The Dan Patrick Show – March 26, 2026 (Hour 3)

Featuring: Mac McClung, Dan Hurley

Podcast by iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

In this third hour, Dan Patrick delivers insightful and humorous analysis of current sports headlines, hosts candid conversations with G League all-time leading scorer Mac McClung and UConn men’s basketball head coach Dan Hurley, and interacts with his upbeat cast of co-hosts. The episode is sports-focused with some pop culture chatter, centering on perseverance in pro basketball, college basketball’s evolving landscape, and coaching philosophies at the elite level.

Key Segments & Insights

I. Lighthearted Sports Banter & Poll Questions

(02:41 – 04:15)

• Dan and the crew discuss Opening Day in MLB and upcoming March Madness Sweet 16 matchups.
• Poll questions drive engagement, such as: preferred MLB venue names (“park” vs “field” vs “stadium”), and playful introspection over which show clip “cost” them an Emmy.
• “Park” is winning as the favorite term for a baseball venue ("Park right now is leading with 59% of the vote..." – Seaton, 04:04).

II. Interview: Mac McClung, G League’s All-Time Leading Scorer

(04:15 – 13:39)

Breaking the Scoring Record

• Mac’s reaction to breaking the G League scoring record:
  • “My teammates...were like, you're getting this record tonight. So they had my support and they really wanted me to break it. So it was a really cool moment.” (Mac McClung, 04:45)

On Scoring & Limits

• Reflects on personal limits:
  • “The 59 was pretty exhausting...I'd probably say that's close to my limit.” (Mac McClung, 05:01)

Navigating Professional Basketball’s Margins

• Sums up the struggle for stable NBA roles:
  • "A lot of times I've been told, you know, you're an NBA player...I was like, well, you got to give me that opportunity." (06:00)

Defensive Criticisms & Rebuttal

• On being labeled defensively challenged:
  • “My two games this year...I was actually leading the league in steals. So...there’s always going to be something, man.” (06:29)

Starstruck Moments & Joining the Lakers

• Surreal rookie moment:
  • “That team was LeBron, Carmelo Rondo, Dwight Howard...what am I in some video game right now?” (08:00)
• On maintaining respect on the floor:
  • “At the end of the day, we're all competitors...you kind of flip that switch once you get on the floor. But there's a level of respect...” (08:00)

Dunking Fame & Basketball Skills Balance

• "Do you think you're too good at dunking?":
  • “Maybe something from the outside...but...these scouts and these teams...their job is to know basketball players. That’s just something I got to be a part of...I’m never going to be like, oh, man, I hate dunking now because of that. Like, that's a beautiful part of my life.” (08:30-09:01)

Not Participating in the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest

• On the surprising omission:
  • “Quite frankly, they didn't really want me in it this year...some things happened...they said a couple guys didn't want to do it if I was in it. And I was like, okay, well, I don't want to ruin that.” (09:10-10:03)

Mac’s Viral High School Days & Career Reflection

• “It kind of felt like we were...this band that was traveling. It was like me and my best friends, man. Such a cool experience.” (11:33)
• On the future:
  • “I really truly believe I’m not a victim of anything, man. So whatever happens is how it’s supposed to be.” (12:25-12:55)

Notable / Fun Exchanges

• Dan: “Do you introduce yourself to LeBron or does he say hello to you?”
  Mac: “I definitely introduced myself. And, yeah, I don't think he...would ever have to introduce himself to me.” (07:34-07:40)

Mac’s Official Measurements

• “I measured 6-2, 185.” (12:59)

III. Studio Debrief: Mac McClung’s Journey

(13:39 – 17:20)

• Dan relates Mac to other enigmatic scorers (e.g., Jimmer Fredette), highlighting how some talents thrive at one level but struggle to stick in the NBA.
• Panel discusses how the NBA rewards size, positional versatility, and off-ball skills, citing “if he was 6'6, there's not a question of whether he's on the NBA roster.” (16:08)

IV. Interview: Dan Hurley, UConn Men’s Basketball Head Coach

(22:25 – 37:14)

Tournament Poise & Technical Fouls

• Dan asks about Hurley's tournament behavior:
  • Hurley: “I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a technical in an NCAA tournament game...maybe this time of year, you know, everyone knows that everyone's watching.” (22:25)

Consulting Other Coaches: The Lakers Opportunity

• On calling Tom Izzo for advice about the Lakers:
  • “He walked me through...the decision making of making that move to the NBA and the pros and cons...our sport right now...it's so unregulated, it's such a mess...I would have considered this more now than I did back when college basketball...was more regulated.” (23:52-25:00)

Coaching Longevity & Identity

• “I can't see myself coaching at [Izzo’s] age, but I also can't see myself not coaching.” (25:06)

On Being Out-coached & March Madness

• “I think that's a little bit of a, whoever won the game out-coached the other guy thing...I think it's more about matchups...halftime adjustments...way overrated.” (25:59)

Seeding, Tournament Humor, and Rivalries

• On St. John's NCAA seed:
  Hurley: “Crap...and then having the...two Big East teams...in the same region...probably the same.”
• On the committee:
  “They got a weird sense of humor or they do a great job of trying to give the people what they want.” (26:34-26:55)

Is UConn a "Cinderella"?

