Stunning upset as Alex Condon's Gators fall by one

• ‍More than 20 women's college stars eye 2026 March Madness‍
• Every Australian in NCAAM basketball in 2025-26
• Latest News: Read more about Aussies in NCAA

Australian 2025 NCAA National Champion Alex Condon's Florida Gators title defence is over in typical March Madness fashion, stunned by #9 Iowa 73-72 on Monday, March 23, 2026 (AEDT). Recap Below.

There were five stars in action today - Monday, March 23, 2026 (AEDT).

Second Round: Australians who WON

• Oscar Cluff — Purdue‍
• Anthony Dell'Orso — Arizona
• Jacob Furphy — UConn

Second Round: Australians who LOST

• Alex Condon — Florida‍
• Alex Kovatchev — Florida‍

First Round: Australians who WON

• ‍Anthony Dell’Orso — Arizona‍
• Oscar Cluff — Purdue‍
• Alex Condon — Florida‍
• Alex Kovatchev — Florida‍
• Jacob Furphy — UConn (DNP but team advanced)

First Round: Australians who LOST

• ‍Jayden Stone — Missouri‍
• Charles Johnston — Furman‍
• Austin Rapp — Wisconsin‍
• Harry Rouhliadeff — Hawai‘i‍
• Joshua Dent — Saint Mary’s‍
• Harry Wessels — Saint Mary’s‍
• Rory Hawke — Saint Mary’s

Australians in 2026 March Madness — Men’s Tournament Viewing Guide

Second Round

March 23 —‍ 🇦🇺 #2 Purdue Boilermakers 79 def. #7 Miami Hurricanes 69 (Final)

Purdue pulled away after halftime to book a Sweet 16 berth in San Jose, outscoring Miami 41–29 in the second half behind elite shooting efficiency and perimeter scoring. The Boilermakers shot 53% from the field, 57% from three (8-14), and 95% from the free-throw line, executing cleanly in late-game situations to seal the 10-point win.

It's the seventh time in nine seasons the Boilermakers have advanced to the Sweet 16.

Australian centre Oscar Cluff played 32 minutes and contributed a strong interior presence with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Cluff shot 3-from-4 from the field and 2-of-3 at the line, helping Purdue stabilise defensively during Miami’s early scoring bursts and providing physical rim protection throughout the contest.

Fletcher Loyer led Purdue with 24 points on a perfect 4-from-4 from three and 8-of-8 at the line, while Trey Kaufman-Renn added 19 points and nine rebounds. Braden Smith controlled tempo with 12 points and eight assists as Purdue generated 17 assists on 25 made field goals.

Miami was paced by Shelton Henderson’s 18 points and Malik Reneau’s 16 points, but the Hurricanes struggled to maintain offensive flow late, shooting 26% from three and committing 12 turnovers.

Purdue advances to the Sweet 16, keeping its tournament run alive with balanced scoring, efficient perimeter shooting and disciplined late-game execution.

March 24 —‍ 🇦🇺 #1 Florida Gators 72 lost to #9 Iowa Hawkeyes 73 (Final)

Iowa held off a late Florida push to secure a one-point upset win and advance to the Sweet 16, outscoring the Gators 40–41 in a tight second half after trailing by two at halftime.

Australian forward Alex Condon produced a strong all-round performance in defeat, finishing with 21 points (8-13 FG, 5-9 FT), 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 2 turnovers in 35 minutes. Condon was Florida’s primary offensive engine and facilitator, repeatedly creating scoring chances from the high post and in transition.

Thomas Haugh added 19 points, while Xaivian Lee contributed 17 points as Florida shot an efficient 50% from the field, but struggled at the foul line (20-27 FT) in a game decided by a single possession.

Iowa was led by Tavion Banks (20 points, 6 rebounds) and received key bench scoring from Alvaro Folgueiras (14 points). The Hawkeyes shot 51% overall and limited their turnovers in the closing minutes to close out the upset.

Florida’s tournament run ends in the second round, while Iowa moves through to the regional semifinals.

March 24 —‍ 🇦🇺 Arizona Wildcats 78 def. Utah State Aggies 66 (Final)

Top-seeded Arizona controlled the contest from the opening half and pulled away late to secure a 12-point win, advancing to the Sweet 16 after leading 33–24 at halftime.

