Big12Fan2024 said:

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I've enjoyed watching Arizona's offense more than any other in college basketball this year. They are a well oiled machine.

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They're so damn good offensively ... and clutch as hell, too. If Michigan doesn't beat them, I don't see them losing the rest of the way.

IowaBear said:

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B12 was overrated this year. Possibly just AZ left after tomorrow. Think there was a significant gap between AZ and the rest of the B12

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The Big 12 suffered some pretty devastating injuries. Tech could have made a serious run if Toppin hadn't gotten hurt, and Jefferson's injury likely lowers Iowa State's ceiling by at least a round.

The Big 12 was five deep with really good teams before injuries this year. Kansas got a brutal draw against an underseeded Saint John's team and still almost won that game.

LTBear19 said:

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IowaBear said:

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Bet Sampson ends his 1 n done experiment this off season.

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There is a reason you see very few teams led by freshmen win it all.

Experience matters in March.

While Sharp and Uzan were key returners, they really missed having LJ Cryer and J'Wan Roberts.

Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac are decent, but they are still freshmen, and are prone to making freshmen mistakes.

When you are having a horrible night shooting the ball, the crafty veterans are often the one's who find ways to manufacture points and get their teams back on track.

Bottom Line: If you want to go far in March, then you're best served having 3 and 4-year players leading the way.

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Francis was a difference-maker on defense, too. He was an unsung hero for them because he was so limited offensively. But between him and Tugler, they always had a good, long big on the floor and in the middle of their defense.

Tugler needs to bounce too. He's developed as much as he possibly can from that program.

He's wasting his time there now. He needs a place that can develop him offensively so he can be a role player in the league.

And Saunders at BYU...

Stefano DiMera said:

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Your boy Mack Rhoades was who bailed him out of show cause jail.

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Yeah. My boy

Coog Hi = the Buffalo Bills of college basketball.

Spoken by a true Baylorfan. Like you would've said No to the success they have had the past 4 years…..

Money is on Sampson's ability to reload for another run at the Big12 title vs Drew's ability to put together a roster that can finish in the Top half of the conference.

On Saturday, Arizona will be playing for its first trip to the Final Four since 2001 under Lute Olson.

The same day, Iowa will be playing for its first trip to the Final Four since 1980, when it was coached by Lute Olson.

— Red Hat Cat (@Scott_Terrell) March 27, 2026

Stefano DiMera said:

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And Saunders at BYU...

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Good point. BYU looked like a contender until he went down.

Reporter: "Is it different in today's game when you have some teams using 23, 24..."

John Calipari: "25, 26, 27, beards, kids in the stands, on their 2nd wife. Yeah, this is a little bit different." pic.twitter.com/7i944sOBcM

— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) March 26, 2026

BluesBear said:

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Spoken by a true Baylorfan. Like you would've said No to the success they have had the past 4 years…..

Money is on Sampson's ability to reload for another run at the Big12 title vs Drew's ability to put together a roster that can finish in the Top half of the conference.

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Yeah, but at this point it is pretty obvious that all they are going for is a B12 title.

Hate to stick a fork in UH, but I think this was their last elite run. Kelvin might know it, too. I wouldn't be shocked to see him hang it up after the season. Especially if his son is the guy taking over there.

Mitch Henessey said:

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Hate to stick a fork in UH, but I think this was their last elite run. Kelvin might know it, too. I wouldn't be shocked to see him hang it up after the season. Especially if his son is the guy taking over there.

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They're probably due a rebuilding year next season, but their style of play and success in recruiting players to that style virtually guarantees a certain level of success.

They may see their run of seven straight Sweet 16 appearances (an unbelievable accomplishment) end next year, but I bet they're still very competitive with the brand and level of defense they play.

Mitch Henessey said:

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Hate to stick a fork in UH, but I think this was their last elite run. Kelvin might know it, too. I wouldn't be shocked to see him hang it up after the season. Especially if his son is the guy taking over there.

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Is this the year they finally lose some players to the portal too? I know we've debated this for a while now.

Tugler and the benched freshman should leave if they're rational. That three point shooting forward should get some significantly higher $ offers too.

They're losing a ton either way (first time in his Hou tenure). We'll see if Sampson still has his crazy pull with his players that can remain.

whitetrash said:

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Coog Hi = the Buffalo Bills of college basketball.

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.
Almost. They would've had to advance to the final round and lost at least 4 times to make it all the way to that level of frustration. But agreed, they aren't far behind - especially given that at least 2 of the 3 times they've lost in the finals they were clearly the better team (at least on paper).

Go STJ!

-signed America

It's amazing how much more physical they allow play in this tournament compared with regular season. Both these games are approaching football hitting level.

Philon is a good story. He could have declared for the draft last year after having a decent freshman year and was projected to get taken in the 2nd round, but he stuck with it, came back and worked on a lot of his weaknesses and now his game has flourished as a sophomore to the point where he's now projected in the 11-18 spots in most drafts. I'm sure Bama paid a lot of money to keep him, but it's great that he came back and worked really hard and realize a lot more of his potential.

Dookies survive

Man Duke gets a whistle for the ages. No way in hell Duke wins the natty imo.

Free throw attempts:

STJ 8
Duke 24

Source: Iowa State star forward Joshua Jefferson will not play against Tennessee tonight in the Sweet 16 for the No. 2 Cyclones. He suffered a low ankle sprain against Tennessee Tech in the first round on March 20. pic.twitter.com/tR9F6H3BV2

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 28, 2026

All those proclamations of SEC dominance are aging like milk.

On the other hand, my UConn Final 4 pick is something I feel pretty good about right now.

I have UConn in the F4 as well. My bracket was ridiculous through S16. Unfortunately…. I had Houston winning it all

IowaBear said:

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I have UConn in the F4 as well. My bracket was ridiculous through S16. Unfortunately…. I had Houston winning it all

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I have Florida in the championship game, which is my downfall. I've correctly picked the national champion 4 out of my last 5 brackets though. Hoping to make it 5 for 6 with Arizona.

Had AZ in my rough draft. Got to cute going Houston as no one in my pools had them. I usually crush the 1st few rounds thsn fall apart haha

Mitch Henessey said:

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All those proclamations of SEC dominance are aging like milk.

On the other hand, my UConn Final 4 pick is something I feel pretty good about right now.

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Good call, UConn has turned it up to 11. Saw them over a month ago in CT and they looked bad so I was biased. They look great now.

Had Duke beating Mich St but wouldn't be surpised if Uconn goes. ( Had Duke, Illinois, Az, Michigan => Michigan champ). But UConn has the juice to beat Illinois and play in the title game, no doubt.

Iowa State would be dominating this game with Tennessee early if the Vols weren't getting offensive rebounds left and right.

I'll take problems we'll never see in Waco for $500 Alex.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48327136/illinois-curbs-alcohol-sales-sat-final-four-stake

ISU in a world of hurt down 13 at the 12:57 mark. Looking more and more like one B12 team makes it as far as the E8.

If the B1G can't get its first title in 26 years with half of the Elite 8, they may never win one again.

IowaBear said:

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Man Duke gets a whistle for the ages. No way in hell Duke wins the natty imo.

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Baylor Duke 2010? Cut in half the number of Drews nattys

boognish_bear said:

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Free throw attempts:

STJ 8
Duke 24

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Check the record setter baylor kentucky in 2012

Best teams don't always win the Natty 🏆 pic.twitter.com/WEt5GLPqHu

— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) March 27, 2026