NCAA Men's Tournament 2026

Jiggafini19Deux · Mar 30, 2026

BleedBlueGold said:
This.

The Final Four this year is legit. I wouldn't bet on IL but they're aren't exactly a bottom feeder Cinderella team either.

I wish I was going to be around this weekend to head downtown. Indy knows how to host sports events.

Illinois has guys from Europe with pro experience. That is a loophole I feel needs closing, but that's another topic.

They've lost to Bama, UConn, UCLA, Michigan State, Michigan, Wisconsin. Nothing terribly embarrassing. Pretty good team.

I would think the last three games we see will be competitive. Everyone is playing well and playing hard right now. For as good as Arizona and Michigan are, I could see UConn beating either one come Monday.

MeanGreenBeans · Mar 30, 2026

slick7410 said:
U of M vs. Arizona does feel like it determines the championship. My strategy of a lifetime of brackets with no Western (1997)/Big Ten (2000) - fells destined to be broken this year.

View attachment 3062918

I still don't count out Hurley. I like that crazy man, don't know why.

Hurley is 17-1 against the spread in the NCAA Tournament since 2023. His only ATS loss during that time was against Furman this year in the 1st round. I've got Arizona winning it all in my bracket, but I also placed a bet on UConn to win it all at +1900 odds because Hurley is a f****** madman and so hard to beat late in the tourney.

Irish2155 · Mar 30, 2026

Jiggafini19Deux said:
That seems to be the consensus, but betting against Danny Hurley at this point is something one does at his own peril.

Agreed. Ill is huge too. Can’t teach size. Should be an excellent Final Four. I’m going Saturday

Old Man Mike · Mar 30, 2026

24 people handed in picks at my Old People's retirement home bracket contest ($5 per ballot). Seven ancient persons have gotten 46 or more correct out of the 64 games. The leader score is 49. My personal score shall remain "classified" need-to-know (and you don't.)

TNUtoNotreDame · Mar 30, 2026

Old Man Mike said:
24 people handed in picks at my Old People's retirement home bracket contest ($5 per ballot). Seven ancient persons have gotten 46 or more correct out of the 64 games. The leader score is 49. My personal score shall remain "classified" need-to-know (and you don't.)

I picked Notre Dame to win it all this years also.

Irish2155 · Mar 30, 2026

Old Man Mike said:
24 people handed in picks at my Old People's retirement home bracket contest ($5 per ballot). Seven ancient persons have gotten 46 or more correct out of the 64 games. The leader score is 49. My personal score shall remain "classified" need-to-know (and you don't.)

Enjoy brother and good luck.

Old Man Mike · Mar 30, 2026

My score stinks so badly there's no "good" in it. I volunteered to help our events director keep the scores tabulated so cheating is my only hope. Still applauding Arizona but the rest of the Big 12 let me down.

As an aside, I've watched and played this game for "hundreds" of years, but something has changed. The amount of throwing your body into every play and onto every floor is just a different level of personal wannabe demand. ... and the refs cannot keep up with this either. When I'd volunteer ref in the very old days, it was tough seeing the flash of hands fouling or not, but do-able. Now given the contact leniency, it's impossible. Also, the value of the "glue" and "warrior" player has gone way up. Those semi-crazed but somehow within-the-rules guys are really necessary alongside the "stars." No more slots for space occupiers.

Irish#1 · Mar 30, 2026

AZ and scUM look to be on another level from Ill & UConn. Maybe they take enough out of each other that ILL/UConn winner gets past them?

Jiggafini19Deux · Mar 31, 2026

UConn has beaten Florida and Duke this year. Both one seeds. They lost to Arizona by 4 in November.

Illinois plays a style that can beat anyone. They happen to be the lowest seed left and their home arena is 125 miles from Lucas Oil where the Final Four is being played. They're going to travel well.

Arizona or Michigan is still going to have to play another game.

stpeteirish · Apr 1, 2026

Jiggafini19Deux said:
LSU's men's basketball coach, women's basketball coach and football coach are three of the more vile people out there in a profession full of vile people.

In addition, the state of Louisiana is at the top of the list of poverty states and at the bottom for education. So, the idea they're paying these three people a collective shitload of money puts it into a different light.

I suppose most states' highest paid employees are their football coach, men's basketball coach and women's basketball coach. Even with all the private side money thrown in from boosters, donors and alumni. Not everyone is quite like Louisiana, though.

Not to mention their dipshit Governor who tells them who to fire and who to hire breaking all records for costs involved

MeanGreenBeans · Apr 1, 2026

stpeteirish said:
Not to mention their dipshit Governor who tells them who to fire and who to hire breaking all records for costs involved

That state is a cesspool of stupidity and corruption. And that's coming from someone who lives in New Mexico.

ACamp1900 · Apr 1, 2026

MeanGreenBeans said:
That state is a cesspool of stupidity and corruption. And that's coming from someone who lives in New Mexico.

