Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron

Episode: Hour 1 - River States Conference
Date: March 8, 2026 | Hosts: Matt Jones & Myron Medcalf | ESPN Radio

Episode Overview

Matt and Myron kick off college basketball’s “best time of the year” with their signature wit and energetic banter, diving deep into the madness of conference play, the NCAA tournament landscape, Selection Sunday speculation, tournament seeding controversy, coach drama, and memorable moments from both on and off the court. The episode also features ESPN analyst Tom Crean for bracket breakdown and a hilarious, unexpectedly heartwarming call segment with alumni from little-known River States Conference schools.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Excitement Around March and Selection Sunday

• Matt opens with pure excitement, calling this “our favorite time of year...one week away from Selection Sunday” (00:34).
• Myron agrees, “This is the greatest three plus weeks in all the sports. And I’m just excited, man.” (01:31)
• Both agree that this season has exceptional talent and high TV ratings, fueled by "the greatest freshman class ever," notable returning players due to NIL, and power programs performing at the top (02:28-03:10).

Memorable Quote

“There’s no sport that gives the underdog a real shot the way that college basketball does. Undeniably one of the greatest sporting events.”
— Myron Metcalf (02:09)

2. Matt’s NCAA Tournament “Five-Team Guarantee” Tradition

• Matt recounts his decades-long tradition of picking five teams each year, guaranteeing the title will come from that group, with only one miss since 1995 (06:31-06:40).
• This year’s picks: Duke, Arizona, Michigan, Florida; fifth slot will be UConn or Houston after more deliberation (07:30-08:02).
• Myron and Matt debate the likelihood of “chalk” (favorites advancing) and where chaos could enter the bracket (08:22-09:03).

Notable Banter

• Comedic interlude breaks down the phrase “out the wazoo,” with the hosts realizing it means "buttocks" and joking about grandparents’ coded language (03:47-05:17).

Memorable Quote

“I’d stand in the Kmart and the Goodies parking lot and say, I hereby proclaim my guarantee.”
— Matt Jones, on his teenage sports-nerd roots (06:09)

3. Dark Horses and Upset Potential

• Outside their “top five,” Matt reluctantly says Arkansas is a dangerous team due to “how good Darius Acuff is” and Trayvon Brazil’s impact (10:35-11:03).
• Myron shouts out Iowa State as a possible spoiler if they “figure it out,” but Matt quickly dismisses them, sparking playful bickering about the merits of each pick and Iowa tourism (09:22-10:34).

Fun Moment

“If Arkansas wins the title, I’ll quit this show. I’ll be so mad I’ll be out the wazoo.”
— Matt Jones (11:12)

4. Drama: Coaches, Ejections & Vitale’s Criticism

• Discussion of UConn coach Danny Hurley’s ejection for allegedly chest-bumping a referee (15:50-17:17). Both suspect Hurley’s non-suspension is strategic due to the postseason stakes.
• Myron asserts, “He’s out of control… And if you like him, you call it passion, but fans are starting to see it’s just too much.” (17:33)
• Matt shares a rare Dick Vitale critical take, calling out Kentucky’s roster for poor return on NIL investment (18:56).

Notable Quotes

“At $22 million, they could have put together a better roster than they did. I really do.”
— Dick Vitale, via Tom Crean’s readout (18:56)

5. Small-School Scheduling, Seeding Controversy, & Tom Crean Segment

• Tom Crean joins (25:07), passionately defending undefeated Miami of Ohio’s NCAA tournament credentials even if they lose their conference tournament.
• Debates over the legitimacy of some of Miami's wins, given that several are against NAIA or Division III teams like Indiana University East and Milligan (29:10-31:29).
• Crean details the challenges of scheduling for mid-majors and offers context on how some coaches, like Toledo’s Todd Kowalczyk, navigate it to boost resumes (27:14-29:10).

Memorable Quotes

“You don’t want to schedule somebody that you are remotely fearful could come in and beat you.”
— Tom Crean (27:42)

“You win 30 games—I don’t care who you are, you’ve earned a right to play.”
— Rachel’s Dad (46:11)

6. River States Conference Call-In: Community, Comedy, and Venus Williams

• Matt teases the obscurity of River States Conference schools, only to be flooded by calls from proud alumni—featuring Indiana East grads and Rachel’s own dad from West Virginia Tech (39:05-43:35).
• A highlight: a caller named “Michael Jordan” lists Richmond, IN’s athletic legends, and another shockingly (and correctly) claims Venus Williams graduated from IU East’s online program (44:19-45:07).
• The hosts share genuine amusement and respect as they scramble to verify these facts, skillfully mixing humor with surprise.

Classic Banter

“Myron, tell him.”
“I gotta be honest, you keep saying ‘Myron, tell him,’ like we planned this. I don’t know anything about Serena Williams’ online classes!”
— Caller and Myron Metcalf (43:49-43:51)

“She did! She graduated... Venus Williams in 2011 enrolled in Indiana East’s online program. She graduated in 2015.”
— Myron Metcalf, fact-checking live (44:32)

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On March Madness:
  “Some people say March Madness is the greatest sporting event… I stand by that.”
  — Matt Jones (01:42)

• On collegiate underdogs:
  “No sport gives the underdog a real shot like college basketball.”
  — Myron Metcalf (02:09)

• Matt’s guarantee tradition:
  “I have missed one time in 30 years.”
  — Matt Jones (06:31)

• On Hurley ejection:
  “Why eject him in that moment if he didn’t do it?... The referee responds like he made contact.”
  — Myron Metcalf (16:32)

• Dick Vitale criticism:
  “I think at $22 million, they could have put together a better roster.”
  — Dick Vitale via Tom Crean (18:56)

• Community pride:
  “Indiana East, it’s proud… We’re not gonna get the five star, not even the four star, but we play hard.”
  — Rick, Indiana East alum (41:46)

Segment Timestamps

• Season preview & March excitement: 00:34 – 03:46
• Wazoo banter & Matt’s “guarantee” picks: 03:47 – 08:22
• Top teams, chaos potential & dark horse debate: 08:22 – 11:15
• Rapid fire news (coach ejection, Vitale rant, fan fight): 15:50 – 23:11
• Selection Sunday special & Tom Crean interview: 24:38 – 34:36
• River States Conference banter & call-in segment: 39:05 – 46:46

Tone & Style Highlights

• The episode is anchored in playful but knowledgeable debate, with Matt’s self-deprecating humor and Myron’s bemused, slightly skeptical counterpoint.
• In-depth, accessible college basketball analysis aimed at both hardcore fans and casual listeners.
• Laid-back, community-focused as listeners and staff call in with real stories—blurring lines between expert commentary and crowd-sourced comedy.
• Frequent callbacks to cultural references, from “wazoo” to Napster lawsuits, add generational flavor.

LISTENERS’ TAKEAWAY

If you missed the show: expect a one-stop shop for the March basketball state-of-the-union, bracketology, coach drama, and a reminder that every school, no matter how obscure, has a story. The expert analysis pairs seamlessly with spirited, inviting fan engagement and plenty of laughs—whether you’re mapping Big Ten contenders or discovering that, yes, Venus Williams once earned a diploma from Indiana East.