NCAA Tournament 2026

[MuggsyB]

Maybe I'm biased but it looks to me that Purdue gets away with a lot of b-ass.  Hooking, moving screens, pushing, pick your violation. 

[Jay Bee]

Sure would have been nice to have gotten that Lucas Morillo commitment - a 6'7" combo guard compliment to Nigel for next year? Yes, please.

Lotsa ppl compliment Nigel. Wonder if he could complement him?

[MuggsyB]

They finally called Cluff fur a moving screen!  Bout time. 

[Billy Hoyle]

I would not have guessed Arizona had a longer Final Four drought than us.

The two teams that woj tonight had multiple bigs who can defend and score. Michigan does too. We have Caedin and Josh...

[Nukem2]

Well, we have finally seen the last of this Purdue group.

[MuggsyB]

We saw what power hoops is all about in the 2nd H.  Good job by Zona using their athleticism and relentlessly attacking downhill.  Very few turns as well.  Kharcherov?  impressed me. 

[nyg]

I would not have guessed Arizona had a longer Final Four drought than us.

The two teams that woj tonight had multiple bigs who can defend and score. Michigan does too. We have Caedin and Josh...

Yes. Illinois and Arizona, along with Michigan have the perfect roster constructions.  Good portal guys, top 25 recruits (except that Waglar), and international bigs. 

Arizona-Michigan would be awesome semi final game. 

[Billy Hoyle]

We saw what power hoops is all about in the 2nd H.  Good job by Zona using their athleticism and relentlessly attacking downhill.  Very few turns as well.  Kharcherov?  impressed me. 

Zero in the second half. And they took the lead by pounding the ball into the paint.

The Big Ten was talking 4 teams in the Final Four yesterday, at best, they'll get two. Come on Tennessee!!!

[wadesworld]

What is the obsession with the B1G?

[DoctorV]

If Michigan wins tomorrow this Final 4 in Indy will be incredible.

Having all those Illinois and Michigan fans will make it one of the best ever in entertainment value imo.

Not to mention the games will be awesome
Illinois v UConn/Duke and Arizona v Michigan (go away Tennessee!)

Arizona and Michigan have looked the best teams in the sport all season, and it hasn't changed in March.

I have a strange feeling that Illinois will shoot really well and be up for the challenge against either opponent, and I think we will see a final of Illinois v Az/Michigan.
Of course in that game the Illini would have to play a nearly perfect game to win.

As an aside, in a season where it seems like UConn has just been struggling its way along (despite the 2 seed), would be great to see them pull a "miracle" and win it all.
The ncaab world would be shocked because no one has been talking about them at all.

[Billy Hoyle]

What is the obsession with the B1G?

Keeping the Big East's record of three teams in the Final Four is nice.

More so, the Big Ten has led the charge in charging college sports for the worse. They have destroyed conferences with their expansion tactics and will continue to try and destroy more. They and the SEC are the ones controlling college sports and the NCAA right now.

[MuggsyB]

If Michigan wins tomorrow this Final 4 in Indy will be incredible.

Having all those Illinois and Michigan fans will make it one of the best ever in entertainment value imo.

Not to mention the games will be awesome
Illinois v UConn/Duke and Arizona v Michigan (go away Tennessee!)

Arizona and Michigan have looked the best teams in the sport all season, and it hasn't changed in March.

I have a strange feeling that Illinois will shoot really well and be up for the challenge against either opponent, and I think we will see a final of Illinois v Az/Michigan.
Of course in that game the Illini would have to play a nearly perfect game to win.

As an aside, in a season where it seems like UConn has just been struggling its way along (despite the 2 seed), would be great to see them pull a "miracle" and win it all.
The ncaab world would be shocked because no one has been talking about them at all.

If Michigan wins tomorrow this Final 4 in Indy will be incredible.

Having all those Illinois and Michigan fans will make it one of the best ever in entertainment value imo.

Not to mention the games will be awesome
Illinois v UConn/Duke and Arizona v Michigan (go away Tennessee!)

Arizona and Michigan have looked the best teams in the sport all season, and it hasn't changed in March.

I have a strange feeling that Illinois will shoot really well and be up for the challenge against either opponent, and I think we will see a final of Illinois v Az/Michigan.
Of course in that game the Illini would have to play a nearly perfect game to win.

