***2025-26 Mens College Basketball Thread***

[cyclones500]

THIS again. Sigh. I guess it isn't going away. Perhaps it's inevitable. Writing short sentences. Cloud-cursing.

NCAA talks expanding hoops tourney to 72 or 76

NCAA president Charlie Baker says talks are ongoing to expand the basketball tournament to 72 or 76 teams.

www.espn.com

 

[CoachHines3]

THIS again. Sigh. I guess it isn't going away. Perhaps it's inevitable. Writing short sentences. Cloud-cursing.

NCAA talks expanding hoops tourney to 72 or 76

NCAA president Charlie Baker says talks are ongoing to expand the basketball tournament to 72 or 76 teams.

www.espn.com

yay more 19-12 iowas.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

yay more 19-12 iowas.

It's the 16-15 Penn States and Rutgers that I'm most worried about.

We all know it isn't getting a 25 win mid an extra bid...

 

[Pope]

Since the Big 12 Football Championship Game was a play in game for this year's college football playoffs, I'm going to steal Iowa's logic and claim ISU was in the playoffs this year.

 

[madguy30]

THIS again. Sigh. I guess it isn't going away. Perhaps it's inevitable. Writing short sentences. Cloud-cursing.

NCAA talks expanding hoops tourney to 72 or 76

NCAA president Charlie Baker says talks are ongoing to expand the basketball tournament to 72 or 76 teams.

www.espn.com

Aw yeah, dilute college basketball even more.

 

[MeanDean]

THIS again. Sigh. I guess it isn't going away. Perhaps it's inevitable. Writing short sentences. Cloud-cursing.

NCAA talks expanding hoops tourney to 72 or 76

NCAA president Charlie Baker says talks are ongoing to expand the basketball tournament to 72 or 76 teams.

www.espn.com

I wouldn't mind it as much if it was only to bring in more mid and low major teams. But it will instead bring in more .500 P4 teams that finish 7th or 8th in their conference.

 

[cyclones500]

I wouldn't mind it as much if it was only to bring in more mid and low major teams. But it will instead bring in more .500 P4 teams that finish 7th or 8th in their conference.

(Also in reference to similar posts by @1UNI2ISU and @madguy30.)

Agree.

I’m sure some exceptions to the power-league thing will occur. Last season is an example, when a few mids near the at-large area got bumped by auto-bid upsets in those leagues.

But most commonly, expanding to 72/76 means power conference teams will have 3 opportunities to make the “64” field as an at-large.

(1) An entire 30/31-game regular season
(2) Conference tournament
(3) An additional chance!

 

[cyfan92]

Tomorrow's CBB slate is INSANE tomorrow! Quad box will be elite! Might be a top 5 day for CBB this season

10 - Memphis @ Clemson
11 - A&M @ Purdue
12 - Auburn (@ATL) Ohio St
1 - Xavier @ Cincy
1:30 - Wiscy (Pacers Arena) Butler
2 - Arizona (@phx) UCLA
2:15 - NC State @ KU
2:30 - FL (@ATL) Ariz St
3 - LSU @ SMU
4:15 - Louisville @ UK
4:30 - TN @ ILL
6 - Marq @ Dayton
7 - GZ (@NYC-MSG) UCONN
7 - Bedlam (@OKC)
7:30 - CRE @ Ala
8 - St Mary's @ Boise

Early Merry Christmas to hoops fans!

 

[NENick]

Tomorrow's CBB slate is INSANE tomorrow! Quad box will be elite! Might be a top 5 day for CBB this season

10 - Memphis @ Clemson
11 - A&M @ Purdue
12 - Auburn (@ATL) Ohio St
1 - Xavier @ Cincy
1:30 - Wiscy (Pacers Arena) Butler
2 - Arizona (@phx) UCLA
2:15 - NC State @ KU
2:30 - FL (@ATL) Ariz St
3 - LSU @ SMU
4:15 - Louisville @ UK
4:30 - TN @ ILL
6 - Marq @ Dayton
7 - GZ (@NYC-MSG) UCONN
7 - Bedlam (@OKC)
7:30 - CRE @ Ala
8 - St Mary's @ Boise

Early Merry Christmas to hoops fans!

Thanks for this. I'm looking forward to watching Marquette at Dayton!

 

[cyfan92]

Thanks for this. I'm looking forward to watching Marquette at Dayton!

