Hour 3: Duke Hate Club

Summary

Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron

Episode: "Hour 3: Duke Hate Club"

Date: March 29, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones & Myron Medcalf
Guest: Aaron Goldhammer
Network: ESPN Radio

---

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the persistent phenomenon of "Duke hate" in college basketball, centering on whether Duke University remains as reviled post-Coach K era as it was during his reign. The conversation—lively, irreverent, and tinged with rivalry—brings in callers from across the country to settle the debate. Along the way, the hosts detour through bachelorette party hotspots, touch on college basketball's blue blood hierarchy, react to NBA storylines (notably Luka Doncic's temperament), and lighten the vibe with their signature banter and a Supreme Court metaphor for fan polling.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Bachelorette Party Culture Observations (00:25–02:43)

• Topic kick-off: The hour starts with a lighthearted discussion about unusual bachelor/bachelorette party stories, particularly those taking place in Nashville and Savannah—now seen as America’s prime bachelorette party destinations.
• Myron Medcalf: “If your fiancée says she and the girls are going to Nashville for a last hurrah, just know that includes making out with a guy in a trucker hat at Kid Rock's bar.” (02:09)
• The hosts paint these rituals as new Americana, funny and slightly disconcerting.

2. Is Duke Still the Most Hated Program in College Basketball? (02:50–19:39)

The Debate

• Aaron Goldhammer launches the central debate by suggesting Duke isn't as hateable as in the Coach K days:

  "Well, I don't think there is hateable as they used to be because I think a lot of that was driven by Coach K... I just think over the course of the last five years with Coach K's retirement, with the way one and done and NIL have changed college basketball, I don't know that Duke is in the top five most hated brands in sports the way they used to be." (03:46)

• Myron Medcalf emphatically rebuts, arguing Duke is the enduring "Evil Empire":

  "Would you have hated the Empire less if Darth Vader retired?... Duke is the evil empire. The hatred should continue... Hating Duke basketball is as American as sliced bread and Lee Greenwood." (04:43)

The Call-In Poll ("Supreme Court-style")

• Myron opens the phone lines: "888-SAY-ESPN. Do you still hate Duke?" (06:03)
• The tally quickly piles up in favor of hate, with passionate responses from fans across the country:
  • "Oh, yeah. ...I will never forget growing up watching Coach K on the sidelines and thinking that he looked like the Duke mascot." — Zach, Kansas City (08:14)
  • "Even when I lived in southern California, I hated Duke and I still hate Duke and I hate their fans." — Woody, North Carolina (08:39)
  • "Duke is the absolute worst." — Kentucky caller (10:09)
  • Myron gleefully counts the votes live, using a faux Supreme Court metric.

    "With Alito and Thomas in dissent. Duke is hate. So Sotomayor has written the opinion. It is 7–2. Duke is hateable." (11:55)

Changing Duke Brand?

• Aaron argues the program's “brand” has shifted:

  "Now it's sons of NBA players and one and dones... it's nepotism." (13:08)

• Myron: "If there's one thing people like—it's nepo babies." (13:14)

Counter Calls and National Geographic Bias

• In a second round of calls, a few defend Duke (a rare breed), but the hate still wins the day—ending "14 to 7," which Myron declares as meaning 66% of America hates Duke. (19:46)
• Notably, one pro-Duke caller says, "They graduate men who are well spoken," which Myron ribs as a backhanded compliment. (11:13)
• Another: “I love Duke y’all tripping.” (11:50)
• Myron jokes about regional biases: “This is why we don't want Maine to be a state.” (14:41)

Memorable quote:

• Myron: “Duke is hated.” (19:39)

3. College Basketball Coaching Legends and the Carolina Job (21:42–27:40)

• Myron recounts attending the East Regional in D.C., sitting with Stanford Steve—a highlight for him (“Stanford Steve is exactly what you think... as nice and cool as you would think he is.” (21:10))
• The conversation pivots to the continued excellence of Rick Pitino and his place in college basketball’s pantheon:

  “You could make a strong argument that he's the best college basketball coach of all time.” (22:08)

• Discussion on challenges and intrigue surrounding the North Carolina head coaching vacancy:
  • Aaron notes outsiders have never led the program and it’s a loaded position to inherit.
  • Myron: “I actually think this is the first time the Carolina job has ever been open, like, ever.” (25:52)
  • Speculation about possible hires: Tommy Lloyd, Billy Donovan. “If you are Billy Donovan, would you take the job at Carolina? I would.” — Aaron (27:36)

4. NBA Segment: Luka’s Technicals & Lakers Playoff Prospects (27:40–31:19)

• Brief dive into Luka Doncic’s on-court demeanor and the Lakers’ playoff chances:
  • Aaron: “Luka is a very difficult player to root for because he is so petulant. He complains about everything at all times.” (28:29)
  • Myron: “There's something about the way Luka does it that makes me hate it a lot more than when Jokic does it. And I don’t know what that is.” (29:12)
  • Aaron believes Luka’s attitude directly impacts team culture and performance:

    “It affects the way he plays the next play in a way I've never seen any other athlete allow.” (29:48) “He does it in a very entitled way... because I'm me, I’m entitled to get every call.” (30:04)

• The segment closes humorously comparing Luka to a character from the musical "Book of Mormon."

