College Basketball 2025-2026

[Erial_Lion]

I was going to just put this in the PSU Hoops thread, but figured I'd start a new one for any college basketball stuff this winter.

For those that don't follow as closely, here are some new NCAA coaches this season...

• Rob Summers - Cleveland St - former PSU player (that transferred out mid-career).
• Ali Farokhmanesh - Colorado St - March Madness here for Northern Iowa (he starred in an upset of Kansas). January 3rd, they match up with Grand Canyon led by another March Madness legend, Bryce Drew.
• Charlie Ward - Florida A&M - former Heisman Trophy winner turned New York Knick.
• Mike Bibby - Sacramento St - former NBA star has never coached above the high school level.
• Nolan Smith - Tennessee St - former Duke star (ACC player of the year once) and 1st round pick.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Quite the fall from grace, but glad he put his life back together…

Former Cleveland State coach Mackey dies at 80

Kevin Mackey, the first Division I men's basketball coach to win an NCAA tournament game with a so-called "Cinderella" team, died Tuesday from an apparent heart attack, his son, Brian, told ESPN. Mackey was 80.

www.espn.com

 

[PSUForever]

I was going to just put this in the PSU Hoops thread, but figured I'd start a new one for any college basketball stuff this winter.

For those that don't follow as closely, here are some new NCAA coaches this season...

• Rob Summers - Cleveland St - former PSU player (that transferred out mid-career).
• Ali Farokhmanesh - Colorado St - March Madness here for Northern Iowa (he starred in an upset of Kansas). January 3rd, they match up with Grand Canyon led by another March Madness legend, Bryce Drew.
• Charlie Ward - Florida A&M - former Heisman Trophy winner turned New York Knick.
• Mike Bibby - Sacramento St - former NBA star has never coached above the high school level.
• Nolan Smith - Tennessee St - former Duke star (ACC player of the year once) and 1st round pick.

Who do you see winning the B10? Looks like Michigan, Purdue, Illinois and the obligatory Sparty as the top teams. Perhaps UCLA also.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Who do you see winning the B10? Looks like Michigan, Purdue, Illinois and the obligatory Sparty as the top teams. Perhaps UCLA also.

If I had to pick one team, I’d go Illinois. But it does seem pretty wide open with no great team, but a bunch of really good ones.

 

[PSUForever]

If I had to pick one team, I’d go Illinois. But it does seem pretty wide open with no great team, but a bunch of really good ones.

I can see these teams all dancing...

Illinois
Indiana
MSU
Michigan
Wisconsin
Purdue
UCLA
Oregon

 

[LionJim]

Purdue 87-80 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Purdue played some beautiful basketball, wonderful passing. Alabama looked good too but Purdue was too big inside. Fine game.

Pitt 49-71 West Virginia. WVa finished on a 28-57 run, it got ugly.

The wife was at book club.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Pretty improbable win on the women’s side tonight, as WVU had 6 players ejected during a skirmish and played the second half with the 5 remaining players while upsetting 15th ranked Duke.

After 6 ejected, WVU women upset No. 15 Duke

Down to just five players after six Mountaineers were ejected before the half, West Virginia managed to grind out a 57-49 upset of No. 15 Duke.

www.espn.com

 

[BobPSU92]

Pretty improbable win on the women’s side tonight, as WVU had 6 players ejected during a skirmish and played the second half with the 5 remaining players while upsetting 15th ranked Duke.

After 6 ejected, WVU women upset No. 15 Duke

Down to just five players after six Mountaineers were ejected before the half, West Virginia managed to grind out a 57-49 upset of No. 15 Duke.

www.espn.com

“Ladies”

 

[Erial_Lion]

Looking at the field for next week’s Maui Invitational, and it’s the worst field that I ever remember. Unfortunate, as I love watching those games.

Arizona State (Big 12), Boise State (MW), Chaminade (DII, PacWest), NC State (ACC), Seton Hall (Big East), Texas (SEC), USC (Big Ten), Washington State (WCC, associate)

 

[Erial_Lion]

Today starts one of my favorite weeks of the year. So much weekday daytime basketball, good matchups, etc. Lots of good ones today (and a couple of games tipping now).

 

[Erial_Lion]

My hot take of the night…Gonzaga will be a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament…and they have a realistic shot at being undefeated heading into it (though have a tough one against Kentucky in Nashville next Friday, and could be tested on Wednesday in Vegas depending on who they draw).

 

[Erial_Lion]

Looks like Michigan-Gonzaga tomorrow in Vegas…really good early season matchup between two teams playing extremely well.

 

[PSUForever]

Looks like Michigan-Gonzaga tomorrow in Vegas…really good early season matchup between two teams playing extremely well.

Michigan crushed Auburn. Is Auburn down without Pearl or is Michigan really good?

 

[Erial_Lion]

Michigan crushed Auburn. Is Auburn down without Pearl or is Michigan really good?

Torvik has Michigan #1 after yesterday…Pomeroy has Gonzaga #1 (and both have the other team 4th). Auburn is decent but not great this year (top 25-40ish at the moment), but Michigan scored at will. And Gonzaga made Maryland look like a MEAC or NEC team.

Game is at 9:30pm tonight on TNT.

 

[LionJim]

Torvik has Michigan #1 after yesterday…Pomeroy has Gonzaga #1 (and both have the other team 4th). Auburn is decent but not great this year (top 25-40ish at the moment), but Michigan scored at will. And Gonzaga made Maryland look like a MEAC or NEC team.

