Best of The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Episode Summary

Date: March 30, 2026
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Platform: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

This “Best of The Herd” episode, hosted by Colin Cowherd with co-host J. Mac and guest Ryan Rosillo, dives deep into the biggest college basketball stories of the day, focusing on dramatic NCAA March Madness games involving Duke, UConn, and Michigan. Colin offers his sharp perspective on why Duke faltered, how coaching and team maturity matter in high-stakes games, and why Michigan looks like the national title favorite. The episode also touches upon trends in college and pro basketball, the impact of NIL money, NFL free agency, and includes a candid discussion with guest analyst Ryan Rosillo about UConn’s culture, coaching philosophies, NBA draft prospects, and the playoff outlook for NBA teams like the Lakers and Denver.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Duke’s Collapse Against UConn

Colin’s Recap & Analysis (03:02–06:36)
- Colin, having watched Michigan-Tennessee live in Chicago, recounts Duke’s stunning loss after blowing a huge halftime lead to UConn.
- Main Point: Duke’s young, five-star roster seemed lost under pressure, with missed timeouts and fundamental errors evident. UConn's experience and coaching grit won out.
- Quote - Colin Cowherd (04:58):
  “Duke went from a dream wedding to America’s Funniest Home Videos. The bride’s hair was on fire and the wedding cake got knocked over and everybody was lost.”
- Colin critiques Coach Jon Scheyer’s in-game management, highlighting a lack of veteran presence and poise, especially when chaos ensued in the second half.
- Scheyer’s Reaction (06:13):
  “I don't have the words. It's easy to look at that play...this is not about one play. It's about every play to put us in that position.”
Colin’s Take on Team Maturity (06:36–10:25)
- Success in March hinges on teams having seasoned, older players who have been through adversity and can weather the chaos of tournament play.
- UConn’s roster stability and culture—players who could have left for the NBA but chose to stay—give them an edge over programs like Duke with younger lineups.

2. Michigan’s Dominance & Recipe for Success

Game Breakdown & Praise for Coach Dusty May (06:45–10:49)
- Michigan features the ideal mix of size, skill, veteran leadership, and sharpshooting, epitomized by standout players Mara and Landenberg.
- Colin on Michigan:
  “Their half court offense is aesthetically as pretty as a college basketball half court offense can be...they lead the tournament in assists, they lead it by a wide margin over Illinois.”
- Michigan’s Big Men: Mara ("7'3 Spaniard, offensive hub") and Landenberg ("6'9, 240, runs the court, can shoot") are nearly unguardable at the college level.
Coach Dusty May’s Philosophy (10:25):
- May emphasizes maturity, team connection, and accountability:
  “If you're not mature and you're not connected as a group...it's almost impossible to weed it out. Our guys have been up to the challenge...in the biggest moments all year.”
J. Mac on the Value of Experience (11:52):
- Contrasts Michigan’s mix of veterans and youth with Duke’s over-reliance on freshmen.

3. Impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)

How NIL Alters College Hoops (10:49–12:38)
- NIL allows "big dog" programs to blend recruiting five-star prospects with experienced transfers, strengthening their tournament chances.
  - Colin: “You can, people can criticize the NIL, but what it's done, it's fortified the big dogs...you can recruit a five-star guy, then go get a Landenberg, bring him in.”

4. Colin was Right/Wrong – Sports Takes Recap (20:03–24:33)

Right:
- Michigan looks like the best, most complete team in the tournament.
- Big Ten’s investment in NIL and strong coaching is paying dividends over the SEC.
- NBA tanking remains prevalent; recent proposals won’t stamp it out.
- Rob Manfred’s ABS (automated ball-strike) system in MLB is a hit, speeding up games and adding entertainment value.
Wrong:
- Old-school college coaches got bounced early in the tournament.
- Misjudged A.J. Brown’s trajectory within the Eagles.

5. Radio Call of UConn-Duke Finish (25:25–25:49)

Play-by-play capture of the dramatic game-winning three:
- Radio Announcer:
  “He hit the long three pointer from the logo with 3/10 of a second left to go. I don't believe it. UConn's taking the lead.” (25:35)

Extended Interview: Ryan Rosillo Joins the Show (25:59–41:04)

1. UConn’s Culture & Dan Hurley’s Secret Sauce

Colin and Ryan Rosillo dissect UConn’s tournament dominance:
- Rosillo on UConn’s toughness: (26:43–28:43)
  - UConn’s “good crazy” comes from Hurley’s intensity and ability to instill belief and resilience even when the team is down.
  - Quote – Ryan Rosillo:
    "For UConn...maybe if we just play tougher defense. They played with such defensive intensity because they still never made any shots...whatever it is, as crazy as [Hurley] can be on the sideline, I think part of that crazy, that good crazy, is being so delusional and getting every single kid to believe you." (28:43)

2. Duke’s Reliance on Youth and Coaching Critique

Balance between coaching and player experience:
- Rosillo notes it’s hard to blame all Duke’s mistakes on Scheyer, as young players still need to execute fundamentals under pressure.
  - Rosillo: “Shire’s not a good coach, he is a great coach. But to have these two losses on this stage...” (29:36)
- Duke losses get more reaction than any other team’s in sports.
  - Rosillo (30:00): "What seems to rally people more in sports than a Duke loss?...I think it might have the highest approval rating."

