OverDrive - Armstrong on Kentucky's overtime victory over Santa Clara, how NIL affects the top-seeded teams, and Luka Doncic's 60-point night

Episode Date: March 20, 2026

TSN Basketball Analyst Jack Armstrong joins OverDrive to discuss the first few days of March Madness, including a fantastic finish from Kentucky’s overtime victory over Santa Clara, Duke’s close call against sixteen seed Siena, how NIL affects the results of the tournament, the Raptors’ matchup against the Nuggets in Denver, and the build of the Los Angeles Lakers with Luka Doncic at the helm.

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I was in Chicago on Wednesday morning, and I'm talking, and now here you are. And speaking of mail it in, where are haze and noodles and? They're probably sweating their brackets. That's my guess. They're in a pub somewhere. Well, they're worried about Santa Clara. I think O'Neill has them to the lead aid, and that probably didn't work. I had them beat in Kentucky today.

Well, I'm looking at your bracket right here. I have a few exes. A few exes. How deep do those exes go? Because there's nothing worse, Jack. You know better than anyone. You go over one side, another one. You're going all the way to the elite A?

I'm not. You're still in good shape? No, I'm not. Oh, okay. I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in. That's about the extent of it. I love it. Well, why do we start with that game today, Kentucky?

Santa Clara. I mean, a half-court heave at the buzzer in regulation to tie it up an overtime win for Kentucky. I mean, that was incredible. Well, it was interesting. Kentucky got a great shot, and then Santa Clara came down, and they got a wide open three. And then Herb Sendek, the coach

was trying to call time out. I was a little surprised, and it's hard. Again, you're dealing with college players. You know, you're up three. The strategy is do I give the foul to prevent the game tying three? And it was just so frantic.

They didn't do it. And he was trying to get a time I couldn't do that. And a guy makes the shot. So, hey, look, if you're Kentucky, you know, I don't think their team, they've had some injuries. I don't think the quality of their team is a Final Four type team. But you've got to beat a Santa Clara. And they did what they had to do. Well, last year, Jack, it was so chalky, and meaning the favorites were winning everything in this tournament.

There's been at least a few upsets here. But what do you make of it? Like, why do you think, like, is this the NIL era where the money is going to win more often than not? And kind of the Cinderella's are going to be fewer and farther between, or how do you see it? Well, it's interesting. You know, you got the, this is the last year of the collective ball and agreement in baseball. And, you know, they're talking about the need for a cap. And, you know, why do you see some of the better teams in baseball with the higher salaries, usually in the playoffs?

So there's no cap in college basketball. So I think the mentality of chalk really exists because of the fact that the teams and the schools and the conferences that are most committed are usually going to be there. And the transfer portal, though, is a great equalizer. And when you're a big level school, you can poach a guy from, you know, the mid-conferences. you're seeing some guys perform on a high level that came from low to mid-major schools, and they're able to pick and select. So it gets really, really hard to have as competitive a tournament as maybe we've had in the past. Jack Armstrong with us here in studio, you're listening and watching Overdrive.

So Duke almost loses to Sienna. One versus 16. How much do you think that affects your perception of the Blue Devils going forward? that they were tested to that point by a 16. Well, they got two injuries, you know, two of their starters are out right now. So they're not as good. They're a one seed,

but their one seed is based upon the totality of their work from the beginning of the season in November. But if the eye tests to me, I give, you know, John Shire, their coach, a lot of credit. At halftime, he made an adjustment. They went to his own against a small team from the Mac. conference in Sienna. And usually when you have the better talent, you want to press, you want to trap,

you know, you say we're just going to physically overwhelm these guys. Instead, they sat back in a zone and just used their length and kind of changed the rhythm for Sienna. Now, Gary McNamara, to coach Sienna, didn't use a sub until like eight seconds left in the game. So I thought his guys ran out of gas a little bit. And I thought Duke did a really good job attacking them on the offensive glass. I said, usually when you have talent, you're going to win that battle.

