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VOTE: Which team comes out of the South Region (in Houston) & Advances to the Final Four?

Which team Advances to the Final Four?

  • Total voters
    94
  • Poll closed .
Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
14,877
22,204
113
6:30 pm CT Tip; Thur March 26
Nebraska favored over IOWA by 2.5
www.espn.com

Iowa 77-71 Nebraska (Mar 26, 2026) Final Score - ESPN

Game summary of the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers NCAAM game, final score 77-71, from March 26, 2026 on ESPN.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

9:05 pm CT Tip; Thur March 26
Houston favored over Illinois by 2.5
www.espn.com

Illinois 65-55 Houston (Mar 26, 2026) Final Score - ESPN

Game summary of the Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Houston Cougars NCAAM game, final score 65-55, from March 26, 2026 on ESPN.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
N

NoPuntsNoPeace

All-Conference
Jul 9, 2025
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Why not the hawks at this point?

I did jokingly tell someone last week that obviously Iowa was going to the Final Four, so why change my prediction now.
 
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T

TweeterHawk

Senior
Nov 15, 2021
237
425
63
Franisdaman said:
6:30 pm CT Tip; Thur March 26
Nebraska favored over IOWA by 2.5
www.espn.com

Iowa 77-71 Nebraska (Mar 26, 2026) Final Score - ESPN

Game summary of the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers NCAAM game, final score 77-71, from March 26, 2026 on ESPN.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

9:05 pm CT Tip; Thur March 26
Houston favored over Illinois by 2.5
www.espn.com

Illinois 65-55 Houston (Mar 26, 2026) Final Score - ESPN

Game summary of the Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Houston Cougars NCAAM game, final score 65-55, from March 26, 2026 on ESPN.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
Click to expand...
It would suck if the only non-B1G team out of the four goes on. But certainly possible … maybe likely, even.
 
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Hawkfan_08*

Hawkfan_08*

All-American
Jul 2, 2025
2,976
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Franisdaman said:
Gonna be a lot of Houston red in the stands....and probably crazy Debbie red, too....
Click to expand...

I think we will be, by far, the most outnumbered in this regional. Houston might actually be 3rd behind Nebraska and Illinois. I just want our fans to show up and be loud. I did my part at Carver but I can't afford, nor have the time, to get there.
 
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LetsGoHawks83

LetsGoHawks83

All-American
Mar 20, 2015
2,728
5,447
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Hawkfan_08* said:
I think we will be, by far, the most outnumbered in this regional. Houston might actually be 3rd behind Nebraska and Illinois. I just want our fans to show up and be loud. I did my part at Carver but I can't afford, nor have the time, to get there.
Click to expand...

And the other 3 teams had a one day jump on buying tickets.

Although all the Florida fans are dumping tickets now
 
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Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
14,877
22,204
113
Just a reminder:

Because of having a top 21 KenPom offense AND a top 31 KenPom defense entering the NCAA Tournament, here were the 9 teams with a real chance HISTORICALLY at winning the 2026 National Championship:

....................................................Top 21...........Top 31
Overall..................Offense.......Defense
.......1. Duke....................................4............2
.......2. Arizona..........................5............3
.......3. Michigan.................. 8........... 1
.......5. Houston............... 14........... 5
.......6. Iowa State......... 21.......... 4
.......7. Illinois............................ 2...... 28


......4. Florida........................... 9.......... 6 (LOST to IOWA 73-72 in the Round of 32)

12. Vanderbilt............. 7....... 31 (LOST to Nebraska 74-72 in the Round of 32)

19. Louisville.............. 19...... 25 (LOST to Michigan State 77-69 in the Round of 32)


IOWA: #31 offense; #30 defense entering the NCAA Tournament.
 
Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
14,877
22,204
113
Lone Clone said:
First of all, congratulations on the Florida win last night. Hawks clearly deserved to win.

Second, if I was forced to bet on who comes out of Houston, I'd vote for Houston -- although they are probably the only team in the tournament that doesn't get a huge boost by playing at home.
Click to expand...

I am afraid its gonna be mostly Nebraska fans in the arena on Thursday night
 
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Psyclone

Psyclone

Heisman
May 29, 2001
75,444
40,022
113
I voted Houston and had them picked in my bracket, but this Houston team can be beat. They are flawed compared to their recent teams. But they play hard and Sampson is a great coach. It won't be easy, but they are beatable. I just can't pick against Sampson. They wear you down.

I've seen plenty of all four of these coaches though and all are good. Three of them were in the Big 12 (Sampson twice) and I watched McCollum at Drake where I thought the offense he ran was a thing of beauty, with spacing and movement. The ball never got stuck. Many of these games will come down to who makes shots and that's where I do think Houston could be in trouble if they can't turn teams over. Hopefully the games don't come down to foul trouble or injuries.
 
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NLhawk62

NLhawk62

All-Conference
Sep 6, 2008
20,860
1,119
86
In a “fun” bracket I filled out, I had Iowa to the Elite 8, then losing a heartbreaker to Illinois. Because why not.

Amazingly, that could still happen. I voted Illinois because they’re the real deal, but it’ll probably be Houston. Whoever wins that game.
 
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Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
14,877
22,204
113
Psyclone said:
I voted Houston and had them picked in my bracket, but this Houston team can be beat. They are flawed compared to their recent teams. But they play hard and Sampson is a great coach. It won't be easy, but they are beatable. I just can't pick against Sampson. They wear you down.

I've seen plenty of all four of these coaches though and all are good. Three of them were in the Big 12 (Sampson twice) and I watched McCollum at Drake where I thought the offense he ran was a thing of beauty, with spacing and movement. The ball never got stuck. Many of these games will come down to who makes shots and that's where I do think Houston could be in trouble if they can't turn teams over. Hopefully the games don't come down to foul trouble or injuries.
Click to expand...

Turnovers for IOWA:

.....8: vs Clemson
10: vs Florida
 
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Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
14,877
22,204
113
IOWA already has film on Nebraska & Illinois after playing them so many times.

Now their video guys are breaking down the film for Houston.

I don't think we make the Final Four but I would not be surprised if we did.
 
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Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
14,877
22,204
113
Hawkfan_08* said:
I think we will be, by far, the most outnumbered in this regional. Houston might actually be 3rd behind Nebraska and Illinois. I just want our fans to show up and be loud. I did my part at Carver but I can't afford, nor have the time, to get there.
Click to expand...

 
H

Hawksbyamillion_rivals316961

Senior
Nov 29, 2021
287
752
92
Franisdaman said:
Still kinda hard to believe that 9th place (in the B1G) IOWA has a really good chance of making the Elite 8.
Click to expand...
Inspire Jimmy Fallon GIF by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
 
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