A look at some of what AP is planning for the 2026 college basketball tournaments. For questions, please email Dave Zelio (dzelio@ap.org). For up-to-the-minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477. You can also call the Sports Desk at (212) 621-1630; Sports Photos, ext. 1918; Graphics, ext. 6907.
This advisory will be updated and is subject to change. All times Eastern.
March 10: AP all-conference men's teams (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC), all by 3 p.m.
March 15: Selection Sunday. Men's bracket announced at 6 p.m., women's bracket at 8 p.m.
March 16: AP Top 25 polls, both by 1 p.m.
March 17: AP men’s All-America team announced, noon.
March 17-18: Men’s tournament opens with First Four games in Dayton, Ohio.
March 18: AP women’s All-America team announced, noon.
March 18-19: Women’s tournament opens with First Four games, campus sites.
April 2: AP women’s player and coach of the year announcements.
April 3: AP men’s player and coach of the year announcements. Women's Final Four (Phoenix).
April 4: Men's Final Four (Indianapolis).
April 5: Women's national championship game, 2:30 p.m. (Phoenix).
April 6: Men's national championship game, approximately 8:30 p.m. (Indianapolis). Final women's Top 25 poll of season, noon.
April 7: Final men's Top 25 poll of season, noon.
BKC--NCAA TOURNAMENT — After a season that saw virtual pros taking the court amid legal fights, the NCAA announces the field for a tournament that will end with the championship game in Indianapolis. By Eddie Pells. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Developing from 6 p.m. announcement March 15.
With these sidebars and others on merit:
-- BKC--NCAA-EAST REGION. By Aaron Beard. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Developing from 6 p.m. announcement March 15.
-- BKC--NCAA-MIDWEST REGION. By Eric Olson. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Developing from 6 p.m. announcement March 15.
-- BKC--NCAA-SOUTH REGION. By Dave Skretta. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Developing from 6 p.m. announcement March 15.
-- BKC--NCAA-WEST REGION. By John Marshall. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Developing from 6 p.m. announcement March 15.
-- BKC--NCAA-PICKING THE BRACKET. Got your bracket ready? We have some tips. By Tim Reynolds. 700 words, photos. By noon March 16.
-- BKC—NCAA-MARCH MADNESS GUIDE. What to know about the men’s tournament, including how to watch, key games and players and select betting lines. 400 words, photos. Developing from 6 p.m. announcement March 15. Will be updated throughout the tournament.
BKW--NCAA TOURNAMENT — UConn, UCLA, South Carolina and Texas can all lay claim to landing No. 1 seeds for the women’s NCAA Tournament. By Doug Feinberg. 750 words, photos. Developing from 8 p.m. announcement March 15.
With these sidebars and others on merit:
-- BKW--NCAA-PICKING THE BRACKET. Got your bracket ready for the women’s tournament? We have some tips. By Tim Reynolds. 700 words, photos. By noon March 16.
-- BKW—NCAA-MARCH MADNESS GUIDE. 400 words, photos. Developing from 8 p.m. announcement March 15. Will be updated throughout the tournament.
GRAPHICS: Brackets for the men's and women's tournaments will be available late Sunday, March 15. Each will be 5c x 9 inches and move approximately 90 minutes after each announcement (7:45 p.m. ET for men, 9:45 p.m. ET for women).
Each NCAA tournament game story will be approximately 500 words, with photos. Tight, capsule-style previews will be sent for each game and we also plan longer previews the day before tipoff with a broader, regional focus and select features throughout the tournament. Photo coverage is planned throughout.
BKC--NCAA-ONE-BID WONDERS: Players to watch from the teams you might not know much about. By Steve Megargee. 500 words, with photos by 5 a.m. March 17.
BKW—NCAA-ONE-BID WONDERS: Players to watch from the women’s teams you might not know much about. By Steve Megargee. 500 words, with photos by 5 a.m. March 17.
BKC--NCAA-NBA PROSPECTS: The cream of the crop in this year’s tournament that you should expect to see in the NBA soon. By Steve Megargee. 600 words, with photos by 5 a.m. March 18.
BKW--NCAA-WNBA PROSPECTS: The cream of the crop in this year’s tournament that you should expect to see in the WNBA soon. By Steve Megargee. 600 words, with photos by 5 a.m. March 18.
BKC—NCAA-SECOND CHANCES: In the era of the transfer portal, a look at some of the top players making the NCAA Tournament for a second (or third) school. By Steve Megargee. 600 words, with photos, by 5 a.m., March 19.
BKW—NCAA-SECOND CHANCES: In the era of the transfer portal, a look at some of the top women’s players making the NCAA Tournament for a second (or third) school. By Steve Megargee. 600 words, with photos, by 5 a.m., March 19.
Brief game stories will be filed for the men's NIT; for games in any similar Division I men's tournaments; and for championship games in Divisions II, III and the NAIA (men and women).
