March Madness 2026 Excitement Grows Among New Jersey Basketball Fans

Garden State Fans Are Ready For March Madness

It's one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans. Brackets are being finalized, and rivalries are certainly heating up as we gear up for March Madness 2026.

I just filled out my bracket last night, with Duke being my number one pick.

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Unfortunately, no New Jersey schools made the NCAA men’s basketball tournament this year, but remember back in 2022 when Saint Peter's University in Jersey City made that awesome run.

That was so exciting, as the 15-seed school made it all the way to the Elite Eight.

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This year, some of our neighboring states have teams competing. Pennsylvania has Lehigh, Penn, and Villanova, while New York has Hofstra, Long Island, Siena, and St. John's in the mix.

Delaware, like New Jersey, doesn't have a team in the tournament.

So, just how many people are expected to tune in and watch this year? Turns out, nearly half of Americans will be joining in on the fun.

March Madness 2026: Survey Shows Half Of Americans Watching

According to a new survey by Siena Research Institute, 49 percent plan to watch the games, while 28 percent gather with friends, family, or co-workers to fill out their bracket.

Another interesting takeaway from the survey: among those planning to watch the games, nearly 40% says they'll take time off from work.

So if you start to notice some of your co-workers are not around, or are a little distracted, there's a good chance their focus is on basketball!