The Dan Patrick Show – Best Of (March 27, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dan Patrick and his crew recap the latest action from March Madness, dissect college basketball storylines, and riff on the evolving landscape of NCAA sports, including NIL, coaching changes, and the NBA’s expansion plans. A highlight is Dan’s chat with former NBA player and current analyst Robbie Hummel, who shares wild stories from his pro career and analyzes key college matchups. As usual, the team mixes sports insights with signature banter and pop culture references.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recapping NCAA Tournament Highlights

• The crew breaks down dramatic finishes and upsets from last night’s games:
  • “Purdue over Texas at the buzzer. Iowa, Nebraska – what a strange finish that was. Illinois surprising Houston by 10, and Arizona looking—my Arizona Wildcats—dominating Arkansas 109 to 88.” – Dan Patrick (03:03)
• Big Ten’s strong showing in both football and basketball is noted, sparking thoughts about the conference’s evolving reputation.
• Preview and discussion of tonight’s key matchups and point spreads, focusing on:
  • Duke vs. St. John’s,
  • Michigan vs. Alabama,
  • Iowa State vs. Tennessee,
  • UConn vs. Michigan State.

2. The Iowa-Nebraska Four-Player Gaffe

• Detailed analysis of the bizarre ending to Iowa vs. Nebraska, where Nebraska had only four players on the floor during a pivotal moment:
  • “I think Nebraska only had four defenders on the floor.” – Marvin (05:06)
  • Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg owns the mistake:
    • “That, you know, put that one on me. It was a miscommunication and, you know, I’m the head coach. Put that one on me.” – Fred Hoiberg, via Dan Patrick (05:27)
• The crew debates rules: officials are trained to watch for six players, but not fewer than five.
• Broader implications about coaching, player focus, and the “lingering” strength of Iowa.

3. NIL & College Basketball's Changing Landscape

• Dan observes the potential for NIL deals to keep top college players from leaving early for the NBA:
  • “The wave of the future is these kids are going to make enough money to stay in college that they’re not going to leave early and maybe be a second round pick or not get drafted.” – Dan Patrick (07:20)
• Challenges for coaches like John Calipari in retaining talent year-to-year.
• The importance of experienced juniors and seniors in tournament success over “one-and-done” talents.

4. Coaching Carousel & Program Shifts

• Dan notes North Carolina’s urgency in finding a new head coach before potential domino effects (e.g., if Bill Self leaves Kansas).
• Mention of Luke Murray (Bill Murray’s son) leaving UConn, signaling changing dynamics on elite coaching staffs.

5. Robbie Hummel Interview: Stories & Analysis

Starts at 20:29

Four Players on the Floor – Analyst Perspective

• Hummel offers firsthand insight from broadcasting the Iowa-Nebraska game:
  • “I was in the middle of a thought, and then I just was like, oh my God, he’s wide open... I’ve never seen four guys on the floor out of a timeout.” – Robbie Hummel (20:55)
• Accountability for such gaffes: “It’s on both... it’s on the players to listen, it’s on the coaches to double check. And it’s just a total failure all the way around.” (21:37)

Big Ten Dominance & Team Analysis

• On Illinois’ defense: “Right now they’re guarding at a high level and we know they can score. They’re a scary team if they’re going to guard like this.” – Hummel (24:41)
• Hummel and Dan debate whether the Big Ten is more of a football or basketball conference after the latest tourney runs.

NBA Stories – Guarding Kevin Durant

• Hummel shares a vivid memory from his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where rookie teammate Gorgui Dieng taunted a slumping KD—who promptly destroyed their lead and trash-talked Dieng mercilessly:
  • “It wasn’t good D, Brew. It was a bad frickin’ shot.” – Kevin Durant, via Hummel (26:14)
  • “The whole way down, he is tractor beam on Gorgi... Jack Sikma’s screaming at Gorgi: ‘Stop talking to Kevin Durant!’” – Hummel (27:14)
• When Hummel himself was assigned to guard Durant:
  • “You’re just at his mercy. It was terrifying.” – Hummel (28:21)
  • “I followed him on a three, that was a good start. And then I actually got some stops... but it was not because it was good defense.” (29:08)