I love New Orleans but that’s because I’ve only been there days after super bowls were hosted there and everything is cleaned up and functioning properly. Each time natives tell me to come back in a month and see the mess it usually is…. Yikes. It’s not just NO though, watch many of these World Cup and Olympic host cities do the same shit. It’s frustrating bc the NO I’ve encountered is by far my fav American city (among those I’ve been to) but I’m aware it’s usually not that way. It just shows these cities can polish up but the corruption leads to what we typically know,…

MeanGreenBeans · Apr 1, 2026

ACamp1900 said:
I love New Orleans but that’s because I’ve only been there days after super bowls were hosted there and everything is cleaned up and functioning properly. Each time natives tell me to come back in a month and see the mess it usually is…. Yikes. It’s not just NO though, watch many of these World Cup and Olympic host cities do the same shit. It’s frustrating bc the NO I’ve encountered is by far my fav American city (among those I’ve been to) but I’m aware it’s usually not that way. It just shows these cities can polish up but the corruption leads to what we typically know,…

I should have qualified my comment by saying how much I love New Orleans too. I'll be there for Jazzfest in about a month.

Irish#1 · Apr 5, 2026

Did not expect scUM to dominate AZ like they did. UConn becoming the new villain?

laughingirish92 · Apr 5, 2026

Irish#1 said:
Did not expect scUM to dominate AZ like they did. UConn becoming the new villain?

nobody is a bigger villain than scUM of annie whore arbor in my opinion at least

DCK_1981 · Apr 5, 2026

What a let down crap show of a game that UM-Zona game was. Arizona was playing hero ball and UM was playing like a TEAM on a mission. Honestly that final score made the game seem closer than it was. Monday is a game where I want neither team to win.

Rockin’Irish · Apr 5, 2026

Irish#1 said:
Did not expect scUM to dominate AZ like they did. UConn becoming the new villain?

Dan Hurley’s antics can be off putting but you can’t argue with his results.

Old Man Mike · Apr 5, 2026

So far, the tournament shows that it's great to be huge and play above the rim, but once that's said, it's still guard play and running actual plays that wins the prize.

OKCDomer23 · Apr 5, 2026

Irish#1 said:
Did not expect scUM to dominate AZ like they did. UConn becoming the new villain?

Hurley is unreal good. Dude just keeps winning like there is no tomorrow. Huskies are 7.5 pt dogs tomorrow tonight. If Hurley can pull this and the Duke stunner off in the same tourney would be insane. The shot to beat Duke was not supposed to happen and it did.

OKCDomer23 · Apr 5, 2026

Rockin’Irish said:
Dan Hurley’s antics can be off putting but you can’t argue with his results.

That interaction at the end of the game with the ref and Hurley recently was super weird. Never seen anything like that. Geno topped it with the loss to South Carolina reaction. Really bad by Geno and clearly the guy can't take losing literally. Crazy endings recently.

NorthDakota · Apr 6, 2026

OKCDomer23 said:
That interaction at the end of the game with the ref and Hurley recently was super weird. Never seen anything like that. Geno topped it with the loss to South Carolina reaction. Really bad by Geno and clearly the guy can't take losing literally. Crazy endings recently.

Officials need to get together and come to Jesus.

Call technicals early and often so these guys knock it off. No need to tolerate tomfoolery. Incentives are great

Punky · Apr 6, 2026

OKCDomer23 said:
That interaction at the end of the game with the ref and Hurley recently was super weird. Never seen anything like that. Geno topped it with the loss to South Carolina reaction. Really bad by Geno and clearly the guy can't take losing literally. Crazy endings recently.

I had read somewhere that Geno does weird stuff after bad losses to take the heat off his girls. Story said that way the press talks about him and his behavior after the game and and deflects some vitriol off of the players and on to him so that they don't have to deal with all the negative stuff. I can't stand the guy, but that would be be some 4D chess type coaching if true.

Old Man Mike · Apr 6, 2026

I don't believe that there was anything "strategic" about Auriemma's beef about no-pregame-handshake at all. He just boiled over about not being able to coach his girls through the problems S Car was giving him. They let him down, and he let them down. Long season-- no losses -- he couldn't handle the moment.

ab2cmiller · Apr 6, 2026

Punky said:
I had read somewhere that Geno does weird stuff after bad losses to take the heat off his girls. Story said that way the press talks about him and his behavior after the game and and deflects some vitriol off of the players and on to him so that they don't have to deal with all the negative stuff. I can't stand the guy, but that would be be some 4D chess type coaching if true.

Yeah, I can’t buy the 4D chess in this situation. If it was, Gino would’ve been made dramatic gestures when talking to Staley ensuring it would be noticed on TV. He did not while Staley did.

I just think he was pissed off from losing and still pissed from Staley not following “protocol”. You could tell in those clips of him waiting at half court for Staley that he was not happy.

Jiggafini19Deux · Apr 6, 2026

Geno is an ass.

Irish#1 · Apr 6, 2026

Jiggafini19Deux said:
Geno is an ass.

You just figure that out?

Irish2155 · Apr 6, 2026

Bet365 is offering a $20 safety net bet on tonight’s game fyi.

Irish2155 · Apr 6, 2026

DCK_1981 said:
What a let down crap show of a game that UM-Zona game was. Arizona was playing hero ball and UM was playing like a TEAM on a mission. Honestly that final score made the game seem closer than it was. Monday is a game where I want neither team to win.

I was surprised that scUM handled Zona like that. May is a good coach.

NDPhilly · Apr 6, 2026

Man I hate Michigan

IrishTusker · Apr 6, 2026

Hire an elite coach and good things happen

NCAA Men's Tournament 2026

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