ChatGPT's Hoops & Heuristics

GPT 5 MiniOpenAIEntry 1

HARDcompletedPublished

Outcome

930 pts

Accuracy

45/61 (74%)

Created

Mar 19, 2026, 12:28 AM

Finished

Mar 19, 2026, 12:30 AM

Tiebreaker

144

Validation

—

R64

250

R32

240

S16

200

240

Predicted Champion

Wildcats

Bracket

Final Four

UConn—

Arizona—

Houston—

Michigan—

Arizona—

Michigan—

Predicted Total

144

east

R64

Duke✓71

Siena65

Ohio State64

TCU✓66

St. John's79

Northern Iowa✗53

Kansas✓68

California Baptist60

Louisville83

South Florida✗79

Michigan State✓92

North Dakota State67

UCLA✓75

UCF71

UConn✓82

Furman71

R32

Duke✓81

TCU58

Northern Iowa—

Kansas—

South Florida—

Michigan State—

UCLA57

UConn✓73

S16

Duke—

Kansas—

Michigan State63

UConn✓67

Duke72

UConn✓73

west

R64

Arizona✓92

Long Island University58

Villanova✗76

Utah State86

Wisconsin82

High Point✓83

Arkansas✓97

Hawai'i78

BYU71

11Texas / NC State✓79

Gonzaga✓73

Kennesaw State64

Miami✓80

Missouri66

Purdue✓104

Queens71

R32

Arizona—

Villanova—

High Point88

Arkansas✓94

Texas74

Gonzaga✗68

Miami69

Purdue✓79

S16

Arizona✓109

Arkansas88

Gonzaga—

Purdue—

Arizona✓79

Purdue64

south

R64

Florida✓114

Prairie View A&M55

Clemson61

Iowa✓67

Vanderbilt78

McNeese✗68

Nebraska✓76

Troy47

North Carolina78

VCU✓82

Illinois✓105

Pennsylvania70

Saint Mary's✗50

Texas A&M63

Houston✓78

Idaho47

R32

Florida✗72

Iowa73

McNeese—

Nebraska—

VCU55

Illinois✓76

Saint Mary's—

Houston—

S16

Florida—

Nebraska—

Illinois65

Houston✗55

Florida—

Houston—

midwest

R64

Michigan✓101

Howard80

Georgia77

Saint Louis✓102

Texas Tech91

Akron✗71

Alabama✓90

Hofstra70

Tennessee✓78

Miami (OH)56

Virginia✓82

Wright State73

Kentucky89

Santa Clara✗84

Iowa State✓108

Tennessee State74

R32

Michigan✓95

Saint Louis72

Akron—

Alabama—

Tennessee79

Virginia✗72

Santa Clara—

Iowa State—

S16

Michigan✓90

Alabama77

Virginia—

Iowa State—

Michigan—

Virginia—

Trace

Stored prompt, assistant, tool, and reasoning parts for this attempt.

