The 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is back in action on Thursday evening.
Four Sweet 16 games will take place on Thursday night, followed by four more on Friday evening. There are some loaded matchups, including Houston vs. Illinois, Duke vs. St. John's, UConn vs. Michigan State, Tennessee vs. Iowa State, Nebraska vs. Iowa and more.
But NCAA Tournament fans have one problem: the tipoff times.
There will be some late tipoff times in the Sweet 16 games on Thursday and Friday evening. The late Thursday tipoff times are particularly annoying, considering that most of us have to go to school or head to work on Friday.
The tipoff times on Thursday and Friday night:
7:10 p.m. E.T., 7:30 p.m. E.T., 9:45 p.m. E.T., 10:10 p.m. E.T.
CBS Sports and TNT Sports Announce Tip Times and Commentator Teams for Regional Semifinals on Thursday, March 26, and Friday, March 27 pic.twitter.com/UqN8oceaNP
— March Madness Men’s Basketball TV (@MM_MBB_TV) March 23, 2026
NCAA fans annoyed by the tipoff times tonight
College basketball fans continue to be annoyed with the tipoff times on Thursday and Friday evening.
"These tip times are insane. Overlapping games is great if you start them earlier," one fan complained.
"Why is Illinois vs Houston at 10 eastern? Good lord," one fan added.
"How on earth do the they not seaerate Illinois-Houston and Arizona-Arkansas. Clearly the two best games of the night," one fan added.
"Just so late," one fan added.
"Should be 6:50 7:15 9:25 9:50," one fan added.
It's going to be a late one for college hoops fans on Thursday, that's for sure. Best of luck watching, everyone.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Mar 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.