Pardon My Take – March 20, 2026: March Madness Has Begun, High Point Upsets Wisconsin, UNC Meltdown, Stanford Steve's Friday Bets & Fyre Fest of the Week

Episode Overview

In this NCAA Tournament special, Big Cat and PFT Commenter dive headfirst into the chaos of Day 1 of March Madness. Topics include Wisconsin’s stunning loss to High Point, UNC’s historic collapse against VCU, Duke’s nerve-wracking win over Siena, and a comprehensive breakdown of tournament action and betting angles with guest Stanford Steve. The episode closes with a memorable “Fyre Fest of the Week” full of personal lows and relatable sports fan anguish.

Key Discussion Points

1. Opening & Wisconsin’s High Point Calamity

(01:07–22:53)

• The show opens with the hosts commiserating about Wisconsin’s stunning upset loss to High Point. Big Cat is open about his pain:

  "The tournament is over for me. And sports are dead and stupid and why do we care?" (01:13, Big Cat)

• The hosts debate the familiar agony of being a dedicated sports fan. Big Cat laments his years of devotion with little reward from his favorite team:

  "Sports are so cruel ... you just get no, no reward out of it." (04:47, Big Cat)

• The infamous “Soggy Sorrows” ritual returns as a group therapy session for devastating sports losses:

  "Do you do Soggy Sorrows?" (05:33, Hank) "I'll go do Soggy Sorrows ... you want me to do Soggy Sorrows?" (06:00, Big Cat)

• Analysis of Wisconsin’s downfall:

  • High Point’s Chase Johnson entered late, hitting a logo three that sealed the Badgers’ fate.
  • Reflection on Wisconsin’s inability to break through in March, with Big Cat noting:

    "The Badgers haven't been to the Sweet 16 in, like, nine years, 10 years ... that will haunt me for the rest of my life." (10:09)

• The hosts discuss the irrational hope of sports fandom and whether it’s better to lose early or deeper in the tournament:

  "For that type of loss, it would probably be better to be like, Friday after dinner ... I was never in the tournament." (12:03, Big Cat)

• Humorous commentary on High Point:

  "High Point isn’t a real school. It’s vacation. Four years of post high school vacation." (15:50, Big Cat)

2. The UNC Meltdown & Duke Drama

(25:09–31:40)

• North Carolina’s epic collapse against VCU is dissected, including their blown 19-point second-half lead:

  "UNC blowing the biggest lead in first round history to VCU ... Hubert Davis probably needs to be fired." (25:35, Big Cat)

• Praise for VCU’s toughness and coaching:

  "VCU is one of those teams ... they don't care about being down in a game, they'll just keep coming at you." (25:54, PFT)

• The tense Duke–Siena game:

  • Siena’s five starters narrowly missed pulling off a 16-over-1 upset, leading by 11 at half before running out of gas.
  • Duke’s lack of depth and shaky form are highlighted.
  • Notable stat: "No one seed has ever trailed a 16 seed by double digits at halftime." (30:05, PFT)
  • Discussion of John Shire’s tournament learning curve and whether Duke fans should be concerned.

3. The March Madness Roundup: Notable Games & Performances

(33:32–44:28)

• Lightning round of the day’s biggest results:
  • Nebraska gets its first-ever tourney win.
  • TCU wins, Ohio State’s final play panned as the “worst.”
  • RIP Amir Khan era at McNeese State.
  • Michigan State’s defense impresses in an easy win.
  • Arkansas delivers a wire-to-wire victory.
  • Texas survives BYU thanks to dominant play from Vokey Taitis (23 pts, 16 reb), though his abysmal free-throw shooting was a subplot.
  • Illinois, Houston, and other favorites impress; coaching and betting reminders discussed.

4. Betting Recap & Friday Parlay Debate

(33:02; 86:54)

• Big Cat, PFT, and Hank review Thursday's parlay (2 out of 3 legs hit) and immediately banter about Friday’s team picks:

  "We don't point fingers around here. We lost as a team." (33:50, Big Cat)

• Bet slips fly as the guys build Friday's parlay, each defending their logic, friendship-pick allegiances, and trolling accusations.

5. Extended Interview with Stanford Steve: Bracket Analysis & Best Bets

(54:05–90:06)

Teams That Can Win It All

• Steve’s updated “list” of possible champs and why Duke is conspicuously absent:

  "I do not see Duke winning the national title." (56:51, Stanford Steve)

• List highlights: Arizona, Michigan, Houston, UConn, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Purdue.

• Why he’s bullish on Wisconsin ("we have the ability ... very bullish"), Nevada ("love the story"), and skeptical of Arkansas (defense), Alabama (live by the 3).

