UConn MCBB Punches a Final Four Ticket in Dramatic Fashion!

Summary

PTI Podcast Summary

Episode: UConn MCBB Punches a Final Four Ticket in Dramatic Fashion!
Date: March 30, 2026
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into UConn’s dramatic last-second win over Duke in the Men’s College Basketball Tournament, analyzing the key plays and coaching decisions that defined the game. Kornheiser and Wilbon also break down the Final Four field, reflect on women's basketball powerhouses advancing, and touch on baseball’s new automated ball-strike system, fan behavior, and noteworthy developments across sports.

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UConn’s Stunning Win Over Duke ([00:54]-[05:33])

Key Discussion Points

• Dramatic Ending: UConn beats Duke 73–72 on a 35-foot buzzer-beater by freshman Braylon Mullins after overcoming a 19-point first-half deficit.
• Wilbon’s Take:
  • Empathy for Duke’s Kaden Boozer, who was crucial but got trapped in a controversial endgame moment.
  • Historical comparison to Georgetown’s Fred Brown and hope for Boozer’s future redemption.
  • Critique of Duke’s lineup: “I want Isaiah Evans or Caleb Foster with the ball, period. Not that Boozer shouldn't... but I want those guys on the floor, all three of them. And that wasn't the case.” ([01:29])
• Kornheiser’s Take:
  • Amazement at how UConn retained possession: “You have to hold the ball to get fouled. There are six seconds left. But instead he dribbles, he picks up his dribble, tries to pass—it gets deflected and this happens.” ([03:11])
  • Comparison to Christian Laettner’s famous shot and highlight of emotional swings.
  • Praise for UConn Coach Danny Hurley’s mentality: “He convinced his players throughout the game they were still in it.” ([03:55])
• Duke’s Trend of Blowing Leads: Tony points out Duke’s repeated failures to hold large leads: “Plus 14 over Houston, lose the game. Plus 17 over Texas Tech… Plus 19 over Houston.” ([04:50])
• Responsibility on Coaching: Both agree the blame falls on Duke’s coaching staff for game management.

Notable Quotes

• Wilbon: “I’m just going to say this… I hope it ends like this for Kaden Boozer because Fred Brown came back and won a national championship two years later.” ([01:29])
• Kornheiser: “The elation on the UConn bench was palpable. You could feel it through the television.” ([03:46])

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The Rest of the Men’s Final Four ([05:40]-[09:19])

Teams Advancing

• Final Four Field: UConn, Michigan, Arizona, and Illinois.
• Quick Recaps:
  • Michigan overpowers Tennessee
  • Arizona rallies against Purdue
  • Illinois dominates Iowa

Impressions

• Kornheiser:
  • “This is a very hard question to answer because they all look great now.” ([06:04])
  • Sees Illinois as “like a pro team—big, they shoot, and defend.”
• Wilbon:
  • Highlights Illinois’ star Yaxel Landevor: “He’s the best player in the tournament you can have… 6’9, 240, can handle it. His shot is so soft, it just kisses the net on the way through.” ([07:33])
  • Admits bracket bias toward Arizona but recognizes Michigan’s dominance.
  • Ponders if Arizona can break the “west of the Mississippi” drought, last winning in 1997: “That's Arizona.” ([09:03])

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Women’s NCAA Tournament ([09:25]-[11:57])

Teams in the Women’s Final Four

• UConn: 54-game win streak, dispatched Notre Dame by 18
• UCLA: 29-game win streak, rallied to beat Duke by 12 in the second half

Who Looks Stronger: UConn or UCLA?

• Wilbon:
  • Asserts it’s impossible to pick against UConn: “It would be like arguing… that somebody looks stronger than one of John Wooden’s UCLA teams. That would be dumb. You can’t do it.” ([09:54])
  • Personal rooting for Kiki Rice (UCLA), a family friend and D.C. native.
• Kornheiser:
  • Lauds UConn’s legacy: “We have now watched them win 12 national championships. This is their 25th Final Four.” ([10:49])
  • Dismisses schedule criticism against UConn: “They play anybody, anywhere, anybody you put in front of them.” ([11:54])

