Let the Madness Continue

March 20, 2026

LET THE MADNESS CONTINUE

The first full day of the NCAA Tournament provided some good theatre. VCU overcame a 19-point deficit to stun North Carolina in overtime. Nebraska finally won its’ first-ever Tournament game.  Duke was pushed to the final five minutes by 16 seed Siena. AJ Dybantsa scored 35 points, in what may be his lone postseason appearance, and High Point rallied late to beat Wisconsin in a classic March Madness game.  

Let’s see what Friday has to offer. There are a lot of good matchups on the schedule. Two games I look forward to watching are Akron taking on Texas Tech and Tennessee State against Iowa State.

(15) Tennessee State vs (2) Iowa State

Two years ago we played against Iowa State, and I have never seen a team defend with such detail, physicality, and effort for 40 minutes.  T. J. Otzelberger’s team has a clear identity. They do not let up. It’s human nature to let your foot off the gas when you’re up 20, but Iowa State wants to go up 30. They challenge you on every possession, force turnovers and make you take a lot of tough contested shots

Tennessee State has three guys that will take and make tough contested shots. Aaron Nkrumah and Travis Harper are good enough to score on anyone, and Donte Harris is big-shot maker. The big question is can Antoine Lorick III and Carlous Williams compete with the Cyclones frontline? If (and it’s a BIG if) Tennessee State can get the tempo in their favor and make those tough shots, they could hang around for a while. A poor shooting night would be a nightmare scenario.

Head Coach Nolan Smith has done an impressive job in his first season. The former Duke All-American is a finalist for several National Coaching awards and he got his team ranked in the Mid-Major Top 25® for the first time in school history. 

(12) Akron vs (5) Texas Tech

On paper it’s a banged up and injured Tech team against another really talented team out of the Mid-American Conference.  With JT Toppin out, Christian Anderson's health is probably the biggest key to this game. Anderson’s ability to make 3's, score in the pick and roll, and run the offense was on full display for most of the season. If he’s healthy -- he’s a problem. 

The big question is can Akron hold up against Tech's relentless defense and rebounding, especially on the offensive glass? Miami OH dominated the MAC, finishing 18-0 in the conference, but Akron was right on their heels at 17-1. Their only loss was a 3-point defeat at Miami. This team is good, which is why they have spent most of the season ranked near the Top 5 in the Mid-Major Top 25®. Tavari Johnson is a terrific point guard. 

I don't think head coach John Groce has gotten enough credit for the job he has done. He has built Akron into a consistent contender in the MAC. And there aren’t a lot of mid-major schools winning 29 games in back-to-back seasons.  I would be surprised if this isn't a very competitive game coming down the stretch. 

THE WEEKEND

Saint Louis dismantled a good Georgia team last night. They will now face No. 1 seed Michigan, which dominated the second half against Howard. The Billikens and Wolverines play the same style of basketball. Michigan is basically Saint Louis “on steroids.” They are just bigger and stronger. That would be a major factor in a 7-game series, but in a one-game scenario Saint Louis has more than a fighter’s chance. This will be a very good basketball game.

How great would it be to sit down Sunday night to watch St. John’s vs Kansas. Two Hall of Fame coaches with talented rosters. Both teams are tough so this could be a “last team with the ball wins” game. Of course, both teams need to take care of business first, but what a game this would be. The only disappointing aspect would be that we get this game on the first weekend and not the second or third weekend of the tournament. 

And if UConn and UCLA meet up on Sunday, CBS needs to add a “screen-in-screen” of both head coaches. Watching Dan Hurley and Mick Cronion at work is must-see TV.

FINAL FOUR

Michigan: Offensively as good as anyone in the country. Size and talent are a good combination.

Houston: They know how to win. Great defensively and it might be the best offensive team Kelvin Sampson has had.

Duke: They are talented. Getting Patrick Ngongba II back would be huge, and they have arguably the best player in Cameron Boozer.

Arizona: Maybe the most talented TEAM in the country. Good guard play, great size, and multiple guys who can show up and have a BIG game. The Wildcats will cut down the nets.