2026 NCAA March Madness Men's Basketball Tournament
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I'm genuinely asking. I cannot picture two guys from Toronto getting into a conversation like this:
"Ohio State rules, man!!!"
"Screw you, Let's go West Virginia Tech!!!"
150 Canadian players
The 2025-26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season kicks off with a historic milestone for talent north of the border. For the first time, over 150 Canadian players fill official D1 rosters, cementing the nation's status as a premier global talent factory.
The 2025-26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season kicks off with a historic milestone for talent north of the border. For the first time, over 150 Canadian players fill official D1 rosters, cementing the nation's status as a premier global talent factory.
It seems pretty obvious to me.
Quite many Canadians watch some of the tournament games.
As you allude to, the NCAA basketball has become more international.
Sad but true.
Miami of Ohio should be required to win their conference tourney to get invited.
I'm afraid if they are upset in their conference tourney the NCAA will feel obligated to give them an at-large bid.
I don't bet on the NCAA tournament, but those who do might find it worthwhile to look at this site:
Many teams in NCAA Basketball have inflated records because they play the majority of their games at home and they often face substandard opposition prior to their Conference schedule, and they don't necessarily face stiff opposition in Conference. In some of the larger conferences, (there are currently eighteen teams in the Big Ten), some teams might not play against all teams in their Conference, or only once. Strength of schedule is a big factor in separating the Contenders from the pretenders.
How teams perform in Road and Neutral Site games is often a better indication of their real strength. If you search the Sports Forum for 'kenpom', I believe you will find positive endorsements of this site as a valuable tool in selecting one's bracket.
Here's one: https://terb.cc/xenforo/threads/its-that-time-of-the-year-march-madness.107532/#post-1156501
(bobistheowl is my original TERB handle, 2003-17).
Many teams in NCAA Basketball have inflated records because they play the majority of their games at home and they often face substandard opposition prior to their Conference schedule, and they don't necessarily face stiff opposition in Conference. In some of the larger conferences, (there are currently eighteen teams in the Big Ten), some teams might not play against all teams in their Conference, or only once. Strength of schedule is a big factor in separating the Contenders from the pretenders.
How teams perform in Road and Neutral Site games is often a better indication of their real strength. If you search the Sports Forum for 'kenpom', I believe you will find positive endorsements of this site as a valuable tool in selecting one's bracket.
Here's one: https://terb.cc/xenforo/threads/its-that-time-of-the-year-march-madness.107532/#post-1156501
(bobistheowl is my original TERB handle, 2003-17).
Because its great entertainment and its one of the last true sporting events that is not tainted by corporate greed. I get that you hate Trump and the United States but does it have to be ubiquitous. That level of cynicism and hatred is unhealthy.
I have not followed college ball at all but before the tournament begins I do a little research. I'll lay a few bets and I always put in a bracket or two into a pool. Its one of my favorite sporting times of the year. MLB starting up. NHL and NBA seasons winding down and jockeying for playoffs.
That might be a little strong. The big college conferences "the Power Four" have firmly aligned themselves with television networks to maximize their revenues. They will do whatever it takes to increase that revenue.
U.S. universities bask in the glow of higher learning. However, we know non-profit institutions can have powerful money-making instincts.
Part of being a sports fan is having SOME sort of emotional attachment to the team. I love hockey, but I'm sure as hell don't give a damn about the U of T's hockey team.
Canada doesn't have that weird "college culture" the Yanks have, so it's not like I'm going to start cheering for the University of Nebraska's basketball team. It's just weird.
A lot of people watch Junior hockey only during tournaments. The concept of young talented athletes playing against players at or near their own age has a different appeal than professional sports. College sports are the Junior leagues in the USA. The best young talent doesn't play in Canadian University sports, where there are no athletic scholarships.
USA - List of cities by population
There are only fifteen US cities with populations of 900,000+. There are 128 with populations of at least 200,000. A large percentage of the population doesn't live close to a pro franchise, or the local team sucks, or the tickets are too expensive. Every mid-sized US city has at least one University.
An emotional attachment is not a prerequisite to enjoy entertainment for many, and less so for men. A 68 team single elimination tournament has interest in and of itself, particularly for bracket pools. If someone selects Florida to win the tournament in a pool, I would say there would be some emotional attachment to Florida, at least for as long as the tournament lasts.
Its great entertainment and a historical event (much less so than before for me as college basketball used to be my favourite sport).
But with the endless conference re-alignment you can't say this is not corporate greed. Greed runs abundant in the NCAA now, including the player payment system. Kids deserved to get paid, and paid well, given all the money that come in, but they haven't been able to come up with anything that makes sense or is legal.
I'm talking about the actual tournament not NCAA in general. I agree with you that corporate greed has run amok and you cite examples of that. What I am saying is that, unlike in a NCAA College Football Bowl, players don't opt out. Furthermore, many of the schools in this tournament are mid majors or or smaller conferences where players aren't playing for an NBA deal, they are playing to win.
I think in Canada the closest thing we have to this is the Memorial Cup. Some kids playing for their future, others enjoying one last moment of glory.
Point taken on Junior hockey -- I love the World Juniors, its some of the best, fastest hockey you're going to see. But you're also cheering on Canada, not some university. To me, the tribalism is 50% of the excitement.
