The NCAA men’s basketball tournament’s West Regional finals will be held at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, this week. Four teams will compete for a single spot in the national semifinals. The event marks a key phase of the popular March Madness tournament. It brings significant economic and sporting attention to Silicon Valley.
Games are scheduled for Thursday, March 26, and Saturday, March 28, 2026. The Sweet 16 doubleheader begins Thursday afternoon. The first game features the eleventh-seeded Texas Longhorns versus second-seeded Purdue. The second game matches fourth-seeded Arkansas against top-seeded Arizona.
The winners of Thursday’s games will advance to the Elite Eight on Saturday. That single game will determine the West Regional champion. The victor earns a trip to the Final Four in Indianapolis. This format creates a high-stakes, win-or-go-home atmosphere for fans.
Hosting these games provides a major boost for San Jose. The SAP Center last hosted similar tournament rounds in 2017 and 2018. The event is expected to draw thousands of visiting fans. It highlights the city’s role as a host for premier national sporting events.
The NCAA tournament’s regional structure culminates in four cities. San Jose is the western hub alongside others in the midwest, east, and south. This system ensures geographic representation in the Final Four. International fans follow the tournament for its unpredictable, single-elimination drama.
