Interesting stuff from @brendanmarks.bsky.social about Players Era and the overall college basketball scheduling shakeup. www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

From our @brendanmarks.bsky.social, UNC confirmed that GM Michael Lombardi visited Saudi Arabia for a fundraising trip after being invited. www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

“It’s the arrogance of it all." Bill Belichick pledged an NFL approach at North Carolina. It has proven to be a complete disaster. Here's @theathletic.com’s story on why UNC football has turned into such a dumpster fire: www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

NEW @theathletic.com: College basketball season is right around the corner, so it's time for my #ACC conference preview. Why I believe *at least* five, if not six, NCAA Tournament berths are in store: www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

NEW @theathletic.com: Where does Hubert Davis' reworked UNC roster stand entering this season? 11 thoughts on the Tar Heels' expected 11 rotation players: www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

NEW @theathletic.com: How will Duke basketball replace Cooper Flagg? 10 thoughts on the Blue Devils’ 10 rotation players: www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...

NEW @theathletic.com: Can Bill Belichick change the Carolina Way when it comes to UNC football? “In a lot of ways,” says chancellor Lee Roberts, “it’s already been tremendously successful.” Story w/ @ralphdrussoath.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...

NEW @theathletic.com: After surveying 35 coaches, it's clear that college basketball budgets have never been higher. But is it possible we've maybe, finally, reached a peak in spending? "This year is the money-dump year ... We will never see these numbers again." www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...

NEW @theathletic.com: After surveying 35 coaches, it's clear that college basketball budgets have never been higher. But is it possible we've maybe, finally, reached a peak in spending? "This year is the money-dump year ... We will never see these numbers again." www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...

NEW @theathletic.com: Next up in our college basketball look back series? The 25 best teams of the last 25 seasons. Not an easy assignment to rank them: www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament found perfection at 64 teams, yet there’s been this need to mess with it, and now it might actually get messed up. It could be 76 teams soon. And any added teams would be a mistake: http://dlvr.it/TLrKKS

Enjoyed this column from Bluesky-less Joe Rexrode, laying out in full transparency what a bad idea NCAA Tournament expansion is: www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: What’s next for Duke basketball with Cooper Flagg gone? Jon Scheyer hit on that topic, and several others, in his first press conference since the Blue Devils’ Final Four loss: www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: “He’s our guy”: Inside New Balance’s all-in push to land Cooper Flagg, long before he went No. 1 www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: Finding Jordon Hudson: What a New England road trip reveals about Bill Belichick’s girlfriend www.nytimes.com/athletic/640...

OG392: College World Series is the hardest tournament to win in sports | Happy Belichick Contract Buyout Reduction Day! | @brendanmarks.bsky.social on Ven-Allen Lubin to NC State, UNC's roster moves, and NCAA Tournament expansion | linktr.ee/ogtriangleme...

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: College basketball has never had more of an international flavor — but why now? Deep dive w/ @cjmoorehoops.bsky.social on the latest trend in the sport, and how NIL (plus newfound eligibility) is fueling a new frontier in recruiting: www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

The best young players in Europe are starting to end up playing college basketball when that was something few ever considered in the past. A deep dive on why that’s happening and the impact on teams overseas. www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

One last pre-NBA Draft lottery note: Everyone knows how great Cooper Flagg is... but after covering him for over a year, EASILY the thing that impresses me most about him is his competitiveness and will to win. The most culture-setting college player (and teenager) I've covered.

With the help of our buddy Jim Root, we found 137 players out of eligibility in the transfer portal. The story behind why these players are holding on to hope for another year and the court case that could impact some of them. Story with @brendanmarks.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: The trend of this college basketball transfer cycle? Players entering the portal... despite seemingly being out of eligibility. So why are they entering? And what are they hoping to achieve? Deep dive alongside @cjmoorehoops.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...

The one hang-up? Belichick, according to 200+ pages of emails we obtained and more reporting. “BB has not given approval.” Much more, w/ my teammates @brendanmarks.bsky.social and @andrewmarchand.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...

Now that the window to enter the transfer portal has (finally) passed, a look at five of my favorite portal fits so far this offseason. Story for @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/629...

After one of the best statistical freshman seasons in college basketball history, which earned him near-unanimous National Player of the Year honors, Duke forward Cooper Flagg is heading to the NBA. More from @brendanmarks.bsky.social ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/628...

Just how much pressure was upon those shoulders? How did it feel every time Jack and Tiger and the others uttered his name? We found out on Sunday. Catharsis, thy name is Rory. www.nytimes.com/athletic/627...

Inside an all-time NCAA Tournament collapse, the end of Cooper Flagg's storied freshman season, and a loss that will haunt Duke forever. Story @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/625...

