2026 NCAA Tournament Thread \ ALL Games-ALL Rounds
- Thread starter Tango Two
- Start date
Did I say that? No. But Arkansas is near the top, aren't they?
From Grok- which is always subject to confirmation:
Arkansas men's basketball has one of the highest NIL budgets among college programs (often cited in the $10M+ range for 2025-26, with some reports around $21M in related spending), while Arizona's is more modest for basketball specifically (estimated in the $3-5M range earlier in the cycle, though the program benefits from strong overall resources and revenue sharing).
- Pre-settlement (and into 2025-26), Arkansas was frequently listed among the elite group of programs with $10M+ in dedicated NIL funding for men's basketball, thanks to aggressive booster support under coach John Calipari. Reports described it as having one of the strongest "war chests," enabling big roster retention and recruiting moves.
slipperstillfits.com - One 2025 report projected Arkansas basketball NIL spending near or exceeding $10M, putting it in the top tier alongside programs like Duke, Kentucky, and Indiana.
nilcertifications.cleankonnect.com - Broader program context: Arkansas athletics has shifted toward in-house NIL handling after ending its partnership with Blueprint Sports (which ran Arkansas Edge). AD Hunter Yurachek noted competitiveness in the market, with athletes securing deals well above national averages. Some fan/insider discussions mentioned football NIL around $11.5M annually plus revenue sharing, with basketball also well-resourced.
sports.yahoo.com
A list of top men's basketball operational spending (which may overlap with or be separate from pure NIL/rev-share) placed Arkansas at ~$21.2M (6th nationally).
facebook.com
--------------------------
As for Arizona:
- Arizona's basketball-specific NIL spending has been reported as lower than the absolute top tier. An April 2025 estimate placed it just outside the top 20, around $3-5M for 2025-26—solid for a competitive Power program but behind the $10M+ clubs. Some discussions noted other Big 12 schools (e.g., BYU, Kansas, Texas Tech) outspending Arizona on basketball NIL in certain periods.
beardownu.com - Arizona benefits from strong overall athletics funding and revenue sharing (men's basketball often gets 20% of the ~$20.5M cap at Big 12 schools, or roughly $4M+ on average, plus outside NIL opportunities). The program ranks high in operational expenses ($22.6M, 3rd nationally in one report), reflecting investment in coaching, facilities, etc., though this is distinct from direct athlete pay.
heartlandcollegesports.com - Arizona has a clearinghouse process for larger NIL deals and emphasizes compliance post-settlement. High-profile players (e.g., those with big social followings) can attract individual deals that supplement team resources.
- Arizona's basketball-specific NIL spending has been reported as lower than the absolute top tier. An April 2025 estimate placed it just outside the top 20, around $3-5M for 2025-26—solid for a competitive Power program but behind the $10M+ clubs. Some discussions noted other Big 12 schools (e.g., BYU, Kansas, Texas Tech) outspending Arizona on basketball NIL in certain periods.
If you truly hate the portal Purdue is the team to root for the rest of the way
they are the only program with multiple starters who will graduate and play 4 years at the same school they started… they actually have 3 that have stayed all 4 years and start
I will root hard for them and for Iowa because Iowa is a unique case of incredible loyalty to a coach who is on a skyrocket trajectory
they are the only program with multiple starters who will graduate and play 4 years at the same school they started… they actually have 3 that have stayed all 4 years and start
I will root hard for them and for Iowa because Iowa is a unique case of incredible loyalty to a coach who is on a skyrocket trajectory
Friday, March 27
United Center (Chicago), Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)
United Center (Chicago), Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)
| TIME (ET) | GAME | TV / STREAM |
|---|---|---|
| 7:10 p.m. | (5) St. John's vs. (1) Duke || Washington, D.C. Ian Eagle / Bill Raftery, Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson | CBS (watch live) |
| 7:35 p.m. | (4) Alabama vs. (1) Michigan || Chicago Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Evan Washburn | TBS (watch live) |
| 9:45 p.m. | (3) Michigan State vs. (3) UConn || Washington, D.C. Ian Eagle / Bill Raftery, Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson | CBS (watch live) |
| 10:10 p.m. | (6) Tennessee vs. (2) Iowa State || Chicago Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Evan Washburn | TBS (watch live) |
From everything I read, I'm shocked at how many are discounting Duke's chances, and how many are all aboard the St John's bandwagon. I think Duke is a horrible matchup for St John's tonight.
I whole heartedly agree
St. John’s already can’t score and Duke is the #1 rated defense nationally