2026 NCAA Tournament

Recap: March Madness, Sweet Sixteen, Day 2 | Duke, Michigan, UConn, Tennessee advance

Catch the best highlights and observations from the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Basketball Tournament.

Ben Lambert, for NBA.com

Cameron Boozer and Duke defeated St. John’s to advance to the Elite Eight.

What we know about Friday’s Sweet Sixteen games:

  • Duke’s on to the Elite Eight after defeating St. John’s 80-75 behind Isaiah Evans (25 pts) and Cameron Boozer (20 pts, 10 reb).
  • Michigan defeated Alabama 90-77 to advance, led by Yaxel Lendeborg (23 pts, 12 reb, 7 ast).
  • UConn beat Michigan State 67-63 as Tarris Reed Jr. (20 pts, 5 reb, 2 blk) showed out again.
  • Tennessee knocked off Iowa State 76-62, earning the chance to play for the first Final Four bid in school history.
  • Check out our recaps of every NCAA Tournament game here.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 12:55 ET

Tennessee defeats Iowa State

Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Tennessee are on the way to the Elite Eight after they defeated Iowa State.

The Volunteers knocked off the Cyclones 76-62, as Nate Ament (18 pts) and Ja’Kobi Gillespie (16 pts) led the offense.

Tennessee shot 51% from the field, although they turned the ball over 17 times.

With the win, the Volunteers have a chance to make it to the Final Four for the first time. They have the most victories in NCAA Tournament history without an appearance in the penultimate round.

“We want it. We want it so bad,” said Ament. “It’s never been done in Tennessee history — we’re going to go get it for (Coach Rick Barnes).”

Tamin Lindsey (18 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast) and Nate Heise (18 pts) were the top scorers for Iowa State in defeat.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 12:16 ET

UConn heads on to the Elite Eight

Alex Karaban and the Huskies defeated the Spartans to advance to the Elite Eight.

The Huskies defeated Michigan State 67-63 in a close battle, led by Tarris Reed Jr. (20 pts, 5 reb, 2 blk) and Alex Karaban (17 pts, 7 reb, 2 blk).

“We were tough,” said Coach Dan Hurley.

“I love these guys so much,” said Karaban. “I’m glad we stuck together against a really tough team.”

This is the 13th time that UConn has advanced to the Elite Eight, most recently in 2023 and 2024, when they won back-to-back national championships.

Carson Cooper (14 pts) led four Spartans in double figures.

MARCH 28, 2026 / 12:01 ET

Michigan State-UConn going down to the wire

58-57 with 1:58 to go on CBS. Catch the finish!

MARCH 27, 2026 / 11:05 ET

Tennessee up on Iowa State

Iowa State and Tennessee are in a close one at the half.

34-33, as Felix Okpara (10 pts, 8 reb) nearly put up a double-double for the Volunteers.

Nate Heise (14 pts) is going off for the Cyclones.

MARCH 27, 2026 / 10:55 ET

UConn leads at the half

Tarris Reed Jr. and UConn are up at the half on CBS.

35-27, as Tarris Reed Jr. (8 pts) led the way for Dan Hurley’s squad.

Michigan State closed on a 9-2 to cut into the Connecticut lead, keeping the contest within reach.

Jaxson Kohler (9 pts) is the top scorer for the Spartans.

MARCH 27, 2026 / 10:20 ET

UConn running out early

The Huskies are up 18-6 early over the Spartans, taking advantage of a 15-2 run.

MARCH 27, 2026 / 10:04 ET

Michigan beats Alabama

Yaxel Lendeborg and the Michigan Wolverines are on to the Elite Eight after beating Alabama.

The Wolverines win 90-77 to move on to the Elite Eight, led by Yaxel Lendeborg (23 pts, 12 reb, 7 ast) and their defense in the second half, when they held Alabama to 28 points.

This is the 15th Elite Eight in Michigan history, and the first since 2021.

“We still have another gear we can get to, or two gears,” said Coach Dusty May. “We still have a ways to go.”

Trey McKinney (17 pts) and Roddy Gayle Jr. (16 pts) were huge off the bench.

“We believe we’re the best team in the country,” said Lendeborg. “We believe we can be the best Michigan team of all time.”

