Group Stage

Knockout Stage

2026 World Cup Finals

Spain

vs

England

2026 World Cup Champion:

Spain

England → Qualified as UEFA group winner, ranked 4th in the FIFA rankings

Croatia → Qualified as UEFA group winner, ranked 11th in the FIFA rankings

Ghana → Qualified as CAF group winner, ranked 73rd in the FIFA rankings

Panama → Qualified as a CONCACAF group winner, ranked 34th in the FIFA rankings

England Team Preview

England qualified easily for the 2026 World Cup, going undefeated in their group and having a goal differential of +22. They’ve only taken two losses since the start of 2025, to Senegal and Japan, tied with Uruguay, and have only beaten one team that qualified for the World Cup. As usual, England has put out a very strong side with top players from across every league. I see England going far in the tournament but will not win the whole thing. It’s not coming home yet again.

Croatia Team Preview

Croatia has qualified for their seventh World Cup and have only missed one in the entirety of them being a country. They have one of the best overall World Cup records, having two third place finishes and one runner-up finish. They cruised through their qualifying group, tying just one game and having a goal differential of +22. Croatia is at the end of their Golden Generation, which will be highlighted by the amazing careers of Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric. These guys are as stacked as ever and are ready for their rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-finals where Croatia got the victory.

Ghana Team Preview

The Black Stars are back for the second straight World Cup and fifth in the last six. Ghana won their qualifying group with a solid cushion and a goal difference of +17. Their group, however, was not necessarily strong. What is the most concerning thing for Ghana heading into the tournament is the fact that they haven’t won a game since October 12, 2025 and have struggled to score goals in their five game losing streak and a single draw against Wales. Ghana has historically performed well at the World Cup, but I don’t see them doing much here.

Panama Team Preview

The Panamanians are at their second World Cup ever after qualifying for their first in 2018. They are hoping to do much better this time around as they lost all three games and gave up 11 goals in Russia. Panama had a strong qualification, winning 7 of their 10 games across the two rounds and losing none of them. They have a veteran squad with Adalberto Carrasquilla, Anibal Godoy, and Amir Murillo. I see them competing for results and even likely getting a win in this group. I am not sure if they will advance to the knockout stage, but they will do better than last time.

Ben’s Predictions

Best Game: England vs Croatia

How can this not be the best game of the group? These two teams have developed a bit of a rivalry since the 2018 World Cup and they do not like each other. This is going to be a game filled with fireworks and both teams are absolutely going after each other. On top of this, it’s the first game of the group so we don’t have to wait too long to see it.

Underrated Game: Panama vs England

Panama are a sneaky good team and could be in a position to potentially grab second or secure third in their final game of the group stage. England could have their spot secured, so they might be taking it easier against the Panamanians, something that would end very poorly for them. I see this being another great game where Panama could steal a result.

Dark Horse: Panama

Panama has been a scrappy team for a long time and in World Cups, it’s not always the teams playing the prettiest football that wins games. Stronger teams like England and Croatia may struggle against the Panama style of play and I see them taking down Ghana on top of this. Look for Panama to shock the big dogs and maybe steal an automatic qualification spot.

Let Down Team: Croatia

As much as I love the Croatian side, I can see where they may falter and it starts with their veterans. They rely heavily on some of the older players of the group and if they have a few tough games, Croatia may be sweating out their final game to see if they qualify for the knockouts. I do see them doing well in the group, but I can see where issues could arise.

Final Group Stage Results

1. England

2. Croatia

3. Panama*

4. Ghana

*Panama advances as a top third place finisher.

Portugal → Qualified as UEFA group winner, ranked 5th in the FIFA rankings

DR Congo → Qualified as FIFA playoff winner, ranked 46th in the FIFA rankings

Uzbekistan → Qualified as top AFC group finisher, ranked 50th in the FIFA rankings

Colombia → Qualified as a top CONMEBOL group finisher, ranked 13th in the FIFA rankings

Portugal Team Preview

In what is likely to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup tournament, Portugal are looking to do what Argentina did for Messi last year and get one of the greatest players of all time the trophy he is missing. Portugal won their tough group with Ireland and Hungary on their tails, but they only lost one game and had a solid goal differential of +13. Since September 2024, they have only lost two games and won the UEFA Nations League, beating Spain in a shootout in that tournament. Portugal are led by players like Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Reuben Dias, and so many more. On top of wanting to win for Ronaldo, they will also be holding Diogo Jota close to their hearts who passed away last summer. I see them doing very well and making a deep run in the tournament.

DR Congo Team Preview

The Democratic Republic of the Congo are in their first ever World Cup after placing second in their CAF qualifying group and then winning their playoff game against Jamaica. They were in a difficult group where Senegal won the thing and Congo was right behind them only two points off. They have only had two games since their Jamaica win, a tie and a loss, but I am very intrigued by this team. They are led up top by Yoane Wissa and are anchored by defenders Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe. I could see them getting a win and maybe even another draw in this group, something that not many people would see coming.

Uzbekistan Team Preview

Uzbekistan qualified for their first ever World Cup after getting second in their AFC qualifying group, only two points behind Iran. Since 2025, they have only lost three games, all three to other World Cup participants. They are currently on a two game losing streak, but they were to the Netherlands and Canada, two very strong teams. Their path in the World Cup is not going to be an easy one, going up against Colombia and Portugal in their first two games. The majority of their squad plays in the Uzbekistani domestic league, with the notable exception of Abdukodir Khusanov who plays for Manchester City. I struggle to see them getting more than a point, but it will be fun to watch them at their first tournament.

Colombia Team Preview

The Colombians are back at the World Cup after missing out on the 2022 edition and are looking as strong as they ever have. They were level on points at the end of their qualifying round but placed third after tiebreakers. They managed to score 28 goals which was second most behind Argentina. They have had mixed results since then, beating Jordan and Costa Rica but struggling and losing against France and Croatia. They have some big name strikers in Luis Diaz and John Arias along with some strong veterans in James Rodriguez and David Ospina. I think they are going to qualify for the knockout round but unsure of how they will do beyond that.

Ben’s Predictions

Best Game: Portugal vs Colombia

The two best teams on paper meet in the final game of the group stage. There could be first and second on the line here, especially with the “easier” of the two games being played for each before this one. I do believe that Portugal will win the game fairly handily.

Underrated Game: Colombia vs DR Congo

I see this game as being a turning point for both teams in the group. In all likelihood, Colombia should be coming off a win against Uzbekistan and Congo coming off of a loss to Portugal, but I could see the Congolese giving Colombia a run for their money. I think they are going to press an aging Colombian team that may not have the legs they used to.

Dark Horse: DR Congo

I’ll put my hand up here, I doubted the ability of this Congolese team quite a bit looking at the group. It wasn’t until I started to look into the squad and see the depth they possessed at every position. I still don’t think that they are going to do fantastic, but they have the pieces to do so and I am excited to see how the game comes together for them.

Let Down Team: Portugal

We all saw the blueprint that Argentina laid out in Qatar, playing and winning games for Messi. Portugal will try to do the same thing this year for Ronaldo, but could the pressure get to them too quickly in the group stage? There is a lot of pressure they are under with Ronaldo’s final World Cup and carrying the weight of Jota’s death. I don’t think they will collapse, but if the coaches don’t prepare them for the pressure, they could end up having a short tournament.

Final Group Stage Results

1. Portugal

2. Colombia

3. DR Congo

4. Uzbekistan

Argentina → Qualified as CONMEBOL group winner, ranked 3rd in the FIFA rankings

Algeria → Qualified as CAF group winner, ranked 28th in the FIFA rankings

Austria → Qualified as UEFA group winner, ranked 24th in the FIFA rankings

Jordan → Qualified as AFC group winner, ranked 63rd in the FIFA rankings

Argentina Team Preview

Lionel Messi and Argentina are defending their World Cup title in this edition and what will likely be Messi’s last time playing for Argentina in the World Cup. They cruised through CONMEBOL qualification and despite having four losses, still won the group by nine points. They have only lost once in 2025-2026 and are one of the top teams to win the tournament again this year. Anchored by Lionel Messi and loaded with talent across the board, I expect this team to yet again advance deep into the tournament and make at least a semi-finals appearance.

Algeria Team Preview

Algeria is back at the World Cup for the first time since 2014 in Brazil where they advanced to the round of 16 before getting knocked out. They only took one loss in the CAF qualifying round and were able to put up a strong +16 goal differential. Since September of 2024, the Algerians have only lost four games, three of which came from either the AFCON tournament or the FIFA Arab Cup. Led by Riyad Mahrez up front and Rayan Aït-Nouri on the defense, I see Algeria competing for the second position in this group.

Austria Team Preview

The Austrians are back at the World Cup for the first time this century and are looking to finally make their mark again on the world stage. They only lost one game in qualifying and won their group over fellow World Cup qualifiers, Bosnia & Herzegovina, to avoid having to go into the playoff. Their last three games have all been against World Cup teams and they have managed to win all three which is a great sign heading into the tournament. Austria has a very strong squad, highlighted by David Alaba, Konrad Laimer, and Marcel Sabitzer. I believe they could qualify for the knockout stage, but will the excitement of the World Cup be too much for them?

Jordan Team Preview

Al-Nashama are making their very first World Cup appearance and while the group for Jordan is a bit easier than other debutants, it still isn’t an easy one. Jordan advanced to the World Cup after placing second in their qualifying group, losing only three of the 16 games played during the stages. Their results were positive right after qualifying, going to the Arab Cup finals before losing to Morocco, but they haven’t won a game since December of last year. I struggle to see them getting a win at the World Cup this year, but I hope they and their country are proud.

Ben’s Predictions

Best Game: Algeria vs Austria

This will be the game to decide who gets second in the group and who I believe will claim the second and only other spot up for grabs in the knockout round. This will be the final game for both teams and I would be shocked if they weren’t level on points after beating Jordan and losing to Argentina. What will be interesting to watch is how far their star players go, especially for Algeria. If Alaba can’t go the full 90 for Austria, they still have players like Laimer and Sabitzer to back him up, but when Mahrez goes out who will Algeria have for them? This will be something they need to figure out in the first two games.

Underrated Game: Argentina vs Austria

Both teams have a lot of talent but with Argentina being the favorites to win all three games of their group, I see Austria as being the spoiler to that. Argentina is one of the best teams in the world, but can another strong, cohesive unit like Austria potentially knock them off? I think they can and wouldn’t be surprised to see if Argentina falters here, especially coming off a hard game against Algeria where Austria *should* be able to coast against Jordan.

Dark Horse: Austria

Austria does not have much to lose in terms of pride or expectations to advance deep into the tournament. They haven’t qualified since 1998 where they didn’t win a game over in France so a likely win against Jordan in their first game would be a fantastic start for them. On top of that, they are also a very strong team with a lot of depth and players playing at some great clubs across Europe. I would not be shocked if they made some noise and potentially topped their group if other results go their way.