Notable Quotes

• Wilbon (on Kiki Rice): “The Rice family is like family to me... I have watched Kiki Rice grow up and play basketball in Washington, D.C.” ([10:12])
• Kornheiser: “Geno Auriemma’s record is amazing. There’s nobody like him ever in sports.” ([10:49])

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Baseball: Automated Ball-Strike System ([14:24]-[16:37])

Technology’s Impact on Umpires

• Sympathy for Umpires: Both show empathy for umpires whose calls are overturned by the robotic review system.
• Wilbon:
  • Supports the technology (“I’m with whatever technology you can get the call right, but I want it used quickly.” [14:49]) but dislikes public “showing up” of the umpires.
  • Notes that many missed calls are marginal: “They’re a half inch off the plate. I’m not gonna be embarrassed about that.” ([15:21])
• Kornheiser:
  • Predicts further automation: “We are going to see the umpire at home plate call no balls and strikes… He’ll be there for a tag and to hand new baseballs to the catcher.” ([15:25])
  • Acknowledges loss of ‘human’ element: “This is the baseball we grew up with—where there’s human error, there’s human frailty.” ([16:21])

Notable Quotes

• Wilbon: “You can’t go back... Technology’s there, you can’t go back.” ([16:34])

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Fan Behavior: Mets Fans Booing Bo Bichette ([16:42]-[18:35])

Discussion

• Too Soon to Boo?
  • Kornheiser: “Three days, three games in, that seems a little soon.” ([16:46])
  • Notes Bichette’s struggles are uncharacteristic, but quips about New York sports culture: “You want to boo this guy out of town?... Slow down, Sparky.” ([17:10])
  • Bichette’s own response: “If anything, I thought the booing took too long.” ([16:55])
• Wilbon:
  • Explains the Northeast’s unique fan intensity: “Mets fans, Phillies fans, Yankees fans... they'll boo their mothers.” ([17:46])
  • Contrasts with Midwest: “I have never booed in Wrigley Field. And if my son did, I would smack him.” ([18:08])

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Other Noteworthy Segments

NHL Quick Hits ([20:19]-[23:24])

• Bruce Cassidy Firing: Vegas fires Stanley Cup-winning coach before playoffs; John Tortorella steps in.
• Wilbon: “The NHL has these crazy things where people get fired as they step into the playoffs. And sometimes it actually works.” ([22:52])
• Kornheiser: Notes this is unique to hockey: “They don’t do this in other sports.” ([23:04])

Mail Time & Big Finish Highlights ([14:17]-[24:44])

• Discuss sympathy for umpires ([14:25]), MLB fan overreaction ([16:42]), and news from other sports (Alex Bregman to the Cubs [20:25], Martin Brodeur’s legacy [21:19], Gary Woodland’s comeback [23:45], USA men’s soccer struggles [24:00], and Tony Vitello’s tough MLB start [24:14]).

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Kornheiser (on the UConn buzzer-beater): “That UConn shot and Duke’s fold is gonna live for 50 years, right? You’ve been watching for 50 years.” ([12:28])
• Wilbon (on NCAA parity): “There’s one name I wrote down… Yaxel Landevor. Because he’s the best player in the tournament you can have.” ([07:33])
• Wilbon (on UConn women): “UConn’s got to be a favorite… once we fill out the bracket and find out the remaining teams.” ([11:57])
• Wilbon (on booing in New York and Midwest): “The Dodgers fans aren’t even awake… I have never booed in Wrigley Field. And if my son did, I would smack him.” ([18:08])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:54] – UConn’s 35-foot game-winning shot over Duke
• [03:11] – Duke’s end-of-game mismanagement
• [05:40] – Men’s Final Four field analysis
• [09:25] – Women’s Final Four preview: UConn vs. UCLA
• [14:24] – Automated umpire system and its impact
• [16:42] – Mets fans booing Bo Bichette
• [20:25] – MLB trade/free agency updates (Alex Bregman)
• [22:19] – NHL: Vegas fires Bruce Cassidy
• [23:45] – Gary Woodland’s PGA Tour comeback

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Tone

Lively, irreverent banter remains a hallmark, with Tony and Mike mixing sharp analysis, historical perspective, and humor in breaking down high-stakes moments—whether celebrating miraculous plays or gently mocking fan impatience and sports traditions.

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Summary prepared for those who might have missed the episode or want to catch the biggest moments, key debates, and zingers from PTI’s legendary hosts.