MARCH 27, 2026 / 9:26 ET

Duke advances to the Elite Eight

Cameron Boozer and Duke are advancing to the Elite Eight after defeating St. John’s.

The Blue Devils beat St. John’s 80-75 behind Isaiah Evans (25 pts), Cameron Boozer (22 pts, 10 reb) and Caleb Foster (11 pts).

“That was one of the most special performances I’ve ever seen,” said Coach Jon Scheyer of Foster, who suffered a fractured foot March 7 before returning tonight. “That’s a leader right there, and a guy who came through for us when we needed it the most.”

Duke also controlled the glass, 40-27, in taking the win.

Zuby Ejiofor (17 pts) led the way for the Red Storm.

This is the 26th time Duke has advanced to the Elite Eight in program history. In the last five years, they also made it to that stage in 2025, 2024 and 2022, which was Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final season.

MARCH 27, 2026 / 9:08 ET

St. John’s-Duke going down to the wire

“Cameron Boozer, meeting the moment!” Ian Eagle exclaimed.

72-69 Duke with 3:05 to go in the second half. Catch the finish on CBS!

MARCH 27, 2026 / 8:43 ET

Alabama leads Michigan

Labaron Philon Jr. and the Crimson Tide are up over the Wolverines at the half.

49-47 at the break.

“Rebounding, staying locked in,” said Labaron Philon Jr. (19 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast). “That’s really it.”

Michigan’s outshot Alabama from the field, 50% to 39%, but the Crimson Tide’s made it up at the free throw line, going 10-of-10 from the stripe.

MARCH 27, 2026 / 8:05 ET

St. John’s up at the half

Ruben Prey (9 pts) is leading the way for St. John’s at the half.

40-39, behind 9 3-pointers, including three from Ruben Prey (9 pts on 3-of-3 shooting).

“Stepping up with confidence and knocking it down,” said Zuby Ejiofor (7 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast). “We’re on a good run right now.”

Isaiah Evans (11 pts) is the top man for the Blue Devils so far.

MARCH 27, 2026 / 6:00 ET

A key to each of tonight’s games

Caleb Foster is back tonight for the Blue Devils as they take on the Red Storm of St. John’s.

No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 1 Duke, 7:10 ET (CBS)

Junior guard Caleb Foster (8.5 ppg) is back tonight for the Blue Devils as they prepare to face Rick Pitino and St. John’s full court press. Foster (2.8 apg) was 18th in the ACC in assists per game during the regular season.

No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan, 7:35 ET (TBS / truTV)

Michigan’s one of the top teams in the tournament, posting a +37.86 net rating in the regular season — second in the nation to Arizona. Alabama made 19 3-pointers in their victory over Texas Tech to get here.

Watch to see if Coach Nate Oats’ guard-focused offense can find a dent in the Wolverines machine and drive their long-range barrage.

No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 UConn, 9:45 ET (CBS)

This is an elite coaching duel, as Tom Izzo takes on Dan Hurley. Izzo’s won one National Championship in eight Final Four appearances, while Hurley’s cut down the nets in each of his Final Four runs.

We’ll see if Michigan State can turn the game into a grind or if UConn can liven things up.

No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Iowa State, 10:10 ET (TBS / truTV)

Iowa State had the fifth-best defense in the country by defensive rating (92.5), while Tennessee was 14th (94.7). Who will maintain control tonight?

MARCH 27, 2026 / 5:45 ET

Tap in for tonight’s action

With the CBS Sports HQ crew.

MARCH 27, 2026 / 5:30 ET

Welcome to Day 2 of the Sweet Sixteen!

Welcome to Day 2 of the Sweet Sixteen! The 2026 NCAA Tournament continues tonight on CBS, TBS and truTV.

Coming to you live from the United Center in Chicago and the Capital One Center in Washington D.C., it’s night two of the Sweet Sixteen, as the 2026 Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament rolls on towards the Elite Eight.

Here’s the complete schedule:

  • No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 1 Duke, 7:10 ET (CBS)
  • No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan, 7:35 ET (TBS / truTV)
  • No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 UConn, 9:45 ET (CBS)
  • No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Iowa State, 10:10 ET (TBS / truTV)

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