College Basketball 2025-2026

[gflore34]

19 hours ago, UMFan83 said:

Big Ten officials are ridiculous, but I’ll point out that Michigan is also top 20 nationally at avoiding fouls (though Illinois is number 1)

btw Wisconsin scares the horsefeathers out of me. The way they came back from a 15 point deficit to take a 4 point lead over like 4 minutes had me losing my mind. Especially considering it was their 3rd game in a row and they had 3 guys in foul trouble.  When they are on they are scary good. Hope they are on the other side of Michigan’s bracket. 

By the way, Mara is as good as gone, there's an excellent chance all that be left from this year's team are Cadeau, McKenney and Cason.  As you said there's a big purse and May will probably be able to put together a good team.  Although it'll be no where near as good as this current team and, as an Illini fan, this is a positive result. 

Edited March 15 by gflore34

[gflore34]

For the most part I don't think these power conference post season tournaments mean jack horsefeathers.  They're all a money making venture.  However, it might end up serving Michigan well that they didn't roll to the title, re-focus, etc.  Think the same for the Illini.

Edited March 15 by gflore34

[gflore34]

I know this is probably said every season - Seth Davis is a dipshit idiot.  High Point over Wisconsin?  Surprised he didn't say Penn would beat Illinois as well.

[Derwood]

A barely .500 Auburn even being on the bubble is a joke

[bukie]

Here's a fun article detailing how much Bruce Pearl is a piece of garbage, particularly to Illini fans: https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2019/4/4/18295241/bruce-pearl-final-four-timeline-infractions-auburn-lowa-deon-thomas-wire-milwaukee-violations

[scarey]

3 hours ago, gflore34 said:

For the most part I don't think these power conference post season tournaments mean jack horsefeathers.  They're all a money making venture.  However, it might end up serving Michigan well that they didn't roll to the title, re-focus, etc.  Think the same for the Illini.

I think this is generally true. However, Purdue is the rare situation where there is movement due to the result. I had them as a 4 seed if they drop the game against Nebraska (or god forbid Northwestern). But to beat two top 11 teams and arguably the best team in the nation to get that tournament title? I think the selection committee did the right thing making them a 2 seed. 

BTW, lost in the excitement of Selection Sunday and Michigan going down was the fact that Purdue passed Illinois as the number 1 ranked offense on KenPom!

 

Edited March 16 by scarey

[UMFan83]

Congrats to the Purdue fans on the board, they looked like a completely different team today. I haven’t seen a team all year abuse our bigs defensively like that over and over and over again. I figured if Purdue would win it would be them getting hot from 3 but they were only 4/14. 
 

Also Michigan just doesn’t look the same after the Cason injury. All 5 of their games since then have gone down to the wire. I don’t think he is vital to Michigan but it’s definitely made our offense more limited. Or it’s just 5 games at the end of a long and grueling Big Ten season and Purdue found another gear. We’ll see..definitely less confident in them than I was a month ago. 

[gflore34]

2 hours ago, scarey said:

I think this is generally true. However, Purdue is the rare situation where there is movement due to the result. I had them as a 4 seed if they drop the game against Nebraska (or god forbid Northwestern). But to beat two top 11 teams and arguably the best team in the nation to get that tournament title? I think the selection committee did the right thing making them a 2 seed. 

BTW, lost in the excitement of Selection Sunday and Michigan going down was the fact that Purdue passed Illinois as the number 1 ranked offense on KenPom!

 

 I hope the Illini can do the same in finding their earlier form.  Purdue just showed it's possible and can happen quickly.

[bddavidson]

11 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

 I hope the Illini can do the same in finding their earlier form.  Purdue just showed it's possible and can happen quickly.

In the Illini's favor, Purdue's last game before they went on this run was a loss to Wisconsin 

[bukie]

The only real head scratcher from the committee this year was Vandy as a 5, considering their metrics effectively had them as a 3, or at worst the strongest 4.

[soccer10k]

12 hours ago, bukie said:

The only real head scratcher from the committee this year was Vandy as a 5, considering their metrics effectively had them as a 3, or at worst the strongest 4.

Not related to seeding but Missouri being a 10 seed and getting to play in St Louis seemed a little strange.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

1 hour ago, soccer10k said:

Not related to seeding but Missouri being a 10 seed and getting to play in St Louis seemed a little strange.

