2026 Patriot League Men’s Tournament: Schedule, Bracket, Recent History, TV/Streaming Info
admin_news
2026 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics
Format
Traditional bracket
Site
All games take place in the home arena of the higher seed.
Schedule
Downloadable PDF Bracket
ESPN+ ($) will stream all games before the semifinals.
First Round (Tues. 3/3)
Gm. 1: (9) Army West Point (11-21, 5-13) 55, (8) Bucknell 65
Gm. 2:(10) Holy Cross 82, (7) Lafayette (11-21, 8-10) 77
Quarterfinals (Thurs. 3/5)
Gm. 3: (8) Bucknell (10-22, 6-12) at (1) Navy (25-6, 17-1), 7
The Midshipmen swept: 76-55 (home) on 1/7 and 76-60 (away) on 2/9.
Gm. 4: (5) American (16-15, 9-9) at (4) Boston U. (15-16, 10-8), 7
Road split: Eagles 64-62 on 1/3 and Terriers 68-65 on 2/28.
Gm. 5: (6) Loyola Maryland (12-19, 8-10) at (3) Colgate (17-14, 11-7), 7
The Raiders swept: 86-80 (away) on 1/14 and 101-98 (OT) (home) on 2/21.
Gm. 6: (10) Holy Cross (11-21, 5-13) at (2) Lehigh (15-16, 11-7), 7
Home split: Mountain Hawks 66-58 on 1/7 and Crusaders 76-67 on 2/7.
Semifinals (Sun. 3/8)
CBSSN will air both games.
Gm. 7: Gm. 3 winner vs. Gm 4 winner, 2
Gm. 8: Gm. 5 winner vs. Gm. 6 winner, 4
Championship (Wed. 3/11)
Gm. 9: Semifinal winners, 7 (CBSSN)
Mayhem Potential
Data originally posted by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitterin 2020 with my own additions for the seasons beyond.
As you would expect for a conference tournament played on the higher seeds’ home floors, the top two seeds have dominated, winning 12 of the 15 titles available since the NCAA field expanded to 68. Curiously, the No. 3 seed has only won once—and that 2019-20 Boston University squad was unable to play in the canceled Big Dance.
- 1 seed (8): 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024
- 2 seed (4): 2012, 2014, 2021, 2025
- 3 seed (1): 2020
- 4 seed (1): 2015
- 9 seed (1): 2016
NCAA Seeding Record In The 68-Team Era
Years with an NCAA win are in bold.
- 11 seed (1): 2013
- 13 seed (1); 2017
- 14 seed (5): 2011, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024
- 15 seed (4): 2012, 2014, 2019, 2023
- 16 seed (3): 2015, 2016 (First Four), 2025 (First Four)
Bucknell has earned the Patriot League’s two highest seeds since 2011. Had there been a 2020 NCAA Tournament, Boston University would have likely been slotted on line 16.
No. 127 Navy is a full 101 spots higher in the NET than third-seeded Colgate, the second-highest ranked team. With a tournament title, there’s an excellent shot the Midshipmen end up with a 14 seed. Anyone else is liable to end up on the 16 line, with a good chance of being sent to Dayton for the second season in a row.
Last NCAA Tournament Appearances
American: 2025 (16 seed, First Four)
Colgate: 2024 (14 seed, 1st Round)
Bucknell: 2018 (14 seed, 1st Round)
Holy Cross: 2016 (16 seed, 1st Round)
Lafayette: 2015 (16 seed, 1st Round)
Loyola (Md.): 2012 (15 seed, Round of 64, MAAC member)
Lehigh: 2012 (15 seed, Round of 32)
Boston U: 2011 (16 seed, Round of 64, America East member)—2020 Patriot League Tournament Champion
Navy: 1998 (16 seed, 1st Round)
Army West Point has never qualified for the NCAA Tournament and is one of the three remaining original Division I schools that has never done so.
