The 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament opening day features unusually early tip-off times, prompting coaches to adjust their preparation routines. Teams must adapt travel, meal schedules, and warm-up plans to accommodate morning start times.
High Point Panthers head coach Flynn Clayman was photographed walking off the team bus before his squad's first-round matchup against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on March 19, 2026. The early schedule affects everything from player sleep patterns to pre-game nutrition strategies across the tournament field.
