The Dan Patrick Show

Hour 3 – Saving Cinderella, Best and Worst of the Weekend
Date: March 23, 2026
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Overview

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show delves into the evolving landscape of college basketball—specifically, the diminishing Cinderella stories in March Madness due to dominance by major conferences. Dan and the Danettes explore whether this trend will continue, debate ways mid-majors could adapt, discuss March Madness highlights and heartbreaks, spin some memorable tales from their own lives, and take entertaining calls from listeners sharing their weekend highs and lows. The hour is a lively mix of sports analysis, humor, and personal connection.

Key Topics & Insights

The Endangered "Cinderella" in College Basketball

[02:18 - 06:11]

• For the second year in a row, every Sweet 16 team comes from the five major conferences, raising concerns about the future for underdogs ("Cinderellas").
• Dan points out that while Cinderellas like Miami, Ohio, VCU, and High Point are fun, true Cinderella status requires a team to make it to week two—not just provide first-week upsets.
• Dan Patrick [03:34]:
  "Do I think this is the future or an aberration? I think it’s more of the future here of these Power Five conferences."
• Highlights how Power Five teams’ salary budgets now edge out mid-majors; for example, Iowa and Nebraska are at $7.2 million, others at $11 million—and rising.
• Seth Greenberg’s earlier comment: treat mid-majors like junior colleges—develop players for two years, then let them transfer, possibly with a finder's fee for the originating coach/school (e.g., $50,000).
• Comparison to coaching buyouts: Will player buyouts be next? Drake’s coach moving to Iowa cited as an example—should Drake be compensated?

The Mid-Major Dilemma & NCAA's Responsibility

[04:52 - 05:22]

• Paulie jokes about Dan as NCAA president, but Dan continues:
  "I’m asking the NCAA to come up with some kind of blueprint, game plan, PowerPoint."
• Suggests incentivizing mid-majors instead of leaving them “hanging” when top players and coaches are lured away.

Poll Questions & Tournament Odds

[05:34 - 07:10]

• Ongoing poll questions include:
  • "Which states dislike each other most?" (Michigan/Ohio leading.)
  • "Best time zone to live in?" (Central winning.)
• Recap of Sweet 16 betting odds:
  • Purdue -7.5 vs Texas, Arizona -8.5 vs Arkansas, Michigan -10.5 vs Alabama.
• Texas, Alabama, Iowa, and Arkansas have the longest odds to reach the national title game.
• Show has fun with listeners' confusion over their daily wacky poll format.

Listener Calls: Best & Worst of the Weekend

Coaching and March Madness Emotions

[07:10 - 09:00]

• Josh in Texas:
  • Best: Iowa & Nebraska coaches' “geeking out” on offensive sets.
  • Best: Maryland women's coach Brenda Frese’s tough love moment as “great coach-athlete relationship.”
  • Worst: Displeasure at Todd Golden, quipping, “Glad Iowa took them down.”
  • On sports: “Honestly the best thing to ever happen to me and also the bane of my existence.”
• Dan [07:58]:
  "It giveth, it taketh away. That's why it's unbelievable...that wave of emotion."
  • Acknowledges that while Cinderellas are fun, he prefers top programs in the end:
    "I like a nice story for maybe a week. And then I want a great program [to win]."

Iconic Tournament Moments

[09:00 - 09:17]

• Paulie highlights Vandy-Nebraska:
  "That shot on Saturday...half court banks in and out...would have been played for decades."

Fun with Old Photos

[09:50 - 11:32]

• A caller brings up an old picture of Todd that looks like Mark Ruffalo.
• Todd admits he wishes he used his youthful looks to “do more damage”—the crew riffs on whether that’s the best phrasing.
• Dan:
  "As the father of three daughters, if I knew you were saying that back then, we'd have a problem."

More Best & Worst & March Madness Banter

[11:45 - 14:02]

• Jamie in Colorado swears by moving time zones to optimize sports watching:
  "I bought a property in Colorado...specifically to watch sports."
• Zach in Knoxville enjoys watching coaches get bounced, but dislikes seeing coaches throw players/staff “under the bus”—nicknames a favorite NCAA starting five of “three Luke Harangodys.”
• The crew heaps praise on Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo:
  Dan [13:36]: “Man, I love watching her play.”

Family Sports Pride & Music at Weddings

[14:02 - 15:54]

• Billy in Iowa’s family supports rival colleges; Dan jokes about choosing wedding songs for his daughter’s upcoming marriage:
  "My daughter gets married in August...I don't want her to do something because I'm suggesting."
• The Danettes riff on wedding music, potential special guests (hint: Darius Rucker), and needing to be “sedated” for the emotions.