3. Debate: Michigan or Arizona?

Colin & Rosillo analyze Michigan’s strengths and Arizona’s versatility:
- Michigan’s bigs and ball movement make their offense nearly NBA-caliber.
  - Rosillo: “If [Landenberg] were 19, he’d be the number one draft pick. But he’s going to be 24...His perimeter play has been so spectacular...they can start their offense with huge players.” (32:01)
- Arizona counters with depth—“seven guys” capable of taking over at any moment and multiple ball handlers to close games. (32:01–33:31)

4. NBA Draft Preview & Player Spotlights

Colin raises questions about top prospect Peterson’s durability and mentality:
- Rosillo believes Peterson isn’t selfish, but there are real durability concerns for NBA GMs.
  - Rosillo: “You do wonder...would a team, if they were being totally honest, be like, I’d rather have like the second or third pick, just so somebody else has to take the Peterson problem?” (36:34)

5. NBA Playoff Picture: Lakers, Celtics, OKC, and Denver

Colin and Rosillo debate the Lakers’ chances:
- Colin doubts the Lakers can survive playoff defenses with so many one-dimensional players, despite regular season success.
  - “I don’t think they translate to a playoff team...I don’t think they’re guaranteed to win one series in the West.” (37:24–37:58)
- Rosillo would only favor the Lakers over Houston; against Denver or Minnesota, he says “I’m picking the other teams. It’s that simple.” (37:58–40:14)
On LeBron and the Lakers’ aging core:
- Rosillo notes the “decline is here,” expecting great individual games from LeBron but more frequent defensive liabilities.
  - “I think there’ll be, like, the huge playoff game, but then there’ll also be a playoff game where it feels like the diminishing athleticism and him being hunted defensively is going to show up.” (39:20)

6. Light Moments and Guest Banter

Rosillo explains his arm sling is from a gym injury (wide-grip pull-ups), and he and Colin joke about aging, athleticism, and gym habits. (40:14–41:04)

Most Memorable Quotes

Colin Cowherd on Duke’s second-half meltdown:
“You were thinking what I was thinking. Shire is young. Would Coach K’s team have lost that game? Maybe it’s unfair. But you kind of wonder.” (08:08)
Ryan Rosillo on building program culture:
“They know what to say, but they don’t know how to execute it...with Hurley, when you watch these games and you see teams get down big, UConn just doesn’t quit.” (28:05)
Colin on the impact of NIL:
“People can criticize the nil, but what it’s done, it’s fortified the big dogs...What the NIL has done is given teams the ability to blend elite freshmen with 22- and 23-year-olds.” (12:38)
J. Mac on the pain of tournament upsets:
“I was just destitute. I was like, how did this happen? I mean, it was unbelievable.” (13:31)

Important Timestamps

03:02 – Colin’s recap of Duke-UConn and NCAA tournament chaos
06:13 – Jon Scheyer’s emotional reaction to Duke’s loss
10:25 – Dusty May on team accountability and Michigan’s maturity
11:52 – J. Mac contrasts Duke/Michigan and the value of experience
20:03 – “Where Colin Was Right/Wrong” segment begins
25:25 – UConn’s game-winning three-pointer radio call
25:59 – Ryan Rosillo joins for extended basketball and NBA discussion
26:43–28:43 – Rosillo breaks down UConn’s unique winning culture
29:36 – Dissection of Duke’s coaching and youthful roster
32:01 – Michigan vs Arizona matchup preview
36:34 – NBA draft: Peterson’s strengths and red flags
37:58–40:14 – NBA playoff landscape for the Lakers, Celtics, Denver
40:14 – Rosillo’s gym injury and lighthearted closing banter

Episode Tone & Style

Colin delivers his takes with signature wit, confidence, and anecdotal storytelling, blending sharp criticism with sports wisdom and vivid analogies. J. Mac adds relatable fan passion and energy, while Ryan Rosillo brings deep basketball expertise and candid, conversational insight. The episode is opinion-driven, highly engaging, and loaded with memorable sports talk moments.