2026 March Madness bracket East Region breakdown, prediction

Rick Pitino is surely none-too-happy with a wild draw in the east “region of death.”
Robert Sabo for NY Post

Bill Self and No. 4 Kansas, Rick Pitino and No. 5 St. John’s, Dan Hurley and No. 2 Connecticut, Tom Izzo and No. 3 Michigan State. Duke and coach Jon Scheyer have to be perplexed by this draw.

The Blue Devils are the No. 1 overall seed and may have the toughest draw of any of the top seeds.

Even a second-round meeting with the No. 8 Ohio State/No. 9 TCU winner won’t be easy.

This is the region of death, with Hall of Fame coaches and elite players, led by Darryn Peterson of Kansas, the potential No. 1 pick in June’s NBA draft.