NCAA Tournament 2026

[Billy Hoyle]

Then there is the U.S. Reed's shot to beat defending champion Louisville in the second round.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtJv6Va6ShU

March 14, 1981 is probably the day where "March Madness" was created. Not only with this shot, but number one seeds DePaul (to St. Joseph's) and Oregon State (to Kansas State) lost on last second shots. Also an upstart UAB program beat #2 seed Kentucky that day as well.

And four days later was Danny Ainge's coast-to-coast layup at the buzzer to beat #2, Notre Dame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7B7HA-1hu4

[wadesworld]

Chioza's shot will always be #1 for me.  A floater from 3 point range to knock out the Badgers.

Suggs's half court shot in the national semifinals to continue an undefeated season is up there, but behind Chioza, Jenkins, Laettner.

[Uncle Rico]

Chioza's shot will always be #1 for me.  A floater from 3 point range to knock out the Badgers.

Suggs's half court shot in the national semifinals to continue an undefeated season is up there, but behind Chioza, Jenkins, Laettner.

Literally seconds after Ben Brust joyfully tweeted, "we just have to beat South Carolina to make a Final 4?!?"

[Zog from Margo]

Bryce Drew's shot was a model of execution: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U3qpzl3YYeM&pp=ygUYYnJ5Y2UgZHJldyBidXp6ZXIgYmVhdGVy

I remember watching the games when Reed hit shot. I believe the early rounds were on ESPN at that time. Am I remembering that correctly?

[The Sultan]

Bryce Drew's shot was a model of execution: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U3qpzl3YYeM&pp=ygUYYnJ5Y2UgZHJldyBidXp6ZXIgYmVhdGVy

I remember watching the games when Reed hit shot. I believe the early rounds were on ESPN at that time. Am I remembering that correctly?

First round Thursday and Friday games weren't televised back then.

The 1981 shot linked above was for sure on NBC. It was a Saturday. CBS acquired the rights in 1982, and agreed to televise first round games, which they subbed out to ESPN for the first few years.

[Zog from Margo]

First round Thursday and Friday games weren't televised back then.

The 1981 shot linked above was for sure on NBC. It was a Saturday. CBS acquired the rights in 1982, and agreed to televise first round games, which they subbed out to ESPN for the first few years.

Thanks!

[wadesworld]

https://www.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/1s7gm7t/dan_hurleys_interaction_with_the_ref_after/

Is this AI?  I've seen it posted by multiple accounts, so I don't think so, but WTF?  What is he doing?

[MU82]

The shots that stand out to me were those by Whitehead, Ainge, Laettner, Drew and Jenkins.

I actually had the latter two in my playbook when I coached - I very originally called them "Valpo" and "Nova" - and my middle-schoolers ran Valpo to perfection to beat the halftime buzzer in a blowout win. Never got to try Nova in a game.

[Billy Hoyle]

The shots that stand out to me were those by Whitehead, Ainge, Laettner, Drew and Jenkins.

I actually had the latter two in my playbook when I coached - I very originally called them "Valpo" and "Nova" - and my middle-schoolers ran Valpo to perfection to beat the halftime buzzer in a blowout win. Never got to try Nova in a game.

I tried running the Bryce Drew play when my HS AAU team was down 2 with 3 seconds left and had to go the length of the court. It didn't work; we didn't even get a shot off, LOL!

[cheebs09]

https://www.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/1s7gm7t/dan_hurleys_interaction_with_the_ref_after/

Is this AI?  I've seen it posted by multiple accounts, so I don't think so, but WTF?  What is he doing?

I thought it was AI because I'd seen a number of videos of coaches fighting in the handshake line that were AI. However, the fact no one is calling this out as AI makes me wonder if it is real.

[GoldenEagles03]

Not AI.

Here's the full clip.

https://x.com/i/status/2038461319003689230

[wadesworld]

Not AI.

Here's the full clip.

https://x.com/i/status/2038461319003689230

That seems like more than a stare down.  I like Hurley, but boy that is about as dumb as it could possibly get.  Just about the only chance you have to not win at that point is letting the refs call a technical foul somewhere.

[The Sultan]

He was talking and laughing with that same ref earlier. It was fine.

