The Press Box A Final Four Preview. Plus, the Issues With College Basketball Coverage and an All-Time UNC Starting Five With Tate Frazier
Apr 3, 2026
Tate Frazier, college basketball analyst and podcaster from The Ringer, previews the men’s and women’s Final Four matchups. He digs into coaching narratives, role players who could steal the weekend, and the problems with national coverage. He also names his all-time UNC starting five in a rapid-fire lightning round.
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Final Four Hinges On Frontcourts And Coaches
- The men's Final Four centers on contrasting frontcourts and coaching narratives.
- Michigan's transfer-built frontcourt meets Arizona's length and freshman Coa Pete, while coaching storylines pit Dusty May vs Tommy Lloyd and Dan Hurley's pedigree.
Dan Hurley Is Elite And Unpredictable
- Dan Hurley has become college basketball's top coach because of results and personality volatility.
- Hurley mixes elite outcomes with combustible sideline behavior that makes him simultaneously irresistible and concerning to observers.
Prefer Season-Long Reporters Over Parachuting Analysts
- Improve college basketball coverage by blending knowledgeable local reporting with national storytelling.
- Avoid parachuting uninformed studio analysts during the tournament and lean on writers who track teams year-round, per Tate Frazier's critique.
