Tech has the deficit under 20. They're going to need a massive run to get back in this one, but they're at least showing some signs of life early in the second half.

DAC said:

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Stefano DiMera said:

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BluesBear said:

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Big12Fan2024 said:

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One takes UNC this year; the other takes Kentucky next year.

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Why leave Tech for KY? You are getting the $$ you need there to win without a lot less fan baggage to deal with.

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Tech NIL is all about football.

.

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This isn't true at all

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Well of course.. I'm talking relatively speaking.. they don't fund basketball like a. Kentucky or North Carolina.. they may be in upper half of Big 12 in basketball but not in same league as those schools.

And like I said they sure as hell shouldn't be out bidded ny NC State but they were.

Alabama can't miss from 3. Tech's not getting back in this one. Disappointing showing from the Red Raiders.

Old coaches can’t survive in the new era of college basketball.

Sweet Sixteen coaches:

Rick Pitino (73 years old)
Tom Izzo (71)
Rick Barnes (71)
Kelvin Sampson (70)
John Calipari (67) pic.twitter.com/scUU89zP9s

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) March 23, 2026

Really doesn't sound like Self is coming back.

If UNC and Kansas opens up..wow..

The Sweet 16 will be all power-conference schools: Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12, and Big East.

Since the field expanded to 64 in 1985, it has only happened twice: last year and this year. This year, we can now say it with three games left to finish, as they feature power conference…

— Jim Bianco (@biancoresearch) March 23, 2026

The ACC sent eight teams to the NCAA Tournament and only Duke survived the first weekend.

— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) March 23, 2026

boognish_bear said:

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The Sweet 16 will be all power-conference schools: Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12, and Big East.

Since the field expanded to 64 in 1985, it has only happened twice: last year and this year. This year, we can now say it with three games left to finish, as they feature power conference…

— Jim Bianco (@biancoresearch) March 23, 2026

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EDIT: Finally able to open the full message and it said what I said, so I deleted my original comments.

How's everyone's bracket heading into S16? 13/16 for me. Not sure that's impressive anymore though with how NIL is tilting the field towards chalk

IowaBear said:

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How's everyone's bracket heading into S16? 13/16 for me. Not sure that's impressive anymore though with how NIL is tilting the field towards chalk

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That's a good hit rate. I got 11/16. The good news is my Final Four teams are still intact.

IowaBear said:

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How's everyone's bracket heading into S16? 13/16 for me. Not sure that's impressive anymore though with how NIL is tilting the field towards chalk

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I'm at 11/16. Last night wasn't kind to me -- Florida and Vandy. In fact, it appears that almost all of my misses involve SEC teams one way or the other.

Considering that I managed not to watch a basketball game all the way through this year, I don't feel that bad about it. Though your point about chalk is valid.

Yeah Vandy/FL were 2 of my S16 misses. Mad at myself because on my rough draft I had Nebraska over Vandy. Talked myself into what Vandy was doing offensively. Sone really good S16 matchups though

12/16
One in each section.

These teams have the most Sweet Sixteen appearances since 2020.

Houston leads with 6, and has advanced to second weekend of the tournament every single year in the 2020s. pic.twitter.com/fZDWjTiidl

— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) March 23, 2026

Sweet 16 teams' record vs. Sweet 16 teams:
Arizona: 6-0
Michigan: 6-2
Purdue: 6-4
Duke: 4-0
Iowa State: 4-2
Alabama: 4-4
Illinois: 4-5
UConn: 3-3
Tennessee: 3-3
Michigan State: 3-4
Nebraska: 3-5
St. John's: 2-3
Arkansas: 2-4
Houston: 1-4
Texas: 1-4
Iowa: 1-7

— Alex Gookin (@_AlexGookin) March 23, 2026

Building a culture of toughness

Ben McCollum on how he thinks prospective high school and portal players will perceive Iowa, considering what the program is accomplishing this season: “If you’re a tough dude, this is a good spot for you. If you’re soft and you like yourself way too much, this is probably not… pic.twitter.com/RdKCwIom0K

— Tyler Tachman (@Tyler_T15) March 23, 2026

bear2be2 said:

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Quinton said:

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bear2be2 said:

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Quinton said:

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bear2be2 said:

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IowaBear said:

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I never said the recent solid. I said imo it's not a 3 seed. But again we could argue you this all night. You saw them this weekend. And I seriously doubt you thought they were a 3 seed. I know I didn't. And 2 of the other 3 seeds have looked miiles ahead of Gonzaga. UVA looked mid imo against wright St and I think (hope) Tenn beats them tomm

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The problem is we're talking about resumes, and once you look at all the three seeds, you realize they all have warts. There are about five teams in college basketball this year that are better than everyone else.

After Arizona, Michigan, Duke, Florida and Houston, you can find reasons to nitpick just about everyone else.

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I don't really see that. Three separated themselves. Az pretty much dominated the league and controlled Houston wire to wire in both games. I think they're clearly a tier above.


Az/Michigan/Duke
Small gap
Florida then
Houston/Iowa St

I like Illinois and Purdue as well and could argue lumping them with the two big 12 teams.. but I agree they have more flaws.

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The Big 12 tournament game between Arizona and Houston could have gone either way. Arizona made some big shots and had a huge offensive rebound late to fend off a Houston rally.

But Houston and Florida, like the three you mention, are the only other teams in the country that are elite on both ends of the floor.

Iowa State is just a slightly worse version of Houston, and they're likely cooked without Jefferson. And then Purdue and Illinois don't defend well enough to win a title, and UConn doesn't score efficiently enough to do so.

