Tournament time at Buzzer
A podcast preview, a bracket challenge, live chat and more
Hello friends. Yes, it’s time.
The NCAA Tournament, the greatest three weeks of every year, begins tonight. Or, well, sort of. Technically, it begins Thursday. But also kind of tonight. But your bracket doesn’t need to be turned in until Thursday morning. But there is basketball on tonight.
Whatever. Point is, we’re here, it’s all happening, and there are a couple of important items you should be aware of as we begin.
First, the latest episode of the Basket Under Review Podcast! The Ringer’s Tate Frazier and I used the conceit of filling out our brackets on the show itself — and I intentionally didn’t even really look at the field too much before we sat down to record Monday night, and just let it ride on air — to discuss the entire field in jumbo-podcast-length detail. If you want my picks, they’re in there. If you just want to listen to me and Tate goof off and talk basketball for a couple of hours while you do some early spring yard work, problem solved. If enjoy this newsletter, you should love the show, and I hope you’ll go check it out on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts:
OK! Second: As is tradition, Buzzer is hosting a bracket challenge. We’re playing on ESPN. Here’s the link. The relevant info:
Group name: Buzzer 2026
Password: dariusacuff
As ever, the winner will receive a year’s subscription to the newsletter (or, if already a subscriber, an upgrade to the founding tier). I’ll follow up when the tournament is over and track you down. Best of luck and definitely don’t follow anything I said on the podcast, because I am always wrong. (Except Virginia 2019. Still hanging my hat on that.)
Last but not least: Join us in the chat! The chat really took off during last year’s tournament, and it’s been much more active all season. I’ll be in there constantly during (and between) the games answering questions, throwing out random observations, and writing my 457th message about how much I like watching Darius Acuff play basketball.
And, as ever, we’ll be back with written tournament recaps/observations/columns throughout the month, and live coverage from the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final Four. Thank you as ever for being here, reading (and listening) to my work, spreading the word, and joining me in our mutual love of this sport and this competition. It’s going to be a blast.