[GoldenEagles03]

That seems like more than a stare down.  I like Hurley, but boy that is about as dumb as it could possibly get.  Just about the only chance you have to not win at that point is letting the refs call a technical foul somewhere.

Almost like he is just testing his limits or daring guys to call a T in a spot like that.

[GoldenEagles03]

He was talking and laughing with that same ref earlier. It was fine.

Probably but that ref didn't seem to be laughing in that moment lol.

It was very strange.

[cheebs09]

Some thought the ref was saying something and both leaned in. Not sure if the ref was telling him they were reviewing time.

Not sure that's how I'd celebrate but it didn't seem too bad. Especially if the ref was talking to him.

[The Equalizer]

That seems like more than a stare down.  I like Hurley, but boy that is about as dumb as it could possibly get.  Just about the only chance you have to not win at that point is letting the refs call a technical foul somewhere.

I don't get what he was supposed to do. The ref walked up to him to say something, not vice versa.

Hurley, probably for the first time in his career, kept his mouth shut. 

It seems to me that given his history, opening his mouth to say literally anything would have dramatically raised the possibility of a technical.

[GoldenEagles03]

I don't get what he was supposed to do. The ref walked up to him to say something, not vice versa.

Hurley, probably for the first time in his career, kept his mouth shut. 

It seems to me that given his history, opening his mouth to say literally anything would have dramatically raised the possibility of a technical.

The ref walked up to him to let him know they were checking the time. Hurley went nose to nose with him and stared him down as he walked away.

I don't know what was said before this but at the very least it is just a strange reaction from Hurley. He's a goofball with a short fuse and a gigantic ego.

(And I'm not saying that necessarily bad as a college basketball coach. But he's crazy lol)

[Jay Bee]

He's a goofball with a short fuse and a gigantic ego.

Maybe more Scoopers should get into coaching??

[GB Warrior]

Maybe more Scoopers should get into coaching??

The people he's referring to are dentists and aren't allowed around children

[muwarrior69]

Not AI.

Here's the full clip.

https://x.com/i/status/2038461319003689230

Unless you are a Duke radio announcer there is nothing to see here.

[WhiteTrash]

Unless you are a Duke radio announcer there is nothing to see here.

I've never heard of Hurley getting close to refs. 

[brewcity77]

The ref walked up to him to let him know they were checking the time. Hurley went nose to nose with him and stared him down as he walked away.

I don't know what was said before this but at the very least it is just a strange reaction from Hurley. He's a goofball with a short fuse and a gigantic ego.

(And I'm not saying that necessarily bad as a college basketball coach. But he's crazy lol)

Roger Ayers is a Big East regular that Hurley is familiar with. That was moments after the Mullins shot and it was probably rather loud. I think people are making way too much of nothing.

[JWags85]

The ref walked up to him to let him know they were checking the time. Hurley went nose to nose with him and stared him down as he walked away.

I don't know what was said before this but at the very least it is just a strange reaction from Hurley. He's a goofball with a short fuse and a gigantic ego.

(And I'm not saying that necessarily bad as a college basketball coach. But he's crazy lol)

I saw today that someone asked the Ayers about it either after the game or later on and he didn't even recall the interaction, aka it wasn't heated or abnormal or uncomfortable.  And Hurley was likely on a massive adrenaline dump that he made him kind of spacey in the immediate aftermath.

Its not the most popular of opinions outside of Storrs, but Ive actually grown to like Hurley.  Don't get me wrong, he's an absolute lunatic on the sideline, but I think he's otherwise unproblematic, its not like he's not Bobby Knight.  He's 100% authentic and unfiltered.  Never falls into robotic/generic coachspeak that is so common in the sport.  No off the court issues.  By and large, he's complementary and respectful/supportive of other Big East coaches and programs (he's always been one of the best quotes/perspectives on what Shaka has done at Marquette, IMO). 

He's arrogant and has a huge ego.  Of course he does.  But I find it really hard to have an issue with that in a coach when he has 3 FFs and 2 nattys in 8 years as a major college coach, much less only 15 years removed from being a high school coach.

Loudmouthed coach from NJ with an ego who backs it all up?  Al would love him if he was still alive, as a coaching peer or as an announcer.

[Jay Bee]

By and large, he's complementary and respectful/supportive of other Big East coaches and programs

*complimentary