Sports
Washington and Chicago host Friday Night’s March Madness
The NCAA Tournament rolls into a massive Friday night slate as Washington, D.C., and Chicago host four Sweet 16 matchups that will finalize half of the Elite Eight. With bluebloods, rising programs, elite guards, and physical defenses all sharing the stage, tonight’s games promise the drama and intensity that have defined March 2026. Fans can watch across CBS, TBS, and truTV, with full streaming available on Paramount+ and HBO Max.
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East Region
Capital One Arena | Washington, D.C.
Duke vs. St. John’s
7:10 p.m. ET | CBS | Streaming on Paramount Plus
Duke faces St. John’s in the Sweet 16 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on March 27, 2026, at 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS. No. 1 seed Duke, led by coach Jon Scheyer, advances with elite defense (top-ranked adjusted efficiency) and stars like Cameron Boozer, who posted 19 points and 11 rebounds in the second round. Patrick Ngongba II returns from injury, adding frontcourt depth alongside Maliq Brown, Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, and DMV natives like Darren Harris.
No. 5 seed St. John’s, coached by Rick Pitino, stunned Kansas to reach this point, relying on hot 3-point shooting (double-digit makes in tournament games). Zuby Ejiofor anchors with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and blocks per game on 54% shooting, while Dillon Mitchell (8.2 points, 7 rebounds, elite defense) and Bryce Hopkins provide versatility. Duke must limit Ejiofor inside and St. John’s rebounds/free throws to advance.
UConn vs. Michigan State
UConn faces Michigan State in the Sweet 16 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on March 27, 2026, at approximately 9:40 p.m. ET on CBS. No. 2 seed UConn, coached by Dan Hurley, advanced past UCLA with dominant paint play from Donovan Clingan (averaging 16 points, 12 rebounds since March 22) and Tristen Newton orchestrating efficient offense (team shooting 52% in tournament games). Alex Karaban’s spacing and Solomon Ball’s bench energy have fueled Hurley’s physical, deep rotation through the second round.
No. 3 seed Michigan State, led by Tom Izzo’s March pedigree, survived tight games with Tyson Walker’s clutch shooting (18 points vs. opponent March 23) and A.J. Hoggard’s tough guard play. Izzo’s trademark rebounding edge (plus-8 per game lately) and half-court defense challenge UConn’s size, pitting Spartans’ grit against the Huskies’ balance in a potential classic
9:45 p.m. ET | CBS | Streaming on Paramount Plus
Midwest Region
United Center | Chicago, Ill.
Michigan vs. Alabama
7:30 p.m. ET | TBS/truTV | Streaming on Max
Michigan faces Alabama in the Sweet 16 at the United Center in Chicago on March 27, 2026, slotted after the Duke-St. John’s. No. 6 seed Michigan, coached by Dusty May, rides Dug McDaniel’s hot hand (20+ points in both tournament wins since March 22) and Tresean’s frontcourt muscle for gritty wins. Will Tschetter’s rebounding and Michigan’s switchable defense have neutralized faster foes through the second round.
No. 4 seed Alabama, led by Nate Oats’ tempo attack, counters with Mark Sears’ elite guard play (22 points per game lately) and Grant Nelson’s versatile scoring inside-out. Oats’ zone looks to disrupt Michigan’s flow while Alabama’s transition game (top-15 nationally) tests the Wolverines’ conditioning, setting up a pace vs. physicality battle in this regional semifi
Iowa State vs. Tennessee
10:05 p.m. ET | TBS/truTV | Streaming on Max
Iowa State faces Tennessee in the Sweet 16 at the United Center in Chicago on March 27, 2026, at 10:10 p.m. ET on TBS. No. 2 seed Iowa State, coached by T.J. Otzelberger, advanced with stifling defense (holding opponents under 60 points since March 22) led by Curtis Jones’ perimeter pressure and Milan Momcilovic’s timely threes. Joshua Jefferson’s potential return adds frontcourt versatility alongside Keshad Johnson’s athleticism, testing Tennessee’s slower pace through the second round.
No. 6 seed Tennessee, under Rick Barnes’ steady hand, grinded past Virginia with Zak Rudolph’s rebounding (12 boards per game lately) and Jordan Gainey’s scoring punch from the wing. Barnes’ physical defense and board dominance (top-10 nationally) challenge Iowa State’s cuts, pitting the Volunteers’ grit against the Cyclones’ ball pressure in a defensive slugfest.
With two regions on the line and eight teams fighting to keep their seasons alive, Friday night’s Sweet 16 slate delivers a perfect blend of star power, coaching pedigree and stylistic contrast. By the end of the night, the East and Midwest finals will be set, and the road to the Final Four will narrow once again. Expect a night filled with drama, momentum swings and the kind of unforgettable moments that define March.