NCAA Tournament 2026

[wadesworld]

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.

This tournament has been awesome. Not having St. Peter's being doubled up at halftime of an Elite 8 game is great. Would much rather have a tight Iowa vs. Nebraska game.

And it appears most of America would, too, given that the Tournament has been breaking viewership records.

[Billy Hoyle]

College sports is better than its ever been.

Sure, if you like the underdogs being the richest athletic department in the country and a Big Ten school, or the best players consolidated at the top. It's becoming like the EPL and other soccer leagues, where only a small percentage of teams are legit title contenders, and the talent is concentrated with them. And when a smaller program finds and develops a stud, they'll be bought by the big guys. At least in the EPL, those teams are compensated.

In the CFP, James Madison and Tulane getting blown out is all the ammo the Big Ten and SEC need to eliminate bids for the Group of 5 conferences (but Oregon getting blown out themselves in back to back years is proof that the system works) and it's coming for the NCAA tournament as the Big Ten and SEC continue to flex their muscles and bully the NCAA with the "do what we want or we're leaving" threats. There will be a minimum number of spots for the power conferences. In the past, the media would complain when a deserving mid-major was passed over for a mediocre high-major; now it's the other way around.

[wadesworld]

Sure, if you like the underdogs being the richest athletic department in the country and a Big Ten school, or the best players consolidated at the top. It's becoming like the EPL and other soccer leagues, where only a small percentage of teams are legit title contenders, and the talent is concentrated with them. And when a smaller program finds and develops a stud, they'll be bought by the big guys. At least in the EPL, those teams are compensated.

In the CFP, James Madison and Tulane getting blown out is all the ammo the Big Ten and SEC need to eliminate bids for the Group of 5 conferences (but Oregon getting blown out themselves in back to back years is proof that the system works) and it's coming for the NCAA tournament as the Big Ten and SEC continue to flex their muscles and bully the NCAA with the "do what we want or we're leaving" threats. There will be a minimum number of spots for the power conferences. In the past, the media would complain when a deserving mid-major was passed over for a mediocre high-major; now it's the other way around.

What mid majors this year were passed up for power conference teams? Or were underseeded? If anything, Miami OH shouldn't have made it and teams like SLU were very fairly seeded.

Also, what number are the SEC and B1G going to require in terms of minimum number of teams in the Tournament that they wouldn't be getting in regardless?

[1SE]

This tournament has been awesome. Not having St. Peter's being doubled up at halftime of an Elite 8 game is great. Would much rather have a tight Iowa vs. Nebraska game.

And it appears most of America would, too, given that the Tournament has been breaking viewership records.

This tournament has been awesome. Not having St. Peter's being doubled up at halftime of an Elite 8 game is great. Would much rather have a tight Iowa vs. Nebraska game.

And it appears most of America would, too, given that the Tournament has been breaking viewership records.

You mean that in teal right?


Because if you think its more exciting to have a January Tuesday night BiG 28 match up as your elite 8 game than to have a 15 seed no one has ever heard of upset a 2 (thats the anti-hero of.college ball) and a 3 on their WAY to the E8...

[1SE]

What mid majors this year were passed up for power conference teams? Or were underseeded? If anything, Miami OH shouldn't have made it and teams like SLU were very fairly seeded.

Also, what number are the SEC and B1G going to require in terms of minimum number of teams in the Tournament that they wouldn't be getting in regardless?

Might as well just have a BIG32 and SEC32 and match them up on opposite sides of the bracket.

[wadesworld]

You mean that in teal right?


Because if you think its more exciting to have a January Tuesday night BiG 28 match up as your elite 8 game than to have a 15 seed no one has ever heard of upset a 2 (thats the anti-hero of.college ball) and a 3 on their WAY to the E8...

Yes, I thought it was WAY better to have a game that could go either way at the under 8 timeout of the second half between two power conference teams who don't have a ton of basketball success rather than having an elite 8 game being over well before the under 8 timeout of the first half. And it's not even remotely close to me.

[Billy Hoyle]

What mid majors this year were passed up for power conference teams? Or were underseeded? If anything, Miami OH shouldn't have made it and teams like SLU were very fairly seeded.

Also, what number are the SEC and B1G going to require in terms of minimum number of teams in the Tournament that they wouldn't be getting in regardless?

San Diego State and New Mexico both should have gotten in over NC State and SMU. And had they not won their conference tournament, VCU would not have gotten in, despite being more than deserving. South Florida wouldn't have gotten in had they not won their conference tourney either.

