The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1 – Michigan Crowned, Jay Bilas

Date: April 7, 2026
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show
Host: Dan Patrick & The Danettes (Fritzy, Seaton, Marvin, Paulie)
Key Guest: Jay Bilas (ESPN College Basketball Analyst)

Episode Overview

This episode airs the morning after the NCAA men’s basketball championship in which Michigan clinched its first title since 1989 by defeating Connecticut 69–63. Dan and the Danettes react to the game, examine how Michigan built its championship roster, discuss evolving trends in college basketball recruiting and team construction, and debate coaching changes and their impact. The hour includes insightful commentary from ESPN’s Jay Bilas on the state of the game, plus reactions and questions from listeners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Michigan’s Championship – Game Recap & Analysis

• Opening Thoughts:
  • Dan calls Michigan’s team "grown men," distinguishing between simply “tall” and truly “big” players (02:13).
  • "Michigan looked like an NBA team as far as the age of those players... There's a difference in having tall guys and big guys." — Dan Patrick (02:13)
• UConn’s Performance:
  • Despite poor shooting, UConn stayed competitive through offensive rebounding and defense.
  • "Connecticut kept it in a total point total that I thought they could win it..." — Dan Patrick (06:43)
• Shooting Stats:
  • Both teams combined for just 34% from the field, second-worst in a title game since 1950 (06:43).
  • Michigan: 2 for 15 from 3-point range but 25 of 28 at the free-throw line.
• Key Factors in Michigan’s Win:
  • Dominance in the paint and at the free-throw line.
  • UConn’s three-point struggles and foul trouble.

Shifting Blueprints: How to Build a Champion Today

• The Rise of Transfers and International Players:
  • Dusty May built Michigan largely with transfers and older players, including international talent.
  • “Recruiting is no longer…let’s just get all these great high school players.” — Dan Patrick (10:47)
  • "Coaches are now...recruiting somebody who could be 21 or 22 years of age; you still gotta make it all fit together." — Dan Patrick (11:36)
• Comparisons to Other Blueprints:
  • UConn (Dan Hurley) used a mixed approach: few McDonald’s All-Americans, many experienced transfer/role players.
  • The John Calipari/Kentucky “one-and-done” model is being eclipsed by teams prioritizing experience.

Notable Coaching Changes & Trends

• Michael Malone Hired at UNC:
  • Dan’s “insider” scoop about former NBA coach Michael Malone taking the North Carolina head coaching job. Malone is expected to target international talent due to his Jokic/European connections (09:00).
  • Dan notes that Billy Donovan turned down UNC, confirmed by his sources.
• Coaching “Blueprint”:
  • The panel debates whether there’s a “proper” formula for championship basketball. Current trends prioritize transfers and older, experienced players versus “homegrown” high school recruits.

Fan & Staff Reactions: Ethical and Aesthetic Debates

The Transfer/Assembly Model – Is It “Right”?

• Fritzy & Todd Express Reservations:
  • Comparing it to MLB’s Yankees (buying talent) vs. “farm system.”
• Dan’s Take:
  • "However you win—that’s all that matters. Like, you don’t go, boy, aesthetically that doesn’t look good."
• Jay Billas Insight (23:46):
  • “It’s always shifting...if you win with a group that you had, that's the blueprint...If you win with five starters that are all transfers...then that's the way.”
• Loyalty & The Transactional Era:
  • Jay Billas pushes back on the notion that the transfer portal/NIL era killed loyalty: “If you don’t like transfers, don’t take them. If you don’t want to pay the players, don’t pay them at your school and see how it works out.” (26:33)
  • “The control they had [coaches] was deemed to be illegal by the United States Supreme Court.” — Jay Billas (26:33)

Jay Billas Interview – Major Quotes & Moments

Summing Up the Championship Game

• "It was a defensive battle more than anything, really physical. Neither team shot the ball really well, but Michigan...dominant in the paint.” — Jay Billas (22:10)

