The Dan Patrick Show: "Best Of" — March 19, 2026

Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show
Host: Dan Patrick & The Danettes
Notable Guest: Tracy McGrady (NBA Hall of Famer)
Episode Theme: March Madness, Celebrity Brackets, NBA Expansion, and the Disappointment Draft

Episode Overview

This high-spirited episode of The Dan Patrick Show dives headfirst into the buzz of March Madness, featuring lively debates about NCAA tournament picks, the arrival of “the Disappointment Draft,” and the return of their Celebrity Bracket Challenge. NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady joins for an insightful and entertaining conversation about the state of the NBA, expansion teams, player legacy, and his innovation in one-on-one basketball leagues. The Danettes keep things loose and irreverent as always, sharing personal admissions and engaging in their signature on-air camaraderie.

Main Discussion Points

1. March Madness Mania

• Opening Vibes (03:20-06:35)

  • Spirit is high as the show launches into “Every day is March Madness,” with playful banter about brackets, watching games at Dave & Buster’s, and the pressure of filling out NCAA brackets at the last minute.
  • Dan teases his national championship pick but keeps it secret to avoid “shifting the odds.”
    "You might be surprised who I'm picking to win the national championship, but I'm not going to tell you right now. I don't want to change your opinion on your bracket..." (06:11)

• Celebrity Bracket Challenge (04:39-06:31)

  • Notable participants: John Smoltz, Mark Cuban, Rebecca Lowe, Roger Bennett, Guy Fieri, Philip Rivers, Reggie Miller, and many more.
  • Paulie jokes about celebrity selections: "I could just picture [Ovechkin] sitting there going, Duke, Sienna, I like Sienna. They're scrappy." (05:32)

2. College Hoops Talk and Stat of the Day

• Underdogs and Upstarts (09:14-17:26)
  • Dan discusses the allure of early March Madness rounds ("all this is just survival") and how it feels like “cramming for a final.”
  • The show praises athletes like High Point’s Chase Johnston, who attempted 132 threes and only 4 twos all season.
    • Dan: "He makes 48 and a half percent from three point range. Seaton, that would be stat of the day." (15:50)
  • Amusing sidebar on campus/geographic trivia, High Point, Wisconsin’s actual highest point (Tim’s Hill).

3. NCAA Tournament: “Disappointment Draft”

• Concept Explained (11:13; revisited 38:49, 46:07)
  • Rather than predicting winners, each Danette “drafts” highly-seeded teams they believe will flop.
  • Dylan: “We're going to take the top four seeds... and each draft three teams that we think will not do well... the worse they do, the better I do.” (11:13)
  • Points system rewards boldness for picking higher seeds.
  • The crew lightheartedly debates Arizona’s perennial inability to deliver in March:
    • Dan: "I always call them the Chargers of college basketball. I think they're going to win... and they don't win..." (13:39)

Actual Draft Picks (47:01-49:16)

• Each Danette selects their “disappointment” teams:
  • Todd: Gonzaga, Iowa State, Virginia
  • Dylan (for Marvin): UConn, Arizona, Nebraska
  • Seaton: Alabama, Duke, Kansas
  • Paul: Florida, Michigan State, Houston
  • Dan: Purdue, Illinois, Michigan

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

March Madness & Bracket Rituals

• On the Madness:

  • Dan: "The urgency is unmatched. That's what I love about it, because you're just trying to get something that's fleeting and the margins razor thin. The upsets will come. They always do." (09:47)

• On Traditions:

  • "Sunday at the Masters, you got college football on New Year's Day, NFL, and Thanksgiving, Everything carries a tradition. March Madness hits different..." – Dan (09:23)

• On Bracket Fumbling:

  • "If I win the whole thing, I was going to frame it, and now it's all crumpled up here. You know, I would autograph it..." – Dan (08:12)

Tracy McGrady Interview (22:54–34:29)

• Did Steph Curry "Ruin" the NBA?