Australian guard Anthony Dell’Orso played a bench role for the Wildcats, finishing with 3 points (1-5 FG, 1-4 3PT), 1 rebound and 2 turnovers in 18 minutes. Dell’Orso knocked down a three-pointer but Arizona’s scoring load was carried primarily by the starters.

Jaden Bradley led Arizona with 18 points, while Brayden Burries added 16 points and 9 rebounds. Motiejus Krivas anchored the interior with a 14-rebound effort, helping Arizona dominate the glass 54–26.

Utah State struggled from long range (8-32 3PT, 25%) despite balanced scoring, with MJ Collins Jr. top-scoring with 12 points. The Aggies were unable to generate sustained momentum in the second half as Arizona’s rebounding edge and free-throw volume (27-39 FT) created separation.

Arizona progresses to the regional semifinals, while Utah State’s tournament run ends in the second round.

MArch 24 — #2 UConn Huskies 73 def. #7 UCLA Bruins 57 (Final)‍

East Region — NCAA Tournament Second Round

UConn pulled away in the second half to eliminate UCLA and secure a Sweet 16 berth, holding the Bruins to 39% shooting while winning the rebounding battle 36–24.

Australian freshman Jacob Furphy played 1 minute off the bench, finishing with no stats.

Alex Karaban led the Huskies with 27 points, while Braylon Mullins added 17 points and Tarris Reed Jr. controlled the paint with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

UCLA was led by Xavier Booker (13 points) and Donovan Dent (11 points, 10 assists), but struggled to generate efficient offence late.

UConn advances to the regional semifinals, while UCLA’s tournament run ends in the second round.

First Round

March 21 —‍ 🇦🇺 Arizona Wildcats 92 def. Long Island University Sharks 58 (Final)

Arizona established full control early with a dominant first half and maintained offensive efficiency to secure a comfortable first-round victory in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats shot 53% from the field and controlled the glass 52–31, creating consistent second-chance opportunities and transition scoring.

Australian guard Anthony Dell’Orso played 22 minutes off the bench, finishing with eight points and two assists. The freshman from Melbourne shot 2-from-5 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, adding one rebound and one steal as Arizona rotated its perimeter depth.

Brayden Burries led Arizona with 18 points on 6-from-10 shooting, while Koa Peat added 15 points and seven rebounds. Long Island was paced by Mason Porter-Brown’s 15 points and Greg Gordon’s 12, but shot just 32% overall and struggled to contain Arizona’s interior presence.

March 21 — 🇦🇺 Purdue Boilermakers 104 def. Queens Royals 71 (Final)

Purdue delivered a dominant offensive performance to overwhelm Queens and advance comfortably in the NCAA Tournament first round. The Boilermakers shot 63% from the field and controlled the game across both halves, building a double-digit lead early before extending the margin after halftime.

Australian forward Oscar Cluff produced a strong all-around outing, finishing with nine points, 11 rebounds and five assists in 22 minutes. Cluff shot 3-from-6 from the field and 3-of-4 at the free-throw line, adding four blocks to anchor Purdue’s interior defence and help control the glass.

Braden Smith led Purdue with 26 points and eight assists, while Trey Kaufman-Renn added 25 points and nine rebounds. The Boilermakers finished with a 41–19 rebounding advantage and 24 assists as they generated consistent paint scoring and transition opportunities.

Queens received 10 points and six assists from Reid Celestin and 12 points from Greg Gordon, but struggled to contain Purdue’s size and efficiency, conceding 41 made field goals in the defeat.

March 21 — 🇦🇺 Florida Gators 114 def. Prairie View A&M Panthers 55 (Final)

Florida produced one of the most dominant performances of the opening round, racing to a 60–21 halftime lead and maintaining control throughout to secure a 59-point victory. The Gators shot 64% from the field, won the rebounding battle 54–20, and generated 29 assists in a balanced offensive display.

Australian forward Alex Condon was highly efficient in 25 minutes, finishing with 13 points (5-6 FG, 3-3 FT), three rebounds, five assists, one steal and three blocks. Condon’s activity around the rim and playmaking from the high post helped Florida establish early separation.

Fellow Australian Alex Kovatchev added five points in six minutes, shooting 2-from-4 from the field (1-2 3PT) with two rebounds.

Florida had five starters score in double figures, led by Boogie Fland (16 points) and Thomas Haugh (14 points, seven assists), while Rueben Chinyelu controlled the paint with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Prairie View struggled to generate consistent offence, shooting 27% from the field and committing seven turnovers as Florida’s defensive pressure and size dictated the tempo.

