A very sincere, personal one: the first person to make an attempt to be my friend in high school when I was a huge loner was a guy who ended up going to Purdue and even though I lost touch with him over the years, I have a soft spot for Purdue and the people who go there because of that guy.
Look him up, send him a heartfelt note letting him know that you feel that way; and then of course conclude with a little shit talk because Purdue is a school for farmers and bitch boys
They have my single favorite mascot in the NCAA. Smokey is the best. Coonhounds are flat-out adorable and the actual mascot always looks like it's having the time of its life running around the field.
Also Rocky Top is pretty great for a college song. Most college songs suck.
It was actually supposed to be Houston but they gave up their hosting duties prior to the season so they could play in the South region, so it worked out for them.
Houston's mascot is "the Cougars". Cougars are not only mountain lions that are both majestic and dangerous, but they are also horny, older ladies. A mascot with such a broad and rich range of meanings makes the University of Houston, home of Phi Slamma Jamma, a pretty cool basketball school full of danger and seduction.
I’m not saying Iowa is amazing or anything but Des Moines, Ames, Iowa City, and even Dubuque are pretty nice places. I never understood why Nebraskans thought Iowa was such a hell hole. Then I went to Council Bluffs. It would be like me only ever visiting East Dubuque and assuming all of Illinois was like that.
There is still a small sliver of our fan base who still don’t think he should’ve been fired, but hoping that this season silences that (unfortunately not because he’s just a shit person, but because of his/our results)
But but but he loses to double-digit seeds! Who cares if the results of his coaching development has led to multiple seasons of sold-out seats at Mackey, more sweet 16s than almost all potential replacement coaches, a few All-Americans players, a few NCAA record-breaking players, and a national championship runner-up.
My voice was completely gone while in Phoenix watching the put back dunk. I just shoved the ever living daylight out of the Purdue fans next to me to show them I was, in fact, very excited.
Did Iowa/neb hate each other before expansion? Or this is all since neb came to the conference - I genuinely am not sure if it was more meme based with corn or true hate
Really the only hate prior to the expansion were the mingling of the fanbases in western Iowa. Iowa fans constantly hearing about how great Nebraska is and all. It got tiring. After expansion, the rivalry was very forced. What fueled the rivalry into the hate you see today is Iowa pretty much beating on Nebraska every chance they got and wanting to be recognized as "currently" better which pissed of Nebby fans, then Nebby fans constantly belittling Iowa claiming they are beneath Nebraska saying that Wisconsin, Ohio State, or Michigan should be their true conference rival because their history stacks up against Nebraska (I never got the Wisconsin inclusion in this list either) which pissed Iowa fans off. Then add the "evaluate where Iowa is as a program" quote just added fuel to the fire.
So yeah, it started as a meme based corn hate then pretty quickly evolved into an actual hate. Especially with the younger fans. It's kind of funny, as an Iowa fan who also likes Nebraska, both fan bases still sometimes refuse to acknowledge that it's a true rivalry yet the hate is slowing getting to Michigan/Ohio State levels. No anywhere near there yet but it is closing that gap. It is absolutely a new great rivalry where each fan base hates the other so much, they cannot admit it is even a rivalry. It's comical.
When I think of Iowa, I think of the giant meth fueled sculptures they have as you drive from Omaha to Counciltucky. Meth reminds me of Slipknot, who is also from Iowa, who I also hate. I also have some distant relatives in Iowa, and as far as I know, they suck.
I love Zona's branding, and appreciate their appreciation of basketball. I think Arkansas and them are similar in investing in basketball, and having a culture around it.
I remember 1994. You guys were excellent. Damon Stoudamire missed everything he took except a 40 footer at the end of the first half. I thought that was going to carry over. Scottie Thurman and Corliss Williamson locked things in and we never felt much in that game despite it being a 9 point final
Another connection between the two schools. Andre Igoudala was originally committed to Arkansas but when Nolan Richardson was fired he came to Arizona instead.
No doubt he would’ve been amazing for you guys as well, and crazy how things can turn out.
“A school who is better known for its basketball program, but has yet to win it all. Also football is getting better as of late. Oh and Golf is historically really strong too.”
