John Hollinger joins the show to discuss whether the league's tanking problem has finally reached a breaking point. We explore radical solutions—from abolishing the draft entirely to a "split-season" format—and look at a mathematical formula that could finally reward teams for being competitive, even when they’re losing. Then, Shakeia Taylor from The Athletic drops by to discuss her deep dive into "The Bayou Barbie’s" systematic ascent. We look at how Angel Reese has curated a brand that spans from the Victoria’s Secret runway to the Unrivaled 3x3 court, all while navigating a high-profile comeback from injury. In our main story, it’s almost March, and the madness is already bubbling over. Brendan Marks and Zena Keita give us the ultimate lay of the land for the Men’s and Women’s tournaments. Are the Duke men the team to beat? Can the Darryn Peterson saga derail Kansas? And how is NIL rewriting the "one-and-done" playbook? With parity on the women's side at an all-time high, we look at UConn’s quest for perfection, the dominance of JuJu Watkins, and why the stars of the women's game are sticking around to build the best rivalries in sports.

Hosts & Guests

Zena Keita @itszenakeita

Robert Mays @robertmays

Jason Goff @Jason1Goff

John Hollinger @johnhollinger

Brendan Marks @BrendanRMarks

Mix: Matt Shilts

Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank

Producer: Jen Bradley

A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios.

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