Jon Rothstein’s March Madness Picks, Bracket Analysis & Final Four

Evan & Tiki

Audacy

Sports

4.2 • 988 Ratings

🗓️ 16 March 2026

⏱️ 19 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Jon Rothstein joins the show at the start of the NCAA tournament to break down the bracket and explain why the next three weeks are the best stretch on the sports calendar. He discusses how teams are judged from November through Selection Sunday, the debate around St. John’s seeding, and why the round of 32 often defines whether a season is remembered as a success or a disappointment. Rothstein also dives into key matchups across the bracket, the strength of the East “blueblood” region, and what makes certain teams dangerous in March. He explains why Tennessee could be a major obstacle for Virginia, what to expect from St. John’s if they face Kansas, and shares his full Final Four and national championship picks while highlighting several NBA prospects to watch during the tournament.

Transcript

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0:00.0	He knows more college basketball than anybody out there.
0:02.6	He's number one.
0:03.6	He serves as a college hoops insider for CBS Sports.
0:06.7	The great John Rothstein.
0:07.9	John will also serve as a sideline reporter for CBS and TNT sports coverage of the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament.
0:14.5	And will also be an in-studio analyst for CBS Sports Network during the tournament and is the host of the Inside College Basketball now,
0:22.1	which is part of the CBS Sports Podcast Network.
0:25.4	John, I know it's your favorite time of year.
0:28.0	How are we doing today?
0:29.5	Happy holidays, gentlemen. Never better.
0:31.7	What holiday is it?
0:33.0	Much bad.
0:33.3	The tournament, baby.
0:34.5	What holiday is it?
0:35.4	I mean, everybody wants to say good morning this morning.
0:38.2	I say, happy holidays.
0:39.4	There is no better three-week stretch on the calendar than what we have in front of us right now
0:44.9	because we are about right now to embark on the greatest journey that there is in sports.
0:50.4	And I don't think it's close.
0:51.7	Wow.
0:52.4	Tell me what real quickly, because nobody cares about this other than me.
0:55.2	What chance of my Virginia Cavaliers have, John?
	...

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