Episode
March Madness’s Most Insulting Tradition? Ric Bucher Says Coaches Have Lost the Plot
- Podcast
- On The Ball with Ric Bucher
- Published
- Mar 26, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1761
- Processing state
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Summary
On this episode of On The Ball with Ric Bucher , Ric briefly touches on LeBron James, the Lakers’ playoff positioning, Cade Cunningham’s award eligibility, and the chaos brewing in the final stretch of the NBA season — but then takes a hard turn into a bigger issue exposed by March Madness. Ric argues that one of college basketball’s most celebrated traditions — emptying the bench in the final seconds of a blowout — is not a heartwarming gesture at all. In his view, it can be performative, demeaning, and completely disconnected from what real competitors actually want. Drawing on his own playing experience, the example of Dean Smith, conversations with current athletes, and the firsthand experience of watching his daughter play in the NCAA Tournament, Ric explains why token late-game appearances can feel more like humiliation than reward. This is a sharp, deeply personal episode about coaching, competition, respect, and the life lessons sports are supposed to teach — the same themes at the heart of Ric’s upcoming book, Coachable: The Secret to How Legendary Performers Reach Their Highest Potential . Condensed Time Stamps 0:00 Intro, Ric’s new book Coachable , United WeCast plugs, and New Air Club 2:46 LeBron’s loose-ball dive, Lakers chemistry, and why one moment proves nothing 4:42 Lakers playoff seeding, Rockets vs. Timberwolves, and why size still matters 6:53 Cade Cunningham, awards eligibility, and Ric’s broader mission in sports coverage 9:18 The real lessons sports are supposed to teach 9:48 March Madness outrage, coaching clips, and why social media lacks context 11:46 Why Brenda Frese’s fiery exchange was not “controversial” 12:50 Ric’s real target: the empty-the-bench ritual in NCAA blowouts 14:01 Ric’s daughter’s March Madness experience with Cal Baptist vs.…