  • Tracy: "How did he ruin the NBA? He actually can shoot the ball... that's just bad coaches and GMs thinking they can find the next Steph Curry and have all these guys shoot threes." (22:54–23:11)

• NBA Expansion & Talent:

  • Tracy: “You seen the Washington Wizards play?... If we're trying to start a franchise, where is, like, the Steph Curry, the Dame Lillard that can carry the franchises? I just don't see that type of talent out there..." (23:34–24:44)

• Bam Adebayo's 83-Point Game and High Scoring in the NBA:

  • Tracy: "If it was me in that position, you know, to make history, I'm going for it, Dan. You're going for that too. Regardless of how you get it, you're going to try to make history." (24:48)
  • On who could reach 90 points nowadays: "I think Donovan Mitchell, I think Devin Booker... and throw Luka in there as well." (26:03–26:40)

• Relaunching One’s Basketball League (OBL):

  • Explains new city-based league, with NBA stars like Vince Carter, John Wall, and Tim Hardaway Sr. as GMs and partial owners.
  • "I wanted a community to back and support a kid that they probably seen from, you know, elementary and middle school playing basketball." (27:42–29:52)
  • "With me, I wanted to revamp and pivot with my league and start something where I can give out equity and ownership in teams." (27:42)

• Cowboys Fandom & Buffalo Bills Ownership:

  • Tracy: "I said, if we're going to be mediocre, I might as well stick with the hometown team. So now I've been a Bucks fan for well over... 15 years." (30:23)
  • On being a Bills part-owner: "Yeah, of course. But that's obvious that I'm a Buffalo Bill." (30:42)

• Would 1-on-1 Work in All-Star Weekend?

  • Tracy: "If we're trying to expand teams in the NBA and we don't have a lot of stars, couldn't we make stars in that? ... That creates stars." (33:07–33:44)
  • On Wemby (Victor Wembanyama) in a 1-on-1 setting: "Hey man, give him the trophy... He will be a very difficult draw." (33:51–34:00)

Classic Danettes Banter

• Confessions and Studio "Crimes" (41:06–44:22)

  • Seaton reveals he broke and secretly repaired a trophy. Todd admits to snagging studio amenities. Paul sheepishly confesses to an unauthorized snack.
  • Dan: "Now's the time. Now, clean sweep. I move forward with everything, but if I find out after the fact, then we'll have issues." (43:40)

• Memorable Running Gag: The Sammy Sosa Figurine Scandal (39:25-41:40)

  • The show's Sammy Sosa collectible is accidentally shattered; listener reactions and faux investigations ensue.
    "Some say Sammy might have jumped. Others… the cameraman who does a great job, he accidentally knocked the Sammy Sosa figurine off and shattered it." — Dan (39:25)

• Dan on his Job Security:

  • "For the next two years, I can't quit this show." (45:56)

Key Segments & Timestamps

• March Madness/Bracket Challenge Talk – Begins at (03:20–09:14)
• Stat of the Day (Chase Johnston Three-Point Shooting) – (15:50–16:10)
• Tracy McGrady Interview – (22:54–34:29)
• Disappointment Draft Introduction – (11:13–13:44, 38:49–49:40)
• Disappointment Draft Selections – (47:01–49:16)
• Studio Confessions/”Sammy Sosa Scandal” – (39:25–44:22)

Tone & Style

The show retains its hallmark mix of deep sports knowledge, playful skepticism, light-hearted ribbing, and open mic honesty. Dan serves as both ringmaster and philosopher, with the Danettes offering comic relief, trivia, and reliable bracket second-guessing. Tracy McGrady brings insight and authenticity to NBA topics. The episode flows with the energy of friends gathered for tournament season—equal parts opinion, information, and fun.

Episode Takeaways

• March Madness is less about crowning a champion than surviving and embracing unpredictability.
• Tracy McGrady is a thoughtful critic of NBA depth, expansion, and the evolution of the one-on-one game.
• The “Disappointment Draft” is a clever, self-deprecating spin on the office pool.
• Behind the scenes, studio confessions and inside jokes (like the broken trophies/figurines) showcase the show's unique culture.

For Listeners

This episode encapsulates why The Dan Patrick Show is a favorite for sports fans: competitive banter, real opinions, inside access to athlete thought processes, and a culture of camaraderie. Even without listening, you’ll feel caught up, ready for March Madness, and in on every running joke.