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Hour 1 – Michigan Crowned, Jay Bilas

The Dan Patrick Show

Tue Apr 07 2026

Summary

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.

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Transcript

Dan Patrick (0:00)

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Dan Patrick (1:27)

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Fox Sports Radio Announcer (2:09)

You are listening to the Dan Patrick show on Fox Sports Radio.

Dan Patrick (2:13)

Ah, welcome to the program. Dan and the Dan Eds. Dan Patrick Show. Little sleep deprived but ready to go. Everybody's here. Fritzy Seaton, Marv Paulie, yours truly. The Back Room guys as well. Congratulations to the Michigan Wolverines as they knock off Connecticut 69, 63 and for entertainment purposes. Connecticut covered the six and a half, first title for Michigan in basketball since 1989. So you get the women's champion, UCLA, you get the men's champion, Michigan, and you get Indiana football for the Big Ten, taking all three. All right, we got phone calls coming up. Eight, seven seven, three DP show got a busy show. We'll talk to Jay Billis from the mothership coming up. Dusty May, Michigan head coach, will join us in an hour from now. Reggie Miller stopping by and the former fab fiver Jalen Rose will stop by. We'll have a poll question. Play of the day Stat of the day. Stat of the day brought to you by Panini America, the official trading cards of the program. First hour brought to you by Rec Tech. Our meat Fridays got a whole lot better. You got more heat, more consistent temperature control and you got a grill that, well, it's built like a tank. It'll last for years. ReTech r e c t e q.com check out our starting lineup there. Nothing compares to cooking on a Rec tech. There were a lot of things I thought when I'm watching the game last night. First and foremost, Michigan look like an NBA team as far as the age of those players. And there's a difference in having tall guys and big guys. So like a big guy, just different, looks like a grown man as opposed to somebody who's just tall. And Michigan was front and center with that. I don't know if the background there, the, the shooting background that I talked about yesterday. If you haven't shot on a basket where there is depth perception, you don't know what that feeling is like. And even if you do shoot on that for a couple of games, couple of practices, it's still a little bit jolting there. But there was some bad shooting last night, certainly with the Connecticut Huskies, you know, relying on their three point shot and it wasn't there. It's amazing Connecticut stayed in that game. But I'm going to give credit to offensive rebounding and, and just sort of the grit of Connecticut because I thought Michigan was a far better team than Connecticut. But the best team doesn't always win. And there were a couple of moments where if you make a hoop, now all of a sudden it's down to four, but then they go back and then they make a hoop. Now all of a sudden it's a five point turnaround. So Connecticut was in that game and they didn't play well at all. But getting, you know, Michigan dominated in the paint, three point shooting was really bad for Connecticut. And, you know, it cost them in the end. Also, free throw shooting. Michigan went to the line and they made those free throws. Yes, Paulie.

Dan Patrick (9:00)

They've got some older guys on that team. Hey, but Dusty May did what you're. He didn't do anything that anybody else couldn't have done. He took advantage of it. He took advantage of the rules here, getting players overseas, players that used to not be eligible, but Nil has made these players eligible that they can have professional experience. Illinois did this. And by the way, Mike Malone is the new head coach at North Carolina. It was surprising. I wasn't shocked because I told you on March 25th, my college basketball source gave me the usual suspects. You know, who was going to get this job? Dusty May. And I said, no, the athletic director is not going to let him go. I got that on, you know, through reliable source. Okay, well, Tommy Lloyd, then, from Arizona. Yep. I think he's in play. Nate Oats at Alabama. Yes, I think he's in play. Bryce Drew. Yes, I think he's in play. And then my source at the very end of his text message to me goes, here's a name for you, and nobody's going to talk about this. I think this might work out. And he said, mike Malone. So when I said that on the show, I'm going. I'm going to get crushed in North Carolina if I say, hey, and keep an eye on Mike Malone, who's been an NBA coach. He was a college coach back in the 90s, and I'm thinking now he's an analyst on the Mothership. He was the Nuggets head coach. And here we are, Mike Malone. Michael Malone is the North Carolina head coach. And this is what's going to happen, college basketball fans. Michael Malone is going to do what Illinois did and some of these other schools are doing. He's going over to the Balkans and getting some of those big boys. Keep in mind, you know, Joker, he. He helped develop Joker and the connections with Jokic, his agent, to the, you know, Serbia to the Balkans. That's what's going to happen. They're coming. He's bringing those players over. And I'm just curious about now. His intensity survived 82 games. His intensity can survive 30, 35 games at North Carolina, but, boy, that was a long haul. And I was told Billy Donovan yesterday declined the opportunity. From what I was told, Donovan wanted to wait till the end of the Chicago Bulls season. The Bulls cleared house yesterday, except for Billy Donovan. But Michael Malone is North Carolina's new head coach. And I don't know if there's a proper way to build a contender now, a championship team. We'll talk to Jay Billis about that. But it certainly feels like, I mean, you know, keep in mind Michigan didn't get these great players. You got this guy from uab. You got. This guy's a backup center at ucla. Like, they just kind of pieced it together. But this is recruiting. It's just different than recruiting in high school. Now you're recruiting and you're getting somebody who could be 21 or 22 years of age. You still got to make it all fit together. And this is what Dusty May did. Recruiting is no longer, in my opinion. Hey, John. John Calipari's blueprint at Kentucky is, let's just get all these great high school players. I want, you know, proof of concept here. I've said this all season long. Give me somebody who's done this, not somebody who I think can do this. And coaches are. Now, look. Look at Connecticut, Dan Hurley, he might get one McDonald's All American, but then he's going to be piecing it together. He's going to get guys who have played elsewhere. That seems to be the blueprint. But we'll talk to Jay Billis about that coming up. All righty. Seaton poll question for hour one is

