The Tony Kornheiser Show “It now begins with 4 vs 13”
Mar 19, 2026
Greg Garcia, comedian and longtime contributor, drops rhyming bracket picks. Jeff Ma, data-driven sports analyst and former professional gambler, breaks down bracket strategy, Calcuttas, and probabilities. Bob Ryan, veteran sportswriter, gives his NCAA tournament methodology and upset thresholds. They debate seeding, key region matchups, and surprising lurkers in multiple lively segments.
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Miami Of Ohio Proved The Committee Wrong
- Tony recounts being wrong about Miami of Ohio and criticizes the committee for forcing them into a play-in game.
- Bob Ryan agrees Miami of Ohio proved they belonged and that putting a 16-seed in a play-in felt unfair.
Play-In Games Shouldn't Punish 16 Seeds
- Tony says putting 16-seeds in play-in games is small-minded; he prefers play-ins to involve mid-tier power-conference teams.
- Bob Ryan concurs, framing the issue as part of broader power-conference dynamics.
When A Tournament Result Qualifies As An Upset
- Bob Ryan draws a clear upset threshold: true upsets begin at 4-seeds beating 13-seeds and worse.
- He argues 5-over-12 or 7-over-10 outcomes are common tournament variance, so reserve 'upset' for 4-13, 3-14, 2-15, 1-16 surprises.