NCAA Tournament 2026

[MuggsyB]

As far as UCONN/Duke, who guards Boozer?  Karaban?  Because Reed checking him from the top doesn't seem like a great idea. 

[Zog from Margo]

Wait, you mean Ben gold wasn't the answer?

Why limit it to Ben? Who was physical on MU's roster?

[MU82]

Anyone have any idea why Rick pretty much benched this dude for most of the 2nd half?

Guy was on fire, then barely played.

Yeah, it was strange that Prey didn't play a second after scoring 12 points in 13 minutes. I was talking to the TV, asking where he was.

Cayden Boozer getting into foul trouble saved Scheyer's ass tonight.  Duke loses if Foster isn't forced into extended minutes with that foul trouble.

Foster was very impressive. Made plays, took care of the ball, saved Duke's bacon.

Very unfortunate Iowa St. lost Jefferson

Losing your stud during the tournament is a killer. Momcilovic not showing up and ISU shooting FTs like MU were killers, too.

On another note ...

I kinda like that the B18 makes up half the Elite Eight ... but the Weasels lost to a 12-seed just a few hours into the tournament.

[MuggsyB]

Yeah, it was strange that Prey didn't play a second after scoring 12 points in 13 minutes. I was talking to the TV, asking where he was.

Foster was very impressive. Made plays, took care of the ball, saved Duke's bacon.

Losing your stud during the tournament is a killer. Momcilovic not showing up and ISU shooting FTs like MU were killers, too.

On another note ...

I kinda like that the B18 makes up half the Elite Eight ... but the Weasels lost to a 12-seed just a few hours into the tournament.

Yes. The Weasels went 5-2 against the 4 B18 teams in the E8.    But lost to High Point. 

As for the match-ups....they seem lopsided.  Maybe Iowa finds a way?  I'm having a hard seeing Tennessee or Purdue winning.  UCONN has a chance but they're going to need Reed to stay out of foul trouble and have big games from their guards. 

[willie warrior]

As far as UCONN/Duke, who guards Boozer?  Karaban?  Because Reed checking him from the top doesn't seem like a great idea. 

Boozer is a bruised. The refs have let him body everybody. He gets away with a lot of push offs.

[willie warrior]

Yes, the gap between MU and UConn and St. John's in talent and coaching is definitely widening. That cannot be denied. Even though a few on this board have sneered at that. Shaka needs to get his ass in giddyup mode

[Uncle Rico]

Yes, the gap between MU and UConn and St. John's in talent and coaching is definitely widening. That cannot be denied. Even though a few on this board have sneered at that. Shaka needs to get his ass in giddyup mode

Or what?  You'll stop donating to the program?  Take your Warriors pennant down in your basement?

[Tarragona]

Iowa State v Tennessee

Game of Matchups. Without Jefferson, playing against a top 5 rebounding team, too much size and physicality. 43-22 and 16-5 offensive. Ament added a scorer with Gillespie. Okpara and Carey each with 10 boards.

[muwarrior69]

Anyone have any idea why Rick pretty much benched this dude for most of the 2nd half?

Guy was on fire, then barely played.
Instead, Ian Jackson kept chucking shot after shot, playing terrible defense, and committing silly flagrant fouls.

Pretty egregious on Mr. Pitinos part if you ask me...
He had an brutal end of the game imo. He fouled down only 3 when they didn't need to (got lucky Duke missed a ft).
Then he had Zuby drive for a 2 instead of team attempting a 3- not a great ft shooter, but got lucky again as Duke missed another ft.
Then let "big stones" Darling run up and chuck a 3 that was almost airballed.

I'm pretty sure he was out of timeouts, and Prey wasn't in for most of that. I get he's not a 3P shooter but he's seen it go thru the hoop and you've gotta ride that or at least let him play enough to attempt a few more.
Gotta get Zuby or Hopkins a touch at the end too.

Even HOFers make mistakes. If that was Shaka coaching down the stretch we would lose it

He got the Preyer from Vegas: Let's point shave without really shaving points.

[Scoop Snoop]

He got the Preyer from Vegas: Let's point shave without really shaving points.

 

[MuggsyB]

It's not gonna happen but if a B18 is going to win it, I wouldn't have a problem with Iowa.  Realistically do they have much of a chance today?  Maybe Stirtz finally has a good shooting day?  McCollum isn't going anywhere.  It makes you wonder if there are other coaching gems in D2. 

[wadesworld]

It's not gonna happen but if a B18 is going to win it, I wouldn't have a problem with Iowa.  Realistically do they have much of a chance today?  Maybe Stirtz finally has a good shooting day?  McCollum isn't going anywhere.  It makes you wonder if there are other coaching gens in D2. 

Who cares if the B1G wins the national title? I'd easily rather have Dusty May/Michigan win a title than SJU/Rick Pitino.

And of course they have a chance. They'll slow it down, and McCollum is maybe the best coach in college basketball. I'd bet on IL, but would be in no way shocked if Iowa won.

