Takes

Duke cannot just lose a basketball game; they always have to make it about a larger issue like player safety.

I just love when Duke loses. They can't just lose, they have to make it about something... It has to be something bigger than just basketball. It has to be, you know, teaching kids to become men or unsportsmanlike or this or that or the other. Just lose the fucking game. You lost the game, you choked.

Alabama is officially a basketball school now

It was an interesting year. It's, we, we got a lot of spoiled Alabama fans... I hate what's going on in, in NCAA sports right now with the, the NIL and the transferring... But, you know, we're a basketball school now.

Duke's loss to Houston was the biggest choke in Final Four history

Duke's downfall for four hours, but like, sign me up. I'll take off my pants right now. 'cause that was, holy fuck. Was that an incredible Final Four delivered... Duke biggest choke in Final Four history. Best team ever analytically... They're the only team to, to have a higher field goal. Percentage more free throw attempts, more assists, fewer turnovers, more steals and lose in the history of the NCAA tournament.

Coach K is secretly happy that Duke lost because it protects his legacy

If we had true serum Coach K's happy. He doesn't want the next guy to win a title in his third year... John Scheyer, the, the, the school has not dropped off in terms of a level of basketball. But what Coach K has done to win titles gets magnified even more of. That's really hard to do because John Scheyer couldn't do it with one of the best analytically best teams of all time.

Maryland basketball is currently a stepping stone job.

And here's what sucks for Maryland is that Maryland should not be a stepping stone job. No. Maryland should be a job that a guy should want to stay at for a long time. But as of right now, guess what the reality is? It's a stepping stone job.

NIL has ruined college basketball

I just NIL ruined college basketball. I don't wanna be a hater, but it it... I just want madness. I don't care if, if the games are good, I wouldn't care. But yeah, the, I want good games.

Houston will dominate Purdue in the Sweet 16

I love Houston. I think Houston's going to dominate Purdue. I said something nice about Purdue someday this might say something mean about Purdue. You're gonna get your fucking ass kicked.

Maryland needs Florida's Clayton to sprain an ankle to win the Sweet 16 matchup

I think we need Clayton to sprain his ankle. Not badly, not bad. I'm not rooting for it and I'm not rooting for an injury like that guy's got such big balls... Maryland needs to play its best, the best be the best version of itself and I think they can win the game.

The Big East is for basketball while the SEC is for football

Big East is college basketball. SEC's football... when you're watching SEC basketball fans, you know, you're only thinking in the back of your head... they don't care about this. Like they care about football.

Bill Self is on the hot seat after losing in the first round as a preseason number one

Is Bill Self on the hot seat? I don't know if he's on the hot seat... Kansas also, they became the second AP preseason number one to lose in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Obviously Bill self not on the hot seat, but it's fun to have the conversation.

BYU is a legitimate threat to win the National Championship

BYU's a team that everyone's picking against, but they they were on the list. [PFT: BYU can win the national title?] Yes.

Ryan Odom will not be the head coach at VCU next year

This will be his last time at VCU no matter what... I'm reporting this. He will either be going to Villanova or Virginia after this year. He will, this is his last ride with VCU.

North Carolina's inclusion in the tournament is the most egregious committee decision ever

I thought North Carolina, at no point in the season did they look like an NCAA tournament team. They, they, yeah. They, their, their, their highs weren't very high. Their lows were pretty damn low. And I was, I was stunned. I was, in all the years of, you know, that's how the bracket works. It comes out, we, we lose our minds about teams that got in that didn't deserve it. We, we feel bad for the teams that were left out. This is the most egregious example that I've ever seen.

Michigan State will make the Final Four as a quintessential Tom Izzo team

I settled a, so I have Michigan State going to the final four because I think Auburn's gonna get tripped up somewhere... I do think Michigan State's gonna go to the final four. I think I settled on, they are on a, a typical Michigan State tournament run, but it just started in November.

St. John's will make the Final Four

I picked St. John's as the final four. I do believe in that... I do believe this St. John's team is special... When the clock hits zero and you think you've beat them, you better make damn sure you've actually beat them.

UNC 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?

Florida will crush UConn by a hundred if they meet in the second round

I'm rooting for UConn just so that I can bet Florida against UConn. Everyone's gonna be like, watch out for UConn and Florida's gonna beat 'em by a hundred... Florida will kill him. Very. Florida's would be, that would be my take on that.

