Pitino messed up big time leaving Prey on the bench most of the second half. Dude was red hot and playing great defense. Bad day for Slick Rick.
2026 NCAA Tournament Thread \ ALL Games-ALL Rounds
- Thread starter Tango Two
- Start date
So 4 out of 8 are B1G w/ 1 SEC, 1 B12, 1 ACC, 1 Big East.
B1G is guaranteed 1, can get 3, most likely 2 in the F4.
Rutgers
2-12 vs NCAA teams, Ws vs Penn, Lehigh.
0-5 vs Elite 8, Mich, Purdue, Iowa, Illinois, Tenn
(would've been 0-7 if Mich St made it)
B1G is guaranteed 1, can get 3, most likely 2 in the F4.
Rutgers
2-12 vs NCAA teams, Ws vs Penn, Lehigh.
0-5 vs Elite 8, Mich, Purdue, Iowa, Illinois, Tenn
(would've been 0-7 if Mich St made it)
A startling factoid from the Athletic:
In the five power basketball conferences there are 79 teams. Question: from these 79 teams, how many scholarship seniors are there who have completed their full four (or more) years of eligibility with that same team?
The answer is 22. Just 22. Ten years ago, it might have been 220.
The relevance to this thread is that Purdue has three of them. Which ten years ago, would have been no big deal. It is now.
In the five power basketball conferences there are 79 teams. Question: from these 79 teams, how many scholarship seniors are there who have completed their full four (or more) years of eligibility with that same team?
The answer is 22. Just 22. Ten years ago, it might have been 220.
The relevance to this thread is that Purdue has three of them. Which ten years ago, would have been no big deal. It is now.
and that's exactly why I'm rooting for Purdue to win it all
Elite 8
Saturday, March 28Toyota Center (Houston), SAP Center (San Jose)
| TIME (ET) | GAME | TV / STREAM |
|---|---|---|
| 6:09 p.m. | (9) Iowa vs. (3) Illinois || Houston Kevin Harlan / Robbie Hummel, Stan Van Gundy // Lauren Shehadi | TBS (watch live) |
| 8:49 p.m. | (2) Purdue vs. (1) Arizona || San Jose Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce | TBS (watch live) |
Sunday, March 29
United Center (Chicago), Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)
TIME (ET) GAME TV / STREAM
2:15 p.m.(6) Tennessee vs. (1) Michigan || Chicago
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Evan WashburnCBS (watch live)
5:05 p.m.(2) UConn vs.(1) Duke || Washington, D.C.
Ian Eagle / Bill Raftery, Grant Hill // Tracy WolfsonCBS (watch live)
United Center (Chicago), Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)
TIME (ET) GAME TV / STREAM
2:15 p.m.(6) Tennessee vs. (1) Michigan || Chicago
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Evan WashburnCBS (watch live)
5:05 p.m.(2) UConn vs.(1) Duke || Washington, D.C.
Ian Eagle / Bill Raftery, Grant Hill // Tracy WolfsonCBS (watch live)
Love everything about watching Iowa play. Love the fact they mostly followed the coach, love the sets they run, love that they haven’t bastardized basketball with over analytics, love the coach
hard not to root for them
hard not to root for them
What value does Stan Van Gundy bring to a college basketball broadcast? He's an NBA guy who is out of touch with the college game. Let Robbie Hummel handle it
Agreed, he’s a very bad and forced fit, somewhat like Barkley and Smith in studio. They’re NBA people, plus SVG just doesn’t come across all that likable in my opinion. I forgot about Nate Burleson being involved in this, that’s an even bigger debacle. Let Hummel do his thing combined with the ridiculous, way over excitement of Kevin Harlan and they’ll be fine.
Those who can’t do, teach. Those who can’t teach, work for the TBS studio team evidently (Burleson, Barkley, Smith).
Wagler wasnt even that highly sought after. The play of alot of these freshmen in the tourney is beyond its years
How awesome would it be to have three Big Ten teams in the Final Four. And the fourth would be a team we all love to hate in either Duke or UConn
Weird seeing the FT disparity against Purdue with DJ Carstensen there.
PFs Purdue 12 AZ 8(9 now)
FTs Purdue 2-6 AZ 14-16
PFs Purdue 12 AZ 8(9 now)
FTs Purdue 2-6 AZ 14-16
I know that McCollum ripped into him, think it was first half or early second half maybe. He grabbed a defensive board, dribbled way too long up court (should have passed up the wing to a streaking teammate as Iowa had an easy two), then had the ball poked away from behind for a turnover. McCollum was not pleased, maybe he had other mistakes out there as well but that was I noticed for sure.
I've got UM winning it all, but don't feel great about it right now, think any team left could beat any other team left on the right night. Including Tenn of Michigan. Hope not!
Arizona sleptwalked through the first half and were still able to demolish a veteran Purdue team. If I was their coach the only thing I would be worried about is that they may believe the can turn it on at any time to dominate their opponent. That may turn out to be true, but I would want them to play with a lot more intensity from the beginning
| FRIDAY, APRIL 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time (ET) | Event | Location |
| 10:00 a.m. | Reese's Men's Final Four Friday
| Lucas Oil Stadium |
| Noon - 6:00 p.m. | Men's Final Four Fan Fest presented by Capital One
| Indiana Convention Center |
| 4:00 - 11:00 p.m. | Tip-Off Tailgate | Georgia Street |
| 4:30 - 10:00 p.m. | March Madness Music Festival: AT&T Block Party | American Legion Mall |
| SATURDAY, APRIL 4 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time (ET) | Event | Location |
| 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. | Men's Final Four Fan Fest presented by Capital One
| Indiana Convention Center |
| 1:00 - 11:00 p.m. | Tip-Off Tailgate | Georgia Street |
| 2:30 - 10:00 p.m. | March Madness Music Festival: Coca-Cola Live! | American Legion Mall |
| 4:00 p.m. | Gates open for Semifinal Games | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| 6:00 p.m. | DI National Semifinal Game 1 | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| 8:30 p.m. | DI National Semifinal Game 2 | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| SUNDAY, APRIL 5 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time (ET) | Event | Location |
| Noon - 6:00 p.m. | Men's Final Four Fan Fest presented by Capital One
| Indiana Convention Center |
| Noon - 6:00 p.m. | Tip-Off Tailgate | Georgia Street |
| 1:00 p.m. | Men's Final Four Dribble presented by GEICO
The 2026 event has reached capacity | Carroll Stadium
|
| 1:00 p.m. | Division II Men's Basketball National Championship Game | Gainbridge Fieldhouse |
| 3:00 - 10:30 p.m. | March Madness Music Festival: Capital One JamFest | American Legion Mall |
| 4:30 p.m. | Division III Men's Basketball National Championship Game | Gainbridge Fieldhouse |
| 8:00 p.m. | National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Championship Game | Gainbridge Fieldhouse |
| MONDAY, APRIL 6 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time (ET) | Event | Location |
| Noon - 8:00 p.m. | Men's Final Four Fan Fest presented by Capital One
| Indiana Convention Center |
| 4:00 - 11:00 p.m. | Tip-Off Tailgate | Georgia Street |
| 6:30 p.m. | Gates open for National Championship Game | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| 8:30 p.m. | DI National Championship Tip-Off | Lucas Oil Stadium |
Shows how good the conference was. And yes Arizona vs Michigan will be terrific.