Wild Stories from Russia's Pro Leagues

• Hummel recounts his time playing in Russia, where pre-game locker room pep talks from oligarch owners ended with cash bribes for winning:
  • “You win tonight, I'll pay each of you a hundred thousand US dollars from my safe.” (30:49)
• Open admissions of bribing referees and security fears: “There was $1.5 million in cash in the locker room while we practiced.” (34:13)
• “Russia's...there's a lot going on there.” – Hummel (34:34)

Tonight’s Key Games – UConn vs. Michigan State

• “For Yukon, Terrence Reed is definitely the X factor. When he’s playing well, they’re hard to handle. Caravan's the ultimate winner.” – Hummel (35:24)

6. Naming the New Las Vegas NBA Team (41:09)

• Spirited, humorous debate on what Vegas' NBA expansion team should be called:
  • Suggestions include The Dice, The Show Boys (“That sounds like some creepy website you’re on.” – Tony Fusco, 42:25), Outlaws, Scorpions, Venom, the Diamonds, and the Excaliburs.
  • Discussion of colors, branding, and why some great names are already taken.

7. NBA Expansion: Is It Worth It? (46:24)

• Debate over the league’s talent pool supporting two new teams:
  • “You look at the money...the entrance fee is between 7 and $10 billion. The other owners are going to make probably $400–$500 million for not doing anything.” – Dan Patrick (46:46)
• Concerns raised: “Do we have enough players to expand?” referencing prior comments from Tracy McGrady.

8. Caleb Williams vs. George Gervin: The “Iceman” Trademark Battle (49:01)

• Lively legal and cultural discussion about rights to the nickname “Iceman”, with George Gervin, Caleb Williams, Chuck Liddell, and even a Top Gun reference in the mix.
  • “If you line up Chuck Liddell, you line up Ice Gervin, you line up Caleb Williams...who is Iceman?...If I’m Gervin, I’m wearing my uniform.” – Paulie & Crew (53:52)
• The consensus is respect for Gervin’s claim, even if the legal paperwork wasn’t properly filed.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On NIL keeping players in college:
  “These kids are going to make enough money to stay in college that they’re not going to leave early and maybe be a second round pick or not get drafted.” – Dan Patrick (07:20)

• On coaching accountability:
  “Put that one on me. It was a miscommunication.” – Fred Hoiberg, via Dan Patrick (05:27)

• On facing Kevin Durant:
  “He’s just at his mercy. It was terrifying.” – Robbie Hummel (28:21)

• On Russian basketball payouts:
  “Owner comes in the locker room and goes, ‘Guys, you win tonight, I’ll pay each of you a hundred thousand US dollars from my safe.’” – Robbie Hummel (30:49)

• Team name roasts:
  “The Show Boys. That sounds like some creepy website you’re on.” – Tony Fusco (42:24)
  “Stay out of my personal life.” – Marvin (42:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• NCAA Tournament recap & Big Ten dominance: 03:03–07:20
• Iowa-Nebraska four-player incident & reactions: 04:08–06:02
• NIL, recruiting, and program-building chat: 07:20–15:29
• UConn staff changes and coaching rumors: 09:00–11:00
• Robbie Hummel interview: 20:29–35:51
  • Four player foul-up: 20:29–22:41
  • Big Ten/Illinois analysis: 24:07–25:44
  • NBA (Kevin Durant story): 26:01–29:39
  • Overseas corruption: 30:08–34:34
  • Tonight's matchups: 34:41–35:51
• NBA Vegas team naming: 41:09–44:13
• NBA expansion debate: 46:24–47:58
• "Iceman" nickname debate: 49:01–54:36

Tone & Style

The episode is energetic, irreverent, and rooted in locker-room camaraderie. The hosts' quick banter (often veering into comedic tangents), paired with genuine sports analysis, makes the content approachable for devoted fans and casual listeners alike. The Robbie Hummel segment stands out for both humor and behind-the-scenes candor.

For New Listeners

This episode delivers the best of what The Dan Patrick Show offers: sharp sports analysis, high-profile guests, real locker-room stories, and a healthy dose of fun. If you missed the March Madness action or want to understand college basketball’s changing dynamics, this episode catches you up—with laughs along the way.