March Madness With Jon Rothstein, We Talk Brackets And Storylines, USA Beats Dominican Republic Plus Who's Back Of The Week

Summary

Pardon My Take – March Madness With Jon Rothstein (March 16, 2026)

Hosts: Big Cat & PFT Commenter (Barstool Sports)

Special Guest: Jon Rothstein

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the 2026 men’s March Madness NCAA basketball tournament: breaking down the bracket, discussing selection committee decisions, analyzing each region with guest Jon Rothstein, and sprinkling in classic PMT banter, bets, and storylines. The guys also react live to the USA vs. Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic game, hold "Who's Back of the Week", and cover betting content, sports media quirks, and the Oscars.

This guide focuses on the main content—bracket talk, region breakdowns, and John Rothstein’s expert insights. Ad reads, intros, and outros are omitted.

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Key Sections & Timestamps

• March Madness Bracket Reaction & Selection Committee (02:24–05:52)
• Region-by-Region Breakdown (05:52–44:46)
  • East: The Region of Blue Bloods (05:52–26:26; Jon Rothstein: 63:31–74:07)
  • West: Region of Floor Generals (26:26–44:46; Jon Rothstein: 85:11–91:24)
  • South: The Region of Pressure (44:46–52:56; Jon Rothstein: 79:44–83:55)
  • Midwest: The Region of Innovation (52:56–58:30; Jon Rothstein: 91:28–94:18)
• Notable Bets & March Madness Traditions (19:29–23:34 / 13:23)
• World Baseball Classic Live Reactions (33:41–44:46)
• Jon Rothstein Interview - Bracket Deep Dive (63:31–104:45)
• Early Final Four Picks & Bracket Freakouts (39:09–43:34)
• "Who's Back of the Week" Segment (43:37–59:00)
• Podcast Banter & Memorable Moments (multiples)

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March Madness Bracket Reaction & Selection Committee

(02:24–05:52)

• The hosts praise the selection committee: “credit to the selection committee… there was really no issues whatsoever” (PFT, 02:42).
• Bubble talk: Oklahoma and Auburn among “first two out,” which they felt was justified.
• “The bubble sucked this year… maybe an all-time bad bubble. So that job wasn’t that hard for ’em” (Big Cat, 02:58).
• Light controversy: minor complaints about seed lines, especially Duke being over-ranked.
• Reaction to selection show drama: “watching Bruce Pearl just squirm as Auburn stayed on the bubble” (PFT, 04:18).
• Notable stories: Miami of Ohio “guaranteed” in, and a storyline about St. John’s getting a tough draw.

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Region-by-Region Breakdown

East: The Region of Blue Bloods

(05:52–26:26; Jon Rothstein 63:31–74:07)

Key Talking Points

• Stacked with legendary coaches: Shire, Cronin, Hurley, Self, Patino, Izzo. “There are seven coaches… 22 Final Fours between them” (PFT, 06:03)
• The programs’ pedigree: “30 national titles” among the region’s programs.
• Defensive gauntlet: “5 of the top 12 defenses in the tournament are in this region” (PFT, 07:45). Expect slugfests.
• Underdogs and dangerous matchups: Northern Iowa, Ohio State, TCU noted as bracket-busting possibilities.
• St. John’s “should have gotten a better seed than Kansas” (Big Cat, 07:01).
• “The region of Blue Bloods is the East Region, because… we have brands on top of brands.” (Jon Rothstein, 67:46)
• Potential legendary coaching matchups: “if St. John’s can get by Kansas… could set up a regional final of epic proportions… Patino vs. Hurley” (Rothstein, 71:00)
• Storyline – South Florida’s Brian Hodgson coaching in Buffalo so his ailing father can see him coach.

Notable Quote

“If you look at storylines… the burgeoning rivalry in college basketball was UConn and St. John’s… If they meet in 2026, it… would be in the Elite Eight for a chance to go to the Final Four… Ali-Frazier type of stuff.”
— Jon Rothstein (71:00)

Memorable Moment

• The guys recall famously tense Michigan State/Duke matchups: “I feel like that's every year… they just love having Izzo go up against the Blue Devils” (Big Cat, 10:39).

Upset Watch

• “TCU to beat Ohio State and put a little game pressure on Duke” (Rothstein, 69:53).
• UCLA injury watch and the UConn matchup flagged as a potential Round 2 blockbuster.

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West: Region of Floor Generals

(26:26–44:46; Jon Rothstein 85:11–91:24)

Key Talking Points

• Arizona is perhaps the most battle-tested team: “12 wins over ranked opponents… most ever” (PFT, 13:29).
• Concerns/analysis about LED courts and their possible impact (“slippery”, 14:14).
• Purdue and Gonzaga lauded as likely Sweet 16 showdown.
• Standout players and “new goon squads”—shout-out to Darius Acuff of Arkansas: “He is a stone cold psychopath… the most fun player to watch in college basketball by far” (Big Cat, 17:14/17:42).
• BYU, Texas, and offensive fireworks: Rollover Over Betting explained, i.e. betting overs back-to-back (19:29).
• Joke about Queens University possibly ceasing to exist soon (“about to be absorbed by Elon,” 20:52).
• Purdue “got a great draw” (Big Cat, 23:32); look out for high-scoring affairs.

Notable Quotes

“Darius Acuff… I’d be a bad NBA GM if they let me be an NBA GM. I’d take him one-one 'cause I f*cking love him.” — PFT (17:12)
“This is the regional floor generals…” — Jon Rothstein (85:11)

Upset Watch

• “If Nolan Winter is able to be healthy… this Wisconsin team with the killer Bs… could be the team to maybe break open the bracket” (Rothstein, 86:45).

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South: The Region of Pressure

(44:46–52:56; Jon Rothstein: 79:44–83:55)

Key Talking Points

• “Vandy got screwed”—deserved a higher than 5 seed after strong finish (Big Cat, 28:10).
• Nebraska’s tournament drought hangs over the region: “if they win a tourney game, I’ll buy a round for the whole Haymarket District” (Rothstein, 79:44).
• Multiple teams under immense pressure: Florida to validate top-seed status, North Carolina missing key players, Houston trying to take advantage of home advantage in Sweet 16/Elite 8.
• VCU flagged as a likely Cinderella: “Every time they make a run, they’re an 11 seed” (Rothstein, 81:32).
• “Houston got a very nice draw and… I think Illinois too… Illinois is going to be in the Sweet 16” (Big Cat, 29:23).

Notable Quote

“For as great as the teams were under Billy Donovan... Todd Golden has led Florida to better seeds in the NCAA tournament this year and last than Donovan did in ‘06 and ‘07.”
— Rothstein (79:44)

Upset Watch

• “I’m taking Troy to break the hearts [of Nebraska]…move on to the Round of 32.” — Rothstein (81:30)

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Midwest: The Region of Innovation

(52:56–58:30; Jon Rothstein: 91:28–94:18)

Key Talking Points

• Michigan “happy with their draw” (Big Cat, 33:16).
• Iowa State’s draw called “great” (PFT, 33:19).
• Key coaches innovating with new rosters or strategies: Dusty May (Michigan), Nate Oats (Alabama), Ryan Odom (Virginia).
• Pitt, Kentucky, Iowa State, and SMU (with dynamic guards) all flagged as dangerous.
• “Tennessee as a 6-seed, little of an upset beating Virginia” (Rothstein, 91:59)
• “Purdue, Michigan in the rubber match in the Final Four” (Rothstein, 94:11), with a Purdue-UConn title game rematch projected.

Notable Quote

“This is the region of innovation… [with] great roster composition… and coaches that have great perimeters in college basketball.” — Rothstein (91:28)

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Notable Bets & March Madness Traditions

(13:23 / 19:29–23:34)

• “Rollover Over” betting: chaining overs, rolling winnings over each time (PFT, 19:30); all the boys in.
• Bracket Pool Traditions: “Pick a region, do fun facts about each team,” and Zach’s “68 piece” of facts (PFT, 13:23).
• Classic PMT approach: blending stats, betting, and nonsense—“region of overs” vs “region of unders” mindset (23:02).

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World Baseball Classic Live Reactions

(33:41–44:46)

• The pod records live during USA vs. Dominican Republic; the crew reacts, especially Hank, a Dominican Republic supporter.
• Hank, on the loss: “[this] is a sad run. Yeah. Three more years.” (37:10)
• Big Cat jokingly grieves the defeat, “If I had a magic wand, I’d put the robot umpires in this game so the US might not win” (44:24).
• Banter about umpiring, allegiances, and sports pain.

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Jon Rothstein Interview – Bracket Deep Dive

(63:31–104:45)

Highlights

• Rejects pajama party on CBS: “When you have business to tend to, it’s not a time to get cozy and feel comfortable.” (64:36)
• On March dress code: “I am somebody who has always believed that it’s really important to wear a shirt and tie…” (65:17)
• Defines each region with his own label and deep analysis (see previous regional sections for detailed takes).
• Rothstein’s Final Four: “Purdue… Michigan… and UConn against Houston… taking Purdue to finally win it all.” (94:18)
• The art of always breaking college basketball news, even during major world events: “There is no act. This is who I am. That’s the bottom line.” (103:36)
• On potty training: “Every day is like its own buy game.” (95:05)

Memorable Quotes

• “This is March.” — Rothstein’s classic catchphrase.
• On the Final Four pick: “For the second time in three years, it’s Purdue and UConn for a national championship…” (94:17)

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Early Final Four Picks & Bracket Freakouts

(39:09–43:34)

• Hosts and recurring characters give their way-too-early picks.
• Big Cat: Michigan State, Houston, Arkansas, Michigan, with Houston winning it all (40:08).
• Hank: Duke, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin—Duke to beat Wisconsin in Indy. (40:25)
• PFT: Duke, Arizona, Houston, Virginia—Duke wins it all (39:36).
• Trash talk on past heartbreak (Wisconsin/Duke references), and jokes about off-the-wall picks (e.g., Akron for Zach, 42:14).

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“Who’s Back of the Week”

(43:37–59:00)

• Timothy Chalamet “cannot win the big one” after Oscars disappointment—Shane’s “guarantee” flops and is roasted.
• Running gag: “Can’t win the big one vs. a big one.”
• Other recurring sports tropes: athletes losing due to “choke gene” (Ludvig Åberg, golf).
• Joel Embiid injury discourse: “the only athlete ever that gets laughed at…for injuries” (Max, 53:33), leading to a debate about sports culture.

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Podcast Banter & Memorable Moments

• Funny pharmaceutical chat—Max goes on GLP-1 injectables and reports on the “needle gang” (22:47).
• In-depth discussion on the ridiculousness of college venues, obscure program storylines, and favorite college gym quirks (“Queens Gym is a high school gym,” 112:50).
• Storm stories: harrowing Chicago landing (108:14) and PMT travel nightmares.
• The hosts rib each other with classic jabs, “If you lose on the, on playing on the TV surface…” (Big Cat, 14:30).

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Notable Quotes & Speaker Attribution

• “This bracket… worked out kind of perfectly that you had natural seatings for like Arizona out west, Duke in the east, Michigan in Chicago… The committee nailed it.”
  — PFT Commenter (04:18)

• “St. John's the argument could be made that they should have gotten a better seed than Kansas.”
  — Big Cat (07:01)

• “Arizona is just… I think Arizona might be the best team in the country right now.”
  — PFT Commenter (14:50)

• “I’d be a bad NBA GM if they let me be an NBA GM. I’d take [Darius Acuff] one-one ‘cause I f*cking love him.”
  — PFT Commenter (17:12)

• “[Florida] has been a one seed in back to back years for the first time ever… This is the region of pressure.”
  — Jon Rothstein (79:44)

• “For the second time in three years, it’s Purdue and UConn for a national championship…complete the circle for the Boilers. Wow.”
  — Jon Rothstein (94:17)

• “The brighter the lights, the darker the shadows.”
  — Jon Rothstein quoting Mike Tyson (98:00)

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Episode Tone & Vibe

• Signature PMT blend of hyperbole, irreverence, and actual sharp analysis.
• Plenty of inside jokes, running gags, and “guarantees” (often tongue-in-cheek).
• Jon Rothstein brings an unmatched level of polished bracket insight, while the hosts add sarcasm, fandom, and wild-card predictions.
• “This is March!” echoes with trademark excitement and energy.

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For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode is a definitive March Madness preview—with laughs, lively debate, Rothstein’s masterful region and matchup breakdowns, and classic PMT banter. Whether you want to fill out your bracket with the sharpest edges or just enjoy the wackiest stories from the sports universe, this episode covers every angle for the opening of March Madness 2026.

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Transcript

[PFT Commenter]

Hey, pardon my take listeners. You can find every episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Big Cat]

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[Hank]

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[PFT Commenter]

Download bumble today on today's part of My Take presented by DraftKings we have brackets. It is March Madness time. We have our good friend John Rostein on the show breaking it all down. We just had an incredible weekend of college basketball ready to go. One of the best weeks of the year. We're also going to talk some wbc. We're actually watching the game live. Hanks Dominican Republic are down 2:1 in the game.

[Big Cat]

It's been an awesome game so far.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it's top of the 8th so we'll update as as it goes on. We're do who's back of the week and it's all brought to you by our friends at Microsoft Copilot. Before we get into today's chaos, we got to tell you about something that helps people focus on what's most important. Microsoft 365 copilot the world moves fast. Your workday even faster. Pitching products, drafting reports, analyzing data. Microsoft 365 Copilot is your AI assistant for work built into Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other Microsoft 365 apps you use, helping you quickly write, analyze, create and summarize so you can cut through clutter and clear path to your best work. Learn [e-mail] M365Copilot learn [e-mail] 365Copilot today okay, let's go

[Big Cat]

football guy.

[John Rothstein]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Martin My tech.

[Max]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Barnard My tech.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[John Rothstein]

My take. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Part in my take. Welcome to Part in my take presented by DraftKings. The crown is yours. Today is Monday, March 16th and we've got Brackets. Boys. It is time. March Madness.

[Big Cat]

Hear that O It's so nice.

[PFT Commenter]

You hear that right there?

[Big Cat]

It is so nice.

[PFT Commenter]

Beautiful, beautiful thing. The selection committee has done their job by the way. Credit to selection committee. There was really no issues whatsoever. Maybe some seed lines that we can argue about but the first two out were Oklahoma and Auburn and they deserve to be out.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, the bubble, the bubble sucked this year. Maybe an all time bad bubble. So that job wasn't that hard for him. I think the biggest controversy that you can have and we can bleep this out maybe because I don't even want to say it out loud. Duke kind of got a little bit.

[PFT Commenter]

Nah.

[Big Cat]

As the number one overall, they're the best. That's what I'm saying. Like if the, if the one knock that you have against the committee is that they kind of over Duke, like you did a great job.

[PFT Commenter]

Committee credit to me. There was a clip that I was, that I was, I saw on Saturday night. Someone gave John Shire's I think like 8 year old daughter a press credential and she was in the, she was in the scrum and asked him a question. I didn't comment.

[Big Cat]

That's, that's huge.

[PFT Commenter]

I think she asked dad, how do you win every game and they've lost two. But I'm not going to say anything more.

[Big Cat]

Also we don't, we don't call coach's dad. We call him coach.

[PFT Commenter]

His response was because I have the best daughter in the world. Imagine being boozer. Seeing that and being like well me dude. I guess I had nothing to do with this.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

It was just because you have a daughter.

[Big Cat]

I do like that though because there's a lot of reporters that don't like it when other reporters refer to the coach's coach after. That's unprofessional. What do they say about dad? Yeah. Say hey, keep that same energy for an 8 year old girl as you have for a 45 year old man.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. So, so you guys, you guys were in, in perilous flight. But the selection show having to watch Bruce Pearl just squirm as Auburn stayed on the bubble and never got off the bubble was so, so great after his politicking last week. But again I think that this like this bracket and it also worked out kind of perfectly that you had natural seatings for like Arizona out west, Duke in, in the east, Michigan in Chicago. Like the only one. Florida got maybe a little bit screwed that they're playing in Houston and Houston is the 2 seed in their region. But yeah, besides a couple seed lines the, the committee nailed it. They got Miami of Ohio in there and we're ready to roll.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And I told you Hank. Guarantee. Yeah, guarantee. I said guaranteed.

