NCAA Tournament Thread

[cactus]

Just was sent a report that Holloway was removed from campus.

[dutchPride86]

Just was sent a report that Holloway was removed from campus.

Looking more and more like he really may not play...

https://x.com/i/status/2033694798352158801

[Wags]

Not that much movement considering he's their second-leading scorer, but the line did drop from -14.5 to -11.5 for Alabama. The O/U dropped slightly, from 161.5 to 159.5.

[EvanJ]

Its a felony drug charge which usually results in immediate suspension. But, its marijuana, and in many other places in the US, 1 lb is just a violation or misdemeanor. So interesting to see how this shakes out.

24 states allow recreational marijuana. Alabama is one of 16 states that allows only medicinal marijuana.

They have a lot of kids getting minutes so even if he doesn't play it will be the next man up mentality and the next man up is averaging double figures and will get more minutes. It may be though if he does play his head might not be in the game and that could be an advantage for us. It definitely adds some drama to this game.

I heard that they have six double-digit scorers, but that includes Charles Bedaiko, who played in 5 games, and is now ineligible. Using the requirement of having played in three-fourth of his team's games, they have five double-digit scorers, and this suspension or expulsion decreases it to four.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... s/_/id/333 has their statistics. They normally start three guards and two forwards. The suspension moves Houston Mallette, who averages 6.6 points and has 12 starts, from the top sub guard to a starter. Jalil Bethea averages 4.4 points, and played in 23 games. He moves from fifth guard (second best bench guard) to fourth guard (best bench guard). They used 18 players including 9 guards this season. Their bottom four guards played 10, 6, 1, and 1 game(s). They have four forwards and a center who played in at least 27 games, so I am wondering if they will have three of them play at the same time. Noah Williamson is 7 feet tall, and listed as a center, but 26 of his 43 field goal attempts (60 percent) were threes, which is shockingly high for a center. He played the previous three seasons for Bucknell, and last season 24 percent of his field goal attempts were threes, so he changed.

I was going to pick Alabama to win two games, but now I will pick us.

[Jojogunne]

The View from Tuscaloosa: Some links of interest.


UA's Student Newspaper

https://thecrimsonwhite.com/127725/spor ... na-charge/

According to this article, Holloway spent 57 minutes in custody today.

----------

Bama discussion group

https://www.tidefans.com/forums/threads ... 26.342810/

Fans don't want him on the team.

----------

Alabama’s Rebounding Woes Define a Season of Defensive Challenges

https://www.si.com/college/alabama/bask ... challenges

----------

Nate Oats, Labaron Philon, Aden Holloway talk SEC Tournament loss to Ole Miss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJTqSMIpyb4

[Polito]

Wow, that is huge news - so silly for that young man - foolish.

I know Bama has plenty of talent, and they'll have someone to fill the role on the floor to a reasonable extent, but losing your 2nd best player and scorer who also happens to be one of the top 3 point shooters in the country is not a small thing. For any program, even the best. Not saying this opens the door wide open for HU, but it will have an impact on the game, and it does crack the door a bit more than before...

The #1 key for us IMO is to control the tempo as much as possible - slow things down a bit, prevent the full on racing, and HU will have a legit shot. Bama is a very 3 heavy team, they fully live and die by it. As HUSID so well said to me, this loss for them certainly doesn't hurt our chances!

[dutchPride86]

From a Joe Lunardi article today on the pros and cons of every team in the tourney:

Why they won't advance
The Crimson Tide have been inconsistent on the defensive end, allowing at least 1.16 points per possession in eight of their losses. Preventing second-chance opportunities has been the major issue (293rd in defensive rebounding percentage), and Bama doesn't create extra possessions with pressure either, ranking 362nd in defensive turnover rate and 248th in steals. Holloway was its second-leading scorer, too, before his arrest Monday.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... guide-2026


This is why I don't hate this matchup for us. Obviously Alabama's offense is on a different level than anything we've seen, but I trust our defense enough at this point to not let the score and pace get completely out of hand. Meanwhile, while it still feels weird to type this, we're now a good offensive rebounding team (T-55th in the country per game) and this can be a real advantage for us in this game! I also don't see Bama bothering Cruz and Edmead defensively the way say a Towson did. Bama's style of play may just suit us better than if we were facing an elite defensive team that could force our offense to stall.

This is still an incredibly tough chore, even if Holloway doesn't play for Bama, but we have a puncher's chance.

[Jojogunne]

On TV last night, Lunardi said he expects Alabama to win one or, at most, two games. The loss of one of their top scorers will prevent the Tide from advancing further.

[Wags]

https://x.com/i/status/2033963542131495190

Pre-game social in Tampa.

[HUSID74]

Here's the email for the social:

Dear Hofstra Season Ticket Holder,



We are excited to invite you to what should be an exhilarating 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. The Hofstra Pride will take on Alabama Crimson on Friday, March 20, at 3:15 P.M. at Benchmark International Arena.

As Hofstra heads to Tampa for March Madness, we're excited to bring our community together for a special alumni and fan social to kick off the tournament! Join fellow Hofstra alumni, supporters, and fans for an evening of Pride as we gather to celebrate Hofstra Basketball.