March 21 —  🇦🇺 UConn Huskies 82 def. 🇦🇺 Furman Paladins 71 (Final)

UConn held off a competitive Furman side to advance, using a dominant interior performance and second-half control to secure an 11-point win. The Huskies shot 49% from the field and controlled the glass 44–23, with their size and physicality proving decisive late after Furman stayed within four at halftime.

Australian centre Charles Johnston provided strong production in limited minutes, finishing with 10 points (3-4 FG, 1-1 3PT, 3-3 FT) and six rebounds in 17 minutes, adding a block and helping Furman stay connected early with efficient scoring around the rim and on the perimeter.

Furman received 21 points apiece from Alex Wilkins and Tom House, while UConn was powered by a monster outing from Tarris Reed Jr., who posted 31 points and 27 rebounds, and Alex Karaban’s 22 points. The Huskies’ rebounding advantage and paint scoring ultimately separated the teams despite Furman’s 38% three-point shooting and 77% at the free-throw line.

Australian Jacob Furphy’s didn't play.

March 21 —  Miami Hurricanes 80 def. 🇦🇺 Missouri Tigers 66 (Final)

Miami pulled away in the second half to secure a 14-point win, outscoring Missouri 53–40 after halftime and controlling the boards 46–30. The Hurricanes shot 43% from the field and generated consistent paint production and second-chance opportunities to separate late.

Australian guard Jayden Stone led Missouri with 21 points in 34 minutes, shooting 6-10 FG, 3-7 3PT and 6-6 FT, while adding six rebounds and one assist with no turnovers. He provided scoring efficiency and perimeter spacing as the Tigers stayed within one at halftime before Miami’s depth and rebounding margin took control.

Missouri also received 19 points from Mark Mitchell, while Miami was paced by Malik Reneau’s 24 points and Tre Donaldson’s 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists. The Hurricanes’ advantage on the glass and ability to generate extra possessions proved decisive despite Missouri shooting 36% from three and 89% at the free-throw line.

March 20 — #12 High Point Panthers 83 def. #5 Wisconsin Badgers 82 (Final)‍

NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship — West Region First Round

Twelfth-seed High Point produced a late March Madness upset, edging fifth-seed Wisconsin by one point despite a steady two-way performance from Australian forward Austin Rapp. High Point was 0-57 against power conference teams in school history entering today. They are now 1-57.

Wisconsin led narrowly at halftime but could not contain High Point’s perimeter volume and offensive rebounding pressure across the final 20 minutes. The Panthers knocked down 15 threes and generated 13 offensive rebounds, creating extra possessions that ultimately proved decisive in the one-point finish.

Rapp logged 12 points and four rebounds in 33 minutes, shooting 4-from-9 from the field and 2-from-6 from beyond the arc while converting both free-throw attempts. The Badgers used his floor spacing and defensive positioning to stabilise stretches of half-court play, but High Point’s shot volume and late-game execution denied Wisconsin a Round of 32 berth.

Nick Boyd (27 points) and John Blackwell (22 points, 10 rebounds) led Wisconsin’s scoring push, yet the Panthers’ collective shot-making and rebounding advantage swung momentum late. Wisconsin finished shooting 48% overall and 92% from the line, but High Point attempted nine more field goals and 17 more three-pointers.

🇦🇺 Austin Rapp — Wisconsin Badgers

Sophomore forward Austin Rapp, from Australia, provided a composed March Madness outing in a narrow tournament exit.

• Stats: 12 PTS │ 4 REB │ 0 AST │ 0 STL │ 0 BLK │ 4-9 FG │ 2-6 3PT │ 2-2 FT │ 33 MIN

🇦🇺 Josh Ibukunoluwa — High Point Panthers (So, Forward, 2.08m)

Josh Ibukunoluwa didn't play for the Panthers today.

March 20 — #1 Duke Blue Devils 71 def. #16 Siena Saints 65 (Final)‍

🇦🇺 Tasman Goodrick (Siena)

The junior forward from Sydney will not feature in the NCAA Tournament after being ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Top-seed Duke recovered from an early deficit to avoid a first-round upset, outscoring Siena by 17 points in the second half to advance in the East Region.

Siena controlled the opening 20 minutes behind balanced perimeter scoring and took a 43–32 halftime lead, shooting 35% from three while generating consistent half-court looks. Duke responded after the break with improved defensive pressure and dominance on the glass, finishing with a 43–31 rebounding advantage.