5. "Take Your Pick": Picks and Predictions (33:31–39:54)

• The crew—after a mini-debacle over sharing a single ESPN iPad—runs through rapid predictions for NCAA men’s and women’s games, NBA matchups, and MLB games.
• Notable choices:
  • Men’s NCAA:
    • Matt: Michigan over Tennessee; Duke over UConn (with hesitation).
    • Aaron: Agrees on Michigan; UConn over Duke (“Predicting overtime.”)
  • Women’s NCAA:
    • UConn women to cruise, UCLA over Duke women.
  • NBA:
    • Both pick Celtics and Thunder over their respective opponents.
  • MLB:
    • Both favor Red Sox over Reds; split on Guardians vs. Mariners.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Duke is the evil empire. The hatred should continue... Hating Duke basketball is as American as sliced bread and Lee Greenwood.” — Myron Medcalf (04:43)
• “They think that they discovered basketball. They think basketball began when Christian Laettner met Grant Hill.” — Myron Medcalf (07:06)
• “If Mark Zuckerberg were to have a child to play basketball, what school is he going to? He's going to Duke.” — Myron Medcalf (13:30)
• “You talk about a guy that loves, loves, loves college basketball—[Stanford Steve] is exactly what you think.” — Matt Jones (21:10)
• “Luka is a very difficult player to root for—so petulant, complains about everything at all times.” — Aaron Goldhammer (28:29)
• “If you meet a woman and get married, she's going to Nashville or Savannah for her bachelorette party.” — Myron Medcalf (01:09)
• Supreme Court framing of caller poll: “The majority has ruled 7:2. With Alito and Thomas in dissent. Duke is hate. Sotomayor has written the opinion.” — Myron Medcalf (11:55)

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• Bachelorette party riff: 00:25–02:43
• Duke hate debate intro: 02:50
• Aaron’s pitch that Duke’s brand has changed: 03:46
• Myron’s “Evil Empire” analogy: 04:43
• Phone poll (first round): 06:03–11:55
• Debate over “nepo babies” in Duke’s new era: 13:08
• Phone poll (second round): 14:37–19:39
• Totals and Supreme Court joke: 19:46
• Stanford Steve & coaching legends: 21:10–25:00
• UNC job search discussion: 25:00–27:40
• NBA: Luka/Lakers chatter: 27:40–31:19
• Take Your Pick (game predictions): 33:31–39:54

---

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, and steeped in sports culture and Americana
• Heavy use of playful banter, rivalry jabs, and listener engagement
• Self-aware, with frequent fourth-wall breaking about radio production and sports talk cliches

---

Summary Takeaway

This episode is a quintessential showcase of sports radio at its best: fiery debates, deeply entrenched rivalries, participation from colorful listeners, and a hearty sense of humor. The thesis was clear—Duke hatred remains a foundational pillar of college basketball fandom, regardless of changes in the program or the passing of Coach K. And if you disagree, just let the Supreme Court-style poll decide.

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

This is Matt and Myron, the podcast.

[Myron Medcalf]

That's right. You never know what's going to happen here on Matt Myron on ESPN Radio. Do you have any idea Aaron Goldhammer Metcalf, can you guess why that was the topic of the call? Like, like how. Because you didn't probably hear that segment. Can you guess why the Matt, Vermont called to tell us about that party.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Bachelor party I Nashville. You guys were live in Nashville where

[Myron Medcalf]

there are a lot of Bach Dak Prescott had a joint bachelor and bachelorette party and we were talking about how we couldn't imagine anyone doing that. Caller said he did it and they did. The bachelorettes allowed the men to have strippers but they got to pick who they were, which we thought was, you know, that's how they do things in Vermont. You wonder how you get Ben and Jerry's and Bernie Sanders. There you go. There's your answer.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Well, I was in Savannah, Georgia last weekend and Matt, I gotta tell you, I have so many bachelorette parties my entire life.

[Myron Medcalf]

As somebody who's got some like a little bit of a southerner, I don't know what it has become in the last 10 years that American women have decided their bachelorette parties can only be in Nashville and Savannah. It's like they all, all of American women have decided I'm getting married. Woohoo. Let me get the girls and get a cowboy hat and let's go to Nashville or Savannah. Like that's all anyone does. And I don't care where listening from from now if you meet a woman and get married, she's going to Nashville for Savannah for her bachelorette party. And let me go further. If my eyes which have seen the glory of the coming of bachelorette parties to Nashville, tell me anything it is that all of your future wives are making out with a stranger at Kid Rock's bar on their bachelorette party. Because I've seen it a thousand times. Aaron, just for the record, right?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Or. Or a Savannah Bananas game is that if you are.

[Myron Medcalf]

That's exactly right. If your fiance says she and the girls are going to Nashville for a last hurrah, just know that that includes making out with a guy in a trucker hat at Kid Rocks bar. As long as you understand that right Hattie, feel free to get married.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

That's and a trip to Broadway that you're gonna. She's no, I don't know that anybody's gonna regret it, but it's just.

[Myron Medcalf]

It's going to Rock's bar. I've seen it. There are Men in Nashville who live to stand in Kid Rock's bar and kiss your future fiance.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Which half show did they. Which of the halftime shows did they watch?

