The Best of the Sports Shop

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex preview tonight’s NCAA First Four matchups, breaking down UMBC vs. Howard, Texas vs. NC State and tomorrow’s Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh and Miami vs. SMU games, while analyzing which teams have the best chance to advance in the main 64-team bracket.

The NCAA First Four takes place this week and officially begins the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The games are played tonight and tomorrow night at the University of Dayton Arena and feature eight teams competing for four spots in the main 64-team bracket. The winners of these games will advance to the main tournament bracket and continue their March Madness run when the Round of 64 begins later in the week. Tonight, the UMBC Retrievers will play the Howard Bison men's basketball and the winner will move on to face the Michigan Wolverines. Then later, the Texas Longhorns men's basketball take on the NC State Wolfpack men's basketball. Did NC State earn their positioning in the NCAA Tournament First Four? Will NC State beat Texas tonight? How will NC State vs Texas go tonight? Howard or UMBC?

Tomorrow, the Prairie View A&M Panthers will face the Lehigh Mountain Hawks. That same night, the Miami RedHawks will face the SMU Mustangs, with the winner advancing to play the Tennessee Volunteers in the next round The winners of these games will advance to the main tournament bracket and continue their March Madness run when the Round of 64 begins later in the week.

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss tonight’s Texas vs. NC State game.

The NCAA First Four takes place this week and officially begins the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The games are played tonight and tomorrow night at the University of Dayton Arena and feature eight teams competing for four spots in the main 64-team bracket. The winners of these games will advance to the main tournament bracket and continue their March Madness run when the Round of 64 begins later in the week. Tonight, the the Texas Longhorns men's basketball take on the NC State Wolfpack men's basketball. Did NC State earn their positioning in the NCAA Tournament First Four? Will NC State beat Texas tonight?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss Bruce Pearl replacing Jay Wright on the CBS March Madness panel, the First Four matchups including NC State vs. Texas and the affect of Aden Holloway’s arrest on Alabama’s tournament prospects.

Bruce Pearl is apparently replacing Jay Wright on this year’s CBS/NCAA March Madness studio panel for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Do people want this?

The NCAA First Four takes place this week and officially begins the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The games are played tonight and tomorrow night at the University of Dayton Arena and feature eight teams competing for four spots in the main 64-team bracket. The winners of these games will advance to the main tournament bracket and continue their March Madness run when the Round of 64 begins later in the week. Tonight, the the Texas Longhorns men's basketball take on the NC State Wolfpack men's basketball. Did NC State earn their positioning in the NCAA Tournament First Four? Will NC State beat Texas tonight?

Aden Holloway, a guard for the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball, was arrested just days before the start of NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Authorities say a search of a residence uncovered more than a pound of marijuana, along with drug paraphernalia and cash, leading to charges of first-degree marijuana possession and failure to affix a tax stamp, a felony. Holloway was briefly jailed and later released on a $5,000 bond. It remains unclear whether he will face disciplinary action from the team or be available to play in Alabama’s upcoming tournament matchup against Hofstra Pride men's basketball, adding uncertainty as the Crimson Tide enter March Madness as a No. 4 seed.

Reese, Kmac and Alex discuss the impact of Aden Holloway’s arrest on Alabama’s tournament chances, break down Duke’s ACC Championship run and how the potential absence of Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II could affect their NCAA Tournament hopes, debate whether Michigan State is the most dangerous #3 seed and even touch on St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Reese and Alex discuss how close the Winston-Salem State Lady Rams came to the Division II Final Four, before turning their attention to the NCAA Division I First Four matchups and the controversy surrounding NC State’s seeding and performance under Will Wade.

The NCAA First Four takes place this week and officially begins the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The games are played tonight and tomorrow night at the University of Dayton Arena and feature eight teams competing for four spots in the main 64-team bracket. The winners of these games will advance to the main tournament bracket and continue their March Madness run when the Round of 64 begins later in the week. Tonight, the the Texas Longhorns men's basketball take on the NC State Wolfpack men's basketball. Did NC State earn their positioning in the NCAA Tournament First Four? Should they have been a higher seed or missed the tournament altogether? How does Will Wade feel about the current state of the Wolfpack?

Reese and Alex discuss the NC State asketball, the First Four and more.

The NCAA First Four takes place this week and officially begins the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The games are played tonight and tomorrow night at the University of Dayton Arena and feature eight teams competing for four spots in the main 64-team bracket. Tonight, the UMBC Retrievers men's basketball play the Howard Bison men's basketball, and the winner will move on to face the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball. Then the Texas Longhorns men's basketball take on the NC State Wolfpack men's basketball. Tomorrow night, the Prairie View A&M Panthers men's basketball face the Lehigh Mountain Hawks men's basketball then later that night, the Miami RedHawks men's basketball face the SMU Mustangs men's basketball, with the winner advancing to play the Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball in the next round. The winners of these games will advance to the main tournament bracket and continue their March Madness run when the Round of 64 begins later in the week. Did NC State earn their positioning in the NCAA Tournament First Four? Should they have been a higher seed or missed the tournament altogether?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex break down the 2026 NCAA Tournament, analyzing each region highlighting the top seeds, examine potential upsets and debate which teams have the best chances to make a deep March Madness run.