As an aside, in a season where it seems like UConn has just been struggling its way along (despite the 2 seed), would be great to see them pull a "miracle" and win it all.
The ncaab world would be shocked because no one has been talking about them at all.

The potential Zona/Michigan game could be pretty epic Dr.V. 

[MuggsyB]

What is the obsession with the B1G?

What's wrong with wanting 26 straight and counting?

[GoldenEagles03]

I have AZ beating Illinois in my title game on my brackets.

Had Michigan State and Iowa State as my other Final Four teams.

So...I guess I'm still pulling for an AZ over Illinois title.

[GoldenEagles03]

Would be pretty neat to see Tennessee beat Michigan tomorrow. I'll pull for the Huskies tomorrow too.

[MU82]

Tommy Lloyd MUST go to UNC if he is to have any chance of winning anything. Can't get good players to go to Arizona.

[MuggsyB]

Tennessee has a puncher's chance vs Michigan.  But Gillespie in particular has to have a big game

[1SE]

If Michigan wins tomorrow this Final 4 in Indy will be incredible.

Having all those Illinois and Michigan fans will make it one of the best ever in entertainment value imo.

Not to mention the games will be awesome
Illinois v UConn/Duke and Arizona v Michigan (go away Tennessee!)

Arizona and Michigan have looked the best teams in the sport all season, and it hasn't changed in March.

I have a strange feeling that Illinois will shoot really well and be up for the challenge against either opponent, and I think we will see a final of Illinois v Az/Michigan.
Of course in that game the Illini would have to play a nearly perfect game to win.

As an aside, in a season where it seems like UConn has just been struggling its way along (despite the 2 seed), would be great to see them pull a "miracle" and win it all.
The ncaab world would be shocked because no one has been talking about them at all.

Plus then we could hang a "beat the national champs" banner!

[The Sultan]

Keeping the Big East's record of three teams in the Final Four is nice.

More so, the Big Ten has led the charge in charging college sports for the worse. They have destroyed conferences with their expansion tactics and will continue to try and destroy more. They and the SEC are the ones controlling college sports and the NCAA right now.

College sports is better than its ever been.

[Uncle Rico]

What is the obsession with the B1G?

Little brother syndrome

[Uncle Rico]

College sports is better than its ever been.

Yes and no.  I'd argue the in-person fan experience has never been worse.

It's nuanced and the argument can go either way. The concern about the SEC and Big 18 shouldn't be ignored.  The guaranteed spots in the football playoff will eventually make their way to basketball.

[The Sultan]

I am being somewhat hyperbolic, but that's because there is too much complaining about what college sports has become. And frankly a lot of that IMO is because people simply are nostalgic for what it was.

The portal and NIL has definitely improved that quality of play at the highest levels. Yeah, I know it sucks for the mid-majors who get their rosters destroyed if a player shows any ability to play at a P5 school, but I have noticed in both basketball and football that, come tournament time, the quality is there.

[muwarrior69]

College sports is better than its ever been.

...but will it be for Marquette?

[The Sultan]

...but will it be for Marquette?

Only when the whiney old Boomers die off. Like Moses and the promised land, they will not be able to enter the next golden age.

[1SE]

I am being somewhat hyperbolic, but that's because there is too much complaining about what college sports has become. And frankly a lot of that IMO is because people simply are nostalgic for what it was.

The portal and NIL has definitely improved that quality of play at the highest levels. Yeah, I know it sucks for the mid-majors who get their rosters destroyed if a player shows any ability to play at a P5 school, but I have noticed in both basketball and football that, come tournament time, the quality is there.

Great - just like it is in the NBA and NFL. If all I cared about was elite ball skills I'd go there.

Everything that made the NCAA, and in particular NCAA MBB and in particular the NCAAT was that if you were a mid major and mixed in a bit or work with some luck you could put together a team that would be successful over multiple years.

No mid-major in the S16 since 2023 is a complete failure of the system. When the biggest Cinderella is TX, with an athletics budget of 6.5 gazillion dollars (or NC State), it's hard to find much drama.

I'm sure this will continue on just like the corporate soul whoring of every other piece of Americana that was ever actually worthwhile, but something much better has definitely been lost.