Men's Basketball to Open SSC Tournament at Barry

ORLANDO, Fla. - [Bracket] The opening round of the 48th Sunshine State Conference Men's Basketball Championship will tip off on Tuesday, March 3rd. Member institutions will host all tournament games on campus sites and broadcast them on the SSC Digital Network.

The University of Tampa has received the No. 5 seed and will travel to Miami Shores, Fla., for a Tuesday evening matchup with Barry University at 7 p.m.

Nova Southeastern University was crowned the 2026 SSC regular season champions following a 19-1 record against conference opponents on the SSC's 50th anniversary of basketball competition. This is the Sharks' fifth regular-season title in a row and seventh overall. Nova Southeastern has also won the last four SSC Men's Basketball Tournaments, and is on the hunt for its fifth. 

Palm Beach Atlantic University (No. 2), Florida Southern College (No. 3), and Barry University (No. 4) will also host their respective quarterfinal games. Other qualifying teams include: No. 5 University of Tampa, No. 6 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, No. 7 Lynn University, and No. 8 Rollins College.

Following the quarterfinal round, the tournament semifinals will take place on Thursday, March 5th, and the Championship Final will be played on Sunday, March 8th. The SSC tournament champion will receive automatic qualification to the 2026 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship. 

Regional competition will take place at a non-predetermined site beginning March 13th. Elite Eight play will take place from Wednesday, March 25th to Friday, March 27th at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. The National Championship game will be on Sunday, April 5 in a location that has yet to be determined. The NCAA will announce championship selections and seeding on Sunday, March 8th.