Tanking narrative is shifting / USU adds home-&-home with Nevada / irresponsible Sac State - Feb. 16, 2026

·59 min·5 clips

A listener asks if the NBA will take the Jazz's draft pick away for tanking, and the hosts predict a legal battle.

The episode opens with a listener question about whether the NBA will punish the Utah Jazz by taking away their draft pick for tanking. The hosts argue that while fines are possible, draft pick removal is unlikely due to owner opposition and Commissioner Adam Silver's role as a 'puppet of the owners.' They note that media discourse has shifted from condemning the Jazz to defending tanking as a necessary strategy for small-market teams to build through deep drafts. The conversation transitions to Utah State football, which announced a home-and-home series with Nevada in 2027 and 2029, praised for regional familiarity and easier travel. The hosts then rant about Sacramento State's bid to join the MAC, detailing a $30 million financial commitment they call reckless, funded by student fees and taxpayer money, and likely to fail. Later, they discuss the NBA All-Star weekend, noting the USA vs. World game saw improved effort and defense, leading to higher ratings, but the dunk contest was weak. They conclude with 'Pick Six,' reviewing their predictions on games like Utah State vs. Memphis and the All-Star events, where Jason wins 4-3. Throughout, they take listener texts on topics like Jerry Sloan's hypothetical reaction to tanking and when college athletics become 'overrated.'

As heard by us

A local-sports hour weighs late-game judgment, conference costs, and Jazz lottery suspicion.

Full Court Press works through a busy local-sports hour by tying its topics to incentives, geography, and judgment. Eric Franson and Jason Walker revisit Utah State's 13-to-2 closing run against Memphis, setting Penny Hardaway's irritation against Jared Calhoun's argument that…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get Utah State-Memphis fallout, Sacramento State's MAC bill, and a Jazz lottery conspiracy theory in one busy hour.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Full Court Press