***2026-27 Mens College Basketball Thread***

[cycloneman003]

Agree, it makes things a little more difficult. One of the other three 5 star ball handlers (not including big Boozer) will have to pick it up.

It’ll have to be the both Boozers, as all those other five stars are off ball players. So it adds some vulnerability to their game, where they were looking pretty unstoppable. Ngongba battling any injury too.

Not saying I’d want them, but some injuries for Michigan/Duke pulling that top tier a little closer back to the pack IMO.

 

[not-the-manager]

It’ll have to be the both Boozers, as all those other five stars are off ball players. So it adds some vulnerability to their game, where they were looking pretty unstoppable. Ngongba battling any injury too.

Not saying I’d want them, but some injuries for Michigan/Duke pulling that top tier a little closer back to the pack IMO.

I think one of the kenpom top four wins the championship. But Michigan and Arizona are less dynamic than Florida and Duke pre-injuries IMO. Michigan is still learning to play without Cason, three weeks ago I think they would've beaten Michigan State by 20

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

People really don't understand how bad the bubble is.

The bubble isn't any weaker than it ever has, it's "weak" because NET has essentially excluded the mid majors from at large consideration.

 

[GoHawks]

Santa Clara win should push Iowa just a little bit closer to the play in game, no?

If they were to win tonight I think a little. Santa clara is already considered in by most but now they'd be an AQ and be in field of 64.

 

[Clonehomer]

Agree, it makes things a little more difficult. One of the other three 5 star ball handlers (not including big Boozer) will have to pick it up.

Can’t happen. Their agents met with the coach and told him that he was not allowed to put their player at point guard as it may hurt his draft position if he turns the ball over playing out of position. They may be willing to allow their player to play 10:00 of PG for a $100,000 NIL check per game.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Agree, it makes things a little more difficult. One of the other three 5 star ball handlers (not including big Boozer) will have to pick it up.

Get Arizona to Indy and I think their game becomes very favorable. Three point shooting teams tend to struggle in the football arenas.

 

[bluestarcyclone]

The bubble isn't any weaker than it ever has, it's "weak" because NET has essentially excluded the mid majors from at large consideration.

If by "net" you mean that NIL/transfers have simply significantly widened the gap between the high majors and the mids then sure.

That gap being larger means more power teams are at bubble level and more mids are below it. The net has problems but it's not some conspiracy either.

 

[1TwistedCyclone]

Question about the NCAA Tournament refs: Do they typcially call the games a little more straight up? Not as much grabbing, and physicality? Or do they let em go full bore? Or are they even tighter, with more whistles blown?

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

If by "net" you mean that NIL/transfers have simply significantly widened the gap between the high majors and the mids then sure.

That gap being larger means more power teams are at bubble level and more mids are below it. The net has problems but it's not some conspiracy either.

Mid majors still have talent, the portal works both ways. The issue is that nobody is playing the upper level mid majors in their non cons so that can't even come close to building a NET resume. I would bet good money that the B1G, ACC, SEC, and Big 12 have even asked the schools to not schedule them because the Power conferences benefit from softening the upper mid major non cons.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

If by "net" you mean that NIL/transfers have simply significantly widened the gap between the high majors and the mids then sure.

That gap being larger means more power teams are at bubble level and more mids are below it. The net has problems but it's not some conspiracy either.

Nah, the portal works both ways. There are lots of guys that have transferred down as well and made mids better.

The NET has completely and totally taken away every opportunity for MM+ leagues to get at larges because it incentivizes blowing out low majors therefore driving up the price of those games which again locks MM+ leagues out.

 

[Klubber]

Question about the NCAA Tournament refs: Do they typcially call the games a little more straight up? Not as much grabbing, and physicality? Or do they let em go full bore? Or are they even tighter, with more whistles blown?

It all depends on the crew. That's always a danger when you play a physical, aggressive style. If the refs go full ticky-tacky mode for a tourney game, you'll be dealing with potential early exit foul trouble.

Remember Niang vs Virginia at the United Center? 2 ridiculous early foul calls on him helped change the trajectory of that one.

 

[GoHawks]

If by "net" you mean that NIL/transfers have simply significantly widened the gap between the high majors and the mids then sure.

That gap being larger means more power teams are at bubble level and more mids are below it. The net has problems but it's not some conspiracy either.

I think it's both. Mm do get screwed over by net/selection process but there's also bigger gap than used to be.