Let Down Team: Argentina

After one of the greatest World Cup runs and finals we have seen back in Qatar, the biggest question is if Argentina will be able to do it again. I would be surprised if they didn’t, but I see where the path for them to fall to second or even third in this group. Most people outside of the Argentina camp thought that 2022 was going to be the last World Cup for Messi and it was clear that Argentina was playing for him. Now that he has his World Cup win, I wonder what the attitude is going to be like. Obviously they want to win but the passion to win for Messi not being there could hinder them. I doubt it, but we will see.

Final Group Stage Results

1. Argentina

2. Austria

3. Algeria

4. Jordan

France → Qualified as UEFA group winner, ranked 1st in the FIFA rankings

Senegal → Qualified as CAF group winner, ranked 15th in the FIFA rankings

Iraq → Qualified through FIFA playoff, ranked 56th in the FIFA rankings

Norway → Qualified as UEFA group winner, ranked 31st in the FIFA rankings

Before we get started here with the rest of the post, I want to take the time to mention how insanely difficult this group will be and why I believe it is the group of death this year. France is the best team in the world right now, Senegal is one of the top African teams, Norway has Erling Haaland, and Iraq thrives when counted out. This is going to be a fascinating group that truly could have any one advance.

France Team Preview

The French are bringing back another insanely strong squad to try and win their second World Cup in three editions. France were a great save by Emi Martinez on Randal Kolo Muani away from winning in extra time in Qatar. To highlight how good they are this year, Kolo Muani, who is only 27, isn’t even in the squad for the tournament. France is led by Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Aurlien Tchouameni, and the rest of their roster are just as good. While I think anyone could win this group, I would be shocked if France weren’t the winners.

Senegal Team Preview

The Lions of Teranga are at their third straight World Cup and are looking to advance out of a very difficult group. Senegal went undefeated in their qualifying group with a goal difference of +19. They have also had a solid 2025 into 2026, controversially winning the AFCON tournament while also having the title stripped from them. Senegal is loaded with talent at each position, but are led by Sadio Mané, the pinnacle of Senegalese football. They are an extremely solid side and are going to be hard for anyone to beat. They are going to be the biggest challenger to France in the group.

Iraq Team Preview

Iraq is back at the World Cup for the first time since 1986 where they lost all three games and only scored one goal. Qualifying for the World Cup was not an easy task, going into the playoff round of the AFC qualifying where they beat the United Arab Emirates to advance to the FIFA playoff where they beat Bolivia to qualify They did alright in the Arab Cup, advancing to the quarter finals but losing to runner-ups and World Cup qualifiers, Jordan, in that game. They don’t have many players at high level clubs but the Lions of Mesopotamia are filled with heart and carrying the weight of their nation behind them.

Norway Team Preview

I don’t usually add pictures to these posts but I am going to add the Norway team photo below because of how awesome it is. This is a group of guys who haven’t qualified for a World Cup since 1998 but might be the scariest team to face in terms of the amount of goals they can churn out. They have the best striker in the world in Erling Haaland who is backed by Alexander Sorloth and Martin Odegaard. The Norwegians didn’t lose a single game in qualifying and had a goal difference of +32. This is a team that is going to shock everyone and win games because of the volume of goals they can score.

Ben’s Predictions

Best Game: Senegal vs Norway

This game is going to be a blast to watch. It will be the position less free flowing Senegal style of play against the goal scoring and offensive machine that is Norway. Two styles of play that aren’t necessarily conflicting, but are certainly different. I see a lot of goals and wide open play in this game, it’s not going to be one to miss.

Underrated Game: Norway vs France

Crazy that the number one team in the world is in the underrated game, but I think this is going to be a grind game for France. They aren’t going to be the best team by a wide margin and if they get sloppy on defense, they won’t stop Haaland. On the other side, Norway’s defense can’t sleep on the volume of talent that France has, especially in Mbappe. This might be another wide open, high-scoring game that will be a lot of fun to watch,

Dark Horse: Norway

I am going to sound like a broken record here but Norway can score a lot of goals and what helps teams that may be undermatched in other parts of the field? Goals. Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard are going to be linking up for so many goals and are going to shoot themselves into every single game they play. The World Cup is built for Cinderella teams to emerge and I am picking Norway to do just that.

Let Down Team: France

Only a team with immense expectations can be a let down team and France fits the mold perfectly. I will keep this section short though because I would be willing to bet my house (I won’t and I don’t gamble) that France will advance to the knockout stage and go far in the tournament.

Final Group Stage Results

1. France

2. Norway

3. Senegal*

4. Iraq

*Senegal advances as a top third place finisher

Spain → Qualified as UEFA group winner, ranked 2nd in the FIFA rankings

Cabo Verde → Qualified as CAF group winner, ranked 67th in the FIFA rankings

Saudi Arabia → Qualified as AFC group winner, ranked 61st in the FIFA rankings

Uruguay → Qualified as a top CONMEBOL finisher, ranked 16th in the FIFA rankings

Spain Team Preview

Spain is one of two teams that me and probably most others in the world believe have the best shot at winning the World Cup. They are currently ranked second in the FIFA rankings, never lost in qualifying, and have only lost twice between 2024 and 2026 and are poised to try and win the Cup again after winning back in 2010. They are filled with young talent like Lamine Yamal and Pedri but also have veterans like Laporte and Olmo. I believe that Spain will go far and they are my pick to win the World Cup.

Cabo Verde Team Preview

Welcome to the World Cup Cabo Verde! The second smallest country to ever qualify, topping their group which included Cameroon. They are currently riding a three game win streak that included wins over Finland and Serbia. They have only lost three official games since the beginning of 2025, two of which were shootouts against Iran and Egypt. The Cape Verdeans weren’t given an easy draw for their first World Cup and while I do see their time being short, they have made their entire country proud.

Saudi Arabia Team Preview

Saudi Arabia are coming into their third straight World Cup and seventh of all time after winning their fourth round group of the AFC qualifying stage. Since qualifying, they have only won one game and lost their other three, two of which were against fellow World Cup qualifiers. Normally, with the results they have had, I would be counting Saudi Arabia out, but I think they could shock some people. Up until a few years ago the Saudi Pro League was considered a lower tier league, but as more stars and money have flown into the league, maybe the quality has improved as well. I still don’t see them doing well, but I am not ready to count them out just yet.

Uruguay Team Preview

The Uruguayans are ready for their fifth straight World Cup appearance, which is also in the shadows of their *sort of* co-hosting appearance in 2030. Along with four other teams, Uruguay tied for third in the CONMEBOL qualifying group. While they lost four times, they were able to have a second best goal difference of 10, only behind Argentina. This roster is loaded with talent across the board, but I believe they are going to only do as well as their strikers. Led by Darwin Nunez with a young star in Facundo Pellistri, this is the unit that needs to perform the best in my opinion. Uruguay should advance out of their group and I can see them making a deep run in the knockouts.

Ben’s Predictions

Best Game: Spain vs Uruguay

Two fantastic teams in Spain and Uruguay will go head to head in the final match of the group stage. Both have stars across the roster and legendary coaches leading the way. I do think Spain has an edge here with the young talent and playmakers at every position. I see this being one of the great games of the group stage as a whole.

Underrated Game: Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia

First game of the group for both teams and I think this could be a result no one sees coming. Uruguay hasn’t had an international win since 2025 and while Saudi Arabia hasn’t done much better, they are a better team than people think. Look out for the Saudis to kick Uruguay in the teeth and stun them game one.

Dark Horse: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is trying to emerge as a world soccer powerhouse and this World Cup is the time to show what they got. They are hosting the 2034 tournament, their domestic league has some of the greatest players like Cristiano Ronaldo, and their national team players get to go up against these great players every day in training. They say that iron sharpens iron and I think that is the case for Saudi Arabia. They won’t win the group, but I think they are going to shock the group.

Let Down Team: Spain

The Spanish seem to be on top of the football world right now. Ranked 2nd in the world according to FIFA but have an excellent argument for number one. They just won the Euro tournament, have made three straight Nations League finals appearances and won one of them, and have so much talent. Reminds me a lot of Spain going into the 2014 World Cup where the pressure got to them and they didn’t make it out of the group and haven’t made it past the round of 16 since then. I fully believe that this is a different Spain team, but if the pressure gets to them again their dream tournament could be gone quickly.

Final Group Stage Results

1. Spain

2. Saudi Arabia

3. Uruguay*

4. Cabo Verde

*Uruguay advances as a top third place finisher.

Belgium → Qualified as UEFA group winner, ranked 9th in the FIFA rankings

Egypt → Qualified as CAF group winner, ranked 29th in the FIFA rankings

Iran → Qualified as AFC group winner, ranked 21st in the FIFA rankings

New Zealand → Qualified as OFC playoff winner, ranked 85th in the FIFA rankings

Belgium Team Preview

Belgium went undefeated in their qualifying group to advance to the World Cup, although it was one of the easier groups. They have been on a good run of form since 2024 where they collapsed in the UEFA Nations League. They have beaten or tied their last four opponents, all who qualified for the World Cup, by a combined score of 13-3. They have an easier group on paper so I do think they will advance, but I never trust them in the long run.

Egypt Team Preview

The Egyptians are back in the World Cup for the second time this century and ready to do better than they did in Russia, losing all three games. They were unscathed in their qualifying group with Burkina Faso being the team that challenged them the most. They made it to the semi-finals of the AFCON tournament before losing to Senegal and then getting fourth place after a shootout loss to Nigeria. Led by Moahmed Salah and Trezeguet, the Pharaohs are looking to advance from the group stage for the first time since 1934.

Iran Team Preview

Iran is in their fourth straight World Cup but they haven’t been able to advance from the group stage in any of those or other appearances. They are led by a very dangerous striker in Mehdi Taremi and are not a team to overlook. They had a great qualifying round and while they have had up and down results recently, they can score a lot of goals when they need to. There are obvious political issues going on with Iran and the US which is overshadowing a great team. I hope that the Iranians can put on a show for their country and go far in the tournament.

New Zealand Team Preview

New Zealand has made history as the first ever Oceania team to auto-qualify for the World Cup after beating New Caledonia in the OFC playoff final. They had an “easy” run to the World Cup, winning all five games, giving up only one goal and outscoring their opponents 29-1. Since their final qualification match in March of last year, the Kiwis have won just two games and drawn once, which is not a great recipe coming into the tournament. This will be the third World Cup appearance for New Zealand who are looking to win their first game ever at the tournament.

Ben’s Predictions

Best Game: Belgium vs Iran

As this category usually goes, I believe the best game will be between the best two teams of the group on paper. Belgium is always predicted to go far and I believe that Iran is going to be playing with significant passion because of the tension in their country right. Watch out for Iran to shock Belgium here for a bit.

Underrated Game: Belgium vs New Zealand

Belgium’s biggest issue going into the tournament is their defense as one of their top defenders, Zeno Debast, won’t be back until this game. If Belgium are tripped up against Iran or Egypt they may need a result here. On the other side of things, we don’t fully know what New Zealand is going to look like, but we know they can score a lot of goals. This game looks like an easy Belgium win on paper, but the Kiwis have a lot to prove in this game.

Dark Horse: New Zealand

As mentioned just above, we don’t really know what New Zealand is going to look like at the World Cup. We know they can score a lot of goals but an argument against that is that they all came against poor Oceania sides. They are limping into the World Cup losing 9 of their last 11 games, but none of that matters once the tournament starts. Watch out for a lot of potential goals from these guys.

