Takes

Darius Acuff Jr. is currently the best player in the NCAA tournament

To me, the best player in this tournament right now is Darius Acuff Jr. He is ridiculously gifted and just a total stud and his ability to change a game, it's special. He reminds me of [Kemba Walker] with the level he plays.

Houston will win the national championship on their redemption tour

If I had to pick right now a team to win the national championship, it's Houston Redemption tour. I think it could be Houston-Michigan in the final.

Michigan will beat Alabama in the Sweet 16 because Alabama can't defend the interior

I'm gonna go with Dr. Dave Portnoy on this one because Michigan's length - Alabama doesn't turn people over, and Michigan should be able to get to the rim at will against Alabama. Alabama's interior defense is not there. That spells trouble for the Crimson Tide. I think that thing gets put away later this week and I think Dave Portnoy and the Wolverines move on.

Great players want to be coached and pushed because they want to be the best

What I don't think people realize, and Magic [Johnson] said this to me once: great players want to be coached and pushed because great players want to be the best players. So they do. You know, it just sometimes in the high school level now, nobody does that because kids will leave.

Illinois is going to the Final Four

I think Illinois wins. I think Illinois is going to the Final Four.

Houston will beat Illinois by 18 points in the Sweet 16

I think Houston and I think they do it decisively. 18. [Blowout?]. 18.

Kevin Willard's joke about firing his staff was funny and shouldn't have been taken seriously

It was such a clear joke and people, I couldn't believe... There were people who actually thought he was being serious. I thought it was a funny joke. And then we had the people trying to cover for themselves being like, well, even if it was a joke, that's not a joke you make. Imagine if you're an assistant and you hear your boss say that.

The lack of Cinderellas in the tournament isn't due to NIL but because big teams are more efficient and physical

Todd Golden had a very good point... part of the reason why there's less upsets is teams are just getting way more efficient in scoring at the rim and becoming almost like raising their floor and becoming upset proof in the fact that you get really big dudes... and absolutely hammer the boards. And when you do that against smaller schools, you're not gonna like, how do big schools lose the small schools is like three point variance.

The Sweet 16 in Houston won't be a home game for the Cougars because Iowa and Nebraska fans travel too well

Illinois, Nebraska and Iowa have some pretty big fan bases that are all gonna wanna travel, especially Nebraska... I don't think it's gonna be like they're gonna take over the place, but I don't think it's gonna be 80% Houston at this game.

Tom Izzo is underrated because modern ring culture ignores how hard it is to consistently reach the Sweet 16

I know we're very ring culture oriented and he's only won one. This tournament is so fucking hard. Every single year they have at least a chance. It's crazy. Like they just go to Sweet Sixteens and then the tournament kind of starts for Izzo... 17 of them is insane. Tom Izzo is somehow underrated I think because the whole entire world has changed.

John Calipari has officially won the breakup with Kentucky

Do we think that there has ever been a bigger 'won the breakup' more than Cal in Kentucky right now? ... Cal is living the best life. He has gone to back-to-back Sweet Sixteens and Kentucky is in a complete crisis with Mark Pope. It couldn't have gone worse in the first two years for this breakup.

Kentucky will win a national championship before Arkansas does

Kentucky will win a national championship before Arkansas. Still, still a lot of time to go.

Nate Oats needs to teach his players to never let the police look through their phones

Let the Aden Holloway situation be a reminder to everybody that you don't have to let the police look through your phone. I actually point the finger at Nate Oats for this, because Nate Oats, you gotta do a better job of explaining the first through fifth amendments to your players. Given the history that you've had... day one you should have a, get the guys from Morgan & Morgan to come in and be like, 'Do not talk to the police if you're in trouble. Shut the fuck up.'

The Big 10 will finally win a national title in basketball this year

I'm proud that Purdue's a Big 10 team... because I just, I'm, I've just switched to, this has gotta be the year that the Big 10 wins the national title. I've gone through all the emotions of coping and now I'm just like, hey, good job, Purdue. Just go, go finish it.

Mark Pope is on the hot seat at Kentucky after this tournament performance

Mark Pope on the hot seat. I think he is. I mean, I think they're gonna bring him back. I think he's safe for this year, but I think he's going into next year. Seat is warm.

