***Official 2026 NCAA Tournament Thread***

[Kinch]

Big offensive rebound.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Miss a 2 get a 3.

 

[fcclone]

Danger zone for Purdue.

 

[AlaCyclone]

What's with the Perdue Amish look?

As someone descended from Indiana Mennonites, I find that comment FUNNY!

 

[exCYtable]

I wonder what it would cost us to have 2 big quality paint bodies. When is the last time we've had that.

2023 was decent with Hasan Ward, Kunc, Big Rob, Onyi, and Tre King

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Purdue falling game short of indy would be delicious.

 

[enisthemenace]

Peat misses a point blank layup, Purdue can’t secure the rebound, Burries drains a 3. Then Smith passes up a shot he make 9 times out of 10 and turns it over for an Arizona runout. Killer moments.

 

[12191987]

Get real. Those guys never won anywhere else. You're nuts if you think Iowa is going to slide into oblivion. 2 weeks ago you would have said Stirtz sucked.

Two weeks ago I would not have said Stirtz sucked, actually.

I also think McCollum is probably an elite coach.

If you look on this thread you’ll see I definitely would prefer he coach somewhere else (also outside the Big 12) next year. This is precisely because of his track record at the D-II level.

If you recall, what I was responding to was your various suggestions that this pretty magical Elite 8 run by McCollum and his 4th year, honorable mention all-American PG is somehow an indictment of TJ or proves he is a better coach or can run a better program.

Success at lower levels is by no means a guarantee of sustained success at the highest level of D-I. A decent predictor? Maybe, especially in the age of NIL.

McCollum had a really good 4th year with a projected 1st round NBA draft pick PG at a new school.

It was marginally better (at best) than TJ’s 2nd year with Caleb Grill at a new school.

It is not nearly as impressive as the 5 year run TJ has had thus far at Iowa State.

Regardless, I think it a bit silly to intimate a guy who has 7 NCAA tournament wins in 8 years as a head coach is somehow inferior to a guy who has 4 NCAA tournament wins in 17 as a head coach.

And it is flat out insane for a Cyclone fan to bag on the coach who has never missed an NCAA tournament and has made 3 Sweet Sixteens in 5 years. No coach at Iowa State has had a 5 year run as good as his.

 

[Kinch]

Purdue four players in foul trouble.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Bye bye Boilers!

 

[dafarmer]

Looks like Purdue can’t beat a BIG12 team.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

They will likely reload but 4 of 5 starters for Purdue are gone.

 

[Kinch]

Purdue running out of time.

 

[Clones2023]

Where’s our hawk friends?!

 

[CYedUp]

Just need Tennessee to beat Michigan and Az win the whole thing

 

[fcclone]

Where’s our hawk friends?!

Disappeared, and now lurking.

 

[FerShizzle]

They will likely reload but 4 of 5 starters for Purdue are gone.

idk... they mostly use homegrown talent. it will be a much busier season than typical in the portal for them. do they have a giant NIL budget? i would guess they are middle-ish in the big 10.

 

[HoopsTournament]

Arizona is about to snap a 5-game Elite Eight losing streak.

 

[isuno1fan]

Thank you Az.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

idk... they mostly use homegrown talent. it will be a much busier season than typical in the portal for them. do they have a giant NIL budget? i would guess they are middle-ish in the big 10.

I think they have another 7 footer coming in. Their luck with big men is crazy.