Let Down Team: Belgium

Whether it is the UEFA Nations League, the Euro, or the World Cup, I have never been able to trust Belgium and their “Golden Generation”. Their best result of this generation came eight years ago in Russia when they got third, but not what they were ever hoping for. They are aging out of this generation and an argument could be made that they are too old and reliant on their older players. If a team is going to falter in this group, it will be Belgium.

Final Group Stage Results

1. Belgium

2. Iran

3. Egypt*

4. New Zealand

*Egypt advances as a top third place finisher.

Netherlands → Qualified as UEFA group winner, ranked 7th in the FIFA rankings

Japan → Qualified as AFC group winner, ranked 18th in the FIFA rankings

Sweden → Qualified through UEFA playoff, ranked 38th in the FIFA rankings

Tunisia → Qualified as AFC group winner, ranked 45th in the FIFA rankings

Netherlands Team Preview

The Dutch have qualified for the second straight World Cup, winning their qualifying group with their only blemishes in the form of two draws. They had a tough draw with Poland and Finland, but beyond that faced little trouble. They haven’t lost a game in regular time since 2024, with the other loss coming against Spain in a shootout. They haven’t been many other qualified teams, but their strength as a team speaks for itself. The worst the Dutch have ever done in a tournament is a round of 16 exit and I expect the trend of advancing to the knockout stage to continue.

Japan Team Preview

One of the world’s most relentless and patient teams is ready to make some noise at the World Cup this year. The Japanese have qualified for every Cup since 1998 and have always been a difficult team to beat. They only lost once in their qualifying group and had a goal difference of +27 and have only dropped two games since the beginning of 2024. Currently on a six game winning streak where only two of their opponents didn’t qualify for the World Cup. Five of these games have been shutouts and three have been 1-0 wins. This is a team that punishes your mistakes and doesn’t let you breathe on the field. I see them doing very well this year.

Sweden Team Preview

Sweden is a team that I truly do not know how they are going to do at the World Cup. The last time they qualified was in 2018 where they finished seventh with a quarter-finals appearance. There is no other way around it, the qualifying round for Sweden was awful. They tied twice, lost four times, and had a goal difference of -8 but advanced because of their UEFA Nations League performance. They won their playoff games against Poland and Ukraine to advance, but then lost to Norway in their friendly match on June 1st. I can’t see Sweden doing well this year with maybe a result against Tunisia at best.

Tunisia Team Preview

The Tunisians are coming back for their third straight World Cup and are looking to advance out of their group for the first time in their history. They comfortably advanced in their group with a goal difference +22 and 13 points ahead of 2nd and 3rd place Namibia and Liberia. Led by Ellyes Skhiri and Hannibal Mejbri, Tunisia is looking to bounce back from a disappointing AFCON and run of friendly games. I see Tunisia picking up a win here but not advancing from the group.

Ben’s Predictions

Best Game: Japan vs Netherlands

This game is going to be a tactical dream for fans who want to watch two contrasting but great styles of soccer. The positionless Total Football of the Dutch against the relentless structure of the Japanese is going to be very fun to watch. On top of this, they are the two best teams in the group so this could also determine the winner and where they place in the knockout round.

Underrated Game: Japan vs Sweden

This is a game that intrigues me quite a lot as Sweden seems to be an unknown team coming into the tournament. Japan doesn’t give up many goals and while Sweden has struggled to score, doubting players like Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak will lead to getting your team picked apart. I think this could end up being another really fun game that could end in a lot of goals.

Dark Horse: Sweden

Sweden is the biggest “who knows” team in arguably the entire World Cup. They have some great players like Gyökeres, Isak, and Lindelof, but they also were downright awful in their qualifying round. Then, in the UEFA Playoffs, they turned everything around and won two important games while scoring a lot of goals. I truly do not know which team is going to show up and this could be a scary thing for the rest of the group.

Let Down Team: None

I went back and forth on this one trying to scrape through picking Japan or Netherlands and I ended on there will be no let down team in Group F. I think that Japan and the Netherlands are too strong of sides to falter enough to where they let fans down. Tunisia and Sweden have very little to no expectations so they are either going to exceed expectations or be right where everyone thinks. It’ll be a fun and unpredictable group and I am excited for it!

Final Group Stage Results

1. Netherlands

2. Japan

3. Sweden

4. Tunisia

Germany → Qualified as UEFA group winner, ranked 10th in FIFA rankings

Curacao → Qualified as CONCACAF group winner, ranked 82nd in FIFA rankings

Côte d’Ivoire → Qualified as CAF group winner, ranked 34th in the FIFA rankings

Ecuador → Qualified as a top CONMEBOL finisher, ranked 24th in FIFA rankings

Germany Team Preview

The Germans have yet another strong side ready for the World Cup. They had a good, but tight, qualifying group where they only dropped one game and had a goal difference of +13. On top of this, the Germans have won eight games in a row, outscoring their opponents 26-6, picking up big wins against Ghana and Switzerland along the way. Germany has a strong attack and a solid defense, but I see their weakness being in their goalkeeping. Two of their goalies, Manuel Neuer and Oliver Baumann, are over 35, Alexander Nübel is 29 but is prone to giving up a lot of goals. I see Germany doing fine, but unsure how far they can make it.

Curacao Team Preview

The Blue Wave have qualified for their first ever World Cup and advanced out of a difficult qualifying group on top of that. They were able to advance out of a group that had Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, staying undefeated on top of that. Since then, they have lost three games, scoring two goals and giving up 11. With an expanded World Cup we get to see new teams qualify for the first time which is fantastic, but I see this debut being a short-lived one for Curacao.

Côte d’Ivoire Team Preview

The Ivorians had an undefeated World Cup qualifying group stage, barely edging out Gabon to advance out of their group. They have only lost three games since the beginning of 2025 with an appearance in the quarter finals of the AFCON tournament at the beginning of the year. Côte d’Ivoire is in their fourth World Cup and first one since 2014. They haven’t advanced out of their group in any of their other appearances, but with more teams qualifying for the knockout stage, this is their year to do it.

Ecuador Team Preview

Ecuador came in second in their CONMEBOL qualifying group and advanced to their second straight World Cup and their fifth overall. They are an extremely strong defensive team, only conceding five goals during the qualifying round, but only scored 14 goals which was tied for the fewest among the qualifying teams. Since the start of 2025, they have tied nine games, won three and lost none. They have only given up seven goals in that time, but their issue scoring the ball could hold them back. I see them doing well in this group but could struggle in the knockout stage.

Ben’s Predictions

Best Game: Côte d’Ivoire vs Curacao

This is going to be a great game with similar styles in quick build-up and a fast paced game. The Caribbean and African styles of play can look very similar, but the organization versus lack of organization is going to create a fun yet chaotic game. I think this is going to be a blast and if some other results go their way, this game could be a precursor to who finishes in third place.

Underrated Game: Ecuador vs Germany

This is going to be the final game of the group stage and will likely determine who places first and second in the group. While this may be the best game of the group, I would be shocked if it is high scoring. I think this is going to be a defensive stalemate where one mistake could be the determining factor.

Dark Horse: Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire could play spoiler here for Germany and Ecuador, who I believe are the two top teams on paper. The Ivorians play a fun brand of soccer and while African teams don’t always do well in the World Cup, their style of play often frustrates European teams. On top of this, Germany may struggle in the net and Ecuador doesn’t score many goals, leaving the door open for Côte d’Ivoire to steal some points.

Let Down Team: Germany

Since the start of this article until now I have changed my mind on how I think Germany is going to do. I am not convinced that their goalies can keep up with the pace of some teams in their group and the social media reaction around the team selection is very negative. Germany has gotten grouped the last two World Cups, winning just two total games. I believe they will advance out of the group, but I see them underperforming.

Final Group Stage Results

1. Ecuador

2. Côte d’Ivoire

3. Germany*

4. Curacao

*Germany advances as a top third place finisher.

USA → Auto qualified as host, ranked 16th in FIFA rankings

Paraguay → Qualified as a top CONMEBOL finisher, ranked 40th in FIFA rankings

Australia → Qualified as a top AFC finisher, ranked 27th in the FIFA rankings

Turkiye → Qualified through UEFA playoff, ranked 22nd in FIFA rankings

USA Team Preview

Co-hosts, The United States of America are coming into the World Cup after an extremely rocky 2025-2026, but still with a lot of optimism. They did well in the Gold Cup last summer before losing to Mexico in the finals, but have struggled against some great teams like Portugal and Belgium. Two great results were against Uruguay and recently Senegal, looking like the sharper and better team in both wins. Their most important recent results, in my opinion, were wins against Paraguay and Australia, two teams they will face in this group. I believe the USA will top their group and have a deep knockout run on home soil.

Paraguay Team Preview

Paraguay advanced comfortably in the CONMEBOL group stage which included wins over Brazil and Argentina. Since the qualifying stage, they have struggled to maintain their form, losing three games but picking up a win over Mexico. Their biggest strength in qualifying was their defensive prowess, giving up second fewest goals with 10. Their defense struggled to turn into offense as they also were tied for third fewest in goals scored of any of the teams in their group. They are going to have a tough out in this group, but I think they might be able to get through as a third place team.

Australia Team Preview

The Soceroos are ready to make a splash at the World Cup this year after advancing in their third round group of the AFC qualifying stage. They didn’t have the easiest group with Japan qualifying with them and Saudi Arabia eventually qualifying as well. They had an alright goal difference of +9 thanks to a 5-1 win over Indonesia. They have struggled to get wins against higher ranked teams, including Mexico, the USA, and Colombia, but did pick up a FIFA Series trophy from their group. I think they are a toss up with Paraguay for third place.

Turkiye Team Preview

Turkiye were neck and neck with Spain in their qualifying group stage, but after failing to advance directly, they won their playoff games over Romania and Kosovo to qualify for the World Cup. Despite being a playoff team, this is a very dangerous squad. They only lost one game in qualifying, a 6-0 thrashing from Spain, but rebounded by outscoring their opponents 12-4 over their remaining four games. Most of their team plays domestically in Turkiye, but have stars across the world like at Arda Güler Real Madrid and Hakan Çalhanoğlu at Inter. This is a team that can challenge for the top spot in the group and I would not be shocked if they did.

Ben’s Predictions

Best Game: USA vs Turkiye

The final game of the group stage for these teams is going to be a fantastic one. I could see this being the game that decides the final group standings and wouldn’t be shocked if Turkiye is winning the group after the game. The US has the momentum in each of their games as hosts, but if they get ahead of themselves they’ll be in trouble. I see this game ending in a draw.

Underrated Game: Paraguay vs Australia

This could be the deciding game for who gets third and potentially advances to the knockout rounds and who is sent packing. I think these are clearly the third and fourth teams in the group, but are still formidable opponents. I have Paraguay winning this one. They are the better defensive team and while they can struggle to score at times, one goal is all they need to send the Australian team home.

