Quinton said:bear2be2 said:IowaBear said:
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
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.
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.
boognish_bear said:
Vandy and Neb trading haymakers with 3s
IowaBear said:
Vanderbilt hasn't bothered to play defense all year. Fitting that they let Nebraska score with ease on back to back possessions to win the game.
BUBradley said:
Kentucky game was the best game of the tourney so far but that Nebraska game is a close 2nd!
bear2be2 said:Quinton said:bear2be2 said:IowaBear said:
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
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.
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.
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.
boognish_bear said:
Vandy and Neb trading haymakers with 3s
Fre3dombear said:
Had buuuge day. Took HP +300. In the zone
We are going to win sign out
Quinton said:bear2be2 said:Quinton said:bear2be2 said:IowaBear said:
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
El Oso said:
Similar to what Indiana fans did at every playoff game. There were more of them in Miami than Hurricanes fans.
The Bricktown bars have closed.
— Clayton Collier (@ClaytonJCollier) March 22, 2026
Nebraska fans are still diving in the Bricktown Canal. #Huskers #GBR pic.twitter.com/N26VcrJl9e
Truly insane NCAA Tournament schedule today.
— College Sports Only (@CSOonX) March 22, 2026
Just 2 games starting before 5 PM and the final tip at almost 10 PM on a Sunday. 🤦♂️ #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/JFT4MMVl4p
The fact that the Cinderellas of the last two tournaments are a John Calipari Arkansas team and a Sean Miller Texas team should scare the hell out of people
— . (@bearforheisman) March 22, 2026
Please delete. Immediately. https://t.co/OHdtkXxxel
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 22, 2026
Houston has now reached the Sweet 16 or further in seven consecutive tournaments 🐾
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 22, 2026
2026: Sweet 16 (and playing)
2025: Runner Up
2024: Sweet 16
2023: Sweet 16
2022: Elite Eight
2021: Final Four
2019: Sweet 16
Kelvin Sampson has built the most consistent program of the 2020s. pic.twitter.com/0ZuezTy2UD
Iowa State star Joshua Jefferson will not play today against Kentucky, source told @TheFieldOf68.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 22, 2026
Huge loss for the Cyclones.
Look for Nate Heise to get more minutes today.