UConn Faces Furman in First Round of NCAA Tournament

The No. 2 seed Connecticut Huskies will begin their quest for a third national championship in four years against the No. 15 seed Furman Paladins in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The game is scheduled for March 20 at 10 p.m. ET at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. UConn, with a record of 29-5, is heavily favored, with a spread of 20.5 points against Furman, which enters the tournament with a record of 22-12 after winning the Southern Conference (SoCon) title.

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UConn's recent performance includes a disappointing loss to St. John's in the Big East Championship, which followed another loss to Marquette in the regular season finale. Despite these setbacks, UConn's head coach Dan Hurley has a strong tournament track record, boasting a 13-3 record in March Madness over the past five seasons. The Huskies have advanced past the Round of 64 in 22 of their last 25 tournament appearances.

NCAA Tournament First Round: No. 2 UConn men’s basketball vs. No. 15 Furman| 10 p.m., TBSCBS SportsSports Illustrated

Furman, on the other hand, is looking to build on its success from the previous year, where it achieved a notable upset over Virginia in the first round. The Paladins have shown resilience, winning five of their last six games leading into the tournament.

Furman vs. UConn First Round Game Preview, Odds & Data

For UConn, senior forward Alex Karaban is a pivotal player, averaging 12.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. He is supported by a balanced offense where all five starters score in double digits, including Tarris Reed Jr. and Silas Demary Jr. Furman's leading scorer, freshman Alex Wilkins, averages 17.7 points per game and is part of a tall lineup that includes 6-foot-11 players Cooper Bowser and Charles Johnston.

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The betting odds reflect UConn's dominance, with the Huskies at -20.5 and an over/under set at 136.5 points. The SportsLine Projection Model has simulated the matchup 10,000 times, predicting a total score of 148 points, favoring the over. UConn's recent trend has seen them hit the under in five of their last seven games, while Furman has leaned towards the over in three of their last four.

CBS SportsFurman vs. UConn First Round Game Preview, Odds & DataSports Illustrated

Dan Hurley expressed confidence in his team's ability to rebound from recent losses, stating, "All the experience that I have... gives me confidence heading into March Madness knowing that I've played on the biggest stage." Furman coach Bob Richey acknowledged the challenge posed by UConn, noting, "We've got a program that we really respect... Coach Hurley is an unbelievable coach."

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The winner of the UConn vs. Furman matchup will advance to face the winner of the game between UCF and UCLA on March 22, aiming for a spot in the Sweet 16.

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• "That's a heck of a region." — Dan Hurley, Head Coach, UConn

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• "I know how unbelievable that experience was for me... it's really special." — Ben Vander Wal, Furman Player

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• "We've got a (nationally ranked) opponent... one that we've admired from afar." — Bob Richey, Head Coach, Furman

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This matchup promises to be an exciting start to the NCAA Tournament, with UConn looking to assert its dominance and Furman aiming for another upset.

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