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Paladins draw No. 15 seed; to play UCONN on Friday
Furman students cheer for the men’s basketball team during a Selection Sunday watch party at Timmons Arena on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.
March Madness could have described Timmons Arena on Sunday evening during the Selection Sunday announcement of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Students and fans filled Furman’s basketball arena to learn what seed they would be and what city they would travel to, and the celebration around the Paladins’ return to the tournament did not disappoint.
The Paladins earned the No. 15 seed after winning the Southern Conference championship last week over East Tennessee State 76-61. They will matchup against No. 2 seed UCONN on Friday in Philadelphia.
This marks the second time in four years Furman has made the field of 68 teams vying to become NCAA champions. In 2023, Marcus Foster ‘23 led the Paladins to an upset win against No. 4-seed Virginia as a No. 13 seed. Only two players from this 2025-2026 team, Ben Vander Wal ’26 and Davis Molnar ’26, were on that team in 2023 as they attempt to make history for Furman’s growing basketball program.
“Getting to play in the NCAA tournament was a dream of mine since I was a kid, so it was very cool to be able to do that [in 2023],” Vander Wal said. “The whole experience was unbelievable, and I am so excited to do it again. Getting to do it in my first year was so amazing and now doing it again in my last is even cooler.”
This year’s tournament also marks the return of March Madness to Greenville as first- and second-round games will be played Thursday through Sunday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Stay tuned to Furman Athletics and Furman University social media channels including Instagram and Facebook for updates on watch parties happening in the Upstate and across the country. You can also find updates on the Furman University News page.