Dark Horse: Paraguay

Looking purely at the numbers or the CONMEBOL standings, you might not have full confidence in the Paraguay team, but this is where they can beat you. They were level on points with four teams for third place in qualifying and can break teams down defensively. In a group that many might consider up for grabs, a draw and a win could see them in a top spot in their group.

Let Down Team: USA

Tough pick for me as I want the US to do well and I do truly think they can have a really good tournament. When thinking about a potential let down team in this group though, the clear choice is the United States. The pressure and hopes are high from their fans, squad, and Federation, which could easily culminate in a disappointing tournament. I do believe they will qualify for the knockout round, but anything besides a first or second place finish will be a disappointment.

Final Group Stage Results

1. USA

2. Turkiye

3. Paraguay*

4. Australia

*Paraguay advances as a top third place finisher.

Brazil → Qualified as a top CONMEBOL finisher, ranked 6th in FIFA rankings

Morocco → Qualified as CAF group winner, ranked 8th in FIFA rankings

Haiti → Qualified as CONCACAF group winner, ranked 83rd in FIFA rankings

Scotland → Qualified as UEFA group winner, ranked 43rd in FIFA rankings

Brazil Team Preview

The Brazilians are coming into the World Cup after a bit of a rocky qualifying and friendly schedule. They finished level on points with Colombia, Uruguay, and Paraguay (who all qualified) but had the most losses (6) and second most goals allowed (17) of any CONMEBOL team that automatically qualified. They have had some quality wins in friendly matches against Croatia, Senegal, and South Korea, but have also faltered against Japan and France. I still see them doing very well in this tournament, but not sure how deep of a knockout run they will make.

Morocco Team Preview

The Moroccans in my opinion are going to be the team to beat in Group C. They have only lost four games since June of 2023 which has included multiple win streaks of 12 and 11 games. They won last year’s AFCON, albeit controversially, and are clearly the best team in Africa. They had a great run in the Qatar World Cup and are looking to build on the success of the last few years. As I said before, this team is going to be the one to beat in this group and I have them going far in the knockout round.

Haiti Team Preview

Haiti is making their return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974 where they failed to win a game. They only lost twice between their two qualifying rounds and beat out teams like Costa Rica and Honduras to qualify. They had a good run of form from June 2024 to June 2025, winning 10 games in a row and performing well in the CONCACAF Nations League. Unfortunately for the Haitians, they are in an extremely difficult group that I don’t believe they will do well in. Look for them to drop all three games.

Scotland Team Preview

Scotland has qualified for their first World Cup since 1998 and are looking to advance to their first knockout round in their history. They topped their group with Denmark, Greece, and Belarus, only losing one game. They have had an alright 2025 into 2026, picking up some quality wins, but being largely unable to beat other qualified teams. They should pick up a win against Haiti, but beyond that not sure how they are going to perform.

Ben’s Predictions

Best Game: Brazil vs Morocco

The best two teams by far in this group are facing off in the first game of the group stage and looking to set the tone for how their tournament is going to go. I would not be shocked to see this one end in a draw, but I believe the Moroccans are going to eek one out here late.

Underrated Game: Scotland vs Haiti

In the other opening match of the group stage, Haiti and Scotland are looking to make a mark early on their group and potentially grab a third place qualifying spot for the knockout round. Both of these teams have a lot to prove and this will be the game to do it. I am not sure how great of a game it will be, but the results will prove a lot in the final standings.

Dark Horse: Haiti

Why not Haiti? They have nothing to lose in their first World Cup in a while and I believe they are going to be overlooked by some of the bigger teams in the group. They don’t have the star power of any of the other teams, but their scrapiness can get them far. I don’t see them doing well, but if any underdog team can do it they will.

Let Down Team: Brazil

I am not sure why but I have a bad feeling about this Brazil team. Usually coming into World Cups there is a lot of hype around Brazil and feelings like their success is inevitable, but the talk doesn’t seem to be the same. Similar to the Haiti prediction, I don’t see this happening but I feel like this could be a 2018 Germany situation.

Final Group Stage Results

1. Morocco

2. Brazil

3. Scotland

4. Haiti

Group B

Canada → Auto qualified as hosts, ranked 30th in the FIFA rankings

Bosnia and Herzegovina → Qualified through UEFA Playoff, ranked 65th in the FIFA rankings

Qatar → Qualified as AFC group winner, ranked 55th in the FIFA Rankings

Switzerland → Qualified as UEFA group winner, ranked 19th in the FIFA Rankings

Canada Team Preview

Canada is entering their third World Cup in history as one of the three hosts. The Canadians have had an up and down 2025 into 2026, winning many games but underperforming in the Gold Cup, losing to Guatemala in the Quarterfinals. Their discipline is something to keep an eye on, with red cards being shown in three of their last five games. Canada has a lot to look forward to as hosts, but their path to a knockout won’t be easy.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Team Preview

Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the 2026 World Cup for just the second time since they broke from Yugoslavia. They struggled in their last Cup in 2014, finishing third, but they are looking to change things this time around. The Bosnians have significant momentum coming into the World Cup, winning eight of their last 12 games, including two shootout wins to propel them into the tournament. They are a sneaky good team in a group that is fully up for grabs, I see them doing very well.

Qatar Team Preview

Qatar has now qualified for back to back World Cups which also happens to be the only two in their history. Their time as hosts in 2022 was short and honestly pretty bad, scoring just one goal and losing all three games. I am not sure if this edition is going to be much better for them. They won their fourth round group which qualified them for the tournament, but has not won a game since then, including losses to Palestine and Zimbabwe. I don’t see them winning a game this time around.

Switzerland Team Preview

Switzerland comes into this group as the team with by far the most World Cup experience, best results, and arguably the best team of the group. Switzerland has lost once since November of 2024, winning seven of the 12 games played in that time, drawing three of them. Switzerland is led by Granit Xhaka, Manuel Akanji, and Gregor Kobel and this team is poised to win group B and go far in the tournament. This group is a bit of a weaker one to begin with, so I am expecting a lot of the Swiss team.

Ben’s Predictions

Best Game: Switzerland vs Canada

I think all of Canada’s games are going to be rocking on home soil this summer, but this could prove to be a crucial match. This will be the final game of the group stage and one that could determine each team’s path in the knockout round. As you will see below, I have Canada finishing third but advancing as a top third place team, something that would be boosted by a result in this match.

Underrated Game: Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Canada

As mentioned before, all of Canada’s games are going to be great this tournament, but this game is going to be flying under the radar. I think Bosnia are a very good team that is going to give teams like Canada fits with their physical and forward style of play. I see this game being a high scoring one with Bosnia & Herzegovina coming out on top.

Dark Horse: Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bosnia & Herzegovina are coming into the World Cup with a lot of momentum, especially in the play-off phase where they beat Wales and Italy. This is an aggressive and physical team that is going to ping balls forward to Edin Dzeko while also being able to play the ball out wide to their newer dynamic wing players. The Bosnians have been overlooked since qualifying, a spot they like to be in and are going to thrive.

Let Down Team: Canada

Canada is limping into the World Cup in terms of their recent results. They have been struggling over the last year and not having a qualifying run may hurt them in the long run. They are a good team but the “shock” that was there over the last 5-7 years of how good of a squad they are is gone. While I do believe that they will win their first World Cup game ever this time around, I am not confident how they will do overall.

Final Group Stage Results

1. Switzerland

2. Bosnia & Herzegovina

3. Canada*

4. Qatar

*Canada Advances as a top third place finisher

Expanded Tournament

The 2026 edition of the World Cup is expanding from 32 teams to 48, which brings along four more groups. Outside of the Oceania group, each Continental Confederation had more teams qualify, with the Confederation of African Football having the largest increase with four teams.

New Knockout Tournament

The top two teams of each group advance to the knockout stage of the tournament, same as the editions. The change this year comes with the third place finishers, as the top eight teams will also advance to the knockout stage. The World Cup will now have a 32-team knockout stage.

Group A

Mexico → Auto Qualified as host, ranked 15th in the FIFA Rankings

South Africa → Qualified as CAF group winner, ranked 60th in the FIFA Rankings

Korea Republic → Qualified as AFC group winner, ranked 25th in the FIFA Rankings

Czechia → Qualified through UEFA Playoff, ranked 41st in the FIFA Rankings

Mexico Team Preview

Mexico is one of three host countries at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a decent amount of momentum across the last year. They haven’t lost since June 7th of last year, with their biggest accomplishment of that time being winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup over the United States. They are currently ranked the 15th best team in the world and hope to capitalize on their home soil this summer. Mexico’s host stadiums are very difficult for opposing teams to get wins so Mexico should fare well in their group stage matches.

South Africa Team Preview

South Africa returns to the World Cup for the first time since they were hosts in 2010. They were able to advance out of a tight group with Nigeria and Benin only one point behind them. Their 2026 results have been difficult, drawing and losing against Panama as well as being knocked out of AFCON by Cameroon early in the year. South Africa has never advanced past the group stage, but with an expanded knock out stage, this could be their year.

Korea Republic Team Preview

South Korea has had a difficult year coming into the World Cup. They were able to advance out of an easier AFC qualifying group but have struggled to maintain a high level of performance since. They have won some big games against the United States and Ghana, but also were run off the field against Brazil and Ivory Coast. They are currently ranked 25th in the world but with a sneaky good Group A, I see them struggling.

Czechia Team Preview

Czechia is back at the World Cup for the first time since 2006 where they failed to advance past the group stage. They qualified for the World Cup through the UEFA Playoff, beating both Ireland and Denmark in penalty kicks. They had a good qualifying stage losing only two games to Croatia and the Faroe Islands. Ranked as number 41 in the world, Czechia is ready to shock their group and advance to the knockout stage for the first time since 1990.

Ben’s Predictions

Best Game: Mexico vs Korea Republic

This game seems like the most obvious choice as the best game. These two teams are widely viewed as the best teams of the group, with star power up and down the field. I think Mexico does edge Korea in this match, but will be a fun one to watch.

Underrated Game: Mexico vs South Africa

When I see this game, all I can hear is Peter Drury screaming “Tshabalala” as Shipwe Tshabalala sent a screamer into the top corner to open the scoring of the 2010 World Cup. There are some parallels to the 2010 game and this one, especially the fact that it’s the first game of the World Cup with one of the teams being the host. Are we going to get as good of a game? I really hope so.

Dark Horse: Czechia

Czechia is a scary team that I think people are overlooking. They are led by goal scoring machine Patrick Schick and a crafty passer in Vaclav Cerny. They didn’t have the hardest qualifying group, but showed they can gut results out when it matters in the playoff round. Czechia is prepared to win games when it matters and I think they are going to shock some of the big hitters in the group.

Let Down Team: Korea Republic

This was a tough choice for me as I think Mexico may be a little weak, but won’t drop games on home soil. Korea Republic has not had a good string of results after qualifying for the World Cup which is concerning for me. They have a few friendly matches to get things sorted out, but certainly not the position they want to be in heading towards the tournament.

Final Group Stage Results

1. Mexico

2. Czechia

3. Korea Republic*

4. South Africa

* Korea Republic advances as a top third place finisher.