Oregon will beat Arizona in the second round and Caleb Love will shoot 3-for-21

I have Oregon, beating Arizona in the second round. Because that will be, I think that's gonna be the Caleb Love masterpiece. Yeah. I think he'll go three for 21 for 14 points.

UNC 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.

Kyle Neptune's career as the head coach of Villanova is likely over

Went two for 15 in a way that ended their season, ended his [Eric Dixon's] career. And most likely ended the career of the head coach of Villanova, Kyle Neptune.

St. John's can make the Final Four this year

St. John's can make the Final Four and the statistical data backs it up... This St. John's team plays a lot like those Louisville teams [Rick Pitino's]... They are a real threat to make it to San Antonio this April.

T.J. Otzelberger will be the next head coach at Indiana

If I had to make a prediction right now, I would say T.J. Otzelberger... I think he makes a lot of sense. I think he's done a phenomenal job at Iowa State... He should be the guy that Indiana pursues the most.

You cannot win big in college basketball with high school kids anymore

I I don't think you can win and win big with high school kids. Huh? I don't, I really don't believe it. I wish it was true now. Good recruiting. I I think New York is more attractive away from New York than in New York. I agree that as somebody who used to live in New York.

College basketball needs 'asshole' coaches like Dan Hurley to be interesting.

College basketball needs asshole coaches. That's what it was built on... I need a coach K, I need a like as much as I hate Coach K, he has that that like, ah, I hate him. I wanna root against him. Dan Hurley is that if you hate him, that's good for college basketball. So I want him to do whatever he wants to do.

Doug Gottlieb is doing a bad job coaching Green Bay and should spend less time on social media

Jesus, Doug, a seven game losing streak in the last place in the Horizon League. Less time on social media, more time in the gym... I think he's, has he won a game in December... He's doing things like his way... sat [his best player] for the entire game even though they can't win a game right now.

I personally guarantee Kentucky will win a national title before Arkansas

I'll do my what's the Cavs owners name? Dan Gilbert. Sense. Personally guarantee it. Right. Personally guarantee... I just think Kentucky will be good. I think they'll be, they'll be fine immediately.

Donovan Clingan will make a three-pointer in the National Championship game

Bold prediction for Monday night. Okay. Donovan Clingan makes a three oh... I could see a high ball screen and instead a roll and he slips back and makes and makes Edey pay for going all the way down there.

NC State will beat Purdue on the money line in the Final Four

The DJ Burns shirts we just put on sale are, are so far that I I have to bet NC State money line. Yeah. I have no choice. You know what? Fuck it. And rooting for Purdue is just so, so it's so fun to root against them. I just have to do it.

If UConn repeats as champions, they must be considered one of the best college basketball teams ever

But if they finish the job this upcoming weekend and Monday, they have to go in the conversation of Best College basketball teams of all time. Yeah. Like it, it has to be said.

Alabama is going to smoke Clemson in the Elite Eight

I think Alabama's gonna run [Clemson] out of the gym. It was a cute little win that Clemson had. You ran up against a team that couldn't make a three point shot. Alabama's gonna just score 120 points on you. I think Clots clock has struck midnight on the Clemson Tigers.

The majority of players in the transfer portal will end up losing out long-term

At the end of the day, the majority of kids players I think are gonna lose out. Now, there'll be a few that it works out for, but the majority... we're gonna have over 2000 in the portal. And guys are now doing it two and three and even four times. Where are they gonna have to go back to later on? ... I honestly believe that, I think a lot of players are gonna make bad decisions and not learn how to fight through sometimes.

I would trade the rights to Jay Wright for John Calipari to coach Villanova.

I do have a, a trade in place for the rights to Jay Wright for John Calipari. Well, yeah. 'Cause he is not gonna come back. So I'll give up the rights to get [Calipari].

Anyone who says Zach Edey is not good at basketball is a moron.

Anyone who says Zach Edey's not good at basketball is a fucking moron. The guy's good at basketball, especially college basketball. I don't want whatever happens to the NBA happens to the NBA... Anyone who says he is not good at basketball, he is just tall, is being a hater.

