INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The No. 3-ranked Washburn Ichabod men's basketball team will be the host squad for the 2026 NCAA Central Regional Tournament starting on March 14 in Lee Arena. The Ichabods won the MIAA tournament and regular season titles entering the regional tournament with a 31-1 record.

The Ichabods are making their sixth NCAA appearance in nine years under Washburn head coach Brett Ballard.

Washburn will host the NCAA regional for the second-straight season. Washburn has also hosted NCAA Regionals in 1992, 1994, 1995, 2001 and 2025 going a combined 8-3.

Overall the Ichabods are 21-17 in the NCAA Tournament and 16-13 in the NCAA regionals.

The seeds for the NCAA Tournament are:
1) Washburn (31-1)
2) Oklahoma Baptist (27-3)
3) Central Missouri (23-9)
4) St. Cloud State (25-6)
5) Missouri Western (21-11)
6) Rogers State (21-10)
7) Harding (24-7)
8) Minnesota-Duluth (21-11)
 
Game Times: TBA