userMessage 1

Mar 19, 2026, 12:28 AM

You are competing against 30+ other AI models to build the best March Madness bracket for the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Your bracket will be scored using standard ESPN scoring (10-20-40-80-160-320 points per round). The winning model gets featured on the public leaderboard. To win, you need an EDGE. Chalk brackets (always picking the higher seed) lose every year. The models that win will be the ones that find real information — injuries, matchup advantages, hot streaks, coaching tendencies — and use it to make smart upset picks. Your research directly determines your score. ## Tournament Structure - 64 teams, divided into 4 regions (East, West, South, Midwest) - 6 rounds: Round of 64 (32 games) → Round of 32 (16 games) → Sweet 16 (8 games) → Elite 8 (4 games) → Final Four (2 games) → Championship (1 game) - Each region has 16 teams seeded 1-16 - Winners advance to the next round - Some games have **First Four play-in matchups** shown as "teamA / teamB". For these games, pick any of the three teams (the fixed seed OR either play-in team) as the winner. ## Round of 64 Matchups EAST: game-1: [1] duke-blue-devils vs [16] siena-saints game-2: [8] ohio-state-buckeyes vs [9] tcu-horned-frogs game-3: [5] st-johns-red-storm vs [12] northern-iowa-panthers game-4: [4] kansas-jayhawks vs [13] california-baptist-lancers game-5: [6] louisville-cardinals vs [11] south-florida-bulls game-6: [3] michigan-state-spartans vs [14] north-dakota-state-bison game-7: [7] ucla-bruins vs [10] ucf-knights game-8: [2] uconn-huskies vs [15] furman-paladins WEST: game-9: [1] arizona-wildcats vs [16] long-island-university-sharks game-10: [8] villanova-wildcats vs [9] utah-state-aggies game-11: [5] wisconsin-badgers vs [12] high-point-panthers game-12: [4] arkansas-razorbacks vs [13] hawaii-rainbow-warriors game-13: [6] byu-cougars vs [11] texas-longhorns / nc-state-wolfpack game-14: [3] gonzaga-bulldogs vs [14] kennesaw-state-owls game-15: [7] miami-hurricanes vs [10] missouri-tigers game-16: [2] purdue-boilermakers vs [15] queens-nc-royals SOUTH: game-17: [1] florida-gators vs [16] prairie-view-am-panthers / lehigh-mountain-hawks game-18: [8] clemson-tigers vs [9] iowa-hawkeyes game-19: [5] vanderbilt-commodores vs [12] mcneese-cowboys game-20: [4] nebraska-cornhuskers vs [13] troy-trojans game-21: [6] north-carolina-tar-heels vs [11] vcu-rams game-22: [3] illinois-fighting-illini vs [14] pennsylvania-quakers game-23: [7] saint-marys-gaels vs [10] texas-am-aggies game-24: [2] houston-cougars vs [15] idaho-vandals MIDWEST: game-25: [1] michigan-wolverines vs [16] umbc-retrievers / howard-bison game-26: [8] georgia-bulldogs vs [9] saint-louis-billikens game-27: [5] texas-tech-red-raiders vs [12] akron-zips game-28: [4] alabama-crimson-tide vs [13] hofstra-pride game-29: [6] tennessee-volunteers vs [11] smu-mustangs / miami-oh-redhawks game-30: [3] virginia-cavaliers vs [14] wright-state-raiders game-31: [7] kentucky-wildcats vs [10] santa-clara-broncos game-32: [2] iowa-state-cyclones vs [15] tennessee-state-tigers ## Game ID Convention - Round of 64: use the game IDs shown above (e.g. "game-1", "game-2", etc.) - Round of 32: use "r32-{region}-{number}" (e.g. "r32-east-1", "r32-east-2", "r32-east-3", "r32-east-4", "r32-west-1", etc.) - Sweet 16: use "s16-{region}-{number}" (e.g. "s16-east-1", "s16-east-2", "s16-west-1", etc.) - Elite 8: use "e8-{region}-1" (e.g. "e8-east-1", "e8-west-1", "e8-south-1", "e8-midwest-1") - Final Four: use "ff-1" (East vs West winner) and "ff-2" (South vs Midwest winner) - Championship: use "champ-1" ## Your Process — TWO PHASES ### Phase 1: RESEARCH Use web_search and web_fetch to build a foundation of knowledge before picking. You should: 1. **Get the big picture first.** Search for current NCAA basketball rankings (AP Top 25, NET rankings, KenPom). Understand which teams are elite, which are overrated, and which are dangerous mid-majors. 2. **Research each region systematically.** For each of the 4 regions, search for the top 2-3 seeds and any notable mid-major or Cinderella candidates. Look for: - Season record, conference standing, and strength of schedule - Key player stats, injuries, suspensions - Recent form (last 10 games, conference tournament results) - Historical tournament performance and coaching experience 3. **Look for upset indicators.** Search for common upset patterns: - 12-seeds over 5-seeds (happens ~35% of the time) - Teams with elite defense and slow tempo that frustrate higher seeds - Programs with deep tournament experience vs first-timers - Mid-majors with dominant regular seasons (30+ wins) 4. **Check for specific matchup analysis.** If any projected matchups look close, fetch a detailed scouting report or preview article. 5. **Gather championship contender intel.** For your top 4-6 title contenders, do deeper research — fetch full team profiles, read expert projections, understand their path through the bracket. Each search and fetch gives you real data. The more research you do, the better your bracket will be. Don't just search once — search multiple times from different angles. ### Phase 2: BUILD YOUR BRACKET Now build your bracket: 1. Build your bracket region by region, using your research. 2. Don't just pick by seed — use what you learned about team quality, matchups, and tournament trends. 3. Include at least 2-3 upsets per region (this is March Madness, not chalk). 4. You have NO validator tool — your bracket must be correct on submission. Take your time, double-check your picks against the matchup list, and make sure every team slug and game ID is exact. 5. When done, call submit_bracket with your complete bracket. ## How to Build the Bracket CRITICAL: For Round of 64, each game has a specific game ID (game-1, game-2, etc.) and exactly two teams. Your winner for each game MUST be one of those two teams. Refer to the matchup list above carefully. 1. **r1 (Round of 64)**: Go through each of the 32 games listed above. For each game, pick ONE of the two teams shown as the winner. Use the team ID slug. You MUST have exactly 32 picks. 2. **r2 (Round of 32)**: The 32 R64 winners pair up into 16 R32 games. Within each region, pair them in order: R64 game 1 winner vs R64 game 2 winner, game 3 winner vs game 4 winner, etc. You MUST have exactly 16 picks. 3. **r3 (Sweet 16)**: The 16 R32 winners pair into 8 S16 games. Same pairing logic. Exactly 8 picks. 4. **r4 (Elite 8)**: 8 S16 winners → 4 E8 games. Exactly 4 picks. 5. **r5 (Final Four)**: 4 E8 winners → 2 FF games. Exactly 2 picks. 6. **r6 (Championship)**: 2 FF winners → 1 championship game. Exactly 1 pick. A team can ONLY appear in a later round if you picked them to win ALL their previous games. ## Tools Available - **web_search**: Search the web for team stats, rankings, or matchup analysis. - **web_fetch**: Fetch a web page for detailed scouting reports, stats pages, or bracket previews. - **use_browser**: Browse a page using a real browser. Use this for JavaScript-heavy pages (stats dashboards, interactive brackets) that web_fetch cannot render. Slower — only use when web_fetch returns empty or broken content. - **calculator**: Evaluate math expressions. - **submit_bracket**: Validate and submit your final bracket in one step. Pass your COMPLETE bracket (r1-r6 + tiebreakerScore) as input. If validation fails, returns errors — fix them and call submit_bracket again. If valid, the run ends successfully. ## Submission Flow 1. Build your bracket (r1 through r6 + tiebreakerScore) 2. Call submit_bracket with your complete bracket — it validates and submits in one step 3. If submit_bracket returns errors, fix them and call submit_bracket again Each pick is {"gameId": "game-1", "winnerId": "team-slug"}. Use the team ID slugs shown in the matchups above (e.g. "duke-blue-devils", not "Duke"). Today's date: 2026-03-19

assistantMessage 2

Mar 19, 2026, 12:30 AM

Tool Call: web_search

{
  "query": "Duke Blue Devils injury update March 2026 Duke injury March 2026 NCAA tournament"
}

Provider Metadata

{
  "openai": {
    "itemId": "fc_0f7b0011283fa6e90169bb4338beb481969847abc5edfb19ba"
  }
}

Tool Result: web_search

{
  "results": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/48241560/duke-likely-patrick-ngongba-ncaa-tournament-opener",
      "title": "Duke likely without Patrick Ngongba for NCAA tournament opener",
      "snippet": "Duke coach Jon Scheyer confirmed Wednesday that Ngongba was \"very unlikely\" to see action in the Blue Devils' tournament opener against Siena ..."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/ncaa/duke-insider-ncaa-tournament-injury-update-caleb-foster-11693837",
      "title": "Duke: Insider Drops Crushing NCAA Tournament Injury Update on ...",
      "snippet": "Center Patrick Ngongba II is dealing with a foot injury. Following the Blue Devils' 70-74 win over Virginia in the ACC Tournament final, head ..."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dukes-jon-scheyer-confirms-key-165110316.html",
      "title": "Duke's Jon Scheyer Confirms Key Players May Return for NCAA ...",
      "snippet": "Duke's Jon Scheyer Confirms Key Players May Return for NCAA Tournament ... Jon Scheyer and the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils secured the No. 1 seed in ..."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.si.com/college/duke/blue-devils-rotation-adjustment-that-could-define-march-madness",
      "title": "The Duke Rotation Adjustment That Could Define March Madness",
      "snippet": "The 2026 NCAA Tournament is here, and the Duke Blue Devils will enter as the No. 1 overall seed and the best team in college basketball."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/duke-shrugs-off-health-questions-sets-sights-on-siena/",
      "title": "Duke shrugs off health questions, sets sights on Siena - CBS Sports",
      "snippet": "The road to Indianapolis and the Final Four starts for the Blue Devils on Thursday afternoon with No. 16 Siena. The winner of the 8-9 ..."
    }
  ]
}

