Ian Eagle on St. John’s Surge & Duke’s March Madness Doubts

Evan & Tiki

Audacy

Sports

4.2 • 988 Ratings

🗓️ 27 March 2026

⏱️ 17 minutes

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Summary

The NCAA Tournament intensity is reaching another level as St. John’s resurgence collides with Duke’s high expectations. With a Final Four feel in the air, the conversation dives into whether this red-hot St. John’s team is truly destined for a breakthrough or if Duke will reassert its dominance when it matters most. From Rick Pitino’s remarkable redemption arc to questions about Duke’s vulnerability, the discussion explores key matchups, coaching contrasts, and the rise of standout talent like Cameron Boozer. The episode also zooms out to examine a stacked region featuring powerhouse programs, breaking down why this stretch of March Madness feels as wide open—and as compelling—as ever.

Transcript

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0:00.0	The voice of college basketball is calling this game. He's also the voice of the NFL, and once in a while, he's the voice of the Brooklyn Nets, the great Ian Eagle. How are you, Ian? Hey, good morning. What's happening, guys? We're good. He's never going to let you live down that you're only calling like eight games for the net I know I know I get
0:20.9	random texts from him Tiki you doing this one tonight no I'm not I'm not doing that's
0:26.6	grizzlies tonight I'm so sorry you've made some good life decisions that may be one of them I must
0:31.2	say how is DC by the way is there like a buzz in the atmosphere you got so many programs that travel well that have so many fans, it's local, or at least close to a lot of these schools.
0:42.1	How's the buzz down there right now?
0:44.0	It's legit.
0:45.0	Yeah, you could feel it.
0:45.8	It does have that final four feel based on the teams that are participating, the coaches that are in it, the storylines that are now very much layered
0:56.3	leading into a Final Four, and the challenge. If you're going to go out and be the best,
1:02.4	sometimes you've got to go beat the best, and I think that's what St. Johns is facing here.
1:07.0	The added part, obviously in the New York area, is the nostalgia of this program being
1:13.8	relevant again, being recognized nationally again. We're talking about 27 years. That's hard to
1:22.0	wrap your brain around, but 27 years since they've been in a situation like this. So pretty cool that it's happening with Rick Petino running the show,
1:33.3	a legend, an all-timer,
1:35.6	and the fact that his reputation now might be at the highest it's ever been.
1:40.7	That's saying something for someone who's already in the Hall of Fame,
1:43.5	but he
1:44.3	had taken a hit, obviously coming off Louisville. And now I think he is as loved and as respected as he's ever been in his career. That's saying something. Yeah, no, you're right. You know, it's interesting. I mean, because you think about all of the reasons why you distrust coaches like that and it's, ah, the extra benefits,
2:01.0	then yada, yada, yada. With NIL,
2:03.0	you don't care anymore. And in fact,
2:04.9	you're... reasons why you distrust coaches like that. And it's the extra benefits, then yada, yada, yada.
2:02.2	With NIL, you don't care anymore.
	...

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