THE HERD - Hour 1 - Luka Doncic's injury, Final 4 games this weekend are going to be great
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The Herd with Colin Cowherd kicks off its Friday broadcast with a deep dive into Luka Doncic's season-ending injury, analyzing how the Lakers' over-reliance on Doncic's offensive production has exposed their defensive vulnerabilities. Cowherd argues that Doncic's absence, combined with his poor defensive impact and recent behavioral concerns, effectively eliminates him from the MVP race, even as he leads the league in scoring. He contrasts this with the rising stars of the NBA, particularly Victor Wemby, whose dominant two-way play and confidence have earned praise from Steve Kerr and are seen as indicative of a new generation of superstars. The episode also celebrates the historic Final Four lineup, highlighting the diversity of college basketball's offensive styles and the success of underdog programs in the NIL era, with UConn's sustained excellence standing out. In the NFL segment, Cowherd discusses Jalen Hurts' mounting pressure in Philadelphia, the Cowboys' draft strategy, and the broader structural issues in the league, including the flawed 65-game threshold for awards and the need for smarter roster construction. The episode closes with a reflection on the evolving landscape of college football, advocating for the elimination of conference championship games due to player fatigue and scheduling conflicts with the NFL playoffs.
Luka Doncic's injury and defensive liabilities have effectively ended his MVP chances despite his scoring dominance.
Victor Wemby is emerging as the new face of the NBA, with elite two-way play and a level of confidence that rivals past legends.
The 2026 Final Four is the most diverse and stacked in recent memory, showcasing college basketball's offensive innovation beyond the NBA's homogenized style.
NIL has empowered underdog programs like Iowa and Indiana, proving that financial success isn't limited to traditional powerhouses.
The NBA's 65-game threshold for awards is a flawed rule that disproportionately penalizes star players due to load management, not lack of effort.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Podcast Promos and Intro
Multiple iHeartRadio podcast promos are aired, including The Clifford Show, Sports Slice, The Girlfriends, and Thanks Dad, all promoting upcoming episodes and social media engagement.
Luka Doncic's Injury and MVP Race
“Luka against the Thunder this season, a great defensive team that hunts him on the defensive end. Luka averages 15 points. Luka shoots 33%. 14 from three. Those are all lowest of any opponent.”
The Rise of Victor Wemby and the New NBA Era
“Steve Kerr said something this week after facing Wemby and this is the way people talked about like Steph seven years ago, eight years ago. It's the way people talked about like LeBron eight or nine years ago is there's just nothing we can do.”
The 2026 Final Four and College Basketball's Evolution
“In college basketball, you get a diversity of offense. I mean, Arizona doesn't shoot threes. In the NBA, you got to shoot 30, 40, 50, or if you're the Celtics, some nights there's 80. It's homogenous. It's repetitive.”
The 65-Game Rule and Player Participation
Cowherd critiques the NBA’s 65-game threshold for awards, calling it arbitrary and unfair, especially for stars like Doncic, Curry, and LeBron who are affected by load management. He argues the rule was created more for TV than player health.
“Steve Kerr said something this week after facing Wemby and this is the way people talked about like Steph seven years ago, eight years ago. It's the way people talked about like LeBron eight or nine years ago is there's just nothing we can do.”
“Luka against the Thunder this season, a great defensive team that hunts him on the defensive end. Luka averages 15 points. Luka shoots 33%. 14 from three. Those are all lowest of any opponent.”
“College football's conference championship games are outdated and should be scrapped to protect player health and improve playoff scheduling.”
Host
Guest
Colin Cowherd
person
NBA
organization
Luka Doncic
person
NFL
organization
Los Angeles Lakers
other
College Basketball
organization
Victor Wemby
person
Rachel Nichols
person
NIL
other
Oklahoma City Thunder
other
Joe and Jada - Fetty Wap talks ‘Zavier’ album, NEW chapter in career & music industry’s hard lessons
The Herd with Colin Cowherd • 44m • 3/31/2026
3 & Out - NFL Annual League Meeting Reaction + NFL Offseason Mailbag
The Herd with Colin Cowherd • 1h 6m • 3/31/2026
Best of The Herd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd • 34m • 3/31/2026
THE HERD - Hour 3 - Thoughts on who should be the MVP
The Herd with Colin Cowherd • 34m • 3/31/2026
THE HERD - Hour 2 - Illinois head coach Brad Underwood stops by The Herd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd • 41m • 3/31/2026
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