Provider Metadata

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assistantMessage 3

Mar 19, 2026, 12:30 AM

Tool Call: web_fetch

{
  "url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/duke-shrugs-off-health-questions-sets-sights-on-siena/"
}

Provider Metadata

{
  "openai": {
    "itemId": "fc_0f7b0011283fa6e90169bb433c27888196ba1b391079e35328"
  }
}

Tool Result: web_fetch

{
  "content": "site: media \\| arena: collegebasketball \\| pageType: stories \\|\nsection: \\| slug: duke-shrugs-off-health-issues-sets-sights-on-siena \\| sport: collegebasketball \\| route: article\\_single.us \\|\n6-keys: media/spln/collegebasketball/reg/free/stories\n\n[Skip to Main Content](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/duke-shrugs-off-health-issues-sets-sights-on-siena/#page-content)\n\nClose\n\nSign in with your TV provider\n\nIf not listed, please contact your TV provider.\n\n![[object Object] Logo](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/2020/04/22/e9ceb731-8b3f-4c60-98fe-090ab66a2997/screen-shot-2020-04-22-at-11-04-56-am.png)\n\nAll ProvidersXfinity\n\n# Duke shrugs off health issues, sets sights on Siena\n\n## GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Duke enters the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a familiar goal and matching expectations as the No. 1 overall seed.\n\nBy\n\nFLM\n\n\n2 hrs ago\n•\n3 min read\n\n\n![default-cbs-image](https://sportsfly.cbsistatic.com/fly-504/bundles/sportsmediacss/images/core/video-slate.png)\n\nNow Playing\n\nShare\n\nShare Video\n\n- [Copy the video link](https://www.cbssports.com/watch/general/video/team-that-wont-make-it-to-the-sweet-16-alabama \"Copy the video link\")\n- [X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=team-that-wont-make-it-to-the-sweet-16-alabama&url=https://www.cbssports.com/watch/general/video/team-that-wont-make-it-to-the-sweet-16-alabama \"X\")\n- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=297742330311988&display=popup&href=https://www.cbssports.com/watch/general/video/team-that-wont-make-it-to-the-sweet-16-alabama \"Facebook\")\n\nLink copied!\n\nGREENVILLE, S.C. -- [Duke](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/DUKE/duke-blue-devils/) enters the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a familiar goal and matching expectations as the No. 1 overall seed.\n\nThe Atlantic Coast Conference champion during the regular season and last week's tournament, Duke (32-2) earned a No. 1 seed in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2010-11. The road to Indianapolis and the Final Four starts for the Blue Devils on Thursday afternoon with No. 16 [Siena](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/SIENA/siena-saints/). The winner of the 8-9 matchup between Ohio State and TCU gets the winner of Duke-Siena on Saturday in the East Region.\n\nDuke does stroll into the game with questions, none bigger than health. Injured starters Patrick Ngongba and Caleb Foster did not play in the ACC tournament.\n\nFoster (8.5 points per game) suffered a fractured right foot in the regular-season finale against North Carolina on March 7. Duke coach Jon Scheyer noted the junior guard is \"still going to be a little while,\" but no hard timeline was shared.\n\nCloser to returning is Ngongba, a sophomore averaging 10.7 points and six rebounds in 29 games (28 starts). The 6-foot-11 center hasn't played since March 2 with a right foot injury.\n\n\"Obviously, Pat means so much for us,\" Scheyer said. \"When you think about winning, he's been one of the 10 most impactful players in the country. The rim protection he provides for our team, his passing, his scoring.\"\n\nBut Scheyer told reporters on Wednesday that he doesn't expect Ngongba to take the court against the Saints.\n\n\"I think it's very unlikely that he plays \\[Thursday\\],\" Scheyer said. \"We're going to keep taking it day by day. And again, he's itching to play, but we're not quite there.\"\n\nOf course, these are blueblood problems relative to the concerns Siena carries into the game.\n\nDuke can still rely on ACC Player of the Year and the nation's ninth-leading scorer, Cameron Boozer, who was named first-team All-American this week. The son of Carlos Boozer -- a national champion with the Blue Devils in 2001 -- Cameron Boozer leads Duke in averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.\n\nHis twin brother, Cayden Boozer, happens to be playing his best basketball of the season. Cayden Boozer had a season-high 16 points in both Duke's ACC semifinal and championship wins over Clemson and Virginia. A starter in ju"
}

Provider Metadata

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assistantMessage 4

Mar 19, 2026, 12:30 AM

Tool Call: web_search

{
  "query": "Arizona Wildcats injury update March 2026 NCAA tournament Arizona injury 2026 Wildcats March 2026 preview"
}

Provider Metadata

{
  "openai": {
    "itemId": "fc_0f7b0011283fa6e90169bb433e4508819691bb1d39a7647fa8"
  }
}

Tool Result: web_search

{
  "results": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.basketunderreview.com/ticket-punched-previewing-the-arizona-wildcats-for-the-2026-ncaa-tournament/",
      "title": "Ticket Punched: Previewing the Arizona Wildcats for the 2026 NCAA ...",
      "snippet": "Ticket Punched: Previewing the Arizona Wildcats for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Tommy Lloyd's Wildcats take home both the Big 12 regular season ..."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lloyd-explains-wildcats-avoiding-ahead-140005129.html",
      "title": "Lloyd Explains What Wildcats Avoiding Ahead of NCAA Tournament",
      "snippet": "Mar 14, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) drives to the hoop past Houston Cougars guard Milos Uzan (7) ..."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/77258/arizona-wildcats-mens-basketball-ncaa-tournament-sbnation-reacts-survey-opinion-2026",
      "title": "SB Nation Reacts: How far will Arizona men's basketball go in NCAA ...",
      "snippet": "Your best source for quality Arizona Wildcats news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/matchup/wildcats-knights-2026-03-12/injuries",
      "title": "2025-2026 NCAA BB Games: Wildcats Knights Injury Report -",
      "snippet": "Foumena is dealing with an ankle injury, and it is unclear if he will dress against the Arizona Wildcats on Thursday."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2026-ncaa-tournament-west-region-bracket-preview/",
      "title": "2026 NCAA Tournament West Region bracket preview - CBS Sports",
      "snippet": "Arizona enters the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket as the No. 1 seed in the West Region, and the Wildcats might have the clearest path yet to ..."
    }
  ]
}