Texas vs Purdue

This was not a matchup many of us thought we were going to be seeing. Purdue was expected to be here and they have continued their dominant stretch from the Big Ten Tournament, taking down Queens (NC) and then beating a Miami team that didn’t want to go away. Texas, on the other hand, has had a remarkable run. They beat NC State in the first four game before taking down BYU and then Gonzaga to make it to the sweet sixteen. Every year they say to take one team from the first four to advance to the sweet sixteen, but I didn’t believe any of these teams were going to be good enough. Texas has proven me wrong and then some. They are a team I think can hang with and beat Purdue if it stays close late, but I have the Boilermakers advancing on to the elite eight.

Iowa vs Nebraska

We have the battle for who has the best corn in the sweet sixteen game between Iowa and Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have made history, winning their first NCAA tournament game ever in dominant fashion against Troy and then squeaking by a better than expected Vanderbilt team. Iowa took down the reigning champs, Florida, to get to this matchup. I can’t say that many people thought this was going to happen, but Iowa stuck to their game and got others outside of Bennet Stortz involved for a great team win. These two split the regular season series, each winning their home game. Iowa is playing some great basketball right now, but I expect the Nebraska fans to travel well and give their team another home environment. I take Nebraska in another close one.

Arkansas vs Arizona

The SEC vs the Big 12 champs. This should be a fast paced, high scoring game that either team could win. Arizona has dominated thus far, albeit against lesser opponents, beating LIU and Utah State. Arizona never let either of these teams get into the game and beat them down pretty handily. Arkansas took down Hawaii and then High Point to reach the sweet sixteen. They scored over 90 points in each game and I expect them to do the same in this game. I believe Arkansas is going to attack Arizona, going for an offensive game. I still think Arizona is going to win this, but I expect them to be in more of a dog fight than they have been.

Illinois vs Houston

This is going to be a great game between two fantastic teams, both of which I believe should have been 2-seeds. Houston has been dominant the last few years, but have never been able to put it all the way together in March. Illinois has had similar struggles and unfortunately, one of these two great teams are going to bow out. Both teams have dismantled their opponents, winning by 20+ in each game. I think this is going to be a back and forth game, but I think Houston’s defense is going to have an edge here. They have prioritized their defense all year and I think this is going to take them past the Illini.

St. John’s vs Duke

I am really looking forward to this game. Duke has been fantastic all season, getting the number one overall seed and being the best team in the country for the second half of the season. They struggled mightily against mighty Siena before getting back on track and handling TCU. St. John’s was in a battle against Kansas, winning on a buzzer beating layup to take them into the sweet sixteen. While Duke has been the best team, I do believe they have started to fall off in recent weeks. Their games against worse opponents such as Florida State and Siena have been shocking and showed their weaknesses. St. John’s has been balling since the end of the season, winning the Big East regular season and tournament before beating Northern Iowa and Kansas. As much as I like Duke, I see the Red Storm continuing their hot streak and taking down the Blue Devils.

Alabama vs Michigan

What a game this one is going to be. Two fast offenses and some phenomenal athletes are going to make this must watch basketball. Alabama has been doubted coming into the tournament, losing star Aden Holloway right before the tournament. This has not stopped the Crimson Tide, blowing out both Hofstra and Texas Tech and setting up a date with Michigan. The Wolverines have not let their Big Ten Tournament struggles hold them back, beating both Howard and Saint Louis handily. Yaxel Landeborg has shown why he was the Big Ten player of the year, having two great teams. As much as I like the momentum that Alabama is bringing in, I think Michigan is going to handle business.

Michigan State vs UConn

UConn and Michigan State have both rebounded from a tough end of the season to make it to the sweet sixteen. Each has had a close game, but has done well to rebound in the games and advance on. This is a matchup between two blue bloods and legendary head coaches who both have something to prove in this game. Despite both having rough ends to their seasons, I think Michigan State is the better team out of the two. I am taking the Spartans winning by at least 10 in this one.

Tennessee vs Iowa State

Tennessee has proven a lot of people wrong, beating Miami (OH) and then Virginia on their way to the sweet sixteen. I thought that they were overrated in the regular season before losing early in the SEC tournament. They have shown their depth and that of the SEC as well, beating the second best team in the ACC. Iowa State has just rolled in the NCAA tournament, winning both games by 18+ points and beating a good Kentucky team. The Cyclones have been a top 6 team for most of the year, showing every week how dominant they can be. I am taking the Cyclones to end the magical run of the Volunteers, beating them by at least 15 points.

Season Lows

Beginning of the season struggles:

Let’s start out with some of the bad parts of the season. The Badgers started the season out well, but got derailed quickly with losses to BYU, TCU, Nebraska, and Villanova within the span of a month. BYU and Nebraska were blowouts, losing by a combined total of 58 and giving up 90+ points in each one. In both losses we shot under 38% from the field and under 25% from three. Shooting from the charity stripe wasn’t great either, but was especially awful against BYU where they shot 65.4%. The two stars, Nick Boyd and John Blackwell, also weren’t able to get going with Boyd only topping 20 points against Nebraska. The other losses provided much less to be hopeful over, with the Badgers not even topping 70 points in either game. While they did rebound from these losses, getting into an early season hole wasn’t great.

Issues in conference play:

Wisconsin lost six games during conference play, five of them coming after the new year. Some losses were manageable, like losing to Purdue at home and Ohio State away. While you never want to be dropping these games, Purdue was a great team and Ohio State was starting to peak at this time. The other three losses were more inexplicable. Losses to Oregon and Indiana were on the road, but shot under 40% from the field and under 34% from three in both games. Something that plagued the team in both games was the fact that only 2-3 players score in double figures in each of the games. There was little help from anyone outside of Nick Boyd, John Blackwell, and Nolan Winter with the most points coming from this group being 8. While rebounding and turnovers weren’t an issue in these games, a lack of production from role players killed the Badgers in these losses.

High Point Loss:

This might be the worst loss I have seen the Badgers take in a long time. Losing at Oregon was awful, past post season losses have been rough, but this was our year to make a run to the Sweet Sixteen. The issues that plagued the Badgers in the conference losses crept back up in this game too. Boyd and Blackwell balled out, scoring 27 and 22 respectively along with 5 and 10 rebounds. Austin Rapp had a great game as well, scoring 12 points and grabbing 4 rebounds. The next highest scorer was Nolan Winter with 8 in very limited minutes as he was coming back from injury. We scored the ball well, shooting 47.7% from the field, 39.1% from three, and went 11-12 from the free throw line. The issue with this game was the fact that we got outrebounded by a smaller team, allowed 5 players to score in double figures, and let them make 15 threes. Chase Johnston, the High Point three point sharpshooter, went 4-6 from three including one from essentially half court while also making his first 2-point shot of the season which turned out to be the game winner. In my opinion, the Badgers didn’t win this game because we took our foot off the gas when we had a lead and allowed the Panthers to get right back into the game. This is similar to what happened against Washington in the Big Ten Tournament, although we still managed to win that game. This was a game that could and should have been won by Wisconsin, but awful game management cost us a win. This is a loss that is going to stick in Badger fan’s minds for a very long time, most importantly highlighting the inability to win when it matters in the tournament.

Season Highs

Massive wins:

Wisconsin rattled off four top 15 wins this season, three coming on the road against Michigan, Illinois, and Purdue, and one at home against Michigan State. In these games, Wisconsin scored 372 points, with Nick Boyd and John Blackwell scoring 198 of those points or 53% of the total points. These wins set the tone for the rest of the year, showing the Badgers could be a contender in the Big Ten and potentially nationally. These games were some of the highest highs that Badger fans have had the last few years. We have seen amazing games from John Tonje and AJ Storr, with big wins coming from them, but nothing like the ones we had this year. I personally had so much fun watching this group of guys play basketball this year and won’t forget the season or the feeling any time soon.

Continued dominance over Minnesota:

Wisconsin has beaten Minnesota 11 straight times and have only lost to the Gophers four times since 2010. The two games this year required a comeback, being down at halftime in each game, including an 18 point deficit in the second game. Blackwell and Boyd played fantastic in both games scoring 77 combined points throughout the games, continuing their tear through the conference. The best moment of the games came when John Blackwell nailed a three point buzzer beater in Minneapolis to take down Minnesota in their first year. I will never get sick of beating Minnesota and everyone knows we need it after losing two years in a row in football.

Scoring team:

This was Wisconsin’s best scoring team since the 1961-1962 season where they scored 84.7 points per game. John Blackwell and Nolan Winter had amazing seasons, averaging 19.1 and 13.1 ppg along with 5.1 and 8.5 rpg respectively. Nick Boyd absolutely balled out in his only season with the Badgers, averaging 20.7 ppg, moving into 5th all time in points per game and the first player since 1994-1995 Michael Finley to average over 20 points per game. A phrase everyone liked to throw around was that this wasn’t your father’s Wisconsin basketball team. These boys could fly around the court, score the ball at will, and make sure teams couldn’t outscore them. This was a fun team to watch with trends pointing towards Wisconsin continuing to score the ball well next year.

Roster Outlook

Seniors:

Wisconsin will be losing four Seniors in Braeden Carrington, Nick Boyd, Andrew Rhode, and Isaac Gard. The biggest loss from this group is obviously Nick Boyd. While we all knew he was only going to be with the team for one year, his court presence and scoring ability made a huge difference each game. Andrew Rhode wasn’t known for his scoring, but he could pass the ball around the court and was a fantastic distributor when we needed it. Braeden Carrington did not always have the best games, but when he was on he was lethal. He could shoot lights out from three and as the season went on, started scoring down low and from the mid-range a bit more. Isaac Gard rarely played, but when he got in the stadium erupted. The highlight of his Wisconsin career came on senior night against Maryland where he hesitated from three before draining the shot flat footed. These seniors, no matter how long they were with the program, left their mark for the better on the team.

Juniors:

Wisconsin has two key juniors they are going to be looking to retain in John Blackwell and Nolan Winter. John Blackwell tested the NBA waters but decided to come back to Madison for another year. He will likely do the same thing this season, test the NBA waters before making a decision on coming back to college. The fear with him is whether he is going to transfer or not. Michigan State and Illinois are allegedly teams that would be interested if he becomes available. This reminds me too much of Chucky Hepburn from two years ago. Blackwell has been a key Badger since he arrived on campus, losing him to another college team would feel like another betrayal for a big paycheck. Retaining Nolan Winter is going to be key as well. He might test the NBA waters but not sure if he will get the response he is hoping for quite yet. I see him staying in college and would honestly be shocked if he left the Badgers.

Sophomores:

Retaining the sophomore class is going to be very important as we have some great players. We have already received verbal commits from Austin Rapp and Jack Janicki, two guys that have made a huge difference during their time at Wisconsin. Jack Robison is another piece that will be key to keeping on the team. He didn’t get many minutes but played well when he was able to get into the games. The final sophomore is Ricardo Greppi. Greppi is a guy who has not gotten much playing time during his two years at Wisconsin but he certainly seems like a vibes guy that I hope we can keep.

