Congratulations to the top finishers of the 2026 Basketball Manitoba March Madness Bracket Challenge!
In the Men’s Pool, 636 brackets were entered, with Adam Wedlake finishing 1st overall with 318 points. As a Basketball Manitoba employee, he is not eligible to receive a prize, so the cash prizes shift to the next eligible finishers.
There was also a tie at 314 points between Eliza McKay and Luke Hiebert. That tie was broken by the CBS system using the championship game tiebreaker formula based on the closest predicted combined final score, resulting in Eliza finishing 3rd and Luke 4th.
Men’s Pool final prize winners:
🥇 Risto Zimbakov — 317 points — $400
🥈 Eliza McKay — 314 points — $200
🥉 Luke Hiebert — 314 points — $100
In the Women’s Pool, 264 brackets were entered, and the top three finishers were:
🥇 Jen How — 324 points — $400
🥈 Sunny Kaila — 321 points — $200
🥉 Bruce Maher — 312 points — $100
A big thank you to everyone who took part in this year’s challenge. We will contact all prize winners directly later this week to arrange prize payouts. Thanks again to all 900 participants who joined in the fun this year. We’ll do it again next March!
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CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SCENARIOS
Women's Pool - UCLA vs South Carolina - Sunday at 2:30 pm Central Time (TSN / ABC TV)
Final Standings if UCLA Wins
- 1st Place - Jen How - 324 points - $400.00 cash prize
- 2nd Place - Sunny Kaila - 321 points - $200.00 cash prize
- 3rd Place - Bruce Maher - 312 points - $100.00 cash prize
Final Standings if South Carolina Wins
- 1st Place - Joey Buenaventura - 322 points - $400.00 cash prize
- 2nd Place - Stephanie Somerville - 313 points - $200.00 cash prize
- 3rd/4th Place - Jody Jury - 305 points - $100.00 cash prize *
- 3rd/4th Place - Theo Licsi - 305 points - $100.00 cash prize *
- * The CBS system will automatically determine the final placing based on the championship final game score and the person guessing closest to the combined score. The person finishing 4th will not receive one of the prizes.
Men's Pool - Michigan vs UConn - Monday at 7:50 pm Central Time (TSN / TNT TV)
Final Standings if Michigan Wins
- 1st Place - Adam Wedlake - 318 points **
- 2nd Place - Risto Zimbakov - 317 points - $400.00 cash prize
- 3rd/4th Place - Eliza Mckay - 314 points - $200.00/$100.00 cash prize *
- 3rd/4th Place - Luke Hiebert - 314 points - $200.00/$100.00 cash prize *
- * The CBS system will automatically determine the final placing based on the championship final game score and the person guessing closest to the combined score.
- ** As Adam is an employee of Basketball Manitoba, he is not eligible to win any prizes. If this scenario were to play out, the 2nd-place person will receive $400; the 3rd-place person will receive $200; and the 4th-place person will receive $100.
Final Standings if UConn Wins
- 1st Place - Risto Zimbakov - 381 points - $400.00 cash prize
- 2nd Place - Jodie Layne - 362 points - $200.00 cash prize
- 3rd Place - Allison Laferty - 357 points - $100.00 cash prize
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Welcome to the 636 people who submitted their picks to the Basketball Manitoba NCAA March Madness Men's Pool and the current 264 people who submitted their picks to the Basketball Manitoba NCAA March Madness Women's Pool!
We invited ALL basketball fans to submit their picks into our pool for a chance to win some great prizes. The deadline to enter the men's pool was Thursday, March 19, at 10:00 am, and the women's pool closes on Friday, March 20, at 10:00 am, Manitoba time. See more on how to enter below. There is NO cost to enter either pool.
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Welcome to the 19th annual Basketball Manitoba NCAA March Madness Bracket Challenge! For the fifth year, we are excited to offer a women's pool option alongside the men's bracket, with the same cash prizes up for grabs. There is no cost to register for our pools, and they are open to any Manitoba resident to participate for a chance to win great prizes. The deadline to enter the respective pools is listed below.
PRIZES
The top 3 finishers in each pool (men's and women's) will receive from Basketball Manitoba...