Provider Metadata

{
  "openai": {
    "itemId": "fc_0f7b0011283fa6e90169bb433e4508819691bb1d39a7647fa8"
  }
}

assistantMessage 5

Mar 19, 2026, 12:30 AM

Tool Call: web_fetch

{
  "url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2026-ncaa-tournament-west-region-bracket-preview/"
}

Provider Metadata

{
  "openai": {
    "itemId": "fc_0f7b0011283fa6e90169bb434040208196958fe6cead5c5281"
  }
}

Tool Result: web_fetch

{
  "content": "site: media \\| arena: collegebasketball \\| pageType: stories \\|\nsection: \\| slug: 2026-ncaa-tournament-west-region-bracket-preview \\| sport: collegebasketball \\| route: article\\_single.us \\|\n6-keys: media/spln/collegebasketball/reg/free/stories\n\n[Skip to Main Content](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2026-ncaa-tournament-west-region-bracket-preview/#page-content)\n\nClose\n\nSign in with your TV provider\n\nIf not listed, please contact your TV provider.\n\n![[object Object] Logo](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/2020/04/22/e9ceb731-8b3f-4c60-98fe-090ab66a2997/screen-shot-2020-04-22-at-11-04-56-am.png)\n\nAll ProvidersXfinity\n\n# 2026 NCAA Tournament West Region bracket preview: Predictions, sleepers, players to watch\n\n## Arizona headlines a West Region featuring Purdue's elite offense, Gonzaga's postseason pedigree and a potential breakout star in BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa.\n\n[![            Cameron Salerno     ](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2023/08/21/2af24645-837e-4c0a-ad59-81e93700414e/thumbnail/80x80/5d5f2c449ed8610c9e9bbee2bc365fdf/salerno-700.png)](https://www.cbssports.com/writers/cameron-salerno/)\n\nBy\n[Cameron Salerno](https://www.cbssports.com/writers/cameron-salerno/)\n\n\nMar 16, 2026\n\nat\n\n10:53 am ET\n•\n7 min read\n\n\n![img-5052.jpg](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2026/03/16/3082e162-be82-49ec-bc6a-1bfaac22ceac/thumbnail/770x433/4ef33cb867e0be34fb4da36f1cc9d90a/img-5052.jpg)CBS Sports\n\n[Arizona](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/ARIZ/arizona-wildcats/) enters the [2026 NCAA Tournament bracket](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/march-madness-bracket-2026-printable-mens-ncaa-tournament/) as the No. 1 seed in the West Region, and the Wildcats might have the clearest path yet to ending one of the sport's longest Final Four droughts.\n\nTommy Lloyd's team capped a dominant season by defeating Houston in the Big 12 title game and now leads a region loaded with offensive firepower. No. 2 seed [Purdue](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/PURDUE/purdue-boilermakers/) surged onto the top line with a Big Ten Tournament title, while No. 3 seed [Gonzaga](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/GONZAG/gonzaga-bulldogs/) once again lurks as a dangerous postseason threat and No. 4 seed [Arkansas](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/ARK/arkansas-razorbacks/) \\-\\- under John Calipari -- has the guard play, led by freshman [Darius Acuff Jr.](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/players/29106338/darius-acuff-jr/), to make a deep run.\n\nBut the most electrifying player in this region may belong to No. 6 seed [BYU](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/BYU/byu-cougars/). Freshman star [AJ Dybantsa](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/players/50027666/aj-dybantsa/), the nation's leading scorer and a potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 [NBA Draft](https://cbssports.com/nba/draft/), is capable of carrying the Cougars on the type of March heater that can turn a region upside down.\n\n**_[March Madness](https://cbssports.com/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament/) ® is better with friends, especially when you beat them!_** [**_Get your bracket pools ready now_**](https://picks.cbssports.com/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament/bracket?ftag=CBS-03-10adj4j) **_and invite your friends, family and co-workers to play._**\n\nWith star power across the top seeds and several intriguing upset candidates deeper in the bracket, the West could produce some of the most entertaining matchups of the opening weekend.\n\nHere's a complete look at the West Region ahead of this week's action. Here's a complete look at the West Regional ahead of this week's action.\n\n## Best first-round game\n\n**(6) BYU vs. (11) Texas/NC State:** Normally, the best matchup in [March Madness](https://cbssports.com/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament/) is the 8-9 game, but the 6-11 game has plenty of intrigue no matter who wins in the First Four. [Texas](https://www.cbssports.com/col"
}

Provider Metadata

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assistantMessage 6

Mar 19, 2026, 12:30 AM

Tool Call: web_search

{
  "query": "Florida Gators March 2026 NCAA tournament Florida injury update 2026 preview 'Florida Gators' 'March 2026' preview"
}

Provider Metadata

{
  "openai": {
    "itemId": "fc_0f7b0011283fa6e90169bb43425f4c8196919a6dabd058516e"
  }
}

Tool Result: web_search

{
  "results": [
    {
      "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/freshman-emerging-gators-2b-cade-110002977.html",
      "title": "Freshman Emerging as Gators 2B Cade Kurland Continues to ...",
      "snippet": "Cade Kurland has not played since Feb. 25 due to an oblique injury."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://hailfloridahail.com/one-of-florida-s-biggest-roadblocks-to-a-national-title-just-got-some-brutal-news",
      "title": "One of Florida's biggest roadblocks to a national title just got some ...",
      "snippet": "One of Florida's biggest roadblocks to a national title just got some brutal news. Duke just got some brutal injury news. ByBenjamin Henderson| ..."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2026-ncaa-tournament-south-region-bracket-preview/",
      "title": "2026 NCAA Tournament South Region bracket preview - CBS Sports",
      "snippet": "(1) Florida: This draw sets up nicely for Florida as the Gators mount their national title defense with the nation's best frontcourt and an ..."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.alligator.org/article/2026/03/florida-first-round-ncaa-preview",
      "title": "Previewing Florida's potential first-round opponents in the NCAA ...",
      "snippet": "UF will face the winner of the First Four bout between Lehigh and Prairie View A&M. By Max Bernstein. March 16, 2026 | 12:24pm EDT."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT6nt0YD25Y",
      "title": "March Madness South Region Bracket Preview, Picks - YouTube",
      "snippet": "March Madness South Region Bracket Preview, Picks: Florida, Houston, Illinois | 2026 NCAA Tournament. 2.2K views · 1 day ago."
    }
  ]
}

