The 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament will feature four teams from New York. Long Island, Hofstra, Siena and St. John's will all hear their names called on Selection Sunday to represent the state. The last time New York send four schools to the big dance was in 2000, when they impressively sent five schools to compete. Interestingly enough, this year New York will send two Long Island schools to the tournament for the first time ever.
How Each Team Punched Their Ticket
Long Island University was the first team to clinch a spot in the annual tournament. The Sharks did so by defeating Wagner in the NEC Tournament Semifinals. This was because their opponent in the championship game, Mercyhurst, is ineligible to compete in the NCAA Tournament. The Sharks earned their first spot in March Madness since combining their two campuses' athletic programs (Brooklyn and Post).
Next up was Hofstra. The Pride had an exciting few games of the CAA Tournament in Washington D.C. Freshman Preston Edmead banked home a game winning three-pointer in overtime of the semifinal game against Towson, and the next day Edmead scored 26 points en route to a 75-69 Hofstra victory in the CAA Championship versus Monmouth. Hofstra won the CAA in 2020 but due to the cancellation of the tournament that season the Hempstead-based school will make their first official March Madness appearance since 2001, when they were led by now head coach, Speedy Claxton.
Siena also ended a long drought when they stamped their ticket to the dance for the first time since making it in 2010. Siena, which is located just north of Albany, took down top-seeded Merrimack in the MAAC Championship by a score of 64-54. The Saints are led by sophomore guard, Gavin Doty, who averages just under 18 points per game with seven rebounds.
Lastly but certainly not least, we have St. John's. The Red Storm have been considered a "lock" to make the tournament by many for as long as anyone in the country. Unlike the other three teams, the Johnnies did not need to win their conference's tournament in order to secure a spot in this year's tournament. Nevertheless, the Red Storm got the job done in the Big East Tournament for the second year in a row after dominating UConn in the championship game at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. St. John's will undoubtedly have the chance to make a long run in the NCAA Tournament and avenge their upset loss in last year's tournament behind legendary coach, Rick Pitino.
Looking Forward
Each of the four teams will await to hear their schools called on Sunday evening. Despite the exciting history being made, these schools do not plan on ending their stories at that. March is filled with madness (no pun intended) and the tournament is iconic for small-school upsets, along with unexpected Cinderella runs. The first round will take place on March 19th and 20th, or in the case of Siena and/or Long Island playing in a First Four game, they would play on either the 17th or 18th for the right to play in the first round.