2026 March Madness Thread

[swilsonsp4]

Beat Utah and UCF - doesn't move the needle for us. There's a good chance the UCF game won't even be Q1.

Beat Arizona in the quarters - this win would turn heads. Would it be too little too late? I'd say it gives us a 50/50 chance of getting in.

Beat Texas Tech/Iowa St in the semis - I think this would be enough for us to get picked on Selection Sunday.

UCF slipped from #50 (last Q1 spot) to #51 this morning. Since UC needs to beat them, the Knights most certainly would not move up.

[bearcatbret]

I read somewhere that the committee is too lazy to take into consideration the conference tournaments. UC will have to beat Arizona but I also believe that they will need to at least make the finals in the tournament. I suspect that nothing short of winning it will be good enough. The loss yesterday took a huge beating on the teams hope of being selected in one week.

[Carthage World]

0-1 wins, no chance.

2 wins, cross our fingers that the committee accounts for Jizzle joining us late and Celestine's injury, other bubble teams lose early, there are few bid thieves. Would help that we might be eliminating UCF by beating them (making the game essentially a play-in game). I think 60% if a good number, as my feeling is we'd probably be in, but a lot could go wrong.

3 wins and we are comfortably in.

Beat Utah and UCF - doesn't move the needle for us. There's a good chance the UCF game won't even be Q1.

Beat Arizona in the quarters - this win would turn heads. Would it be too little too late? I'd say it gives us a 50/50 chance of getting in.

Beat Texas Tech/Iowa St in the semis - I think this would be enough for us to get picked on Selection Sunday.

[zykarious]

So after the loss yesterday UC is number….
30 in Torvik
42 in KenPom
49 in Net

Those are all slightly down. The problem now is how far up will 1,2, or 3 victories next week move us? The three opponents are Utah, UCF, Arizona. Would two wins get us in, or do we have to beat Arizona?

0-1 wins, no chance.

2 wins, cross our fingers that the committee accounts for Jizzle joining us late and Celestine's injury, other bubble teams lose early, there are few bid thieves. Would help that we might be eliminating UCF by beating them (making the game essentially a play-in game). I think 60% if a good number, as my feeling is we'd probably be in, but a lot could go wrong.

3 wins and we are comfortably in.

[longtimefan]

So after the loss yesterday UC is number….
30 in Torvik
42 in KenPom
49 in Net

Those are all slightly down. The problem now is how far up will 1,2, or 3 victories next week move us? The three opponents are Utah, UCF, Arizona. Would two wins get us in, or do we have to beat Arizona?

[bearcatbret]

Lombardi still has UC in the first four out.

[GoBearcats31]

Tennessee State is dancing

DerMarr Johnson is an assistant.

[bearcatbret]

WVU 77 - UCF 62. How important are those earlier Bearcat losses.

[Bearcat1996]

I always disliked when UC "needed help" to get off the bubble, but I'll take it. If nothing else, it makes watching games more enjoyable.

[sedz]

UCF at WVU tonight.. We need a WVU loss.

WVU is likely toast. They're in a worse spot than us despite their season sweep.

UCF is in danger of falling out of the top 50 in both Kenpom and Torvik, which is a precarious position. They're getting bubbly after two straight home losses to bottom half B12 teams.

[GoBearcats31]

Belmont, the #1 seed in the Missouri Valley, got hammered in its Arch Madness opener -- will be an even tougher pill for Belmont fans to swallow if the coach gets poached for a bigger job

[GoBearcats31]

Caleb Wilson, leading scorer for top 20 UNC, out for the year (thumb)

[BearKatz]

UCF at WVU tonight.. We need a WVU loss.

[GoBearcats31]

Speaking of Miami, their record is extremely impressive from any league. However, they have been sneaking out games throughout the season either with buzzer beaters or in OT against some really bad teams (probably because they have a target on their backs and brings opponent's A game). I have seen some "experts" say that if Miami does not win their conference tournament, they will not make the dance. If that happens, it would be a travesty but would help UC. So, as mentioned above, either fizzle out soon or win the MAC tournament.

Miami shouldn't be penalized for sneaking them out, but I don't think you want to see two MAC schools -- regardless of UC's position. But from a bubble perspective Carthage World nailed it above.

Go Flyers

WVU/UCF -- since when are Big 12 games held on a Friday?

[bearcatbret]

Speaking of Miami, their record is extremely impressive from any league. However, they have been sneaking out games throughout the season either with buzzer beaters or in OT against some really bad teams (probably because they have a target on their backs and brings opponent's A game). I have seen some "experts" say that if Miami does not win their conference tournament, they will not make the dance. If that happens, it would be a travesty but would help UC. So, as mentioned above, either fizzle out soon or win the MAC tournament.