But my first point stands: the consolidation of talent is resulting in fewer schools outside the P4 being in the conversation for an at-large, let alone making a run in the tourney. Just three years ago, we had San Diego State and Florida Atlantic in the final four, both winning games that went down to the final possession, one over non-P4 Creighton. Those days are over. Now our underdog is from the richest athletic department in the country.

[MuggsyB]

Have we ever seen a Freshmen class like this?  I can't remember so many players being this good.  I'm really curious how the NBA scouts decide between those outside the top 3.  Wagler to me has enormous upside.  It might take him a few years but I wouldn't be deterred that he's a bit on the skinny side.  This NBA draft is likely going to bring in a completely new era of big time players. 

[The Sultan]

Sure, if you like the underdogs being the richest athletic department in the country and a Big Ten school, or the best players consolidated at the top. It's becoming like the EPL and other soccer leagues, where only a small percentage of teams are legit title contenders, and the talent is concentrated with them. And when a smaller program finds and develops a stud, they'll be bought by the big guys. At least in the EPL, those teams are compensated.

WTF are you talking about? Indiana just won the CFP title this season. In-di-ana.

And when did an era exist where more than "a small percentage of teams" were legit title contenders?  This is all more nostalgia than it is actual history.

[1SE]

Yes, I thought it was WAY better to have a game that could go either way at the under 8 timeout of the second half between two power conference teams who don't have a ton of basketball success rather than having an elite 8 game being over well before the under 8 timeout of the first half. And it's not even remotely close to me.

Yep, what a rare and exciting match up of David and goliath that ended up with a nail biting 12 point margin, I'm sure in 5 years when we ask who did Ill beat in the 2026 elite 8 no one outside iowa will know. But ask who beat 2 seed kentucky...

And under your logic we might as well vacate our last elite 8 and FF runs because those didn't end in competitive games either - would have been much better to have been replaced by the 6th place SEC team

[The Sultan]

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.

I hate to break it to you, but the ratings show that no one actually wants to watch mid-majors.

And also, if you can't tell that the product on the court is better than it was just a few years ago, I don't know what to tell you. People actually want to watch good basketball being played.

[1SE]

I hate to break it to you, but the ratings show that no one actually wants to watch mid-majors.

Yes, because ratings are the only thing that makes things worthwhile. You and Timotheeee must be best buds.

[The Sultan]

Yes, because ratings are the only thing that makes things worthwhile.

No, it means that a bunch of people don't share your view about what makes the tournament special. The magic of the tournament isn't mid-majors. The magic of the tournament is a single elimination format that generates good, compelling basketball games.

You and Timotheeee must be best buds.

I have no idea what this means.

[1SE]

I hate to break it to you, but the ratings show that no one actually wants to watch mid-majors.

And also, if you can't tell that the product on the court is better than it was just a few years ago, I don't know what to tell you. People actually want to watch good basketball being played.

Let me tell you about this thing called the NBA. Incredible skills. And nothing worthwhile.about high school ball - have you seen those kids? They suck!

And as per receipts.

Saint Peter's vs. North Carolina (2022 Elite Eight): 7.21 rating, 13.58 million viewers on CBS. �
Sports Media Watch
Saint Peter's vs. Purdue (2022 Sweet 16): 5.35 rating, 10.18 million viewers on CBS. �

Against the 2024–25 Elite Eight average of 9.54 million viewers, the Saint Peter's-UNC Elite Eight game at 13.58 million was about 42% higher. �
Sports Media Watch +2

[1SE]

No, it means that a bunch of people don't share your view about what makes the tournament special. The magic of the tournament isn't mid-majors. The magic of the tournament is a single elimination format that generates good, compelling basketball games.


I have no idea what this means.

Well, at least that tracks

[The Sultan]

Let me tell you about this thing called the NBA. Incredible skills. And nothing worthwhile.about high school ball - have you seen those kids? They suck!

They do. High school basketball is awful. I probably have seen five games since my kids stopped playing 10-12 years ago.

And as per receipts.

Saint Peter's vs. North Carolina (2022 Elite Eight): 7.21 rating, 13.58 million viewers on CBS. �
Sports Media Watch
Saint Peter's vs. Purdue (2022 Sweet 16): 5.35 rating, 10.18 million viewers on CBS. �

Against the 2024–25 Elite Eight average of 9.54 million viewers, the Saint Peter's-UNC Elite Eight game at 13.58 million was about 42% higher. �
Sports Media Watch +2

Cherry pick data all you want. The tournament at large has seen ratings upticks.