Freshman:

Outside of the junior class, the freshmen are going to be the most important to keep around. The most important two players to keep around are going to be Aleksas Bieliauskas and Will Garlock. Bieliauskas was a starter this season and made a big impact down the stretch with his offensive skills and interior presence. Will Garlock was a good substitute for Bieliauskas and I think is only going to get better with the offseason. Keeping these two players will set the Badgers up well for a conference that is starting to rely on bigs more and more. Hayden Jones and Zach Kinziger and in the next tier of players I think we need to keep. Hayden Jones got some minutes with the Janicki injury and showed the potential he has. Kinziger mainly got garbage time minutes but still showed some potential. Keeping our freshman is going to be very important this offseason.

Roster predictions:

I believe we are going to do well with player retention, but not perfect. I am going to group the players below based on who I think we can confidently retain, might be able to keep, and are more than likely losing. I want it to be known that I would love to keep everyone and run it back with our core group of guys and look to add through the transfer portal.

Confidently retaining:

• Jack Janicki

• Austin Rapp

• Hayden Jones

• Nolan Winter

• Aleksas Bieliauskas

• Will Garlock

Might be able to keep:

• Zach Kinziger

• Jack Robison

• Ricardo Greppi

Likely losing:

• John Blackwell

Projected starting lineup:

• PG: Transfer player

• SG: Transfer player

• SF: Austin Rapp

• PF: Nolan Winter

• C: Aleksas Bieliauskas

Projected bench depth:

• Jack Janicki

• Hayden Jones

• Will Garlock

• Transfer

• Zach Kinziger

• Jack Robison

• Ricardo Greppi

2026-2027 Lookahead Items

While nothing has been announced for the 2026-2027 season, there are a few things we can look forward to:

Scoring:

I believe that we can expect a continued level of high scoring games like we have seen the last few seasons. The coaching staff has done a great job of improving our scoring ability and developing player makers.

Wisconsin Badger Brand Focus:

A key piece to Wisconsin Badger athletics has always been the focus on the Badger brand. We have seen this with a lot of our teams, with few exceptions. The Badger brand is known for being gritty and tough, never getting the most outstanding recruits but always getting the players who fit the Wisconsin mold and can benefit the community and their teams. When looking at the Wisconsin basketball coaching staff, they truly embody what it means to be a Badger. There is only one coach, Lance Randall, who hasn’t had either decades of experience with Wisconsin or played for Badgers. This is a staff who can develop all players into the brand of Badgers we need to succeed, leading us into the future.

Continued Improvement:

The last few years have seen consistent improvements in scoring and playing ability. There is nothing for me to believe that this is going to be changing come the 2026-27 basketball season. Greg Gard has consistently retooled the roster into Big Ten contenders and this is not going to stop. While we may not be getting the results we hoped for, we are never going to stop improving the quality of Wisconsin basketball.

Final Thoughts

While the end of this season was not what we Badger fans hoped for, we can’t lie to ourselves and say we didn’t have fun watching our guys play. We had yet another amazing transfer in Nick Boyd, proving that if you want to become a college basketball star, you come to Wisconsin. I have no doubt that this coaching staff is going to retool and upgrade our roster yet again. Have faith fellow Badger fans, we are going to come back and be better than ever.

On, Wisconsin

Forever Forward

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Biggest matchups:

EAST

R64

• TCU vs Ohio State

  • Virtually the same in all metrics

  • Ohio State is playing a bit better bet TCU can knock off big teams

  • OSU wins because of returning scoring, 58.1% from last season

    • TCU at 26.9%

• Louisville vs USF

  • Tough matchup for Louisville, not the best team

  • USF scores, grabs boards, and turns teams over better

    • 87.7, 42.7 (15.5, 27.2), 14.3

  • Louisville is the better shooting team

    • 47.0% and 35.7% from three

  • I lean USF

R32

• Kansas vs St. John’s

  • Only real thing that separates these two teams is the scoring

    • St. John’s at 81.6 and Kansas at 75.6

  • Returning scoring means St. John’s, 23.8% vs 8.3%

• UCLA vs UConn

  • Similar in scoring ( 77.7 and 77.5)

  • UConn has better scoring defense, 65.1

  • UCLA doesn’t turn the ball over 8.9

  • UConn shares the ball well with 18.4 ast/game

  • UCLA wins, hotter team right now

Elite Eight

• Duke vs Michigan State

  • This will be a close game that comes down to Free throws and shooting percentages

  • Duke: 49.0%, 35.1%, 72.4%

  • Michigan State: 47.1%, 35.9%, 76.3%

• Michigan State wins a nail biter

SOUTH

R64

• North Carolina vs VCU

  • VCU can score the ball better (81.6)

    • Three point shooting at 36.7%

  • UNC takes care of the ball better and better rebounding

  • Caleb Wilson injury hurts, VCU wins

• Vanderbilt vs McNeese

  • Vandy can score but not defend (86.4 vs 75.2)

    • McNeese is (80.0 vs 66.5)

  • Vandy wins a very close game

  • Better free throws wins the game

R32

• Nebraska vs Vanderbilt

  • Nebraska is a great defensive team (66.2 oppg)

    • Doesn’t foul either

  • Vandy’s scoring will be halted

  • Nebraska wins a close game

Elite Eight

• Florida vs Houston

  • Florida’s offense is insane (86.8, 47.8%, 30.8%)

  • Houston’s defense is insane (62.9, 40.0%, 32.1%)

  • Houston takes care of the ball better and turns teams over

  • I don’t know how good Florida is, Houston wins

WEST

R64

• Arkansas vs Hawaii

  • Arkansas is a great scoring team, 89/9 ppg

  • Hawaii is a great defensive team 69.7 oppg

  • Hawaii is a better rebounding team

  • If Hawaii can slow Arkansas down, they can win

    • They won’t though, Arkansas wins

R32

• Arkansas vs Wisconsin

  • Both great offensive teams

    • Wisconsin is better defensively

  • Wisconsin takes care of the ball better

    • Arkansas turns teams over better

  • Wisconsin’s rest from the conference tournament wins this game

• BYU vs Gonzaga

  • Both high scoring teams

    • Gonzaga is a great defensive team, 66.0 oppg

  • Both teams rebound at a high level

  • I don’t love either team, I think Gonzaga will overwhelm BYU and win

Sweet Sixteen

• Gonzaga vs Purdue

  • I don’t like either of these teams

  • Gonzaga is a better scoring and defensive team

  • They both take care of the ball well

  • I think Gonzaga wins a close game

Elite Eight

• Arizona vs Gonzaga

  • I think Arizona rolls here, Gonzaga limps into the elite eight to begin with

Midwest

R64

• Texas Tech vs Akron

  • Akron scores like crazy (88.4)

  • Both shoot the three well

  • Neither turns the ball over, but Akron turns teams over better

  • Akron is hot right now and they win a close one

• Alabama vs Hofstra

  • Alabama is a great team, but just lost their 2nd best player

    • They have depth but their next best scorer now averages 12.8 ppg

  • Hofstra’s great defense against Alabama’s bad defense

  • I think the loss of Aden Holloway this close to the tournament destroys them, Hofstra wins

Sweet Sixteen

• Virginia vs Iowa State

  • Both are great offensive and defensive teams

  • Both don’t turn the ball over, but Iowa State turns teams over better

  • Iowa State’s awful free throw shooting at 67.2% could hurt them

  • Going back to returning scoring, Virginia returns 0.2% of their scoring while Iowa State returns 47.2%

  • Iowa State wins a great game

Elite Eight

• Michigan vs Iowa State

  • Two great offensive and defensive, teams

  • Michigan turns the ball over a bit more

  • Michigan has struggled in big games this year

    • Iowa State too, but not as much

  • Michigan is a better rebounding team

  • LJ Cason injury will hurt them, Iowa State wins

FINAL FOUR

• Arizona vs Iowa State

  • Elite Big 12 matchup, Arizona has won both matchups

  • Throw the stats out the window for this one

  • It is insanely hard to beat a team three times in a year

  • Iowa State wins

• Michigan State vs Houston

  • Two historic programs and coaches

  • Houston’s defense is going to slow down the Spartan offense

  • Kelvin Sampson gets back to the National Championship

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

• Houston vs Iowa State

  • An all Big 12 championship

  • Iowa State won their first meeting by 3 in Ames

    • Indianapolis is a defacto home game for them

  • This is going to be a low scoring, great defensive game

  • Houston wins the national championship

East Region:

The East is filled with a ton of really solid teams and honestly was a tough one to pick. South Florida beating Louisville was the first major upset. I think USF is a strong team that can score with ease and I am not sure if the Cardinals will be able to stop it. I have St. John’s beating Kansas in what is a matchup of legendary coaches, but they will fall to Duke in the sweet sixteen. UCLA is a dark horse, bringing back two injured players from the Big Ten tournament and they are going to go and beat UConn, a team that has been struggling in big games. Michigan State will roll through NDSU and USF before beating UCLA and then beating Duke to go to the Final Four. Michigan State lost to Duke by 6 earlier in the season and I think they will avenge that loss.

South Region:

The South region has some insanely good matchups each round and I think this might be one of the toughest regions. To start, I think McNeese is going to do it again and beat another 5-seed in the first round. While Vanderbilt made a great run in the SEC tournament, I just don’t think they are that good. I also see VCU knocking off North Carolina, down their star in Caleb Wilson I think they will struggle. Jumping to the Sweet Sixteen, I think that Florida and Houston will advance to the Elite Eight before Houston knocks off Florida in a revenge game from last year’s national championship.

West Region:

The West seems like it will be Arizona’s to lose. I think they will cruise in their first two matchups, be tested by Wisconsin, but ultimately make it to the Elite Eight. The bottom portion of the bracket gets a bit more dicey. I think BYU is playing great basketball right now and I am not a fan of Gonzaga, I see BYU getting by them and advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. Purdue will roll against Queens and Missouri, but their magical run of the last couple weeks will end at the hands of BYU. A BYU vs Arizona Elite Eight will be a great game, but unfortunately I don’t think AJ Dybantsa will be able to do enough and the Cougars will fall.

Midwest Region:

The Midwest is going to have three major things happen. One, Michigan will make it to the Final Four, beating Iowa State in a close game. Two, Akron is going to take down an injured Texas Tech before losing in a shootout against Alabama. And three, Miami (OH) is going to prove everyone wrong, beating SMU and then Tennessee before losing to a great Virginia team. Miami has so much to prove and I think they will do it in a major way. This region ultimately belongs to Michigan. Despite the way they played at the end of the Big Ten tournament, I think they are one of the two best teams in the country.

Final Four:

I am going to make the same mistake I do every year, pick Houston to win the whole thing. I think the Cougars will handle Michigan State while Michigan is in a long, back and forth game against Arizona, which they ultimately win. Michigan will go into the National Championship prepared, but slightly fatigued and Kelvin Sampson will finally have his moment. Houston is going to be lifting the trophy on April 6th, beating Michigan by a score of 88-86.

Below is my seed list and conference auto-bid list:

This list is how I determined which teams were going to be the at-large and bubble teams:

I think that this year’s bubble is going to be really interesting to pay attention to. Down the stretch it seemed like nobody wanted to win so a lot of teams stayed put. This was also helped along by the fact that there was only one real bid-stealing conference in the MAC. I am pretty confident that I got seeds 1-4 correct, but after that there could be some fluctuations. I will be creating another post tonight with my first reaction bracket predictions so stay tuned!