Jay Billis (23:46)

Well, I think it's the same as it's always been. You know, you want to get the best players you can get. And we see it in different ways. You know, when John Calipari was at Kentucky and Duke has been doing this, they get great young talent and they certainly have brought in and had some older players around, whether they're transfers or retention guys. But you know, it kind of depends on who you talk to. You know, if a team wins with, with a group that they've had, that's the blueprint. Then a team like Michigan wins when they've got five starters that are all transfers, even though Namari Burnett was there last year, well, then that's the way. And if you win with one and dones, well, you got to have pros. You know, it's so it's always shifting. And that's one of the odd things about college football and college basketball is these narratives that around the game, you know, and the narrative now is it's all transactional. As if it wasn't transactional before you had to sign a letter of intent, you recruited and brought in and there was a set of rules and all that. It was transactional then too. You can't have relationships. Well, every team that lost in the NCAA term was hugging each other and crying in the locker room. So the idea that just because they're paid now, it's, it's, you know, it's different and you know, now they don't care as much and all that stuff is just nonsense. And you know, I mean, I don't want to beat this to death, but you know, it kind of made me laugh the way we talk about players. And then recently with all the coaching movement, you know, nobody says anything to coaches about loyalty and commitment when they signed long term contracts and they leave skid marks on these schools when they get about a better opportunity and one player transfers and all of a sudden it's loyalty or you can't go through adversity or all this nonsense and, and I don't understand why we keep doing that. Maybe it makes us clutch our pearls and feel better, but we need to stop doing that.

Jay Billis (26:33)

Well, it'll be, I mean, it'll be more prevalent. You may see it more because you can make money in college now. So now international players are going, wait a minute, I don't need to stay here and play for less money in their home countries or their home regions when they can come and go to college and play in this system. So it's an option for them. Not every international player is going to flood the system. In the United States, and we've had international players forever. We've got a few more of them now, and Illinois got more of them than just about anybody else. But that is akin to the one and done. And now that we've got the transfer portal, doesn't the one and done argument seem kind of quaint? Now nobody's complaining about that. We got something new to complain about now. But you know, to me, and you mentioned control, and I get it, you know, football and basketball coaches are kind of control freaks. But, you know, they had their way for a long time and the control they had was deemed to be illegal by the United States Supreme Court. So they're going to have to do it a little bit differently. And really, if you don't like transfers, don't take them. And, and you hear now nobody talks about education anymore. Not true. But if you want to talk about education, talk about at your school. You know, if you don't want to pay the players, don't pay them at your school and see how it works out for you. But with the coaches making 8 million, $9 million a year, all that stuff, it seems kind of ridiculous to moan about. You know, somebody said, and I don't know what, what, I don't know what the roster cost Michigan, and I don't care. Some people may. And that's fine. But somebody said it cost them $10 million to put that team on the floor. Their coaching staff makes more than that. And does somebody want to argue that the. That somehow Yaxel Linda Borg is not worth as much as their top assistant? I would. I would. I would contest that. I think that's true.