If you have tickets to today's NCAAT session in Des Moines

[Black Diamond Vol]

You get to see UK vs. Indiana followed by Kansas vs. Uconn.  That's three of CBB's traditional "Big Six", and another that has been just as good if not better than all of them over the past 20 years.  I doubt there has ever been four historically better teams play in one session in one venue this early in NCAAT play before.

[volsboy]

Seems almost to much of a coincidence to not be intentional. You don't think the NCAA wants to get rid of some of the usual suspects early do you? Nah...never...why would they? Just so one of them gone is UK.

[BanditVol]

Interesting fact....since 2004 one of either Uconn, Kansas, Dook, UNC, Kentucky, Florida, or Louisville has won.   That's four of the big six and the team that BDV mentioned, plus a team I don't like (floridy) and a coach I despise (Louisville)

The only real newcomer is Florida, as Louisville has some tradition and U Conn, while more recent, does have four championships now.

Indiana hasn't won since 1987...so they are due!  

[Black Diamond Vol]

Interesting fact....since 2004 one of either Uconn, Kansas, Dook, UNC, Kentucky, Florida, or Louisville has won.   That's four of the big six and the team that BDV mentioned, plus a team I don't like (floridy) and a coach I despise (Louisville)

The only real newcomer is Florida, as Louisville has some tradition and U Conn, while more recent, does have four championships now.

Indiana hasn't won since 1987...so they are due!   

If I had to name the second tier (historically), It would probably include UConn, Syracuse, Michigan State, Louisville, and Arizona.   Together with the top 6, those schools have won 38 of the past 50 NCAATs.  All of them except UConn, Duke, and AZ have been consistenly good to great over that entire period- and I don't think those three relative "newcomers" are going away any time soon.