Victory Laps, Duke Survives & Expansion Talk

Hosts Will Alimonos and Zach Bishop break down a jam-packed March 23, 2026 episode of Little Column A, Little Column B, recapping the Sweet 16 field and everything that stood out from the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The conversation covers the big stories — Duke’s unexpected scare against Siena, St. John’s buzzer-beater over Kansas, Michigan State’s prospects, and the biggest upsets and breakout performances that shaped the bracket. The hosts debate the so-called “death of the Cinderella,” how NIL and the transfer portal are changing upsets, and whether this year’s tournament felt chalky or just high-quality. They run through picks for each region (Duke, Michigan State, Purdue, Houston, Texas, Arizona and more), take victory laps on correct calls, and react to standout games like High Point vs. Wisconsin, Iowa’s upset of Florida, and Texas’s run through Gonzaga and BYU. Beyond game recaps, Will and Zach dig into coaching and roster storylines — Siena’s surprising showing, coaching moves and retirements (McNamara to Syracuse, Greg McDermott’s retirement), rumors around Hubert Davis at UNC and Bill Self’s future at Kansas, plus injury impacts for teams like Duke and Kentucky. They also debate tournament operations, including scheduling complaints, goaltending controversies, and whether expansion would help or hurt March Madness. The episode pivots to the NBA with discussions on rising physicality, recent altercations, and the growing push for expansion — with Seattle and Las Vegas leading the way. They break down relocation rumors, expansion draft implications, and whether the league should shorten the schedule alongside expansion. The show wraps with lighter notes, including flag football results, bracket contest standings (shoutout to Dave leading the board), and reminders to follow the podcast on social media. Expect sharp takes, game-by-game breakdowns, bracket strategy, coaching buzz, and bold predictions ahead of the Sweet 16. Timestamps: (00:00:42) Introduction to March Madness (00:05:22) The State of Cinderellas (00:06:45) Victory Laps and Bracket Breakdown (00:11:44) Duke’s Close Call (00:13:32) St. John’s vs. Kansas (00:18:42) Previewing Duke vs. St. John’s (00:20:39) Michigan State vs. UConn (00:23:36) East Region Victory Laps (00:29:11) South Region Showdowns (00:29:53) Iowa vs. Nebraska (00:31:38) Arizona vs. Arkansas (00:34:36) Texas vs. Purdue (00:35:24) Michigan vs. Alabama (00:36:11) Tennessee vs. Iowa State (00:40:50) Kentucky’s Tournament Exit (00:44:20) Reflections on Kentucky (00:53:26) NBA Expansion Talks (01:12:09) Relocation and Expansion