Obviously, the Boozer brothers, they're different type players. But nonetheless, when push came to shove, they were the ones that really made the difference for Duke. Well, we were saying, Jack, you coached in the Mac, the Metro Atlantic Atlantic. Theena was in our league. Yeah. Yeah, it was in your league. Like, let's put that matchup into some kind of perspective. We know Duke has got a reported salary cap, NIL, outlayer, in the 20-something million.

And what do you suppose Siennas would have been? Probably, you know, you might get a little Taco Bell after the game, a McDonald's, a Burger King, or something like that. I had a guy one time when I was a coach at Niagara. We were playing Clemson, and obviously before NIL, but, you know, Clemsons, and, you know, they were doing some things recruiting wise in football and basketball. So one of my players says, hey, coach, why do I get hooked up like those guys?

I said, look, Reggie, if I was going to cheat, and sure as hell get a better player than you. So shut the hell up and be happy on a scholarship. Yeah, enjoy that talk about. Coach, I got you there. So that's about the extent of it, I think. You know, so it's really hard. And it's interesting.

You're at a school like a Sienna, and you do a good job recruiting, a good player as a freshman. Maybe he stays one more year and develops into a really good player. That guy's out the door. You know, you got everyone above you that's going to hand the kid a lot of money, money and the kid's going to go. So it just changes things so much.

So March Maddust coverage continues across TSN all weekend long. We'll be tuning in as soon as this show is over. We're radio YouTube only today, Jack, because of all the March Madness coverage. Yeah, where YouTube stars, right, the Brian Brose, Grant Horvad. That's what we are, Dave. So let's focus on the Raps tonight. It's on TSN 1050, taking on Denver. Tough test clearly. But you heard R.J. Barrett after the Raptors win against Chicago talking about how he thinks maybe the team has turned it around and found something that you beat a team like Detroit, which is a huge win. They had Kate Cunningham then and potentially get him back before the end of the season.

But just how big of a test do you think tonight's game is against Joker and company? That's a big test. You're at altitude, so it's never easy. And they're coming off an embarrassing loss against Memphis the other night, and Yokic didn't play well. So they have their own issues. And it's interesting. You know, you look at Denver right now.

I think they're the fifth of the sixth season. if I'm not mistaken in the West. And Toronto is the five seed, but you got Atlanta who's rolling right now right on your back, Orlando, Miami, Philly, Charlotte. Five through 10 in the east is crazy. I think, you know, Detroit, to your point about Kate Cunningham, as long as he's able to come back in a few weeks,

they'll be fine. They'll hold the fort. I think they'll be able to hold on to the one seed. I don't think if he's out for an extended period of time, and they could withstand that because he really makes them go. But I think for the Raptors, I think it's imperative to try to hold on to at least the 16th. Because you get into a playing situation, you know, you can move fast from 7 to 8 to 9 to 10. And, you know, do you really want to play one of these teams head to head?

You know, if you're going to be in the play and you better be a 7 and 8 where you have two chances to go. because if you fall to 9-10, and the Raptors really struggled matching up against Charlotte this year, they swept Atlanta, but Atlanta's a different team, and the three games that are going to be huge. Thank goodness they're all in Toronto. I'm not sure if I should say that,

because they haven't been a great home court team. They got Orlando next Sunday night at home, and then the following week, right before the season ends, they got Miami on a home back-to-back on the day. April 7th and 9th. So those three games are going to be, I would say, tipping point games for the Raptors,

not only them, but for the magic and the heat. So they're far from being an assured of a playoff series. They've had a really good year. They're 10 games over 500. They've won 20 road games. They're kind of a strange team at home a little bit. I'm still trying to put my finger on why, but nonetheless, they got their chances to be there,

but they got to get a few more of these games on the West Coast. They got Phoenix Sunday as well, which won't be easy. And you'll be with them next week when they hit L.A. to play the Clippers, Jack. The other L.A. team is probably the most talked-about team in the NBA right now, the Lakers. They've won eight in a row coming off a big win last night where Luca gets 60. LeBron gets a triple double. There was a lot of talk when they weren't playing as well as they're playing right now that maybe this wouldn't work with

LeBron and Luca not being particularly great defenders. Maybe this team didn't have the kind of wherewithal to be one of the NBA's top teams. As it sits their third seed in the West, how seriously do you take the Lakers? Dave, you know, here's a few things.

