Michigan Wins It All, UNC’s New Coach & an NBA Scheduling Idea

On this episode of Little Column A, Little Column B, hosts Will Alimonos and Zach Bishop recap a loaded weekend across college basketball, the NBA, and beyond. The show opens with Michigan’s national championship win over UConn — breaking down the game script, why Michigan earned it, and how UConn’s tournament run finally caught up to them. The hosts revisit the now-iconic Mullins shot, debate whether UConn’s shooting was overrated all along, and discuss what Michigan’s transfer-heavy, veteran roster says about the future of college basketball. They dive into the biggest officiating moments from the title game — including the controversial hook-and-hold review, free-throw discrepancies, and inconsistent whistles — and how those calls shaped the outcome. The conversation expands into historic tournament moments, Final Four memories, and the heated Gino Auriemma–Dawn Staley handshake exchange. From there, Will and Zach tackle the unexpected Chainsmokers Final Four concert and whether entertainment spectacles belong between college games. They also explore deeper basketball themes: tempo control, foul-baiting, offensive rebounding, roster construction, and the growing impact of NIL and the transfer portal on team-building. The episode continues with coaching news, highlighted by UNC’s hire of Michael Malone, the search drama behind it, and what NBA-to-college transitions could mean moving forward. The hosts also announce their bracket challenge winner and begin looking ahead to next season’s road to Detroit. To close, the show shifts to the NBA and beyond — including Steph Curry’s return and playoff implications, Luka Dončić’s 65-game eligibility controversy, Victor Wembanyama’s injury impact on the Spurs and the Western Conference, and ideas to address tanking. The episode wraps with a quick discussion on Artemis II’s lunar launch and a lighthearted debate on space enthusiasm before signing off. Timestamps: (00:00:49) Championship Reflections (00:02:32) Sports Moments That Haunt Us (00:08:58) Michigan’s Championship Potential (00:10:23) Refereeing Controversies Discussed (00:13:05) Hurley’s Coaching Style (00:20:29) The Chainsmokers Debate (00:22:51) UNC’s New Coaching Search (00:28:22) The Transfer Market Impact (00:31:18) NIL and Team Dynamics (00:34:58) NBA Playoff Picture (00:36:46) Luka's Eligibility Dilemma (00:39:40) Wemby’s Impact on the Spurs (00:45:25) A Moon Launch Reflection