[MuggsyB]

Who cares if the B1G wins the national title? I'd easily rather have Dusty May/Michigan win a title than SJU/Rick Pitino.

And of course they have a chance. They'll slow it down, and McCollum is maybe the best coach in college basketball. I'd bet on IL, but would be in no way shocked if Iowa won.

Illinois has so much length and talent.  But they could conceivably choke. 

[Jay Bee]

Yeah, it was strange that Prey didn't play a second after scoring 12 points in 13 minutes. I was talking to the TV, asking where he was.

Losing your stud during the tournament is a killer. Momcilovic not showing up and ISU shooting FTs like MU were killers, too.

#FakeNews #Lies

Prey sucks badly and FTs weren't the issue for ISU.

[MuggsyB]

#FakeNews #Lies

Prey sucks badly and FTs weren't the issue for ISU.

It wasn't their primary issue but are you saying if they made 90% of them it couldn't change momentum or put some game pressure on Tennessee?

[Uncle Rico]

It wasn't their primary issue but are you saying if they made 90% of them it couldn't change momentum or put some game pressure on Tennessee?

100% they could have.  Iowa State left a lot of points at the line, somehow shooting worse at the line than their season average.

Tennessee playing more aggressively knowing fouls wouldn't hurt them because the 'clones are terrible at FT shooting.  FTs doomed Iowa State.

[MuggsyB]

100% they could have.  Iowa State left a lot of points at the line, somehow shooting worse at the line than their season average.

Tennessee playing more aggressively knowing fouls wouldn't hurt them because the 'clones are terrible at FT shooting.  FTs doomed Iowa State.

I mean I get it's far more about FTA's than FT percentage, but you mentioned things that stats don't measure.  Stats don't measure momentum or thwarting momentum. Stats don't measure what happened exactly when Scheyer went to a zone.  Stats don't measure what you're suggesting about Tenn's continued aggressive defense, even in heavy foul trouble. 

I heard Dusty May say something interesting this morning.  He said the game swung in Michigan's favor yesterday when they abandoned quick threes and took shots closer to the rim.  Why?  Because it played to their bigs' stregths and their size advantage.  In other words not all offensive rebounds are created equally, you can obviously state the same thing about turnovers. 

How many fouls are drawn on an offensive rebound near the rim vs an offensive rebound from a back iron three that ricochets out to the perimeter?  Or, if a team is doubling or denying a good interior player, and that team continues to take threes, what the likelihood the solid big will get involved in the game?  Isn't there a better chance they can offensive rebound, and be more active, if a teammate breaks down the defense with a blow by and forcing the D to help?  I just think there are way more nuances than basic black and white stats.  This is why MU in particular would benefit greatly from a power big that can finish.   Imagine the opportunities when Nigel zooms by his initial defender?  I would like a major presence in the paint on both ends of the floor. 

[MU82]

#FakeNews #Lies

Prey sucks badly and FTs weren't the issue for ISU.

Yeah, you're wrong.

[Nukem2]

#FakeNews #Lies

Prey sucks badly and FTs weren't the issue for ISU.

Prey usually does, but he was terrific in that first half last night.

[williewarrior]

Or what?  You'll stop donating to the program?  Take your Warriors pennant down in your basement?

Says the dork who was the biggest denier of the gap theory. Then when the gap theory became acutely apparent, he hid under the table fow a while to hide his embarrasment that his snarky smugness was exposed. Now the season is over and he is back expounding his wisdom. Take your Reeker pennant down from the ceiling over your bed.

[Jay Bee]

Yeah, you're wrong.

lol, no. "hey guys ISU lost bc of free throws. ignore TN's 56.8%-43.5% monster edge in eFG%, and also TN rebounding more than half of their own misses (the only team to do that to ISU this season.. and TN is the best in the nation on the o-boards)"

[Uncle Rico]

Says the dork who was the biggest denier of the gap theory. Then when the gap theory became acutely apparent, he hid under the table fow a while to hide his embarrasment that his snarky smugness was exposed. Now the season is over and he is back expounding his wisdom. Take your Reeker pennant down from the ceiling over your bed.

You have two accounts?  Why?

[MU82]

lol, no. "hey guys ISU lost bc of free throws. ignore TN's 56.8%-43.5% monster edge in eFG%, and also TN rebounding more than half of their own misses (the only team to do that to ISU this season.. and TN is the best in the nation on the o-boards)"

I didn't say they lost because of missed FTs. I said it was "a" contributor to the loss.

They were trying to rally ... they kept getting fouled ... and they kept missing FTs. Which I guess was actually a good thing, right? Who needs points when you're trying to make a comeback?

Anyhoo. The absence of Jefferson was the biggest factor. And Momcilovic being on a milk carton hurt ISU badly. Or maybe you don't think those things mattered, either. Whatever floats your boat.

[MuggsyB]

Good start for Iowa.

[Uncle Rico]

Good start for Iowa.

They've been better offensively in 4 minutes than Houston was in 40