Overview of The Final Four Is Set And Duke Loses In All Time Fashion, Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood, Tiger Gets Arrested And Who's Back Of The Week
This Part of My Take episode (Barstool Sports) covers the shock and excitement from the NCAA tournament’s Elite Eight: UConn’s last‑second win over Duke, the Final Four bracket (UConn, Michigan, Arizona, Illinois), an in‑depth interview with Illinois head coach Brad Underwood, a discussion of Tiger Woods’ latest off‑course incident, and the show’s “Who’s Back of the Week” picks. The hosts break down the big games, the biggest headlines, and share hot reactions from the studio.
Key moments & main takeaways
- UConn stunned Duke with a buzzer‑beater (Braylon Mullins) after trailing by as much as 19 — a game the hosts called one of the wildest NCAA tournament finishes ever. Duke became the first 1‑seed to lose after leading by 15+ at halftime.
- Hosts reacted emotionally: admitting personal bad takes (they’d picked Duke to win it all) while reveling in one of March’s classic moments.
- Final Four teams: UConn, Michigan, Arizona, Illinois. Semifinal matchups discussed: Michigan vs Arizona and UConn vs Illinois.
- Michigan dominated Tennessee in the Elite Eight; Arizona overcame Purdue after an excellent Arizona interior performance; Illinois edged Iowa following an 11‑minute horn delay.
- Tiger Woods was arrested after a single‑vehicle crash — hosts condemned driving under impairment and urged accountability.
- Brad Underwood (Illinois) interview: Underwood reflected on his coaching journey, the team’s toughness and chemistry, international recruiting, game management during the season (injuries, returns), and practical concerns about celebrations and safety.
- Who’s Back picks: ABS (automated ball‑strike system) in MLB, the Washington Nationals’ early hot start (Joey Weimer), Faze Clan’s surprising results in esports, and other quick sports/entertainment notes.
Final Four recap — games that set the bracket
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UConn vs Duke (Elite Eight)
- UConn mounted a massive comeback, capped by Braylon Mullins’ three at the buzzer (0.3 seconds remaining on the clock).
- Hosts cited several choke patterns for Duke over recent years and called this one wildly historic.
- Noted game details: UConn began cold from three early but heated up late; turnover and timeout decisions were scrutinized (Duke had timeouts left but inbound/play selection became the focal point).
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Michigan vs Tennessee (Elite Eight)
- Michigan pulled away and controlled most of the game; hosts described Michigan as one of the season’s best teams and praised coach Dusty May’s consistency (back‑to‑back deep runs for him as well).
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Arizona vs Purdue (Elite Eight)
- Arizona overpowered Purdue in the second half; Arizona’s inside play (Coopet and others) was highlighted as decisive.
- Arizona’s season: extremely consistent with very few losses — the hosts noted their depth and Big 12 grind.
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Illinois vs Iowa (Elite Eight)
- Illinois advanced after a long horn delay (about 11 minutes) — hosts, and Brad Underwood, called the delay chaotic and irritating.
- Underwood praised his team’s toughness and adaptability; he credited European recruits’ competitiveness and emphasized the team’s passing and unselfish play.
- Illinois in Final Four for the first time in 20+ years — major moment for the program.
What to expect in the Final Four
- Michigan vs Arizona — battle of athleticism, size, and interior play.
- UConn vs Illinois — UConn’s tournament resilience vs Illinois’ length, passing, and newfound Final Four experience.
- Hosts flagged UConn’s historical Final Four success as a storyline (UConn tends to close in Final Fours historically).
Brad Underwood interview — highlights
- Emotional reaction: Underwood described being “punch drunk” with excitement, lack of sleep, and pride after reaching his first Final Four.
- Coaching journey: long grind through junior college/assistant ranks; stayed with the profession because of passion and belief that hard work pays off.
- Team building & players:
- Underwood spoke about under‑the‑radar players (referenced a freshman — “Keaton” in the episode) who showed maturity and grew into big roles.
- Praised international/Balkan recruiting — the cultural fit, competitiveness, and strong passing instincts those players brought to Illinois.
- Tactical notes:
- Illinois emphasizes passing, ball movement, and clean offensive execution (hands‑up defense, quality shots rather than gambling for steals).
- On overpassing: Underwood’s threshold is when players pass away good, comfortable shots they make often.
- Horn delay & game management:
- The 11‑minute horn problem was annoying and risked players getting cold; Underwood said coaches talked to folks who’d been to Final Fours and were preparing for the logistics and distractions.
- Celebrations & safety:
- Underwood acknowledged the locker‑room super‑soaker tradition and warned about safety (ice‑cold water, slippery floors, risk of injury) — he urged caution with two games still to play.
- Personal note: Underwood’s son is on staff — a meaningful final‑four father‑son moment.
Tiger Woods — incident summary & show reaction
- Reported incident: Tiger Woods was involved in a single‑vehicle crash (hit a landscaping trailer and flipped). Per the hosts’ discussion, officers arrested him after field sobriety issues and/or refusing certain tests — hosts suggested medication/pills may be involved (they stressed reports were still emerging).
- Hosts’ stance:
- Strong condemnation for driving while impaired or under potentially impairing medication — especially given public safety risks.
- Sympathy for Tiger’s legacy as a golfer but no tolerance for reckless driving; called for accountability (get help, stop driving himself, pursue recovery).
- Discussion acknowledged second‑chance thinking but emphasized repeated incidents are alarming.
Who’s Back (highlights from the segment)
- ABS (Automated Ball‑Strike) — praised for accurate calls and the drama it adds to the stadium. Hosts debated pros/cons (human umpires vs tech, in‑stadium experience, and challenge mechanics).
- MLB: Washington Nationals rookie Joey Weimer — early-season hot start (hosts were excited, cautiously optimistic).
- Esports: Faze (Faze Vegas) upset Optic at a Major — notable weekend in competitive gaming.
- Miscellaneous picks mentioned: Twisted Tea (sponsor banter), Lucy nicotine pouches ad spot, shoutouts to local fanbases (Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, UConn).
Notable quotes & audio moments (studio reactions)
- “I came in my pants when that Braylon Mullins three hit” — hyperbolic studio reaction capturing the collective shock/joy.
- “Duke choked harder than any team ever choked” — hosts on the magnitude of the comeback.
- “If they play that scenario out a thousand times, I think we should give the win to Duke” — joking disbelief about endgame management and timeouts.
- Brad Underwood: “Good things happen to those who work hard” — his coaching/philosophy line that resonated in the interview.
Quick action items / what to watch next
- Final Four matchups: Michigan vs Arizona and UConn vs Illinois — watch for inside/outside matchups, rebounding & turnover margins, and which team’s half‑court offense executes under pressure.
- Follow Tiger Woods’ legal/medical updates — hosts pledged to cover additional developments.
- Keep an eye on MLB ABS adoption/controversies as the season unfolds.
- For Illinois fans: monitor injury reports and keep an eye on locker‑room safety (Underwood’s comments on super‑soakers were a public warning).
If you want a distilled clip list: the episode centers on the Duke‑UConn buzzer dramatic sequence, the Brad Underwood interview (halftime taping reference), and the Tiger Woods incident discussion — those are the three must‑hear segments.