Men's March Madness 2026: Ranking the remaining 16 teams
Six Big Ten teams! Upset-minded Texas! Buzzer-beaters and blowouts! Here's how the Sweet 16 teams stack up.
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Ranking the remaining 16 teams
- Thread starter Halldan
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So looking at the teams left, this is what the Power Conferences wanted. All Power Conference teams except for the two Big East teams who continue to spoil their out right domination. The top 16 teams have all spent big money on NIL. Is this a coincidence? Is anyone surprised?
I think I like SJ a little more right now. Uconn got a monster Tarris game, then Karaban bailed them last night. I like UM, Zona, iowa state at the top, then a lot of parity in the middle (6 or so teams incl Houston, SJ UCONN DUKE MSU Illinois Purdue )
Good teams, no good stories
Good teams, no good stories
I like Houston more than you. It's a different team this year, but still really, really good IMO. I'd put them right after Michigan, Duke and Zona. With Iowa State on that level if Jefferson is healthy.
What's so impressive about what Kelvin Sampson does annually is that he gets kids with different profiles to play hard, connected and terrific defense. Not just the Tugler's of the world, who I'm sure was recruited as a defense/rebounding guy (and has become one of the best in the country these last 2 years). But he gets guards and wings that profile more as offensive players do develop into defensive demons who play like their hair is on fire. There is probably only a handful of coaches you can say that about.
It’s hard to rank them honestly. One benefit of NIL and the consolidation of talent is the late round NCAAT games are incredible. They all feel like final 4 games. Must see TV.