Every major college coaching opening should start by calling Brad Stevens and making him say no

You gotta make him say no. You gotta call Brad Stevens and make him say no. I will personally never stop saying that. He probably wakes up every morning and says no. Voicemail just says, 'Thank you so much for the consideration, but it's gonna be a no.' It would be shocking if he ever took another college job.

Michigan set records for most efficient offense in tournament history through their first two games

Michigan set records for like the most efficient offense in the history of the tournament through two games.

Fouling when up by two points late in a game is a terrible strategy

Todd Golden said in the press conference they were trying to foul up two... That's insane. Foul up two's crazy. You know how crazy he is? Steven Che thinks it's a good idea. Fouling up two does not make any sense... Play defense! How about that? The, that my groundbreaking end of game scenario that I would coach in that situation would be: play defense.

High Point is a very, very good basketball team

I actually think that High Point is a very, very good team. It was no fluke. They're a very good team.

I am done believing in Wisconsin basketball because they always rip my guts out in the tournament

I think the only lesson I've learned is like, I need to just stop believing. Because this has also become a thing where the Badgers haven't been to the Sweet 16 in like nine years... every year that we keep going is another year that I'm just reminded how close I was in 2015. I will never get back there. It just won't happen like every other team.

Greg Gard deserves criticism but should not be fired as Wisconsin's head coach

I trust Greg Gard, but yeah, you have to throw some criticism to him... But I do not think he should be fired. And I don't think making an irrational... I think he does a pretty damn good job with everything that he's given.

Hubert Davis probably needs to be fired after UNC's historic meltdown against VCU

UNC blowing the biggest lead in first round history to VCU... Hubert Davis probably needs to be fired. Hubert's not gonna be a good magically come back next year and be a good coach.

Illinois is the most ethical team in the NCAA tournament because they do not foul or steal

Illinois, the most ethical team in the tournament... They do not foul and they do not steal the ball. That was another wire to wire winner where they, if you're an Illinois fan, that's, that's the Illinois... that's a deep run Illinois.

Never bet an under in a Hawaii game

If Jake's listening, do not bet on any under in a Hawaii game.

Duke cannot win the national title this year due to injuries and a lack of depth

Duke was not on that list... I took them off the list. They are currently off the list and will not be on the list. And I do not see Duke winning the national title. I really think the depth is gonna really hurt them when you look at this region alone.

The NCAA selection committee was lazy and stupid for putting St. John's and UConn in the same region

I absolutely hate the committee for doing what they did and putting St. John's and Yukon in the same region. There's three big East teams in the, in the whole thing and they put the desk two in the same region. That's just stupid to me. And it seems lazy and I I don't like it. The tournament is not for rematches.

Duke is guaranteed to win the national title this year

I think they're guaranteed gonna win the national title... Most shocking sports story of our lifetime if Duke doesn't win it all this year.

Arizona, Houston, UConn, and Michigan are among the 11 teams that can win the national title

The list contains Arizona. Michigan. Houston. Yukon... Illinois is on the list. Kansas is on the list. Iowa State is on the list. Sparty on the list. Wisconsin has been on the list... Purdue because of their road, they are back on the list. I believe that's 11.

Arkansas freshman Acuff is a more advanced offensive college player than Allen Iverson was at Georgetown

Acuff, I look at him and I, I watch him. He's, he's the best offensive player in the country. And I, I'll say like he's a better college player than Allen Iverson was right now. Freshman year at Georgetown, Iverson, Acuff's more advanced offensively. He's a better shooter... and just athletically his build, he doesn't get knocked around.

Arizona has to reach the Final Four this year to end a long tournament drought

Arizona's sitting at 147th at 73.4% [free throws]. They have to go to the Final Four, guys. They need to have success in this tournament. They need to make Indianapolis. And I believe they will.

Betting first-half unders is the best strategy for the early rounds of the NCAA tournament

I have a theory about the first tournament games... I look at first half unders just because of their in arenas. The crowds aren't great. The shooting backdrops are different... it's been really good, but it's, I wouldn't say like it's been above 65%.

Villanova is a better basketball program than Maryland

Villanova just a better, a better basketball program... People of Villanova do not care about Maryland. Max is your bad. And the people of Maryland are, are obsessed with every single thing that Kevin Willard does.