 

[bluestarcyclone]

Mid majors still have talent, the portal works both ways. The issue is that nobody is playing the upper level mid majors in their non cons so that can't even come close to building a NET resume. I would bet good money that the B1G, ACC, SEC, and Big 12 have even asked the schools to not schedule them because the Power conferences benefit from softening the upper mid major non cons.

I mean it's not just the net that shows this widened gap. Its other metrics as well.

It doesnt really "work both ways" when those mid majors get "talent" that is dropping down from p5 because it couldn't compete. That just shows the widening gap.

I feel like people just have this romantic idea that mid majors are better than they are and are somehow deserving of a special place, when they simply aren't.

 

[not-the-manager]

Question about the NCAA Tournament refs: Do they typcially call the games a little more straight up? Not as much grabbing, and physicality? Or do they let em go full bore? Or are they even tighter, with more whistles blown?

It all depends on the crew. That's always a danger when you play a physical, aggressive style. If the refs go full ticky-tacky mode for a tourney game, you'll be dealing with potential early exit foul trouble.

Remember Niang vs Virginia at the United Center? 2 ridiculous early foul calls on him helped change the trajectory of that one.

I agree that it depends game to game. That's one of the multiple reasons it's so stupid when people say Iowa State and Houston will "never" have success in the tournament because they play too physical. Even dumber is when those people say physical teams will never have success because "the Big 12 allows it," but the tournament is different. Say it with me, folks—there is no such thing as Big 12 basketball officials. But I digress

 

[bluestarcyclone]

It all depends on the crew. That's always a danger when you play a physical, aggressive style. If the refs go full ticky-tacky mode for a tourney game, you'll be dealing with potential early exit foul trouble.

Remember Niang vs Virginia at the United Center? 2 ridiculous early foul calls on him helped change the trajectory of that one.

That Houston/a&m one being a big one a couple years ago. Everyone was fouled out, Houston needed a walk on to hit FTs to get the win

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Nah, the portal works both ways. There are lots of guys that have transferred down as well and made mids better.

The NET has completely and totally taken away every opportunity for MM+ leagues to get at larges because it incentivizes blowing out low majors therefore driving up the price of those games which again locks MM+ leagues out.

Those guys that transfer down though are only there because they couldn’t hack it at the P4/5 level. That either means they were a recruiting miss or that they just don’t have the skill to play at the highest level. That doesn’t make a mid major better it just makes them have more mediocre players

 

[1TwistedCyclone]

I agree that it depends game to game. That's one of the multiple reasons it's so stupid when people say Iowa State and Houston will "never" have success in the tournament because they play too physical. Even dumber is when those people say physical teams will never have success because "the Big 12 allows it." Say it with me, folks—there is no such thing as Big 12 basketball officials. But I digress

I think that ISU can benefit from the tigher calls. They play an agressive defense, but it's not predicated on the hand checking, grabbing, reaching etc. Our D is best when they are forcing clean pressure - just be wary of the mythical cylinder.

 

[FerShizzle]

The bubble isn't any weaker than it ever has, it's "weak" because NET has essentially excluded the mid majors from at large consideration.

The xfer portal has a lot to do with the mid majors struggling to compete with the P5 too.

But the NET is definitely rigged against the mid majors. They just don’t play enough quality games to factor in.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

Mid majors still have talent, the portal works both ways. The issue is that nobody is playing the upper level mid majors in their non cons so that can't even come close to building a NET resume. I would bet good money that the B1G, ACC, SEC, and Big 12 have even asked the schools to not schedule them because the Power conferences benefit from softening the upper mid major non cons.

I say this as someone who prefers mid-majors versus mediocre P5 teams, but it’s not the NET, it’s the talent gap caused by NIL/transfer portal.

We haven’t had multiple double digit seeds advance to the Sweet 16 in 3 years, for the first time ever. Only 13 outright upsets last year and lowest seed to win a game was 12-seed CSU (who was favored in Vegas). Only 29 wins this year from non-power conference teams versus power conference teams (by far the lowest we’ve seen in years).

Did NIL kill the upset? Why this year's NCAA tournament could be chalkier than ever

Where did all the Cinderella stories who busted our brackets go? Inside why the madness seems to be vanishing.

www.espn.com

 

[not-the-manager]

I think that ISU can benefit from the tigher calls. They play an agressive defense, but it's not predicated on the hand checking, grabbing, reaching etc. Our D is best when they are forcing clean pressure - just be wary of the mythical cylinder.

I don't think Otz and his staff get enough credit for how many times they've had to adjust to officiating in-game. They know the risk they run playing as physical as they do, and have a backup plan