Ice storm coming tomorrow for central Iowa, so it's the perfect day for us CBB junkies

 

[JP4CY]

Tomorrow's CBB slate is INSANE tomorrow! Quad box will be elite! Might be a top 5 day for CBB this season

10 - Memphis @ Clemson
11 - A&M @ Purdue
12 - Auburn (@ATL) Ohio St
1 - Xavier @ Cincy
1:30 - Wiscy (Pacers Arena) Butler
2 - Arizona (@phx) UCLA
2:15 - NC State @ KU
2:30 - FL (@ATL) Ariz St
3 - LSU @ SMU
4:15 - Louisville @ UK
4:30 - TN @ ILL
6 - Marq @ Dayton
7 - GZ (@NYC-MSG) UCONN
7 - Bedlam (@OKC)
7:30 - CRE @ Ala
8 - St Mary's @ Boise

Early Merry Christmas to hoops fans!

Xavier Cincy is a pretty heated relivalry. Has gotten nasty at times. Looking forward to it.

 

[ClonerJams]

Xavier Cincy is a pretty heated relivalry. Has gotten nasty at times. Looking forward to it.

This was fun

 

[JP4CY]

This was fun

A long physical history. Brawls, coaches, fans.

The 2011 game was wild.

 

[madguy30]

Tomorrow's CBB slate is INSANE tomorrow! Quad box will be elite! Might be a top 5 day for CBB this season

10 - Memphis @ Clemson
11 - A&M @ Purdue
12 - Auburn (@ATL) Ohio St
1 - Xavier @ Cincy
1:30 - Wiscy (Pacers Arena) Butler
2 - Arizona (@phx) UCLA
2:15 - NC State @ KU
2:30 - FL (@ATL) Ariz St
3 - LSU @ SMU
4:15 - Louisville @ UK
4:30 - TN @ ILL
6 - Marq @ Dayton
7 - GZ (@NYC-MSG) UCONN
7 - Bedlam (@OKC)
7:30 - CRE @ Ala
8 - St Mary's @ Boise

Early Merry Christmas to hoops fans!

Only one FBS CFB game I think so they're putting in some serious CBB time.

 

[HFCS]

Thanks for this. I'm looking forward to watching Marquette at Dayton!

I felt like they are a lot closer in quality than the ranking might suggest. Dayton looked like they'd be salty in Big 12 even.

 

[exCYtable]

Tomorrow's CBB slate is INSANE tomorrow! Quad box will be elite! Might be a top 5 day for CBB this season

10 - Memphis @ Clemson
11 - A&M @ Purdue
12 - Auburn (@ATL) Ohio St
1 - Xavier @ Cincy
1:30 - Wiscy (Pacers Arena) Butler
2 - Arizona (@phx) UCLA
2:15 - NC State @ KU
2:30 - FL (@ATL) Ariz St
3 - LSU @ SMU
4:15 - Louisville @ UK
4:30 - TN @ ILL
6 - Marq @ Dayton
7 - GZ (@NYC-MSG) UCONN
7 - Bedlam (@OKC)
7:30 - CRE @ Ala
8 - St Mary's @ Boise

Early Merry Christmas to hoops fans!

Hate to root for Big 10 but we would likely be ranked #1 on Monday if Auburn and Tennessee lose. That would be insanely cool.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Hate to root for Big 10 but we would likely be ranked #1 on Monday if Auburn and Tennessee lose. That would be insanely cool.

I think both those games will have the SEC winning by double digits

 

[cyclones500]

I think both those games will have the SEC winning by double digits

Definitely favors SEC, but either/both could be tighter than that, a split wouldn't surprise me.

Auburn-Ohio State is neutral site, Tennessee is at Illinois.

 

[HFCS]

I think both those games will have the SEC winning by double digits

With our Auburn loss coming on last second tip on a neutral court I'm not sure our best argument (should ISU take care of business in Big 12) for a top seed isn't Auburn just crushing everybody anyway.

Tennessee losing wouldn't bother me though.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

With our Auburn loss coming on last second tip on a neutral court I'm not sure our best argument (should ISU take care of business in Big 12) for a top seed isn't Auburn just crushing everybody anyway.

Tennessee losing wouldn't bother me though.

Yep totally agree. If you have to take the loss then you want that team to win as much as possible. At least when you only have the one loss.