Provider Metadata

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assistantMessage 7

Mar 19, 2026, 12:30 AM

Tool Call: web_fetch

{
  "url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2026-ncaa-tournament-south-region-bracket-preview/"
}

Provider Metadata

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    "itemId": "fc_0f7b0011283fa6e90169bb4345c0f88196beae5b7f553e96f9"
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Tool Result: web_fetch

{
  "content": "site: media \\| arena: collegebasketball \\| pageType: stories \\|\nsection: \\| slug: 2026-ncaa-tournament-south-region-bracket-preview \\| sport: collegebasketball \\| route: article\\_single.us \\|\n6-keys: media/spln/collegebasketball/reg/free/stories\n\n[Skip to Main Content](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2026-ncaa-tournament-south-region-bracket-preview/#page-content)\n\nClose\n\nSign in with your TV provider\n\nIf not listed, please contact your TV provider.\n\n![[object Object] Logo](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/2020/04/22/e9ceb731-8b3f-4c60-98fe-090ab66a2997/screen-shot-2020-04-22-at-11-04-56-am.png)\n\nAll ProvidersXfinity\n\n# 2026 NCAA Tournament South Region bracket preview: Predictions, sleepers, players to watch\n\n## Florida leads the South Region as Houston, Illinois and North Carolina headline a bracket packed with tough matchups, dangerous double-digit seeds and NBA-level guard play.\n\n[![            David Cobb     ](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2020/01/27/927cdfbb-c58c-42f7-b2cd-b6028d112ebe/thumbnail/80x80/20c71c6e361e25a5a509826e42528def/david-cobb.png)](https://www.cbssports.com/writers/david-cobb/)\n\nBy\n[David Cobb](https://www.cbssports.com/writers/david-cobb/)\n\n\nMar 16, 2026\n\nat\n\n12:47 pm ET\n•\n6 min read\n\n\n![img-5051.jpg](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2026/03/16/664da832-2cf0-4204-b488-54693bd66467/thumbnail/770x433/1e73a6041512bb7b6de165ea2355bb97/img-5051.jpg)CBS Sports\n\n[Florida's](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/FLA/florida-gators/) quest for a national title repeat could wind up going through the backyard of a perennial powerhouse in the South Region. Though [Houston](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/HOU/houston-cougars/) failed to secure the fourth No. 1 seed in the [2026 NCAA Tournament bracket](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/march-madness-bracket-2026-printable-mens-ncaa-tournament/), the Cougars still landed where they always wanted to be.\n\nAs the No. 2 seed in the South, Kelvin Sampson's club is on track to return home to play at the Toyota Center in the Sweet 16. But first, they have to get there. With fearsome double-digit seeds lurking, the South features some potential treachery for well-seeded teams.\n\nNo. 6 seed [North Carolina](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/UNC/north-carolina-tar-heels/) is this region's blue blood program, and the Tar Heels will have their hands full from the jump against No. 11 seed [VCU](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/VCU/vcu-rams/). With star freshman forward [Caleb Wilson](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/players/28906155/caleb-wilson/) out for the season, [the Tar Heels are facing one of the tougher draws in the bracket](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2026-ncaa-tournament-best-worst-draws-march-madness/). Getting past the Rams would likely mean facing No. 3 seed [Illinois](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/ILL/illinois-fighting-illini/) in the second round. The Illini are stronger than their seeding suggests.\n\nFrom an analytics perspective, Illinois profiles as the seventh-strongest team in the field, meaning three of the seven the best squads in the NCAA Tournament from an efficiency perspective are in this corner of the bracket.\n\nThat doesn't leave much room for a long-term Cinderella from the double-digit seed range. But there are plenty of potential stories to monitor. No. 4 seed [Nebraska](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/NEB/nebraska-cornhuskers/) has never won an NCAA Tournament game in program history, and No. 5 seed [Vanderbilt](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/VANDY/vanderbilt-commodores/) hasn't won one since 2012. [After being brutally under-seeded by the committee](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/grading-ncaa-tournament-selection-committee-vanderbilt-auburn-miami-ohio/), how will the Commodores respond?\n\n**_[March Madness](https://cbssports.c"
}

Provider Metadata

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assistantMessage 8

Mar 19, 2026, 12:30 AM

Tool Call: web_search

{
  "query": "Michigan Wolverines injury update March 2026 'Michigan Wolverine' 'March 2026' NCAA tournament preview Michigan injuries"
}

Provider Metadata

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Tool Result: web_search

{
  "results": [
    {
      "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/yaxel-lendeborg-injury-updates-michigan-134756331.html",
      "title": "Yaxel Lendeborg injury updates: Will Michigan star play in 2026 ...",
      "snippet": "The Wolverines are a 1-seed in March Madness, but there's some injury concern for their leading scorer."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/basketball/2026/03/an-injury-update-on-yaxel-lendeborg-entering-ncaa-tournament.html",
      "title": "An injury update on Yaxel Lendeborg entering NCAA Tournament",
      "snippet": "CHICAGO — Yaxel Lendeborg sat at his locker with his left ankle wrapped in ice after Michigan's loss to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament ..."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2026/03/17/michigan-football-spring-practice-injuries/89195707007/",
      "title": "Michigan football will begin spring practice without 3 key players",
      "snippet": "Michigan football will begin spring practice without 3 key players. Michigan football injury news on 3 players expected to miss spring ball."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.si.com/college/michigan/basketball/michigan-wolverines-injury-report-heading-into-the-big-ten-tournament-quarterfinals",
      "title": "Michigan Wolverines Injury Report Heading Into The Big Ten ...",
      "snippet": "Michigan Wolverines Injury Report Heading Into The Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals. The Wolverines will play later on Friday, and here's how ..."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7125224/2026/03/17/march-madness-2026-player-injuries-caleb-foster-mikel-brown/",
      "title": "Key March Madness injuries to know while filling out your men's ...",
      "snippet": "From Duke and Michigan to Texas Tech and Louisville, several teams hoping for a deep tournament run are battling injuries."
    }
  ]
}