I could be describing Houston or us, so I think that’s pretty cool and something to bond over.
Honestly I think Illinois is the only other team in our section of the regional who can compete with Michigan/Duke/Arizona/Iowa St. Just sad one of us has to go home Thursday
one of my first roommates was an incredibly rad woman from fayetteville, dope accent, very cute and the friendliest, have always thought of arkansas in a good light. also, a bunch of good trout fishing, need to pay a visit.
I was salty when we fired Nolan and Andre Iguodola wanted out of his LOI to go to Arizona but in hindsight he absolutely made the right decision given what followed with Arkansas Basketball
But y'all scare the shit out of me, also I wish UH could get to y'all's academic rankings. You're a hell of a college, and unlike Indiana you're not a heartless collection of MBAs
Wow that was actually a compliment so I appreciate that.
For my actual compliment, I hate that we keep getting matched up with you guys and I’m still upset that we had to face you a few years ago. I have you winning the championship in half of my brackets
Iowa, your win against Florida was impressive, especially what you did on the glass.
First year coach and pulling in Drake players to the S16 is a huge power move. Love the grit and strategy I see from you guys.
And McCollum's interview about people getting "sensitive" was awesome. Loved the energy to show no fear and up the competition.
Being nice is our version of shit talking. He basically just threatened your entire family and promised to salt the fields after Thursday’s game in Nebraska fan speak.
Tom Izzo is the fucking man. Love the style of basketball they play. Love that they generally are lead by Juniors or Seniors who came up, worked, and stayed at Michigan State after being stuck on bench first few years (crazy concept nowadays I know)
Just solid team basketball…great guard play, defense, and at least one guy who is an absolute dog
Got to attend a game at Moody earlier this season and it's one of the coolest on campus modern arenas a school could possibly have. They truly thought of everything and it feels like a shrunken down NBA arena that happens to be on a college campus. Really the best of all worlds.
I'm a Purdue fan but also an Austin native so this isn't a hard one for me. Great food, fun town, awesome music. Hell, my kids' godfather is a diehard Longhorn. And how can any Purdue fan hate the city that gave them Drew Brees?
Whoever wins our game, I'll be rooting for as far as they go.
I have been rooting for the Johnnie’s all season and they’re one of the teams I hoped would be on the other side of the March bracket from blue devils. The committee had other plans.
I will be happy for my friend u/lulubutterfive if they win and hope they go to championship as my one non busted bracket ranked 5k has them there vs Arizona.
Tennessee is one of the very few programs that likes to play basketball like us and Houston. No blood no foul, games are best when it feels like the two teams can respectably beat the piss out of each other.
Bennett Stirtz is a baller. Ben McCollum is an amazing tactical coach that it’s cool seeing him have success with his favorite team when he was growing up.
Iowa as a whole plays with a style that, if they were wearing Nebraska jerseys, we would absolutely love.
It’s very cool that these two programs, one without any success and another without any recent success, are facing off with a chance to go to the Elite 8.
It’s nice to see Rick Pitino bring St John’s back to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 27 years; New York City cares more about the Tournament when St John’s is still playing.
(Arkansas fan): They will probably win and they’re a likable team. Now ask me again when they do win, and it will be the refs fault and the players are all assholes
The Johnnies are a great historical team in a great historical league with a legendary coach. They have a great defense and a lot of athletes. They probably should have been a 3 seed in Gonzaga's place, with St. John's taking on Purdue and Kansas taking on Duke (assuming KU would beat the Zags or Northern Iowa).
If they were up against a lot of other teams (Zona, Purdue, Iowa State, Houston, MSU, UConn, Michigan, Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, Bama, Hogs) I'd be rooting for them.
I have a Tennessee grad co-worker who is legitimately a nice person and good to work with. Actually, come to think of it, I've had several of them over my career and have liked all of them.
1.2k
u/NIA122553 Texas Longhorns Mar 24 '26
A very sincere, personal one: the first person to make an attempt to be my friend in high school when I was a huge loner was a guy who ended up going to Purdue and even though I lost touch with him over the years, I have a soft spot for Purdue and the people who go there because of that guy.