I think Reeves, healthy in the lineup again, you've got to guard him because he can really score. LeBron is LeBron. And anytime you send two to the wall on him, he's just a sensational passer. And D'Andre Aiton, to his credit, to me, has been as professional as he's been in his

career in terms of buying in and understanding and humbling himself a little bit in terms of who he is. And we haven't even mentioned Luca yet. Now, you get to him, the guy is just a dynamic. He's got that it factor. He can make any kind of shot. He's cocky, bordering, arrogant, and a great talent. and, you know, a guy that has shown in his career that he can make huge shots back end of the shot clock.

So who do you guard? And do you send two to the ball on him? Because they got other guys, you know, you got Aiton who could score at the rim. And you got Reeves. There's a terrific score. And you got LeBron in big moments who still knows how to make plays. They're a really good team. And I tell you what, I give J.J. Redick a lot of credit.

That's not an easy team to coach. he hired a very experienced coaching staff with him, and he's very secure in his own skin. I mean, he's got Scott Brooks, he's got Nate McMillan, former head coaches on his bench. He's got a guy like Bob Beyer, who's a good friend of mine, who was the head coach at Sienna, has been a longtime NBA assistant.

So he's got a lot of guys with him, and that's not an easy group to coach because it's ego-driven, and it's a huge market and a lot of pressure. but I think they've handled it really well. I mean, I think Denver and Minnesota is still asleep of teams in the West. Minnesota's been the back-to-back West finals. And, you know, if Denver's healthy, their offensive efficiencies off the charts, I don't like how they're defending right now.

And off the bench, Jonas Valenchunis hasn't been at the level we're accustomed to seeing him play. I thought he'd be better for that. Jack, great to see you. Thank you so much for coming by. That's it. Well, we've got to talk with the Sabres briefly here. I mean, how fired up are you for some Sabres playoff hockey?

If I'm a GM in the NHL, I'm hiding under my desk right now. Think about you. You whack Kevin Adams. And I mean, I think they were on a three-game winning street when it happened. And like, so if I'm a GM, I'm like, forget about trading a guy in the room that's a pain in the ass or, you know, firing the coach. Let's just go get the GM. Maybe that'll shake my team up. I can't figure it out.

They don't lose. They never lose. They're playing great. I mean, last night was just a juggernaught. And so I'm thrilled for them. I mean, and I'm thrilled for Lindy Ruff. I mean, this is his last kick of the can. Coach of the year right there,

he came back, you know, to turn this thing around and get him in the playoffs. I mean, he's had a great career. I think Lindy's fourth all time and wins is an NHL coach. So I'm happy for him. They got a fun young team, and let's see what happens. And we've got to get a few more Canadian teams in the NHL playoff on where we got. Edmonton, Montreal. They're precarious.

Montreal's teetering, too. They're far from a lot. And who's the third one? There's one more. There isn't really. There's only two right now. It's only two right now. It doesn't look like it'll be any more than that,

barring some kind of crazy thing. Buffalo might be the adopted team. Yeah, we'll take them. Pretty much Canadian. Pretty much a Canadian. Close enough. Jack, thanks so much. Oh, that's right.

I'm looking at the standings right now. There it is. Ottawa, Ottawa is five points of. Ottawa maybe. Ottawa may. The Leach, I don't think you're on a something. That's a safe bet. Yeah, absolutely.

Thanks so much for coming by. Thank you. Did you work this morning by the way? No, no, just after. As you can imagine, I woke up this morning around when I usually wake up. That happens all the time. And I just sat there for eight hours waiting to get on the air and talk to you. So I'm glad to make this happen.

Dave, he just, you know, he works nicer hours than us. Yeah, well, whatever. It's all good. Everyone's happy here. We're all employed. We're all smiling. Amen to that. Could be a lot worse.

Working for a living would be a lot more problematic. That's Jack Armstrong here on Overdrive. I'm Luke Wilson. Join me each week for Film Never Lies. Since retiring from the NFL, I've had a lot of my mind, and now, I've got my own show. So if you're tired of lazy takes, if you want honest conversations, join us each week. Film Never Lies, available on all TSN platforms and the IHeart Radio app.