2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

Katz argued that both Final Four semifinals were disappointing despite the pre-game hype.

“Turns out both games kind of stunk, and the Illinois-UConn game was just UConn being better at what UConn wants to do”

Pardon My Take: Final Four Weekend As Michigan And UConn Advance, John Fanta Talks CBB + Possibly Taking The UNC Job, Geno Crash Out + National Sports Podcast Topics And Who's Back (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 7:43

Katz argues the Final Four is wide open and that dismissing UConn and Illinois is wrong.

“I do think that any of these four teams can win it. It does not feel like a consolation game to me whatsoever”

Pardon My Take: UConn Head Coach Dan Hurley, April Fools Has Everyone On Alert, NFL League Meetings, Hot Seat/Cool Throne And Guys On Chicks (Apr 1, 2026) · Listen from 42:45

Katz contends elite teams now win by assembling very tall players who score efficiently at the rim, removing shooting variance.

“If you have guys that are all 6'10 and above and they can just dunk the ball and lobs and just score at the rim like that, it's not like, oh, we might be cold shooting one night”

Pardon My Take: Sweet 16 Night 1, Giants HC John Harbaugh, Max Homa Stops By For PMT Spring Break + Fyre Fest Of The Week (Mar 27, 2026) · Listen from 7:19

Katz argues the Big Ten proved itself the strongest conference, with three of the first four Elite Eight teams.

“I think we're finding out the Big Ten was really, really good, because three out of four teams... in the Elite Eight so far are Big Ten teams”

Pardon My Take: Sweet 16 Night 1, Giants HC John Harbaugh, Max Homa Stops By For PMT Spring Break + Fyre Fest Of The Week (Mar 27, 2026) · Listen from 4:01

Fanta predicted Jon Scheyer will win a national championship within the next three years.

“You're going to hate me for saying this, but I do think John Shire will win a national championship the next three years”

Pardon My Take: Final Four Weekend As Michigan And UConn Advance, John Fanta Talks CBB + Possibly Taking The UNC Job, Geno Crash Out + National Sports Podcast Topics And Who's Back (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:48:35

Fanta said experience and composure explained the gap between Illinois and UConn on Saturday.

“I saw an Illinois team that the Final Four stage was new for them. And I saw a UConn team that knew what to do to get it done”

Pardon My Take: Final Four Weekend As Michigan And UConn Advance, John Fanta Talks CBB + Possibly Taking The UNC Job, Geno Crash Out + National Sports Podcast Topics And Who's Back (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:17:59

Hurley says he blacked out during the buzzer-beater and could not recall how UConn regained possession.

“reporter asked me like right after the game how we got the ball back and i couldn't even remember that they turned the ball over”

Pardon My Take: UConn Head Coach Dan Hurley, April Fools Has Everyone On Alert, NFL League Meetings, Hot Seat/Cool Throne And Guys On Chicks (Apr 1, 2026) · Listen from 1:27:55

Hurley describes the contact with referee Roger Ayers as an affectionate nuzzle rooted in their playful relationship rather than aggression.

“It wasn't like I almost wanted to either chest bump him or kiss him on the forehead when we hit that shot. It was like more like, you know, I was almost expecting Roger to be happy for me”

Pardon My Take: UConn Head Coach Dan Hurley, April Fools Has Everyone On Alert, NFL League Meetings, Hot Seat/Cool Throne And Guys On Chicks (Apr 1, 2026) · Listen from 1:25:52

Hank argues Hurley should have been assessed a technical foul for the contact with the official regardless of their relationship.

“It should not be a case-by-case basis. If you do this, this is illegal”

Pardon My Take: UConn Head Coach Dan Hurley, April Fools Has Everyone On Alert, NFL League Meetings, Hot Seat/Cool Throne And Guys On Chicks (Apr 1, 2026) · Listen from 38:37

Lowe defended UConn's game-winning sequence as a great play rather than simply a Duke mistake.

“I think it was a great play. Like the steel was great. The pass and pass back was great. Obviously, the shot is an all time killer shot”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: UConn’s Miracle, Weirdest NBA Season Ever, A Scary Playoff Team Draft, and an Iffy Expansion Plan With Zach Lowe (Mar 30, 2026) · Listen from 1:57

PFT Commenter argues college basketball replay review is broken and overanalyzes inconsequential plays.

“It's a replay in college basketball is broken. It's the most painstaking thing to watch as a fan”

Pardon My Take: Sweet 16 Night 1, Giants HC John Harbaugh, Max Homa Stops By For PMT Spring Break + Fyre Fest Of The Week (Mar 27, 2026) · Listen from 20:42

Simmons rejected comparisons of Darius Acuff to Allen Iverson or Derrick Rose, likening him instead to Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul and Damian Lillard.

“No, it's a little Kyrie and a little Chris Paul. He's dame to me”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Hot Takes, OKC’s Red Flag, and Giannis vs. Father Time With Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House (Mar 26, 2026) · Listen from 1:25:14

Goldsberry said Purdue is probably the safer bet over Texas in their Sweet 16 matchup.

“As much as I'd love to pick the Longhorns, I think the Boilermakers are probably a safe bet tonight”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Hot Takes, OKC’s Red Flag, and Giannis vs. Father Time With Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House (Mar 26, 2026) · Listen from 1:27:17

House said he bet on a player to make at least two three-pointers at minus 122 based on recent shooting form.

“I have him at minus 122 in the FanDuel Sportsbook for at least two three-pointers”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Hot Takes, OKC’s Red Flag, and Giannis vs. Father Time With Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House (Mar 26, 2026) · Listen from 1:25:44