[Myron Medcalf]

This is. No, they did not watch the turning point 1. They were bad bunning. Even in Kid Rock's. Even in Kid Rock's bar. All right, let's go. Let's go back to college basketball for a second. Although I would rather talk about this because I have some good stories Aaron would like. But we need to focus on the games. Today Duke is playing against UConn in a battle of maybe the two most arrogant fan bases in college basketball. Kentucky fans probably would have something to say about that too. But two, certainly two of the three or four. And you guys, I heard through the grapevine that you and Emmett golden, who are on Saturday mornings 10 to 1, had a conversation yesterday where you were trying to make the argument yes, which may be the most offensive thing you've ever said. It was. It was. The first time I wanted to cancel you was that you said Duke was not hateable anymore. Is that correct?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Well, I don't think there is hateable as they used to be because I think a lot of that was driven by Coach K. I think a lot of it was driven by one particular player who represented something that was easy to hate, like Christian Laettner or Grayson Allen or J.J. redick. These sort of silver spoon played basketball since they were three fundamentals of the game, dirty players. But nobody would actually call them a dirty player because they thought they were holier than thou. They thought they were bigger and better than the game. And I just think over the course of the last five years with Coach Caves retirement, with the way one and done and nil have changed college basketball. I don't know that Duke is in the top five most hated brands in sports the way that they used to be.

[Myron Medcalf]

Okay, it's Sunday morning and we talk. You, you shouldn't drink and go on the air on Sunday mornings. Aaron, first of all, do you, do you watch Star Wars? Would you have hated the Empire less if Darth Vader retired? Like if he just had little Vader replace him, would that have been okay? Would you have been like, my hatred of the Empire is not what it represents. It's only Darth Vader. No, you hate the Empire because it's the Empire, because it's everything that is bad about. About the universe. Duke is the evil empire. The hatred should continue. It's in a different form now. Now it maybe isn't so much guys who slap the Floor and who fall and take. And maybe it's more now just sons of NBA players and former Duke players wearing quarter zips. But it is still, however, a very hateable entity. And hating Duke basketball is as American as sliced bread.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

And Lee Greenwood, I as someone who does not live in a college basketball hotbed, which I wonder, Matt, if you're too close to this because you.

[Myron Medcalf]

I'm not. I'm completely objective.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

But hold on.

[Myron Medcalf]

You live and work in a world

[Aaron Goldhammer]

where college basketball is the most important thing by 7,000 miles. Right.

[Myron Medcalf]

And we hate Duke.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Yes. I live in.

[Myron Medcalf]

Let me open up the. Let's do this. 888 say ESPN. Do you still hate Duke? Yes or no? 888 say ESPN. Is Duke still hateable? Yes, it was hateable. With Leitner. First of all, we can just go down the list. Leitner, Bobby Hurley, Cherokee Parks, Grayson Allen, John Shire, Chris Collins. To continue through them, Shavlik Randolph, who famously at his commencement ceremony had his mother say that he, she was worried about him going to college because he didn't yet know how to cut his steak. Like those things.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

I hate him and respect him. But Grant Hill is definitely near the top of this list.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yes. Thomas Hill crying like just, just go down the list. Yes. It's different, but it's still Duke. You still have to hate it, right?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Yukon, I hate Dan Hurley and the oh, we never lose since they were the number one. I, I, I, I rooting for Duke in this game today. And I don't have a dog in the fight.

[Myron Medcalf]

Have you ever met a Duke fan? Of course. As someone who went to Duke, I had to deal with these people. They are the worst. First of all, they, they think that they discovered basketball. They think basketball began when Christian Laetner met Grant Hill. That's when they think college basketball began. It's infuriating. Have you.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

So I've never been to a game at Cameron, but I'd love to go. It's probably the one holy place in sports that I've never visited.

[Myron Medcalf]

It's, it's, it's a wonderful environment. But you will come away hating them more. You know that, right?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Well, I hated the fact that Coach K. I thought was, was Bobby Knight without, you know, the, without the attitude and without the, you know. But, but that he still sort of stood for a lot of the same thing.

[Myron Medcalf]

All right, let's just do this. You gone unreasonable and I'm, I'm sad to have watched this downfall of you. Let's go to the phones and see who's right. Zach from Kansas City, is Duke still hateable? Yes or no?

[Caller]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, I do. I'm actually, I'm a KU fan, so I'm spoiled myself. But I will never forget growing up watching Coach K on the sidelines and thinking that he looked like the Duke mascot.

[Myron Medcalf]

He does. He completely did. There we go. One vote for hate. Let's go to Woody, North Carolina. Is Duke still hateable?

[Caller]

Yes, absolutely. I'm a transplant from Southern California, so SC is my team. But even when I lived in Southern California, I hated Duke and I still hate Duke and I hate their fans.

[Myron Medcalf]

There we go. 2. And, oh, let's go to Glenn in Atlantic City. Is Duke still hateable?

[Caller]

See, I don't look at them as hateable. Like, I mean, they don't have Grayson out on the floor. Their players aren't hatable. But when teams win like they do, they're going to be hated on. I mean, the Yankees, the Dodgers, their fans. Like the previous caller said, I think a lot of people have a problem with their fans.

[Myron Medcalf]

3o. Duke is still hateable. If Matt NC. Is Duke hatable? Is Duke hatable?

[Caller]

Absolutely. I, I was born in Chapel Hill, grew up, die hard Carolina fan, and

[Aaron Goldhammer]

for the course, this guy thinks Duke's hateable.

[Myron Medcalf]

Duke is hated.

[Rachel]

That doesn't count. That one doesn't count. That one doesn't.

[Myron Medcalf]

I opened up the phones. There was no geographical requirement.

[Rachel]

It's no. Tar Hill fans cannot count.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Of course Carolina fans are going to dick in Virginia.

[Myron Medcalf]

Is Duke hatable, yes or no?

[Caller]

I've hated Duke my entire life. And Carolina ripped their heart out when they beat Coach Kane his last game and then stole in the final Four. They're the worst program in the history of college basketball.