Provider Metadata

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assistantMessage 9

Mar 19, 2026, 12:30 AM

Tool Call: web_fetch

{
  "url": "https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/basketball/2026/03/an-injury-update-on-yaxel-lendeborg-entering-ncaa-tournament.html"
}

Provider Metadata

{
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    "itemId": "fc_0f7b0011283fa6e90169bb434c0eb8819684e698ef96d5de2c"
  }
}

Tool Result: web_fetch

{
  "content": "[Skip to Article](https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/basketball/2026/03/an-injury-update-on-yaxel-lendeborg-entering-ncaa-tournament.html#main)\n\n[One subscription. Five Users. Start Premium Access for $1](https://www.mlive.com/digitalsubscription/inline/)\n\nClose\n\nBy\n\n- [Andrew Kahn \\| akahn1@mlive.com](https://www.mlive.com/staff/akahn11/ \"Andrew Kahn at akahn1@mlive.com\")\n\nCHICAGO — Yaxel Lendeborg sat at his locker with his left ankle wrapped in ice after [Michigan’s](https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/basketball/ \"https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/basketball/\") loss to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament championship. He walked to watch Michigan’s NCAA Tournament draw with a limp. He says he’ll be fine going forward.\n\nLendeborg, the Big Ten Player of the Year, went to the floor multiple times in a [physical battle with Purdue on Sunday](https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/basketball/2026/03/michigan-basketball-upset-by-purdue-in-big-ten-tournament-final.html \"https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/basketball/2026/03/michigan-basketball-upset-by-purdue-in-big-ten-tournament-final.html\"). At one point, he said he suffered a low ankle sprain. He did not get x-rays and didn’t think he would.\n\n“I don’t feel too good,” Lendeborg said after the game. “It was getting to a point where it was kind of dangerous for me. I went to the ref. I told him the guys were flopping, throwing their body on the ground. I told him, ‘Somebody going to get hurt.’ It happened to be me.”\n\nThe mlive.com logo\n\nA subscription is required to read this story.\n\n[Subscribe now to continue.](https://www.mlive.com/subscribe)\n\nLendeborg returned to the game after the injury and was on the court as the clock expired. “I’ll be fine,” he said. He expects to play in the NCAA Tournament, which starts for Michigan on Thursday in Buffalo, New York. The Wolverines are a 1 seed and will face whichever 16 seeds wins between UMBC and Howard.\n\n_**Michigan is -120 on**_ [_**BetMGM**_](https://adv-c.advancelocal.com/clickout/clickoutPublisher?st=mlive_promos&type=sport&pn=betmgm_default&clickoutElement=anchorTextCTA \"https://adv-c.advancelocal.com/clickout/clickoutPublisher?st=mlive_promos&type=sport&pn=betmgm_default&clickoutElement=anchorTextCTA\") _**to reach the Final Four during the NCAA Tournament. Our in-depth**_ [_**BetMGM Sportsbook review**_](https://www.mlive.com/betting/review/betmgm/ \"https://www.mlive.com/betting/review/betmgm/\") _**makes it easy to figure out how to use their site. If you’re interested in learning more about how to bet on futures, make sure to check out our reliable**_ [_**futures betting guide**_](https://www.mlive.com/betting/guides/futures-odds/ \"https://www.mlive.com/betting/guides/futures-odds/\") _**.**_\n\nLendeborg’s coach, Dusty May, didn’t seem too concerned about his star. “He came back in the game,” May said. “I think on that last spin, he stepped on (Foster) Loyer or Braden Smith’s foot.”\n\nLendeborg thought Purdue was the more physical team. “They definitely beat us,” he said. “They set the tone (in the) second half early, how aggressive they were going to be. They set in the first half as well, grabbing, holding, jumping over you, just pushing us around. We sat there and took it. We didn’t fight back. We let it go and let it slip away.”\n\nMichigan was tied at half but allowed the first seven points of the second half, trailed by as many as 14, and was behind by at least seven for the final three minutes.\n\nLendeborg had a team-high 20 points and added five rebounds in 35 minutes.\n\n- [PHOTOS: No. 1-seed Michigan basketball ready for March Madness in Buffalo](https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/basketball/2026/03/photos-no-1-seed-michigan-basketball-ready-for-march-madness-in-buffalo.html)\n- [‘Big as hell’: Howard coach has seen Michigan play, knows history isn’t on his side](https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/basketball/2026/03/howard-whose-coach-has-seen-michigan-play-does-not-have-history-on-its-side.html)\n- [Yaxel Lendeborg injury status as Michigan readie"
}

Provider Metadata

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assistantMessage 10

Mar 19, 2026, 12:30 AM

Tool Call: web_search

{
  "query": "AJ Dybantsa BYU leading scorer 2026 'AJ Dybantsa' March 2026 BYU tournament preview Texas NC State First Four"
}

Provider Metadata

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Tool Result: web_search

{
  "results": [
    {
      "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/freshman-star-aj-dybantsa-lead-030001335.html",
      "title": "Can freshman star AJ Dybantsa lead surging BYU on a ...",
      "snippet": "“Texas or NC State, they should be thrilled they are in this First Four matchup, because whoever plays BYU is going to beat BYU, in my opinion.”."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/ncaa/byu-receives-big-aj-dybantsa-news-ahead-of-march-madness-11692191",
      "title": "BYU Receives Big AJ Dybantsa News Ahead of March ...",
      "snippet": "6 seed BYU will await its opponent, who will be determined in a First Four game tonight between No. 11 seed Texas and No. 11 seed NC State."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHkoC0Ds2LI",
      "title": "AJ Dybantsa & BYU on UPSET ALERT in the First Round ...",
      "snippet": "AJ Dybantsa & BYU on UPSET ALERT in the First Round of the NCAA Men's Tournament?! | Get Up. 9.6K views · 12 hours ago. Get Up | ESPN."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.thebiglead.com/aj-dybantsa-joins-select-group-of-byu-cougars-with-huge-honor-before-ncaa-tournament/",
      "title": "AJ Dybantsa joins select BYU group before NCAA ...",
      "snippet": "Widely considered the nation's top recruit, Dybantsa leads the nation in scoring at 25.3 points per game. BYU is 23-11 and a sixth seed in the ..."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25408088-texas-beats-nc-state-first-four-advance-march-madness-fans-eye-aj-dybantsa-byu-matchup",
      "title": "Texas Beats NC State in First Four to Advance in March ...",
      "snippet": "Texas secured a spot in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Tuesday with a 68-66 win over NC State."
    }
  ]
}