[Big Cat]

I, I actually think that, I don't know, I think they can beat smu. Yeah, definitely I think that if there's one team that they could be in that large, I feel like they could be. I've only watched, I think, two SMU games this year. I've watched two Miami Ohio games. But just from what I know, it feels like that's one. That's a winnable game. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

There's some other teams playing well. It's in Dayton. It's very close to. It's gonna be a home crowd for my Ohio.

[Big Cat]

There's another. There's a couple of teams where it's, like, too physical of a matchup. Might not have worked out for him. I did get to watch the selection show on the plane, and yes, Bruce Pearl, like, sweating. And every time. Every time a different bubble team would get in, he'd just be like, that's bad. That's bad news for the rest of the bubble. And what he was really meaning to say was, like, that's bad news for my son.

[PFT Commenter]

For my son.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. So good job. Committee ready to roll. Let's. Let's do a quick breakdown of each region, and then we'll. Like I said, we have John Rossian on who I'm excited to hear. I'm mostly excited for his East Region because his East Region will start there is so loaded with name brands and coaches. If you go through it, the. There are seven coaches, I believe, that all been to the final four, 22 final fours between them. Shire and Cronin have one, Hurley has two, won two national titles both times you went. Self has three, Patino has seven, and Izzo has eight. And in. In. In that group, there's seven national championships. And then if you want to even go further out, like, in terms of just name programs, there's 30 national titles for programs in this. In this region. It's basically. And then the. The teams that don't have it are like Ohio State, which is a pretty big name brand in general. So it's. It's definitely the region that has the most blue bloods and name brands and coaches that are absolute killers. And if you wanted to argue about one seed that maybe got screwed, St. John's got a little screwed, I think.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, St. John's the argument could be made that they should have gotten a better seed than Kansas. Yeah, there's a couple. There's a couple. Four seeds, I think that kind of stood out. And St. John's was thinking they were going to be four.

[PFT Commenter]

It was just more of a testament to the Big east being soft.

[Big Cat]

Big east was very soft this year, but looking at even the high seeds in that bracket, they've still got some history behind them. Yeah, like the high seeds, Northern Iowa, Sienna, like, teams that are perennially, like, making some noise have provided us with some good storylines over the years. Yeah, I, I was trying to think what John was going to call that region like, but it's impossible to predict. Ross scenes.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I don't even want, I don't even want to guess.

[Big Cat]

In years past, I would be like, that. He's done like the, the region of coaches before has been like a name, but I'm sure he's got a new wrinkle for us.

[PFT Commenter]

The other thing in this region, I, I immediately saw we're doing the live bracket reveal show, and I was just calling out all of the unders that I would potentially take, which I'm not going to because I don't want to bet an under on in March Madness. But looking through it, five of the top 12 defenses in the tournament are in this region. So duke is the second best, Kansas is the 10th, UConn 11, St. John's 12, and Michigan State 13. Cincinnati was also top 13. They didn't get, they didn't get into the tournament. And then TCU and Louisville are route out the top 25. So you have seven teams in the top 25 in terms of defensive efficiency in this bracket. It's going to be a slug fest. It's going to be a, a brawl. And I'm excited for it because I, I'm looking at it and like, even the northern Iowa, St. John's game, that's a. Northern Iowa is a motherfucker in the fact that I don't think they're that good. They were the 6 seed in arch Madness, but they were, they. They play so slow and they'll slow you down and make it such a low possession game that anything can happen.

[Big Cat]

And so what's the news with Patrick GBA from Duke?

[PFT Commenter]

Ah, he should play.

[Big Cat]

He should play.

[PFT Commenter]

He should play. Caleb Foster not gonna play, most likely.

[Big Cat]

Okay, that's.

[PFT Commenter]

And actually, I actually don't know the answers to this because, again, Sh's daughter, like, took away. I think the next reporter was going to ask that, but they were pressed

[Big Cat]

for time, so now we'll never know.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Again, I'm not going to say anything.

[Big Cat]

He took a good step today, is what I'm seeing.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, he, he, he took a step.

[Big Cat]

He took a good step trending towards playing in the tournament.

[PFT Commenter]

We also have in this, in this region, something I want to get. I don't like to predict, you know, second rounds, but. And we'll see if. If Billidou comes back for ucla, because he's very important and he got hurt on Friday night. I believe it's all. It's all kind of one song here with. With everything that we watch. But if he doesn't come back and UCF wins and UConn wins, we got a civil conflict. We got the civil conflict in the second round. That's what I'm looking at.

[Big Cat]

Get the trophy out a good old civ. And if UCF doesn't win, you still have Mick Crone and Danny Hurley, second round.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Which is pretty.

[PFT Commenter]

Although Danny or Mick Cronin is once again screwed. Has to go all the way to Philadelphia. He does not like playing in the Eastern time zone. Yeah. This has to piss him off beyond belief.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And he has to fly again.

[Big Cat]

I mean, I'm just thinking like Pitino, Bill Self in the second round.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. No, this is great.

[Big Cat]

That's absolutely incredible.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. And I listen, I kind of like. Ohio State's played very, very hot. I think TCU is like a big game team. They've. They've stepped up in class a couple times this year, and I think they'll have Bruce Thornton not in hell, but they have a good answer for it. Ohio State and TCU are two teams that are kind of playing at the. At the point right now. If Duke is not healthy now, Duke's gonna win it all.

[Big Cat]

Duke's healthy.

[PFT Commenter]

Duke's gonna win.

[Big Cat]

Can somebody tell me how many times Michigan State has been in the same bracket as Duke? I feel like. I feel like that's every year they do that. Right? They just love having Izzo go up against the Blue Devils.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't know if you can look it up. We don't have the. We. The computer's not set up for. We're looking at a beautiful forest right now. It is a winter landscape, which looks great.

[Big Cat]

Zach, if you want to. If you want to look that up and just tell me, I'll trust you.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. I don't know. Zach and Max were talking, so I don't know if they heard us.

[Oldie]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

But, Zach, you know what? Look up whatever you think we said. Just play that game.

[Big Cat]

That sounds good.

[PFT Commenter]

Look up as close to whatever you think we said, and then we'll just go from that. This is going to be interesting to see what he looks up. Just as many words as you can remember that we said, and then go there. Hank, how do you like Duke's draw? It's A bad draw. It's a tough draw.

[Hank]

But their odds on draftkings have improved. We talked about that. You've said they're shoeing to win. I think they were 330 and the last week they're now plus 300.

[PFT Commenter]

So. Okay. So that's good.

[Hank]

That's good.

[PFT Commenter]

Zach has started with the word Izzo. He's stuck on.

[Big Cat]

Oh, that's right. Yeah, we're good start. We're in the right ballpark.

[PFT Commenter]

Izzo verse Coach K in March. There we go. It's close enough.

[Max]

I did this.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, you just. You just looked that up?

[Max]

Well, I. Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, I thought Zach was controlling.

[Big Cat]

Izzo has a.

[Max]

No, I control. Oh, I just went in there to change the.

[PFT Commenter]

Got it the TV going and Zach's looking up something on his phone. What are you looking up on your phone, Zach?

[Zach]

I had typed out is over Coach K total.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Hank]

Just since 2019. Four out of six tournaments were both participated. They were in the same region.

[PFT Commenter]

Love it.

[Big Cat]

They love doing.

[Hank]

And that's just since 2019.

[PFT Commenter]

I mean they are always in the tournament, those two teams.

[Big Cat]

I mean when they're in. I'm sure they're always. They're always in that same bracket.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Any other thoughts on the East Region again? I'm so excited for whatever Ross Dean. He's gonna drop it on us. It's gonna be great. I kind of like the. The pull at the heartstrings story. South Florida, Brian Hodgson, who's the coach? South Florida who's really, really good coach. Part of the Nate Oats Rico Bosco coaching tree. He's from Buffalo, was an orphan. I think I saw that his dad has dementia. Has never been able to see him coach live and they're playing in Buffalo so he's going to get to see him.

[Big Cat]

That's super cool.

[PFT Commenter]

So very, very cool. We're also by the way, we are going to do. We're going to run it back. No, South Florida, not ucf. Yeah. Brian Hodgson. Yeah. He's from Buffalo. We're going to run back what we did last year because I thought it was great where we're going to each pick. Pick a region and do fun facts about each team. And I've also told Zach he's going to do Zach facts about every team so he'll clean up behind us.

[Big Cat]

One fact about every 60. A 68 pack.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes, exact facts.

[Zach]

Quick 68 piece to round it off.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. It's gonna be great. Okay. The West Region. Arizona. Arizona is really good. That's all I. That that was how I wanted to start that one. So good. Arizona, I have a stat for you for Arizona. Arizona has 12 wins over ranked opponents this year. That's 38 of their wins. That's the most ever. And I also want to give a shout out to Arizona. Iowa State playing one of the best college basketball games I've seen in a long time on Friday night where there were 11 straight possessions to end the game with a shot made. And it was just peak, peak conference tournament, peak March madness. The only thing that would have made it better is if they had played that on an LED tv. It was very slippery.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Other than that, it was the best game.

[Big Cat]

I am kind of worried that were just like one snafu and one minor groin injury is going to scare us away from having led TV basketball courts for forever.

[PFT Commenter]

Listen, all I know is that a lot of the losing teams were complaining, not the winning team.

[Big Cat]

It is a great excuse, I'll say that. Like if you lose on the, on playing on the TV surface, I saw

[PFT Commenter]

Kansas State players complaining. They stink.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, you don't. You should not complain.

[John Rothstein]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

They're just mad. They just want to blame anything.

[Big Cat]

So when this bracket came out, do you think that the first thing that Arizona fans thought was just ultimate PTSD

[PFT Commenter]

of Wisconsin, not the first thing? Cause I think was. I think Arizona is just. I think Arizona might be the best team in the country right now, especially considering Duke and Michigan's injuries. It was probably like the second or third thing though. They definitely, they definitely had it out there. I mean Wisconsin's the back to back Final fours.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

In 2014 and 15 we had to go in the west region. We had to go through Arizona and we did that both times. Wisconsin going up against High Point. I was initially nervous and I've calmed down because I looked. I did a deep dive into High Point, not the school because we did that last year, which we'll do again this year. But they're just, they haven't played anyone. I know this is. I mean anything could happen, but they have literally played not a. They didn't play a single quad one team. They played two quad two teams. They lost to both of them. And, and their defense isn't very good and they're short. They could. Listen one basketball game. Offense could be electric. But I, I trust, I trust my guys. I trust our backcourt.

[Big Cat]

So do they get wet?

[PFT Commenter]

They. No, no. They're good offense, very good offense. But they don't. Their defense is not there. They want to turn you over and Nick Boyd and John Blackwell. I trust them. Again, any I. This could look stupid, but I've calmed down because initially I was like, oh no. And everyone's going to try to pick a 12 over a 5. I get it.

[Big Cat]

So it is. It is the team of Chase Johnson.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Then the new goalkee that, that might be emerging that does not do anything but threes.

[PFT Commenter]

I have a new new goalkee though.

[Big Cat]

A newer goalkeeper.

[PFT Commenter]

Newer goalkee hit that we didn't know was going to be in the tournament because they had to win today. But the. The newer, newer goalkee is from Penn and his TJ Power. TJ Power. I think he had like. What do you have today? Max 40 and he. He hits like 44.

[Max]

The one that go to over.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, he hits 44% from. From three. And his name is TJ Power.

[Big Cat]

TJ Power is pretty sweet.

[PFT Commenter]

He's a fucking man. 44. He had 44. They also pen. We'll get to pen. They also have a guy insane. They also have a guy who shoots 41% from three and his name is Cam Thrower. So they. Pen's got the names. Pen's got the names. So that's my new goalkee. But I honestly, my first reaction, other than high point, my favorite player in the entire tournament is Darius Acuff and the Arkansas and the way he plays. I would be a bad NBA GM if they let me be an NBA gm. I take him one one because I fucking love him.

[Big Cat]

He is a fucking killer.

[PFT Commenter]

He makes every right decision all the time.

[Big Cat]

He is a stone cold psychopath. He is the best. When, when he played that game against Alabama that went to overtime. Yeah, he was like by far the best player on the court. Just absolutely dominant. And Cal like, Cal has kind of had a. A second coming for the last couple years. Like there's something different about the way he's been coaching at Arkansas.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, yeah, he got. Yeah, it's like getting in a new marriage.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Arkansas.

[Big Cat]

And it's. It's been fun to watch. And Acuff is. I think he's the most. Definitely the most fun player to watch in college basketball by far.

[PFT Commenter]

He and we. We had a moment on Friday night where we laddered his threes to six in the cave. He ended up only hitting five, but he hit four in the first half and then he hit five again today. I'm retired. But we also laddered again today, but he just takes over games and we were at a point where we would get. We'd get mad when he wouldn't Take a three. But every time he wouldn't take a three. He was just doing it because he was making a perfect pass.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Like a perfect alley oop. A perfect. The defense collapses on him and he kicks it out. He just, he plays and he's got. You know what he's got that you just, you just know it when you see it. He's got that like incredible athlete, cool guy limp when he's walking in the tunnel before a game. It's a, it's a limp. That's not an injury. It's just I'm cooler than everyone limp. Like a little bit of a gate to him that you're like, fuck, that guy is awesome.

[Big Cat]

You know, he's got that. Steph Curry has that. Yeah, he's got like. He walks a little off balance. I don't need to worry about matching my steps.

[PFT Commenter]

Correct. You can tell. So that one that Arkansas is like I said, Acuff is my favorite player to watch. It's also going to be very fascinating to watch. So they're going up against Hawaii and Hawaii famously this year. Or they've. They've been doing this, but they play no help defense which essentially is just, hey, we're going to, we're going to have everyone be in one on ones and not let you know, the kick outs, the, the collapse of the defense to help. I don't know how you do that against Darius Akuff because he will. I mean he's just so good with the ball in his hands. So that's going to be a hell of a matchup. And then the other things I had in this region. I have a new bet that I'd like to maybe throw out to you guys. I already told Memes this.

[Big Cat]

A new bet.

[PFT Commenter]

A new bet.

[Big Cat]

Is it parlay?

[PFT Commenter]

No.

[Big Cat]

I saw somebody make a joke about this new bet. I don't want to say the joke that I saw what our friend Clue Haywood said. Oh, is it one that wins? Oh, that was his.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Haha.

[John Rothstein]

The.

[PFT Commenter]

I mean I lose. Yeah, good one, dude. I lose a lot. This is the rollover over though. Texas NC State are playing in Dayton over whatever. We win on that. BYU versus the winner of that game over. The rollover. Double over. You take the winnings and you roll over. Yeah. To another over.

[Big Cat]

I.

[PFT Commenter]

There. There's no defense.

[Big Cat]

I like it. I'm a little shell shocked from BYU watching that second. You remember that second half against Houston?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Where they just could not score for the last 15 minutes of the game. That's the last guess what in my mind.

[PFT Commenter]

Texas State.

[Big Cat]

They're not Houston.

[PFT Commenter]

They ain't Houston.

[Big Cat]

They're not Houston.

[John Rothstein]

The rollover over.

[PFT Commenter]

Whoever wants to join with me, we're going to bet the over. And then we're going to bet it again. We're take all of our winnings and bet the double it up on the next over.

[Big Cat]

I'm.

[PFT Commenter]

Are you in for the rollover over?

[Big Cat]

Of course. I'm down.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Big Cat]

I'm down.

[PFT Commenter]

I appreciate you guys supporting me.

[Big Cat]

I'm interested to see what happens with. With Purdue going up against a school that's not going to exist in six months.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes. Queens.

[Big Cat]

Queens.

[PFT Commenter]

Which is not in New York.

[Big Cat]

It's not a New York ass.

[PFT Commenter]

Colin, cough that. And he was like, I think it's in New York. He's like, no, it's actually in North Carolina.

[Big Cat]

Yes. North Carolina. It's about to be absorbed by Elon. Like Starlink.

[PFT Commenter]

So they're just gonna take him over

[Big Cat]

say, well, they're just going to combine schools.

[PFT Commenter]

Do they get any naming rights?