The NCAA First Four takes place this week and officially begins the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The games are played on March 17 and March 18 at University of Dayton Arena and feature eight teams competing for four spots in the main 64-team bracket. The seeding for both the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament will be official following the "First Four" games. In the men’s tournament, the four No. 1 seeds are the Duke Blue Devils, Arizona Wildcats, Michigan Wolverines and Florida Gators. Who will make it out of each region?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss this week’s NCAA First Four matchups, including NC State’s placement, potential snubs and surprises and which teams have the best chances to make a deep March Madness run.

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss if there were any issues with the NCAA Tournament seeding.

The seeding for the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament is determined through a process called bracketology, where the NCAA selection committees rank teams based on their performance during the season. In the men’s tournament, which features 68 teams, the four No. 1 seeds are the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball, Arizona Wildcats men's basketball, Michigan Wolverines men's basketball, and Florida Gators men's basketball. Were there any egregious mistakes, omisisons, additions, etc? Who are the early favorites to make the Final Four?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex break down the top 16 seeds in the Women’s NCAA Tournament and analyze Duke's NCAA Tournament chances without Ngongba II and Foster.

The Saturday night championship game of the 2026 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament took place on March 14 in Charlotte and featured the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball against the Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball. Duke defeated Virginia 74-70. Duke was led by Isaiah Evans, who scored 20 points, while Cameron Boozer sealed the victory with two clutch free throws in the final seconds. The win gave Duke its second straight ACC tournament title under head coach Jon Scheyer and added another championship to the program’s long history in the conference. Both teams were already expected to make the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, so the game also helped determine their seeding heading into March Madness. Duke won this tournament championship without the services of two starters, Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II. Assuming both miss the NCAA Tournament, how much does the potential absence of both Foster and Ngongba II affect Duke's chances?

The seeding for both the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament is determined through a process called bracketology, where the NCAA selection committees rank teams based on their performance during the season. In the women’s tournament, the four No. 1 seeds are the UConn Huskies women's basketball, UCLA Bruins women's basketball, Texas Longhorns women's basketball, and South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball. UConn earned the overall No. 1 seed after completing an undefeated regular season and entering the tournament on a long winning streak. Did the NCAA selection committees get it right? Was anyone ranked incorrectly?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with Phil Ford and Gene Banks.

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss Duke winning the ACC Tournament, the seeding in the men's and women's NCAA Tournament's and more.

Pam, Dr. Deborah Stroman and Alex speak with Michael Colyar and Big Vino.

Michael Colyar and Big Vino are comedians. Colyar discusses his new book "Little Bobby White," his shows this weekend at Goodnights Comedy Club and much more.

Pam, Dr. Deborah Stroman, Big Vino and Alex discuss the ACC Tournament, his Duke fandom and more.

The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball survived a late scare to defeat the Florida State Seminoles men's basketball 80-79 in a thrilling finish. Duke was led by freshman standout Isaiah Evans, who poured in 32 points and knocked down seven three-pointers to keep the Blue Devils in front during key stretches of the game. Florida State made a late push in the final minute, but Duke held on defensively to secure the one-point victory and advance to the semifinals, where they will take on the Clemson Tigers men's basketball with a spot in the ACC championship on the line.

Michael Colyar is performing this weekend at Goodnights Comedy Club in Raleigh from March 13-15, 2026. And Big Vino will be performing before Colyar. The showtimes are Friday at 7:00 PM and 9:15 PM, Saturday at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM and Sunday at 7:00 PM.

Pam, Dr. Deborah Stroman and Alex discuss the latest in NFL Free Agency, Dwight Howard, Aliyah Boston and more.

Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston, a key member of Team USA’s women’s program, has suffered a right lower‑extremity injury that will keep her out of the rest of the current Unrivaled season and has forced her to miss the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament as well. She Boston have been playing in Unrivaled or focused on preparing for her WNBA season?

Pam, Dr. Stroman and Alex speak with Ian Parks to discuss his weekend picks and Pam honors Dr. Stroman during Women's History Month.

Ian Parks from Always Bet On Black w/ Ian Parks joins the Sports Shop to share his picks in the NBA. Who will win this weekend: Arizona Wildcats or Iowa State Cyclones? 

Pam, Dr. Deborah Stroman and Alex discuss the highs and lows of Thursday’s ACC Tournament action, breaking down NC State’s tough loss to Virginia, Miami’s strong performance against Louisville and other ACC action yesterday in Charlotte.