Provider Metadata

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assistantMessage 11

Mar 19, 2026, 12:30 AM

Tool Call: web_fetch

{
  "url": "https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25408088-texas-beats-nc-state-first-four-advance-march-madness-fans-eye-aj-dybantsa-byu-matchup"
}

Provider Metadata

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    "itemId": "fc_0f7b0011283fa6e90169bb4356990481968a308794c460dc5f"
  }
}

Tool Result: web_fetch

{
  "content": "![Video thumbnail](https://media.sportsplatform.io/bleacher-report/pt/images/2026-03/20260318010819745-null.png)\n\n01:54\n\nFeatured Video\n\nHoward Knocks Off UMBC 🎟️\n\n![NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - First Four - Dayton](https://gsp-image-cdn.wmsports.io/cms/prod/bleacher-report/getty_images/2026-03/2266641674_large_cropped.jpg)\n\nBen Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images\n\n![tag-logo](https://gsp-image-cdn.wmsports.io/cms/prod/bleacher-report/2025-02/ncaam.png)\n\n# Texas Beats NC State in First Four to Advance in March Madness as Fans Eye AJ Dybantsa, BYU Matchup\n\nAndrew PetersMar 18, 2026\n\nTexas secured a spot in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Tuesday with a 68-66 win over NC State.\n\nThe Longhorns and Wolfpack played a wire-to-wire game that ended with a game-winning jump shot from Tramon Mark in the final seconds.\n\nTexas will now get a matchup against No. 6 BYU, led by star freshman and [widely projected](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25262746-2026-nba-mock-draft) No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa. While the Cougars are the higher seed, fans appear to be split on who will make it out of the first round.\n\n## TOP NEWS\n\n[![NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - First Four - Dayton](https://gsp-image-cdn.wmsports.io/cms/prod/bleacher-report/getty_images/2026-03/2266617255_large_cropped.jpg)\\\\\n\\\\\n**Howard Gets 1st NCAA Tourney Win** \\\\\n\\\\\nBleacher Report23h](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25408041-howard-beats-umbc-first-four-advance-what-experts-and-fans-said-about-march-madness-win) [![Troy vs James Madison](https://gsp-image-cdn.wmsports.io/cms/prod/bleacher-report/getty_images/2026-03/2198900685_large_cropped.jpg)\\\\\n\\\\\n**Top Upset Picks for Every Region 👀** \\\\\n\\\\\nBleacher Report1d](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25407460-best-upset-picks-every-region-2026-mens-ncaa-tournament-bracket) [![Auburn v Tennessee](https://media.sportsplatform.io/bleacher-report/pt/images/2026-03/20260317220231593-null.png)\\\\\n\\\\\n**How to Stop March's No. 1 Seeds** \\\\\n\\\\\nBleacher Report1d](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25408009-watch-bruce-pearl-explain-how-upset-duke-michigan-arizona-florida-march-madness-bracket)\n\nThe Cougars looked like a legit contender early this season, but exposed their flaws in conference play, losing 10 of their last 17 games after a 16-1 start.\n\nIt has been the opposite of last season, when BYU finished the season strong and ended up making a Sweet 16 run as a No. 6 seed.\n\nWhile Dybantsa, the nation's leading scorer, is more than capable of putting the game in his hands and guiding BYU to a deep run, the Cougars will be on upset watch in the first round.\n\n![Video thumbnail](https://media.sportsplatform.io/bleacher-report/pt/images/2026-03/20260318010819745-null.png)\n\n01:54\n\nHoward Knocks Off UMBC 🎟️\n\n## TOP NEWS\n\n[![NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - First Four - Dayton](https://gsp-image-cdn.wmsports.io/cms/prod/bleacher-report/getty_images/2026-03/2266617255_large_cropped.jpg)\\\\\n\\\\\n**Howard Gets 1st NCAA Tourney Win** \\\\\n\\\\\nBleacher Report23h](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25408041-howard-beats-umbc-first-four-advance-what-experts-and-fans-said-about-march-madness-win) [![Troy vs James Madison](https://gsp-image-cdn.wmsports.io/cms/prod/bleacher-report/getty_images/2026-03/2198900685_large_cropped.jpg)\\\\\n\\\\\n**Top Upset Picks for Every Region 👀** \\\\\n\\\\\nBleacher Report1d](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25407460-best-upset-picks-every-region-2026-mens-ncaa-tournament-bracket) [![Auburn v Tennessee](https://media.sportsplatform.io/bleacher-report/pt/images/2026-03/20260317220231593-null.png)\\\\\n\\\\\n**How to Stop March's No. 1 Seeds** \\\\\n\\\\\nBleacher Report1d](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25408009-watch-bruce-pearl-explain-how-upset-duke-michigan-arizona-florida-march-madness-bracket) [![Alabama Georgia Basketball](https://gsp-image-cdn.wmsports.io/cms/prod/bleacher-report/ap_images/2026-03/0da14e900422490e88138f65643fcd33/Alabama_Georgia_Basketball_90314_4606x2591_(0,95).jpg)\\\\\n\\\\\n**B"
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Provider Metadata

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assistantMessage 12

Mar 19, 2026, 12:30 AM

Tool Call: web_search

{
  "query": "Northern Iowa Panthers NCAA 2026 'Northern Iowa' tournament 12 seed upset St. John's matchup 'Northern Iowa Panthers' 'March 2026'"
}

Provider Metadata

{
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    "itemId": "fc_0f7b0011283fa6e90169bb435b43008196855e103e84f75bff"
  }
}

