THE HERD - Hour 1 - Michigan wins the National Championship, the Bucks have made a mistake

The Herd with Colin Cowherd opens with a celebration of Michigan's historic national championship victory in college basketball, framing it as a triumph of physicality, coaching, and conference strength over UConn's long-standing dominance. Cowherd argues that Michigan's tough, inside-oriented style was perfectly designed to counter Dan Hurley's bully tactics, and that UConn's lack of free-throw attempts and reliance on jump shooting made them vulnerable. He praises the Big Ten's overall success, highlighting its unprecedented achievement of having three schools in the national championship across football, men's basketball, and women's basketball, and lauds the conference's new model combining elite academics, affluent alumni, and NIL-driven recruiting. The episode then shifts to a critical analysis of the Chicago Bulls, which Cowherd calls a 'cash cow' that has failed to capitalize on its market strength, criticizing their decade-long mediocrity and lack of direction. He argues they must make bold moves—either tank or go all-in—and calls for aggressive leadership to reclaim their status. The segment ends with a broader critique of the NBA, questioning the league's health due to trade restrictions, tanking, and declining viewership, while contrasting it with baseball's resurgence and the growing appeal of college basketball under the NIL era.