- 1st Place - $400.00 cash prize
- 2nd Place - $200.00 cash prize
- 3rd Place - $100.00 cash prize
PRIZE ELIGIBILITY
- To be eligible to win one of the prizes below, you must be a resident of Manitoba and be or become a Basketball Manitoba email newsletter subscriber and follow Basketball Manitoba on Instagram to be eligible for the prizes.
COST TO JOIN
- There is no cost to enter this pool or to become an online subscriber or follower of Basketball Manitoba.
TIEBREAKER
- If the overall points score is tied at the end of the tournament, the winner(s) will be determined using the combined score you gave in the national championship game.
- The person picking the closest to this number will be given the win.
FORUMS / MESSAGE BOARDS
- You are welcome to add comments to the provided Forums / Message Boards.
- We ask that you refrain from making personal or inappropriate comments.
- Those found doing so will be removed from the pool at Basketball Manitoba's discretion.
OTHER RULES
- You must use your real name on the CBS pool systems to be eligible for prizes.
- Prizes are to be accepted as listed. No substitutions.
- Current Basketball Manitoba staff are eligible to enter the pool but not eligible to win one of the prizes.
- A person can enter the men's and women's pool only one time (no multiple entries per person)
- Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 15, 2026 (announced by early evening on CBS)
- Men's Pool Deadline: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 10:00 AM Central time
- Women's Pool Deadline: Friday, March 20, 2026, 10:00 AM Central time
- CLICK HERE to visit the CBS Sports website.
- New Members select the "Sign Up" button at the top right of the page and complete the online registration form with all the required fields.
- Returning Members, select the "Log In" button at the top right of the page and enter your CBS Sports username and password (a lost password option is provided if needed).
- Enter the Basketball Manitoba pool password when requested: basketballmb
- Set your "CBS Sports" name to your real first and last name so we can identify the pool winners and award the prizes.
- Return to the CBS Sports site between Sunday, March 15, 2026, and before 10 AM Manitoba time on Thursday, March 19, 2026, and submit your picks.
- Sign up for the Basketball Manitoba email newsletter and follow Basketball Manitoba on Instagram to be eligible for the prizes.
NCAA MEN'S POOL GROUP SCORING
* The winning team's seed is multiplied by the correct pick total. For example, if the 8th seed wins in the third round, you would be credited 24 points (8 x 3).
| Round | Points for Correct Pick* |
| Round 1 | 1 x seed |
| Round 2 | 2 x seed |
| Round 3 | 4 x seed |
| Round 4 | 8 x seed |
| Round 5 | 16 x seed |
| Round 6 | 32 x seed |
* The winning team's seed is multiplied by the correct pick total. For example, if the 8th seed wins in the third round, you would be credited 24 points (8 x 3).
HOW TO JOIN THE WOMEN'S POOL - POWERED BY CBS SPORTS
- CLICK HERE to visit the CBS Sports website.
- New Members select the "Sign Up" button at the top right of the page and complete the online registration form with all the required fields.
- Returning Members, select the "Log In" button at the top right of the page and enter your CBS Sports username and password (a lost password option is provided if needed).
- Enter the Basketball Manitoba pool password when requested: basketballmb
- Set your "CBS Sports" name to your real first and last name so we can identify the pool winners and award the prizes.
- Return to the CBS Sports site between Sunday, March 15, 2026, and before 10 AM Manitoba time on Friday, March 20, 2026, and submit your picks.
- Sign up for the Basketball Manitoba email newsletter and follow Basketball Manitoba on Instagram to be eligible for the prizes.
NCAA WOMEN'S POOL GROUP SCORING
| Round | Points for Correct Pick* |
| Round 1 | 1 x seed |
| Round 2 | 2 x seed |
| Round 3 | 4 x seed |
| Round 4 | 8 x seed |
| Round 5 | 16 x seed |
| Round 6 | 32 x seed |
* The winning team's seed is multiplied by the correct pick total. For example, if the 8th seed wins in the third round, you would be credited 24 points (8 x 3).
DISCLAIMER
These pools are intended for entertainment purposes only. Basketball Manitoba does not endorse gambling or sports betting in any form.
These pools are intended for entertainment purposes only. Basketball Manitoba does not endorse gambling or sports betting in any form.