Bracket Season Begins: Duke Rising & NBA Tensions

Hosts Will Alimonos and Zach Bishop dive headfirst into March in this March 2, 2026 episode of Little Column A, Little Column B. The guys officially launch their FREE Yahoo March Madness bracket group — sign up before Thursday at noon — with a $150 Amazon gift card and podcast swag on the line. They break down the rules, how to enter, and where to follow updates (including Zach’s X account: Wicked Z-Man 24). Entry is FREE. Winner takes home: 💵 $150 cash 👕 An exclusive podcast T-shirt Sign Up Below!  https://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/mens-basketball-bracket/group/4353/invitation?key=d7f1b8427c10d850 Then it’s a full-blown NCAA Tournament deep dive: Why Duke looks dangerous right now The true top contenders: Duke, Arizona, Michigan — and the UConn debate Texas Tech’s surge without Toppins Virginia, Purdue, and Kansas trending the wrong way Miami (OH)’s undefeated mid-major storyline Strength of schedule talk Auburn, Kentucky, Houston and other bubble implications Key seeding posture updates They also preview the week’s biggest matchups, break down dark horses and weekly losers, and explain exactly what listeners should be watching heading into Selection Sunday. The conversation shifts to the NBA: Detroit’s surprising Eastern Conference positioning (and why the hosts aren’t sold) Heated rivalries and on-court scuffles Lou Dort’s physical play & Jokic/OKC incidents Denver’s inconsistency Giannis’ return decision Rookie of the Year debate Anthony Edwards’ breakout Plus: The controversial Magic City Monday promotion in Atlanta A tough USC basketball update The St. Louis Cardinals’ bottomless concession ticket package Anniversary reflections and show promos Don’t forget to lock in your bracket and let’s see who really knows ball. ⏱ Episode Timecodes (00:01:39) March Madness Begins (00:02:42) Bracket Contest Rules (00:04:23) Duke’s Dominance (00:04:34) Other Top Teams (00:07:28) UConn’s Rise (00:12:53) Losers of the Week (00:14:27) Kansas Concerns (00:18:31) Mid-Major Talk (00:21:41) NCAA Predictions (00:22:49) Auburn’s Struggles (00:24:28) Kentucky’s Comeback (00:25:42) Looking Ahead (00:30:21) NBA Rivalries (00:32:53) Detroit Pistons’ Journey (00:34:27) Denver Nuggets Woes (00:36:10) Houston’s Struggles (00:43:00) Magic City Monday (00:47:41) Giannis’s Return (01:01:17) Food at the Ballpark (01:05:56) Anniversary Reflections