Transcript

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[Mike Wilbon]

but I'm Mike Wilbon. It's National Doctor's Day. Tony, you're an honorary doctor. How you celebrate.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm Tony Kornheiser. I tried foot surgery on a neighbor. There are a lot of bones down there in the feet. A lot of bones.

[Mike Wilbon]

Don't miss the feet. That resonates with me.

[Tony Kornheiser]

My honorary doctorate is a doctorate of Humane Letters.

[Mike Wilbon]

Not just regular letters, not inhumane letters,

[Tony Kornheiser]

not inhumane at all. Humane letters.

[Mike Wilbon]

I never knew what that meant.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think they're the ones between the A and the B, but I'm not exactly sure. Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, the men's final four is. The women's is halfway there and several umpires are getting some tough corrections from the new ball strike system. But we begin today with UConn beating Duke last night on an almost unbelievable play. A shot from 35ft out with less than one second remaining that gave UConn a 73:72 victory in a game where they had been down 19 points in the first half. That shot by freshman Braylon Mullins put UConn in the final Four, kept Duke out. Wilbon, what did you make of the moment?

[Mike Wilbon]

So many things, Tony. So many things. And starting. I just felt for Kaden Boozer, who has been just getting better and better and better and he doesn't have the profile of his big brother, but he, you know, he's again, he's an important player for Duke. And I had that thought and then my second thought went historical because I was at courtside watching when Fred Brown of Georgetown famously threw a pass to James Worthy instead of a teammate and Michael Jordan hit a game winning shot and Georgetown lost. But I also thought I hope it ends like this for Kaden Boozer because Fred Brown came back and won a national championship two years later. And then I thought about how to me, I want a Duke guard, Caleb Foster, not on the floor. Don't exactly know the thinking. Maybe we'll hear about it because everything about that play will be examined a million times over. For 50 years, Isaiah Evans was on the floor. I want Isaiah Evans or Caleb Foster with the ball, period. Not that Boozer shouldn't have a capable free throw shooter as well, but I want those guys on the floor, all three of them. And that wasn't the case.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I found it amazing in the moment. I found the shot actually amazing.

[Mike Wilbon]

It was.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I was amazed that the best shooter on Yukon, Alex, what's his name, Caravan chairman, didn't take that shot. Had the ball in his hands, passed it back. Passed it back.

[Mike Wilbon]

Right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He had two guys near him, saw that Mullens was open, passed it back. A deeper shot, but an uncontested shot. I was amazed, as you were amazed that UConn had the ball at all. Yeah, right. Because Kaden Boozer here, you have to hold the ball to get fouled. There are six seconds left.

[Mike Wilbon]

You don't have to cross mid court.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, you don't have the time frame to worry about. There are six seconds left in the game. UConn is down two. They have no other choice but to foul. You gotta find. But instead he dribbles, he picks up his dribble, he tries to pass the ball, it gets deflected and this happens. My immediate thought, yours historically went to Fred Brown. Mine was to Christian Laettner. I was at that game when Christian Laettner hit a shot that put Duke into the Final Four and knocked Kentucky out. Now, as I remember that game, it was more of a back and forth game. This was not that. This was a game of sprints.

[Mike Wilbon]

UConn looked like it was going to be knocked out.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Duke sprinted in the first half and then ucon sprint in the second half. The other thing that stood out to me, and I'm sitting at my house watching this on television. The elation on the UConn bench was palpable. Yeah, you could feel it through the television. I don't know how Danny Hurley did what I'm about to say, but he convinced his players throughout that game that they were still in that game. This started that part. This started with about 80 seconds to go. In the first half. They made a couple of buckets, cut the lead a little bit. Then in the second half, it was steady and it was incremental. But with all that, Mike, there's no way UConn wins that game. The kid has to hold it. He's an 80% foul chance.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm gonna give you credit. You called me, I said they'd gonna a minute 27 left. It went to five. But before that you had said. I think it was nine. You said UConn's gonna win this game. I thought you were crazy, But I thought UConn was gonna be. And Danny Hurley, for whatever people might think of Danny Hurley and his manner.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

I like him, though. He's a great, great, great, great coach.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I need to read you one thing. Duke has lost four times in the last year since they lost to Houston.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's a trend.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. Plus 14 over Houston, lose the game. Plus 17 over Texas Tech this year. Lose the game. Plus 13 over North Carolina. Lose the game. Plus 19 over Houston.