[Big Cat]

I don't know what the name of the school. I think it's just going to be

[Hank]

like, remember the Titans.

[PFT Commenter]

Like they're just Quilon.

[Big Cat]

I think they're going to be a.

[PFT Commenter]

Sounds kind of offensive.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Max]

Nova just did this to us.

[PFT Commenter]

To a school.

[Big Cat]

You guys ate school?

[Max]

Yeah, we ate a school. Cabrini shout out. Cabrini D3 national champions lacrosse.

[PFT Commenter]

So you ate an entire school.

[Big Cat]

You get to claim that. That championship.

[PFT Commenter]

Are you full? Sure.

[Max]

I'm full.

[Hank]

Needled.

[Big Cat]

That's what. That's what they should do. Like if you.

[PFT Commenter]

Max is on the needle now and he just keeps saying that we're asking what we want for dairy. Says, I already ate needle.

[Big Cat]

Have you been. Did you shoot yourself?

[Max]

No, my. My fiance did it for me.

[Big Cat]

That's nice.

[John Rothstein]

Yeah. I'm needled though. Your boy's needle. I'm about to be.

[PFT Commenter]

Did you looking in the butt.

[John Rothstein]

In the butt? Yeah, in the bus.

[Max]

I'm going to be the most proud GLP1 guy of all.

[PFT Commenter]

You're gonna be.

[John Rothstein]

I was.

[PFT Commenter]

You're gonna be the chick in the yellow dress. Danc was going around the.

[Max]

I was going around the bar yesterday telling everyone and people were like, I've never heard someone be this outright on. On the GLP wallet.

[Big Cat]

Max is on the gear.

[PFT Commenter]

I asked. I asked Max. We were in the gambling game. I asked Max, don't you. Don't you like a lot? And then Dana, who's been on the

[Max]

needle off and on needle gang he's needle gang.

[Hank]

He goes.

[PFT Commenter]

He goes.

[Big Cat]

No, dude, that again.

[PFT Commenter]

What?

[Max]

No, he just got back on.

[PFT Commenter]

He's off.

[John Rothstein]

He was. He was off.

[Max]

Now he's back on.

[PFT Commenter]

He's beaten it. He's beaten it a few times. He's beaten Oic a few times. He's eaten his we through. He and Stu Fire are the only two people who beat nozempic. But I was like, max, aren't you gonna just a lot? And Data just goes, no, no, don't worry, dude, you don't. And then you shit a lot. I was like, what? Okay, that's some really good doctor mine.

[Max]

He said it just. It builds up for a while and then once you. You shit a ton.

[John Rothstein]

Oh, you mean Dana.

[Big Cat]

Have you pooped yet?

[Hank]

Disgusting.

[Max]

No, I just took it this afternoon.

[Big Cat]

Okay, so you. You haven't gotten to that point yet.

[PFT Commenter]

Have you thought about chicken parm?

[Big Cat]

You got to do a poop review.

[Max]

Yeah. I mean, yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Did you eat any lunch first?

[John Rothstein]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

GLP1 poop.

[PFT Commenter]

This is my. This is. Speaking of the rollover over. This is just my region of overs. Just like the east is the region of unders. I'm just gonna love every over in this region because a lot of teams don't play defense, I think so. I. The. There are, let's see, one, two, six teams in the top 20 efficiency in offensive efficiency in the country in this region. I think Purdue got a great draw. Yeah, I do. I really do. I mean, yes, I think it's Zaga and Purdue. I think it's. I think that's going to be a great. I think I'm going to have sweet 16, Purdue and Gonzaga.

[Big Cat]

It's also got Fianza.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, man, you gotta let Max do it. Max, you do it.

[Max]

I gotta move the mic away from my face here.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, hey, come on. Get a little more into it. Hank, what's going on?

[John Rothstein]

I know.

[Max]

I tried.

[John Rothstein]

I tried.

[Max]

I knew it was gonna be.

[Hank]

I don't understand doing it for the non Finns team.

[PFT Commenter]

It's just a vibes thing. Like Max would just yell it from across the court and everyone would just be like, it's just vibes. Max just does it and we just do it.

[Big Cat]

Max, how do you feel about. About your boys, about your cats?

[Max]

I. I can't say I've watched a ton of Utah State this year, but every. Every person I've talked to is like, this is just the best team of all time. So we're probably going to lose, but I'm going to have fun. I'M going to have fun, you know, supporting my guys. I'm happy. They're not a big team. We struggle with size. We just got to get hot from three. We shoot a lot of threes. Sometimes we make a lot of them, sometimes we don't. We just need this to be a game where we make a lot of them.

[PFT Commenter]

The Utah State and Iowa are the two nines that are favored over the eights. So not an upset. If Utah State beats Philadelphia. Yeah.

[Max]

That means we should be able to get them for bracket busters. But them.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, you're right. I agree with that. I agree with that. But it's. Yeah. That the. And Max got the best time window. I got. I got one of the worst. So Wisconsin plays fourth game of the tournament. The. The. The last game of the first. Windows or slate? Max, you have, what, Friday evening?

[Max]

Friday at 3:00'.

[Big Cat]

Clock.

[PFT Commenter]

So. Perfect.

[John Rothstein]

Perfect.

[Max]

I can enjoy all of Thursday.

[PFT Commenter]

You want that?

[Max]

And then Friday I can, like, get myself a little appetizer. And then, you know, just really lock in for probably a loss. And then, you know, it's fine.

[John Rothstein]

It.

[Max]

It's Friday night.

[Big Cat]

What about your pride? When do they play?

[Max]

That's a good question.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't know.

[Max]

When they play.

[PFT Commenter]

Hofstra plays. I'm gonna have, I think, Thursday Thunderdome.

[Big Cat]

The.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, no, the. The Thursday, early. First four games sucks.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Because it's like, you could just.

[Big Cat]

The tournament.

[PFT Commenter]

The tournament. I could just be. I could just be like, I'm going home.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And I'm just. Don't want to be here.

[Max]

Oh, they're gonna be playing at the same time.

[PFT Commenter]

What? Hofstra. Oh, no. Hofstra Nova.

[John Rothstein]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Can we do that? Cut it down the middle?

[Max]

Yeah, I. I can maybe try and figure that out.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, you just take two jerseys and you cut them down the middle.

[Max]

But then how do I put them

[Big Cat]

back together so I'm so.

[PFT Commenter]

Em.

[Big Cat]

Dude,

[PFT Commenter]

you have needles. You have needles.

[Big Cat]

You're the number one needle guy we got.

[PFT Commenter]

Use those needles.

[Big Cat]

Although I did.

[Max]

I. Yeah, your needle. Just a different needle.

[Big Cat]

I shot my ass perfectly on Friday. It was. It was a beautiful shot right in the middle of the cheek. Just right in, barely felt it. Wham, bam, thank you, needled needle.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, next region. Before we do that, actually, real quick from DraftKings, let's get excited for the tournament with DraftKings. DraftKings Sportsbook, the number one sportsbook for live betting, is built for March. The tournament is unexpected. Rewards are guaranteed. DraftKings Sportsbook is delivering the most generous rewards in the market no matter what happens on the court. Because this isn't a tournament you could you bet and forget. It's one you react to. With DraftKings number one sportsbook for live betting, you're not betting what might happen. You're betting what's happening. Possession by possession, play by play, Live lines, props Next play outcomes as the chaos unfolds, the bracket will break. So don't just watch the unexpected. Bet it. New to DraftKings bet just $5 and get 200 in bonus bets instantly. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app now. Use code TAKE. That's code TAKE to turn five bucks into 200 in bonus bets instantly. In partnership with DraftKings. The crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800- GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-SET NEW YORK Call 877-8-HOPE and why or text HOPE&Y CONNECTICUT. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org on behalf of Boothill Casino in Kansas. Wager tax pass through may apply in Illinois, 21 and over in most states void. In Ontario, restrictions apply. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. Four additional terms are responsible. G See sportsbook.draftkings.com promos Limited Time Offer South Region Vandy got screwed. If you want to say teams that got seeds screwed, Vandy got screwed because Vandy is a very good team. They had a couple blips when Duke Miles got hurt in the middle of the year and they just won the SEC and got a five seed and potentially have to play Florida for a third time in the Sweet 16. I think Vanny got screwed.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, we were doing, we're doing blind resumes on Wake Up Barstool last week and I think we had 12 different schools with their blind resume that were like bubble adjacent and out of those 12 schools I think, I think eight of them had as like a quality win that they had this year beating Vandy. Like Vandy is the king of like if you beat them, you can, you can CL that's like right at the bubble of what you can claim as being a great win this season. Our old coach from jmu, Byington. Yeah, we, we were the, we had an era there when we had, we had Byington and then obviously in football, yeah, JMU cradle coaches. But I do root for Vandy and even that weird gym where they line up in the wrong spot.

[PFT Commenter]

But I mean the 12th, 12th best team on on Ken Palm. They started the season, they didn't lose their first game. They started season 16 0. And they just won the SEC with a beat down of Florida. A pretty impressive win on. Against Tennessee or. Sorry, they lost. They didn't win the sec. They lost Arkansas today, but they went to the final and they did it in impressive fashion. I think they got screwed a little bit. You think that would be my take.

[Big Cat]

You think they're four?

[PFT Commenter]

I think they're probably a four. And then again they're the 12th best team analytically on Ken Paul.

[Big Cat]

Which of the four would you drop out?

[PFT Commenter]

Which is the fours? Probably Nebraska.

[Big Cat]

That's fair.

[PFT Commenter]

Nebraska has not beaten a, a tournament. They beat Iowa in the last game of the season in overtime. Before that, the last tournament team they beat was January 5th. So Nebraska had a great start to the season. I guess they're kind of similar Nebraska and Vandy, where they both were. If you looked at, you know, in this, you know, January 1st, both those teams were like holy shit, they're incredible. Vandy just did a little bit more in the SEC tournament by beating Florida and Tennessee. But this, this entire region. Yeah, I mean it's Florida got. That's a tough draw to play potentially in the Sweet 16 against a team that you just lost to in the SC tournament. And I think that Houston got a very nice draw and I think Illinois too. Illinois is going to be in the sweet 16. I don't, I don't think North Carolina is very good. I might pick VCU to beat North Carolina in the first round. Yeah, that's not a huge crazy upset because they're only a two and a half point favorite. But I like, I like chalk in, in, in the south outside of. I think Vandy is going to go to, I think it's gonna be Vandy, Florida, Illinois and Houston. That's my chalkiest region.

[Big Cat]

So with Penn, I'm sure Rossing will bring this up. But I did see that he, he mentioned this is the fifth team that Fran McCaffrey has taken to the tournament. So he took Lehigh, UNCG, Siena, Iowa and now Penn. The Quakers. The Quakers going to the NCAA tournament. Pretty impressive.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes.

[Big Cat]

That friends done that.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes. And I also think St. Mary's got a little bit screwed just with matchup wise because they have to play. Last year they went up against Vandy in Alabama. St. Mary's one of those schools like just don't, don't make them play against a really fast tempo SEC school. But they're going to have to do that. They're going to play buckyball with Texas A and M I. Yeah, the south is an interesting region because I don't think it's the strongest region outside of Florida and Houston. And Houston's playing great right now. And Houston also gets to play at home if they get to the sweet 16.

[Big Cat]

So between in that Illinois pin game, is that the matchup of the two guys who can get the hottest.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

I mean, power and mom silic.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. And I think. I think Illinois is. I think Illinois is significantly better as the. No, duh.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

They did limp in a little bit. I mean, Wisconsin, we beat them on Friday, but we could have. Their offense is really, really good. They're the number one offense in the country.

[Big Cat]

We could have a dude off in that game.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Are you. Are you discounting Wagler?

[Big Cat]

No, I'm not.

[PFT Commenter]

It could be.

[Big Cat]

It could be a few dudes.

[PFT Commenter]

That would be the dude. Yeah. Yeah. This we'll see. I like that. With my future with Florida, I do like to draw in the fact that they're not going to be surprised by Vandy after what Vandy did to him yesterday.

[Big Cat]

No.

[PFT Commenter]

And again, I. I would probably lean Houston to go to the Final Four, especially with the fact that they're going to have home games if they get to the sweet.

[Big Cat]

What do we do in a game like Clemson in Iowa? What should we do with that?

[John Rothstein]

Under.

[Big Cat]

Tv.

[PFT Commenter]

Under. Under. And don't watch.

[Big Cat]

I got to figure out a strategy for. Because I do. I like to take occasional unders in these games, especially if I just lose like three overs in a row.

[PFT Commenter]

That's. But I need.

[Big Cat]

I need a strategy for making it bearable to. To watch the games that I bet the unders on.

[PFT Commenter]

Under. They are the second and fourth slowest teams in the tournament. And Ben McCollum, who came from Drake, he wants to. He wants to grind it out.

[Big Cat]

Just suck the.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm also probably going to take Iowa in that game. Okay. Last region, the Midwest region. Michigan, who just lost to Purdue. Purdue's playing hot. Michigan, I feel like they got a pretty decent draw because you have Texas Tech, who, without topping, is a different team. And Alabama, I mean, they can get hot, but they also can look really not great defensively. And at the rim they're a little soft. So I don't. I don't hate Michigan's draw here.

[Big Cat]

Now, Michigan, I think you're happy if you're a Wolverine fan.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Iowa State.

[PFT Commenter]

Iowa State got a great draw.

[Big Cat]

They got a great draw, too.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. I like Iowa State's draw and I like Virginia's. The one team in that. In that group that would cause I. I'm not scared of Kentucky. I think Santa Clara.

[Big Cat]

I think Santa Clara. I think they're going to beat him.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, Hank.

[Big Cat]

What was that?

[Hank]

Just put my hands up.

[Oldie]

Sorry.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, he put his hands up.

[Big Cat]

Playing a song.

[Max]

Watch your watch above your head. That thing's about to fall, right?

[Big Cat]

Yeah, you're about to get brained with a beard. Smug. Maybe Mount Rushmore. What if you died by getting brain by Mount Rushmore?

[PFT Commenter]

Hank, what's going through your head right now?

[Big Cat]

Mount Rushmore. We're down.

[PFT Commenter]

Down to our last strike. It's two one, us.

[Hank]

This ump is clearly from America. Yeah, he's made some. Some generous calls.

[Big Cat]

I think it's Cam Young.

[Hank]

Gotta dig deep. Dig deep here.

[John Rothstein]

You have.

[Max]

Obviously, just because he's from America doesn't mean he's rooting for America.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it's true.

[Big Cat]

Good point, man.

[PFT Commenter]

Really good point.

[Hank]

Based off of the calls that he's made the last couple weddings.

[PFT Commenter]

Really good point. I think he did.

[Hank]

I think he is.

[Big Cat]

Hank was being so annoying in the car on the ride over here. We were watching the World Baseball and Hank was just like. He was coming himself. When J Rod had that catch at that robbed during judge of a home run, Hank was like, turn it up, turn it up. In your face.

[PFT Commenter]

Disgusting. Here it is. We go, Hank, Talk us through it. Two, two, team. You live and die.

[Hank]

Oh, he took it. Three, two. Man on third.

[PFT Commenter]

Have you loved watching Austin Wells? You like? That's my. That. That would be me. Yeah. Speaking Spanish in the dugout. Having fun.

[Hank]

Three, two, three, two count. Man on third, two outs.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, no.

[Big Cat]

I will say this.

[Hank]

Oh, you guys are.

[Big Cat]

Roman Anthony stepped up to the plate and Hank goes like. I wouldn't. I wouldn't hate it if this guy

[PFT Commenter]

hit a home run. Oh, wow.

[John Rothstein]

Yeah.

[Hank]

Yeah, they're gonna.

[Big Cat]

If the.

[Hank]

If the US Is gonna win, it's. And it's because of a Roman Anthony. Go ahead. Home run. I can live with that. Yeah, that's like the best.

[PFT Commenter]

But if they win any other way,

[Hank]

the worst case scenario.

[PFT Commenter]

Down in the dumps. Yeah. Soggy sorrows at Dominican Republic Loose.

[Hank]

I don't think so. Maybe if they lose the finals, it's only the. The semis.

