🏀 GAME THREAD March Madness 2026: The Final Four - Illinois vs UConn /// Michigan vs Arizona

 

[Bammerboy321]

Almost 10 straight minutes of basketball without a whistle or stoppage to begin the Texas v. Purdue game. Can't say I've seen that in a while...

Ended up being a great game, besides the 10 million commercials.

 

[Rolltide24]

24-22 at the half. That game is worse than watching Iowa play. Geez.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Illinois is on a 17-0 run. Up 44-26.

Bama beating them in Chicago was elite.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

 

[Rolltide24]

B1G has 4 teams in the Elite 8 now, if my count is right. And Michigan State just started their game. They are the powerhouse conference now that we are chasing.

SEC is 0-3 in the Sweet 16 with UT still to play. 2 blowouts. Not what we’re used to seeing in the dance. I hope Tennessee loses big! Even if it means we go 0-4.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Tennessee and Iowa State is a war right now

 

[Rolltide24]

Welp, Tennessee got the SEC its only win of the weekend, damn it. Barnes gets the most out of his guys pretty consistently.

And UConn kept the B1G for having 5 of the 8 teams left standing.

 

[TerryP]

And UConn kept the B1G for having 5 of the 8 teams left standing.

As much as Bill Curry has done for minor league baseball around here...and, as much as I like seeing people freak out over Hurley. I'm a UCONN fan.

 

[TerryP]

Dawns on me...

I will forever have an allegiance to Big East basketball. It was just that good.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Iowa landed a damn good coach

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Iowa landed a damn good coach

I pulled up his wiki recently... his success a NW Missouri St is borderline ridiculous. Dude knows how to get it done come tournament time. It would be like if DeBoer had stayed at Sioux Falls for 13 years.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Dawns on me...

I will forever have an allegiance to Big East basketball. It was just that good.

It was peak basketball back in the day. I still can't get used to the new conferences at all.

I really miss the Syracuse-UConn rivalry being a big deal

 

[Rolltide24]

Iowa landed a damn good coach

But their ball is like watching 2 slugs racing to a leaf of lettuce. At least when they are losing, they speed it up a little.

 

[TerryP]

It was peak basketball back in the day. I still can't get used to the new conferences at all.

I really miss the Syracuse-UConn rivalry being a big deal

Only 'Orange' I've ever rooted for.

 

[Bammerboy321]

I pulled up his wiki recently... his success a NW Missouri St is borderline ridiculous. Dude knows how to get it done come tournament time. It would be like if DeBoer had stayed at Sioux Falls for 13 years.

All while running a very mundane style of offense. But I will say - you watch Iowa. They cut to the basket with a damn purpose.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Man that roar from the crowd when you know your team is going to F4 is something special. Glad we got to experience it but I really want to feel it again. Oats is up there with Saban to me in terms of fiery competitiveness. Just have to allow him to get the pieces and I think he'll deliver a national championship.

Congrats to Illinois. Fun team. Our game in Chicago was great basketball.

 

[Bammerboy321]

16 minutes from Arizona-Purdue. Going to be a good one.

 

[Bammerboy321]

There is a damn war going on inside the paint. Both teams are hustling. Purdue has 8 offensive boards.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Oof Purdue playing sloppy in transition

 

[Bammerboy321]

That help defense we just saw from Brayden Smith. That is what we have really missed a lot the last few years.