PMT DB
PMT DB
Mark Titus on March Madness Brackets, Tom Crean, and the LaVar Ball Era
The greatest four days of the year are finally upon us. Big Cat and PFT Commenter are back in the studio, ready to witness the chaos of the NCAA Tournament. Before the games tip-off, the stakes have already been set for the First Four: the loser of the betting challenge has to endure the ultimate physical and emotional punishment: attending three SoulCycle classes during the opening weekend. PFT is also coming in hot from his recent travels, ready to double down on his new favorite international obsession.
PFT CommenterRugby is the sport of the future
I was at the rugby tournament. That is the sport of the future. It solidified it. Shout out another semifinals for the U.S. national team.
Bracket Breakdown with Mark Titus
Mark Titus returns to the program to save everyone's brackets, even if his own mother isn't happy about his podcasting career. The guys immediately start by addressing the blatant disrespect shown to the Big Ten, specifically regarding the Badgers. Big Cat, ever the objective journalist, isn't hiding his bias on this one.
Big CatI have Wisconsin in the Final Four
I also want to mention that I have Wisconsin in the Final Four. Like I said, unbiased journalism. Here is where it is at.
Mark Titus agreed that the committee seems to have a personal vendetta against Madison this year, calling out the ridiculous gap between the Badgers and their rivals to the north.
Mark TitusWisconsin being an 8-seed is the worst injustice in college basketball history
This is the worst season of the tournament of my lifetime. This is the worst injustice in college basketball history. Wisconsin swept Minnesota. They finished second in the Big Ten in the regular season, and then they were the runner-ups in the Big Ten tournament. And then Minnesota gets a 5 seed, and Wisconsin got an 8 seed. I don't understand it.
As they moved through the regions, Big Cat identified SMU as his sleeper team, mostly because he’s ready to fade the Bears at the first available opportunity.
Big CatBaylor is the biggest fraud team in the tournament
SMU... I pick them for two reasons. One, I just like them... And two, I think Baylor's the biggest fraud team in the tournament.
Mark Titus didn't exactly disagree, noting that while Duke has the talent, they aren't necessarily a cohesive unit yet.
Mark TitusDuke isn't a good team, they just have good players
Duke is back to being back. But we're conveniently ignoring that Duke was down 15 in all these ACC tournament games... Duke is not a good team. They have good players, but they're not actually a good team. And SMU is a good team. So it wouldn't surprise me to see SMU win.
When it came to the West, Mark Titus went against the grain of the usual "Gonzaga is a fraud" narrative. He thinks this is finally the year Mark Few has the roster to justify the hype.
Mark TitusGonzaga is the best team in the country
I actually like Gonzaga. I think Gonzaga's the best team in the country, and I know that's absolutely insane to say. I don't expect them to win at all, but I do think they're the best team and the most complete team.
Big Cat, however, is looking for a more chaotic path to the Final Four, eyeing the potential bloodbath between Notre Dame and West Virginia.
Big CatI'm picking the winner of the Notre Dame-West Virginia game to reach the Final Four
Do you think I'm crazy to have the winner of the [Notre Dame-West Virginia] game in my Final Four? Because that's what I'm picking.
The Stat of the Century
Mark Titus provided the most important analytical data of the entire tournament preview. While most experts are looking at KenPom adjusted efficiency or turnover margins, Titus found the one metric that truly matters for PMT listeners involving Louisville and BYU.
Mark TitusLouisville has scored 69 points more than any other program in tournament history
Louisville has scored 69 points in NCAA tournament more than any other program in the country... I swear to God, that's a fact. And then it gets even better... the program that has won the most games in college basketball history that has never scored 69 in the tournament is BYU.
Speaking of the Midwest, Titus is officially out on the Michigan "Team of Destiny" narrative that followed their plane incident, choosing to side with the Cowboys in their opening matchup instead.
Mark TitusOklahoma State will beat Michigan
I like how the plane crash... negates like everything else we know about Michigan. This has become the story... Michigan beat some shitty Big Ten teams to win the tournament... and now we're going to pretend like they're actually a good team. I think Oklahoma State's going to win that game.
Hot Seat/Cool Throne and Bachelor Talk
The guys also touched on the Bachelor finale for the benefit of all the guys who definitely don't watch the show. Despite the general cynicism surrounding the franchise, PFT is surprisingly optimistic about the future of Nick and Vanessa.
PFT CommenterNick and Vanessa from The Bachelor are going to last
This is 2016 and this is how the millennials find love. I think they're going to last. I would like to see the Fantasy Suite get its own spinoff reality show.
On a more global scale, the Somali Pirates have officially entered dynasty territory after a long hiatus from the headlines.
HankThe Somali Pirates are officially a dynasty because they robbed their first ship in five years
My cool throne Somali Pirates. They robbed a ship for the first time in five years. Hell yes. So they are back.
Finally, the episode wrapped up with some Uhhh Ya Think regarding Jim Harbaugh. After hearing stories of Jim boxing out his own sister-in-law during backyard basketball, PFT theorized that the Harbaugh family dynamic probably shifted heavily toward John during the Super Bowl for the sake of everyone's sanity.
PFT CommenterJim Harbaugh's parents rooted for John in the Super Bowl because Jim would be unbearable with a ring
I bet you his parents were rooting for John to win that Super Bowl. Because Jim Harbaugh with a Super Bowl ring over John would be unbearable at any family gathering from that point on. He would wear it every Thanksgiving.
Good luck with your brackets, and remember to check your pee hole flow before the games start.
