The Dan Patrick Show – Best of (March 20, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dan Patrick and his team break down the drama and surprise upsets of the NCAA March Madness tournament’s opening days. They share insights on Cinderella teams, the impact of NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) money, coaching controversies, and celebrate the unpredictability that defines college basketball in March. The episode features interviews with Adam Lefkoe (TNT/TBS March Madness studio host, co-host of “The Big Podcast with Shaq”) and John Rothstein (CBS Sports college basketball insider), along with the usual lively banter, debates, and listener calls.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. March Madness Opening Day Surprises

Timestamps: 03:21 – 09:29

• Dan welcomes listeners to Friday and discusses the shocking results from the tournament’s first day:
  • VCU upsets North Carolina in overtime
  • Duke narrowly survives Siena
  • High Point stuns Wisconsin
  • Texas eliminates BYU
• Dan and the crew talk about the unique culture at High Point—“bougie” amenities like a steakhouse and free ice cream (07:15).

Notable Call:

• High Point student radio call: “It’s a Cinderella story in Portland, Oregon. For the first time in program history, High Point breaks. We will see you in the round of 32.” [07:34]

Insights:

• The beauty of March is discovering unknown players and teams—a few weeks of fame that can spark new programs into the spotlight.
• Dan references past tournament legends (Ali Farokhmanesh, Harold “The Show” Arceneaux, RJ Hunter) as examples of how indelible these moments become.

2. Small Schools, Scheduling, and Systemic Challenges

Timestamps: 09:46 – 12:01

• High Point head coach Flynn Clayman, post-win, passionately calls out the lack of opportunities for mid-major programs in scheduling "quad 1" games:

  “It’s pretty obvious to me that something needs to be done about this non-conference scheduling...We won 22 of our last 23 games and didn’t move up one spot in the metrics.” – Flynn Clayman [09:46]

Dan’s Commentary:

• Big programs have no incentive to risk tough road or neutral games against “dangerous” small schools (11:46).
• Solution: Unless small schools get invites to prestigious tournaments (e.g., Maui Invitational), the exposure will only come in March.

3. NIL, Mega-Prospects, and College Basketball Economics

Timestamps: 12:01 – 14:04

• Discussion on BYU’s AJ DeBanza, rumored to have received $5–7 million through NIL. Was it worth it with a first-round exit?

  “Is that worth five to seven million dollars? I guess it’s in the eye of the beholder.” – Dan Patrick [13:41] “He did what was expected of him...Hey, it’s not my fault we didn’t have enough good players.” – Marvin [13:56]

• Adam Lefkoe, later in the show, expands on how NIL is shifting power and how tech (and oil) money is changing the college sports landscape (29:37).

4. Tournament Emotional Swings – Upsets and Bracketology

Timestamps: 14:04 – 16:58

• Siena comes close to shocking top-seed Duke, with Dan breaking down coaching decisions, fatigue, and the magical dynamic of “David vs. Goliath” match-ups.

  “Some of these guys were probably under-recruited and now they want to show the big schools...” – Marvin [15:20]

• The crew reviews the classic No. 12 over No. 5 “upset” as an annual staple.

5. Poll Questions and Studio Banter

Timestamps: 16:23 – 18:59

• Todd Fritz's poll: “What was the high point of yesterday?” Options: High Point over Wisconsin, Siena scaring Duke, Texas beating BYU, VCU comeback over UNC.

  “VCU against North Carolina—because you’re down 19 and you end up coming back...It might be an indictment on Hubert Davis.” – Dan Patrick [16:58]

• The team jokes about Meat Friday, Dylan the chef, Heartland Steak Co., and “beefed corn.”

Featured Interview #1: Adam Lefkoe, TNT/TBS March Madness Studio Host

Timestamps: 24:43 – 39:14

High Points of Tournament Day 1

• Lefkoe’s pick: VCU's comeback over North Carolina.

  “One team is white-knuckling, the other has a dude off the bench dropping 34—beautiful combination...” – Adam Lefkoe [25:34]

Studio Dynamics and Live Reactions

• Describes Jamal Mashburn’s calm (“super chalky”) attitude even as top seeds are threatened.

  “Mash is like, Sienna’s up 11—‘nah, don’t matter.’ I go: Mash, not all the top seeds are gonna win!” – Lefkoe [27:24]

NIL, Tech Money, and the New College Sports Economy

• Discusses BYU as an emerging NIL power (driven by Utah tech money), saying:

  “My guy Ryan Smith with the Jazz...the way he’s investing right now, this is the beginning for BYU, because it’s a complete game changer.” – Adam Lefkoe [29:04]

• On how NIL parity extends beyond the SEC if you find the right donors:

  “All you need is one philanthropic donor...Tech or oil...money that doesn’t even feel tangible.” – Dan Patrick [29:17] “Money is imaginary to tech founders...It’s not even real.” – Lefkoe [30:17]

Personal and Podcast Banter

• Jokes about wearing a tie for TV. Friendly teasing about working from home attire.
• Shares Shaq stories from “The Big Podcast.” Fun segment on “white people stuff vs. black people stuff,” a running joke from Shaq [33:28 – 34:43].

