NCAA Tournament 2026

[willie warrior]

What are you even talking about.  The Big East was terrible this year. 

I'm more worried that the Big East fades into obscurity than any those teams permanently leaving us in the dust.  Said a different way if we get to the ex-St Johns/UCONN level its no where near enough - so pointing to the field is not really relevant. 

And yes - St Johns and UCONN were measurably better this year (not really St Johns last three).  Hopefully our change in strategy rights the course.  At least we have that to point to.  If I'm Seton Hall, G-Town or a few other programs, I am questioning what changes to make it better than mediocre. 

Pretty clear what I am talking about. MU has slid significantly downward in the league. What can't you comprehend about that? And yes  the league was not strong this year. Clearly, Shaka has a ton of work to do, which is why he makes the big bucks.

[wadesworld]

From Axios:

All the major chatbots were able to fill out an NCAA bracket this year, a sharp contrast from a year ago when AI struggled to decipher who'd match up in later rounds, Axios AI+ co-author Ina Fried writes.

It shows how fast AI moves: What's impossible one year is often a trivial task just months later.

Ina gave the bots the same task as a year ago — look at a PDF bracket and make picks for each matchup.

OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude and Google's Gemini all came up with plausible brackets that included a few upset picks, usually with a rationale to justify the choice.

The picks: Gemini went with Arizona, while ChatGPT and Claude picked Duke.

Upsets: Claude sees Akron beating Texas Tech and BYU defeating March Madness powerhouse Gonzaga, noting a key injury.

ChatGPT predicted St. John's and VCU to play spoilers, while Gemini picked Miami (Ohio) to beat Tennessee.

AI's still got a ways to go if they're picking Miami (OH) to beat anyone!

[wadesworld]

Pretty clear what I am talking about. MU has slid significantly downward in the league. What can't you comprehend about that? And yes  the league was not strong this year. Clearly, Shaka has a ton of work to do, which is why he makes the big bucks.

Was the GAP widening and UCONN falling into obscurity when UCONN finished tied for 4th in the Big East in 2022-2023?

[TallTitan34]

Stop using these.

https://x.com/reboundrundown/status/2033972691548422200?s=46

[wadesworld]

Stop using these.

https://x.com/reboundrundown/status/2033972691548422200?s=46

It is so absurd that there isn't a single basketball used by all D1 teams.

[GoldenEagles03]

Why does this happen? Do home teams pick balls during the regular season and then NCAA picks them for the tournament? Never made any sense to me. Also the balls getting stuck in the tight tournament nets after makes has been a talking point for over a decade now.

Why not keep things constant. NCAA is a joke.

[MuggsyB]

This three man booth could be a real trainwreck for the Tex/NC State game.  BA sounds ill. 

[Pakuni]

The replies...

https://x.com/UMBCAthletics/status/2034052304345747928?s=20

[The Sultan]

The replies...

https://x.com/UMBCAthletics/status/2034052304345747928?s=20

Their social media team is about as ready for prime time as their basketball team was.

[MUDPT]

Why does this happen? Do home teams pick balls during the regular season and then NCAA picks them for the tournament? Never made any sense to me. Also the balls getting stuck in the tight tournament nets after makes has been a talking point for over a decade now.

Why not keep things constant. NCAA is a joke.

Yes, home teams pick. My son had a Sterling ball in his playground equipment at his school. The only place I've ever seen one. Not sure why Wilson allows them to be inflated so high.

[willie warrior]

Was the GAP widening and UCONN falling into obscurity when UCONN finished tied for 4th in the Big East in 2022-2023?

Talking about last season and now. Nice try at lame deflection. Keep you blue and gold glasses firmly lodged so you cannot see reality.

[Biggie Clausen]

Their social media team is about as ready for prime time as their basketball team was.

If you think that's bad, some lady on the UMBC Moms' X account just tweeted, "Y'all are judging them off wins and losses!"

[muwarrior69]

There is literally no one ignoring how Marquette has slid to this point.

Agree, but the Blue and Gold glasses many have here is over the top as well.

[mug644]

If you think that's bad, some lady on the UMBC Moms' X account just tweeted, "Y'all are judging them off wins and losses!"

Sounds like Sean Jones will be transferring to UMBC.

[wadesworld]

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/ranking-mens-ncaa-tournament-coaches-who-have-never-won-national-championship

I'm a Gonzaga hater, but what are we even doing here?  Scheyer has been great at Duke, better than I expected.  But Kelvin Sampson and Mark Few are far and away 1 and 2 on this list, and Painter is probably 3.  Scheyer will probably pass any that don't win a national title (which would then move him off of this list anyway, but that's besides the point), but as of today?  Come on.