[Mike Wilbon]

There's something structural there. What are we doing?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Does it land on the coach?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Does it?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes, it does. And there may be something structural. I just talked about the guards being on the floor. Caleb Foster has got to be on the floor against a team that can swarm you defensively like UConn. Each one of those situations is slightly different.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You hold it and get foul.

[Mike Wilbon]

You hold on to the ball. I hope this has a Fred Brown ending for Caleb Boozer. Cause for Fred Brown, who I know extremely well, after all these years, it ended up like this. It ended up winning a national championship. Look, I hope it ends up like that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Look, I'll give you the analogy.

[Mike Wilbon]

What's that?

[Tony Kornheiser]

The quad. God has a terrible Olympics and then wins. Right? Did he win the gold medal in the International?

[Mike Wilbon]

Just win something next. That's the analogy. The other three men's final Four teams are. Envelope, please. Michigan, Arizona and Illinois. Michigan dominated Tennessee. Arizona trailed by seven at the half before rallying to beat Purdue comfortably. And Illinois pulled away from Iowa. Lake. Tony, which of these winners looked most impressive to you?

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is a very hard question to answer because they all look great now. They all look great. Michigan destroys Tennessee. But Tennessee is a six seed. So maybe Michigan is supposed to do that. Arizona beats two seed. Purdue is a two seed. Arizona, if I'm not mistaken, they win by 15. But in the second half, it's 48 to 26. Nobody looks better than Arizona at this point. They don't look better. Illinois, to me, looks like a pro team. They're big. They shoot it and they defend. What they did to Iowa, they held Iowa to 23% shooting in the second half. They had more offensive rebounds, and then Iowa had defensive rebounds. I landed on them a couple of weeks ago and I called you. Yeah. And I said, who are these guys? Because they are really. The Big Ten is really good, and they're really good. They are loaded. How do you feel about international players

[Mike Wilbon]

being loaded with international players?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Recruiting budget must be Many, many millions of dollars. It's like they set up a stand in Eastern Europe and said, come over, come over. I will also tell you that I think. And then I'll get out of your way. I. I'm satisfied with the Final Four. I think there are four of the best six teams in the country. I think I'd add Duke and Iowa State, but I think we're getting the best teams.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm fine with the teams we got. I'm just going to say this. As I think about those four teams. There's one name I wrote down out of all those players. A lot of great players. I mean, Arizona. I mean, you know, they got Burry's and Peak. They got. Arizona's got a wave of players and size.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Mike Wilbon]

We just talked about UConn, which knows what it's doing. And players might be underrated because the coach is very highly rated, gets much of that credit. I wrote down one name, Yaxel Landevor, because he's the best player in the tournament you can have. And all the NBA scouts who might disagree, they can have Whoever they want. 6, 9, 2, 40 can handle it. His shot is so soft, it just kisses the net on the way through. He's the best player I know.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Your bracket. Your bracket has Arizona winning.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You don't have Michigan winning?

[Mike Wilbon]

No, I don't.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Mr. Big Ten. You don't have Michigan winning.

[Mike Wilbon]

Michigan, as you just said, they're putting the wood to people. They're scoring 90 to 100 points on people and that kid. And they got another guy on that team, all right, A Chicago kid, Catholic school kid, no less. Who he's going to be a lottery pick. They got multiple lottery. They got multiple great shooters.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you want to see Johnson the two semifinals or do you feel that Michigan, Arizona, they should not have to

[Mike Wilbon]

be matched against each other. Louisville quality to it. You know what game I'm talking about. Or Georgetown, Kentucky know what game I'm talking about there. So. But, but I. You know what, Tony? I'm okay. Because Illinois or Connecticut could win anyway. Oh, sure, they could beat the team that comes out of that bracket.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let me just tell you one thing, cuz I know you picked Arizona. Do you know the last year in which a team from west of the Mississippi river won this thing?

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, it must be Arizona.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's 1997.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's Arizona.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's Arizona. So, I mean, I think it's bad for Arizona, although you can say that's a good omen because it was actually Arizona that won that was Richard Jefferson. That's a long time ago. 1997. Richard's not that old.

