PMT DB
PMT DB
Jon Rothstein on Selection Sunday Snubs, Bracket Breakdown, and Bengals News
The brackets are officially in our hands, which means the most glorious week of the year has arrived. Big Cat and PFT opened the show celebrating the tactile joy of a physical bracket, even if some members of the office are taking the "bracket love" a bit too far. While the vibes are high, the selection committee managed to ruin the mood early by letting North Carolina slide into the field despite a resume that looks like a crime scene.
The Bubba Cunningham Invitational
Big Cat didn't hold back on the clear conflict of interest regarding UNC’s inclusion. When the Tar Heels’ Athletic Director is in the room while the committee is deciding which bubble teams to screw, the math starts to look a little fuzzy.
Big CatUNC getting into the tournament over West Virginia and Indiana is a result of committee member Bubba Cunningham being the UNC AD
UNC got into the tournament with one quad, one win. And Bubba Cunningham, who is part of the selection committee is also the ad at UNC. What I would say to that is that doesn't fucking matter at all [that he recused himself] because you spend an entire weekend hanging out with this people... Everyone in that room has to decide on UNC and then have him come back in the room and he's gonna be like, so how we looking?
It wasn’t just the UNC inclusion that raised eyebrows. Big Cat pointed out that the seeding across the board feels like the committee clocked out early to beat the Friday traffic. From Louisville getting an eight seed to Michigan landing at five, the logic was hard to find.
Big CatThe NCAA selection committee stopped working on Friday night
The committee. It's very clear they stopped working on Friday night. Maybe that's why Leonard's been sleeping because it makes no sense that UNC is in this tournament. It makes no sense that Michigan got a five. It makes no sense that Louisville got an eight.
Despite the weird seeding, Big Cat is cautioning fans against overthinking their picks this year. While everyone wants to find the next 15-over-2 upset, the top tier of college basketball is currently operating at a historic level of efficiency that suggests we might be headed for a very chalky Final Four.
MemesSt. John's is going to win the National Championship
St. John's win it all. I filled out my entire bracket. It's kind of, it's a weird final four... Michigan State. St. John's. BYU. Kentucky.
Jon Rothstein: This Is March
Friend of the program and the most well-rested man in America, Jon Rothstein, joined the show to give us the definitive breakdown of every region. Before he could even get into his legendary nicknames for the brackets, he had to address the "miscarriage of justice" that was the bubble. Rothstein, who has every coach’s number on speed dial, shared some significant injury updates including the status of Bama’s Grant Nelson and Houston’s J’Wan Roberts.
Big CatDon't get cute with brackets this year; the one seeds are historically dominant
This is the year that don't be afraid to just do chalk. Only four teams since 2000 have entered the tournament [with a] plus 35 net rating... this year, four teams have 35 net rating or higher. Wow. So that's insane. Yeah. Like that, that just shows you that the one seeds this year are playing at such a high level and are so dominant... don't be afraid to just go chalk.
Rothstein walked us through his predicted path to the Final Four, including a heavy dose of Big Ten respect and a belief that Tom Izzo is ready for another deep run.
HankBorgs (Blackout Rage Gallons) are ratchet
My other, who's back of the week is... Borg. Blackout rage gallon. Foul... I've seen... people name 'em and stuff... it's so ratchet.
He also gave his official prediction for the national title, leaning into the "No Mercy" philosophy of a certain coach in Houston.
Jon RothsteinUNC getting into the tournament is the biggest miscarriage of justice in 20 years
This is one of the biggest miscarriage of justices that I have seen in all my years covering college basketball... North Carolina was one and 12 against quad one opponents. That is just a fact of life... My heart breaks for West Virginia, it breaks for Indiana that North Carolina got this opportunity instead of them.
Who’s Back and Breaking Moose
Hank’s "Who’s Back" featured a deep dive into the "Borg" phenomenon sweeping college campuses, which he finds absolutely revolting. PFT countered with a conspiracy theory about the sun being replaced 40 years ago, and Big Cat shared his theory on why Chernobyl was actually a Russian marketing ploy to protect gas interests.
PFT CommenterThe winner of the East region will win the National Championship
I think whoever wins the East winning it all.
Just as the show was wrapping up, the Cincinnati Bengals decided to end their reputation for being cheap by opening the checkbook for their star wide receivers. Hank delivered the "Breaking Moose" that Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are officially staying in Cincy for the long haul.
Jon RothsteinAutomatic Qualifiers (AQs) should always play on Thursday/Friday, while at-large teams play in the First Four
I think if you're good enough to get an automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament, you deserve to partake in the Thursday and Friday of the first week... put the last eight at large teams in the first four, it would reward these programs again at the lower level and give them the NCAA tournament experience.
We also said goodbye to Oldie, who spent the weekend watching 50 hours of hoops and cleaning the office like a man possessed. He’s headed back to Canada, but not before giving us a few last-minute Cinderella picks and confirming that Rico Bosco’s phone is indeed the most powerful device on the Eastern Seaboard.
Good luck with your brackets, try not to get too cute, and remember that sleep is death.
