NCAA Hoops 2025-26 Season Thread: MARCH SADNESS FOR DUKE

Bro. Seriously. Michigan is an NBA team playing college basketball. There has never been a team this good in the history of the game. The only accurate analogy is the Dream Team. We're so good it's literally boring.

PS: Not sure what happened in that Penn State game, but I don't expect it to happen again.

Nebraska 16-0 lmao

Go big red!

I'll take Duke +20 if you're offering

i was told Michigan was the best thing since sliced bread

i was lied to

https://sports.yahoo.com/mens-college-basketball/article/chicago-state-loses-game-on-all-time-timeout-blunder-with-01-seconds-left-233650767.html

Yahoo Sports

Chicago State loses game on all-time timeout blunder with 0.1 seconds left

Chicago State lost a game up 2 with the ball and .1 seconds on the clock

I swear to God man. I have to be living in a simulation.

Hi friends, checking in here.

I don’t follow college basketball until the Dance.

Apparently UGA is ranked?!? Are they good??

It’s absolutely maddening to me how at no point in my lifetime, UGA basketball was ever good. Despite Anthony Edwards, KCP, and Nique coming through.

Is it a new day?

17-0

Now I realize that there is some positive variance here, but they've beaten Illinois (KenPom 6), Michigan State (KenPom 13) as well as less good but "big" programs Wisconsin, Ohio State etc.

They're not going to end up as a 1 or a 2 seed and will likely get taken apart by Michigan in a couple of weeks, but it's still pretty fun to root for (especially given how much the football team has been between mid and terrible since I started following).

No.

😀

Walter Clayton dramatically improved his stock in March last year.
Thomas Haugh has improved his stock from day 1 of this year. Good for him. He will be a fringe lottery pick (as he should).

I'm sure a lot of you have already seen this, but if not, it's pretty cool. Had no idea they were using pyrotechnics indoors now.

Huge win by UF.
Xavian was clutch. Boogie playing well. Front court is so big and good.

LFG.

3 games later, this team is still broken as hell in the first half...but suddenly knows how to play in the second half? I would almost prefer if we started the game down 10 points, since UK doesn't know how to play until 10 down.

Last 3 games

Down 12 against Mississippi St, win by 24
Down 18 against @LSU, win by 1
Down 17 against @Tenn, win by 2

I really think it is pretty random. There are teams and fighters who win by attrition, admittedly, but this could just be an anomaly unless it goes on a lot more. A game is probably coming up when they torch the opponent in the first half, and the reporter's question will be: "What was different in your approach/strategy to not have the bad first half?" Nothing. Variance.

Shoutout to Dominique Daniels. 47 points for California Baptist in a huge victory

20-0, and Illinois and Houston both lost this weekend. Surely they are ranked 5th tomorrow.

Just in time to get reamed by Michigan by 15.

wtf Nebraska is the best team I’ve ever seen

Vanderbilt's coach looks like McLovin.

Only losing to the best team ever by 3 pts on the road is in itself a greater accomplishment than going 20-0. Nebraska is a legit threat to win it all.

But only so much of a threat. The complete lack of depth will bite them at some point.

But yes, nearly winning yesterday without 2 of their best players was very impressive. Corn are real.

Fun Fact:

Angle: Bet against A&M's opponent in their next game and profit.

#1 and #2 pick in the NBA draft, IMO, facing off here shortly.

Analysis: Samford Bulldogs @ Western Carolina Catamounts (Sunday, Feb 1) – Total Points Pick (Over/Under 154.5)

A critical Southern Conference (SoCon) rematch arrives with both teams at divergent psychological crossroads and clear defensive vulnerabilities. The Samford Bulldogs (10-12, 3-6 SoCon), reeling from a heartbreaking 78-73 loss at Furman, desperately need a road win to reignite their faltering conference campaign. The Western Carolina Catamounts (8-12, 4-5 SoCon), soaring after a monumental 90-88 road upset over first-place East Tennessee State, seek to validate that victory and climb into the SoCon's upper echelon. This matchup isn't just about standings; it's a battle between an elite offensive weapon and a resilient, high-variance attack, played on a floor where defense has been optional. The over/under line of 154.5 points is a direct challenge to the core identities of both squads.

Deep Dive: Tactical Styles, Personnel, and the Rematch Dynamic

Samford Bulldogs: The Star-Driven Engine with a Leaky Hull

Offensive Identity: The offense flows through and finishes with Jadin Booth (20.8 PPG, 41.6% 3PT), a bona fide SoCon Player of the Year candidate capable of 30-point explosions. He is complemented by the interior efficiency of Dylan Faulkner (17.3 PPG, 63.1% FG, 7.5 RPG), creating a potent inside-outside duality. Point guard Keaton Norris (4.7 APG) is the orchestrator, adept at finding both in their spots.

