College Basketball 2025-2026

[Tryptamine]

They had every chance to win, but they just shot like absolute horsefeathers.

[Soul]

Yeah the shooting just wasn’t there.

[gflore34]

45 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Their 3 point shooting the last nearly 2 games has been absolutely pathetic.

That's true, tonight I give more credit to venue than anything UConn did, missed a plethora of open looks.  We'll see how Michigan and Arizona shoot, wouldn't be surprised if they struggle.

[Brian707]

Shot like horsefeathers. Good run. Now to watch the championship game. Arizona vs Michigan 

[gflore34]

Oftentimes you have to fail before you succeed.  Prediction: Sometime soon Illinois will win a NC and they'll beat UConn in the title game.

Edited April 5 by gflore34

[gflore34]

34 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

Shot like horsefeathers. Good run. Now to watch the championship game. Arizona vs Michigan 

That was it, hell, even an average night from three and they win.  After some early struggles, they end up kicking their asses on boards and did most else well enough.  Just couldn't shoot or make layups.  It's hard to be upset, disappointed yes, the better team didn't win.  Nevertheless, they'll be more FF's and there will be a break through.

Edited April 5 by gflore34

[Irrelevant Dude]

So many missed shots... Missed threes, short jumpers, layups.  The ball just wouldn't go in the basket.  UConn didn't shot much better, but they got a few bounces that Illinois just didn't get. That was definitely a winnable game, but not with the team shooting like that.  People seem to think the program is on an upward trajectory and will be back soon.  I do agree that Brad Underwood has done a great job and will continue to assemble competitive teams, but I'm not so confident in another deep tournament run in the near future.  It's just incredibly definitely to get to a Final Four and you have to take advantage of it when you get there.  Unfortunately, this team didn't.  Great season overall, but I'm back to thinking I will never see Illinois win a National Championship, despite them having multiple opportunities to do so.

[gflore34]

10 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

So many missed shots... Missed threes, short jumpers, layups.  The ball just wouldn't go in the basket.  UConn didn't shot much better, but they got a few bounces that Illinois just didn't get. That was definitely a winnable game, but not with the team shooting like that.  People seem to think the program is on an upward trajectory and will be back soon.  I do agree that Brad Underwood has done a great job and will continue to assemble competitive teams, but I'm not so confident in another deep tournament run in the near future.  It's just incredibly definitely to get to a Final Four and you have to take advantage of it when you get there.  Unfortunately, this team didn't.  Great season overall, but I'm back to thinking I will never see Illinois win a National Championship, despite them having multiple opportunities to do so.

It's going to happen, Brad' already capitalized on the recruiting trail, they'll be more FF's. 

[gflore34]

Michigan off to great start, would be worried about the Arizona center.  He's not bothered by Mara' length and it appears he can take him.  Watch Arizona keep feeding him.  No Yaxel may not matter in tonights game.  Need Yaxel to kick the horsefeathers out of UConn on Monday.

Edited April 5 by gflore34

[Bobson Dugnutt]

They had so many good looks that didn’t fall. I felt like that was a fairly evenly played matchup and the bounces didn’t go our way.

Not to try and claim moral victory, but Illinois proved they belonged, unlike two years ago where UConn thoroughly outclassed them.

[I owned a Suzuki]

I know UConn has some sort of cosmic incredible final 4 record.......but it is really hard seeing them beating Michigan

[gflore34]

9 hours ago, I owned a Suzuki said:

I know UConn has some sort of cosmic incredible final 4 record.......but it is really hard seeing them beating Michigan

Yaxel looked pretty lame out there, him being ineffective might be their only chance.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Hahahaha. Suck it, Arizona.

[I owned a Suzuki]

1 hour ago, gflore34 said:

Yaxel looked pretty lame out there, him being ineffective might be their only chance.

And Michigan still had a 30 point 2nd half lead against a better team than UConn

[gflore34]

4 minutes ago, I owned a Suzuki said:

And Michigan still had a 30 point 2nd half lead against a better team than UConn

Good point plus I strongly suspect UConn will be called on their hack and hold more so than vs. Illinois.  They did a hack job on Wagler and got away with it.

Edited April 5 by gflore34

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Champs!!

[gflore34]

Right now sounding like most of the Illini with eligibility are coming back, there's a sense of unfinished business.  Besides Mirk, Andrej is the big one, come up with money and he probably stays.

[mul21]

On 4/4/2026 at 7:42 PM, gflore34 said:

That was it, hell, even an average night from three and they win.  After some early struggles, they end up kicking their asses on boards and did most else well enough.  Just couldn't shoot or make layups.  It's hard to be upset, disappointed yes, the better team didn't win.  Nevertheless, they'll be more FF's and there will be a break through.

It was crazy how every shot that rimmed seemed to bounce out for Illinois and in for UConn.  The shooting just wasn't good enough and they were absolutely getting good looks.

My biggest issue with the game was that Illinois never figured out how to defend that double screen for the wing 3 and UConn hit 3 or 4 of those because they were wide open.  

[gflore34]

Grant Hill: "...they're trying to grind it out, make a Big East game..." yeah, the never happens in the Big Ten, horsefeathers brain dead.  Also, Reed is not quick or athletic enough to get around Mara.  Reed' whole game is predicated on pushing his defender out of the way and he can't do that to Mara.  UConn is hacking, holding, pushing POS team.

Edited April 7 by gflore34

[gflore34]

Absolutely, love the hook and hold call on Karaban, it's the correct call.  That motherfucker hacked the horsefeathers out of Wagler Saturday night.

[Derwood]

Is this the first year that the title game wasn't on CBS?

[I owned a Suzuki]

Props to Michigan. Who knew they could out ugly UConn. I think Barkley said it at halftime, this was absolutely the game that UConn wanted....but Michigan was still winning

[scarey]

Bittersweet on this one.

On the one hand, we FINALLY get a Big Ten championship team and deny Hurley an undeserved championship (legit, they haven't impressed all year, I don't understand how they got this far).

 

On the other hand, this Michigan squad is so unlikeable. A whole lot of douche in that locker room starting with May.

 

Also, this just further reinforces that you can just throw money around and get a championship. 

The Final Four teams over the last 3 years have been:

UConn x3
Purdue
Alabama
NC State
Florida
Houston
Duke
Auburn
Michigan
Arizona
Illinois

I would guess of those teams, Purdue, NC State, Auburn, and Illinois paid less than $10 mill for their rosters meaning 75% of teams making it to the Final Four threw significant money at their roster.

I'm a fan of players being paid, but it really sucks to watch the wealthy get an advantage in any sport. I shouldn't be one to cry foul as Purdue reportedly spent $20 mill on their roster this year, but I don't think they throw that kind of money at it if they didn't need to dish out money to keep their home grown super stars.

There needs to be a healthy middle ground between players not getting paid and a handful of heavy spending schools having a realistic chance of winning a championship due to money. As a fan of Purdue, Painter appears to be good at retaining most players he recruits. I have to think it sucks cheering for a Morez Johnson, then watching him walk after a year.

I hope they figure out a way to make it work.

 

[I owned a Suzuki]

Also....CBB needs to stop all these replays.

[Derwood]

UMFan is not allowed to bitch about anything for a few years. Got a CFB and CBB championship in the last few years