But go on about "Americana" or some such nonsense.

[1SE]

And even if you weren't wrong with the actual receipts, no doubt from a baseline IOWA and ILL and their 6.7 million collective alumni (and all the in-state wannabes who went to EIU but wear Illini stuff) are going to.raise viewership compared to the 849 annual st Peters alums- even if the number of casual viewers is the.same. and you're right, they're are overall better teams because they have a gazillion dollars to spend in NIL because they have a gazillion alums and huge TV contracts because the networks know they have a gazillion alum who will watch games. But it's an objectively worse product.the NCAAT has never been about watching elite basketball (seriously, if you want that watch try this thing called the NBA - those guys are good) -it was about the magic that any podunk school that you've  never heard of might make their way to the Elite 8 and play ball.in front of 14 million people.on TV. A true American story that with determination and skill and luck anyone can make it. What we have now is what everything else in America is - the richest can buy up the game to make.themselves richer. Cool. Totally the American dream.

[1SE]

They do. High school basketball is awful. I probably have seen five games since my kids stopped playing 10-12 years ago.




Cherry pick data all you want. The tournament at large has seen ratings upticks.

But go on about "Americana" or some such nonsense.

.

I'm literally showing you that the mid major game you claimed no one wanted to watch had 40% more viewers than the elite 8 games the last two years with no mid majors

[The Sultan]

And even if you weren't wrong with the actual receipts, no doubt from a baseline IOWA and ILL and their 6.7 million collective alumni (and all the in-state wannabes who went to EIU but wear Illini stuff) are going to.raise viewership compared to the 849 annual st Peters alums- even if the number of casual viewers is the.same. and you're right, they're are overall better teams because they have a gazillion dollars to spend in NIL because they have a gazillion alums and huge TV contracts because the networks know they have a gazillion alum who will watch games. But it's an objectively worse product.the NCAAT has never been about watching elite basketball (seriously, if you want that watch try this thing called the NBA - those guys are seriously good) -it was about the magic that any podunk school that you've  never heard of might make their way to the Elite 8 and play ball.in front of 14 million people.on TV. A true American story that with determination and skill and luck anyone can make it. What we have now is what everything else in America is - the richest can buy up the game to make.themselves richer. Cool. Totally the American dream.

Imagine being nostalgic over a game that North Carolina lead 38-19 at halftime. Good lord.

The less of that bad basketball the better.

Give me Purdue and Texas hitting shot after shot with a tip in the final seconds to win it any day over that.

[The Sultan]

I'm literally showing you that the mid major game you claimed no one wanted to watch had 40% more viewers than the elite 8 games the last two years with no mid majors

Keep cherry picking. It doesn't prove your point.

[1SE]

I hate to break it to you, but the ratings show that no one actually wants to watch mid-majors.

And also, if you can't tell that the product on the court is better than it was just a few years ago, I don't know what to tell you. People actually want to watch good basketball being played.

See... you said this, so I used numbers and facts to show you were wrong. If you have other numbers and facts that show differently please do present them.

[The Sultan]

See... you said this, so I used numbers and facts to show you were wrong. If you have other numbers and facts that show differently please do present them.

You picked one game. One. LOL.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/2026-ncaa-tournament-tv-ratings-212311356.html

Ratings up across the board. Ratings up in the regular season. People want to watch good basketball. NIL and the portal is helping that.

[Billy Hoyle]

You picked one game. One. LOL.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/2026-ncaa-tournament-tv-ratings-212311356.html

Ratings up across the board. Ratings up in the regular season. People want to watch good basketball. NIL and the portal is helping that.

you know what's helping it most of all? Gamblers tuning in. That Americans are increasingly sedentary.

[The Sultan]

you know what's helping it most of all? Gamblers tuning in. That Americans are increasingly sedentary.

Ah.

[Billy Hoyle]

WTF are you talking about? Indiana just won the CFP title this season. In-di-ana.

And when did an era exist where more than "a small percentage of teams" were legit title contenders?  This is all more nostalgia than it is actual history.

They did because they have a billionaire pumping unprecedented amounts of money into building their roster.

As for that era, you ignored 2023 when two mid-majors made the final four. Or when Butler made two straight title games. When VCU, Loyola-Chicago (beating a 7 and a 9 in the rounds of 16 and 8) and George Mason made the Final Four, when A-10 St. Joe's and Xavier were both last-second shots away from making it, when Oral Roberts, Oregon State, FCGU and Lasalle made runs to the second weekend, those years.