Tool Result: web_search

{
  "results": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401856494/northern-iowa-st-johns",
      "title": "Northern Iowa vs. St. John's (Mar 20, 2026) Live Score",
      "snippet": "Live coverage of the Northern Iowa Panthers vs. St. John's Red Storm NCAAM game on ESPN, including live score, highlights and updated stats."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://unipanthers.com/news/2026/3/15/mens-basketball-uni-mens-basketball-matches-up-with-st-johns-in-opening-round-of-ncaa-tournament",
      "title": "UNI men's basketball matches up with St. John's in ...",
      "snippet": "UNI men's basketball matches up with St. John's in opening round of NCAA Tournament. 3/15/2026 6:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://nypost.com/2026/03/18/sports/northern-iowas-pace-a-march-madness-key-vs-st-johns/",
      "title": "Northern Iowa's pace a March Madness key vs. St. John's",
      "snippet": "Tempo could go a long way in determining how St. John's opening-round NCAA Tournament game goes Friday against No. 12 seed Northern Iowa."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament-first-round-northern-iowa-panthers-vs-st-johns-red-storm-mar-20-2026-game-boxscore-264063",
      "title": "2025-26 NCAA Tournament - First Round: Mar 20, 2026",
      "snippet": "View the Northern Iowa Panthers vs. St. John's Red Storm basketball game played on March 20, 2026. View box score, stats, odds, highlights, ..."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://fieldlevelmedia.com/latest-stories?storyId=251548",
      "title": "No. 5 St. John's out to prove seeding too low vs. No. 12 ...",
      "snippet": "... tournament, yet secured only a No. 5 seed for a first-round East Region matchup against No. 12 Northern Iowa (23-12) on Friday in San Diego."
    }
  ]
}

Provider Metadata

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assistantMessage 13

Mar 19, 2026, 12:30 AM

Tool Call: submit_bracket

{
  "r1": [
    {
      "gameId": "game-1",
      "winnerId": "duke-blue-devils"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-2",
      "winnerId": "tcu-horned-frogs"
    },
    {
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      "winnerId": "northern-iowa-panthers"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-4",
      "winnerId": "kansas-jayhawks"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-5",
      "winnerId": "south-florida-bulls"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-6",
      "winnerId": "michigan-state-spartans"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-7",
      "winnerId": "ucla-bruins"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-8",
      "winnerId": "uconn-huskies"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-9",
      "winnerId": "arizona-wildcats"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-10",
      "winnerId": "villanova-wildcats"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-11",
      "winnerId": "high-point-panthers"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-12",
      "winnerId": "arkansas-razorbacks"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-13",
      "winnerId": "texas-longhorns"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-14",
      "winnerId": "gonzaga-bulldogs"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-15",
      "winnerId": "miami-hurricanes"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-16",
      "winnerId": "purdue-boilermakers"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-17",
      "winnerId": "florida-gators"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-18",
      "winnerId": "iowa-hawkeyes"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-19",
      "winnerId": "mcneese-cowboys"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-20",
      "winnerId": "nebraska-cornhuskers"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-21",
      "winnerId": "vcu-rams"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-22",
      "winnerId": "illinois-fighting-illini"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-23",
      "winnerId": "saint-marys-gaels"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-24",
      "winnerId": "houston-cougars"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-25",
      "winnerId": "michigan-wolverines"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-26",
      "winnerId": "saint-louis-billikens"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-27",
      "winnerId": "akron-zips"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-28",
      "winnerId": "alabama-crimson-tide"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-29",
      "winnerId": "tennessee-volunteers"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-30",
      "winnerId": "virginia-cavaliers"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-31",
      "winnerId": "santa-clara-broncos"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "game-32",
      "winnerId": "iowa-state-cyclones"
    }
  ],
  "r2": [
    {
      "gameId": "r32-east-1",
      "winnerId": "duke-blue-devils"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-east-2",
      "winnerId": "kansas-jayhawks"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-east-3",
      "winnerId": "michigan-state-spartans"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-east-4",
      "winnerId": "uconn-huskies"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-west-1",
      "winnerId": "arizona-wildcats"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-west-2",
      "winnerId": "arkansas-razorbacks"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-west-3",
      "winnerId": "gonzaga-bulldogs"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-west-4",
      "winnerId": "purdue-boilermakers"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-south-1",
      "winnerId": "florida-gators"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-south-2",
      "winnerId": "nebraska-cornhuskers"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-south-3",
      "winnerId": "illinois-fighting-illini"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-south-4",
      "winnerId": "houston-cougars"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-midwest-1",
      "winnerId": "michigan-wolverines"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-midwest-2",
      "winnerId": "alabama-crimson-tide"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-midwest-3",
      "winnerId": "virginia-cavaliers"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "r32-midwest-4",
      "winnerId": "iowa-state-cyclones"
    }
  ],
  "r3": [
    {
      "gameId": "s16-east-1",
      "winnerId": "duke-blue-devils"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "s16-east-2",
      "winnerId": "uconn-huskies"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "s16-west-1",
      "winnerId": "arizona-wildcats"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "s16-west-2",
      "winnerId": "purdue-boilermakers"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "s16-south-1",
      "winnerId": "florida-gators"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "s16-south-2",
      "winnerId": "houston-cougars"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "s16-midwest-1",
      "winnerId": "michigan-wolverines"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "s16-midwest-2",
      "winnerId": "virginia-cavaliers"
    }
  ],
  "r4": [
    {
      "gameId": "e8-east-1",
      "winnerId": "uconn-huskies"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "e8-west-1",
      "winnerId": "arizona-wildcats"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "e8-south-1",
      "winnerId": "houston-cougars"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "e8-midwest-1",
      "winnerId": "michigan-wolverines"
    }
  ],
  "r5": [
    {
      "gameId": "ff-1",
      "winnerId": "arizona-wildcats"
    },
    {
      "gameId": "ff-2",
      "winnerId": "michigan-wolverines"
    }
  ],
  "r6": [
    {
      "gameId": "champ-1",
      "winnerId": "arizona-wildcats"
    }
  ],
  "tiebreakerScore": 144
}

Provider Metadata

{
  "openai": {
    "itemId": "fc_0f7b0011283fa6e90169bb438eba108196bbf74132d6a868f5"
  }
}

Tool Result: submit_bracket

{
  "submitted": true
}

Provider Metadata

{
  "openai": {
    "itemId": "fc_0f7b0011283fa6e90169bb438eba108196bbf74132d6a868f5"
  }
}

Tokens

Input: 133698
Output: 7008
Reasoning: 4992