It’s the most wonderful time of the year… the NCAA Tournament!
If you have not been paying much attention to college basketball and are just tuning in now for March Madness, do not worry. Here are some of the first round matchups and storylines that Washington Wizards fans should be locked in on over the next few days.
Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer
Jan 31, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) looks to pass against BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) during the first half at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Jan 31, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) looks to pass against BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) during the first half at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Wizards fans have been following the performances of Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson, BYU freshman wing AJ Dybantsa and Duke freshman forward Cameron Boozer all season in preparation for the upcoming NBA Draft. Peterson, Dybantsa and Boozer are the consensus top three.
Peterson has missed 11 games and played on a reduced workload all season because of cramping issues, but his health appears to be improving just in time for the NCAA Tournament. In Peterson’s most recent games for Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament, he played 28 minutes in their semifinal loss to Houston and 37 minutes in their quarterfinal win over TCU. If Peterson is healthy, Kansas has the potential for a deep run despite being a four seed. Peterson and the Jayhawks will play on Friday at 9:45 p.m. ET against 13 seed California Baptist on CBS. If they win, they will be in line for a marquee second round matchup against four seed St. Johns.
Dybantsa’s BYU team has taken a step back after senior guard Richie Saunders tore his ACL. While BYU may no longer be a true national championship contender, they still have the potential to win some games. In Saunders’ absence, Dybantsa has taken on an even larger role for the Cougars. Most notably, he had 40 points, nine rebounds and six assists and BYU’s Big 12 tournament first round victory over Kansas State. Six seed BYU has a difficult first round game against the winner of the First Four matchup between 11 seeds Texas and NC State on Thursday at 7:25 p.m. ET on TBS, but if they are able to advance, a thrilling second round matchup against three seed Gonzaga could be up next.
Duke is also dealing with injuries. Sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II and junior guard Caleb Foster are both questionable. The one seed Blue Devils should have enough talent around Boozer despite that to easily advance past 16 seed Siena on Thursday at 2:50 p.m. ET on CBS and would still have a favorable matchup regardless of health against the winner of eight seed Ohio State and nine seed TCU. If Duke gets healthy, Boozer should be able to lead Duke on a deep tourney run, and if Ngongba and Foster are 100%, should be one of the favorites to win it all.
A DMV First Four matchup!
UMBC’s Josh Odunowo holds the trophy after beating Vermont, 74-59, in the America East Tournament final at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Catonsville, Maryland. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
UMBC’s Josh Odunowo holds the trophy after beating Vermont, 74-59, in the America East Tournament final at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Catonsville, Maryland. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
It can be debated if UMBC, who play their basketball games at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Cantonsville, Maryland just outside of Baltimore, is truly a part of the DMV. The same can not be said about Howard, one of the four Division I schools alongside Georgetown, George Washington and American within Washington, DC’s city limits.
In a treat for local basketball fans, 16 seeds UMBC and Howard are playing in Dayton, OH on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. ET on TruTV. There can be a bit of a misconception about the First Four, but most within college basketball view it as a great opportunity for low seeds who otherwise would bow out immediately to a one seed (except for 2018 UMBC and 2022 Fairleigh Dickinson of course) to play a winnable game on national television. Most importantly, playing in the First Four brings in “units,” or a percentage of the revenue earned by playing in the game, back to every other team in their conference, something that is especially important for schools in smaller conferences like UMBC in America East and Howard in the MEAC. This article by Sportico’s Lev Akabas goes into more detail about why the First Four is not necessarily a bad thing for low-majors.
The winner of UMBC and Howard will get the opportunity to make the relatively short trip up to Buffalo, NY to play one seed Michigan on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS. Michigan is one of the most intimidating teams in college basketball, with a frontcourt featuring 7’3” junior center Aday Mara, 6’9” senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg and 6’9” sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr. Lendeborg is looking like a sure-fire lottery pick and Mara and Johnson could sneak into the first round. This would be quite an opportunity for a DMV team to emerge as one of the more unlikely Cinderellas in March Madness history.
Can Kingston Flemings improve his draft stock?
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 14: Houston Cougars guard Kingston Flemings (4) brings the ball up court during a Big 12 Tournament championship game between the Houston Cougars and the Arizona Wildcats on March 14, 2026 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Sewell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 14: Houston Cougars guard Kingston Flemings (4) brings the ball up court during a Big 12 Tournament championship game between the Houston Cougars and the Arizona Wildcats on March 14, 2026 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Sewell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
North Carolina freshman forward and likely top-five pick Caleb Wilson is out of the NCAA Tournament with a thumb injury. The only way for him to improve his standing to NBA teams will be at the combine and in team workouts. That is not the case for Houston freshman guard Kingston Flemings, the other player who is considered in the tier below the Peterson-Dybantsa-Boozer top three at the top of the draft.
Houston, a two seed, is one of the favorites to make a deep run to the Final Four and it would not be a surprise to anyone if they made it back to the title game after a heartbreaking loss to Florida there last season. Flemings is their biggest name and has the most promising NBA future, but this is a deep and talented team. The other four members of their starting lineup, freshman forward Chris Cenac Jr., senior guards Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan and junior forward Jojo Tugler could all hear their names called in the draft as well.
If Houston goes on a run and Flemings has a signature moment or two in the process, it will be quite a decision for whichever NBA team is picking fourth in the draft. Houston’s first game is on Thursday at 9:10 p.m. ET against 15 seed Idaho.
What are you looking forward to most in March Madness? Let us know in the comments!