The NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament kicks off with a first-round game between the LIU Sharks and the Arizona Wildcats. This game takes place at Viejas Arena in San Diego, CA. Fans can catch the action on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 1:35 PM ET on TNT.
The LIU Sharks enter the tournament as the 16th seed from the Northeast Conference. They finished the regular season with a 24-10 overall record and an 18-3 conference record. In their recent games, the Sharks secured wins against Mercyhurst, Wagner, and Chicago State.
The Arizona Wildcats hold the 1st seed in the West Region and are ranked #2 in the AP poll. They come from the Big 12 Conference with a 32-2 overall record and a 19-2 conference record. The Wildcats recently won games against Houston, Iowa State, and UCF.
Arizona Preview
The Arizona Wildcats are ranked #2 in the AP poll. They play in the Big 12 Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they had a strong run. They won against Akron and Oregon but lost to Duke in the Sweet 16.
During the 2026 regular season, the Wildcats had an impressive record of 32-2. In conference play, they went 19-2. Their recent games show a winning streak. They beat Houston, Iowa State, and UCF at home.
In the game against Houston, Koa Peat and Brayden Burries each scored 21 points. Against Iowa State, Anthony Dell’Orso led with 26 points. Tobe Awaka had a standout performance against UCF with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The Wildcats’ offense is strong, averaging 86.1 points per game. They rank 11th in field goal percentage at 50.2%. On defense, they average 7.8 steals and 4.2 blocks per game. Their rebounding is also solid, with 42.5 rebounds per game.
LIU Preview
The LIU Sharks play in the Northeast Conference. In the 2026 regular season, they had an overall record of 24 wins and 10 losses. Their conference record was 18 wins and 3 losses.
In recent games, the Sharks had a strong performance. They won against the Mercyhurst Lakers with a score of 79-70. Greg Gordon and Malachi Davis both scored 24 points in this game. Jamal Fuller also contributed with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
The Sharks also won against the Wagner Seahawks, 64-56. In this game, Jamal Fuller scored 17 points and had 9 rebounds. Greg Gordon added 19 points, while Shadrak Lasu had 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Against the Chicago State Cougars, the Sharks won 79-75. Mason Porter-Brown scored 21 points and had 5 rebounds. Jomo Goings and Jamal Fuller also played well, scoring 14 and 15 points, respectively.
Statistical Breakdown for Arizona vs LIU
The Arizona Wildcats have a strong offense, scoring 86.1 points per game. They also have a high field goal percentage. The LIU Sharks score 74.1 points per game, which is lower. Arizona’s rebounding and assists are also better than LIU’s. On defense, both teams average the same number of steals, but Arizona has fewer blocks.
- Arizona Wildcats Points Per Game: 86.1 (17th)
- Arizona Wildcats Field Goal Percentage: 50.2% (11th)
- Arizona Wildcats Rebounds Per Game: 42.5 (10th)
- Arizona Wildcats Assists Per Game: 16.9 (38th)
- LIU Sharks Points Per Game: 74.1 (263rd)
- LIU Sharks Field Goal Percentage: 48.1% (39th)
- LIU Sharks Rebounds Per Game: 35.0 (243rd)
- Steals Per Game: Both teams 7.8
- Arizona Wildcats Blocks Per Game: 4.2
- LIU Sharks Blocks Per Game: 5.4
Betting Insights
The game between the LIU Sharks and the Arizona Wildcats offers some interesting betting angles. The Sharks have been strong against the spread, while the Wildcats have shown a tendency to hit the over. Here are the top trends to consider for this matchup:
- LIU Sharks are 19-12-2 ATS in all games (57.6%).
- Arizona Wildcats are 4-1 on the over in their last 5 games (80.0%).
- LIU Sharks are 10-6 ATS as favorites (62.5%).
- Arizona Wildcats have a 66.7% over rate in their last 3 games.
- LIU Sharks are 9-6 ATS as underdogs (60.0%).
Free Betting Prediction for Arizona vs LIU
The Arizona Wildcats are expected to dominate this game. Their offense is strong, scoring 86.1 points per game. They also have a high field goal percentage. The Wildcats’ recent winning streak shows they are in good form. Their defense is solid, with good rebounding and blocking stats.
The LIU Sharks have played well recently, but they face a tough challenge. Their scoring is lower than Arizona’s, and their rebounding is not as strong. The Sharks have been good against the spread, but Arizona’s offense might be too much for them to handle.
Considering the point spread of -31.5 for Arizona, the Wildcats are likely to win by a large margin. The over/under is set at 150.5, which Arizona has hit in recent games. The Wildcats’ offensive power and home advantage make them the favorite to cover the spread.
- Our Free Prediction: Arizona -31.5
