The NCAA Tournament selection committee certainly didn't make life easy for Siena and their head coach, Gerry McNamara. Drawing the tournament's overall No. 1 seed, Duke, in the round of 64 is a tall order for the Saints.
Siena, boasting a 23-11 record, makes its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010. As the No. 16 seed in the East Region, they're set to face the formidable Duke Blue Devils, who have been nearly unstoppable with a 32-2 record. Duke's dominance in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has earned them not only the top seed in the East but also the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament.
Gerry McNamara, in his second stint at the helm for Siena, orchestrated a thrilling victory over top-seeded Merrimack in the MAAC Tournament championship, clinching the Saints' spot in March Madness. This achievement has sparked conversations about McNamara's potential as a candidate for higher-profile coaching positions, including the opening at Syracuse, where he once played under legendary coach Jim Boeheim.
The ACC is making a strong showing in this year's tournament. After only sending four teams to the Big Dance in 2025, the conference has bounced back with eight teams in the 2026 bracket:
- Duke, No. 1 seed in East Region
- Virginia, No. 3 seed in Midwest Region
- Louisville, No. 6 seed in East Region
- North Carolina, No. 6 seed in South Region
- Miami, No. 7 seed in Midwest Region
- Clemson, No. 8 seed in South Region
- N.C. State, No. 11 seed in West Region (First Four)
- SMU, No. 11 seed in Midwest Region (First Four)
Syracuse's schedule this past season featured several teams that have punched their tickets to the tournament:
- Iowa State, No. 2 seed in Midwest Region
- Houston, No. 2 seed in South Region
- Kansas, No. 4 seed in East Region
- Tennessee, No. 6 seed in Midwest Region
- Hofstra, No. 13 seed in Midwest Region
The stage is set for an exciting tournament, with plenty of storylines to follow and upsets to anticipate. Keep an eye on Siena as they take on the challenge of facing the mighty Blue Devils.