Freshman forward Cameron Boozer powered the comeback with 22 points and 13 rebounds, converting 13-of-14 from the free-throw line as Duke steadily closed the gap. Guard Cayden Boozer added 19 points and five assists, while Isaiah Evans contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds in a strong all-around effort.

March 20 — #4 Arkansas Razorbacks 97 def. #13 Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors 78 (Final)‍

NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship — West Region First Round

Arkansas surged to a 54–36 halftime lead and maintained control after the break to eliminate Hawai‘i in the West Region first round despite a solid interior effort from Australian forward Harry Rouhliadeff.

The Razorbacks’ pace and offensive efficiency set the tone early, shooting 54% from the field and finishing with a 41–31 rebounding edge. Hawai‘i struggled to contain Arkansas’ transition scoring and ball movement, conceding 26 assists across the contest.

Rouhliadeff provided stability on the glass and efficient scoring touches inside, finishing with nine points and seven rebounds in 33 minutes. The Brisbane product shot 4-from-7 from the field and 1-from-2 from three, contributing two offensive boards as Hawai‘i attempted to generate second-chance opportunities.

Dre Bullock led the Rainbow Warriors with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Isaac Johnson added 15 points. Arkansas was powered by Darius Acuff Jr. (24 points) and Meleek Thomas (21 points) as the Razorbacks’ balanced attack ensured they never relinquished scoreboard control.

March 20 — #10 Texas A&M Aggies 63 def. #7 Saint Mary’s Gaels 50 (Final)‍

NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship — South Region First Round

Texas A&M controlled the contest from the opening half and limited Saint Mary’s offensive rhythm to secure a first-round victory in the South Region.

The Aggies built a 37–26 halftime advantage through interior scoring and second-chance opportunities, finishing with a slight 31–32 rebounding split but forcing 18 Gaels turnovers. Saint Mary’s struggled to convert from the free-throw line and could not generate sustained scoring runs in the second half.

Australian guard Joshua Dent led the Gaels with 18 points, four assists and four rebounds in 36 minutes, shooting 7-from-14 from the field and 4-from-9 from three.

Fellow Australian Harry Wessels logged 10 minutes, collecting one rebound and one steal, while Rory Hawke provided a strong rebounding presence off the bench with eight boards and four assists in 29 minutes despite going scoreless.

Saint Mary’s also received 15 points from Liam Campbell, but Texas A&M’s balanced scoring — led by Rashaun Agee’s 22 points and nine rebounds

basketball.com.au will track every Australian throughout the 2026 NCAA Tournament

2026 NCAA Men’s March Madness – Key Dates & Locations

Tournament Schedule (AEDT)

• First Four: Wednesday, March 18 — Thursday, March 19 (Dayton, Ohio)‍
• First Round: Friday, March 20 — Saturday, March 21
• Second Round: Sunday, March 22 — Monday, March 23
• Sweet 16: Friday, March 27 — Saturday, March 28
• Elite Eight: Sunday, March 29 — Monday, March 30
• Final Four: Sunday, April 5 (Indianapolis, Indiana)‍
• National Championship Game: Tuesday, April 7 (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Regional Final Sites (Sweet 16 & Elite Eight)

• ‍West Region: San Jose, California — SAP Center‍
• Midwest Region: Chicago, Illinois — United Center‍
• East Region: Washington, D.C. — Capital One Arena‍
• South Region: Houston, Texas — Toyota Center

‍

🇦🇺 Austin Rapp — Wisconsin Badgers (So, Forward, 2.08m)

Season Averages: 9.6 PTS │ 4.0 REB │ 1.6 AST │ 41.8% FG

NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship — West Region First Round

Twelfth-seed High Point produced a late March Madness upset, edging fifth-seed Wisconsin by one point despite a steady two-way performance from Australian forward Austin Rapp.

Wisconsin led narrowly at halftime but could not contain High Point’s perimeter volume and offensive rebounding pressure across the final 20 minutes. The Panthers knocked down 15 threes and generated 13 offensive rebounds, creating extra possessions that ultimately proved decisive in the one-point finish.

Rapp logged 12 points and four rebounds in 33 minutes, shooting 4-from-9 from the field and 2-from-6 from beyond the arc while converting both free-throw attempts. The Badgers used his floor spacing and defensive positioning to stabilise stretches of half-court play, but High Point’s shot volume and late-game execution denied Wisconsin a Round of 32 berth.