[Big Cat]

This is a hell of a bat.

[PFT Commenter]

This is a hell of a bat. I mean, you guys are Miller.

[Big Cat]

This is how you compete.

[PFT Commenter]

Come on, Hank.

[Big Cat]

Oh, how far ahead are we?

[PFT Commenter]

We're about 10 seconds ahead.

[Max]

So far ahead, Hank, just watch the TV behind you.

[PFT Commenter]

He's watching it. He's now taking out his phone and he's reversing the camera so you can watch it. Said you could just turn around, actually,

[Max]

I think this is super smart.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Best thing he's ever done.

[Hank]

And it looks like it's a lefty pitching.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, there you go. Oh, got him.

[Hank]

No, that was a ball. That was.

[PFT Commenter]

What they call is a ball.

[Big Cat]

What they call it.

[Hank]

That was a ball.

[Big Cat]

That's how you get out. That's insane USA Baseball right there.

[PFT Commenter]

Sorry for your loss, Hank.

[Hank]

Not absolute insane.

[PFT Commenter]

Not.

[Big Cat]

Oh, man, what a game that was.

[PFT Commenter]

And. And will you be rooting for the winner of Venezuela and Italy to beat the U.S. no. Yeah. You can't refer. I mean, you don't.

[Big Cat]

You can't.

[PFT Commenter]

You don't like.

[Hank]

Definitely not Italy.

[John Rothstein]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

You don't like it.

[Hank]

Venezuela can be fun,

[Big Cat]

Big Ben.

[PFT Commenter]

All you got to do is watch one Venezuela game and you'll. You'll be hooked instantly.

[Big Cat]

I will say that Dominican Republic, they. They, like, changed their entire mentality after getting thrown out at third base. It seemed like they were afraid on the base pads, like three or four times. They just. They put the brakes on. They didn't want to get thrown out again. He's mentally dominated. I will also.

[Hank]

I've.

[Big Cat]

I've never seen Manny Machado run to first base in my life. And tonight he put his head down and was like a bat out of hell out of the batter's box tonight. If you're a Padres fan, you're watching this, you're like, where the. Is this Manny?

[PFT Commenter]

That's. He's just swept up in the doctor, like, hey.

[Big Cat]

But like, I would. It took my breath away watching Manny Machado hit a ground ball and immediately head down, taken off.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Hank, what's going through your head? Just sad.

[Big Cat]

It's just a sad run.

[Hank]

This is a sad run. Yeah. Three more years.

[PFT Commenter]

Any regrets? No.

[Hank]

No, I regret nothing. I'm happy for Roman Anthony.

[PFT Commenter]

But you regret nothing in. In picking the wrong side, the losing

[Hank]

side, the more fun side.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, you know what's fun? Winning.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I mean, winning is a lot.

[Hank]

It helps when the umps are calling ball strikes. That was a huge difference those last two. This is what it is. Congrats to usa. I also Paul Skeens. I. I like.

[PFT Commenter]

He's a true.

[Big Cat]

Such a good. Sounds tomorrow. Part of my take picture right now,

[PFT Commenter]

by the way, Ken Rosenthal. Get the out of here. Dude. I'm so sick of this guy. Ever since that brewers thing last year, he's such a loser. Get him out. I mean, he had. I don't want him anywhere near me anymore.

[Big Cat]

He had maybe the quote of the century earlier tonight. He said Fernando Tatis said the Dominican Republican is like a bunch of superheroes. Nine Batman, if you will. Paul Skeens is the closest thing we have to Superman. So he was saying, who wins nine Batman or one Superman? That's a terrible comparison. Yeah, nice. Batman would beat the out of one Superman.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm so sick of Ken Rosenthal, though. That should have been like, a career ender, the way he reacted. Milwaukee. Yeah. Yeah. He's just a jerk. You, like, you would just tell a guy is, you know, I'm all for second chance, but you could tell he's just a jerk. And so, like, why. Why do we. Why do we let a jerk.

[Big Cat]

He didn't really. He didn't handle the Second chance that well.

[PFT Commenter]

No, no.

[Max]

He.

[PFT Commenter]

He tried to explain his way out of it.

[Big Cat]

I'm happy for Paul Skeens.

[PFT Commenter]

I am, too. Okay. Midwest. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

I. Hank was calling him Big Dom. That's what he was calling Dominican Republic Big Dom.

[PFT Commenter]

You were?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Nice pottery.

[Hank]

Big dogs.

[John Rothstein]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I just love watching Max wins every

[PFT Commenter]

time Big Dom gets brought up. Okay, do you want to take a shot at an early Final Four again? We're going to do our full bracket breakdown with dumb facts about each team on Wednesday's show. We also have Mark Titus. Any you want to.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, my. This is their Final Four. Is my early Final Four.

[PFT Commenter]

Everyone share it. Go for it. Memes. You got one. Memes. I know you filled out a million brackets.

[Big Cat]

The first one I filled out, I

[PFT Commenter]

had St. John's coming out. I don't have my paper in front of me. St. John's Houston, Arizona, and Iowa State. Arizona win the whole thing.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. I'm going to go with Duke, Arizona, Houston, Virginia. Duke, obviously winning the whole thing. I mean, it's not even. Again, why not?

[Zach]

Close.

[PFT Commenter]

Why play it?

[Big Cat]

I'm gonna go with Michigan State. I'm gonna go with Houston, Arkansas,

[PFT Commenter]

And

[Big Cat]

I think I'm just gonna go Michigan.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Big Cat]

Out of the Midwest and who you

[PFT Commenter]

have winning it all?

[Big Cat]

I got Houston winning it all.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Hank]

I'm gonna go.

[PFT Commenter]

Fourth year in a row.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[Hank]

I'm gonna go.

[Big Cat]

Listen, you.

[PFT Commenter]

You gotta get it. You gotta get it eventually.

[Big Cat]

You can't stop.

[PFT Commenter]

You can't. Gotta get it eventually.

[Hank]

Duke, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin.

[PFT Commenter]

I knew you were gonna do that

[Hank]

with Duke beating Wisconsin in Indy.

[Big Cat]

So you got three of your Big Ten teams.

[PFT Commenter]

I knew you're gonna do that. Okay, Max,

[Big Cat]

Okay. Can we just say that honestly, that would probably be the most listened to podcast of part of my take that happen.

[PFT Commenter]

Especially if Wisconsin had a halftime lead.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

And beating Michigan. It'd be awesome.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. I mean almost I was. The Saturday Austin rap was insane. I think he hit five, six threes, but five in a row in possessions. And the whole time I was thinking like if the Badgers can pull this off, I might. I would obviously still be rooting for Wisconsin when it all but I might sneaky have to root for Michigan because then I would raise a banner in our office with an asterisk being like but couldn't beat Wisconsin.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Because it would have been two times that we beat him and had Dave here do a banner cutting day or better a ribbon cutting day for the banner. All right, go ahead, Max.

[Max]

St. John's Florida, Arizona, Iowa State.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. And winner, the Duke. Disrespect is disgusting. Right, Hank? Disgusting, disgusting. I will do

[Max]

Iowa state over.

[Big Cat]

Wow.

[PFT Commenter]

St. John's okay, Zach, finish us off then we'll do who's back of the week.

[Zach]

I'm gonna go Yukon, Florida, Byu, Akron.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, Akron. Love that.

[Zach]

I'm gonna take Akron to win.

[PFT Commenter]

Akron to win it all.

[Big Cat]

Just a kid.

[PFT Commenter]

Love that. Just love the zips. Zip up.

[Big Cat]

Just.

[Zach]

I told Dom I zip up. Let's get zip.

[PFT Commenter]

Should I be worried about that, Zach, knowing that we're on bracket busters together?

[Zach]

No, some things won't transcend. The busters will bust together.

[PFT Commenter]

Memes and I were thinking about letting you just bust.

[Zach]

I think we got three man bus.

[PFT Commenter]

No, you just decide you're in charge of busting. Yeah, you might be just we're giving you the wheel.

[Zach]

We should bust together.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, you're Dave and busters. Okay, before we get to who's back of the week. Twisted tea. Twisted tea is refreshing hard iced tea made with real Brewed tea and 5% alcohol. Twisted tea is the perfect drink to keep the good times going all day and all season long. Whether you're hanging out at a friend's house, catching a game at the stadium or at the bar or day drinking with friends, Twisted tea is there to turn your day up a notch and make a good time, a great time. Grab a refreshing twisted tea today. The half and half, the original, the peach. It's all twisted tea we're going to get. Summer's coming oh so close. And it's twisted tea season. As soon as it gets a little warm, crack open a twisted tee. You know what? Crack open a twisted tea for the first round of the tournament. Get that half and a Half. You will not regret it. Grab a refreshing twisted tea today. Okay, who's back of the week? Hank, by the way, I've looked at the pitch a little bit more.

[Hank]

There's. There's a bunch of pitches.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, I mean, the last one, if I could change it, I would for your beloved Dominican Republic, but unfortunately we can't.

[Big Cat]

Well, the thing is, nobody's more upset about that than I am.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

I want to see the better team win because I'm most. First and foremost, I'm a fan of fairness in sports. And that, to me, it doesn't pass that test. But you can't take it back. I mean, the game's over. You can't send the guys back on the field now. I guess and.

[PFT Commenter]

Are you making excuses? No. Okay. No excuses.

[Hank]

No excuses.

[PFT Commenter]

But it's okay.

[Hank]

And I thought, you know, whatever. What they obviously aren't doing the new umpire rules that they're implementing.

[PFT Commenter]

Abs.

[Hank]

Why not? Wouldn't this be a perfect time to implement it?

[PFT Commenter]

You'd think so. You would think so.

[Hank]

But no excuses.

[PFT Commenter]

But no excuses.

[Big Cat]

Again, if we could change that.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Like, I would love. If I had a magic wand, my first wish would be go back and put the robot umpires into this game so that. So that we can. So that the US Might not win. Yeah, that's what I would love to see.

[PFT Commenter]

So that Hank could continue his wonderful ride with Dominican Republic.

[Hank]

It was a great ride.

[Big Cat]

Magic. Magic.

[PFT Commenter]

Over.

[Hank]

Over.

[PFT Commenter]

Two games watched. No. Two games watched.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Two games and some highlights.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

What a ride.

[Big Cat]

Magic wand would be a great nickname for.

[Hank]

We were listening. We were listening on the drive tonight. The sound was cutting in and out. PFT was just announced doing play by play at one point.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it's painful. Great. No, great. Play by play.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. Who's back?

[Hank]

My. Who's back? Speaking of, you know, not winning is just not being able to win the big one.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Hank]

A few Dominican came on the big one. Timothy Chalamet.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Hank]

Did not win.

[PFT Commenter]

Did you hear there might have been someone part of the PMT team who made a guarantee on Timothy Chalamet winning that. Who would.

[Hank]

It's Shane.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Our number one movie guy.

[Big Cat]

Shane guaranteed it.

[PFT Commenter]

Corn dog.

[Hank]

That's all he does is watch movies.

[PFT Commenter]

I know. And he said he guaranteed.

[Hank]

Literally just.

[PFT Commenter]

We.

[Hank]

That's all he does.

[PFT Commenter]

We want. We were watching it in the cave and he's just like, what, Michael B. Jordan? How could that happen? We're like, Shane. That was a guarantee.

[Big Cat]

Hold up, Shane.

[PFT Commenter]

Ah, brutal.

[Hank]

That's tough.

[PFT Commenter]

Chalamet. He'll win one.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Hank]

But he's, he's now in that. Like, can he win the big one? It's. It's. I think it's his third time. Nothing.

[PFT Commenter]

Can't win.

[Hank]

Nothing to show as a young man.

[PFT Commenter]

Caitlin Clark.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Can't win the big one.

[Big Cat]

As a guy that didn't see either of the movies, Sinners or Marty supreme, he got hosed. I saw Marty's Year.

[PFT Commenter]

I, I disagree. I don't think he got a hoax.

[Big Cat]

Oh, come on.

[PFT Commenter]

It was fine. It was a good movie. I didn't think it was as good as. I don't think it was like the greatest movie. No, I liked One Battle more.

[Big Cat]

One Battle.

[Max]

Did you see Sinners?

[PFT Commenter]

I did not see Sinners.

[Max]

You were about to say Sinners, and then. I, I.

[PFT Commenter]

No, I, I didn't see Sinners. I, I saw half of the. The debate we're having here, and the half that I saw. Don't think she deserved to win. Can't speak for the other half is very good too. I'm sure it is. I probably watched at some point. I liked One Battle more than Marty supreme, but his best actor, I understand, should have been Panicio.

[Hank]

Thanks. Supporting. I don't know if he won.

[PFT Commenter]

He should have been lead.

[Hank]

I think he did win.

[PFT Commenter]

I think they should just make it lead actor, even for the supporting guys. Like, if you're the. If you're the. If you're the funniest guy in a movie.

[Max]

No, I think Sean Penn won supporting for One Battle.

[PFT Commenter]

That would make sense. Yeah, that would make a lot to walk.

[Hank]

He.

[Big Cat]

He kind of had that little limp walk.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

In that movie.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. They should just have, like, a Chillis dude award. Benicio would win that one. Okay, so Chalamet. Both of them.

[Hank]

Dominican Republic. No, I just saw Mars Supreme. I saw One Battle too.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. Did anyone see Sinners? You saw Centers, Max.

[Max]

I saw Centers.

[PFT Commenter]

Finish this debate for us. Was Michael B. Jordan more worthy of. Of winning than Timothy? Timothy Shalamet. This is great. As a collective podcast, we saw both these movies.

[Max]

One Battle won Best Picture.

[PFT Commenter]

I understand it.

[Max]

Good.

[Big Cat]

That's awesome.

[PFT Commenter]

Should have.

[Big Cat]

That's. That's the one movie you're arguing.

[PFT Commenter]

No, we're arguing, Timothy. Sh. We're basically not arguing.

[Max]

You're not arguing, Timothy. You're just arguing that you liked One Battle better.

[PFT Commenter]

Correct.

[Hank]

That is what you said.

[PFT Commenter]

Which one? Well, but, no, but he said, can't win the big one. And I'm saying didn't really deserve it.

[Max]

Didn't think Marty, you're just going off of the movie.

[PFT Commenter]

Correct.

[Big Cat]

But as an individual, the big one is best Actor.

[John Rothstein]

Right.

[Big Cat]

Everybody knows that.

[Max]

Correct.

[Hank]

It's MVP debate. Does the MVP just go to the best quarterback on the best team every year?

[PFT Commenter]

Marty supreme shouldn't have wasn't good enough to as a movie for him to win the big one.

[Big Cat]

Well, let's just say, like, if you took. If you took Chalamet out of Marty supreme and you replace him with, let's say, McConaughey, how's the movie do?

[PFT Commenter]

Probably fine.

[Big Cat]

Is it as good?

[PFT Commenter]

I like Chalamet a lot. I didn't really love that movie. Again, this has nothing to do with best actor. I'm more clowning on Shane for having a guarantee that didn't come through. But Max, who was better, Michael B. Jordan or Chalamet?

[Max]

I like Chalamet.

[Big Cat]

Okay, but I thought.

[Max]

I liked Sinners as a movie better.

[Hank]

I like Shall They Show Me Got robbed.

[PFT Commenter]

I liked Marty supreme as a movie better than Sinners, but I like Michael B. Jordan. You didn't watch Sinners, Zach. Well, yeah, that's so I. Zach, did you watch both these?

[Zach]

I haven't seen either of those movies, but I'm gonna take Charlemagne Memes.

[PFT Commenter]

Did you watch both these?

[Big Cat]

I like Frankenstein.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. Nice. Nice.

[Big Cat]

If you only go to see one movie in theaters all year and that movie ends up winning best Picture, that's a hell of a year.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Job well done.

[Big Cat]

That's a hell of a year. I'm pumped.

[Max]

I watched Begonia. I don't stop.

[Big Cat]

I did see that, but it was in my house. Begonia's awesome.

[Max]

Yeah. The only one I saw in theaters was Barney. I didn't see. I saw one battle in my house as well.

[John Rothstein]

Oh, wow.

[PFT Commenter]

You got. You got a fucking. You live in a movie theater, bro.