The ACC Men's Basketball Tournament in Charlotte delivered an exciting night of quarterfinal action Thursday. The NC State Wolfpack men's basketball was eliminated from the tournament after falling 81-74 to Virginia in the quarterfinals. The Wolfpack stayed within striking distance for much of the second half and even trimmed the deficit to a few possessions late, but Virginia’s disciplined offense and strong free-throw shooting down the stretch helped seal the victory. Despite the loss, NC State showed resilience throughout the game, battling against one of the conference’s toughest defensive teams before ultimately coming up short.

The Miami Hurricanes men's basketball also picked up a big quarterfinal victory, defeating the Louisville Cardinals men's basketball 78-73 to move on to the semifinals. Miami leaned heavily on the scoring of Malik Reneau, who finished with 24 points and dominated the second half offensively. The Hurricanes controlled the tempo late in the game, hitting key shots and free throws to hold off Louisville’s attempts to rally. With the win, Miami advances to face the Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball in the semifinals as they look to continue their push toward an ACC title. Did you enjoy yesterday's ACC action?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss whether Caleb Wilson truly deserved his 3rd Team All-American nod from Sporting News and how he stacks up against other top college stars this season.

North Carolina Tar Heel star Caleb Wilson was selected by Sporting News as a 3rd Team All-American. Did the voters get it right?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with Dr. Deborah Stroman.

Dr. Stroman presents questions to the Sports Shop crew and they must answer, explaining why or why not they made their selection. Why or why not?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with CL Brown and GameDay Charlie.

CL Brown and GameDay Charlie discuss the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament, Mikel Brown's injury, Duke's chances, the dark horse of the ACC Tournament and more.

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss whether NC State’s win over Pittsburgh was enough to secure an NCAA Tournament spot and how Kara Lawson’s leadership is shaping the future of Team USA women’s basketball.

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with Nolan Smith.

Nolan Smith is a basketball coach and former professional player who currently serves as the head coach of the Tennessee State Tigers men's basketball in the Ohio Valley Conference. Smith first gained national recognition as a standout guard at Duke University, where he helped lead the Blue Devils to the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship and was later named ACC Player of the Year and a consensus All-American in 2011. He was selected 21st overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and played professionally in the NBA and overseas before transitioning into coaching. After assistant coaching stops at Duke, Louisville, and Memphis, Smith became Tennessee State’s head coach in 2025. In his first season, he led the Tigers to a share of the OVC regular-season title, earned OVC Coach of the Year honors, and was named a finalist for the Hugh Durham Award and the Joe B. Hall Award. Smith also guided Tennessee State to the Ohio Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament championship, securing the program’s first appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament since 1994 and ending a 32-year tournament drought.

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss last night’s ACC Tournament action, Duke’s injury challenges and upcoming quarterfinal matchup, Bam Adebayo’s historic 83-point game and the fallout from Maxx Crosby’s voided trade.

The ACC Tournament is underway! What happened last night and what's on tap for today?

Bam Adebayo delivered one of the most historic individual performances in NBA history last night, scoring 83 points for the Miami Heat in a 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards. Adebayo's 83 points is the second-highest single-game scoring performance in NBA history, behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962 and surpasses Kobe Bryant’s famous 81-point game from 2006. How impressive was his performance?

The situation involving Maxx Crosby has turned into one of the strangest stories of the NFL offseason. The Las Vegas Raiders had reportedly agreed to a blockbuster trade that would send Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for two first-round picks, which would have been a huge move for both teams. Baltimore would have added one of the league’s elite pass rushers, while Las Vegas would have gained major draft capital to help reshape its roster. However, the deal suddenly fell apart after Crosby reportedly failed his physical with the Ravens due to concerns related to his knee following meniscus surgery. Because the physical is required for the trade to be finalized, the Ravens backed out and the deal was voided before it became official. Now Crosby is effectively back with Las Vegas while continuing his recovery, but the failed deal has raised questions around the league about his health and whether another team might still try to trade for him. What does this mean for the Raiders?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss the drama surrounding Maxx Crosby’s voided trade, NC State’s chances in the ACC Tournament and just how historic Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game really was.

The situation involving Maxx Crosby has turned into one of the strangest stories of the NFL offseason. The Las Vegas Raiders had reportedly agreed to a blockbuster trade that would send Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for two first-round picks, which would have been a huge move for both teams. Baltimore would have added one of the league’s elite pass rushers, while Las Vegas would have gained major draft capital to help reshape its roster. However, the deal suddenly fell apart after Crosby reportedly failed his physical with the Ravens due to concerns related to his knee following meniscus surgery. Because the physical is required for the trade to be finalized, the Ravens backed out and the deal was voided before it became official. Now Crosby is effectively back with Las Vegas while continuing his recovery, but the failed deal has raised questions around the league about his health and whether another team might still try to trade for him. What does this mean for the Raiders?