Jay Bilas, alongside fellow analysts Jay Williams, Seth Greenberg, and Rece Davis, has released his predictions for the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament. The analysts revealed their picks shortly after the men’s NCAA tournament field was announced. They were asked to fill out a bracket live on air.
Bilas admitted that the quick turnaround wasn’t ideal. However, he decided to provide a more detailed breakdown to help fans with their own brackets. He hopes this will give fans an edge in their office pools and the Tournament Challenge.
Bilas’s Previous Bracket and Strategy
Reflecting on his previous bracket, Bilas noted it was chalky, with all four No. 1 seeds reaching the Final Four. He had Houston and Florida in the championship game, ultimately picking the Gators to win. The backlash was immediate, with critics suggesting he hadn’t picked enough underdogs.
This season, Bilas anticipates more surprises, suggesting that the top teams aren’t as dominant. He advises strategic upset picks, focusing on teams likely to lose in the subsequent round. This approach aims to balance the potential for early upsets with long-term bracket stability.
First Round Predictions
Bilas expects No. 1 Duke to defeat No. 16 Siena. He acknowledges the possibility of a 1 vs. 16 upset, referencing UMBC’s win over Virginia in 2018 and FDU’s victory against Purdue in 2023. However, he believes Duke’s Cameron Boozer will be the difference-maker.
In the 8-9 matchup, Bilas is taking TCU over Ohio State. He notes that the Buckeyes have Bruce Thornton, while TCU has David Punch, who recently scored a season-high 26 points. Bilas considers TCU an underrated team, highlighting their earlier win against Florida.
Bilas predicts No. 5 St. John’s will defeat No. 12 Northern Iowa. He believes St. John’s is underseeded and that coach Rick Pitino rarely loses first-round games.
The Importance of Enjoyment
Bilas emphasises that filling out a bracket should be fun. He encourages fans to use their best judgment when making picks. He provided his best guesses for the bracket.