[Mike Wilbon]

Richard's not that old.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I mean, you hate i95, but apparently i95 teams or some proximity near i95 wins.

[Mike Wilbon]

This gets stacked for them all the time. They get everything in the.

[Tony Kornheiser]

In other words, there's favoritism and they're

[Mike Wilbon]

cheated, including the whistle.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's move to the women's tournament. There are two Final Four teams already decided. The two national favorites, UConn and UCLA. UConn has won 54 games in a row. UCLA has won 29 games in a row. UConn had no particular trouble beating Notre Dame to get to the Final four. Winning by 18. UCLA had a harder time with Duke, but one by 12, outscoring Duke by 20 in the second half. Wilbon, I know you watch these games. You have personal interest here, which you can talk about. Who looks stronger to you, UConn or UCLA?

[Mike Wilbon]

It's impossible to make the case for me that a team can look stronger than one of Geno Auriemma's undefeated teams. It just sounds stupid, right? It would be like arguing and we are old enough to have done this. You're wearing the proper colors for this. That somebody looks stronger than one of John Wooden's UCLA teams, that would be dumb. You can't do it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No.

[Mike Wilbon]

I do have personal interests. Keke Rice. The Rice family is like family to me. And so I have watched Kiki Rice grow up and play basketball and in Washington, D.C. right here in the DMV, at Sidwell. Sidwell Friends. And I have watched her. I was hoping she might wander over to Evanston, Illinois, when she was in high school, but she didn't do that. And she must. Carol Austin must have. By the way, speaking of a team that came back at Duke, tough day for Duke to lose.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Good day for Yukon.

[Mike Wilbon]

Carol must have recruited.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Good day for UConn. Bad day for Duke.

[Mike Wilbon]

So I'm rooting. I just admitted I'm rooting for Keke Rice and ucla.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Here's the thing. It is impossible for me to say anything other than UConn. I have now watched. We have now watched them win 12 national championships. This is their 25th final four. They have had winning streaks. I think 54 is good. They've had 111, 90 and 70. These are remarkable numbers. So the 54 almost looks pedestrian at that point. Gino Oriam's record is amazing. There's nobody like him ever in sports, maybe. I mean, he wins just so many times. But I understand what you're saying about Kiki rice, who's from D.C. and went to Sidwell Friends. She was player of the year in D.C. the year after Az Fudd, also from D.C. at St. John's was player of the year. The schools are two miles apart, rivals. We have both been to both those schools. I used to walk my dog for years right past St. John's right past St. John's and I find these two women very easy to root for. But if you say, and somebody was in my ear the other day saying something like, well, UConn hasn't played a hard schedule this year and UCLA has, well, you know, stop.

[Mike Wilbon]

We dismissed stop.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Because they play anybody anywhere, anybody you

[Mike Wilbon]

put in front of them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So for me, it's Yukon.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yukon has got to be a favorite. And once we fill out the bracket tonight, once we fill out the bracket and find out the remaining teams, they're still a it's going to be although South Carolina, if they make it, they've won three. Dawn has won three.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Who won last year?

[Mike Wilbon]

Gino.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Let's take a break. Coming up, should all of the early overrules make you feel sympathy for some home plate umps?

[Mike Wilbon]

And is it too soon, too soon for fans to boo the mess through off season? Acquisition Bo Bichette. Not boo Bichette.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Bo Bichette, that UConn shot and Duke's Fold, is gonna live for 50 years, right? You've been watching for 50 years.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Time to find out what's making the mob throb in mail time. I'll put on my glasses, I will get the first one, and I will read it.

[Mike Wilbon]

Is that okay?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Did any part of you feel badly for umpires CB Buckner and Chris Siegel for having so many ball strike calls overturned?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah. Yeah. I think it's a. It just sort of puts you on display. And that. I know that's not the intention, at least not the number one intention. And the number one intention gets the call right. And I'm with that. I'm with whatever technology you can get the call right. But I want it used quickly. And this is pretty quick.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Seems quick.