[John Rothstein]

What?

[PFT Commenter]

Sick.

[Big Cat]

You heard?

[Max]

I saw it on my couch.

[Big Cat]

You live in a movie.

[Max]

Shout out.

[Big Cat]

Stop. You sleep with Onion.

[PFT Commenter]

Do we have a comment from Shane? How did he.

[Max]

We'll get him for lottery ball.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Hank]

But shall make came with the big one. Ludwig a bear can't win the big one.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Big time. Can't.

[Hank]

Another choke joke to the masters.

[PFT Commenter]

He hit some water Choke today.

[Big Cat]

Huge Choke. He had a. A at his home course going into Sunday.

[Hank]

Choke.

[Big Cat]

And I. I put him on my list of guys I will never bet again after he choked in the Masters. And then I forgot about putting him on the list. Bet him again this week. And yeah, it was. It was a nightmare. Choke job.

[PFT Commenter]

Damn.

[Hank]

Came in the big one.

[Big Cat]

Can't do it.

[PFT Commenter]

Was that the big one?

[Hank]

It's a big one.

[Big Cat]

Fifth major.

[PFT Commenter]

It's a big one, but not the big one. It can't be a big one. And it. The big one is different than a big one

[Hank]

in golf. There's like, five big ones. Six big ones.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, but what's the big one?

[Hank]

Depends. Depends who you ask.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. I feel like there's.

[Hank]

He couldn't win the Masters, and then he had another chance to win a

[PFT Commenter]

big one, but there is no. A big one is different than the big one.

[Hank]

Okay. Apologies.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, no big ones.

[Hank]

A big one.

[PFT Commenter]

The big one is Chalamet not winning the Oscars.

[Big Cat]

He can't really win a one.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Has he won a one?

[Big Cat]

You can't win a mid one.

[Hank]

I think he's won a tournament.

[PFT Commenter]

He's won one. Okay.

[Hank]

But not a big one.

[Big Cat]

It was disgusting.

[Hank]

But I guess maybe not. There's only one big one, so I guess I was wrong there.

[PFT Commenter]

A testy Hank. I'm just saying big one is the big.

[Big Cat]

What would the big one be?

[PFT Commenter]

The Masters. Which he didn't win.

[Oldie]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So you can't win that one either.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. He stinks. He stinks on Sundays. I don't know what it is about him. He just. For being a robot, because he feels like he does have, like, the personality of a drone. Just when he gets under pressure, he just melts down. And most guys that. That have that, like, robotic personality, they don't have the. The choke gene. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

He's water multiple times, right?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. PFD Your who's back of the week?

[Big Cat]

My who's back of the week is taking medical advice from strangers on the Internet.

[PFT Commenter]

Nice.

[Big Cat]

So I don't know if you got anybody that sent this to Big Cat. I had a couple people that sent it my way out of concern for a friend, Hank. On Thursday, we were watching the. Watching some college basketball on tv, and Hank had his foot up for most of the night, put his foot down, took a step, and just completely crashed out onto the ground. He had the case. The old numb leg fell into the ground. I was glad that you were okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

The first question I asked was, can I get that clip? And then I immediately said, wait, Hank, are you okay? And they said, yeah, I'm fine. I'm like, okay, good. Now can I please get that clip?

[John Rothstein]

And.

[Big Cat]

And there's some guy on the Internet that's telling hank that he's 99. Sure. That Hank has pancreatitis.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh.

[Big Cat]

Because the numb leg. But the guy shout to this guy because he's not.

[Hank]

He's just a fan of the show that wants to get talked about.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, mission accomplished. No, I'm in medical danger.

[Big Cat]

His name is Big Pancreas. Okay.

[Hank]

Which he only changed after this clip.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

So he.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah he.

[Big Cat]

But I've had lots of people reach out to me being like hey, is Hank all right? In reality, Hanks he was just sitting with his leg numb. But now everybody's hitting me up being like hey, is Hank gonna die?

[Hank]

I hope not.

[Big Cat]

No, you're fine.

[PFT Commenter]

You have pancreatis.

[Hank]

I might 99 sure.

[PFT Commenter]

Dude, that's not good.

[Hank]

I'm have to go get checked out.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't know how do you get that checked out?

[Big Cat]

Make you in a cup.

[Hank]

Probably a doctor. I don't know.

[Big Cat]

We did look up the the symptoms and one of the first symptoms was just like your smells like extra like worst smelling shits that you can possibly have.

[Hank]

I don't think that's true for me.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. Your good.

[Big Cat]

Your smell normal.

[John Rothstein]

Yeah.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. My who's back of the week is Joan Beat. Because he has officially reached the perfect level.

[Max]

I have something to say about this.

[PFT Commenter]

485 games played. 480.

[Max]

I have something to say about this. Is Joel Embiid the only athlete in the history of sports that like gets clowned for being.

[PFT Commenter]

That's a crazy stat.

[John Rothstein]

That's a great.

[Hank]

I just do you know, I just hear PFTs.

[PFT Commenter]

He just. He clowned Hank.

[Big Cat]

Well, I wasn't clowning.

[Max]

Are you in sports?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah, he's in sports media.

[Hank]

I'm an athlete.

[Max]

You're not an athlete.

[PFT Commenter]

That's Derek Rose.

[Max]

Derrick Rose. And everyone is like oh my God.

[John Rothstein]

That, that's.

[Max]

That's a. That's a horrible, horrible shame what happened to Derrick Rose's career gets hurt to horrible shame what happened to Greg Odin's career. For some reason Joel Embiid always gets hurt and it's like hahaha. What a great athlete that can't stay healthy. Let's laugh in his face. He's the only athlete ever that anyone does. Name somebody else. Name somebody else.

[Big Cat]

Michael Irvin being concussed at Veteran Stadium comes to mind.

[Max]

That is not the same thing at all. Because it's like not like a legacy thing.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, his career.

[Big Cat]

Right? What do you mean?

[Max]

No, but that was like one time that that like Philly fans were about. Yeah, it was one time.

[Big Cat]

I can't.

[Max]

Yeah, Boston racist Boston fans over here being like oh yeah, let's talk about

[PFT Commenter]

Philly Fans, I think this is gonna go like this.

[Big Cat]

I can't think.

[Max]

No, because it's. Because so many people tagged me in that. And it's like, what?

[PFT Commenter]

He.

[John Rothstein]

It's.

[Max]

He's the only guy ever. Everyone is. Everyone is always. Oh, what a shame.

[Hank]

That.

[Max]

That this career wasn't the same thing because of injuries. Except for Joel Embiid.

[PFT Commenter]

For some reason, you bring up fair points. I just. That's a crazy stat.

[Max]

It happens. Everyone happens. But for some reason, for Joel Embiid, it's funny.

[PFT Commenter]

I haven't laughed.

[Big Cat]

What. What injury is it now? He's.

[Max]

Whatever. I don't even know.

[Big Cat]

I just want to know. Some injuries are funny. Admit it. Some injuries are funny.

[John Rothstein]

Max, you're.

[PFT Commenter]

You get hit in the nuts.

[Hank]

You guys.

[Max]

You guys.

[Zach]

Are you.

[Big Cat]

Oh, no, Max, Nobody would ever. No. I can't think of anyone else that gets made fun for being injured. It happens.

[PFT Commenter]

What?

[Big Cat]

Athletes get made fun of for being injured.

[Max]

You're not an athlete.

[Big Cat]

I'm not talking about me.

[PFT Commenter]

But if we. I mean, I do consider him an athlete. And it is funny when he gets injured sometimes.

[Big Cat]

That's true.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

I wasn't talking about me, Max.

[PFT Commenter]

But if you want to talk about pft. We have laughed.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

Before.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. We laugh at injuries.

[Max]

Paul George, he has an oblique injury.

[Hank]

People make fun of him. He can't stay healthy.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Playoff P. Anthony Davis.

[Max]

Nope.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I laugh. He gets injured, like every game.

[Big Cat]

Big Ben.

[PFT Commenter]

And then he comes back in.

[Big Cat]

Big Ben. Checkmate.

[PFT Commenter]

Big Ben.

[Max]

Checkmate.

[Big Cat]

Walking boot.

[Max]

Big Ben is funny because he says that he has injuries and he plays.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. Good counterpoint. You listen, you're making a lot of good points that I'm going to. I'm going to take into account. You changed your mind today.

[John Rothstein]

Great.

[PFT Commenter]

45. 45.

[Max]

But that and a lot of those games also were before he even started his NBA career. Which shouldn't even count.

[PFT Commenter]

I'd agree with. That's good counterpoint.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Fake stat.

[PFT Commenter]

So you got to wait a couple more months for it to be real. Stat.

[Max]

No, That's.

[PFT Commenter]

That.

[Max]

That's 82 games, right?

[PFT Commenter]

82 games. Yeah. 82 games. You got it. You got it. You got it.

[Max]

I gotta trust myself.

[Hank]

83. If you play in tournament. Well, actually, no.

[Max]

Those games don't count for any stats. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

They exist outside the room, so gonna play them reality.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, but they don't count.

[Hank]

Counts for your body.

[PFT Commenter]

No one knows. Your body.

[Hank]

Your body knows.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, for sure.

[Big Cat]

If you get a torn ACL in a play in game. I don't think it does.

[PFT Commenter]

No, it doesn't count.

[Big Cat]

Respawn the next day.

[Hank]

NBA Cup.

[PFT Commenter]

NBA.

[Big Cat]

Is this a real stat that. Games played since February 1, 2024. Ben Simmons, 59, Joel and Bead, 52. That's not real. I think I just keep going. I think I just got.

[Max]

Keep going. Keep doing. Keep doing this also.

[Zach]

Who's back?

[Hank]

J. McCain.

[Big Cat]

He's been playing well. Yeah.

[Hank]

Killing it.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

And all the thunder. You see the thunder, they all start doing a celebration. It's.

[Max]

It is college basketball season. It's college hoops. We do not talk about the NBA this week. Ever. What are you laughing at over here? You haven't won ever.

[PFT Commenter]

Ever. It was funny. NBA Cup. It is funny. And the can. I was watching the Canadians, by the way. Us beating Canada on Friday night was awesome. Although it really didn't really, like, move the meter. It's like we have to beat them. That was. That was one of those wins that's like you can't really flex. It's just if a loss happens, really bad. But memes went on a little tweet storm on. On PMT about Canada and just all the replies like this is from the loser jets fan. Memes. He's never won anything. It was just going after memes hard. Just doing your job.

[Big Cat]

To those people, I'd say suck my dick.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, just doing your job, bro. Just doing your job. Okay, Zach.

[Big Cat]

My.

[Zach]

Who's back of the week this week is the Paris Gentle Mates professional Call of Duty team.

[Hank]

Yep.

[Zach]

They've got the fourth major of the year coming up.

[PFT Commenter]

Gentle Mates.

[Zach]

Gentle Mates. Yes, sir. They're. They're out in Europe. They secured the venue for the major four. It's the Paris Law Defense Arena. So it's got 45,000 seats. So they're. It's gonna be the biggest event in Call of duty history.

[Big Cat]

45,000 seats for. For video game tournament.

[Zach]

Yes, sir. The most. Some of the more notable stuff that recently happened in the same arena. Taylor Swift eras tour and Olympic swimming. The last time they had the Olympic swimming.

[Big Cat]

That's pretty incredible.

[Zach]

So it's gonna be just eight dudes on PCs main stage, 45,000 seats.

[PFT Commenter]

I got pretty cool.

[Big Cat]

I got a dumb question. How big is the screen? Like, I would imagine that would be a very important part of going to see a video game tournament live. Like the Jumbotron that everybody could watch.

[Zach]

I don't have a square footage of Jumbotron on hand, but we can find it really quick.

[Hank]

I think it's big.

[PFT Commenter]

I mean, it's a stadium.

[Zach]

I also La Paris Defense Stadium.

[Hank]

Pretty solid chance. It's kind of like, you know, MSG has the side where we went to darts. I'm thinking it wasn't, but it's like an msg, but it's.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, the theater.

[Hank]

5,000-person.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Hank]

My gut tells me that this is.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh yeah, that thing's huge.

[Big Cat]

That's a big screen. Now if they're in the market for a bigger screen, I know a guy that makes basketball court size screens that has one. Probably looking for a good home.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, Max, did you ever follow up with that guy?

[Max]

You guys never answered me.

[PFT Commenter]

Do it.

[Max]

I. I said, do you want me to follow up?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, do it. Do it. I forgot. Do it. I would definitely make this court an LED screen. It would be so sick.

[Zach]

Yeah, there was some slippage though.

[PFT Commenter]

Can we get. Can we get Oldie in here? Let's get to our interview with John Rostein. And then after John Rossi, we'll get some quick thoughts from a Canadian on March Madness Bracket because Oldie was watching college basketball all weekend with us.

[Big Cat]

Ncaa.

[PFT Commenter]

Ncaa. All right, let's get John Rostein. Okay, before we get to John Rothstein, Ores is teaming up with basketball Titans to build their brackets, brackets that will inevitably bust. But this year, those busts can score you a Reese's. So pick along with the pros and just know whenever you bust, at least you can win Reese's. Will your bracket survive or will it bust for Reese's? Get your brackets in early and let's see who has the last one standing and the first to get a Reese's. Because even busted brackets happen for Reese's. I have it right here. I'm going to have a Reese's Peanut Butter cup right here on air because I love them so much. Turn your busted bracket into your shot at Reese's.

[Hank]

A.

[PFT Commenter]

More Post your busted bracket tag at Reese's at R E E S E s on Instagram X or TikTok and use hashtag for Reese's Sweeps for a chance to score free Reese's and a shot to enjoy those Rees at the men's or women's Final Four and Championship games. No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of the 48 U.S. and D.C. 18 years or older. Void in Alaska, Hawaii and where prohibited by law. Starts 319 26, ends 327 26. Includes daily entry periods. See official rules at every bracket bus for reese's.com pages/official rules for how to enter prize details, odds and restrictions. Sponsor the Hershey company. All right, I'm having it right here. It still hits the best ever. Listen, we all are going to have tough brackets. That's how it goes. So sign up now. Let's get some free Reese's going. We're also brought to you by our friends at Chevy. Football season might be over, but you know how it goes. The minute the big game ends, we're already talking about what's next. Free agency, the draft, who's getting paid, who's grinding. Because for football guys, there's no offseason. And that's exactly why they roll with the Chevy Silverado. Silverado is a truck that shows up every time, built a haul, tow, and take a beating. But smartware counts with modern tech that makes life easier. Big screens, available camera views that help with the towing and parking, and a cabin that feels right. Whether you're road tripping, heading to practice, or loading up for the weekend. During the season, it's the MVP of the tailgate. After the season, it turns into your training camp truck hauling gear, tackling home projects, and doing the work that never stops. Because the grind doesn't take breaks. And neither does Silverado. Check out the current offers and build your own chevy [e-mail] okay, here he is, John Rostein. Okay. We now welcome on a very, very, very, very special guest. Recurring guest. As is tradition, it is the one, the only John Rostein. You can hear him hosting Inside College Basketball now. Get it wherever you get your podcasts, he will be on our TV screens in St. Louis for Friday Sunday action. He will then be in studio for the rest of the tournament. John, we've made it. We have a bracket. How are you feeling?

[John Rothstein]

Outstanding, Cat. Pft. Always a pleasure. One of the best days of the year, Selection Sunday. Kind of feels like the first night of Hanukkah. But, you know, for all intents and purposes, right now, all we have is a bracket. And we know that there's 67 games ahead, but we don't know what's going to happen between now and April 6th. Yeah, we know this is March.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes, this is March. All right, so before we break it down, we actually, we've done some of our show and we said we cannot wait to hear specifically what John has dubbed the east region. But before we do that, I have one simple question for you. Because on Saturday, or maybe it was Friday, CBS Sports, your. Your colleagues were trying to do a pajama party on air.

[John Rothstein]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

And you said no to the pajamas. Was that even. Did you even have, like, A second thought about it because that was like such a. Listen, we, we sleep, we, we sleep in May. What are we doing? We're not putting on pajamas. Did you have like a moment where like, maybe I'll play along or were you just like, no, absolutely not. I don't, I'm John Rossi. I don't put on pajamas in March.

