PMT DB
PMT DB
March Madness Recap, Coach Frank Martin, and NFL Free Agency Frenzy
It is finally March. The first day of the tournament lived up to the madness, though our voices might not survive the weekend. Big Cat and PFT Commenter were reeling from a day that saw brackets incinerated within hours, mostly thanks to a school in Jersey City that none of us knew existed until about 9:00 PM last night.
The Saint Peter's Shocker
The biggest story of the day was undoubtedly Kentucky falling to Saint Peter’s. John Calipari’s squad looked like they had the perfect recipe for a deep run, only to be dismantled by a guy with a mustache who looks like he works at a 7-Eleven. PFT didn't hold back on the immediate fallout for the Wildcats.
PFT CommenterJohn Calipari is officially on the hot seat
March madness, recap of day one biggest story, Kentucky, John Calipari, officially on the hot seat.
While Calipari is the easy target, the conversation shifted toward the prestige of the program itself. Kentucky gets a lot of credit for "good losses," but at some point, the results have to matter.
PFT CommenterKentucky's blue blood status should be on the hot seat
I actually think that we should not talk about coach Cal being on the hot seat as much as we should just put the status, the blue blood status of Kentucky on the hot seat. What have you done for me lately Kentucky?
Jake Marsh joined the conversation to provide some historical perspective, comparing the Peacocks' win to the biggest shockers in tournament history.
Jake MarshSt. Peter's over Kentucky is a historical upset on par with UMBC over Virginia
I think this is right there with like duke Lehigh, because when it's the blue blood, when it's the powerhouse, it's so much more. This is a historical upset.
Big Ten Blues and Mountain West Fades
It wasn't just Kentucky. Iowa, the hottest team in the country coming off a Big Ten title, reminded everyone why the Big Ten struggle in March is a recurring theme. Big Cat, who was high on the Hawkeyes just forty-eight hours ago, has seen enough.
Big CatIowa is a classic 'doesn't perform in March' team
Iowa is just such a classic doesn't perform in March team. They shot so bad. So bad, 20% from three, they couldn't hit anything.
One of the safest bets of the day was simply fading the Mountain West. The conference went 0-4 in record time, proving once again that high altitude doesn't translate to tournament success.
Big CatThe Mountain West conference cannot play in March
The only problem with Creighton winning is there are no Mountain West teams left to fade cause they are a quick 0-4 and out of the tournament. I don't know what's up with that conference. They just, for whatever it is, they just cannot play in March.
Big Cat is officially done with the "value" of futures betting after his Kentucky and Iowa tickets turned into expensive coasters.
Big CatI am officially never betting on futures again
I talked like I'm never doing futures again... I'm never doing a future. Again. I was very excited about it [Kentucky] because I never get futures where I get the right price... that goes up in smoke.
NFL Free Agency: Davante Adams and Russell Wilson
In the middle of the basketball chaos, the NFL decided to remind everyone they are king by dropping a Davante Adams trade to the Raiders. This reunited Adams with Derek Carr and sent shockwaves through the AFC West. PFT sees a larger conspiracy unfolding in Las Vegas.
PFT CommenterTom Brady will eventually end up playing for the Las Vegas Raiders
Davante Adams goes to Las Vegas. This lends more credence to my just pot shot that I took in the dark earlier this week that Tom Brady is going to end up in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Russell Wilson is already doing Russell Wilson things in Denver. Reports that he watched his game film three times over while on vacation with Ciara sparked a debate on whether Russ actually gains anything from this or if he just wants us to know he's working.
Big CatRussell Wilson feels the need to tell everyone he is working harder than them at all times
I feel like that was just such a Russell Wilson thing. Like that's just who he is now. He just has to tell everyone that he's working harder than everyone at all times. I'm not going to let him just get by with the bullshit.
Then there’s Von Miller signing a massive six-year deal with the Bills. While the headline number is huge, Big Cat isn't buying the longevity of the contract.
Big CatVon Miller will not finish his six-year contract with the Bills
I will bet all the Von Miller's money that they said he's getting, which I don't have, that he will not see the end of the contract. He will not see the end of the contract. Von Miller's going to be 39 by the time it's over.
Coach Frank Martin
South Carolina head coach Frank Martin joined the show just as he was transitioning into a TV role after being let go by the Gamecocks. He was an incredible sport, sharing stories from his days as a bouncer and his philosophy on what actually wins games when the pressure is on. He stood up for the SEC, arguing the league's depth is misunderstood by the committee.
Frank MartinAny SEC team that finished .500 or better in the league deserves a tournament bid
any team in our league that finished 500 or better deserves to be in the tournament. I've been in the big 12. If our resume was on the board in the big 12, we would be right in the middle of the whole thing.
Martin also broke down the mechanics of a deep run, emphasizing that while big men get the headlines, the tournament belongs to the backcourt.
Frank MartinYou cannot win in the NCAA tournament with bad guard play, regardless of your center
You cannot win if you got a great center and you got bad guard [play]. You got to have really good guards. If you don't have good guards, it's hard to win a game, let alone in the NCAA tournament.
Fyre Fest of the Week
Hank had a rough trip on the Amtrak with no headphones and no service, leaving him alone with his own thoughts—a dangerous place for anyone. Jake is mourning his credibility after a 9-7 start to the tournament, but he's already looking ahead to the next slate with a bold prediction for Saturday.
Jake MarshOhio State will beat Loyola Chicago because Sister Jean is going down
I think Ohio State wins... Everyone's like, oh, the Jackrabbits they're going to take down Providence. They're lucky Providence [won]. Sister Jean is going down, an old bag. Doesn't even stand for the Anthem.
Big Cat is bracing for the physical toll of the weekend, fully prepared to let his body go into total lockdown mode as he consumes nothing but pizza and wings until a champion is crowned.
Big CatI will be a shell of a human being by Monday due to my March Madness diet
I'm going to be a fucking trash disposal. I'm going to be a dumpster. My body's going to be broken at the end of this weekend, I'm going to feel so bad. I'm going to have bad bowel movements. I'm probably going to ship blood... I am going to be a shell of a human being Monday.
We’ll see if anyone has a voice left by the time the Round of 32 wraps up.