[Myron Medcalf]

5. Oh, Duke is hateable. Someone in Kentucky. Is Duke still hateable?

[Caller]

Duke is the absolute worst. I'm a, I'm a Tar Heel fan from Kentucky. Duke is the worst.

[Myron Medcalf]

6. 0. Duke is hateable. Tim in Indiana. Is Duke hateable?

[Caller]

100%. Just like the Yankees.

[Myron Medcalf]

7. Oh, Duke is hateable. Matt in North Carolina. Is Duke hat. Yes. 8o.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Duke is taking that as a vote for me.

[Myron Medcalf]

We'll make that seven. Oh, and one. Jerry in North Carolina. Sorry, we hung up on Jerry. Who's next?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

That's seven.

[Myron Medcalf]

Two.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

He was a Duke fan. It's six.

[Myron Medcalf]

Three. He was not. It is seven. Oh. As of right now. Come on. Where's our other callers? I see you on the phone. Just, let's just go. You're going through these Way too fast. Just give me just. I just want to prove my point. Just put a phone on. It doesn't even matter. You don't even have to. Just put them on. Who's next? Go.

[Caller]

Hey there. Can you hear me? Can you hear me?

[Myron Medcalf]

What's your name?

[Caller]

My name is Nick. I grew up in California. I rooted for ucla. I graduated from ucla. Duke is not hateable. They like ucla. They graduate men who are well spoken.

[Myron Medcalf]

Oh, stop it. Well spoken is 7:1. That's one vote for Duke. And he used to phrase well spoken, which, you know. Come on. All right, I'm just gonna. Let's just stop.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Votes or votes. Every one more. Final vote. Democracy.

[Myron Medcalf]

Just like the Supreme Court. We have nine justices. It's seven one. Who's our last one?

[Caller]

Man, it's crazy. I love Duke, y'. All tripping.

[Myron Medcalf]

7:2. All right. The majority has ruled 7:2. With Alito and Thomas in dissent. Duke is hate. So Sotomayor has written the opinion. It is seven two. Duke is hateable. More calls. And then did a Lake 888 say ESPN, do you hate Duke? And do the Lakers and Luca have a long term problem? Supreme Court jokes on ESPN Radio. Here on Matt Myron,

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron

[Myron Medcalf]

the podcast Matt Myron on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance, Matt Jones and the I don't know history denier Aaron Goldhammer trying to act like that Duke is no longer hateable. Your argument in a nutshell was you hated Duke because of Mike Krzyzewski and he's gone. So they're not hateful anymore. And my argument is Duke is of course hateable. And even if it's a little bit less, it's still important in infinitely more than every other program combined.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Brand has changed is my argument. And I.

[Myron Medcalf]

What do you think their brand is now?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Well, now it's sons of NBA players and one and dones like it. It's not.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yes, it's nepotism. If there's one thing people like, it's nepo babies.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

But I'm telling you today, in this game today that you are going to in Washington D.C. uConn is the most hateable team and Dan early is the most.

[Myron Medcalf]

If Mark.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Mark.

[Myron Medcalf]

If Mark Zuckerberg were to have a child to play basketball, what school is he going to? He's going to Duke. Thank you.

[Matt Jones]

Right.

[Myron Medcalf]

Thank you very much.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Child that won't even know what a basketball.

[Myron Medcalf]

No, he's going to create an AI child who will play for Duke. The first team that will go entirely automated will Be Duke and I will hate them too. Duke is hated. But we have people on the line. In segment one, it was seven. Two in favor of hate.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Two people very shady counting with some non Duke counting ability going on. For Matt Jones.

[Myron Medcalf]

One of us went to Duke and one of us went to Capitol University. I think I will listen to the Duke.

[Rachel]

What was the other university you went to, Matt, for your undergrad?

[Myron Medcalf]

Transylvania. The oldest university west of the Allegheny Mountains.

[Rachel]

That's where we learned your math. We got it now. Got it.

[Myron Medcalf]

By the way, that's a completely normal thing to base it on the Allegheny Mountains. A perfect geographical entity to base what is west of. Let's go. Gary in Maine, is Duke hateable?

[Caller]

No, not even close anymore. And I'll tell you why.

[Myron Medcalf]

This is why. We don't want Maine to be a state.

[Caller]

The one thing you

[Aaron Goldhammer]

ran. Gary was about to say something interesting on my behalf and he got run it.

[Myron Medcalf]

Cooper flag is from there and you know, no.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Oh, you think that's what it is? The Cooper flag?

[Myron Medcalf]

Yeah. Why else would people in Maine like dude mafia?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Maine is a fair representation of the average.

[Myron Medcalf]

I've never even been to Maine. You said that earlier. I've been to Maine many times. Great lobsters, terrible basketball taste. Paul in Ohio. Go.

[Caller]

We do things in Cleveland. Duke basketball and Aaron Goldhammer.

[Myron Medcalf]

One, one. Wow. A personal shot thrown in there. Paul in Arizona. Do we hate Duke?

[Caller]

Do we? Do we hate Duke? Jay Williams gave us an excuse to hate Duke. He said, yes, that they did cheat us out of our second championship in 2001. Hate Duke is not even the right phrase. Despise and hope that they never ever see the light of day again.

[Myron Medcalf]

Two, one. Hate Duke. Thank you. Joe in Utah, do you hate Duke? Always hated Duke since I was six years old.

[Caller]

Always hated him.

[Myron Medcalf]

Three, one. Yes. Mike in Indiana, do you hate Duke?

[Caller]

Hate Duke, Hate Maine. Hate the letter D, hate the color blue.

