Don't cry for Cinderella. Nebraska, John Calipari, Duke can save March Madness

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Don't cry for Cinderella. Nebraska, John Calipari, Duke can save March Madness

Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Thu, Mar 26, 2026 ·

4 min read

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My preferred March Madness goes like this: Cinderellas wreak havoc in the first round, before the big dogs take over in the Sweet 16 and beyond.

Give me that opening round dopamine hit of a classic 12 vs. 5 upset, a 13 slaying a 4-seed, a 14 toppling a 3. Thursday and Friday shrine brightest when filled with buzzer-beaters that go in favor of teams like Furman, Saint Peter's, Princeton and Oakland.

Bold predictions: A No. 1 seed is going down in the Sweet 16

Then, give me chalk, Hall of Fame coaches , big-branded muscle and superstars trading buckets.

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)

Kansas Jayhawks cheerleaders perform before a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the St. John's Red Storm at Viejas Arena on March 22, 2026 in San Diego, Calif.
(Denis Poroy, Imagn Images)

Nebraska's Berke Buyuktuncel celebrates with fans following a second-round game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament between Nebraska Cornhuskers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on March 21, 2026.

(SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN via USA TODAY NETWORK)

Arkansas Razorbacks cheerleaders in the second half against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.

(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)

VCU Rams fans react after a 3-pointer by Terrence Hill Jr. #6 of the VCU Rams in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)

Howard Bison cheerleaders perform during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Michigan Wolverines at Keybank Center on Mar 19, 2026 in Buffalo, NY.
(Mark Konezny, Imagn Images)

BYU Cougars cheerleader in the second half against the Texas Longhorns during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on Mar 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

Former North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams is seen in the crowd against the VCU Rams in the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Mar 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)

Texas A&M Aggies cheerleaders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.
(William Purnell, Imagn Images)

Texas Longhorns band in the first half against the BYU Cougars during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on Mar 19, 2026 in Portland.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

St. John's Red Storm mascot Johnny Thunder mixes with players prior to taking the court during practice day ahead of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 19, 2026 in San Diego, California.
(Sean M. Haffey, Getty Images)

A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)

The High Point Panthers fans cheer during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)

The High Point Panthers cheerleaders react during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
(Troy Wayrynen, Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images)

The North Dakota State Bison mascot and cheerleaders pose for a photo before the game against the Michigan State Spartans during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center on March 19, 2026 in Buffalo, NY
(Gregory Fisher, Imagn Images)

Nebraska Cornhuskers fans cheer after defeating the Troy Trojans during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.
(Alonzo Adams, Imagn Images)

The Wisconsin Badgers mascot performs during a time out during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

A view of Buddy the Street Dog as Queens University of Charlotte Royals guard Yoav Berman talks to the media during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on March 19, 2026.
(Jeff Le, Imagn Images)

The High Point Panthers band performs prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

High Point Panthers fans cheer prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

The Wisconsin Badgers cheerleaders preform during the first half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

The South Florida Bulls mascot performs during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center on March 19, 2026 in Buffalo, NY.
(Mark Konezny, Imagn Images)

The Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleaders perform in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.
(Jim Dedmon, Imagn Images)

The Troy Trojans mascot dances on the floor during the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.
(William Purnell, William Purnell-Imagn Images)

The UCF Knights band performs during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 19, 2026 in Philadelphia.
(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)

Nebraska Cornhuskers cheerleaders perform during the second half against the Troy Trojans during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.
(William Purnell, Imagn Images)

A Wisconsin Badgers cheerleader performs during the first half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
(Craig Strobeck, Imagn Images)

The Ohio State Buckeyes cheerleaders perform in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)

Akron Zips fans in the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.
(Matt Pendleton, Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)

Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders in the first half against the Akron Zips during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Santa Clara Broncos fans react to game play against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 20, 2026 in St. Louis, MO.
(Jeff Le, Jeff Le-Imagn Images)

Akron Zips cheerleaders and mascot in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.
(Matt Pendleton, Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)