[Mike Wilbon]

It seems quick, but it is intrusive. But I'm also. I'm not for showing up blue now. You know, I mean, sometimes I can get on blue here on this show, but I'm not for showing him. That's embarrassing. You're basically putting that guy. You're having him step out into the camera and be embarrassed. And by the way, I thought, you know, Salvador Perez, he got everything right. It seemed everything he tapped his head for, he got right. And by the way, at least the pictures are all close. Some of the ones that are called and changed and overruled, they're a half inch off the plate. I'm not gonna be embarrassed about that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I am embarrassed for the umpire. Yeah, it's a very hard job. They get an enormously high percentage of it, right? But they miss. And maybe these guys miss a little bit more than others. But we're not turning back the tide here. We're going forward in a very short amount of time, Mike. We are going to see the umpire at home plate call no balls and strikes. Remove them he will. No, there are two functions. He'll be there for a tag and to hand new baseballs to the catcher to give to the pitcher. And. And I understand it's intrusive, and I know you don't like it. I like it more than you do. But you cannot turn back the tide here. This is coming soon, where every single ball strike is gonna be automated. Every single one, Mike. What else are you gonna do?

[Mike Wilbon]

I Don't I guess nothing. But doesn't part of you think that you wanna say to yourself, Babe ruth, satchel, page 10 baseball. This is rolling over in their graves.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is the baseball we grew up with. Where there's human error, there's human frailty.

[Mike Wilbon]

And it was good enough for inch off the plate. Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know, do you want to get it exactly right? If you do, you have to do this. And there is an embarrassment.

[Mike Wilbon]

Technology's there, you can't go back.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Seems to be, but it just.

[Mike Wilbon]

It just bothers me. I'm old now. Booing Bo Bichette.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

Is it too soon for Mets fans to boo? Bow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Three days, three games in, that seems a little soon. Now here he is, he's 1 for 14. He's got eight strikeouts.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He is not a guy who strikes out a lot. No, he's not at all. But it does seem a little so do you know what Bo Bashet said? There's a direct quote if anything. I thought the booing took too long. Now he signed a three year deal for $126 million.

[Mike Wilbon]

He understood.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, $126 million. But it's got opt outs after each year.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So do you want to boo this guy out of town? He's at a new position. He's at third base. He's never played third base before. As you know, I grew up with the Mets. In 64 years of existence, they have two World Series champions. That's all they got is two. Let's. Let's not go crazy here. They're not the Yankees, they're not the Dodgers. They didn't make the playoffs last year. How about this? To close the season for all the money they spent, they lost 55 of the last 93 games. So. Slow down, Sparky, slow down.

[Mike Wilbon]

Just. You want them to give Boba Shet a chance?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Mike Wilbon]

A little bit of a.

[Tony Kornheiser]

More than three. More than three games?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes. Look, is it too soon for them? No. It's the Mets fans. Mets fans, Phillies fans, Yankees fans, and to a different degree, Red Sox fans. And where are all these people? Packed in like sardines. I95. And they'll boo their mothers.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So the Cubs don't boo and the Dodgers don't boo.

[Mike Wilbon]

I have never.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You don't think the Dodgers boo?

[Mike Wilbon]

I have never. The Dodgers fans aren't even awake. They're not even up there. They're not. They just get there in the seventh inning. They don't even know what's going on. Cubs. I have never booed in Wrigley Field. And if my son did, I would smack him.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, well, he's four now, so he'd smack you back.

[Mike Wilbon]

He'd smack me back. He knocked me out. I'm not saying no. Cubs fans, don't. I'm just saying I wouldn't boo.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Don't put Mets fans, please. Don't put them with Phillies fans. Don't. I love them both. Don't put them with Phillies.

[Mike Wilbon]

They're already booing now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is a mistake. This is not in their DNA all the time. Enough with the email. Let's take one last break. Still to come, the playoff bound Golden Knights replace their coach with just 10 games left. Who does that remind you of? Lou Lamarillo, baby. That's right, Lou Lamarillo.

[Mike Wilbon]

And the transition from coaching college to managing the majors is off to a slow start for Tony Vitello.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Lulamorillo would fire you with a week and a half left. They did it all the time and by the way, made the right move

[Mike Wilbon]

most of the time.

[Tony Kornheiser]

At least made the right move.

