The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 1: Round 1 Upsets, Adam Lefkoe

Date: March 20, 2026
Host: Dan Patrick, with the Dan Patrick Show crew
Guest: Adam Lefkoe (TNT NCAA host)
Main Theme: March Madness Opening Round Upsets, Tournament Reactions, and the Impact of NIL

Overview

This episode kicks off on a Friday morning after a dramatic first March Madness round, with Dan and the Danettes recapping upsets, memorable games, and broadcasting quirks. The conversation includes a wide-ranging discussion with Adam Lefkoe from TNT, who is covering the NCAA tournament and shares an insider look at studio dynamics, player impact, and the changing economics of college sports.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. March Madness Round One Recap

Timestamps: 02:53, 05:21, 08:59–11:19

• Major Upsets:
  • VCU over North Carolina in OT
  • High Point over Wisconsin
  • Duke survives Siena
  • Texas (11) over BYU (6)
• Cinderella Moments:
  • The excitement of "small school" stories — High Point and VCU get national spotlight
  • The importance of a deep tournament run for underdog schools (media exposure, interviews, recognition)
  • High Point’s campus amenities (steakhouse, free ice cream) spark playful banter
    • “High Point has been a bougie hot school for a while in the culture…” — Paulie (06:47)
• Player Stand-outs:
  • Chase Johnston (High Point) — notable for mostly shooting threes, delivers a pivotal two-point bucket
  • Robbie Avila (“St. Louis Cream, Abdul Jabbar”) and memories of legendary tournament runs by little-known players

2. College Basketball Scheduling Inequality

Timestamps: 09:01–11:19

• High Point Coach Flynn Clayman Sounds Off:
  • Frustration over lack of scheduling opportunities for mid-majors; 22 wins out of 23, no movement in ranking metrics
  • “We couldn’t get games. They couldn’t get games…” — Flynn Clayman (09:18)
• Dan’s Perspective:
  • Power programs avoid dangerous non-conference opponents; the system favors “haves” over “have-nots”
  • Neutral/road games rarely happen; best hope is a tournament like Maui Invitational

3. Big Money in College Hoops: NIL Impact

Timestamps: 11:33–14:52, 27:57–29:40

• AJ DeBanza’s Price Tag:
  • Reports BYU paid $5–7 million (NIL) for freshman star; 35-point debut, but only first-round tournament exit
  • Is a one-year star worth the investment? Dan and the Danettes debate the merits:
    • “Is that worth five to seven million dollars? I guess it’s in the eye of the beholder.” — Dan Patrick (13:16)
• Where the Sport is Headed:
  • Lefkoe and Dan discuss “oil money and tech money” influencing program strength (e.g., Silicon Valley’s investment in BYU, Texas schools rising with resources)
  • One influential donor can change competitive balance overnight

4. Underdog Mindsets and Tournament Magic

Timestamps: 14:52–15:55

• “David vs. Goliath” Factor:
  • All D1 players want to prove themselves, especially under-recruited kids vs. blue-bloods
  • Observing confidence swings: underdogs gaining belief, favorites showing nerves

5. Poll Question: What Was the “High Point” of Opening Day?

Timestamps: 16:04–18:28, 24:42–25:32, 40:19

• Choices:
  • High Point upsets Wisconsin
  • Siena nearly topples Duke
  • Texas beats BYU
  • VCU overcomes a 19-point deficit to beat North Carolina
• Dan’s Pick: VCU over UNC — emblematic of both underdog grit and traditional power collapse
• Early Results: 54% favored VCU’s comeback over UNC (40:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Studio Banter & Show Dynamics:

• On Marvin’s “Suspension”:

  • “I want to personally apologize...I will never, ever put Anthony Davis on your top five all-time college basketball list.” — Marvin (04:11)
  • Dan and crew riff on Marvin’s absence, blaming both a top-5 list “sin” and his letting a previous day’s F-bomb air live

• Legendary NCAA Heroes Nostalgia:

  • “We’re still looking back at [Ali] Farokhmanesh, Fennis Dembo…” — Dan Patrick (08:37)
  • “Are you thinking Herald ‘The Show’ Arcenaux?” – Paulie (08:44)

High Point’s Cinderella Win:

• “For the first time in program history, High Point breaks through. We will see you in the round of 32.” — Westwood One Announcer (07:07)

Adam Lefkoe Segment

Timestamps: 24:06–38:37

• On VCU-UNC Comeback:

  • “VCU comeback is that great tournament experience where one team is white-knuckling and the other has a dude off the bench dropping 34.” — Adam Lefkoe (24:57)

• On Duke’s Scare:

  • “Duke getting scared but not losing is a perfect scenario because we want our top seeds to get the ever-living bejesus scared out of them. But we’d also like to see Duke/Kansas in the Sweet 16.” — Adam Lefkoe (24:57)

• Behind the Studio Scenes:

  • Jamal Mashburn’s unflappable confidence in the higher seeds, even amid an upset threat
  • Bruce Pearl’s infectious energy post-segment: “He wishes he could do a segment right afterwards.” — Lefkoe (27:46)

• On NIL and Tech/Oil Money:

  • “Money is imaginary to them…that money that doesn’t even feel tangible…and oil and tech right now is [where it’s at].” — Lefkoe (29:41)

• Shaq on Podcasting:

  • “He was like, drums are black people stuff, flats are white people stuff. And he says it so definitively...” — Lefkoe (32:52)
  • Lefkoe describes “white people stuff, black people stuff” locker room game, noting Shaq’s strong opinions on everything—even water.

• Final Four Surprise Picks:

  • “Santa Clara could take down Kentucky....Miami Ohio story continues and they knock off Tennessee...Northern Iowa over St. John’s would be unbelievable...I think Kansas makes a run to Indy.” — Lefkoe (35:22)

• Big East Nostalgia:

  • “Those MSG Big East tournaments felt bigger than the NCAA tournaments...we’re defined by contracts of money right now and not John Thompson. It was just a different feel.” — Lefkoe (36:55)

Lighter Moments

• Corduroy fashion discussion — Dan admits his fondness for “corduroy everything”
• Lefkoe’s toddler son calls him by his “full government name” when he sees him on TV (34:59)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:40: Food discussion and “Meat Friday” running gag
• 04:11: Marvin’s “apology” for missing the show
• 06:47: High Point school/campus quirks
• 09:18: High Point head coach Flynn Clayman’s comments on scheduling and “quad one” frustration
• 13:16: AJ DeBanza discussion — money and impact (NIL’s effect)
• 16:04: Poll question debate — “What was the high point?”
• 24:06–38:37: Adam Lefkoe interview — deep dive on upsets, NIL, inside stories, future picks
• 35:22: Lefkoe’s bracket surprises and upset predictions
• 36:55: Big East and conference realignment nostalgia

Episode Flow & Tone

The show maintains the friendly, joking chemistry among Dan and the “Danettes,” balancing irreverent humor with sharp sports insight. The guest segment with Adam Lefkoe stands out for its energy and insider tidbits, with quick-witted banter, trivia, and bracket speculation. Listeners gain both strong analysis and the playful, everyman perspective on March Madness.

Conclusion

Hour 1 of The Dan Patrick Show delivers a brisk, engaging rundown of March Madness’ chaotic opening acts. Through upsets, underdog stories, and an enthusiastic studio peek from Adam Lefkoe, the episode captures the fun, unpredictability, and culture of tournament basketball — all while interrogating the changing landscape due to NIL and conference realignment. It’s essential listening for sports fans seeking both informed recap and behind-the-scenes flavor as the tournament unfolds.