Wright State Raiders fans celebrate after a Wright State Raiders guard TJ Burch (22) scores during the second half against the Virginia Cavaliers during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 20, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA.
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

Hofstra Pride cheerleaders in the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.
(Matt Pendleton, Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)

Garth Noble of the Louisville pep band is amped at the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness basketball tournament at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky. March 21, 2026.
(Matt Stone/Courier Journal)

Michigan head coach Dusty May high-fives players after 95-72 win over Saint Louis at the NCAA Tournament Second Round at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
(Junfu Han, USA TODAY NETWORK)

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish band and spirit squad cheer during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament against the Fairfield Stags at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

In the ideal March Madness, enough top seeds survive and eliminate Cinderella around the second round or so, so that many of the best teams and the top players are still playing and entertaining in the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and Final Four.

If Cinderella keeps winning, we get what happened in 2023. That year, underdogs shined in Round 1, then kept advancing until the Final Four included No. 9 Florida Atlantic and two 5-seeds. The tournament had been great up to that point, before UConn tore through the Final Four in a dominant but boring finish.

I prefer the games to keep getting better through the end of the tournament — like we had last season, when all three games at the Final Four site were 40-minute thrillers, on the heels of a compelling Sweet 16 and decent Elite Eight.

Well, anyway, Cinderella didn't show up this season. Not an ideal first round, or a particularly entertaining one. The slipper got smashed by bigfoots from the Big Ten and the SEC.

Who's No. 1?: Ranking the 16 college basketball coaches in the Sweet 16

Miami (Ohio) provided some flare in the First Four with a blend of 3s and Speedos , and VCU and High Point delivered a dash of upset magic on the first day of Round 1. Mostly, though, major upsets became an endangered species. If you picked a lot of chalk, you're doing well in your office bracket pool.

Cinderella's glory days appear to be in the rearview mirror. Perhaps she'll never again shine with the same brightness as she did in 2023 and '24.

Blame NIL, or revenue-sharing, or transfer free agency or Power conference expansion, or all of the above for creating difficult times for low- and mid-majors in March.

Now, ready for the bright side? With so many excellent teams still standing in the Sweet 16, this tournament is positioned to go out with a grand finale. Better have two TVs side by side in your living room the next two nights, because the Sweet 16 is straight banger matchups.

Start with the coaches. It's a who's who list of Hall of Famers, national champions, renaissance men, in-their-prime virtuosos, and up-and-coming tacticians.

This week I ranked the Sweet 16 coaches , 1 through 16. John Calipari checked in at No. 8. He's coached in six Final Fours. Matt Painter, a Purdue legend , ranked No. 9. That should tell you something about the depth of coaching talent in this Sweet 16.

Then, you've got the playmakers on the court. In this year of the freshman, Cameron Boozer, Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings, Brayden Burries and Keaton Wagler aren't ready for their first (and last) tournament experience to end.

Ah, but the youngbloods can't have all the fun.

Alex Karaban, in his 146th career start, all for UConn (who says loyalty is dead?), dropped a career-high 27 points on UCLA. If only UConn could get four more years out of Karaban, he'd be going for 50-a-game in the 2030 tournament. A cool 27 will have to do for now.

Purdue's senior point guard Braden Smith is still scoring and dishing, too. He had 26 points and eight assists in Round 1.

I know what you're thinking. That all sounds great, but you miss Cinderella. OK, fair. Although Texas sits on the 11-seed line, let's not pretend Mister Money Bags himself, gold-plated Bevo from Austin, is a Cinderella story.

If we set aside seeds, why can't Nebraska by this tournament's Cinderella? This time a week ago, Nebraska had exactly zero NCAA Tournament wins ever. Now, the Huskers have two, and they're literally shooting off fireworks in Lincoln.

Keep your powder dry, because the best of this tournament is still to come.

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nebraska, John Calipari can save March Madness after Cinderella flops

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Don't cry for Cinderella. Nebraska, John Calipari, Duke can save March Madness

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