[Myron Medcalf]

The whole shot.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Hates Duke.

[Myron Medcalf]

And now he hates Maine because that guy likes Duke. See, that's the kind of hate I can get behind. He hates the states that even like Duke. Let's go to Mike in Indiana. Do you hate Duke, Mike? He abstained. Yes. Do you hate Duke?

[Caller]

I do. I'm a. But I'm biased because I'm a Kentucky alum from 1975 and I think there's a curse that when Joe B. Hall beat Duke in what, 78.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yes. By the way. We don't. We don't call out our own biases.

[Rachel]

We just doesn't count.

[Myron Medcalf]

No. 5, 1.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

What kind of curse are we talking about? Kentucky's won five championships since 1978.

[Myron Medcalf]

True effect.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Rick Patino or Tubby Smith?

[Myron Medcalf]

Jordan in Texas, do you hate Duke?

[Caller]

No, we don't hate Duke unless they're playing Texas.

[Myron Medcalf]

I feel like we've just become five bomb radio for a couple segments and I'm kind of enjoying it. Just five two five two. Jim in Texas. Go.

[Caller]

Don't hate Duke. Bobby Knight.

[Myron Medcalf]

Oh, well, wait a minute though. What? He said he likes him because of Bobby Knight. That's the kind of guy you get. Is your fan still 535 3?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

That's a. That's a vote you're getting.

[Myron Medcalf]

I'm hesitant to go to New York because. Because basically everyone at Duke went is from New York. So we'll see. Junior. Yes. Hey, Duke.

[Caller]

No, no, you can't hate Duke. You're so biased. Matt. You. You. It's like you're. You're the prosecutor picking your jury.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yes. If I had picked my jury, I wouldn't have picked you.

[Caller]

That's biased then.

[Myron Medcalf]

Thank you very much. 5, 4. The. The non hate is coming back here in round two. Let's see. Ryan in Virginia. Do you hate Duke?

[Caller]

Just like the guy that loved my grandmother. Hate him always.

[Myron Medcalf]

Just like the guy that. Just like the guy that did what to your grandmother?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

I don't know that I want to know what that call was about.

[Myron Medcalf]

I'm throwing.

[Rachel]

I'm just gonna skip that. Let's go. Next one. Six four.

[Myron Medcalf]

I have to admit, I wondered what happened to his grandmother. Six four. Jeff in Arizona. Do we hate Duke?

[Caller]

Absolutely hate Duke.

[Myron Medcalf]

7 4. Thank you very much. Jerry in North Carolina. Do we hate Duke?

[Caller]

No, we don't hate Duke. I love them. Five time national champions. I love them. Number one draft pick. I love all them. All Americans.

[Myron Medcalf]

Did you. Did you love Grayson Allen, sir?

[Caller]

Great. What you say?

[Myron Medcalf]

Do you love Grayson Allen?

[Caller]

Love him. He's a brother. He's part of the brotherhood. Who wouldn't love him?

[Myron Medcalf]

Everyone. All right, well, you know what? Time is up. In round one, it was 7 2. Hate Duke. In round two, it is 7 5. Hate Duke. As we got some worse callers the second time around.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

But Duke, you got a more accurate cross section of America. The score evened out.

[Myron Medcalf]

The Overall score is 14 to 7. It is now official. 66% of America hates Duke. And that's the way it goes. More Matt and Myron next.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron. The podcast

[Myron Medcalf]

is Matt Marin here on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance. I'm in D.C. been in D.C. since Friday for the east regional. Just kind of decided to come here and watch Aaron. You know, it's kind of nice to cover a game. Well, I use cover lightly because I'm not really working. I just. I used ESPN radio. Got the credential, got to watch. I will tell you what was fun. On Friday night, I got to watch both games sitting next to Stanford Steve. You know, from Scott Van Pelt. Yep, from Scott Van Pelt. We did not, like, they did not put us in good seats, so we were at the top. And I just sat with him the whole game, sitting next to him, talking basketball. That dude, I'd never met him. You talk about a guy that loves, loves, loves college basketball is Stanford Steve. And so I sometimes I like to say to people on the air, you know, you see these people on television, you go, were they really like that? Stanford Steve is exactly what you think. Like, as nice and as cool as you would think he is. He is. So I just wanted to report that here live in D.C.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

for Scott Van Pelt Sports center in Washington, I'm Matt Jones.

[Myron Medcalf]

Well, I'm just saying, like, you know, you know this, Aaron, like, one of the things you get asked when you do this job is what is so and so like in real life.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Right.

[Myron Medcalf]

And the problem is because I don't have an ESPN email address, I don't know really what any of these people are like in real life.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Okay.

[Myron Medcalf]

So I met Stanford Steve, and he is as nice in real life as. If you watched Scott Van Pelt, you would think he's nice. He is just as nice in real life.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

So to watch Duke in person against Rick Patino, this was an interesting fan dynamic game for you with St. John.

[Myron Medcalf]

Oh, I was. For Rick Patino, without question. Yeah. I mean, Rick Patino, the change in the way Kentucky fans, the way we look at Rick Patino is amazing. I mean, it was just a few years ago he left the arena from Louisville and he flipped us off on the way out.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Right, right, right.

[Myron Medcalf]

And now, many years later, like, I'm pulling for him. The dawn, you know, he's got a special mojo. I would make the argument. Aaron, you could make a strong argument that he's the best college basketball coach of all time. Yes, you could. I don't. I don't know that I think I would probably pick Coach K. But you could make a strong argument that he's right there with him, considering. I mean, look at this resume. Took Providence to the Final Four. Providence, right. Won a title at Kentucky. Won a title at Louisville took Iona back to the terminal.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Not officially. According to history, it doesn't count.

