NCAA Tournament 2026

[MuggsyB]

Karaban hasn't played like this is a long time.

[Billy Hoyle]

Karaban hasn't played like this is a long time.

Have to make up for how bad Ball is playing

[MuggsyB]

Solo Ball on the other hand has been BRUTAL.

[Nukem2]

Solo Ball on the other hand has been BRUTAL.

He has been for quite a few games. Shot not dropping and he is just a poor defender anyway.

[Billy Hoyle]

They need Ball to get bus crap together on both ends if they don't want to be blown out by Sparty. Fears won't have to flop or kick anyone in the nuts to out play him

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

After cheering for SJU and UConn tonight.

[MuggsyB]

They need Ball to get bus crape together on both ends if they don't want to be blown out by Sparty. Fears won't have to flop or kick anyone in the nuts to out play him

Ya.....he has to do something out there besides bricking like crazy. 

[MuggsyB]

I hate to say it, but the B18 streak could be over. 

[WhiteTrash]

I hate to say it, but the B18 streak could be over. 

If you throw enough schools at it, something will eventually stick. 

[wadesworld]

https://x.com/SECBarstool/status/2035895561212367342?s=20

Oops.

[CountryRoads]

Nice day for the big east

[Daniel]

Nice day for the big east

Yes. 66% of the big east yeahs who got in tourney are in the Sweet 16!   lol.   It is a good day,  Just a shame  they put SJU and UConn in the same bracket.   

[MuggsyB]

It's very unfortunate there really isn't anyone to root for.  I suppose there's no reason to hate Iowa, Nebraska, or even Purdue. 

[MU82]

As celebrated as Karaban has been, it's hard to believe that the 27 points scored tonight was a career high. All those games over 4 seasons, all those accolades about his shooting, and not one 30-pointer?

I mean, Nigel James had three 30-point games this season!

Also ... as good as Florida's frontcourt is and was, it was their backcourt, especially Walter Clayton, that made the Gators champions last season.

I never felt good about their guards this season.

Also ... super impressed with the way Iowa State won without Jefferson. Totally dominated the second half.

Too bad UCLA had to play similarly shorthanded. They hung around with UConn but just didn't have enough in the end.

Also ... Darling was horrendous, and Pitino had benched him for long stretches, until he made the winning bucket. Darling is the only player in NCAAT history to have his only points be the winning points. He's left-handed and very rarely shoots with his right.

[willie warrior]

Yes. 66% of the big east yeahs who got in tourney are in the Sweet 16!   lol.   It is a good day,  Just a shame  they put SJU and UConn in the same bracket.   

The gap has widened. Time to giddyup, Shaka. Need talent like yesterday.

[burger]

Yeah....The talent difference between our team and some of these teams is honestly.....Startling.....

[MuggsyB]

Self may not be back. 

[Uncle Rico]

Self may not be back. 

Scott Drew to Kansas.  You heard it here first.

[The Sultan]

Scott Drew to Kansas.  You heard it here first.

Do you know the family or something?

[Uncle Rico]

Do you know the family or something?

You'll see.

He has to pray with his family and ask Jesus for help (family + Jesus = Baylor megadonors)

[The Equalizer]

As celebrated as Karaban has been, it's hard to believe that the 27 points scored tonight was a career high. All those games over 4 seasons, all those accolades about his shooting, and not one 30-pointer?

I mean, Nigel James had three 30-point games this season!

I suspect it might have something to do with the relative surrounding cast each player had.

[Tarragona]

Programs with 4 straight Sweet 16's:

Alabama
Houston
Tennessee

[BCHoopster]

It's obvious watching these games the physicality majority these bigs bring to the table.  Obvious need a center, but the wings are just as important.  Both Phillips and Owens are finesse wings with not enough muscle.  Is ALex the answer, but he is a freshman or another wing?  What do you think?

[Pakuni]

Scott Drew to Kansas.  You heard it here first.

Kentucky is going to do whatever it takes to keep him.

[MU82]

I suspect it might have something to do with the relative surrounding cast each player had.

On the one hand, yes, playing with talented teammates has meant more pie to divvy up. But on the other hand, it also meant his team included talented playmakers who could get him the ball in scoring positions and great rebounders who could get him extra shot attempts.

I wouldn't have expected him to average even 20 ppg. I was just surprised to hear that 27 was his career high - that not even one time in all those games he played, did he have such a hot hand that his teammates fed him for a 28-point outing.

Playing for the same UConn team, Reed just had a 31-point game; last season, McNeeley had a 38-point game; in 2023-24, Newton had a 31-point game and Clingan a 29-pointer. So it's not as if it was an impossible feat, especially for one of the most celebrated players in the program's history.