The 2026 NCAA Tourney has the Coach's full attention, but not before a look back at some of the conference tourney play that helped dictate this year's March Madness field. The full-house of Ed Tapscott, Gordon Austin, Jimmy Patsos, Chris Knoche, and Gary Williams throw in their two cents about new coaching vacancies and mid majors in the Field of 68. Thanks for listening to another season of The DC Coaches Basketball Podcast.

Happy Birthday to the vacationing Gary Williams! Gordon points out that in the nine years of the podcast, Coach Williams has only missed one show - the one when Jimmy impersonated him, which never would have otherwise happened. And in the coach's absence, Jimmy doesn't hesitate to go at it again. A few crazy NCAA stories this week and a riveting conversation with the affable and rising coach of the 26-3 St. Louis Billikens Mens' Basketball team, Josh Schertz.

This week the Coaches discussed Maryland's recent alumni day event and the performance of past teams that were coached by Gary. The group analyzed the Michigan-Duke primetime game and debated the merits of playing important games in Washington, D.C., and specifically on college campuses. The conversation shifted to the NBA All-Star game format and the issue of tanking in professional basketball. Finally, thoughts on potential solutions to stop teams from intentionally losing to improve their draft position were offered by each coach.

The Coaches welcome George Mason head coach Tony Skinn, who shares his background playing for Nigeria in the Olympics and his experience coaching at various levels. The conversation covered the challenges of retaining players in the current transfer portal era, with Coach Skinn expressing acceptance of the new landscape while maintaining respect for the process. The round table concluded with appreciation for Tony's perspective as a young coach embracing the current state of college basketball.

The Coaches discussed Maryland basketball's current challenges and compared them to Gary's own difficult season experience from 1992. They explored the historical impact of the three-point shot in college basketball and shared memories of past games and coaching experiences at various institutions. The conversation concluded with discussions about NFL playoffs, college sports realignment, and a tribute to former basketball coach Bill Courtney.

The Coaches have some fun exploring how court naming honors have become commercialized, with examples like Virginia honoring Tony Bennett and Detroit attempting to name a court after Dick Vitale despite his limited tenure there. The group also discussed the changing nature of college basketball recruitment, noting how elite talent has increasingly concentrated at Power Five schools, making it difficult for mid-major programs to retain top players beyond their freshman or sophomore years. The episode finishes up with reflections on how the commercialization of college sports has transformed traditional recruiting and tournament participation patterns.