If you’re a sports fan, it’s pretty safe to say the least productive week of work of the year has officially arrived: March Madness.
With Selection Sunday now in the rearview mirror and all 68 teams booked, it’s time to pick your winners…and you might not have to look too far from home right here in NYC.
While the city is usually a “pro-sports” town, the college kids are taking over the conversation this week.
Three NYC-area teams have officially danced their way into the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and we have the full breakdown on who they are, when they play, and the best spots in the city to catch the madness.
🏀 The NYC trio: who to root for
For the first time in years, the “Big Three” of local college hoops are all hitting the national stage at once. Here’s the scouting report:
1. St. John’s Red Storm (No. 5 Seed)
- Matchup: No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa
- When: Friday, March 20 @ 7:10 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: CBS
The Johnnies are officially back!
Under Coach Rick Pitino, St. John’s secured an automatic bid after winning back-to-back Big East titles at Madison Square Garden.
Led by Big East Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor, the Red Storm are looking like a legitimate “Sweet 16” threat to say the least.
2. Hofstra Pride (No. 13 Seed)
Long Island is well-represented this year!
Hofstra is making its first appearance since 2001 (back when Jay Wright was at the helm). Current coach and alum Speedy Claxton has this squad playing fast and fearless. Look for them on upset watch.
- Matchup: No. 13 Hofstra vs. No. 4 Alabama
- When: Friday, March 20 @ 3:15 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: truTV
3. LIU Sharks (No. 16 Seed)
The Brooklyn-based Sharks pulled off a stunner to win the NEC title.
They face a “David vs. Goliath” battle against a top-seeded Arizona squad, but as any New Yorker knows, you can never count out a shark in the water.
- Matchup: No. 16 LIU vs. No. 1 Arizona
- When: Friday, March 20 @ 1:35 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: TNT
📱 How to stream the games
If you aren’t “playing hooky” at a bar, you’ll need to know where to find the games on your screens. The 2026 tournament is split across four networks: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV.
- For CBS Games (St. John’s): You can stream via Paramount+ or the CBS Sports app.
- For TNT/truTV Games (LIU & Hofstra): These are available via Max (formerly HBO Max) with the B/R Sports Add-on, or through cable-replacement services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Sling TV.
- The All-In-One: Download the NCAA March Madness Live app to track every game in one place (though you’ll need a TV provider login for most).