A10 Champion: VCU

PPG: 81.9

OREB: 11.3

DREB: 25.4

AST: 14.2

FG%: 46.2%

3P%: 36.3%

FT%: 74.1%

Top Players:

• Terrence Hill (14.4 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 2.8 Ast)

• Lazar Djokovic (13.8 Pts, 5.4 Reb, 1.0 Ast)

• Jadrian Tracey (10.1 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 1.8 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Scores the ball at a high clip

• Good three point shooting team

• Shoots a lot of free throws

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Commits a lot of fouls

• Allows over 70 ppg

Likely Seed:

• 11

How will they do?

Whatever 6 that draws VCU should be scared. They are a fast paced team that can score at will and now acts as a bid stealer. I think an 11-seed is very favorable for them, I see them going to the sweet sixteen.

ACC Champion: Duke

PPG: 82.3

OREB: 12.5

DREB: 27.8

AST: 16.9

FG%: 49.0%

3P%: 35.1%

FT%: 72.4%

Top Players:

• Cameron Boozer (22.5 Pts, 10.2 Reb, 4.2 Ast)

• Isiah Evans (14.9 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 1.4 Ast)

• Patrick Ngongba (10.7 Pts, 6.0 Reb, 1.9 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Great defensive team

• Opponents don’t shoot many free throws

• Top 3 in the country all year

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Not the best three point shooting team

• Most of their offense runs through Cam Boozer

Likely Seed:

• 1

How will they do?

I wasn’t sure if Duke was going to win the ACC championship but am not shocked at all that they did. They have either been number 1 or 2 in the AP polls all year and cemented their number 1 overall seed last night. This is a team that doesn’t do much wrong and haven’t all season. There is no reason that we shouldn’t be seeing this team in the Final Four at a minimum, but in reality Duke will be the favorites for their first national championship since 2015.

American East Champion: UMBC

PPG: 76.2

OREB: 8.2

DREB: 27.3

AST: 12.2

FG%: 47.1%

3P%: 36.1%

FT%: 76.2%

Top Players:

• Jah’Likai King (13.9 Pts, 3.4 Reb, 1.5 Ast)

• DJ Armstrong (13.2 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 2.1 Ast)

• Ace Valentine (12.0 Pts, 4.1 Reb, 4.0 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Holds teams to under 70 ppg

• Doesn’t turn the ball over

• Doesn’t commit many fouls

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Bad offensive rebounding team

• Shorter team

• Not the best at scoring

Likely Seed:

• 15

How will they do?

UMBC is back in the Big Dance for the first time since 2018 when they became the first 16-seed to beat a 1-seed. How are they going to do this time around? Who knows but certainly not a team to count out. DJ Armstrong had an insane game in the American East championship game against Vermont and teams will not want to see him get going like that again.

American Champion: USF

PPG: 88.3

OREB: 15.6

DREB: 27.3

AST: 17.3

FG%: 44.1%

3P%: 33.3%

FT%: 74.3%

Top Players:

• Izaiyah Nelson (15.8 Pts, 9.7 Reb, 1.2 Ast)

• Wes Enis (16.7 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 2.5 Ast)

• Joseph Pinton (14.5 Pts, 3.8 Reb, 2.3 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Score a lot of points

• Shoots the most free throws

• 2nd best rebounding team in the country

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Give up a lot of points

• Commits a lot of fouls

Likely Seed:

• 11

How will they do?

The USF Bulls are going to be a scary matchup for whoever they play. They are a high flying team that can score a ton of points quickly. If they get into a shootout with a lower seed, I see them winning. I believe they will be a round of 32 exit.

Big 12 Champion: Arizona

PPG: 86.1

OREB: 12.8

DREB: 29.8

AST: 16.9

FG%: 50.2%

3P%: 36.0%

FT%: 73.4%

Top Players:

• Brayden Burries (15.9 Pts, 4.7 Reb, 2.5 Ast)

• Jaden Bradley (13.3 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 4.5 Ast)

• Koa Peat (13.6 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 2.7 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Consistent top team in the country

• Great scoring team

• Good at rebounding

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Not the best at free throw shooting

• Relies on younger players, inexperience factor

Likely Seed:

• 1

How will they do?

Arizona has been one of the best teams in the country all year. They won the Big 12, which I think is the hardest conference in the country, and have been the best team there all season as well. This is another team, along with Duke and Michigan, that I think are Final Four or bust. I would be shocked if we didn’t see them playing in the final weekend of the tournament.

Big East Champion: St. John’s

PPG: 81.6

OREB: 13.1

DREB: 25.6

AST: 16.3

FG%: 45.3%

3P%: 33.2%

FT%: 72.7%

Top Players:

• Zuby Ejifor (16.3 Pts, 7.1 Reb, 3.5 Ast)

• Bryce Hopkins (13.5 Pts, 6.2 Reb, 2.0 Ast)

• Oziyah Sellers (10.7 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 1.7 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Good rebounding team

• Good defensive team

• Solid senior leadership and legendary head coach

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Not a good three point shooting team

• Not good at free throw shooting

Likely Seed:

• 4

How will they do?

St. John’s might be the hottest team coming into the NCAA tournament. They won the Big East regular season title and then ran through the tournament, beating UConn handily in the championship game. Whatever struggles they were having towards the end of the season seem to be gone, they are going to be a scary team. I say their floor should be a sweet sixteen appearance.

Big Ten Champion: Purdue

PPG: 81.7

OREB: 11.4

DREB: 24.2

AST: 19.9

FG%: 49.8%

3P%: 38.1%

FT%: 74.4%

Top Players:

• Braden Smith (14.0 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 9.0 Ast)

• Fletcher Loyer (13.8 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 2.0 Ast)

• Trey Kaufman-Renn (13.4 Pts, 8.7 Reb, 2.7 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Returning senior players

• Passes the ball around well

• Doesn’t turn the ball over

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Not the best rebounding team

• Doesn’t shoot many free throws

Likely Seed:

• 3

How will they do?

Purdue is going to be a very interesting team to watch this tournament. They ended the regular season on a rough patch but clawed their way back to win the Big Ten tournament. I can see this team making a run to the Elite Eight, I can also see them losing on the first weekend. A toss up for a really good team.

Big West Champion: Hawaii

PPG: 79.6

OREB: 11.1

DREB: 28.2

AST: 13.7

FG%: 45.9%

3P%: 31.5%

FT%: 74.1%

Top Players:

• Isaac Johnson (14.1 Pts, 5.8 Reb, 1.1 Ast)

• Quandre Bullock (13.5 Pts, 5.8 Reb, 1.9 Ast)

• Harry Rouhliadeff (10.8 Pts, 5.0 Reb, 1.4 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Older, experienced team

• Gives up less than 70 ppg

• One of the top defensive rebounding teams

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Turns the ball over a lot

• Not the best free throw shooting team

• Bad three point shooting team

Likely Seed:

• 13/14

How will they do?

Hawaii is a team that is coming into the tournament with a lot of momentum following their great season in the Big West. They are a team that can score the ball and grab a lot of rebounds which could make it difficult for their opponents. I don’t believe they will win a game, but never count the Rainbow Warriors out.

CUSA Champion: Kennesaw State

PPG: 83.4

OREB: 13.9

DREB: 26.4

AST: 14.3

FG%: 44.6%

3P%: 35.0%

FT%: 69.1%

Top Players:

• RJ Johnson (14.5 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 4.0 Ast)

• Braeden Lue (11.1 Pts, 5.4 Reb, 1.2 Ast)

• Frankquan Sherman (10.3 Pts, 8.4 Reb, 1.0 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Great scoring team

• They shoot a lot of free throws each game

• Great at offensive rebounds

Biggest Weaknesses:

• They don’t make many free throws

• Allows a lot of points

• Bad field goal percentage

Likely Seed:

• 14/15

How will they do?

The Owls of Kennesaw State are back in the NCAA Tournament for the second time, last time was in 2023 where they lost in the first round. I don’t believe this team will be able to keep up with a high major team, but if they do it will be because of their free throws. They shoot a lot of them and if they can begin to make them, they could hang around.

Ivy League Champion: Penn

PPG: 75.7

OREB: 11.5

DREB: 24.9

AST: 13.9

FG%: 44.0%

3P%: 38.1%

FT%: 68.5%

Top Players:

• TJ Power (15.8 Pts, 7.6 Reb, 2.4 Ast)

• Ethan Roberts (16.9 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 2.3 Ast)

• Michael Zanoni (11.7 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 0.6 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Returns over 50% of their scoring from last year

• Top 20 in three point percentage

• Legendary head coach in Fran McCaffery

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Not good at scoring or scoring defense

• Awful at free throw shooting

Likely Seed:

• 14/15

How will they do?

Penn upset Yale in the Ivy League championship game to make it to the tournament under coach Fran McCaffery in his first season. I don’t believe they will win a game, but if TJ Power goes off again and scores over 40 points, then it could become a shootout.

MAC Champion: Akron

PPG: 88.4

OREB: 11.4

DREB: 26.7

AST: 18.4

FG%: 50.3%

3P%: 37.9%

FT%: 75.4%

Top Players:

• Tavari Johnson (20.1 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 5.0 Ast)

• Amani Lyles (14.6 Pts, 8.0 Reb, 2.2 Ast)

• Shammah Scott (12.7 Pts, 2.6 Reb, 2.9 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Great scoring and assisting team

• Great field goal and three point field goal percentage

• Returns over 50% of their minutes and scoring

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Gives up a lot of points

• Turns the ball over

• Does not shoot many free throws

Likely Seed:

• 12

How will they do?

All of the talk in the MAC has been on Miami OH, but Akron has been in the background as an even more convincing team. Their only conference loss and loss in 2026 came from Miami, but since then they have been beating down on teams. They are a fast, high scoring team that is going to be scary. I see them as a sweet sixteen threat,

MEAC Champion: Howard

PPG: 77.5

OREB: 12.4

DREB: 24.2

AST: 16.2

FG%: 45.9%

3P%: 34.5%

FT%: 73.1%

Top Players:

• Bryce Harris (17.1 Pts, 6.9 Reb, 2.5 Ast)

• Cedric Taylor (17.1 Pts, 6.7 Reb, 3.3 Ast)

• Cam Gillus (10.6 Pts, 4.3 Reb, 4.6 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Great defensive team, top 40 in opponents ppg

• Teams don’t shoot the three ball well against them

• Top 10 in opponent turnovers

Biggest Weaknesses:

• High amount of turnovers

• Not the best three point shooting team

Likely Seed:

• 16

How will they do?

Howard has been the best team in the MEAC all year, so not shocking they won the tournament and are an auto-bid for the tournament. I don’t believe they will win a game, but they are a fun story.

