***Official 2026 NCAA Tournament Thread***

[1SEIACLONE]

Stirtz is good, but seeing him this year and last, it’s pretty amazing just how good. He played 40 minutes, how many games in a row and controls everything. Not sure I’ve seen anyone more valuable to his team the last 2 years. Long way of saying, highly unlikely they get anyone close to that level. The bar has been set by McCollum. Can be a blessing and a curse with that fan base

He is a much better player than I thought he would be, moving up a to a power conference. No he plays zero defense, but really understands how to run an offense, and getting the ball to the open shooter. Their weave offense reminds me a lot of Kansas, keep the ball out front until you can drive the lane, and then either kick it back or out to an open shooter. Look at most of their 3 point shots, the guy is standing waiting for the ball, plenty of space, just needs to catch and shoot the ball.
He will be difficult to replace for the squawks.

 

[Cyballzz]

Really, what’s the point of this? We have holes, we all know that. Iowa will have holes. Guess I don’t understand your antagonistic attitude about this.

Trolls used to be entertaining on this site. These new iterations are just sad. This clown is just spewing nonsense and its D+ trolling at best.

 

[12191987]

So Iowa State is trash without Jefferson?

Obviously not. They made the Sweet 16!

 

[CYedUp]

It's amazing how easy Arizona makes it feel. I realize that they're down currently, but their shot selection has such high probability while Purdue is taking some pretty difficult shots and hitting.

 

[12191987]

Iowa doesn't match up with anyone honestly. He scraped this team together in year 1 just to be competitive and ends up in the elite 8. Nuts

Earnest question:

Do you think McCollum’s first season at Iowa is markedly more impressive than TJ’s first at ISU?

Do you think Caleb Grill or Bennet Stirtz made for a better familiar piece to build around?

 

[exCYtable]

I'd be happy if Arixona won this by 20.

 

[HoopsTournament]

Arizona is going to run away with this one

 

[cyclonespiker33]

Man, I forgot what basketball looks like when two good teams play

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Its no loss. That was a hell of a season. Its not like they were a #2 seed or something

They lost 13 games. Pretty meh season, just happened to get a little hot in the tourney

 

[jsb]

I work with an Illinois fan turned Iowa State fan. My brother in law is an Illinois fan.

Both told me yesterday that they’d rather lose in the Sweet 16 if it meant losing to Iowa to go to the final 4. I said I could imagine no bigger horror than Iowa in the final 4.

 

[12191987]

I'd be happy if Arixona won this by 20.

It is hard to imagine any team is good enough to beat Purdue by 20+.

 

[12191987]

Man, I forgot what basketball looks like when two good teams play

You’re welcome:

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Earnest question:

Do you think McCollum’s first season at Iowa is markedly more impressive than TJ’s first at ISU?

Do you think Caleb Grill or Bennet Stirtz made for a better familiar piece to build around?

Don't think I ever saw Grill take more than 2 dribbles before passing it off or shooting. He was good for that first TJ team but proved to not even be that great a culture guy in year 2

 

[CYCLNST8]

It only took illinois 35 minutes to figure out they're bigger than iowa.

I was screaming at the TV. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD TAKE IT INSIDE! THEY CAN’T STOP YOU! They finally listened.

 

[Bret44]

May Iowa spend the next 38 years chasing that high like last time.

 

[Isualum13]

I work with an Illinois fan turned Iowa State fan. My brother in law is an Illinois fan.

Both told me yesterday that they’d rather lose in the Sweet 16 if it meant losing to Iowa to go to the final 4. I said I could imagine no bigger horror than Iowa in the final 4.

Remember when they reached the NIT championship game? All the hokroaches came out of the woodwork.

 

[HoopsTournament]

Obvious travel on Purdue

 

[BigJCy]

Traveling hardly gets called anymore. Crazy.

 

[Letterkenny]

Iowa's offense of dribble out 39 seconds the jack a contested 3 somehow works almost every time.

Stopped working.

 

[cayin]

travel. that is two travels on him. Ref do you fkn job. geez.