Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: March Madness (March 27, 2026)

Overview

This episode centers around the excitement of March Madness, with special attention paid to St. John's return to prominence, the significance of blue bloods in college basketball, the impact of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) on the sport, coaching styles in the modern era, and the ongoing shifts in college athletics. The hosts, Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg, blend New York sports energy with humor, nostalgia, and sharp commentary—making for an episode that’s both insightful and entertaining for fans of basketball and city culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. March Madness: St. John’s Resurgence & Tournament Stakes

• St. John’s Big Moment: The main story is St. John’s making the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, now facing Duke—an iconic college basketball powerhouse.

  • “St. John's to me, is what stirs the drink here in New York. And to have them in a Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999 is a big thing. And have them take on Duke…as sexy as it gets.” – Don La Greca [06:27]

• Potential matchups excite the hosts, especially if St. John’s advances to a likely Elite Eight clash with UConn.

  • “How sexy would it be? UConn and St. John's again, for the right to go to the Final Four... you’re right at the doorstep of something exceptionally special.” – Don La Greca [06:50]

• Overall Tournament Landscape: Discussion about other marquee matchups (Michigan State–UConn, Alabama–Michigan, Tennessee–Iowa State), and the changing landscape as traditional "blue bloods" face new challengers from the football-centric SEC.

  • “There's this sense now that while there is a renewed interest or maybe a bigger interest this year in the college game, there's a sense that they're really... Are the blue bloods, like we know them?” – Alan Hahn [15:40]

2. The Blue Blood Debate

Are College Basketball’s ‘Blue Bloods’ Still the Same?

• The hosts debate if the traditional elite programs (Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, UNC) still occupy an untouchable status.

  • “Pitino’s also—he said something, I think a little bit controversial, saying that he doesn’t think blue bloods exist anymore in college basketball.” – Alan Hahn [18:50]

• Rick Pitino’s Take:

  “The blue bloods no longer control basketball any longer... there's no such a thing as a blue blood anymore. Everybody is the same in basketball, and that's what's going to make it a great product.” – Rick Pitino [19:02]

• Tom Izzo’s Counter:

  “Well, I love Rick, but I don't agree with that. I think a blue blood is somebody that’s earned it over time... If you can be consistent not over two years, four years, but 10 years, 15 years, I think you have the right to feel like that's the difference.” – Tom Izzo [23:08]

• Hosts’ Reflections: The show acknowledges both perspectives can be true, and keeps an eye on whether recent NIL changes will shift power long-term.

3. NIL and Changing Power Dynamics

• The hosts dissect how NIL has equalized recruiting power for more programs, allowing traditionally smaller schools or those with rich donors to compete for top talent.

  • “Now I’m not going to what gives me the best chance to get exposure. I’m going to the highest bidder. And some of those schools now are able to compete for the NIL.” – Don La Greca [20:49]

• They reference the film “Blue Chips” and real-life “cash under the table” scenarios, now replaced by legal NIL payments.

  • “Now it’s just straight up out in the open. What do you want? Like you hear this in the portal with transfers all the time. It’s unreal. It’s like this guy got $3 million and a truck and they transferred here.” – Alan Hahn [21:08]

4. ‘Tough Love’ Coaching and Its Place in Today’s Game

• The hosts discuss the evolution from intense, tough-love coaching to concerns about new-age "softness", with direct commentary from coaches:

  • Dan Hurley (UConn):

    “I think that's, you know, society we've got soft in a lot of ways... You remember the teachers and coaches that pushed you to your maximum, pushed you beyond your comfort level, that got the most out of you...” [34:28]

  • Calvin Sampson (Houston):

    “I don't have to be their life, but they are my life.” [41:14]

• Debate on Line-Crossing: The line between motivating and verbally abusing players is drawn; the crew agrees physical aggression is always inappropriate.

  • “There's never any excuse to lay your hands on anybody... But verbally, getting in the face of a player, like in the Maryland incident, the athlete in question wants to be coached hard.” – Don La Greca [36:26]

• Discussion on the challenge for coaches: building deep relationships with players in an era of rapid transfers and player movement.

  • “You need time to build the relationship with these players... that camaraderie used to come over time. That’s just not a thing we see anymore.” – Peter Rosenberg [40:15]

5. On Sports Media, Nostalgia & Fan Culture

• Personal Reflections and Nostalgia: Don recalls his early radio days, with playful reenactments – “The final score would be the magic make the nuggets disappear. 103 to 100.” [13:31]
• Drop Madness: The show launches their annual “Drop Madness” bracket, a lighthearted contest of their funniest sound bites, encouraging listener interaction on Twitter. [24:52]
• On Social Media’s Role: The hosts discuss skepticism about taking Twitter (X) criticism too seriously.
  • “Stop everyone trying to gain information, opinion trends on social media. It’s always going to skew negative.” – Don La Greca [51:13]
• Larry David Yankee Ad Discussion: The hosts debate the purpose and fan reception to YES Network’s Larry David ad, highlighting how fans often misconstrue the function of commercials.
  • “Why is that what a yes. Commercial would be about? You morons.” – Peter Rosenberg [47:57]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “St. John’s to me, is what stirs the drink here in New York. And to have them in a Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999 is a big thing.” – Don La Greca [06:27]
• “The blue bloods no longer control basketball any longer... there’s no such a thing as a blue blood anymore. Everybody is the same in basketball.” – Rick Pitino [19:02]
• “I think a blue blood is somebody that’s earned it over time.” – Tom Izzo [23:08]
• “You remember the teachers and coaches that pushed you to your maximum, pushed you beyond your comfort level, that got the most out of you...” – Dan Hurley [34:28]
• "There's never any excuse to lay your hands on anybody... But verbally, getting in the face of a player... that's okay." – Don La Greca [36:26]
• “Now it’s just straight up out in the open. What do you want?” – Alan Hahn on NIL [21:08]
• “I don't have to be their life, but they are my life.” – Calvin Sampson [41:14]
• “Why is that what a yes. Commercial would be about? You morons.” – Peter Rosenberg [47:57]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• St. John’s Sweet 16 Hype & Matchups – [06:00–08:50]
• Blue Blood Debate & NIL Impact – [15:00–24:50]
• Sound bite Bracket (“Drop Madness”) – [24:52–27:32]
• Coaching Culture & ‘Tough Love’ – [33:00–41:42]
• Larry David YES Network Ad Critique – [46:42–54:20]

Episode Flow & Tone

The conversation is spirited, rooted in New York sports attitude, and rich with camaraderie, humor, and authenticity. The trio blend deep basketball analysis with media commentary and nostalgia, making discussions of serious topics—like NIL and coaching culture—both engaging and accessible. They deftly critique sports culture, riff on commercials and fan expectations, and maintain listener involvement through fun segments like Drop Madness.

For Listeners

If you missed the episode, this recap provides a full grasp of:

• Why St. John’s moment is so significant in NYC sports culture;
• How NIL and conference realignment are shaking up college basketball’s old hierarchies;
• The ongoing debate about what it means to be a blue blood in the sport;
• The changing (and unchanging) nature of intense coaching;
• How sports media, nostalgia, and social commentary intertwine in the modern landscape—a must-listen for fans who love the blend of hoops, hot takes, and humor.