• The free-throw percentage factor for contenders.

Friday Bets & Underdogs

• Steve leans toward unders in first halves, citing shooting backdrops, new basketballs, and crowd energy.
• Underdog leans: Akron vs. Texas Tech, Santa Clara (+3.5) vs. Kentucky (“I think they're really, really good ... they play really good defense ... plus the point. Santa Clara.” 81:55, Stanford Steve).
• Cautions about Hofstra vs. Alabama due to Alabama’s shooting swings.
• Tennessee recommended as a lock against unknown opponent.

Women’s Tournament Tip

• South Carolina and Texas: “Parlay South Carolina and Texas to go to the Final Four. It’s like minus 115, but those two teams got easy tracks.” (100:29, Stanford Steve)

Fun Sidebars

• Banter about Big Cat inviting everyone to Max’s bachelor party.
• Comparing “worst” Max: Phillies, Sixers, Nova, or Eagles Max.
• Candid behind-the-scenes cave and stream banter.

6. Fyre Fest of the Week

(103:29–118:41)

• Big Cat: Pre-game fire fest—dreading the possibility of Wisconsin losing, sharing battle scars from endless first grader birthday parties, and the perils of VR roller coasters.

  "I had to take off the set because I got so dizzy ... I legitimately started to get nauseous." (114:32, Big Cat)

• Hank: Window leak disaster after a parking-lot rainstorm, car cursed, and wild confusion at airport toll machine.

  "All my windows were closed. Oh, it had rained so hard that, like, my roof was leaking." (107:13, Hank)

• PFT Commenter: Emotional note about March Madness being connected to his late father, and the advice, “call your loved ones, man."

  "I do miss him a lot this weekend ... it's gotten to be one of those things that now I look back on, and I kind of smile before I get sad, which is all you can hope for." (109:56, PFT)

• Zach: Getting roasted online for a suspect kitchen setup.

• Rest of Crew: Banter about cooking accidents, clubbing on St. Patty’s, and the art of claw machines at kids’ parties.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Fandom Pain:

  “It sucks. Like, sports are so cruel ... you just get no, no reward out of it.”
  – Big Cat, 04:47

• On Sports Memories:

  “It’s the friends you make along the way. It’s the memories you create for yourself ... our brains would turn to mush. This is how we stay mentally fit.”
  – PFT, 04:53

• On the Return of Soggy Sorrows:

  “We brought that back.”
  – Hank, 05:33

• On High Point’s Perks:

  “High Point isn’t a real school. It’s vacation. Four years of post high school vacation.”
  – Big Cat, 15:50

• On North Carolina’s Meltdown:

  “If you choke that away, that was terrible ... as bad a mismanagement of a second half as you’ll ever see.”
  – PFT, 25:35

• On Santa Clara as an Underdog Pick:

  “I think they're really, really good. They play really good defense. They got a good roster. They're deep ... plus the point. Santa Clara.”
  – Stanford Steve, 81:55

• On Gambling Trends:

  “I have a theory about the first tournament games ... I look at first half unders ... been really good.”
  – Stanford Steve, 85:18

• On PFT’s Fyre Fest Advice:

  “If you talk to your dad about sports, give him a call ... enjoy this time of year."
  – PFT, 109:56

Important Timestamps

(Note: Timestamps refer to full episode audio.)

• Wisconsin–High Point segment: 01:07–22:53
• UNC–VCU and Duke–Siena Recap: 25:09–31:40
• Rapid Fire Tournament Results: 33:32–44:28
• Stanford Steve Interview: 54:05–100:58
• Santa Clara–Kentucky Discussion: 78:56–81:55
• Fyre Fest of the Week: 103:29–118:41

Tone & Style

• Classic PMT chemistry: self-deprecating, irreverent, heavy on relatable sports pain and gallows humor.
• Genuine knowledge and analysis mixed with trolling and friendly banter.
• Absurd, improvisational asides (“High Point isn’t a real school”), inside jokes, and crew upstaging.

Summary Takeaways

• March Madness is in full whirlwind; upsets abound, favorite teams are already in mourning, and sports pain is universal.
• Stanford Steve’s betting wisdom is rooted in both data (free throw percentage, first-half unders) and decades as an “eye test” guy.
• The crew’s group therapy through comedy, debates, and rituals like Soggy Sorrows reminds listeners why PMT is sports podcasting’s ultimate safe space for both triumph and defeat.

Whether you lived the heartbreak or just want to catch up, this episode delivers everything the first day of the NCAA tournament promises: chaos, joy, sorrow, a smattering of winners, and plenty of camaraderie.