The St. John's vs. Northern Iowa first-round matchup will be ugly as shit

You and I, they will suck the life of out of you. They've got the second best defense in the entire tournament. They, they are just kind of a pain in the ass to watch snails pace. This game feels like it's gonna be ugly as shit.

Houston will easily cover against Idaho and kill them in the first round

Houston, Idaho. I had nothing other than Houston's gonna kill him. I'm gonna take Houston first half and full game.

Betting Houston -13.5 in the first half against Idaho

I'm gonna go Houston first half minus 13 and a half.

Betting Arkansas team total under 87.5

I'm gonna go Arkansas team total under 87 and a half.

Betting Michigan State -16.5

I'm gonna go Michigan State minus 16 and a half.

The 2026 NCAA tournament will be chalky for the second consecutive year

Last year I came and I, and I, I made the argument that we're probably gonna get chalk. That's exactly what happened... for the second year in a row, I don't see [Cinderellas] at all... Arizona, Michigan and Duke are, in my estimation, they've been head and shoulders better than everybody else all season. So I I, with that, I feel like it's gonna be kind of chalky.

South Florida will beat Louisville in the first round

I like South Florida to beat Louisville. I think Louisville has been a big disappointment this year. I think injuries have, it's a lot of injuries... I like South Florida. I don't know, maybe it's the Bosco effect, but like, he got me watching a lot of South Florida the last few days and, and they play hard.

Illinois has a great draw and will cause problems for teams with their five-out offense

I do think Illinois's got a really good draw to the sweet 16. ... I think Illinois is one of those teams that they ... getting outta conference is gonna be great for them because they do play like a true five out and they can pass every, like their offense is, is electric when it's humming. And I think it's gonna cause a lot of problems for teams that haven't seen it.

Arizona will win the 2026 National Championship

I'll just spoiler, I, I picked Arizona to win the national championship. I think what excites me about Arizona is they could beat you in so many different ways... They have shooters, they have multiple shooters... I can't say enough great things about Arizona.

Michigan is head and shoulders better than the rest of the Midwest region

I still believe in Michigan. I have Michigan winning the Midwest. ... I still think they're head and shoulders better than everybody in the Midwest. Even though there are some exciting teams.

Vanderbilt will upset Florida in the Sweet 16

I have Vanderbilt upsetting Florida in the Sweet 16. Okay. Alright. That would be the, and it's not even just 'cause the SEC tournament... I've seen enough to know that like Vanderbilt one is not scared of Florida. Two, it's like not fluky what happened in the SEC tournament. I think their guards are so good.

I'm swapping Virginia for Iowa State as my 2026 National Champion

My national champion. I'm gonna, I'm gonna change one. I'm gonna go Iowa State instead of Virginia. Otherwise I'll keep it. Duke, Arizona, Houston, Iowa State.

The selection committee did a great job and correctly left out Oklahoma and Auburn

The selection committee has done their job, by the way, credits to selection committee. There was really no issues whatsoever... the first two out were Oklahoma and Auburn and they deserve to be out. Yeah, the bubble, the bubble sucked this year. Maybe an all time bad bubble.

Duke got screwed with their seeding as the number one overall seed

Duke kind of got fucked a little bit. As the number one overall, none of the best kill everyone. That's what I'm saying. Like if the, if the one knock that you have against the committee is that they kind of fucked over Duke. Like you did a great job committee credit to me.

Miami of Ohio can beat SMU in their play-in game

I actually think that, I don't know, I think they can beat SMU. I think that if there's one team that they could be an at large, I feel like they could beat... it feels like that's one, that's a winnable game.

St. John's deserves a better seed than Kansas

St. John's, the argument could be made that they should have gotten a, a, a better seed than Kansas.

A 'Civil Conflict' second-round matchup between UCF and UConn is a real possibility

If [UCLA] doesn't come back and UCF wins and UConn wins, we got a civil conflict. We got a civil conflict in the second round. That's what I'm looking at.

Arizona is the best team in the country and will win the national championship

I think Arizona might be the best team in the country right now. Especially considering Duke and Michigan's injuries... Duke, Arizona, Houston, Virginia, duke obviously winning the whole thing. I mean, it's not even again, why play it not close? Why play it?