Nick Boyd (27 points) and John Blackwell (22 points, 10 rebounds) led Wisconsin’s scoring push, yet the Panthers’ collective shot-making and rebounding advantage swung momentum late. Wisconsin finished shooting 48% overall and 92% from the line, but High Point attempted nine more field goals and 17 more three-pointers.

🇦🇺 Austin Rapp — Wisconsin Badgers

Sophomore forward Austin Rapp, from Australia, provided a composed March Madness outing in a narrow tournament exit.

• Stats: 12 PTS │ 4 REB │ 0 AST │ 0 STL │ 0 BLK │ 4-9 FG │ 2-6 3PT │ 2-2 FT │ 33 MIN

‍

🇦🇺 Josh Ibukunoluwa — High Point Panthers (So, Forward, 2.08m)

Season Averages: 2.8 PTS │ 2.0 REB │ 0.3 AST │ 63.0% FG

Form Snapshot

• vs Charleston Southern (W 80–55) — DNP impact (1 MIN)
• vs USC Upstate (W 89–69) — 2 PTS │ 3 REB
• @ Winthrop (L 92–75) — 4 PTS │ 5 REB │ 2 BLK
• vs Gardner-Webb (W 104–49) — 3 PTS
• vs Pfeiffer (W 123–64) — 4 PTS │ 4 REB

Tournament Form Takeaways

• Developmental frontcourt rotation piece with efficient finishing (63% FG).
• Provides length, rebounding and occasional rim protection in short stints.
• Minutes fluctuate based on matchup and foul situations.
• Most productive recent outing came vs Winthrop (5 rebounds, 2 blocks).
• Role projection: energy big / depth coverage if High Point needs size.

March 20 — 5:50AM: #1 Duke vs #16 Siena‍

🇦🇺 Tasman Goodrick (Siena)

The junior forward from Sydney will not feature in the NCAA Tournament after being ruled out for the remainder of the season. Goodrick had been a major interior presence for Siena, averaging 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 64.5% from the field, providing efficiency and rebounding stability in the Saints’ frontcourt rotation.

This removes Siena’s primary Australian tournament storyline and significantly impacts their size and interior depth heading into their Round of 64 matchup with No.1 seed Duke.

March 20 — 10:35AM: #2 Purdue vs #15 Queens‍

🇦🇺 Oscar Cluff – Purdue Boilermakers: Senior – Centre – Sunshine Coast, QLD – 2.11m

Conference Tournament Form (Last 4 Games)

• vs Michigan (W 80–72)
  21 pts │ 5 reb │ 7–11 FG │ 7–11 FT │ 25 min
• vs UCLA (W 73–66)
  17 pts │ 14 reb │ 6–11 FG │ 5–7 FT │ 28 min
• vs Nebraska (W 74–58)
  12 pts │ 9 reb │ 6–8 FG │ 35 min
• vs Northwestern (W 81–68)
  19 pts │ 10 reb │ 7–10 FG │ 5–5 FT │ 30 min

Tournament Snapshot

• Averaged 17.3 points and 9.5 rebounds across Purdue’s Big Ten title run.
• Shot 63.6% from the field in the final and 70%+ in two other tournament games.
• Recorded a 14-rebound performance vs UCLA, controlling the paint on both ends.
• Produced four straight double-figure scoring games entering March Madness.
• Senior anchor trending into strong form as Purdue enters the NCAA Tournament.

March 20 — 1:10PM: #7 Miami vs #10 Missouri‍

🇦🇺 Jayden Stone – Missouri Tigers: Senior – Guard – Perth, WA – 1.93m

Conference Tournament Form

• vs Kentucky (L 78–72)
  5 pts │ 7 reb │ 1 ast │ 20 min
• vs Arkansas (L 88–84 OT)
  11 pts │ 6 reb │ 2 stl │ 30 min
• @ Oklahoma (L 80–64)
  9 pts │ 2 reb │ 1 ast │ 26 min
• @ Mississippi State (W 88–64)
  8 pts │ 10 reb │ 4 ast │ 2 stl │ 33 min

Tournament Snapshot

• Averaged 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds across Missouri’s final four games entering March Madness.
• Produced a 10-rebound, 4-assist, 2-steal all-round performance in a road win at Mississippi State.
• Scored double figures twice in the closing stretch of SEC play.
• Senior wing continues to impact games through rebounding and defensive activity despite fluctuating scoring output.
• Enters NCAA Tournament as a two-way rotation piece for Missouri’s backcourt group.