All of those other teams are good, but the top five are a clear cut above IMO, and the champion will almost certainly come from that group.

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It's the nature of basketball. But Arizona pretty much dominated. They were up big. A tough team (Hou) made a run and a great team (AZ) held on. They are clearly better. They also controlled the entire game (led wire to wire) with a limited roster on the road. Not sure how those two teams are the same tier when one led for 95% of a two game series.

Don't see this supposed five. Florida and Houston are very good teams but if you're that big on body of work. Three are clearly a tier above when looking at overall quality. If we're talking who is playing better right now.. that could obviously be argued. Iowa st is a more volatile Houston. Slightly inconsistent team with high level upside and better overall wins but guilty of losing to lesser teams.

Never said Purdue or Illinois will win a title, but they are closer than many would like to believe to that second tier.

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I'm talking about teams capable of winning a title. There are only five IMO, and Houston and Florida are on that list.

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I thought we were talking tiers, that changes it. The two teams you mentioned are/were (in Florida's case) on that list no doubt, I agree.

But I only see 3 teams in college basketball that are just better than everyone else and they proved that.

There are 4 more imo that could win it. I agree Florida and Houston were at the top of that group. I still think Purdue and Illinois are capable of pulling it off.

Didn't pick them, don't fully trust them.. but they can. They're closer to Uf/Hou in everyone's favorite metrics than Uf/Hou are to the top 3.

Can we please build that culture. We've been soft as a baby's rear end starting with the 2022-23 team through this year's team.

Big12Fan2024 said:

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Can we please build that culture. We've been soft as a baby's rear end starting with the 2022-23 team through this year's team.

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We need to ASAP.

I've got no problem with the JOY philosophy...but you can be JOY and still be a tough SOB on the court.

I never know how accurate NIL figures are...but FWIW

Sweet 16 NIL payments:
Duke $12.0mm
Arkansas $11.5mm
Michigan $10.5mm
St. John's $10.5mm
Arizona $9.75mm
Alabama $9.5mm
Tennessee $9.5mm
UConn $9.5mm
Illinois $9.0mm
Purdue $8.75mm
Michigan State $8.5mm
Houston $8.5mm
Iowa State $8.25mm
Texas $7.5mm
Nebraska $6.75mm
Iowa $6.25mm

— Mike Frank (@MikeFrank152027) March 23, 2026

IowaBear said:

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How's everyone's bracket heading into S16? 13/16 for me. Not sure that's impressive anymore though with how NIL is tilting the field towards chalk

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I've only got 11 of 16 and six of my Elite Eight.

3-Point Shooting for all Sweet 16 teams... over the last 10 games 👀🎯 pic.twitter.com/1OtF49yhtV

— CBB Analytics (@CBBAnalytics) March 23, 2026

Who'd you miss on? Assuming Csbdy, Fl, Zags were 3 if the 5

"Having an MRI today, barring any hidden findings in that MRI, I expect him to play."

Injury analyst @mjsportspt on Joshua Jefferson's chances to play in Sweet 16. pic.twitter.com/gAXgwEyVxo

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 23, 2026

An anonymous GM has AJ Dybantsa ranked No. 1, Caleb Wilson No. 2, and Darius Acuff Jr. No. 3 on his draft board, per @MarcJSpears

“Real quick on Acuff: I had one GM tell me today he’s moved into the top three. Peterson might be going back down a little bit. He saw AJ as number… pic.twitter.com/cfK9BZaSuh

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 23, 2026

IowaBear said:

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Who'd you miss on? Assuming Csbdy, Fl, Zags were 3 if the 5

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I've lost Florida, Wisconsin, Gonzaga, Texas Tech and Virginia.

The left side of my bracket looks good minus Florida. The right side is a disaster.

Vandy, FL, Miami FL are the 3 S16 I got wrong. Strangely OK with Fl losing because it clears the way for Houston assuming they beat Illinois.

IowaBear said:

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Vandy, FL, Miami FL are the 3 S16 I got wrong. Strangely OK with Fl losing because it clears the way for Houston assuming they beat Illinois.

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I had Houston beating Florida in the Final Four and losing to Arizona in the final.

And I've still got my Michigan-Arizona matchup intact on the right side. That may the matchup I'm most looking forward to in this tournament.

Houston/FL are in same region. Who did you have Houston beating to get to title game? I had them beating UConn

IowaBear said:

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Houston/FL are in same region. Who did you have Houston beating to get to title game? I had them beating UConn

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Duke. Florida was the one one seed I had getting knocked out before the Final Four.

I have Duke losing to St John's. I just for whatever reason don't trust Duke.

This is more of the kind of thing I was picturing when we first heard that players would now be able to get paid...

Arkansas freshman star Darius Acuff Jr. has landed a signature shoe with Reebok, becoming the first NCAA men’s athlete to receive one from a major U.S. brand while still in college, Reebok’s head of basketball, Jide Osifeso, tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/MDoHkgqdIW

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 24, 2026

IowaBear said:

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I have Duke losing to St John's. I just for whatever reason don't trust Duke.

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Duke hasn't played great in this tournament. I wouldn't be surprised if they were upset.

I know Iowa said Jefferson's probably done but if he made an unlikely recovery that would put Iowa St back in play.

Maybe even having him play 10 mediocre minutes would give them enough juice. I'll put them back into the second tier of teams that could win it all if he can go.

Otz studied at the CSD school of injury updates

T.J. Otzelberger told reporters today that Iowa State's Joshua Jefferson (ankle) will be a game-time decision for Friday's Sweet 16 game against Tennessee.

DNP in last game.

Averages 16.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 4.8 APG.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 25, 2026