[John Rothstein]

I'm not a pajama guy to begin with, but like, when you have business to tend to, it's not a time to get cozy and feel comfortable. Like we were dealing at that time, I believe with the San Diego State New Mexico game, which is like a loser leaves town match that we grew up with, with professional wrestling, where the, obviously the guy had to leave the wwf, but this was just, you know, you have to leave college basketball and obviously not be able to play in the NCAA tournament. So I wasn't interested in pajamas.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, I love that.

[Big Cat]

I knew it.

[PFT Commenter]

I knew when I saw the picture, I was like, of course John Rossi is not going to do this. Come on, be serious, people.

[Big Cat]

We don't need gimmicks this time of year.

[PFT Commenter]

It's March.

[John Rothstein]

Yeah, it's March. We lock in dress for the month

[Big Cat]

you, you want, not the month you have. Yeah, listen, I, I will, I will,

[John Rothstein]

I, I, I will say this. I know, I know what you're saying about dress for the month. You know, you want for the way you are. But I am somebody who, regardless of what month it is, if I am going on a college campus or I'm going on the air, I am always wearing a suit and tie unless it's in a podcast situation that I'm hosting because I have been instructed in those situations not to wear a tie because they want to be more casual. But I am somebody who has always believed that it's really important to wear a shirt and tie. I remember, guys, early in my career I was working at the ESPN radio affiliate in New York. And I remember I was, you know, like a fill in talk show host, but I also did updates on the Michael K show. So I remember as like somebody who dreamed about living and working in New York. I mean, I was somebody in college who would watch like three movies in the rotation. It was Cocktail, Wall street, and like the secret of my success, I was like determined to be in broadcasting and like live and work in New York. And when I would drive into Manhattan, there was this big billboard on the Upper west side highway and it said, reporting America's story. And that's when Brian Williams was hosting NBC Nightly News. So I remember I was doing updates at ESPN radio. This is probably now close to 20 years ago, and Michael K. Was the voice of the Yankees, was the afternoon drive host. And he said to me, he goes, just a heads up, Brian Williams is going to come in to sit in on the show tomorrow with his son. And I said, well, if Brian Williams is coming, then I need to make sure that I wear a suit and tie. So I, with a suit and tie was like doing updates, doing my job, and I could tell that it made an impression on him. And then years later, I bump into the guy in Rockefeller Center. This is the anchor of NBC Nightly News at the time. And he said to me, I was like meeting somebody for a beer and like a button down. He said to me, I didn't recognize you without your suit. So I will never, not obviously wear a suit when I go to a college campus or be in a work setting again.

[Big Cat]

Okay, I like that about you, John. It. It does become like, you know, if you. If you came on the show and you were wearing a T shirt and shorts, I would feel like the month of March wouldn't feel the same to me.

[John Rothstein]

Right.

[Big Cat]

It would affect my calendar like March is John Rothstein wearing a suit and a tie and speaking very authoritatively about what he wants to call these brackets? Because something has occurred to him when he looked at the coaches, he looked at the teams. And so we got to ask you about, about the east, because it's just, it's. It's a lot of brands, it's a lot of coaches. We want to know where your brain went.

[John Rothstein]

The region of Blue Bloods is the East Region, because as you mentioned, we have brands on top of brands. The number one overall seed is the Duke Blue Devils. Obviously, that's an easy one, but also you have a great brand in Ohio State in the eighth spot. St. John's is your five, Kansas is your four, Louisville is six, Michigan State a three, and then UCLA and UConn. Guys, how about this? Six of the 16 coaches in the East Region have coached in the Final Four. John Shire, Rick Patino, Bill Self, Michigan State, Tom izzo, and also UCLA's McCronen and UConn's Dan Hurley. Therefore, the region of Blue Bloods.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Hank]

Love it.

[PFT Commenter]

I love it. Yeah, we went through it. It's seven national titles between those guys. Bill Self with with two, Patino with two, Izzo with one, Hurley with two. The teams themselves have 30 national titles. It's pretty crazy. Like, they just stack this region with some of these teams. It's like you grew up on this in college basketball. Also an incredible region for defense because there's some tenacious defenses in this region.

[John Rothstein]

Tenacious defenses in this region. And I think, honestly, a team that a lot of people are sleeping on in the east region, the region of blue bloods, is Jamie Dixon's team at tcu. I think a lot of people looked at their bracket and they said, oh, we're going to get a Duke, Ohio State brand on brand game. In the round of 32, I am taking Jamie Dixon and company to beat TCU. I think they could push Duke. I don't think they'll beat Duke obviously in the round of 32, but people obviously follow Jamie Dixon at the University of Pittsburgh. You obviously became familiar with his player development, his obviously ability to retain players. David Punch is a player on TCU that people will become familiar with later this week. And he also did a really, really good job recapping, calibrating his perimeter last off season three of the transfer portal. Brock Harding, Jaden Pierre, Latours, Lulavicious. I like TCU to beat Ohio State and put a little game pressure on Duke.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I was mentioning it like, TCU is a big game team. They beat Florida, they beat Wisconsin, they beat Iowa State. They took Michigan, you know, to the limit. So, like, they have. They have played up in level and gone toe to toe with some of these teams and asserted themselves like, we can hang. So, yeah, that it's a. I think that's the best 8, 9 matchup. Those two teams are both playing great. I mean, Ohio State's playing some great ball recently.

[John Rothstein]

Really good ball. But I think if you look at storylines, and this is obviously a couple of rounds down the line, but it's something that I think I've looked at, you know, right now for, you know, since last summer. Coming into this season, you know, I really felt that the burgeoning rivalry in College basketball was UConn and St. John's Rick Pitino and Dan Hurley. Dan Hurley and Rick Pitino, two of the three active coaches that have won multiple national championships. Bill Self is obviously the other one. And I think if you look at this region right now, if St. John's can get by Kansas and get to the second weekend and get back to the east coast in Washington, D.C. st. John's could be the team in the Sweet 1616 that would match up with Duke without Caleb Foster. If we saw St. John's distort this region and beat Duke in the Sweet sixteen, it could set up A regional final of epic proportions. I'm talking Ali Frazier type of stuff. I am talking about stuff that they will be doing 30 for 30s on. Because I felt there was a real chance before the season that UConn and St. John's could meet four times this year. They've already met three. But if they meet for a fourth time in 2026, it will not be for a Big east tournament title. It will not be for a Biggie's regular season title, which obviously was decided in the last days of the regular season. It would be in the Elite Eight for a chance to go to the Final Four. So there's a lot that has to happen for that to come to fruition. But can you imagine in our nation's capital if we have Rick Patino on one side and Dan Hurley on the other for the right to go to the Final Four? I mean I may need a tranquilizer.

[Big Cat]

That'd be great. That'd be awesome. Can you just talk real quick more about the potential second round matchup of St. John's and Kansas? Cause to me that sounds like a very, very intriguing game.

[John Rothstein]

Really intriguing game. PFT. We have to also remember that Zubi, Edge of 4, who has emerged as one of the best players in college basketball, I had him as an all American, started his career at Kansas under Bill Self and then transferred to play for rick Pitino at St. John's look, obviously Kansas coming into the season had a great deal of attention because of Darren Peterson who obviously when active and healthy has the highest long term ceiling individually as a prospect in college basketball. But guys, I have said this ad nauseam here. Just because you are obviously a great long term prospect at the next level, that doesn't mean by any way, shape or form that you are going to have team success in the NBA, in the, in the NCAA tournament. Remember this, the last nine years we have seen three first round picks Markell Fultz, Ben Simmons and Anthony Edwards play on teams that didn't make the NCAA tournament. Darren Peterson's team obviously made the NCAA tournament, but Bill Self has had to coach two teams this season. One with Darren Peterson, one without Darren Peterson. I think the round of 32 guys is always the juiciest round of the NCAA tournament because you get matchups like this and because you have one team that's obviously going to be euphoric going to the sweet 16 and the other is obviously going to go home for the season. And I look at this dynamic between Bill Self and Rick Pitino, it's interesting as power conference head coaches. Rick Patino and Bill Self have never coached head to head. The only time that Rick Patino and Bill Self have coached head to head was when Kansas played Iona a couple of years ago at an early season tournament in Orlando.

[Big Cat]

Wow, that is crazy. You would think that they would, they would run into each other at some point over the years. I like watching Kansas because I feel like Flior Badunga, Fiori Badunga, the big man you may remember watching if you watch the tournament last year. Not great offensively. This year he's become like maybe the, the most fun interior player in college basketball to watch. Just the way that he, he affects games with his defense and he can just dominate you offensively. Now I feel like that's, it's a guy that if all goes well for him, he will be able to take over a game and wreck it himself.

[John Rothstein]

Yeah, well, that would be the matchup inside, right. How would Badunga with his defensive prowess, deal with the size and the physicality not just of Zubie Ejafor, but of Bryce Hopkins? And guys, I really think the guy that's been the game changer for St. John's and I thought this when I went to a St. John's practice in the preseason. The guy that has made St. John's the team that it is is Dylan Mitchell. Now when you look at the way this roster was constructed, it was obviously constructed with high level talent. Joe's on Sen and Ian Jackson were guys who were really offensive minded players, but obviously were not part of high level winning situations. North Carolina went to the tournament last year, but you know, was in the first four, probably shouldn't have been in the bracket. Joe's on San and was at Arizona State at a team that didn't make the tournament. Now all of a sudden, Rick Patino, especially without a traditional table setting point guard at the high level. Dylan Darling's done a nice job, but obviously it wasn't like having Kadari Richmond or Davon Smith like they had a year ago. I watched practice in Queens and I said to myself, Dylan Mitchell's a guy that needs to be on the floor a lot for St. John's because he can have a great impact on a team by not demanding shots. And I think if you look at it from a coaching perspective, the number one thing you think about is shot distribution and whose hands the balls in. You never have to worry about that. With Dylan Mitchell, I felt he was the best blue guy in the Big East. He's definitely one of the best blue guys in the sport. But I'll say this, things have aligned perfectly for St. John's the last couple of years. Rick Pitino was out of college basketball. He came back from Greece and he started to coach at Iona because he wanted to obviously take a job in his native New York. It so happened that St. John's was open when Iona was having success and that coincided with the transfer portal name, image and likeness and a billionaire booster in Mike Rapoli who obviously has a major hand in St. John's resurgence. All of these things aligned. So yes, it's been incredible to see St. John's last year win an NCAA tournament game for the first time since 2000. Yes, it's been incredible for St. John's to win back to back Big east regular season titles outright and back to back Big east tournament titles back to back for obviously the first time in program history. But when you have Rick Pitino as your head coach and look, he could coach another 20 years, you have to ring out the sponge. And that's why I think if you don't get to the second weekend this year, you're going to feel like something was left on the table.

[PFT Commenter]

I'd agree with that. All right, before we go to the next region, do you have an upset pick and we'll do all your picks at the end, but do you have an upset pick that you like in this or a team we should look out for?

[John Rothstein]

I think if you're looking at the round of 32 game that could be interesting. It's obviously and it's another great made for TV game if it comes to fruition. It's Yukon. Ucla. I will say this though. UCLA has not played well out of the Pacific time zone. Yep, ucla and now again ucla, we have to remember, is the only team in the Big Ten out of the old Pac 12 teams that has had real success since they joined the league. Usc, Washington and Oregon have all struggled when you look at it, especially this season. UCLA has been banged up with Billeto and Dent. Mick Cronin has told me he expects them 100% to play in the first NCAA tournament game against UCF, which will be on Friday. But I do think that UCLA has been such a poor rebounding team and it said such a hole in the middle that Tyrus would be a tough matchup. So that to me is the most appetizing. I think if you look guys, I mean if seeds hold and that happens sometimes, but if seeds hold and we had Duke against Ohio State or TCU, St. John's against Kansas, Louisville against Michigan, State, UCLA against UConn. In certain years, those half of the brackets could be the Final Four and we wouldn't be complaining.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, no, you're right. You're right. That's, that's why it's the region of Bluebuds. Quick break from John Rothstein. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. It can be challenging to make time for therapy better. Help make scheduling and attending your weekly sessions easy because it's all online. You can do phone, video or message chat according to your schedule. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, Having served over 6 million people globally and it works with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 for a live session based on over 1.7 million client reviews. If your therapist isn't the right fit, you can switch anytime easily and no extra cost. Prioritize your well being with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.compmt to get 10 off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H E-L-P.compmt I see a therapist. Let's take care of ourselves. Let's take care of our mentals, guys. It's okay. Let's get some help. Go to betterhelp betterhelp.com right now. Slash PMT 10% off your first month. Okay, back to John Rothstein. All right, what about the South? Let's go to the south next.

[John Rothstein]

This is the region of pressure. Now why is this the region of pressure? There's pressure on Florida to win a national championship again because Florida has a team good enough to win a national championship again. And Florida is a number one seed in the NCAA tournament in back to back seasons for the first time ever. So get this guys. For as great as the teams were under Billy Donovan in 06 and 07 that went back to back, Todd golden has led Florida to better seeds in the NCAA tournament this year and last than Donovan did in 06 and 07. Florida has been a one seed in back to back years for the first time ever. There's pressure on Nebraska to win an NCAA tournament game for the first time ever. And I am on record in saying this, I said early in the season that if Nebraska were to win an NCAA tournament game for the first time ever before the start of next season, I would fly to Lincoln, I would put my credit card down in the Haymarket district for one hour and I would give Nebraska fans a happy hour on me. Nebraska right now has a lot on the Line coming up against Troy later this week. Nebraska has tied its record for program wins, the most in program history of 26. So Nebraska has to win an NCAA tournament game for the first time ever to break the program record for wins. But this is a really, really difficult game, guys. Against Troy, a team, one that won earlier this season at San Diego State. You're looking for a name to keep an eye on. Thomas Dowd is the guy for Troy, 25 and 19 in that win over San Diego State earlier this year. I'm taking Troy to break the hearts. Oh, everybody at Pinnacle bank arena and move on to the round of 32.

[Big Cat]

You're a mean guy, John.

[PFT Commenter]

Wow.

[Big Cat]

Mean guy. That's a mean thing.

[John Rothstein]

You're doing okay spicing things up. I am fully prepared to pay for that happy hour. There's pressure on North Carolina without Caleb Wilson to win a game or two in his NCAA tournament. My heart breaks for him. It breaks for J.T. toppin, two of the five or six best players in college basketball. Both of them went down with season ending injuries. Now remember this. North Carolina is playing VCU, who's an 11 seed. What seed was VCU in 2007 when it beat Duke in Buffalo? And Eric Maynard made that shot. 11. What seed was VCU in 2011 when it went to the Final Four under Shaka Smart? It was an 11 VCU that year. Averaged 8.3, made three point shots during the season, averaged 12 in the NCAA tournament. And there's pressure on Houston to get to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament because Houston, after playing Purdue last year at Lucas Oil Stadium in the Sweet 16, relinquished their right. A genius move by AD Annie Nunez relinquished their right to be the host school in the South Region because Houston then would be eligible to play Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games at the Toyota center in downtown Houston. So this is the region of pressure. But get this, guys. Houston wins two games, in my opinion, in convincing fashion because they're going to beat Idaho and I think they'll beat the St. Mary's Texas A and M winner, that would put Kelvin Sampson in a situation where the basketball gods 23 years later would hit him back. What do I mean by that? If it's a Houston, Florida game to go to the Final Four at the Toyota center in downtown Houston, a rematch of last year's national title game, it wouldn't just be a rematch of last year's national title game. It would put Kelvin Sampson into the opposite position he was in 23 years ago. Because 23 years ago, when Kelvin Sampson was at Oklahoma in 2003. He was a one seed. He was one year removed from a Final Four appearance, and he had to go to Albany to take on Jim Boeheim in Syracuse when Syracuse won the national title. So this would be obviously a major geographic advantage for Kelvin Sampson. He also had to go to Indianapolis to play Purdue last year. So there could be a geographic advantage looming there, right there for Houston in the south region, which is also known as the region of pressure.

[PFT Commenter]

I love that.