March 21 — 4:35AM: #1 Arizona vs #16 Long Island‍

🇦🇺 Anthony Dell’Orso – Arizona Wildcats: Senior – Guard – Melbourne, VIC – 1.98m

Conference Tournament / Recent Form

• vs Houston (W 79–74)
  4 pts │ 1 reb │ 1 ast │ 23 min
• vs Iowa State (W 82–80)
  26 pts │ 5 reb │ 6-9 3PT │ 29 min
• vs UCF (W 81–59)
  6 pts │ 3 reb │ 17 min
• @ Colorado (W 89–79)
  0 pts │ 3 ast │ 17 min

Tournament Snapshot

• Averaged 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists during the 2025–26 season.
• Produced a season-defining 26-point shooting performance in the Big 12 Tournament semifinal win over Iowa State.
• Logged rotation wing minutes (17–29) across Arizona’s conference title run.
• Provides floor spacing and secondary playmaking in Arizona’s perimeter group.
• Enters March Madness as a senior experience piece on a No.1 seed contender.

March 21 — 7:25AM: #4 Arkansas vs #13 Hawai‘i‍

🇦🇺 Harry Rouhliadeff – Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors: Senior – Forward – Brisbane, QLD – 2.06m

Conference Tournament / Recent Form

• vs UC Irvine (W 71–64)
  15 pts │ 12 reb │ 2-3 3PT │ 2 ast │ 2 stl │ 25 min
• vs Cal State Fullerton (W 78–63)
  16 pts │ 10 reb │ 34 min
• vs Long Beach State (L 84–75)
  5 pts │ 2 reb │ 16 min
• vs UC Riverside (W 93–74)
  13 pts │ 3 reb │ 6-6 FT │ 20 min

Tournament Snapshot

• Averaging 10.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists this season.
• Delivered back-to-back double-double level impact in the Big West Tournament run.
• Pulled down 22 rebounds across semifinal and final wins to help Hawai‘i secure the automatic bid.
• Provides inside scoring efficiency (52.6% FG) and secondary perimeter shooting as a stretch-forward option.
• Enters March Madness as a senior frontcourt anchor playing strong late-season basketball.

March 21 — 10:35AM: #7 Saint Mary’s vs #10 Texas A&M‍

🇦🇺 Harry Wessels – Saint Mary’s Gaels: Senior – Center – Boddington, WA – 2.16m

Recent Form / Conference Tournament

• vs Santa Clara (L 76–71)
  0 pts │ 3 reb │ 1 ast │ 9 min
• vs Gonzaga (W 70–59)
  2 pts │ 7 reb │ 3 ast │ 1 blk │ 27 min
• vs Santa Clara (W 86–67)
  10 pts │ 10 reb │ 2 blk │ 28 min

Tournament Snapshot

• Averaging 4.9 points and 5.2 rebounds this season on 51.9% shooting.
• Provides interior size and defensive presence in Saint Mary’s frontcourt rotation.
• Produced multiple double-digit rebound performances late in conference play.
• Best recent impact came with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double vs Santa Clara.
• Enters March Madness as a situational rim protector and rebound anchor off the Gaels’ bench.

🇦🇺 Joshua Dent – Saint Mary’s Gaels: Sophomore – Guard – Wollongong, NSW – 1.91m

Recent Form / Conference Tournament

• vs Santa Clara (L 76–71)
  4 pts │ 7 ast │ 1 reb │ 1 stl │ 40 min
• vs Gonzaga (W 70–59)
  14 pts │ 4–6 3PT │ 1 ast │ 40 min
• vs Santa Clara (W 86–67)
  14 pts │ 8 ast │ 1 reb │ 34 min

Tournament Snapshot

• Averaging 13.0 points and 5.7 assists this season on 46.6% shooting.
• Operates as Saint Mary’s primary ball-handler and tempo controller, regularly logging 35–40 minutes.
• Has produced multiple double-digit assist games, including 11 assists vs Pepperdine and San Francisco.
• Scoring upside shown with 26 points (6-9 3PT) vs Washington State.
• Enters March Madness as a high-usage guard responsible for shot creation, late-clock decision-making and perimeter spacing.