Changing Recruiting Blueprint

• "Now international players are going, ‘Wait a minute, I can make more money in college?... I’ll come over.’ Not every international player is going to flood the system, but it’s an option." (26:33)

On Coach Dan Hurley’s Legacy

• “You could argue that he did a better job because his team wasn’t quite as talented...came within a couple of possessions of it.” (28:38)
• “Coach of the Year is probably the least important [award].” (29:24)

On Loyalty & Culture Despite Transfers

• On Dusty May at FAU: “His whole team stayed with him...in an age when people say it’s transactional, there’s no loyalty, they all stayed. They only left when Dusty left.” (29:45)

Coaches’ Carousel & NCAA Hypocrisy

• “[College coaching hires] would never happen in the NBA or the NFL...everyone talks about tampering with players, but tampering with coaches is overlooked.” (30:52)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:13: Opening—Michigan's win analysis; difference between "tall" and "big" players
• 06:05: Dan Hurley postgame quote on UConn’s effort and offensive rebounding
• 09:00: Michael Malone to UNC discussion; pipeline to international players
• 12:54: Poll questions about Michigan’s win and transfer-heavy teams
• 22:10: Interview with Jay Billas—summary of the championship game
• 23:46: Discussion on modern "blueprint" for winning in college basketball
• 26:33: NIL/transfer portal impact; international recruiting; Supreme Court decision
• 28:38: Evaluation of Dan Hurley’s season and legacy
• 29:45: Dusty May’s impact at FAU and Michigan; loyalty in a transactional era
• 30:52: Commentary on college coaching carousel and NCAA practices
• 33:44: First listener calls with analysis of the championship game's turning point
• 44:40: The “Dusty May Contract Game” — speculation about his future salary/rank

Memorable Listener Interaction

• Callers Identify Turning Points & Debate Coaching Jobs:
  • Andrew from Washington singles out the “hook and hold” flagrant as a key moment; other fans ask Dan which coaching jobs are now truly top five and which championship teams are most “forgettable” in hindsight.
• Listener Hannah’s Request:
  • A stay-at-home mom requests Fritzy to do a “SportsCenter tease,” highlighting the community feel of the show (36:25).

Play of the Day (43:19)

• Description: Key Michigan defensive play and a rare three-pointer in the title game’s decisive moments.
• Notable Stat: Michigan’s 25 made free throws were the most in a title game since 2009.

Standout Quotes & Exchanges

• On Team Construction:
  • “Recruiting is no longer, in my opinion, let’s just get all these great high school players...Give me somebody who’s done this, not somebody who I think can do this.”
    — Dan Patrick (10:47)
• On NIL and “Buying” Teams:
  • “If you don’t want to pay the players, don’t pay them at your school and see how it works out for you.”
    — Jay Billis (26:33)
• On Dusty May’s Impact:
  • “...Putting together a starting 5 of all transfers is smart or dumb? Well, I think last night answered that question as well, didn’t it?”
    — Fritzy Seaton (13:42)
• On the Changing Meaning of “Loyalty” in College Sports:
  • “They only left when Dusty left. And I thought that said a lot about their program and the kind of culture he believes in.”
    — Jay Billis (29:45)

Structure of College Basketball Going Forward

• Experienced transfers and international talent are now the dominant team-building strategy.
• The value of “homegrown” high school classes is lessened; results matter, not aesthetics.
• Big coaching hires increasingly come from the pro ranks or go global in recruiting.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode succinctly breaks down Michigan’s tough, physical win over UConn and the strategies behind modern championship teams in the NIL/transfer era. The insightful Jay Bilas interview provides context for how the game’s trends are evolving, while listener calls and “The Danettes” keep the tone lively and personable—offering a complete look at the shifting college hoops landscape.

Next Up:
Top of next hour: Interview with Michigan head coach Dusty May; more reactions from Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose.