Sacramento may not have time to fill out a bracket. But these games are worth watching on their end for NBA Draft reasons.
There was a time Sacramento Kings players sat through Selection Sunday to help comprise March Madness.
Now the 2026 version of the 68-team field will rope the Kings in.
General manager Scott Perry, the entire front office and head coach Doug Christie can pull off double duties of working on the Kings and watching the action starting on Thursday after the "first four."
That's because a future Kings player will be taking the court.
It's time to dive into which matchups Sacramento and its fans can dial in on for the tournament including tipoff time and location.
BYU versus Texas/North Carolina State winner
AJ Dybantsa remains the projected top pick ahead of June. He's become everything pundits and fans envisioned when he arrived to Provo, Uta., as a prized five-star.
Dybantsa walks into his first NCAA Tournament as the nation's leading scorer as a true freshman.
He and the Cougars must await the victor between the Longhorns and Wolfpack as two "first four" teams.
Dybantsa and BYU will face the Southeastern Conference foe or the representative from the Atlantic Coast Conference on Thursday at 4:25 p.m. PT inside Portland's Moda Center. The contest takes place in the West Regional.
Houston versus Idaho in South Regional
There are analysts and fans now envisioning another freshman landing with the Kings: Houston's Kingston Flemings.
Sactown 1140 AM radio personality Matt George is open to Flemings wearing the Kings uniform, saying he'd be "just fine" with Sacramento landing him if it's not Dybantsa.
Flemings doesn't have the scoring average Dybantsa possesses. But he plays for a higher seeded team envisioning a return to the national title game under legendary head coach Kelvin Sampson.
The point guard dropped 21 points recently in front of another high-profile pick we'll soon mention. But Flemings and Houston gets Idaho on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. PT inside Oklahoma City's Paycom Center.
Kansas against Cal Baptist in East Regional
Darryn Peterson watched Flemings go off in their Big 12 Tournament game.
Peterson still remains a highly coveted draft prospect. This despite the criticism involving not finishing games due to injuries or cramps.
But his Jayhawks land in one of the more loaded regionals that features top-seeded Duke. The Jayhawks will start against first-time tournament qualifier Cal Baptist in a Friday contest inside San Diego's Viejas Arena at 6:45 p.m. PT.
Duke lands top seed out East
The Blue Devils come with Cameron Boozer as their rising top pick candidate come June.
Especially if the freshman declares and becomes a second-generation NBA player.
Siena is the opening round foe for Thursday at 11:50 a.m. PT in one of the early matchups for the tourney.
Boozer sparked conversations for top pick status after dominating Michigan before the ACC tournament.
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