[Myron Medcalf]

That's true. The strippers and the porcinis makes it, but. But he actually did win it. He took Iona to the ch. He tournament. He took Boston U to the tournament, and then now St. John's the Sweet 16. It's a pretty amazing resume, Aaron, but is it?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

The fact that he's coached at so many places also tells you a little bit about the story of Rick Patino. To some degree. Yeah. He burnt well.

[Myron Medcalf]

And he also was successful with the Knicks. He won a title in Greece. The man loves coaching so much. He went to Greece when he couldn't get a job here and coached in Greece.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

And he did have an iconic press conference moment with the Boston Celtics that you've got to add to the resume.

[Myron Medcalf]

But that's the thing. The only place he ever failed was with the Boston Celtics. That's the only. That's really the only place he ever failed. He's coached in eight other places and had success. I mean, it's a pretty amazing resume.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

And Matt, he was a great basketball coach in 1987, and he's a great basketball coach. 40 years.

[Myron Medcalf]

That's late. That's exactly right. That's an. I mean, that is a pretty astounding career. And if you believe him, he's not. He says he's not close to retiring.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

So, I mean, I don't know what he would do. He's, you know, some would argue he's a vampire and so he's going to live forever and what else is he interested in? So, I mean, I. I don't doubt. And to take a program like St. John's and make them relevant again, win or lose that game, he was right back, I thought, Friday night at the center of the college basketball universe, which is where he belongs.

[Myron Medcalf]

And I do think they'll come a point. This is the reason I came here. They'll come a point where you'll look back at this little regional because I think John Shire is going to end up being like a legendary coach, too, probably before it's over. And you're going to go. You had in the same building Rick Patino, Danny Hurley, Tom Izzo and John Shire. That's literally like four generations of historic coaches. I think, Aaron, when I saw that, I was like, I feel like I should go there. It's not very far away. I'm going to go.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Yeah. And I. I thought, what. Izzo being so emphatic about not retiring after the game was Interesting. I thought, you know, Michigan State just had one of those games. They could have won that game, but they just had about 12 minutes of basketball where they couldn't make it play well.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yeah. Do you. Do you think the Carolina job, by the way, is still the Carolina job in terms of, like, how you look at it and sort of what it is?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

I would be leery of it it for two reasons. One, no one who's not a Carolina person has ever had the job. So if they. So if they go outside the Carolina family to hire somebody, I'd be real careful about how I'm going to be perceived in Chapel Hill. And then I also think, you know, you've got to win at an unbelievable level in order to meet expectations there. So, I mean, you'd know better than me. But. But I think it's kind of a job right now that feels like I'd rather be the person to replace this next hire than the person to be the first outsider to come in and get the gig.

[Myron Medcalf]

See, I would make the argument that you're replacing a guy who ultimately didn't have that much success, so this isn't a bad time to go. I actually think you could make a strong argument. This is the first time the Carolina job has ever been open, like, ever. Because they've always known who they were going to hire from moment one. So you could make a strong argument the Carolina job has never in the history of basketball been open. And I think in my opinion, the two, the two best jobs in basketball are Carolina and Kentucky. Duke is a unique situation, so maybe you could make that number three. But it's open now, so I don't know how you wouldn't be excited. I think if they hire the right guy, it'll be good. But if they don't, I will say this. And there it is harder for blue bloods to be blue bloods now than it's ever been because everybody has money and so you can win at these kind of secondary programs.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Who do you think has the inside track? If you had to guess, I think

[Myron Medcalf]

if Arizona had lost last night, Tommy Lloyd would be the new coach at Carolina. But the problem is you've got to get a roster, Aaron. You have to. And if you wait till after the Final Four, it may be very difficult

[Aaron Goldhammer]

for them to get only another week, though. I mean, you know, I know, but

[Myron Medcalf]

in the portal world, that week is a year. Right? So I. I don't. But to be honest, who's going to get it? I don't know if I'M North Carolina. Even if to your point, you have to wait a week, you wait a week. But if you're, if you're Tommy Lloyd, if you can win a title at Arizona, why do you leave?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Right?

[Myron Medcalf]

You know what I mean? Like that was what happened many years ago with Billy Donovan in Kentucky. Kentucky was going to hire him and then Billy Donovan wins titles at Florida. So why does he leave? Right? Because you can win. You can win it for.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

If you were Billy Donovan, would you take the job at Carolina? I would.

[Myron Medcalf]

I would. It's time for him to move to that. He could do a good seven or eight years there. They can groom their next guy. That's what I would do. And by the way, if you ask me who I think is most likely, I think now Billy Donovan is probably the pick. Tune in to baseball's opening weekend tomorrow night or, excuse me, tonight as the Mariners play the Guardians. Coverage of Sunday Night baseball begins at 6:30 Eastern on the ESPN radio. In the ESPN app. Luka Doncic got his 16th tech technical in a game last night and now he will be out for the next game. The Lakers have played very, very well recently. We're going into the playoffs. A, do you care about the fact that Luca racks up technicals at this rate and B, do you consider the Lakers a team that when I get to the playoffs, which is the next time I'm going to pay attention to the NBA that I should care about?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

I think they're going to probably lose in the first round because I don't trust once they get up against a team that can game plan every single game for them that their defense is going to hold up against anybody. And I think Luca is a very difficult player. We were talking about rooting for Duke. I think Luca is a very difficult player to root for because he is so petulant. He complains about everything at all times. And Matt, I still think going back to Dallas in the finals a couple of years ago, until he grows up and gets over that a little bit, I don't know that he's going to be able to win at the absolute highest level.

