prepares to face 12th-seeded High Point. Reserve guard Jack Janicki, sidelined due to wrist surgery, is expected to miss the game, while junior center Nolan Winter has been cleared to play after a full week of practice. Winter, who missed the final regular-season game and all three Big Ten Tournament contests, participated in Wisconsin’s open practice at the Moda Center on Wednesday, showing no signs of limitation. Winter’s return is critical for the Badgers, as he has been a dominant force in scoring and rebounding. The team’s leading rebounder with an average of 8.6 boards per game, Winter ranks fourth in the Big Ten in rebounding and has recorded double-doubles in 25 of his 30 contests this season. His scoring contributions are equally notable, with 13.3 points per game and a 69.9% shooting percentage from two-point range, which places him 10th nationally among players with at least 200 field goal attempts. No Big Ten player has matched his efficiency since the 1986-87 season. Winter’s performance has also earned him a spot among the league’s top performers, as he ranks second in the Big Ten with 12 double-doubles. He joins a select group of Badgers in the past 25 years to achieve at least 10 double-doubles in a season, alongside All-Americans Ethan Happ and Frank Kaminsky. Despite his success, Winter has limited NCAA Tournament experience, having played three games in previous tournaments and averaging 8.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 1.0 block in 19.0 minutes per game. Sophomore Austin Rapp has stepped into Winter’s starting role, providing reliable contributions.#high_point #ncaa_tournament #university_of_wisconsin #austin_rapp #nolan_winter
Wisconsin's Nolan Winter gives injury update before NCAA Tournament Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter is expected to return from an ankle injury ahead of the Badgers’ NCAA Tournament matchup against High Point in the first round. Coach Greg Gard confirmed on March 18 that Winter is likely to be available for the game, citing his full participation in practice the day before. “He was full-go yesterday in practice. I assume he’ll be the same today,” Gard said during a press conference in Portland. Winter, who has been working his way back to full health, described his progress as incremental. “Every day I do a little bit more and a little bit more,” he said in the UW locker room before an open practice. “And I think every morning, I’ve responded pretty well to what I did the day before. So we’re getting there for sure.” Winter’s absence began after he suffered an ankle injury during Wisconsin’s 78-45 victory over Maryland on March 4. This marked the first time in his college career that he missed a game, as he had previously played in every contest during his freshman and sophomore seasons. The seven-foot forward, who averaged 13.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during his junior season, has been a key contributor for the Badgers. Despite his absence, Wisconsin maintained its strong performance, going 3-1 in the absence of Winter. The team secured notable wins over then-No. 14 Purdue and then-No. 9 Illinois, showcasing their resilience. The Badgers, currently ranked No. 20 in the USA TODAY coaches poll, have navigated the season with confidence. Winter expressed frustration at missing the action but acknowledged the team’s success. “Seeing how much fun it was out there and for me to not be out there – it sucked,” he said. “I was itching to get back out there, watching them.#high_point #wisconsin #ncaa_tournament #nolan_winter #greg_gard
Big South Men’s Preview: Signs Point to High Point High Point men’s basketball Mon, March 2, 2026 at 3:51 PM UTC· High Point had struggled for more than two decades to reach the Big Dance before finally breaking through last year. As the Big South Men’s Tournament approaches in Johnson City, Tennessee, High Point appears poised to repeat as champions, having lost just four games all season and only one contest in conference play. That single loss came to second-place Winthrop, which kept the Eagles in contention for the title until the final weeks of the season. High Point (15-1, 27-4 overall) The Panthers entered the season with a new coach and a reshaped roster, yet they quickly established themselves as the league’s most dominant team. After losing their former head coach, Alan Huss, and eight of their top nine scorers, new coach Flynn Clayman orchestrated a turnaround by building a high-powered offense and defense through the transfer portal. Despite losing their leading scorer, Terry Anderson, who averaged under five points per game last season, High Point remains a powerhouse. The team leads the nation in turnover margin and has won 11 consecutive games since their loss to Winthrop in January. Winthrop (13-3, 21-10 overall) Winthrop remained competitive with High Point throughout the season, narrowing the gap until a late-season two-point road loss to High Point sealed their fate. The Eagles are bolstered by breakout star Logan Duncomb, a potential Player of the Year candidate who averaged 18.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game after struggling in his first three seasons. Surrounding Duncomb are scoring guards like Kareem Rozier, who averages 13.3 points and 3.4 assists, and a team that shoots more free throws than any other in the league.#high_point #big_south #flynn_clayman #logan_duncomb #kareem_rozier
UNC Asheville vs High Point Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Saturday March 7 2026 The Big South Tournament semifinals present a compelling betting scenario as UNC Asheville faces High Point in a matchup that pits an exhausted underdog against the conference’s top seed. High Point, the league’s dominant force with a 28-4 record and 15-1 conference mark, enters the game rested and motivated, while UNC Asheville must overcome the physical and mental toll of an overtime win over Longwood just 24 hours prior. This matchup, set for noon ET on Saturday, is expected to shape the outcome of the tournament. The betting lines reflect confidence in High Point’s dominance. The spread favors the Panthers at -10.5 with -120 odds, while the total is set at 149.5 with the under priced at -105. Sharp bettors have aligned on High Point’s favoritism, with the team drawing 100% of spread action. The Panthers’ offensive efficiency—averaging 90.4 points per game and forcing 16.7 turnovers—combined with their defensive strength, which allows just 70.1 points per game, makes them a formidable opponent. Their ability to disrupt Asheville’s rhythm was evident in two regular-season wins, including an 87-69 victory on December 31 and a 74-48 rout on February 19. UNC Asheville, meanwhile, faces significant challenges. The Bulldogs, with a 15-16 record, must contend with a deep roster and a physical, disciplined defense that has already stifled them twice this season. While Kameron Taylor, Justin Wright, and Toyaz Solomon provide offensive firepower, their ability to sustain performance against High Point’s pressure remains questionable. The Bulldogs’ overtime win over Longwood may have left them fatigued, and their reliance on starters could be a liability against a Panthers team with greater depth.#unc_asheville #high_point #big_south_tournament #kameron_taylor #justin_wright