[Mike Wilbon]

He went on to win.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy time people. Happy 32nd birthday, Alex Bregman Bregman left Houston for the Red Sox last season, sparking the upset of Rafael Devers, who felt he was the incumbent third baseman. As a result, Devers was traded to San Francisco. Bregman batted.273 for the Red Sox with 18 home runs, 62 RBI and only 114 games. Bregman then opted out of Boston, signed a five year, $175 million contract with the Chicago Cubs in January.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Bregman was a two time World Series champion with the Astros. A three time All Star, a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger. Bregman also recently played on the United States team in the World Baseball Classic.

[Mike Wilbon]

Happy to have him. Much happy to have him than paying some guy a trillion dollars to be with the Dodgers. I'm happy to have Bregman. I know it's not a big deal. I'm disappointed to start off losing two

[Tony Kornheiser]

out of three to my team, to the Nats.

[Mike Wilbon]

Come on now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know.

[Mike Wilbon]

So you just disappointed, that's all.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's fine.

[Mike Wilbon]

I understand. I don't want to be earned them rational.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We earned them. Happy Anniversary. Martin Brodeur on this day 23 years ago, Brodeur became the first NHL goalie with four 40 win seasons when he led the New Jersey Devils to a six nothing shutout over the Islanders. Not only does Brodeur remain the only NHL goalie to compile four 40 win seasons, but Brodeur ended racking up eight such seasons before retiring after 22 years in the league. 21 with New Jersey. Brodeur is the winningest goalie in NHL history, 691 wins. One of the perks of such a career is that Brodeur, born and raised in the suburbs of Montreal, was inducted into the New Jersey hall of fame in 2025, the first hockey player so honored.

[Mike Wilbon]

In case you're born before the get up era and you're curious about Sawchuck, three of those seasons, Jacques Plant three of those seasons. The great Ken Dryden.

[Tony Kornheiser]

How many were Dryden?

[Mike Wilbon]

Two.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's all.

[Mike Wilbon]

Eddie Belfort? Balfour two.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The separation is amazing.

[Mike Wilbon]

It is amazing. It's crazy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's zagi like Happy training trails. Bruce Cassidy Vegas fired their head coach just 20 days before the start of the playoffs. Despite currently being in the postseason field, the Golden Knights have struggled of late, winning just three of their last 10 games, but Cassidy led them to the Stanley cup just three years ago, hasn't missed the playoffs since he took the gig. And get this, he'll be replaced, as every coach inevitably is, by John Tortorella. This is the 16 Torts will have coached and his seventh gig as he coached the Rangers to twice but he's only won two playoff series since 2013.

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, at least he wasn't fired by Lou Lamarillo, was he? Then he wasn't fired by him. The NHL has these crazy things where people get fired as they step into the playoffs. And sometimes it actually works.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is the important thing to say. They don't do this in other sports.

[Mike Wilbon]

No.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And in other sports they think it's crazy. And you and I thought it was crazy until we saw results that every once in a while that is the one thing that is done. The one little turn and it helps the team.

[Mike Wilbon]

Even though it worked for Michigan basketball once upon a time.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Mike Wilbon]

Worked for them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right. That's right. All right, let's go to what are we doing here? The big finish. First place battle between the Pistons and Thunder tonight. Is that a big deal?

[Mike Wilbon]

No. Kate Cunningham, Stewart Duran, Tobias Harris, Duncan Robinson, all out Isaiah. And Joe Dumar is going to suit up. What? Gary Woodland won the Houston Open. We both think this is significant.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Very significant. He had brain surgery a few years ago. This is his first win since 2019 U.S. open. So glad he is one of the most popular players on the entire tour. Everybody is happy for him. Team USA men's soccer blowed out by Belgium on Saturday. Cause for concern.

[Mike Wilbon]

73 days to the start of World cup and we got Portugal tomorrow. I think you can make the case case that these results are now serious. I think you can. Your boy, the Quad God won gold at the World Championships. Does that matter?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. I think it's a redemption story of sorts. Although I'm sure the Olympics is more important. But this. You talk about Kate and Boozer and that mistake, you get another chance. You get other chances. Maybe it turns out right like this one did. Last one. New Giants manager Tony Vitello off to an 03 start. You smelling a win tonight at the Padres.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's going to be tough. Division rival and all that down 13 to 1 in terms of run scored so far in his major league experience.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The most intriguing and risky hire of the year.

[Mike Wilbon]

That question.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're out of time. We'll try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm Mike Wilbond. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads.

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