[Myron Medcalf]

Do you think he complains more than like Jokic?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Yes, I think he, I think he is the biggest complainer in sports.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yeah, he may be. You're probably right. I do find it interesting though because it's because, because I watched a game with Denver about a month and a half ago and I just watched Jokic because he's so amazing to watch and I thought to myself, man, this dude complains at the refs a lot. But there's something about the way Luca does it that makes me hate it a lot more than why Jokic does it. And I don't know what that is. Why is it Lucas? Because I'm with you. He gets under my skin. Why do you think he does it so much more than Jokic or other guys that. That complain a lot?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

There are two things it affects when he starts complaining. It affects the way he plays the next play in a way I've never seen any other athlete allow it to just change the way he approaches the next minute of basketball. And number two, I also think that he does it in a very entitled way. Like, because I'm me, I'm entitled to get every call the way that I want, and I'm never wrong, and you're always wrong, and I think it drives me crazy. I mean, I think part of what makes an athlete great is the way they handle adversity when every call doesn't go their way. And I think the way he behaves on the court is totally beneath him. And I would be afraid if I was a Laker fan. Look, it's an amazing trade. A star basically fell out of the sky into our lap for the dumbest reason possible. But at some point, I'd love to have somebody in the organization who can pull him aside and say, hey, you need to stop doing this. And LeBron hasn't been able to do that, and JJ Redick hasn't been able to do it.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yeah, he and JJ Redick. It seems like JJ Redick loses his mind with him all the time. Have you ever seen the. The play the Book of Mormon? Have you ever seen that?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Yes.

[Myron Medcalf]

You know, the song where they're singing, you and me, but mostly me, are going to change the world. I. I feel like Luca could perform that. Like, I just feel like Luca looks at Austin Reeves and goes, you and me, but mostly me, are going to change, and it's the world forever. And you're right, that entitlement attitude does come through the way he plays.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Yes, I can sing a few songs from the Book of Mormon in Bill Wall accent, but I will refrain from.

[Myron Medcalf]

That's my first performance, I think, of any musical on this show in eight years. And I hope, Rachel. I hope it went well, don't you? Do you think it did?

[Rachel]

100% yes.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

This show, we did Bill Walton impressions today.

[Caller]

We.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

We voted for Duke like, we voted for Duke's likability, as if we were the Supreme Court.

[Rachel]

Mention questionable voting, though. We Got to make sure question four

[Aaron Goldhammer]

of the nine justices and also if

[Myron Medcalf]

you would like Broadway, I could mention all of them. I'm a Supreme Court nerd. I won't, but I could.

[Rachel]

I don't trust.

[Myron Medcalf]

We will take our pick. We will take our pick and go through some games coming today, including the Elite Eight and tell you who going to who is going to win. That's next here on Matt Myron on ESPN Rad.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron the podcast.

[Myron Medcalf]

It's Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio. I'm gonna try not to be outraged. They took our iPad, Aaron, for the next show. They were like, we need this for the next show. We're on the air right now.

[Josiah]

Can't see me anymore.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Josiah is now a missing person.

[Myron Medcalf]

Let me just say something. I love ESPN radio. Especially in recent years they've kind of let me me do my thing on here. And Aaron Goldhamer is a fun person to work with. But we got to get a second iPad. If we're sharing iPad.

[Rachel]

They're working on it.

[Myron Medcalf]

They're working on a second iPad. There's an Apple Store with the Carnegie Museum right down the street. I'll get them one if you want it.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Go and go and buy one or get a used one from the archives

[Rachel]

video. You can see Josiah right in the corner. I got it.

[Josiah]

My little ID picture.

[Caller]

All right.

[Myron Medcalf]

You know, one iPad. Just so you know when you watch SportsCenter that we pass the iPad back and forth so that everyone can get on. All right. Lot of games today. One iPad. It's time to take your pick. Take your pick. You take your pick.

[Matt Jones]

It's time to take your pick with Matt and Myron.

[Myron Medcalf]

All right, let's get started. Josiah, what's going on?

[Josiah]

Alrighty. Number seven six, Tennessee versus number one, Michigan. Eight and a half point favorite. The money line on DraftKings minus three eighty. Who you got, Aaron?

[Myron Medcalf]

I'm going to take Michigan. I think they got too much. Tennessee needs a perfect game from Nate. Amen. It just hasn't happened a ton this year. Michigan's got size. Michigan's got pretty much one or two of everything. Give me the Wolverines.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

I've not touched this game against the spread. Mark Zeno, who does picks with us on Hammer and Emmett said take the under on Tennessee. Total points. I think it's at 69 and a half. That's where I'm at. I do think Michigan wins this game. I think it's going to be right around the number and I think the Wolverines will go to the Final Four.

[Myron Medcalf]

All right, who's next?

[Josiah]

All right, my Yukon Huskies going against Duke. The topic of this show all show long and that money line for Duke is at 2:18. Who you got, Duke or Yukon?

[Myron Medcalf]

I'm going to take Duke. I think this game can go either way, but I think Duke will have a crowd edge here in D.C. pretty much everybody that works for the government went to Duke, but. But everyone else that's a neutral will be rooting against them. I'm going to take Duke, but I. I honestly think five and a half's a lot because it's kind of a toss up to me. If I were to bet this, if you really wanted to, I might take Yukon. Just money line because I think they've got a shot. But since we're doing picks here, I'm going to take Duke.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

I'm predicting overtime in this game and I think Yukon is so comfortable in close games and Duke still has a lot of youth up and down their roster. I think UConn wins the game, goes to the final four. I like UConn here out right, what's next?