Game is at 9:30pm tonight on TNT.

Final score: Maryland 61-100 Gonzaga. Dang.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Also, props to Dusty May and Michigan for their non-conference schedule. They are challenging themselves unlike power conference teams do today. Here are their non-conf opponents this season (with their current KenPom rankings)...

1 Gonzaga (neutral)
3 Duke (neutral)
34 Auburn (neutral)
39 Wake Forest (in Detroit)
40 Villanova (home)
45 San Diego St (neutral)
77 TCU (away)
78 McNeese (home)
140 Oakland (home)
154 Middle Tennessee (home)
229 LaSalle (home)

Only one team in the bottom half of the country, and none in the bottom 125...no awful SWAC/MEAC teams in there at all. Add in the B1G schedule, and I'll be surprised if they don't have the #1 overall SOS on Selection Sunday.

 

[LionJim]

Also, props to Dusty May and Michigan for their non-conference schedule. They are challenging themselves unlike power conference teams do today. Here are their non-conf opponents this season (with their current KenPom rankings)...

1 Gonzaga (neutral)
3 Duke (neutral)
34 Auburn (neutral)
39 Wake Forest (in Detroit)
40 Villanova (home)
45 San Diego St (neutral)
77 TCU (away)
78 McNeese (home)
140 Oakland (home)
154 Middle Tennessee (home)
229 LaSalle (home)

Only one team in the bottom half of the country, and none in the bottom 125...no awful SWAC/MEAC teams in there at all. Add in the B1G schedule, and I'll be surprised if they don't have the #1 overall SOS on Selection Sunday.

Watched Vanderbilt beat Western Kentucky just now. Pretty game. Some great shooters out there who have length to boot.

 

[KingLando]

I'm surprised there aren't a ton of people bashing the "Players Era" Tournament and the money involved--though the format does need changed.

 

[Erial_Lion]

I'm surprised there aren't a ton of people bashing the "Players Era" Tournament and the money involved--though the format does need changed.

Yea…brutal format this year, but seems like they’re willing to change it. And sad what it did to Maui this year.

But it has been some good basketball.

 

[PSUForever]

Torvik has Michigan #1 after yesterday…Pomeroy has Gonzaga #1 (and both have the other team 4th). Auburn is decent but not great this year (top 25-40ish at the moment), but Michigan scored at will. And Gonzaga made Maryland look like a MEAC or NEC team.

Game is at 9:30pm tonight on TNT.

That's a good game. Michigan seems to have gotten the hire right after Juwan Howard. Mark Few is one of the best coaches in the country.

 

[PSUForever]

Also, props to Dusty May and Michigan for their non-conference schedule. They are challenging themselves unlike power conference teams do today. Here are their non-conf opponents this season (with their current KenPom rankings)...

1 Gonzaga (neutral)
3 Duke (neutral)
34 Auburn (neutral)
39 Wake Forest (in Detroit)
40 Villanova (home)
45 San Diego St (neutral)
77 TCU (away)
78 McNeese (home)
140 Oakland (home)
154 Middle Tennessee (home)
229 LaSalle (home)

Only one team in the bottom half of the country, and none in the bottom 125...no awful SWAC/MEAC teams in there at all. Add in the B1G schedule, and I'll be surprised if they don't have the #1 overall SOS on Selection Sunday.

When is Michigan vs Duke? That's shaping up to be a helluva game.

 

[Erial_Lion]

When is Michigan vs Duke? That's shaping up to be a helluva game.

2/21 in Washington, DC

 

[Erial_Lion]

Michigan looks incredible. Purdue and Michigan could be 1-2 in next week’s poll.

 

[NittanyPirate]

Maui field is definitely not as strong as in the past due to the decline of MTEs but there was some good bball played, especially if you like tempo and offense. Texas beat NC St for 5th place in what most people predicted would be the championship, but both ended up on the wrong side of the bracket after their opening game.

USC has some talent. Not very good defensively but even without Rodney Rice they’re dangerous. They beat Arizona State in the championship. Seton Hall, my rooting favorite, will be better than predicted. I really hate the portal/NIL and what it’s doing to college sports, but it will allow a team to completely rebuild its roster/identity in one offseason.
Michigan looks outstanding. Purdue looks great again. I really like what I see from MSU too. Could this be the year the Big10 breaks it’s championship drought?

 

[Nothing Special]

Michigan looks incredible. Purdue and Michigan could be 1-2 in next week’s poll.

Not flaming, just looking for some early season hoop talk. Do you trust Purdue? I was with you on Gonzaga and then the Michigam whirlwind hit. It's early, but it's been fun. Hoping Maui doesn't go the way of the Great Alaskan Shootout. enjoyed trying to stay awake or falling asleep to many of those games.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Not flaming, just looking for some early season hoop talk. Do you trust Purdue? I was with you on Gonzaga and then the Michigam whirlwind hit. It's early, but it's been fun. Hoping Maui doesn't go the way of the Great Alaskan Shootout. enjoyed trying to stay awake or falling asleep to many of those games.

I don’t know if I trust anyone this season, lol. Just such a different landscape now with all of the turnover. Funny you mentioned Alaska, as I just said to my dad yesterday how much I miss that tournament.

 

[Nothing Special]

I don’t know if I trust anyone this season, lol. Just such a different landscape now with all of the turnover. Funny you mentioned Alaska, as I just said to my dad yesterday how much I miss that tournament.

I think you're right. I think there will be a lot of ups and downs for teams this year. We'll see who gets hot in late February and March. Should be fun.