Yes it is strange but have you considered Mizzou will probably lose anyway

[sneakypower]

On 3/15/2026 at 1:11 PM, gflore34 said:

By the way, Mara is as good as gone, there's an excellent chance all that be left from this year's team are Cadeau, McKenney and Cason.  As you said there's a big purse and May will probably be able to put together a good team.  Although it'll be no where near as good as this current team and, as an Illini fan, this is a positive result. 

Morez Johnson 

[UMFan83]

1 hour ago, sneakypower said:

Morez Johnson 

Yeah plus correct me if I'm wrong but he's not really the style of player who is en vogue in the NBA right now.  Not saying he won't be an NBA player and possibly a decent one, but his profile might suppress his draft value at least coming out this year.  Mara is in better shape because you can't teach that size and wingspan but hes not a shooter at all (hes hit a couple jump shots but they call come off flat) and most of his points are moves around the basket that more skilled NBA defenders will be able to slow down.  He is an elite passing big man and should be a strong defender though.  

[gflore34]

4 hours ago, UMFan83 said:

Yeah plus correct me if I'm wrong but he's not really the style of player who is en vogue in the NBA right now.  Not saying he won't be an NBA player and possibly a decent one, but his profile might suppress his draft value at least coming out this year.  Mara is in better shape because you can't teach that size and wingspan but hes not a shooter at all (hes hit a couple jump shots but they call come off flat) and most of his points are moves around the basket that more skilled NBA defenders will be able to slow down.  He is an elite passing big man and should be a strong defender though.  

I think you're correct in that if any of Johnson or Mara stays it be Johnson.

[gflore34]

Man, if the Illini can get their horsefeathers together a road to the FF is there for them.  The weakest 14 seed and probably, with UNC' injuries, the weakest 6/7 match up.  Maybe, even the weakest 1 and 2 seeds in Florida and Houston.  I've complained about the Illini get bent over with tournament match ups before, not this time, the committee made a nice run possible. 

[The_Achiever]

2 hours ago, gflore34 said:

Man, if the Illini can get their horsefeathers together a road to the FF is there for them.  The weakest 14 seed and probably, with UNC' injuries, the weakest 6/7 match up.  Maybe, even the weakest 1 and 2 seeds in Florida and Houston.  I've complained about the Illini get bent over with tournament match ups before, not this time, the committee made a nice run possible. 

Indeed, although I'll be watching between my fingers considering how the last month has gone.  Penn shoots the 3-ball well, if they start off hot I hope we don't get into chucker mode.  We have such a size advantage, can't get suckered in by a smart team who knows who they are.  

[gflore34]

15 minutes ago, The_Achiever said:

Indeed, although I'll be watching between my fingers considering how the last month has gone.  Penn shoots the 3-ball well, if they start off hot I hope we don't get into chucker mode.  We have such a size advantage, can't get suckered in by a smart team who knows who they are.  

Heard something about Penn giving up a ridiculous amount of points in the paint.  Tomi and Mirk should feast inside, start with that, then when the double teams come, pass outside for open 3's.

Edited March 17 by gflore34

[gflore34]

Well, it begins, with the exception of Ohio State I believe all the Big Ten teams will handily win their 1st Rd. games.  I think OSU will win, it'll be close, at times, TCU has looked very good.  They were kicking the horsefeathers out of Kansas for a good portion of their game in Lawrence, faded down the stretch and lost in OT.  They beat Iowa State and earlier beat Florida and Wisconsin, they're a good team.

Edited March 19 by gflore34

[gflore34]

Forgot about Iowa, they may not beat Clemson, believe they've a chance to win.

[sneakypower]

[soccer10k]

Down goes Wisconsin.

[gflore34]

Seriously Wisconsin? WTF?  You're money against Illinois and Michigan but can't beat HP?  Boyd and Blackwell have been great but, when there's not another option it's easy to defend or, at least, the other team knows who's going to take all the shots.  And, what do you know, no Big Ten whistles to bail out Boyd and Blackwell flipping and flopping.  The result? Wisconsin losses.

Edited March 19 by gflore34

[bukie]

 

[scarey]

Upset alert. Duke was down 11 to Sienna at halftime but has since pulled within 4. Sienna has not subbed anybody out at all. I think they've started wearing down.