Best of the week on The Herd

Back from the beach, bracket a little blotchy, and the tourney already reminding us how it goes: recent champs often exit early, NIL cash is powering the Big Ten, and older coaches are winning in a system that’s more roster management than shoe‑circuit grind.

I ate a few Ls too, from my Florida pick to doubting the Lakers’ defense while LeBron’s flying around, and I keep banging the drum that the World Baseball Classic is a gem. I’m also skeptical of Baltimore’s sky‑high win total and still not sold that “winner” is a quarterback trait for J.J. McCarthy.

Sweet sixteen is here, I like Purdue’s stay‑the‑course model, and Arizona looks terrifying. Let’s talk UConn–Michigan State with Dan Hurley.

You start 22 and one, beat heavyweights, and land a two seed in a deeper field; do you feel like a one in disguise or a great two?

We’ve got thirty‑one wins, high‑end non‑conference results, and went nineteen and three in the Big East, so we feel as dangerous as anyone. Michigan State’s a fistfight, they’re physical, and it’ll be a war.

Cohen Carr jumps through the screen and makes this a tough game to officiate; what pops on film?

His burst is outrageous, he flies that left lane, lives on lobs, put‑backs, and hard left drives, and he’s even hit a few lately. If you lose track of him in transition or on the baseline, you end up on the wrong highlight.

College hoops feels loaded again with internationals and NIL keeping guys; do you feel the talent surge?

Absolutely; more elite internationals are choosing college, and fringe first‑rounders are staying because they get paid, developed, and treated better than in the G League.

You turned down the Lakers; any second‑guessing?

Everyone revisits big decisions, especially when that roster takes off, but I love the control you have in college to set standards and truly run the program.

Do refs give more rope in March if you raise the volume?

I think it’s the opposite; more eyes mean quicker techs if they miss, and I’m actually calmer now than in December because it’s win‑or‑go‑home and there’s no next‑day repair job.

Any nerves facing Izzo, the mentor?

Great coaches don’t hand you freebies; you have to win the street fight and outplay them. I’ve got huge respect for Tom, and tomorrow it’s simple: advance or you're done.

Hurley’s won nearly eighty percent of his tourney games; that’s bar‑bet stuff, and this matchup’s a heater. Back to baseball with the Dodgers’ Dave Roberts.

Last year you pieced together the ninth; now you’ve got Edwin Diaz. How does a set closer change your day?

You build from the back with real clarity, then fill the gaps. He left money to be here, he’s all business, and it settles everything.

Kyle Tucker’s a star without the sizzle; how does that fit a room of big names?

Perfectly; hard hat, get on base, play clean defense, run the bases, hit second, and just help us win.

October pitching crushes lineups that only slug; can this group still manufacture runs?

One through nine is relentless, so we’ll run up pitch counts and reach bullpens early, and we can push a run across when we need it.

How do you manage Ohtani’s two‑way rhythm without wearing him down?

He opens on the mound in game five, we’ll monitor stress and pitch counts, and the DH piece will be flexible with constant communication.

What was your spring message to a roster full of stars?

Standard stays the standard; keep the blinders on and chase the trophy like a greyhound chases the lure. The next ring’s en route, and we want another behind me soon.

Diaz stabilizes a spot that cost twenty‑six saves last year, and when bullpens wobble, managers unfairly eat it. Great to have Dan Hurley, Joel Klatt, Carlos Boozer, and Dave Roberts this week.

Duke melted last year; if it’s tight against Pitino at seventy‑three, who gets the edge?

Pitino’s one of the best to ever do it, and he’s beaten heavyweights, though St. John’s doesn’t shoot it great; still a live threat.

Rick Neuheisel joins; with NIL in play, where would you spend to move the needle?

Same premium spots as the NFL: quarterback, pass rusher, true number one receiver, shutdown corner, and blind‑side tackle, with the rare exception at running back.

Indiana’s surge under Curt Cignetti looked like lightning in a bottle; what made it work, and how much was Mendoza?

Culture first with thirteen JMU transfers modeling the standard, savvy use of the portal for grown players, and Fernando Mendoza’s rare accuracy and poise tying it together.

I say culture beats checkbooks at the college level; am I naive?

You’re right; money helps, but buy‑in and on‑roster culture carriers change programs, like Iowa’s guard who showed the room how it’s supposed to look.

Are you surprised the Big Ten’s overtaken the SEC lately?

Parity makes it harder to hoard talent like before, Big Ten resources are surging, and eager programs are closing the gap behind the usual powers.

Why jump to spring football now, and what’s the value?

It’s pure ball with equal pay, hungry players, and lots of Sunday ability, and coaching it is like getting the band back together for three months.

Today, would you rather take a top NFL job or an Oregon‑level college job?

Both are great and both are complicated; college has turned into recruiting money, and the sport needs grown‑up fixes, but fans keep showing up because the product delivers.

Congrats on Dallas, and here’s what I like about the spring league tweaks: no shove‑sneak, tiered point‑after tries, four points for very long field goals, and one‑foot catches to speed it up. Kicks off on Fox—good stuff.