• “No, I don’t think so. I think we’ve been...consistently great the whole year...We’ve played...as good a non-conference (schedule) as anyone.” (27:37)

The Future of Mid-Majors

• On blue blood dominance:
  • “I think more high majors are going to spend more money this offseason. So I think it's going to get even tougher...But I think you'll see even more international players coming into college basketball.” (28:35-29:21)

Transfers vs. Recruits

• Prefers developing "homegrown" talent but supplements with transfers for “what you need in the portal.” (29:31-30:02)

NIL Money in Recruiting

• Largest ask from a player:
  • “4 and a half million, I think.” (30:08)

Swapping Jobs with Geno Auriemma

• “Geno would obviously do better coaching the men's team, coaching the women, because...maybe the best coach of all time...I would be more relaxed...don’t know what type of stress I would create.” (31:01)

Growing Up in Jersey City

• On city upbringing shaping him:
  • “You feel like you could communicate with a very diverse group of people...comfortable out on the street corner, but...a comfortability in the boardroom.” (35:49)

Practice Regime as a Kid

• Hurley’s parents running drills:
  • “My mom would have a whistle, and she would put us through the paces as the neighbors...would be looking out at us in astonishment.” (34:10)

Preparation for Michigan State

• “This is actually a good time of year, Dan, because the practices are short, the hay is in the barn...You feel a lot less pressure this year...feels like a lot of pressure’s off.” (36:36)

Notable Humor

• Dan: “Did anybody have a pool in Jersey City?”
  Hurley: “There was one...literally one pool in this...two block radius. And on the way to the park...we had to dribble past that pool while they were splashing around barbecuing...” (33:10-33:54)

V. Closing Thoughts and Crew Banter

(13:39–19:56, 40:36–47:57)

• Studio analysis: comparing current MLB odds, discussing the Dodgers’ World Series projections, and riffing on the nature of upstarts in sports.
• Humorous listener call-in: handling a hypothetical coworker who suddenly wears a toupee.
• Show team talks about self-deprecating humor and office etiquette.

Notable Quotes

• “I almost like was laughing, I was like, well, you got to give me that opportunity...I'm just trying to make the most of whatever this situation is. It's tough, man.”
  — Mac McClung (06:00)

• “There's always going to be something, man...just trying to find that opportunity in that right situation, man.”
  — Mac McClung (06:29)

• “Our sport right now...it’s so unregulated, it’s such a mess...I would have considered this more now [to take an NBA job] than...back when college basketball...was more regulated.”
  — Dan Hurley on college vs. NBA coaching (24:00)

• “I can't see myself coaching at his [Izzo's] age, but I also can't see myself not coaching.”
  — Dan Hurley (25:06)

• “If you had Mack [McClung] there and just say, go out there and be [Allen] Iverson...When he's dunking, he's dunking in traffic. Show me a great dunker. I'll show you a great dunker who dunks in traffic.”
  — Dan Patrick (16:22/14:00)

• “I think you're going to see even more international players coming into college basketball. I just think the inventory is going to grow...that, I think, is just going to create more inventory of talent that the mid major...ends up with.”
  — Dan Hurley (28:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Poll Questions and Opening Banter: 02:41–04:15
• Mac McClung Interview: 04:15–13:39
• Studio Reflection on McClung: 13:39–17:20
• Dan Hurley Interview: 22:25–37:14
• MLB Odds & Closing Banter: 40:36–47:57

Original Tone & Language

Dan Patrick’s rapport with his guests and co-hosts remains light, self-aware, and witty. McClung’s responses are humble and authentic, reflecting resilience and perspective gained from his unique pro basketball journey. Hurley is candid, introspective, and peppered with dry humor, particularly in discussing coaching stresses and childhood anecdotes. The show maintains a relaxed but insightful tone, appealing to hardcore sports fans and casual listeners alike.

For New Listeners

This episode showcases the engaging, humorous, and sometimes poignant angle that Dan Patrick brings to sports talk. Expect thoughtful analysis on sports careers, the business and drama behind basketball's success stories, and coaching life—plus some fun, relatable moments from calls and crew debates. A must-listen if you care about how athletes and coaches survive and adapt in today’s competitive sports landscape.