We welcome you to join us for the pregame social on Thursday, March 19, at 7 P.M. located at Top Shelf Sports Lounge, 401 E. Jackson St. Suite 101 Tampa, FL 33602. There will be a cash bar and light food provided. Swing by to grab special Hofstra Accessories for Friday's game.



If you are interested in claiming tickets to the first and second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. Please click the link below to and complete the form to request tickets in the Hofstra block. Please note that requests are not guaranteed to be filled. You will be contacted by the Hofstra box office to receive an update on the status of your ticket.



We hope to see you there!



Best,
Brendan

[Wags]

Please note that requests are not guaranteed to be filled.

So, you're supposed to book flights, a hotel, take off work or whatever else if you have to, and request a ticket, but may not actually receive one?

[HUSID74]

Please note that requests are not guaranteed to be filled.

So, you're supposed to book flights, a hotel, take off work or whatever else if you have to, and request a ticket, but may not actually receive one?

I think these tickets are in a special Hofstra section and they are not cheap, $165.00. I beleive there are plenty of other tickets available via other outlets.

[Wags]

Please note that requests are not guaranteed to be filled.

So, you're supposed to book flights, a hotel, take off work or whatever else if you have to, and request a ticket, but may not actually receive one?

I think these tickets are in a special Hofstra section and they are not cheap, $165.00. I beleive there are plenty of other tickets available via other outlets.

Right, there will be plenty of other seats (as there always are for an NCAAT session like that), but if you made all of those other arrangements and put up the money for a ticket in that specific block of seats, there's still no guarantee you'd get the ticket and would still have to look elsewhere for a seat?

That would really suck - although not as bad as the 2003 Final Four, when I had my flights and hotel all set, and a few days before leaving, after Texas won in the Elite 8, and these Texas fans wanted my hotel room at The Fairmont in New Orleans, and The Fairmont tried to bump me elsewhere. I had to really fight to keep my room, but I did. Then my friends and I suddenly became the biggest Syracuse fans and rubbed it in to a bunch of Longhorns fans in upper deck of the Superdome when Texas lost to Melo and 'Cuse in the Final Four.

[JoeyBagODonuts1]

Broadcast team for our game is Phillies PBPer Tom McCarthy, Candace Parker and Dan Bonner.

[HUSID74]

Another Tom Rock story on the Pride today:

https://www.newsday.com/sports/college/ ... m_term=sub

[Wags]

Ever since they cut the nets last week, I have been joking that after 2020, I'm taking nothing for granted until Hofstra actually plays in the NCAAT because "giant meteors could still strike the Earth and cancel the tourney."

Thankfully, nothing that bad but sure enough, last night, before Hofstra departed for the airport this morning (can't make it up! lol):

https://x.com/ABCWorldNews/status/2034045646047527261

[dutchPride86]

ESPN ranked their top 50 players in the tournament, Cruz made the list at #49 (the top 45 were all high-major players for context). Alabama's Labaron Philon came in at #6, will be by far the best player we've faced this season.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... antsa-2026

[Wags]

ESPN ranked their top 50 players in the tournament, Cruz made the list at #49 (the top 45 were all high-major players for context). Alabama's Labaron Philon came in at #6, will be by far the best player we've faced this season.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... antsa-2026

He's like Cruz in that he not only scores but gets his assists too (he leads them with 4.7 apg). And you can't foul him because he generally hits his FTs. Great player all around. I wonder if they'll try to key on him or let him get his but don't let others beat them, especially with Holloway already out.

[dutchPride86]

ESPN ranked their top 50 players in the tournament, Cruz made the list at #49 (the top 45 were all high-major players for context). Alabama's Labaron Philon came in at #6, will be by far the best player we've faced this season.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... antsa-2026

He's like Cruz in that he not only scores but gets his assists too (he leads them with 4.7 apg). And you can't foul him because he generally hits his FTs. Great player all around. I wonder if they'll try to key on him or let him get his but don't let others beat them, especially with Holloway already out.

Yeah I'm very curious to see how they decide to guard Philon, who is listed at 6'4 185 lbs.

- If you go put our best defender on him with DeCady and try to bother him with length, then who is guarding Amari Allen? (their 6'8 forward who averages 11.7ppg and is their leading rebounder)

- German can match Philon size wise, but would be concerned if he has the lateral quickness to chase around an NBA prospect who shoots 40% from 3. Also Bama's likely replacement for Holloway, G Houston Mallette, is basically identical size to German.

-So that probably leaves Cruz and letting the two stars go mano a mano. But Wags as you said have to be careful about putting Philon on the foul line (and he averages almost 6 FT attempts a game). So have to worry about Cruz getting in foul trouble again if he guards Philon.

No easy answers. But that's the fun challenge of making the tourney and getting to face a team like Bama.

[dan10]

Good luck to you guys for sure. With their guy out, you absolutely have a punchers chance (you had that before but is even more nowso). The key will be a good start. The locals will side with the underdogs, they always do in the first round. The crowd will be pro-Bama but will gladly turn. The distractions Bama is dealing with potentially lend them to starting slow and you guys need to take advantage of that. Then its just play loose and dont let the outside pressure seep in (easier said than done)