Still can’t believe this happened. Well done by @brendanmarks.bsky.social chronicling the end of the Cooper Flagg era at Duke. www.nytimes.com/athletic/625... Cooper Flagg, Duke searching for answers after fateful Final Four collapse

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: The untold story of the day Cooper Flagg committed to Duke, and how Flagg’s relationship with Jon Scheyer — 18 months later — has led the Blue Devils to the Final Four: www.nytimes.com/athletic/625...

At the helm of a Final Four team, Florida’s Todd Golden is the most public-facing descendant of Kyle Smith’s Columbia program. The analytics-heavy model that's lifted the Gators is effectively the same approach honed by Smith and executed by many of the same people. 🔗: http://dlvr.it/TJwtjY

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: The untold story of the day Cooper Flagg committed to Duke, and how Flagg’s relationship with Jon Scheyer — 18 months later — has led the Blue Devils to the Final Four: www.nytimes.com/athletic/625...

Lots of new transfer portal additions today: Henri Veesaar (Arizona) Ja'Kobi Gillespie (Maryland) Tre Donaldson (Michigan) Duke Brennan (Grand Canyon) Aday Mara (UCLA) Ali Dibba (SIU) Oziyah Sellers (Stanford) Jaland Lowe (Pitt) Tre Holloman (Michigan State) Malique Ewin (Florida State) #cbb

6:39. That's all that separated Duke from a trip to San Antonio. And Jon Scheyer called timeout. What happened next spurred the Blue Devils' late, Final Four-clinching surge. http://dlvr.it/TJrGcy

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: Inside the timeout that sent Duke and Cooper Flagg to the Final Four www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...

For a spot in the Final Four: Duke vs. Alabama. Let’s do it…

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: On Cooper Flagg, meeting the moment, and a postseason performance for the ages that sent Duke (back) to the Elite Eight: www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: Duke’s secret weapon? The Blue Devils’ mental skills coach, and the vulnerability he’s taught Jon Scheyer’s young team: www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: Duke’s secret weapon? The Blue Devils’ mental skills coach, and the vulnerability he’s taught Jon Scheyer’s young team: www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

Honored this week to begin a new chapter at the Chicago Tribune, where I’ll be a Senior Reporter on the GA/enterprise team. In other words: I’ll be looking for great stories all over Chicago and Illinois. Excited to get to work in America’s best and most compelling city.

This @cjmoorehoops.bsky.social story has everything you need to know about NIL and the transfer portal. Why teams are "frontloading" $$ before April 7, what it'll cost to be competitive this season, and why everyone is nervous about the Big East and Atlantic 10: www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

Caleb Love's per-game averages against Duke, depending on if he beat or lost to the Blue Devils... In 5 wins: 20.8 points, 4.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 44% FG, 36.4% from 3, 96.3% (!!) on FTs In 4 losses: 9.8 points, 3.8 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 28% FG, 14.8% from 3, 58.3% on FTs STARK difference.

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: On the 3 minutes of suffocation that sent Duke to the Sweet 16 — and which proved, once again, that these Blue Devils have what it takes to win it all: t.co/siCh9JMV0l

Rodney Terry is out at Texas, a source briefed on the move confirmed to The Athletic on Sunday. The Longhorns went 62-37 and had 3 NCAA Tourney berths in 2+ seasons under Terry. In 2024-25, they went 19-15 and lost to Xavier in the First Four. More from @brendanmarks.bsky.social: nyti.ms/4bSZ8a5

Hassan Diarra's only basket came right before the buzzer, but story of that half was his defense. Two steals and constant deflecting/pestering/pressuring at point of attack, big reason Florida has 8 TOs and barely 1.0 ppp.

John Calipari and Rick Pitino. Today, they’re both in the Naismith Hall of Fame. On Saturday, they’ll both coach in the NCAA Tournament with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. @bfquinn.bsky.social on their histories and what this matchup means ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...

Last April, Duke coach Jon Scheyer called one of his closest friends in basketball to discuss his new roster building strategy. His friend — Boston Celtics GM Brad Stevens — agreed completely. "There’s no substitute for length." Story @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: Which teams can realistically win the NCAA Tournament? One of these 11. Your 2025 national champions are on this list: www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: How Duke’s Jon Scheyer built the best roster — and mindset — in college basketball: “This,” Scheyer says, “is kind of the f— it year.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...

HALF: UNC 47 (!!), San Diego State 23 RJ Davis making that 3 from Mars to end the half sums this game up (so far) so well. Hubert Davis' team shot 60.9% overall, 77.8% (7/9) from 3, and went a perfect 12/12 on FTs. One of the most impressive halves UNC has played all year. Not even close.

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: My bracket for the NCAA Tournament, with explanations behind my picks — including why I have Duke cutting down the nets for the first time in a decade: www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: My bracket for the NCAA Tournament, with explanations behind my picks — including why I have Duke cutting down the nets for the first time in a decade: www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...