Standout Segment: Dealing with Emotion at Weddings

[15:54 - 39:49]

• Dan worries about holding it together for his daughter’s wedding, admitting he cried at his son’s and has “stage fright” at live events.
  Dan [16:02]: “This is going to be terrible…It’s hard to say you dread your daughter getting married, but I…I just dread the speech that I have to give.”
• Dan considers beta blockers to calm nerves.
• Discussion around strategies for not crying (focus straight ahead, stare at a “Fritzi,” use “blinders”, or imagine the bill).
• Listeners and Danettes provide advice: have a video backup for the speech, practice at rehearsal dinners, or bring a son as “interpreter.”
• Dan reflects on becoming more emotional with age and admits to crying at Broadway’s Book of Mormon, the Olympics closing, and ESPN’s reunion.
• Philosophical musings:
  Todd [37:07]: "The word stage fright sounds like a terrible thing...but it's actually a very sweet thing that you're experiencing."
• Dan deflects:
  "No, not at all. Stage fright isn't a good thing. No. Because I can't get through the speech."

Sports Gambling Heartbreak: Dylan’s $5,000 Parlay

[24:00 - 28:43]

• Dylan updates the crew on his failed 10-leg parlay—won 8 of 10 but Akron failed to cover, losing over $5,000.
• Dylan [24:40]:
  "I needed Akron plus 8 and Arizona minus 31...Arizona covered the 31, Akron did not, and I did not cash out."
• Social media was, in his words, “very rude” about not cashing out.
• Dan jokingly commiserates:
  "Dylan came away with zip because of Akron."
• Recaps current favorites for the NCAA tourney (Duke, Houston) and the Danettes’ disappointment draft standings—with losing being the goal (fewest tournament wins).
• Dylan admits he avoided betting the following weekend due to frustration.

Listener Calls: More Laughter, Sports & Life

[29:08 - 40:54]

• Jeff in Indianapolis shares wedding advice and the tears that followed his daughter's music surprise.
• Steve from Houston swears by beta blockers for keeping nerves in check during his own daughter’s wedding (which he also officiated).
• The team jokes about hiring “enforcers” (or installing an electric fence!) to keep photographers off the wedding aisle.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Dan Patrick [03:34]:
  "Do I think this is the future or an aberration? I think it’s more of the future here of these Power Five conferences."

• Caller (Jamie, 12:14):
  "I bought a property in Colorado...specifically to watch sports because it is simply the greatest time zone."

• Dan Patrick [16:02]:
  “This is going to be terrible…It’s hard to say you dread your daughter getting married, but I…I just dread the speech that I have to give.”

• Dylan [24:40]:
  "Arizona covered the 31, Akron did not, and I did not cash out."

• Todd [37:07]:
  "The word stage fright sounds like a terrible thing...but it's actually a very sweet thing that you're experiencing."

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• [02:18] – Discussing the end of Cinderella teams, Power Five dominance, and compensation for mid-majors.
• [07:10] – Kicking off "Best and Worst of the Weekend" calls.
• [09:00] – Vandy–Nebraska game’s almost-miracle moment.
• [09:50] – Listeners riff on Todd’s throwback photo: Mark Ruffalo doppelganger.
• [11:45] – Listener’s March Madness time zone strategy.
• [13:36] – Women’s NCAA shout-out: Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo.
• [14:02] – College pride and wedding song discussion.
• [15:54] – Dan's emotional “wedding meltdown” segment.
• [24:00] – Dylan’s crushing gambling loss and the disappointment draft.
• [29:08] – Listener wedding stories, beta blocker debate, and sentimental advice.
• [34:57] – Dan admits to stage fright and reflectively discusses becoming more emotional.
• [47:21] – Heartfelt calls about fatherhood, losses, and legacy.

Tone & Style

• Warm, self-deprecating, and quick-witted throughout.
• Combines serious analysis (state of college hoops, athletics compensation) with barbershop banter and family stories.
• Listener engagement is high—callers are made to feel at home, and their stories often spark both humor and honesty from the crew.

In Summary

• The hour balances concerns over the ever-shrinking role for Cinderella teams in college basketball, possible reforms for mid-majors, and sports fandom's emotional highs and lows.
• The show shifts smoothly from bracketology and betting heartbreaks to earnest, relatable conversations about family, emotions, and life’s most meaningful moments.
• All this is kept light and relatable by Dan and the Danettes’ trademark camaraderie, humor, and vulnerability.