Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "Best of The Herd" (Released March 20, 2025)

Host: Doug Gottlieb (filling in for Colin Cowherd)
Guests: John Fanta (Fox Sports Radio College Basketball Reporter)
Platform: Fox Sports Radio

1. Introduction and NCAA Tournament Excitement

Doug Gottlieb kicks off the episode by expressing his enthusiasm for the 2025 NCAA March Madness Men's Tournament, highlighting the emotional intensity and the plethora of games slated from March 18 to April 7 across major networks.

Doug Gottlieb [02:23]: "We're getting ready for the NCAA tournament. It's a weird one for me."

2. Doug Gottlieb’s Journey with the NCAA Tournament

Gottlieb shares his extensive background covering the NCAA tournament over the past decades, detailing his transitions from ESPN to CBS, Fox, and Westwood One. He reflects on his deep-rooted connection to the tournament, both as a player and a broadcaster.

Doug Gottlieb [02:50]: "This is the first NCAA tournament in 23 years that I'm not covering for. I was ESPN for nine years, CBS for five, and Fox for the last seven."

3. Evolution of College Basketball Landscape

The discussion shifts to the changing dynamics of college basketball, particularly the increase in the number of Division I teams from 200 to 364. Gottlieb analyzes how this expansion has influenced the frequency of upsets and the overall competitiveness of the tournament.

Doug Gottlieb [08:15]: "Now there are 364 Division 1 teams. So if the top are the top four and they used to be competing against 200, now they're competing against 300, one would think the disparity was even greater."

4. Payroll Disparities and Competitive Balance

Gottlieb delves into the significant disparities in team payrolls, especially between high-major and mid-major programs. He underscores how financial investments in facilities, coaching staff, and player compensation have altered the competitive landscape, often disadvantaging smaller programs.

Doug Gottlieb [12:30]: "There's just a difference. When you have a payroll that's a million dollars and you go all in on one or two players... it's hard to raise money to get players to get good."

5. Personal Anecdotes and Emotional Connections

Sharing a poignant memory, Gottlieb recounts witnessing the impact of Hank Gathers’ passing during a semifinal game, highlighting the profound emotional bonds formed through college basketball.

Doug Gottlieb [15:45]: "When Hank died, it was soul crushing to somebody who idolized him... I wanted to play in it, I want to cover it, I want to coach it."

6. Coaching Changes and Speculations

Joining him is John Fanta, who discusses recent coaching developments, including Rodney Terry's potential departure from Texas and Sean Miller's prospects of becoming Texas's next head coach. They explore the implications of these changes on both programs.

John Fanta [20:47]: "Sean Miller is number one on Texas's list. He's one of the better coaches in the sport, I'd say he's a top 15 to 20 coach in college basketball."

Doug Gottlieb [22:47]: "Sean Miller has loyalty to Xavier, but Texas offers a higher salary and more pressure to win, which might be enticing for his career."

7. Villanova’s Coaching Scenario

The conversation turns to Villanova, where Porter Moser is considered a top candidate for the coaching position. Fanta highlights the challenges and potential candidates, including Richard Pitino, emphasizing the high-stakes environment of major college programs.

John Fanta [30:18]: "Eric Rodell from Oregon is looking at Villanova. They are considering veteran coaches like Porter Moser or Richard Pitino who can move the needle on television."

8. Predictions for Tournament Upsets

Fanta provides his insights on potential upsets in the tournament, predicting victories for lower-seeded teams such as UC San Diego over Michigan and Yale over Auburn. He also mentions Lipscomb’s Jacob Agnes Savage as a key player to watch.

John Fanta [32:51]: "UC San Diego will beat Michigan. James Jones and his Yale team could pull off an upset similar to last year's over Auburn."

9. Purdue vs. High Point Analysis

Gottlieb and Fanta discuss the Purdue vs. High Point game, where Fanta expects High Point, led by Alan Huss, to challenge Purdue despite financial disparities, citing their talented roster and strategic gameplay.

John Fanta [34:45]: "High Point has a lot of talent. Agnesevich from Sheboygan is a standout player who could give Purdue a real run for their money."

10. Final Thoughts and Upcoming Segments

As the episode wraps up, Gottlieb commends Fanta for his insights and expresses hope for more in-depth discussions at future events like the Final Four. He also hints at upcoming topics, including Aaron Rodgers’ potential NFL decisions and their possible impact on the tournament dynamics.

Doug Gottlieb [36:12]: "John, I love catching up on radio. Can't wait to do it in person, hopefully at the Final Four."

Notable Quotes

• Doug Gottlieb [08:15]: "Now there are 364 Division 1 teams. So if the top are the top four and they used to be competing against 200, now they're competing against 300, one would think the disparity was even greater."

• John Fanta [20:47]: "Sean Miller is number one on Texas's list. He's one of the better coaches in the sport, I'd say he's a top 15 to 20 coach in college basketball."

• John Fanta [32:51]: "UC San Diego will beat Michigan. James Jones and his Yale team could pull off an upset similar to last year's over Auburn."

Conclusion

In this episode of "Best of The Herd," Doug Gottlieb and John Fanta provide a comprehensive analysis of the NCAA Tournament, emphasizing the evolving dynamics of college basketball, the implications of coaching changes, and potential Cinderella stories. Their discussions offer listeners deep insights into the factors shaping the tournament's outcomes, underscored by personal anecdotes and expert predictions.

This summary captures the essence of the "Best of The Herd" episode, focusing on the primary content while excluding advertisements and non-essential segments.