Mountain West Champion: Utah State

PPG: 82.5

OREB: 10.9

DREB: 23.7

AST: 17.6

FG%: 49.8%

3P%: 35.8%

FT%: 70.7%

Top Players:

• MJ Collins (17.6 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 1.6 Ast)

• Mason Falsley (16.1 Pts, 5.8 Reb, 3.1 Ast)

• Karson Templin (9.1 Pts, 4.2 Reb, 0.8 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Great scoring and defensive team

• Top 15 in field goal percentage

• Solid three point shooting team

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Commits a lot of fouls

• Not the best rebounding team

Likely Seed:

• 8

How will they do?

Utah State is going to be an interesting team coming into the tournament. They are a solid team out of the Mountain West which looked like a two bid league for awhile. They didn’t have the best end to the season but had a great run in the conference tournament. I see them losing in the round of 32 to whichever 1-seed they will play.

SEC Champion: Arkansas

PPG: 90.1

OREB: 11.2

DREB: 24.9

AST: 16.9

FG%: 50.0%

3P%: 38.1%

FT%: 74.7%

Top Players:

• Darius Acuff (22.7 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 6.4 Ast)

• Maleek Thomas (15.6 Pts, 3.8 Reb, 2.5 Ast)

• Trevon Brazile (13.1 Pts, 7.3 Reb, 1.6 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Top 3 in scoring offense

• Takes care of the ball

• Top 20 in three point shooting percentage

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Gives up a lot of points

• Not the greatest rebounding team

• Fouls a lot

Likely Seed:

• 4

How will they do?

Arkansas won the SEC championship, beating Vanderbilt who took down Florida in the semifinals. This team is led by SEC player of the year, Darius Acuff, and head coach John Calipari. I think this team will make it to the sweet sixteen, but I struggle to see them beating a 1-seed.

SWAC Champion: Prairie View A&M

PPG: 78.9

OREB: 10.1

DREB: 23.9

AST: 11.9

FG%: 44.3%

3P%: 33.4

FT%: 75.3

Top Players:

• Dontae Horn (20.2 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 3.1 Ast)

• Tai’reon Joseph (18.2 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 1.0 Ast)

• Cory Wells (13.1 Pts, 7.1 Reb, 2.2 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Turns teams over well

• Gets to the line and makes their free throws

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Not the best three point shooting team

• Commits a lot of fouls

Likely Seed:

• 16

How will they do?

Prairie View has a couple players that score more than 18 points per game and can potentially make a 1-seed sweat for a little bit. While I don’t see them winning a game, it is still a great run to the tournament for the Panthers.

WAC Champion: California Baptist

PPG: 73.3

OREB: 14.0

DREB: 26.1

AST: 10.4

FG%: 43.3%

3P%: 33.7%

FT%: 71.6%

Top Players:

• Dominique Daniels (23.2 Pts, 3.8 Reb, 3.2 Ast)

• Martel Williams (12.8 Pts, 4.8 Reb, 1.5 Ast)

• Jayden Jackson (9.5 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 1.8 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Great defensive team

• Grab a lot of offensive rebounds

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Doesn’t score at high clip

• Only two players averaging over 10 points

Likely Seed:

• 13

How will they do?

Cal Baptist is a hard team to judge. Their stats don’t jump out to you, but they are a strong defensive team that doesn’t let you score the ball. They beat a solid Utah Valley team, but I don’t think their momentum will carry into the tournament. I see them losing in the first round.

Big Sky Champion: Idaho

PPG: 78.7

OREB: 10.7

DREB: 26.7

AST: 12.5

FG%: 44.8%

3P%: 35.6%

FT%: 73.5%

Top Players:

• Jackson Rasmussen (13.9 Pts, 4.7 Reb, 1.3 Ast)

• Kolton Mitchell (13.7 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 3.9 Ast)

• Biko Johnson (12.4 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 2.4 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Good defensive rebounding team

• Shoots the three ball well

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Low volume of two point shots

• Not the best field goal percentage

Likely Seed:

• 16

How will they do?

Idaho is a good defensive and rebounding team who can hit the three well when they are on their game. A fun story that is probably going to end in the play-in game, but who knows maybe the Vandals can win a game!

Coastal Athletic Champion: Hofstra

PPG: 75.6

OREB: 12.4

DREB: 26.9

AST: 12.8

FG%: 44.2%

3P%: 36.8%

FT%: 74.6%

Top Players:

• Cruz Davis (20.2 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 4.6 Ast)

• Preston Edmead (15.9 Pts, 3.5 Reb, 4.4 Ast)

• German Plotnikov (9.3 Pts, 3.4 Reb, 0.8 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Great rebounding team

• Good three point shooting team

• Holds opponents to a low shooting percentage and points per game

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Not the best scoring team

• Don’t shoot many free throws

Likely Seed:

• 13

How will they do?

Hofstra could be a scary team come tournament time. They don’t score the ball the best, but teams also don’t score against them. They are a great rebounding team and teams struggle to get the ball off of them. A good matchup could see Hofstra advancing to the round of 32. While I am hesitant to say they will win, I think they have a better chance than others.

Horizon League Champion: Wright State

PPG: 80.7

OREB: 11.3

DREB: 24.1

AST: 13.8

FG%: 48.8%

3P%: 36.1%

FT%: 73.6%

Top Players:

• TJ Burch (12.3 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 3.5 Ast)

• Michael Cooper (13.4 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 2.2 Ast)

• Michael Imariagbe (11.8 Pts, 7.0 Reb, 1.8 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Don’t allow many offensive rebounds

• Good three point shooting team

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Don’t shoot many threes

• They tend to foul a lot

Likely Seed:

• 14

How will they do?

I will be curious to see how Wright State does. While they are good at scoring and rebounding, I don’t think they are the best 14 seed out there. I believe they will get bounced round one, but could make a 3-seed sweat for a half or so.

Mid Atlantic Athletic Champion: Siena

PPG: 70.5

OREB: 10.2

DREB: 24.2

AST: 13.4

FG%: 45.7%

3P%: 30.4%

FT%: 76.9

Top Players:

• Gavin Doty (17.9 Pts, 7.0 Reb, 2.2 Ast)

• Justice Shoats (13.2 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 4.4 Ast)

• Francis Folefac (11.1 Pts, 5.2 Reb, 2.2 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Great defensive team

• Take care of the ball well

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Don’t score very much

• Not the best rebounding team

Likely Seed:

• 16

How will they do?

Siena takes the MAAC and gets the auto-bid, a team not many people thought were going to make it. Unfortunately, they are going to be a 16-seed and have a very tough game going forward. I do not see them winning, but their stout defense could hold up for a little bit.

Patriot League Champion: Lehigh

PPG: 73.2

OREB: 7.7

DREB: 24.2

AST: 14.3

FG%: 53.1%

3P%: 35.9%

FT%: 73.1%

Top Players:

• Nasir Whitlock (21.0 Pts, 3.5 Reb, 3.4 Ast)

• Hank Alvey (15.0 Pts, 6.9 Reb, 2.1 Ast)

• Joshua Ingram (10.6 Pts, 5.1 Reb, 3.3 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Great at defending the three

• Doesn’t foul too much

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Not great at scoring or stopping teams from scoring

• Not many two pointers taken

Likely Seed:

• 16

How will they do?

Lehigh gets out of a tough Patriot League that many thought was going to be Navy’s for the taking. Lehigh is not the greatest team in the field and will more than likely be a 16-seed. However, we all know what Lehigh did last time they were in the tournament, taking down 2-seed Duke. Will it happen again? Probably not but we shall see!

SoCon Champion: Furman

PPG: 76.5

OREB: 10.9

DREB: 27.1

AST: 15.6

FG%: 47.6%

3P%: 32.7%

FT%: 69.0%

Top Players:

• Alex Wilkins (17.7 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 4.7 Ast)

• Cooper Bowser (14.0 Pts, 6.0 Reb, 1.7 Ast)

• Charles Johnston (9.8 Pts, 9.1 Reb, 1.8 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Tall team, not typical mid-major drinks

• Top ten in 2-point shooting percentage

• Great defensive team

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Not the highest scoring

• Low three point shooting percentage

Likely Seed:

• 15

How will they do?

The Furman Paladins are team that every high major team should be afraid of. They are a tall team with size that is comparable to many larger schools. While they may not beat from the three, they are going to beat you in the paint. As a 15-seed I struggle to see them winning a game, but I believe they will do well.

Southland Champion: McNeese

PPG: 80.0

OREB: 12.7

DREB: 22.5

AST: 14.2

FG%: 46.8%

3P%: 31.9%

FT%: 74.7%

Top Players:

• Larry Johnson (17.5 Pts, 5.5 Reb, 1.4 As)

• Tyshawn Archie (14.3 Pts, 1.9 Reb, 2.9 Ast)

• Javohn Garcia (12.0 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 1.6 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Score the ball well

• Great defense

• Turn teams over

Biggest Weaknesses:

• They foul a lot

• Bad three point shooting team

Likely Seed:

• 12

How will they do?

Watch out for the Cowboys of McNeese! They are a team that won a game last year in the tournament and everything points to them doing the same thing this year. They turn you over, don’t let you score, all while scoring a ton of points themselves. If teams can force them into a three point shooting contest it could be rough for them, but good teams dig themselves out of those holes. I see them as a sweet sixteen dark horse, they will at least win their first game.

Sun Belt Champion: Troy

PPG: 80.3

OREB: 12.7

DREB: 25.6

AST: 16.0

FG%: 44.9%

3P%: 33.5%

FT%: 73.8%

Top Players:

• Thomas Dowd (14.8 Pts, 10.1 Reb, 2.2 Ast)

• Victor Valdes (14.8 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 4.6 Ast)

• Cooper Campbell (12.7 Pts, 3.5 Reb, 4.2 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Great scoring team

• Good on the offensive glass

• Teams don’t shoot well against them

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Not great at three pointers

• Teams pass the ball around them well

Likely Seed:

• 14

How will they do?

Troy is going to be tough to go against. The Sun Belt is always a gauntlet and getting out of it is no small task. I do believe that they will lose in the first round. They defense is going to be their undoing and I don’t think they will be able to stop a strong crop of 3-seeds this year.

West Coast Champion: Gonzaga

PPG: 85.1

OREB: 12.0

DREB: 27.9

AST: 18.3

FG%: 51.0%

3P%: 34.0%

FT%: 69.9%

Top Players:

• Graham Ike (19.7 Pts, 8.2 Reb, 2.4 Ast)

• Tyon Grant-Foster (11.2 Pts, 5.0 Reb, 1.2 Ast)

• Braden Huff (17.8 Pts, 5.6 Reb, 1.5 Ast)

Biggest Strengths:

• Great shooting and defensive team

• Doesn’t turn the ball over

• Highest volume of shooting team

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Not a great free throw shooting team

• Doesn’t make many threes

Likely Seed:

• 3

How will they do?

Gonzaga is our first high major team to get an auto-bid to the NCAA tournament and it is a shock to no one. Consistently one of the best teams each year and the champions of the West Coast Conference for one last time before they head off to the Pac-12. This is a sweet sixteen team at a minimum. I am not the biggest Bulldogs fan and never have been, but that hasn’t stopped them from proving me wrong in years past. As usual, don’t sleep on Mark Few and Gonzaga.