Purdue will win the National Championship as a redemption story similar to Virginia in 2019

I love love, love love Purdue. Revenge... The UVA formula. And what, what didn't UVA win the next year? Yeah. It's happening again.

The John Calipari era at Kentucky is likely over after the loss to Oakland

I think this might be worse [than the St. Peters loss]. It's terrible. You know, lose to St. Peters and Oakland, two of the last three years, and I think probably the end of the Calipari era. There's a really good chance. I mean, I don't think it's certain, but I think a lot of the fans want that.

Wisconsin will make the Final Four

I have Wisconsin in the final four, Dan. I do, I do. I love what I've seen from them. I think Storr is an absolute difference maker. Chucky healthy is good... I genuinely feel this team has the goods. They're as versatile as any of these Wisconsin teams.

Selection committees are bullshit and fans could do a better job

I'm convinced that all of these committees can be the job of the committees can be done better by like 75% of the fans... Just anyone who's been paying attention. I, I know for a fact I know college basketball guys who are way more informed about college basketball and who's good and who's bad than this stupid committee.

Kyle Neptune is not a good basketball coach and has to go

Kyle Neptune sucks at coaching basketball. You are not crazy. He got absolutely worked by Shaka Smart. The fact that he didn't call a timeout with 30 seconds left in the game... That guy is not a good basketball coach. Jay Wright would've won that game. It was disgusting... Kyle Neptune's gotta go.

Purdue will win the National Championship this year

I think Purdue's gonna win it. I remember Tony Bennett lost to the 16 seed... following year won a championship. Purdue last year lost to FDU... I feel that it's their year. I think they're gonna win the national championship this year.

Someone will eventually get seriously injured during a court storming

It's dangerous, man. Yeah. and it is. It's dangerous now. And we've had significant injuries over the years... Something bad's gonna happen. And when it does, we're gonna have the audacity to be surprised at it.

There should be a 'free fight' rule allowing players to defend themselves against court-storming fans

I think like if there should be a rule that if you're a player and a fan comes at you, you can just go hog wild on 'em. Free the free fight rule that I've had for a very long time. Let the players have a free fight.

Kyle Filipowski was not seriously injured during the Wake Forest court storming

I just, I think he's probably fine. I think it might've been a phantom roll of an ankle. Like, oh shit, we lost and I just shoved the guy possibly—ow my ankle hurts now my arm.

John Calipari is on the hot seat because the 'meme' has become the reality

At some point the meme becomes the reality. I don't think they're gonna fire him. He has a lifetime contract... but Kentucky fans are absolutely ready for a change though. Absolutely. If he fucks this up, he's completely lost the magic.

Indiana is scared to play Indiana State in basketball

Do you know that Indiana state, Indiana doesn't play Indiana state because they just embarrassed him every time they play him. Indiana State, I think last time they played 'em was like 2017 and they won by like 20. Damn. So Indiana's just scared of 'em.

Every Arizona fan is scared to play Wisconsin in the tournament

Every Arizona fan heard you say that and like, Max is the dumbest person ever. He doesn't know ball. Every Arizona fan is scared of Wisconsin. That's a fact... We whooped them twice in the Elite Eight to go to the Final Four.

Tom Izzo is an overrated basketball coach

We just squatted on a take and said, Tom Izzo is overrated. We don't actually believe it now, but just wait. 'cause the conversation's gonna happen. We wanna be the first ones to say it. Now I'm starting to believe it a little bit.

Villanova should be kicked out of the Blue Bloods to make room for UConn

Welcome to the Blue Blood Club. I think they kick Villanova out, right? And then they move [UConn in].

UConn didn't play anyone notable during their 2023 championship run

I think they have to face someone better than a three seed. They didn't play anybody the whole tournament. They didn't play the Alabama. Nova beat real teams.

Jill Biden's White House invitation to Iowa is a classless move

Jill Biden invited LSU and Iowa to the White House. That's fucking bullshit. You cannot do that. Iowa lost. You know what that is? Classless move. Learn how fucking sports work. You point to your finger when you win a ring, you do the John Cena and then you get invited to the White House and the team they lost doesn't. That's how sports work.

Nate Oats is officially on the hot seat

I think we have to ask the question, is Nate Oats on the hot seat right now? ... I'm officially putting, putting Nate Oats on my hot seat.