[Big Cat]

John, I want to clear something up real quick with you. The. The rules for the happy hour. You're going to march in, you're going to put your credit card down. Are there limitations on. On what you can order? Like Fancy Margaret?

[John Rothstein]

No. No. Yeah. No, it's not just going to be. This isn't like, you know, when you go to those weddings and all they have is wine and beer because. Yeah, this is not going to be one of those situations. No. For one hour, I'm going to do it, you know, for Nebraska fans, if they can beat Troy coming up later in the week. I did it a couple of years ago. How about this, guys? A couple of years ago. And this is Chicago related. You guys weren't in Chicago at the time, but, you know, I would have invited you at the time. I really felt that Chris Collins had an NCAA tournament team at Northwestern and they lost a bunch of close games. And I told Northwestern fans that I would take them to a happy hour if they didn't make the NCAA Tournament. Then after that season, Northwestern lost Pete Nance to North Carolina as a transfer, and they lost Ryan Young to Duke as a transfer. And then they went to the NCAA tournament. But it's. You know me, I'm a people person. I enjoy engaging with the people of America.

[PFT Commenter]

That's facts.

[Big Cat]

I don't waste calories on alcohol outside the east time zone, though. Yeah, you.

[PFT Commenter]

You are a people person. Pizza. All right, west,

[John Rothstein]

the West Region is the region of floor generals. And look at the point guards in this region. Jaden Bradley at Arizona, John Blackwell and Nick Boyd, the killer Bees at your alma mater, Wisconsin.

[PFT Commenter]

I love that.

[John Rothstein]

Darius Acuff at Arkansas, the best freshman point guard that has ever played for John Calipari. And then you have Rob Wright at byu, you have Trey Donaldson at Miami, and of course, Braden Smith at Purdue. This is the regional floor generals. Now, I will say this. Arizona has not been to a final four since 2001 under Loot Olson. This might be their best chance to go back since it's going to be through San Diego and San Jose. Arizona fans always travel at a high, high level. But Arizona, I don't think will be tested in its first two games because I don't think the Villanova Utah State winner will push them in the round of 32. But that Wisconsin Arkansas game, and I'm not trying to, you know, force you to grab a nitroglycerine pill here, cat, but that Wisconsin Arkansas game has all sorts of intrigue and juice and spice. But I'll say this. If Nolan Winter is able to be healthy and functioning, I got the Badgers going on to take on Arizona, which would be a rematch of the Elite Eights in 14 and also in 15. Where were those Elite Eight games played? The state of California.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep.

[John Rothstein]

So I think if you're looking at things, if you're Wisconsin, if you can get by Arkansas, there might be a little bit of feeling right now that this Wisconsin team with the killer Bees, if you get Nolan Winter back, could be the team to maybe break open the bracket. I think the bottom part of this region is fascinating. I'm obviously going to be at the games in St. Louis. BYU against Texas or NC State. Whoever wins in Dayton obviously is a brand name. Matchup Gonzaga against Kennesaw State Guys, an update for you guys. I tweeted this the other day. Mark Few told me that Braden Huff, who was playing like an All American before suffering a knee injury about eight weeks ago, is shooting and jogging, but he's doubtful for the first weekend. So Gonzaga is not expected to have him, according to Mark Few. But a Gonzaga, BYU or Gonzaga Texas Round of 32 matchup would be incredible. The Miami Missouri thing is interesting. You know, I looked up the mileage. This game's in St. Louis. Miami has to go over 1,000 miles to play. Missouri has to go just over 100 miles. And Missouri is the 10 seed. And then we got Purdue at the bottom of the bracket. A team that reminds me a lot, guys, of the 2004 UConn team with Gordon Okafor. Charlie Villanueva reminds me a little bit of the Florida team in 2007. And I really believe this in all my years covering a sport, when you bring back a large nucleus of players from a team that went far in the NCAA tournament the year before, and they know that the goal is to go as far in March Madness as you can, and that's how the season is going to be defined, you obviously are in a situation where you know that those players know what's at stake at the end of the race. So you might have lulls during the regular season to keep them occupied and engaged. We've seen Purdue turn it on here the last couple of days at the Big Ten tournament. Beat Michigan today. Looked like the Purdue team. We thought so. I've got Arizona, Wisconsin at the top of the region of floor, Generals in the sweet 16. And I got Purdue, Gonzaga. I have Purdue taking on Arizona in a west regional final. And Arizona's playing great basketball right now. And Arizona looks like a team obviously that can win a national championship. But I'm a sentimental person. I believe obviously in the great story. I believe obviously in circles becoming complete. I believe still in people who have calluses from life. And when I think about people that have calluses from life and life experience, I think of Purdue senior class, Braden Smith, Fletcher lawyer, Trey Kaufman, Wren. I look at what they went through as freshmen. Big Ten regular season champion, Big Ten tournament champion. And then on the wrong side of the biggest upset in the history of the NCAA tournament when fairly Dickinson beat Purdue. After Fairleigh Dickinson was not good enough to win the Northeast Conference tournament. Merrimack won the Northeast Conference tournament, wasn't good enough to go to the NCAA tournament or wasn't allowed to to go to the NCAA tournament because of the transition rule. Then as sophomores, it was the ultimate bounce back, exercising the demons, getting Purdue to the Final Four with Zach Edie for the first time since 1980 and losing in the national title game to Yukon. Then last year, it was something in between. You make the sweet 16, you go to Locus Oil Stadium and play Houston in a war. You lose a close game. It's Purdue's best chance to win a national title. Yeah, it's a Final Four bus season. I believe in Purdue that's taking Purdue to go to the Final Four.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

In Indy to go to the circle complete. It'll be perfect.

[Big Cat]

Now, do. Do you think that this is a better team than the team that went to the Final Four?

[John Rothstein]

No. Because you don't have Zach Eaty.

[PFT Commenter]

Right.

[John Rothstein]

You don't have Zach Edie. But I think, you know, the X factor is Oscar Clough. The record with Oscar Clough is incredible. They've only lost three games all season when he scored in double figures. So to me, that's the guy that's got to be really, really good.

[Big Cat]

You got an upset coming out of this region.

[John Rothstein]

I'm a little chalky in this region.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[John Rothstein]

I mean, I don't think Utah State or Villanova is a huge upset. And I have too much confidence in Wisconsin and Arkansas. I could see the Texas NC State winner beating byu, but I don't think that's a huge upset.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, okay. Last region, the Midwest,

[John Rothstein]

the region of innovation. Coaches in this region and I think about how things are evolving in the modern era of college basketball. You have to have great roster composition. You have to be able to put together a roster. Dusty May's done that. Ryan Odom has done that at Virginia. The three seed Nate Oates has done that with the style of play that he's instituted at Alabama. And Josh Shirts has done that at St. Louis as well. This is the region of innovation. I've got Michigan playing Georgia. I like Georgia over St. Louis. I have Akron and John Gross picking off Texas A m in a 12 5. I've got a Michigan, Alabama, Sweet 16, and then I'm going to take Tennessee to beat SMU, who I think is primed to show Miami, Ohio a different weight class than it's seen all season. If you're not familiar with smu, you are not familiar with the team. I think that has one of the more underrated perimeters in college basketball. Now somebody can say, well, why are they underrated? They just backed into the tournament. BJ Edwards, who had multiple triple doubles this season for smu, hadn't played since late February. He was a starter and a key player. He, Jaron Pierre and Boopy Miller are three dynamic guards. This is SMU's guys first at large birth to the NCAA tournament since 1993. I've got them losing to Tennessee. I've got Kentucky, Iowa State at the bottom. Then I've got Tennessee as a six seed. A little of an upset beating Virginia. Okay, I'm going to take Michigan over Iowa State. So I've got Purdue, Michigan in the rubber match in the Final Four. And I got UConn against Houston on the other side.

[PFT Commenter]

We can't lose you right now, John. This is March.

[Big Cat]

March.

[PFT Commenter]

John, get. Get yourself together.

[Big Cat]

Grab just a little water.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I know, John. You bet. You've been working, you know, all day, all night for the last week especially.

[Big Cat]

I need you to take a big sip of water and grab a nitroglycerin pill.

[John Rothstein]

I got it. That's right. I'm rallying. So I got in the east region. The left side of the bracket is filled with drama. Like I got. We've got the St. John's Yukon Phase 4 possibility. We've got Florida, Houston. I'm going to take Houston and yukon. I've got UConn winning that game and then I'VE got a rubber match between Purdue and Michigan. I'm taking Purdue. So for the second time in three years, it's Purdue and UConn for a national championship. Dan Hurley against Matt Painter. And this time, we complete the circle for the Boilers. Wow. Okay, that started the year. Number one in the country wins a national championship.

[Big Cat]

Wow, that's something.

[PFT Commenter]

That's a spicy meatball, John.

[Big Cat]

That's a take, John. That is a take.

[PFT Commenter]

That is a big time.

[Big Cat]

John. Do you, do. Do you spread any money on these games? You ever. You ever put down a couple. Couple bucks?

[John Rothstein]

No, man, I. I'm working the tournament objective.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Fair and easy, but I mean, Purdue, if you're looking to. To sprinkle a future on Purdue, that pays off pretty nicely. So that might be. It might be a great tip.

[John Rothstein]

Nah, man, that's. That's not my beat.

[PFT Commenter]

John, how much college basketball have you had? Your. Have you had your daughter watch?

[John Rothstein]

You know, we're right now obviously in a. In an interesting stage of parenthood. I'm sure you've been in it. We're in the potty training stage.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[John Rothstein]

Well, you know, now it is literally every day is like its own by game. It's like, literally like we are in the stage right now where you just have this two and a half year old running around naked because we're trying to potty train her.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[John Rothstein]

And there's just hands and all stuff and she's drawing on the floor. But it's literally like, you feel like you're in a situation where you, like, bought Matt Langle and Colgate and you're down by 12 at the under 12.

[PFT Commenter]

The second half perfectly said. Can I, Can I give you a tip on potty training? Just. Just wait till they're. Wait till they're old enough where they're just like, yeah, this is crazy. I'm still using a diaper. All my kids were potty trained at like three and a half to like an uncomfortable level where it's like, all right, enough is enough. And they picked it up in like a day.

[John Rothstein]

Yeah, no, it's. It's amazing. Like, before you have kids. You have no idea. I think about how meaningless. Some of the other stuff you worried about before you have kids are because, you know, it used to be like, I used to love how people like, oh, like, yeah, like, what are you leaving work? You're going home to unwind? It's like, unwind. This is like buying Shaka Smart at

[PFT Commenter]

vcu, by the way. Are we Shaka Smart has Not been good for a very long time. Do any of your. Do any of your, like, sayings. You have to be like, all right, we got to retire this one. Like, it's over.

[John Rothstein]

Well, timeout, Timeout. He's went to the NCAA tournament every year at Marquette, except for this year,

[PFT Commenter]

but he hasn't done anything in the NCAA tournament for a long time.

[John Rothstein]

Well, he went to the Sweet 16 two years ago.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, but like, he. His teams have. He's had high seeds. I'm saying, like, Shaka's. Look, it hasn't been great.

[John Rothstein]

Well, I mean, I think how you're looking at it, like, should Marquette be expected to get to a Final Four? I think Marquette every year should be in the NCAA Tournament. He's four out of five. Like, I mean, let's think about this. Marquette, since we've all been following college sports, has been to one Final Four. Correct. And they went to one Final Four because who was the player on the team?

[PFT Commenter]

Tom Crane was the Coach.

[John Rothstein]

I know, but 29, 11 and 11. A triple double against Kentucky in Minnesota, against Marquis Estel, Gerald Fitch, and Keith Bogans in 2003. And who else was on that team? Steve Novak, Travis Deener, Scott Merritt, Robert Jackson. I mean, great players, and that was obviously in Conference usa. So great players, great coaches. This without great players.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm just saying Shaka Smart is kind of a perfect example of, like, don't overachieve early on in your career. He went to a Final Four in his second year as a head coach, and he's gone to one sweet 16 since, like, you, he set the bar too high on himself.

[John Rothstein]

No, I get it. But I mean, that's what happens. I mean, that sometimes is what happens in March Madness. I don't want to say it's the dark side of March, because that's a different reference that I use. But I will say this. I will quote Mike Tyson, the brighter the lights, the darker the shadows.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, good point.

[Big Cat]

That is very, very true.

[PFT Commenter]

And in the.

[Big Cat]

In the pressure region, Pressure makes diamonds. That's another one.

[John Rothstein]

That's what I'm saying now.

[PFT Commenter]

That's.

[John Rothstein]

That's what I'm saying. Cat.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[John Rothstein]

John, the head coach of Florida is the number one pressure region. His last name is Golden.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

How about that? Have you had any new John Rothinisms that maybe the uninitiated should. Should pay attention to? When. Who is the last coach to get a nickname or a catchphrase?

[John Rothstein]

You know, it's. It's not. It's not one for Bill Self, but I was just marveling this year at how, like. And we've said this for years, but you know, how, like, you're watching Kansas play at Allen Field House, and some of the games that they win there are just so ridiculous. Like, you can't believe it. It's like the plot of Godfather 3. It's like, how does this happen? How does this, you know, come to fruition? So I just. When this year when they played Arizona at home without Darren Peterson and they beat them, I just couldn't believe it. And I could feel the. The crowd through the tv, and I just tweeted. And on the eighth day, God created Alan Fieldhouse.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, that's a good one. That's good.

[Big Cat]

I like that one. Also, I don't know what. What movie were you referencing there?

[John Rothstein]

The plot is supposed to talk about it.

[Big Cat]

The plot of what movie? Yeah, I've never heard of that movie before.

[John Rothstein]

I'm not supposed to talk about the Godfather. You just broke my own rules.

[Big Cat]

You just.

[John Rothstein]

Yeah, I just broke my own. No, I said. I said never acknowledge the Godfather Part 3 as part of the original trilogy. So I touched on something.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, John, this has been great. We love having you on. I have one last question for you. It's a Roback question. R, H, O, B, A, C, K.com promo code. Take 20% off your first purchase. Q, zips, polos, hoodies, joggers, shorts. Roback.com promo code, take. One thing I love about you, John, is that you're tweeting college basketball, no matter what, whatever could be happening in the world you're tweeting about it. I had a couple that I wanted to just bring up and see if you remember what maybe you tweeted when these things were happening. Because, again, it's like the world could be falling apart. And John Rothstein's got an update about, you know, Merrimack playing Stanford in their non conference. Do you remember what you tweeted on the day that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married?

[John Rothstein]

I don't.

[PFT Commenter]

May. May 2018. You just. This is not during college basketball season. You just tweeted during their wedding. Most underappreciated aspect of Villanova's run the last five years. Going 32 and four and earning a one seed in 16 to 17 when Amari Spellman was ineligible in the. Phil Booth was injured. Perfect. Perfect timing on that one. Do you remember what about the. The Notre Dame Cathedral fire, April 2019? No, you said, source Fordham will host Bryant as part of its 1920 non conference schedule.

[John Rothstein]

And I went to that game. Bryant won in a buy game.

[PFT Commenter]

Do you have these ready to go at all times?

[Big Cat]

You have a file?

[John Rothstein]

Serious. In all seriousness, guys, this is what has happened. I, as you know, am always laser focused on my job, and I don't follow other sports, so I'm just focused on the task at hand. So, like, there have been times, and I felt bad about this, but, like, I hadn't watched the Monday Night Football game since probably, like, Troy Aikman and Emmett Smith were on the Dallas Cowboys. So a couple of years ago, Rutgers is playing Purdue, and Cam Spencer, before he transferred to UConn makes a crazy three. And, you know, they go and they win the game at Mackie Arena. And I grew and I pound, you know, on Twitter, grab their nitroglycerine pills that coincided with that incident with the Bills game when demar Hamlin went down. Thank God he's all right. And, like, you know, people were coming at me. It's like, how can you not know that? It's like, well, I haven't watched, like, a Monday Night football game since 95.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[John Rothstein]

But I know it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[John Rothstein]

So then what's happened is this. There's been, like, other instances. Like, I remember, like, I was with a friend of mine. We're actually. We're living life in our 40s, and he, like, fell when we were playing, like, touch football with our kids. And, like, he had to go to the hospital. So I'm, like, waiting with him in the hospital. He's getting, like, an X ray. And, like, I just got a heads up. It's like, hey, John, like, you know, just a heads up. You know, I own a starting a home and home with Fordham, so I like, tweeted in the emergency room, and I have no idea, like, there's this big, like, political issue going on. So what has happened is this because of that, which has all happened organically, whenever big world events happen, I now get flooded on my phone with, like, little scoops.