  “Drums are black people stuff. Flats are white people stuff. And he says it so definitively...” – Lefkoe [33:45] “Water is white people stuff.” – Lefkoe quoting Shaq and other guests [34:18]

• Praises the entertainment value and unpredictability of the NCAA tournament.

Upset Picks for Today

• Predicts Santa Clara over Kentucky, Akron to Sweet 16, Miami (OH) over Tennessee, and Northern Iowa over St. John’s as potential upsets [35:58].
• Thinks Kansas can make a Final Four run.

The Big East Football Problem

• Nostalgic discussion about how football-driven conference realignment (Syracuse, UConn) ruined the best basketball conference in America [37:05].

Featured Interview #2: John Rothstein, CBS Sports College Basketball Insider

Timestamps: 46:01 – 54:22

Day 1 Takeaways

• Picks High Point’s win and VCU-UNC as the defining games of the day.

  “It’s about the dreamer...the chance to do something that could be cemented in school history.” – Rothstein [47:09]

Greatest NCAA Upset Debate

• Argues FDU over Purdue (2023) remains the greatest due to context—not winning their own league but knocking off a No. 1 seed [48:01].

Coaching Hot Seats and Future Moves

• On UNC’s Hubert Davis: Not on the hot seat, considering injuries:

  “Hubert Davis, when he had his full roster intact, did a great job...With Caleb Wilson, North Carolina is a 4-seed and maybe a 3.” [49:04]

• On Siena’s Jerry McNamara: Perfect “audition” to move to a bigger job, but Syracuse may need to decide if it wants to move away from the Boeheim regime. Syracuse is not the powerhouse it was in the Big East era [50:38].

The Resilience of March Madness

• Dismisses the “Cinderella is dead” narrative despite NIL changes:

  “The greatness about the NCAA tournament is what we saw yesterday...Miami OH, High Point, VCU, St. Louis, and Siena all right there...” [52:58]

• Emphasizes the event’s incredible unpredictability and enduring appeal.

Listener Calls & Classic DP Show Banter

Timestamps: 56:07 – 59:03

• Monica from Raleigh shares personal stories of bonding with her father over the tournament for 30 years. Defends Hubert Davis and the value of March as a “sanctuary” for fans [56:07].
• Banter between Dan, Marvin, and the rest of the crew about Marvin’s temporary absence, Anthony Davis vs. Ewing as all-time great college centers [58:24 – 60:33]:

  “Anthony Davis, for that one season—that one shining moment—he dominated.” – Marvin [60:11] “He didn’t score in the national title game!” – Dan Patrick [59:03] “Why don’t you go watch some old Georgetown videos with Patrick Ewing...” – Dan Patrick [59:24]

Notable Quotes & Fun Moments

• “If High Point were to win another game...your coach is being interviewed on SportsCenter. You’re going to get all of this notoriety.” – Dan Patrick [06:24]
• “There are going to be a couple of players where you go, wow, that guy. And it happens every year.” – Dan Patrick [06:09]
• “The 16 v 1 is the new 12 v 5.” – Dan Patrick [15:36]
• “Duke getting scared but not losing is like a perfect scenario—top seeds get the bejesus scared out of them, but we want Duke-Kansas in the Sweet 16.” – Adam Lefkoe [25:34]
• “You need that money that doesn’t even feel tangible...Oil and tech right now is that.” – Dan Patrick [30:17]

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------|-------------| | March Madness upsets recap | 03:21–09:29 | | High Point coach Flynn Clayman | 09:46–10:26 | | NIL & DeBanza at BYU | 12:01–13:56 | | Siena almost beats Duke analysis | 14:04–15:36 | | Poll question: ‘High point’ of the day| 16:23–16:58 | | Adam Lefkoe interview | 24:43–39:14 | | John Rothstein interview | 46:01–54:22 | | Listener Monica’s story | 56:07–57:46 | | Anthony Davis vs. Ewing debate | 59:03–60:43 |

Tone & Vibe

The episode is classic Dan Patrick: fast-paced, humorous, loaded with sports nostalgia, playful trash talk, and insightful analysis. Listeners are treated to a combination of expert perspective and relatable fan experience, with a warm, inclusive, and occasionally irreverent tone throughout.

Ideal for:
Anyone wanting a concise, entertaining recap of March Madness early-round drama, the shifting economics of college sports, and a dose of behind-the-scenes TV studio stories.