Eye On College Basketball March Madness 2026 Sweet 16 Thursday Recap! Iowa upsets Nebraska; Illinois' defensive clinic; TKR sends Purdue to the Elite Eight; Arizona bullies Arkansas
Mar 27, 2026
A lively recap of Thursday's Sweet 16 action with Iowa's surprising upset and Ben McCollum's impact. A breakdown of Illinois' defensive clinic that shut down Houston. A nail-biting finish as Purdue survives on a last-second putback. Arizona's dominant, physical performance that steamrolled Arkansas.
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Gary's Diet Coke Killed A MacBook
- Gary Parrish's hotel mishap ruined one MacBook Air when a Diet Coke exploded inside his backpack during a late-night return from the broadcast center.
- The spill forced him to rely on a backup MacBook and scramble notes, highlighting how fragile on-the-road workflows can be for broadcasters.
Ben McCollum's Division II Success Translates Fast
- Ben McCollum's coaching leap from Division II to Iowa produced immediate tournament success, showing coaching skill can transfer across levels quickly.
- McCollum's roster brought many players from Drake and his D-II pedigree (multiple national titles) underpins Iowa's upset path to the Elite Eight.
Lower Level Hires Can Be High Upside In Modern College Basketball
- Ben McCollum's hiring at Iowa signals that successful lower-level coaches can be high-upside hires because modern roster-building is transactional.
- Parrish argues resources plus McCollum's scheme could push Iowa from competitive to elite quickly.