🇦🇺 Rory Hawke – Saint Mary’s Gaels: Freshman – Guard – Townsville, QLD – 1.96m

Recent Form / Conference Tournament

• vs Santa Clara (L 76–71)
  2 pts │ 4 reb │ 16 min
• vs Gonzaga (W 70–59)
  DNP impact │ 4 min
• vs Santa Clara (W 86–67)
  6 pts │ 2–3 FG │ 9 min

Season Snapshot

• Averaging 2.5 points and 1.2 rebounds on 50.9% shooting in a rotation depth role.
• Utilised primarily as a wing defender and energy guard, with minutes fluctuating between short bursts and occasional extended bench runs.
• Best scoring outing came with 11 points (4–5 FG) vs Portland in January.
• Has shown efficient finishing and rebounding instincts for a freshman perimeter player.
• Enters March Madness as a situational contributor capable of providing defensive length, transition running and spot scoring minutes.

March 21 — 12:25PM: #1 Florida vs #16 TBD‍

🇦🇺 Alex Condon – Florida Gators: Junior – Forward – Perth, WA – 2.11m

Recent Form / SEC Tournament

• vs Vanderbilt (L 91–74)
  13 pts │ 7 reb │ 6–10 FG │ 31 min
• vs Kentucky (W 71–63)
  22 pts │ 10 reb │ 7–12 FG │ 8–11 FT │ 36 min

Season Snapshot

• Averaging 15.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists on 54.8% shooting in a major frontcourt usage role.
• Functions as a playmaking big, regularly initiating offence from elbows and short roll actions.
• Produced multiple high-efficiency scoring nights in February including 26 vs Mississippi State and 25 vs Alabama.
• Rebounding presence and passing vision make him a central structural piece in Florida’s half-court offence.
• Enters March Madness as one of the most impactful Australian bigs in college basketball this season.

March 21 — 1:00PM: #2 UConn vs #15 Furman‍

🇦🇺 Jacob Furphy – UConn Huskies: Freshman – Guard – Smithton, TAS – 1.98m

Jacob Furphy’s first college season has been heavily impacted by injury disruption and rotation depth at a national-title contender. The Tasmanian guard missed time early in the year and has struggled to establish a consistent role within UConn’s guard-heavy structure.

When available, Furphy has appeared primarily in short bench minutes, often in late-game or controlled rotation situations as he continues adapting to the physicality and pace of high-major college basketball.

Season Snapshot

• Averaging 0.5 points and 0.1 rebounds in limited minutes.
• Has logged single-minute tournament appearances during the Big East Championship run.
• Shot efficiently in very small sample size (42.9% FG).
• Development year focused on health, system integration and physical adjustment rather than statistical production.
• Remains a long-term upside piece in UConn’s perimeter pipeline.

🇦🇺 Charles Johnston — Furman Paladins: Senior — Forward — Sydney, NSW — 2.11m

Charles Johnston has been a frontcourt anchor and elite rebounder for Furman throughout the 2025–26 season, playing a major role in the Paladins’ SoCon Championship run and NCAA Tournament qualification.

The Sydney product has provided consistent interior presence, defensive activity and occasional perimeter shooting as a stretch-capable big.

Season Snapshot

• Averaging 9.8 points, 9.1 rebounds (32nd nationally) and 1.8 assists.
• Shooting 48.3% from the field with developing three-point range.
• Recorded multiple double-digit rebound games, including 16 vs Samford and 15 vs VMI.
• Delivered 10 rebounds in the SoCon quarterfinal win and solid two-way minutes through the title run.
• Functions as a high-motor rebounder and positional defender, often impacting games without high usage.

basketball.com.au will track every Australian throughout the 2026 NCAA Tournament

2026 NCAA Men’s March Madness – Key Dates & Locations

Tournament Schedule (AEDT)

• First Four: Wednesday, March 18 — Thursday, March 19 (Dayton, Ohio)‍
• First Round: Friday, March 20 — Saturday, March 21
• Second Round: Sunday, March 22 — Monday, March 23
• Sweet 16: Friday, March 27 — Saturday, March 28
• Elite Eight: Sunday, March 29 — Monday, March 30
• Final Four: Sunday, April 5 (Indianapolis, Indiana)‍
• National Championship Game: Tuesday, April 7 (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Regional Final Sites (Sweet 16 & Elite Eight)

• ‍West Region: San Jose, California — SAP Center‍
• Midwest Region: Chicago, Illinois — United Center‍
• East Region: Washington, D.C. — Capital One Arena‍
• South Region: Houston, Texas — Toyota Center