Chalk holds in Round 1 as favorites go 16-0 in the 2026 NCAA Tournament

Round 1 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament was dominated by favorites, with top seeds going 16-0 and 14 teams winning by 20+ points across the first two days. Florida set multiple single-game NCAA records in a 114-55 win, while several lower seeds (High Point, VCU, Texas, Texas A&M) won as the exception. Kentucky rallied to beat Santa Clara in overtime after Otega Oweh hit a 50-foot shot at the regulation buzzer to force OT; Duke survived a scare against Siena; BYU’s AJ Dybantsa poured in 35 in a losing effort; UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. had 31 points and 27 rebounds, and Nebraska earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament win. The results set the stage for an intriguing Round of 32.