[Josiah]

All right, we head to the women's elite eight. Number six, Notre Dame, heading to number one, Yukon. Yukon minus 27 and a half the money line. This is what has me minus 50,000 money line for Yukon.

[Myron Medcalf]

This is an elite eight game.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

An elite 50 grand to win $100 on this game.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yes. The fact that this is an Elite 8 game and they are a 27 and a half point favorite is wild. Give me Yukon and the inflated balls. I think there's only two teams in the country that even can have a shot at UConn, but Notre Dame's not one of them. Give me Yukon.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Look, Hidalgo is an amazing player, and if there's going to be a quadruple double in this game, I think she's the one that's going to pull it off. But I think UConn can't be touched. I think they'll cruise all the way to the championship.

[Myron Medcalf]

What's next?

[Josiah]

Number three, Duke. Number one, ucla. And you know, UCLA might be one of those teams that you're talking about that could stand to UConn. UCLA minus 11 and a half. Their moneyline minus 6, 75. We got.

[Myron Medcalf]

Give me. Give me UConn or UCLA. Excuse me. I think they're. They are the one team that has a shot at UConn this year, but they will handle Duke. The Duke women are good, but they're not ucla. I'll take UCLA to win and Cover.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

And Matt, you would love if the Yukon men beat Duke and if the UCLA women beat Duke. It was a great day for Duke on Friday. Might be a terrible day for them today. That's actually what I'm predicting. I think UCLA wins and covers.

[Myron Medcalf]

Here's what's crazy though. Those games will be like running at the same time or at least part of them, which is kind of. Which is kind of wild. What's next?

[Josiah]

We head to the NBA for a couple games of note tonight. The Celtics at the Hornets. The hornets actually a 1 1/2 point fav favorite over the Celtics at a minus 110 money line. We got Charlotte horn Celtics.

[Myron Medcalf]

You know, I said I don't care about any NBA games for the playoffs. This would be a minor, a minor difference. I'll at least note that this game happens. I take the Celtics. I'm really kind of surprised. The Hornets are the favorite. This is, this, this could end up being a playoffs matchup. So I'm going to take the Celtics and go from there.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Matt, if the Hornets were to get Detroit with Cade sort of just coming back off of this collapsed lung issue, I think they that series. But I like Boston to win the game tonight. I agree with you especially plus money, despite the fact that it's in Charlotte and The Hornets since January 1st have been one of the best teams in the NBA.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yes, they have. What's next?

[Josiah]

All right, later in the evening, we got Knicks at Thunder. Yes. Matt, the Thunder are not facing the spurs tonight.

[Myron Medcalf]

I don't believe it.

[Josiah]

They are facing the New York Knicks. They are a minus 360. Moneyline, eight and a half point favorite. Who you got?

[Myron Medcalf]

I don't care. But I will take the Thunder to win at home. You know, look, this could be again, could be an NBA finals preview depending on how things play out. But it's regular season. Just get to the playoffs. I'll take the Thunder.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

If you gave me the thunder or the field to win the title, I think I'd take the Thunder and I'm going to take them in this game minus the eight and a half against the Knicks.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yeah, I'm. It's a good question. I might take the field, but that's a good, good bet. What's next?

[Josiah]

All righty. We got the Red Sox at the reds here on ESPN Unlimited. The Red Sox, one and a half run favorite. Minus 13136 money line. Do you have your Reds today, Matt?

[Myron Medcalf]

Why is it every time I hear ESPN Unlimited, I think it's like Russell Wilson's channel. I think it's it. You know, that's. I'm gonna have to get used to that being the new Mr.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Unlimited.

[Myron Medcalf]

Yeah, Mr. Unlimited. The Reds are pitching. Rhett. Louder. For the first time in like and a half. So while I'm excited to watch him, I think you got to take the Red Sox because this dude hasn't pitched in a real game in forever. So I'll take the Red Sox.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Yeah. It's early season baseball in Cincinnati. All I care about is whether CB Buckner is the home plate umpire, which unfortunately he is not after yesterday's incredible show. I'll take the Red Sox.

[Myron Medcalf]

I do wonder if, like, if, if Suarez, Suarez is running the bases. If Buckner just trips him when he does it because he's so mad about yesterday. What's next?

[Josiah]

All right, let's wrap things up here with some Sunday night baseball guardians at Mariners. Minus one and a half for the Mariners moneyline at minus 149. This game will be on ESPN radio at sev coverage starting at 6:30. Matt, what do you got?

[Myron Medcalf]

I'm gonna listen to it on ESPN Radio because if I go to Peacock to try to watch it, I'll just end up watching traders. Give me the Mariners at home. Home.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Matt, the floor is yours. If you don't watch the trainers. It's so good. I'll take the guards tonight. Chase Delader is the hottest thing in

[Josiah]

baseball all the time.

[Myron Medcalf]

Aaron Goldhammer, thank you very much. Enjoyed being with you. Matt Fontana and Tim Welsh and the one iPad at ESPN. They are next. Enjoy it. This has been Matt and Myon without the iPad. Dad. We'll see you next week.

[Matt Jones]

Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10am Eastern on ESPN radio, the ESPN app and on SiriusXM channel 80. Matt and Myron, the podcast.