Defensive Frailty: For all its offensive firepower, Samford's defense is a persistent issue. They struggle to contain dribble penetration, lack consistent rim protection outside of Faulkner's 1.6 BPG, and are vulnerable to giving up offensive rebounds (36.2 DRPG). Their defensive effort can wane, especially on the road, leading to debilitating scoring runs by opponents.

Psychological State & Recent Form: Coming off a tough loss where they surrendered a second-half lead at Furman, the Bulldogs are fragile. However, they won the first meeting against WCU 82-77, giving them a tactical blueprint and confidence. Their season is on the brink, which could elicit a supreme offensive effort or compound defensive lapses. 

Western Carolina Catamounts: The Volatile, Opportunistic Storm

Offensive Identity: Don't be fooled by the lack of a single dominant scorer. WCU wins through collective toughness, pace, and relentless rebounding. They are led by Cord Stansberry (13.9 PPG) and Marcus Kell (13.4 PPG), but the engine is Julien Soumaoro (11.9 PPG, 37.2% 3PT) and the interior duo of Samuel Dada (7.2 RPG, 73.4% FG) and Abdulai Fanta Kabba (6.7 RPG). Their +3.7 rebounding margin is a direct ticket to extra possessions and higher game totals.

Psychological State & Recent Form: Riding the high of a program-defining road win at ETSU, WCU will be confident and energetic in front of their home crowd. The revenge factor for the earlier 5-point loss to Samford adds fuel. Their style is inherently chaotic, which naturally leads to higher-possession, higher-scoring games.

 Game Flow & Multifaceted X-Factors

...

The full analysis for this game and others is on my website:

v i c t o r y p i c k s . e u

And today, something truly special...

Analysis: Samford Bulldogs @ Western Carolina Catamounts (Sunday, Feb 1) – Total Points Pick (Over/Under 154.5)

A critical Southern Conference (SoCon) rematch arrives with both teams at divergent psychological crossroads and clear defensive vulnerabilities. The Samford Bulldogs (10-12, 3-6 SoCon), reeling from a heartbreaking 78-73 loss at Furman, desperately need a road win to reignite their faltering conference campaign. The Western Carolina Catamounts (8-12, 4-5 SoCon), soaring after a monumental 90-88 road upset over first-place East Tennessee State, seek to validate that victory and climb into the SoCon's upper echelon. This matchup isn't just about standings; it's a battle between an elite offensive weapon and a resilient, high-variance attack, played on a floor where defense has been optional. The over/under line of 154.5 points is a direct challenge to the core identities of both squads.

Deep Dive: Tactical Styles, Personnel, and the Rematch Dynamic

Samford Bulldogs: The Star-Driven Engine with a Leaky Hull

Offensive Identity: The offense flows through and finishes with Jadin Booth (20.8 PPG, 41.6% 3PT), a bona fide SoCon Player of the Year candidate capable of 30-point explosions. He is complemented by the interior efficiency of Dylan Faulkner (17.3 PPG, 63.1% FG, 7.5 RPG), creating a potent inside-outside duality. Point guard Keaton Norris (4.7 APG) is the orchestrator, adept at finding both in their spots.

Defensive Frailty: For all its offensive firepower, Samford's defense is a persistent issue. They struggle to contain dribble penetration, lack consistent rim protection outside of Faulkner's 1.6 BPG, and are vulnerable to giving up offensive rebounds (36.2 DRPG). Their defensive effort can wane, especially on the road, leading to debilitating scoring runs by opponents.

Psychological State & Recent Form: Coming off a tough loss where they surrendered a second-half lead at Furman, the Bulldogs are fragile. However, they won the first meeting against WCU 82-77, giving them a tactical blueprint and confidence. Their season is on the brink, which could elicit a supreme offensive effort or compound defensive lapses. 

Western Carolina Catamounts: The Volatile, Opportunistic Storm

Offensive Identity: Don't be fooled by the lack of a single dominant scorer. WCU wins through collective toughness, pace, and relentless rebounding. They are led by Cord Stansberry (13.9 PPG) and Marcus Kell (13.4 PPG), but the engine is Julien Soumaoro (11.9 PPG, 37.2% 3PT) and the interior duo of Samuel Dada (7.2 RPG, 73.4% FG) and Abdulai Fanta Kabba (6.7 RPG). Their +3.7 rebounding margin is a direct ticket to extra possessions and higher game totals.

Psychological State & Recent Form: Riding the high of a program-defining road win at ETSU, WCU will be confident and energetic in front of their home crowd. The revenge factor for the earlier 5-point loss to Samford adds fuel. Their style is inherently chaotic, which naturally leads to higher-possession, higher-scoring games.

 Game Flow & Multifaceted X-Factors

...

The full analysis for this game and others is on my website:

victorypicks.eu

And today, something truly special...