NCAA Tournament 2026

[muwarrior69]

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.

Sure Nil and the portal is good for college basketball, but for the most part the Big East did not play "good" basketball this season. This off season will tell us a lot if this new era in college ball is good for Marquette and the league, and if we are actually a P5 conference or just another mid major conference due to our baked-in financial disadvantage.

[MU82]

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.

Siena had a double-digit lead over Duke and almost won the game. High Point took out the Weasels and had a late lead over Arkansas. Kansas almost blew a 26-point lead to Cal Baptist. VCU came from a mile down to beat North Carolina. Santa Clara would have beaten Kentucky if not for a lucky 35-foot heave at the end of regulation.

So no, none of those mid-majors got to the Sweet 16 or beyond, but they provided a lot of excitement in the first round before the P5 teams took over to give us a lot of outstanding basketball games. I know that's not good enough for you, but I've thoroughly enjoyed the tournament.

[Billy Hoyle]

Yeah this Michigan 22 point halftime lead is so much more enjoyable than FAU/Kansas State Loyola/Miami ever were.

[The Sultan]

Yeah this Michigan 22 point halftime lead is so much more enjoyable than FAU/Kansas State Loyola/Miami ever were.

Man, that's not even a GOOD strawman argument.

Bad basketball games happen regularly in the tournament. It has nothing to do with mid-majors though.

[MUDPT]

I'm very pro- Labor, but I also think the current free agency system in college is a long term problem for the sports. There is something (especially in college) about having a connection and watching the same players for a couple of years.

[MuggsyB]

I'm looking forward to Zona/Michigan. 

[Uncle Rico]

Yeah this Michigan 22 point halftime lead is so much more enjoyable than FAU/Kansas State Loyola/Miami ever were.

Iowa State not having Jefferson changed that dynamic more than upsets not happening

[Nukem2]

I'm looking forward to Zona/Michigan. 

Could be the real natty game......

[MU82]

Imagine how sweet things would be for Dusty May if he were at a blueblood instead of slumming it at Michigan. He might even be able to get to a Final Four!

[K1 Lover]

Been busy today and forgot that the first game takes place earlier in the afternoon. Just seeing now the final score and all I have to say is wow.

[Jay Bee]

Feels kind of wrong, but I've been here before. I want UCONN to win it all. #BEastBrothers

[jfp61]

The big is SOOO lucky this Uconn team didn't lose to Furman.

[MuggsyB]

Ouch.  Not sure how that wasn't an offensive foul on Boozer.  WTF?

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

I didn't think much of Taris Reed last year, but he is very much improved. Having a good game today.

[MuggsyB]

I didn't think much of Taris Reed last year, but he is very much improved. Having a good game today.

He's been unreal in the tournament. 

[MuggsyB]

Why in the world did UCONN burn 15 secs???

[MuggsyB]

I guess that's why!!!!  Holy fk!!

[CountryRoads]

Wow

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Revenge for that loss to Duke 30 years ago.

[MuggsyB]

Gonna be a rough night for Scheyer and Duke fans!!  Wow, just wow!!!

[21Jumpstreet]

Winners win. Wow, what a comeback.

[Zog from Margo]

That is just sweet! Wow!

[HutchwasClutch]

Incredible choke but incredible shot too.  Too bad Hurley is on the winning side of this. 

[GoldenEagles03]

UConn is inevitable.

[HutchwasClutch]

I didn't think much of Taris Reed last year, but he is very much improved. Having a good game today.

He'll be most outstanding player of tournament hands down if they go on to win it all