Idaho men draw Big 12 juggernaut. Women face SEC powerhouse in NCAA Tournament
The University of Idaho men’s basketball team returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1990, and the Vandals will have to face a powerhouse in the first round.
Idaho drew a No. 15 seed and will take on South Region No. 2 Houston (28-6) on Thursday at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. Mountain time on truTV.
Houston was ranked No. 5 in the final Associated Press poll and lost to West Region No. 1 Arizona in the Big 12 Tournament championship, 79-74.
The Cougars rank second nationally in scoring defense, at 62.4 points per game, and lost in last year’s NCAA Tournament championship game to Florida.
It will be the second meeting in program history between the Vandals and Cougars.
Idaho qualified for the Big Dance with a 77-66 win over Montana in the Big Sky Tournament championship game March 11 at Idaho Central Arena in downtown Boise.
Idaho entered the Big Sky Tournament as the No. 7 seed and had to win four games in five days, defeating No. 8 Sacramento State in the first round, No. 2 Montana State in the second round, No. 3 Eastern Washington in the semifinals and finally the defending tournament champion and fourth-seeded Griz in the title match.
The Vandals (21-15) are in the midst of just their third 20-win season since 1993 and their conference tournament title is just the fifth in program history.
Idaho features five Gem State players on its roster: senior forward Brody Rowbury (Meridian High), redshirt junior guard Jack Payne (Owyhee High), freshman forward Jackson Rasmussen (Owyhee High), redshirt sophomore guard Kolton Mitchell (Lake City High) and redshirt junior guard Titus Yearout (Lapwai High).
Idaho was a 13-seed in its last tournament appearance in 1990, losing to Louisville 78-59 in Salt Lake City. The Vandals have one Sweet 16 showing in program history, beating No. 6 Iowa in the Round of 32 in 1982.
IDAHO WOMEN DRAW 2025 SWEET 16 QUALIFIER
The University of Idaho women’s basketball team is headed to Norman, Oklahoma, for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Vandals were tabbed a No. 13 seed and play host and No. 4-seeded Oklahoma on Friday at Lloyd Noble Center. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. Mountain time on ESPN.
The Sooners (24-7) were ranked 10th in the final Associated Press poll, and all seven of their losses have come against ranked teams.
Oklahoma is led by All-SEC selections Raegan Beers and Aaliyah Chavez. Chavez was named ESPN’s National Freshman of the Year, while Beers is a finalist for the Wooden Award, which is given annually to the nation’s best player.
The Sooners boast the third-best scoring offense in the nation, at 86.7 points per game, which is on pace to break a school record.
Oklahoma will be making its 26th tournament appearance, including 24 since 2000. The Sooners have advanced to three Final Fours (2002, 2009, 2010) and 11 Sweet 16s, most recently last season.
Idaho (29-5) qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 with a 60-57 win over Montana State in the Big Sky Tournament championship game on March 11 at Idaho Central Arena in downtown Boise.
The Vandals enter the Big Dance on an 18-game winning streak and have won a program-record 29 games this season. Their No. 13 seed is their best in the tournament’s modern era. In three previous trips in 2013, 2014 and 2016, Idaho has been either a No. 14 or No. 16 seed.
Idaho was a No. 5 seed in 1985, when the tournament featured 32 teams.
This story was originally published March 15, 2026 at 5:04 PM.
