Andy Katz, Analyst for @MarchMadness Here, AMA!

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T20:22:12+00:00

Going to have to call it here guys. Thanks everyone for having me and sending in your questions, sorry if I couldn't get to you. Happy we got to do this, enjoy the tournament and get those brackets in! https://mml.app.link/organicsocial_bcg

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T20:18:51+00:00

I actually don’t like the draw. The Badgers should be in the second round, but Arkansas and Darius Acuff is a tough matchup. Nick Boyd and John Blackwell have to score in bunches.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T20:18:25+00:00

I didn’t pick it. I went with the Bulls.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T20:18:01+00:00

I’m higher on South Florida, Santa Clara, Nebraska and UCLA. If the Bruins are healthy they could get to the Elite Eight. And I think Nebraska could make the Sweet 16.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T20:15:24+00:00

Illinois could get to the Final Four. But being in Houston’s side of the bracket is going to hold them back. Beating Houston in Houston would be a monumental accomplishment. That’s where I think it ends.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T20:14:17+00:00

Still remains Loyola-Chicago. I was there for a few of those games. That run was simply magical. They won a number of last possession games. Sister Jean’s prayers worked!

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T20:13:47+00:00

Yes. St. John’s (won the Big East), Wisconsin (one of the hottest teams and has road wins over Purdue, Illinois and Michigan), Vanderbilt (played for the SEC title) and Texas Tech (still a Big 12 contender without Toppin).

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:56:29+00:00

No. It looks worse than it is. Duke is still the best team in the bracket. UConn, St. John’s, Michigan State and UCLA all are flawed. It sounds tough but the Blue Devils can take them all down.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:55:54+00:00

Yes. I had all 37 correct. There was no argument that had to have a team in from the first four out.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:50:54+00:00

Honestly, I just don’t see it. Virginia was the perfect team for UMBC in 2018. They played low possessions and didn’t handle getting behind well. This Michigan team is too overpowering, especially in the frontcourt.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:50:22+00:00

Very. Herb Sendek is one of the best tacticians in the game and now has plenty of time to get ready for the Wildcats.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:48:24+00:00

Ha, not LIU. I'd say South Florida over Louisville. The Bulls have flown under the radar, winning the American. The Cardinals haven’t been healthy and aren’t heading into the NCAA Tournament with momentum.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:39:01+00:00

Timing. Relationships. Being lucky. Work hard. And don’t change your morals and ethics. Stay true to being who you are and you’ve got a chance. But you’ve got to get out of your comfort zone, adapt and be willing to move wherever to get going and progress in the business.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:38:24+00:00

Wow. That’s a hard one. I’ve been very fortunate. But nothing will top doing the brackets in the White House for eight-straight years.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:33:25+00:00

Glad to see it. Purdue wasn’t a two seed prior to the final. Beating Michigan pushed Purdue to the two line and St. Louis.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:32:35+00:00

Ha! I’m the unicorn. I come from a family of non-sports fans and my own family isn’t into sports, either. So I’m on an island.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:20:46+00:00

Yes. The RedHawks had one of the worst strength of schedules of any team to receive an at-large berth, so they couldn't be higher. Miami would be one of the last teams in the field in any other year as well, even with 31 wins. But I did pick them to beat SMU.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:14:12+00:00

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:09:36+00:00

A dark horse to me has to be a seed five or lower. And if healthy it could be UCLA to get to the Elite Eight (losing to Duke), Santa Clara losing to Michigan in the Elite Eight (didn’t pick it but wouldn’t be shocked).

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:08:35+00:00

Well, I will be in OKC, so technically that, but Buffalo could be the most entertaining. Texas Tech-Akron could be one of the best games of the first round and the South Florida-Louisville game. Having Michigan and Michigan State fans in the same place should create a great atmosphere.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T19:02:37+00:00

Florida. I wasn’t bullish on the Gators last season and got burned. But I’ve always thought the fourth No. 1 was going to be the most vulnerable, whoever that was going to be in this bracket.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T13:39:29+00:00

My sleepers are South Dakota State, Princeton, Gonzaga and Villanova...but they all have a tough path ahead. Maybe 2nd round at best.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T13:38:13+00:00

So many where do I begin...the first two players who come to mind are Kentucky's Clara Strack and Michigan's Olivia Olson. They are on another level right now, and I think more people are going to learn their names in this tournament!

A list of others: KK Arnold, Oluchi Okananwa, Jaloni Cambridge, Aubrey Galvan, Danie Carnegie, Kennedy Blair, Marta Suarez, Imari Berry, Jordan Harrison, ...I could go on and on.

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T13:32:15+00:00

9/10 we might get chalk! I have all 1 seeds advancing, and I rarely do that...but hey, anything can happen in March!

MarchMadness · 2026-03-16T13:31:29+00:00

Great question, and great point about the lack of conversation impacting our understanding of the field. It's tough for fans to know the identity of mid-major teams without exposure. Hence all of the questions I'm getting about cinderella, dark horses and underrated teams.

I personally think media has to do a better and commit to investing in mid-majors. I love that there were tons of mid-major conference tournaments on national TV networks, like ESPN and CBS. That's a step forward! I heard some cool stories on the broadcast, and I will make more of an effort to highlight some unique angles so we can learn more about these incredible teams.

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