[Big Cat]

That would be a good time to put this.

[PFT Commenter]

That's great.

[John Rothstein]

I remember this. I remember, like, whenever, like, the new pope had been picked.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[John Rothstein]

I got, like, somebody at Northwestern hitting me up. It's like, yo, John, heads up. We're hosting Fairfield in a buy game on this date in November. Feel free to put it out.

[PFT Commenter]

I love it. I love it. I mean, my personal favorite, because when it happens, when it's, like, not college basketball season, because tomorrow, Hamlin, that's during College basketball season. 2019. August 2019. Jeffrey Epstein found dead John Rothstein tweeted, Joe Dooley will bring in 11 new players next season at East Carolina. Have never heard of a coach bringing in more than eight or nine in a single recruiting class. The epitome of flipping a roster. Perfect. ECU basketball, baby.

[Big Cat]

You had another one during the super bowl this year. Indiana will host Bellarmine on November 5th as part of its 2026 non confident

[John Rothstein]

schedule breeze against Doug Davenport. We look forward to it.

[PFT Commenter]

It's just great. It's just like you. You just know because, you know, the world's a cynical place, the world's an ugly place. But you know that Rossi is going to be there with some college basketball news for you at all times.

[John Rothstein]

No, but like, that's the thing. Like, there is no act. There is.

[PFT Commenter]

I know.

[John Rothstein]

Like, this is. This is who I am. This is who I am. That's the bottom line.

[PFT Commenter]

You know, I do love the fact that it's now become a chicken and egg situation where now you get like the minute something bad happens in the world, people just start hammering you with buy games.

[John Rothstein]

I was, I was on vacation and I was hanging out with my wife and like, co. Like it coincided when like, I guess what's her name, Taylor Swift was getting engaged to the guy from the. Was it the Chiefs?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Travis Kelsey?

[John Rothstein]

Yeah, him. Like right away I like got a heads up that Robert. I remember tweeting this. It was like Robert Morris against Drake. And I was like, oh, my God. Andy Toole against Eric Henderson.

[PFT Commenter]

Money. It's perfect. It's perfect. Oh, man. Well, John, you're the best. Everyone get ready for March Madness. You will see him, like I said, in St. Louis on your TV screen. Then you'll see him in studio. You can listen to his podcast anywhere you want to get podcasts. And John Rothstein is the absolute best. We love it. This is March. You're by the way, the inside College basketball Now is his podcast. John, we made it. Brackets. This is March.

[John Rothstein]

This is March. Fellas, always a pleasure. Have a great tournament. Talk to you soon.

[PFT Commenter]

All right, thank you, John. John Rossi was brought to you by our friends at Planet Fitness. Everybody can get strong at Planet Fitness. High value membership that supports any fitness journey as low as 15amonth over 2800 club locations. Most clubs open 24 hours. We're all strong on this planet. Look, we have the gym here. I've been doing my workouts, but I've also. What we don't show is I do my Chinese workout, then I get in the Planet Fitness gym, then I Do some free weights. Then I get on the stair climber. Then I get on the treadmill. Let's all get better this year with Planet Fitness. We're all strong on this planet. Join today in club online or in the free PF app. Hours, amenities and offers vary by club. Check out planetfitness.com or stop by your local club for more information. Must be 18 years old to enroll or 13 to 17 with a parent guardian. Let's get it going, boys and girls with Planet Fitness this year. Join today in club online or in the free PF app. We're also brought to you by some great footwear to work out in at your Planet Fitness. We're brought to you by Noble. Noble is a footwear brand built for training. It's a brand for anyone that strives to be better every day with options across training and lifestyle. No Bull has options for everyone. It's a brand for anyone who wants to be a better version of themselves and get stronger physically, mentally and emotionally. They don't over promise or under deliver. The shoes just feel great and hold up to any occasion. I wear them. They are great. Noble has absolutely perfected that lightweight, perfect shoe for the gym. And we just got the all new Drive 2 and it might be the most versatile shoe I've ever owned. Anything from lifting cardio or just going for a walk. It's been redesigned for better comfort, fit and performance with lighter materials and improved support. Not to mention, it's the same brand worn by professional athletes across all the major sports leagues and TB12 himself exclusively. Pardon my take, listeners. Noble is offering 35% off your first order. Visit nobleproject.com, use code PMT for 35% off your entire first order. That's Noble. Www.dotn o b u L L P R O j e c t.com and use code PMT for 35% off. Okay, wrapping up the show. Oldie was here this weekend, but his flight got canceled. Bad storm in Chicago. You guys want to talk about how you got back?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Hey, Oldie, how's it going?

[PFT Commenter]

How are you?

[Big Cat]

Good to see you. I love you, Oldie. I'm sorry that I missed you.

[Oldie]

I loved it too. I was a little bit sad when I was in the Uber and I was like, man, I get to say hi to PFT and Hank. I'm a little upset, but it worked out for the best, right boys?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Oldie]

That's why I'm back.

[Big Cat]

It's good to see you. So, yeah. So today we were flying out of Jacksonville after the players and we were leaving at. At noon. Flight gets canceled. Hank pulls a. A genius move and sprints the other side of the airport to a different end of the terminal. Books a standby on a different airlines. Flight that hasn't been canceled yet, that gets delayed, like, four times. We eventually get out of there on this flight. We think we're going to get into Chicago safe and sound. And as we're landing, I've never been more scared on an airplane in my entire life. We're going in for the landing, and then the. The pilot just.

[Hank]

Well, it was. It was. It was super foggy up in the air, conceiving at the window. And then we just got. As we're descending, we just got to the point where you could see, like, you're getting close to landing. Like, we could see the Runway as we're pulling up to it.

[Big Cat]

You'd see the ground. Yeah.

[Hank]

And we were flying in sideways, and

[Big Cat]

we started flying in sideways because the wind was 35 miles per hour, the pilot told us, and it switched at the last minute to, like, the opposite direction. So the plane, like, makes this huge shutter to the side. The pilot hits full throttle to take off and try to go around. So now we go from almost landing to nose pointing up and, like, going up through the clouds again. And the plane is, like, shaking and, like, creaking. Hard turns creaking. And people were screaming on the plane. This old lady was sitting next to me. I. I hope she's okay mentally now, but she just reaches. She just grabbed my arm and she was crying like. Like, full tears.

[PFT Commenter]

Damn.

[Big Cat]

Coming down her face. There were people, like, crying on the plane. I think Hank thought that he was gonna die.

[Hank]

And. And I had bet on Ludwig and Matt Fitzpatrick, and, like, those were also just going down in flames. And I was just like, this.

[Big Cat]

Is this. Is it the worst moment?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

And this lady, she was, like, crying and, like, wailing in my ear. And I just. I looked. I was like, let's take some deep breaths together. What's your name? It's okay. We're gonna. We're gonna be fine. We're gonna make it out of this. And then there was, like, a very long, silent pause where everyone kind of caught their breath for a second. And then a guy that was like two rows in front of me turns around, and the whole plane's quiet. He goes, this ever happened on your simulator? Pft. And then it, like, broke the ice a little bit. And I was like, yeah, it's okay. And then the lady was like, are you a pilot? And then I had to be like, not. Not exactly a pilot, but no, but I was like, trying to explain to her, we're going to be okay. We're going to be okay. Then we end up landing in Michigan. The bottom line is the. The pilot did an awesome job to get us out of there, but it was like, I've never been on a plane where I actually thought that there was a chance that we were going to crash.

[PFT Commenter]

Damn.

[Big Cat]

And yeah. And it was. It was like that for a little bit. So we. We get to Grand Rapids, get off the airplane, and then Hank drives back through a. Through a flood, which was a. All time move on his part.

[PFT Commenter]

Good job.

[Big Cat]

Good showing, Hank.

[PFT Commenter]

Golf almost killed you guys.

[Big Cat]

Great showing today, Hank.

[Hank]

The players, that's, you know, it's the things we do for our kids.

[Oldie]

Right?

[John Rothstein]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

If you guys had missed the show tonight, I would have been so upset.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. That was never an option.

[PFT Commenter]

I mean, it's selection Sunday.

[Big Cat]

That was never an option.

[PFT Commenter]

It's a big weekend. Right? Right.

[Big Cat]

A great time on. On Friday after, After we were done playing some golf with Bortles, Bo's like, yeah, I'll come over for a drink. End up staying over at her place for like six hours. And then Homer stopped by and basically like, homa and Bortles got to hang out. And I think. I think Bortles went triple platinum with like nine different one liners that he dropped that night. Like, funny story. It was just like an awesome night having Max and Blake, like, do their own podcast for us together.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes.

[Big Cat]

We'll watch some. Two good guys watch some. Some games and ate some pizza. So it was fun. And I'm just very, very glad that we're not dead.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Very glad you're not dead. That would have sucked a lot. Oldie, what do you got? Thoughts on March Madness?

[Oldie]

You know, I gotta give it up to my boys. Ohio State has been four years. Like to see that.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Oldie]

Gonzaga or Gonzaga. They got some Canadian boys out there.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[Oldie]

And then I need Max's help here. We got a lot of Canadians on the

[Hank]

St. Mary.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yep. Hank, stop. Find it funny.

[Oldie]

Canadians on the team. That's why they are. Yeah, there is.

[PFT Commenter]

Hell yeah.

[Oldie]

Five of them.

[Max]

Five of them.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

I like fins up for. Fins up.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Max]

Fins up was electric.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, Fins up. Is the. Is like all the boys doing it together, being goofy together. I guess for. We got. We're too serious for it.

[Big Cat]

Was that. Yeah, I. I enjoy it. I feel like. Was that a Secret until two months ago, month and a half ago. What. Who. Who uncovered fins up and brought it like a national conversation.

[PFT Commenter]

A couple weeks ago, I saw the guys went on Ryan Hammer's podcast. They were. There are guys who are not affiliated with la, who didn't go there. They live in New York and they wanted to find a team to root for. And then they started. They, like, went to a game and then just started doing it. So it's awesome.

[Oldie]

It's.

[PFT Commenter]

Now they're an attorney.

[Oldie]

It's like literally like a synchronized swimming done to perfection.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Oldie]

And it's done when it's called out. The hands come together, boom, clap. Done over. Crushed it.

[Big Cat]

You know what I love is the. The pictures of, like, the. The tiny gyms that some of these schools play in Queens. Look at Queens Gym. It is a high school gym.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I mean, I've been to the lyu. It's a great gym. You just walk in. Free tickets.

[Oldie]

Free tickets. General admission. Walk.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Oldie]

Lower decker.

[John Rothstein]

You're in.

[PFT Commenter]

There's not really an upper deck, but yeah. All right, so what. What other teams you like?

[Oldie]

Gonzaga?

[Hank]

I don't.

[Oldie]

I don't want to say Duke.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. So I don't.

[Oldie]

Don't. I gotta ride Ohio State. I think by their. Maybe second round, they gotta play against Duke, so it's not looking good. So I gotta ride LA Liu with the Cinderella story. And my boy who's on the team, Ryan Nemhardt.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Oldie]

Canadian. So his dad's a Butte.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Oldie]

Who else? A Houston, maybe Houston.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Oldie]

But there could only be one. So we're gonna go right to Houston. We'll go Houston.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

That was a weird. That was a very weird way to get to Houston because I. When you said only one, I was

[Big Cat]

like, oh, I love their physical team.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Oldie]

Grinders.

[PFT Commenter]

Nemhardt's not on Zag anymore, by the way.

[Oldie]

He's not?

[PFT Commenter]

No.

[Oldie]

His brother's not there. Ryan.

[PFT Commenter]

Ryan, I think is in the NBA, right?

[Hank]

Definitely in the NBA.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. But that's okay. They were there.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[Oldie]

A little support still.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah. You know, it stays on. You keep. Keep riding with them.

[Oldie]

Keep riding with them.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. Well, it's great having you here, oldie. By the way. Shane, can we. Can you put Shane on real quick?

[Oldie]

Of course. Love being here, boys. Love you guys.

[PFT Commenter]

Shane, what happened to the Chalamet guarantee?

[Shane]

I mean, it's tough.

[PFT Commenter]

These.

[Shane]

These movies. These movies, they go on. They go on these award circuits for months and months. So at a. At a certain point, you can at least over the past few years and get pretty predictive of who. Who'd get the Oscars. And Chalamet swept everything except for, like, the BAFTAs. So I thought Chalamet was the. The guy. And I'd like to think of myself as, like, the movie guy here. And, I mean, this is a tough look for me.

[Big Cat]

Very tough to the drawing board.

[PFT Commenter]

Who did.

[Hank]

You gotta watch more movies.

[PFT Commenter]

Who did you think was better?

[Shane]

I think Xiaomi is better. I mean, my favorite performance of the year was. Was Leo in one battle. But the way that the campaigning went, and Leo wasn't really showing up to anything, that was kind of out of the question.

[Hank]

What do you think about his mustache?

[Shane]

I think he looked great the last couple years. He's kind of just like, look disheveled for this. This other movie, and he's looking pretty, like, well, kempt. He had the mustache rock, and he was looking. He was looking slick.

[Big Cat]

So you think that. That it does matter if somebody shows up to, like, campaign for their movie?

[Shane]

Yeah, Oscar campaigning is a very big thing. Like, if you look at the history of the Oscars. Yeah, like, it's a very big thing.

[Big Cat]

That's kind of stupid.

[Shane]

No, I mean, that's how, like, so many directors, like, they give him honorary ones later on their career because. Because I forget the one. The. What was the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow? It was like.

[Big Cat]

It's, like, shallow how.

[Shane]

It was like the Shakespeare in Love. That was like, a big one. I forget what that went over. That was like, a big Oscar year. But that was just. Because I hate to bring it up, but, like, Harvey Weinstein was like, okay, but he, like, campaign very hard, and

[Big Cat]

he, like, Love you guys.

[PFT Commenter]

This is a really long way of saying you got it wrong.

[Shane]

No, I got it wrong. And, yeah, I have to live with that.

[Hank]

Bad guy. Good campaigner

[Big Cat]

Memes is playing you off.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep, yep.

[John Rothstein]

You can do that.

[PFT Commenter]

What? You got it wrong.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, got it wrong.

[Shane]

19.

[PFT Commenter]

In your. In your defense of yourself, you started talking about Harvey Wine and you.

[Hank]

He didn't say numbers.

[Shane]

No, I know, but I was trying to bring an example. Yeah, whatever.

[PFT Commenter]

Sorry, guys.

[Big Cat]

He didn't say.

[PFT Commenter]

He didn't say numbers.

[John Rothstein]

Don't say sorry. Don't say sorry.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. All right, numbers.

[Hank]

19.

[John Rothstein]

There you go.

[PFT Commenter]

23, 56, 86, 17, 46.

[Big Cat]

Shane, if you want, you can also give us, like, a quick recap of everything else that the Chargers did in free agency. What's your favorite move that the Chargers had? Shane?

[PFT Commenter]

Favorite. Favorite Chargers move of free agency?

[Shane]

Keaton Mitchell.

[Big Cat]

Okay,

[PFT Commenter]

Did everyone say their numbers?

[Big Cat]

Yep. Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, did you say 1 4? 72.

[John Rothstein]

72.

[PFT Commenter]

Anyone? Anyone? Nope. No.

[Max]

One more, one more.

[PFT Commenter]

Same numbers. Same again.

[Max]

23.Same numbers.

[Big Cat]

56, 17.

[PFT Commenter]

Someone should have said 64. 468. 41.

[Big Cat]

41, 41. Love you guys. And happy birthday to Gaz. My good friend, Gaz.

[John Rothstein]

Wow.

[Big Cat]

Huge. Love, Gaz. Everything about the guy. Go follow him online. He's got funny things to say all the time.

[John Rothstein]

Time.

[Max]

Sole sales guy.

[Big Cat]

Love you guys.