And Fred Hoiberg above Rick Barnes?

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

I'm still not sure what to make of Scheyer other than he's been able to sustain Duke's recruiting level.

Landing Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer sure helps make any coach look good.

[GoldenEagles03]

I'm still not sure what to make of Scheyer other than he's been able to sustain Duke's recruiting level.

Landing Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer sure helps make any coach look good.

Winning titles is difficult but the way in which Duke blew a 9 point lead with 2 minutes left against Houston with THAT roster last year...man, disappointing for them.

The Scheyer love is out of control.

[Zog from Margo]

I'm still not sure what to make of Scheyer other than he's been able to sustain Duke's recruiting level.

Landing Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer sure helps make any coach look good.

He had the two leading candidates for NBA ROY on his roster last year, another top 10 pick, and great talent beyond those guys. He's proven a great recruiter with a very large budget. He does get them to play defense.

[The Sultan]

Winning titles is difficult but the way in which Duke blew a 9 point lead with 2 minutes left against Houston with THAT roster last year...man, disappointing for them.

The Scheyer love is out of control.

???

The guy took over from an absolute legend, and in four seasons, maintained Duke's recruiting edge, won 83% of his games, won two regular season ACC titles, three ACC tournament titles, and has been to an Elite 8, a Final 4 and enters this season as #1 overall seed. And you're harping on how he lost last year's semifinal???     

Outside of the fact that Duke annoys you, what's not to love about the start to his career? Think about how many programs have struggled when their legendary coach stepped down. Including Marquette. I think we all would have loved that start to Hank's career.

He will get his title. Maybe even this year.

[GoldenEagles03]

???

The guy took over from an absolute legend, and in four seasons, maintained Duke's recruiting edge, won 83% of his games, won two regular season ACC titles, three ACC tournament titles, and has been to an Elite 8, a Final 4 and enters this season as #1 overall seed. And you're harping on how he lost last year's semifinal???     

Outside of the fact that Duke annoys you, what's not to love about the start to his career? Think about how many programs have struggled when their legendary coach stepped down. Including Marquette. I think we all would have loved that start to Hank's career.

He will get his title. Maybe even this year.

Duke doesn't really annoy me. I think Scheyer has done a fine job.

Just including him with the legends is ridiculous. He'll get there eventually in all likelihood. No need to exaggerate it all right now.

[The Sultan]

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/ranking-mens-ncaa-tournament-coaches-who-have-never-won-national-championship

I'm a Gonzaga hater, but what are we even doing here?  Scheyer has been great at Duke, better than I expected.  But Kelvin Sampson and Mark Few are far and away 1 and 2 on this list, and Painter is probably 3.  Scheyer will probably pass any that don't win a national title (which would then move him off of this list anyway, but that's besides the point), but as of today?  Come on.

And Fred Hoiberg above Rick Barnes?

Duke doesn't really annoy me. I think Scheyer has done a fine job.

Just including him with the legends is ridiculous. He'll get there eventually in all likelihood. No need to exaggerate it all right now.

Did either of you read how they ranked them?

Right from the article: "Which coach could break through in 2026? Let's rank them based on the likelihood of a championship run happening."

[GoldenEagles03]

Did either of you read how they ranked them?

Right from the article: "Which coach could break through in 2026? Let's rank them based on the likelihood of a championship run happening."

I admittedly did not. I was just going off the other comment.

I think Scheyer will eventually win at Duke.

[Scoop Snoop]

I admittedly did not. I was just going off the other comment.

No problem This is scoop. Reading before posting is optional.

[GoldenEagles03]

No problem This is scoop. Reading before posting is optional.

Thank you!

I was moreso speaking on the love Scheyer gets in general, rather than the specific article itself. He gets lumped with these legends so soon it does him no good.

He'll probably win at Duke but he deserves his time to do it and the legends deserve their own tier!

[Johnny B]

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/ranking-mens-ncaa-tournament-coaches-who-have-never-won-national-championship

I'm a Gonzaga hater, but what are we even doing here?  Scheyer has been great at Duke, better than I expected.  But Kelvin Sampson and Mark Few are far and away 1 and 2 on this list, and Painter is probably 3.  Scheyer will probably pass any that don't win a national title (which would then move him off of this list anyway, but that's besides the point), but as of today?  Come on.

And Fred Hoiberg above Rick Barnes?

Anyone with these duke players would look like a hall of fame coach. Throw wojo in there