***Official 2026 NCAA Tournament Thread***

[AlaCyclone]

One of the losses turned out to be a blessing for Iowa State.

Yes! Ironically, the 1976 NC Game is the first NCAA Championship Game that I remember watching! I didn't even know that CBB existed until that year.

fyi: Alabama was really good that season, won the SEC, had four future NBA players and lost to Indiana in OT in the Sweet 16.

That Alabama vs. IU game @ Baton Rouge is the first CBB game that I remember watching on TV. Been a big fan ever since.

Hated Indiana ever since TOO! I was rooting for Johnny and the Wolverines to no avail in the NCAA Championship Game that ended up being fortuitous for the Cyclones in the long run.

Six Degrees and all!

 

[12191987]

Don’t agree. We foul a lot. Lots of body checking, lots of hands on the ball handler. That’s our defensive style.
Otz doesn’t want a tightly called game.

You left a kinda important part of my post out:

Not watching, but that is extra fuel for what if.

I still think ISU could have beaten UT without Jefferson had the game been called tightly.

Overall the refs were consistent and, quite frankly, exactly what would benefit the Cyclones against most teams. However, UT took adnavtage to just overwhelm them physically. Put ‘em in foul trouble early and make them tentative about push offs, holds, and checks and I think ISU could have generated a lot more offense and live ball turnovers.

I’m obviously aware of what the Cyclones do and would typically benefit from.

You might disagree, but my point is that despite this UT was a unique case where ISU got manhandled and probably would have benefited by a style of referring that typically hurts them.

That is, ISU had more versatility and talent and could have scored a lot more points on offense and maybe generated more turnovers if they weren’t fighting through arm-bars and body checks on every screen.

I think UT not only would have failed to generate appreciably more offense, but may have been taxed more with a bit more tempo given their size.

 

[Kinch]

Yes! Ironically, the 1976 NC Game is the first NCAA Championship Game that I remember watching! I didn't even know that CBB existed until that year.

fyi: Alabama was really good that season, won the SEC, had four future NBA players and lost to Indiana in OT in the Sweet 16.

That Alabama vs. IU game @ Baton Rouge is the first CBB game that I remember watching on TV. Been a big fan ever since.

Hated Indiana ever since TOO! I was rooting for Johnny and the Wolverines to no avail in the NCAA Championship Game that ended up being fortuitous for the Cyclones in the long run.

Six Degrees and all!

Johnny and Bobby were best friends. they were funny together. My brother and I were rolling when Bobby and Johnny got together and told stories.

 

[AlaCyclone]

Johnny and Bobby were best friends. they were funny together. My brother and I were rolling when Bobby and Johnny got together and told stories.

I went to the game in Ames when Bobby brought the Hoosiers to Hilton during the student break. Had Parquet seats to watch that butt whooping! Event though ISU was trounced, it was great to have such a big time program visit. I also saw Michigan and Minnesota. Cannot remember which of those two games was on the night of an ice storm and the P.A. announcer invited the Upper Deck folks to come down to the parquet!

 

[Kinch]

UConn out rebounded 10-3.

 

[Kinch]

UConn trying a number of different players on Cameron Boozer.

 

[12191987]

I was in the Army stationed in Korea and watched on Armed Forces Network at 9 or 10 am on a Tuesday if I remember correctly? So, I took a Vacation day. Was a LONG time ago!

Pretty sure ‘89 was like 10-15 years ago. That’s not that long.

Edit: Probably should have posted this before hitting disagree, @AlaCyclone . Figured it wasn’t necessary because my youthful reflexes would bang this out before you even saw it.

 

[dafarmer]

Looks like Purdue can’t beat a BIG12 team.

 

[Kinch]

UCConn had the ball and a chance to cut the lead to 3. They committed a turnover and Duke hasn’t looked back.

 

[AlaCyclone]

UCConn had the ball and a chance to cut the lead to 3. They committed a turnover and Duke hasn’t looked back.

Just been NASTY since then. I will be rooting for #03 seed Illinois vs. Duke, but they have to be WTF?! THEY make it to the Final Four with #01 seed Duke, #01 seed Arizona and #01 seed Michigan!

 

[Kinch]

Just been NASTY since then. I will be rooting for #03 seed Illinois vs. Duke, but they have to be WTF?! THEY make it to the Final Four with #01 seed Duke, #01 seed Arizona and #01 seed Michigan!

A lot of people say the Michigan Arizona game is the true NCG. Duke has something to say about that.

 

[Kinch]

In the old days, that would be defensive interference for grabbing the rim. For some reason, that rule has gone by the wayside.

 

[BCClone]

Today if you grab the rim as a defender, it’s not goal tending. Happened in both games.

 

[rosshm16]

Not sure there's a more overrated player in the country than Solo Ball.

 

[12191987]

Illinois was closer to 7-8 before the tournament started, or am I misremembering?

Still, pretty good showing by Pomeroy.

 

[BCClone]

Not sure there's a more overrated player in the country than Solo Ball.

Ol’ one nut?

 

[cytor]

Nice of Tennessee to show up after blowing their wad on ISU.
Cyclones would have fared better even without Jefferson. Not saying ISU wins, but definitely play better.

 

[Kinch]

And to think Duke should have lost to a 16 seed.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Nice of Tennessee to show up after blowing their wad on ISU.
Cyclones would have fared better even without Jefferson. Not saying ISU wins, but definitely play better.

Isn't that the way it always works, though? The team that puts forward the perfect game to beat you... ends up completely laying an egg and looking like they don't belong in the next game, when (under ordinary circumstances) you would swear your team would have fared better against that opponent.

And just two really bad games so far today. Felt like both Michigan and Duke, both dealing with injury and not playing well, or at least to their capabilities, got to find themselves the first several rounds of the tournament, and now look like total world beaters.

 

[rosshm16]

Everyone plays their best game of the year against Iowa State.