Good stuff here. Ben McCollum thinks the game in a very unique way. Also very interested in how this plays out this season. I’d never bet against him.

New Indiana guard Lamar Wilkerson was grateful for his time at Sam Houston State and wanted to give back. So he took over six figures of his NIL money and donated to the Bearkats. Maybe the best story yet from the NIL era: www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

I’ve been calling around ask asking coaches which freshmen and transfers thrived this summer and could surprise this season. First up, the freshman: www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...

Jacque Vaughn had opportunities to return to the NBA but felt a calling to return to his alma mater. Story on what convinced him to return and whether a succession plan was part of it: www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

Kansas’ Bill Self ready to coach after recovering from July procedure, he says www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...

NCAA Tournament expansion was tabled, but we should still scrutinize how the field is picked. My column with input from Ken Pomeroy (@kenpom.com). www.nytimes.com/athletic/653...

Jordan Smith Jr. is the 2026 prospect college coaches would love to coach. Here’s why: www.nytimes.com/athletic/653...

Tyran Stokes or Jordan Smith Jr.? We polled coaches on their favorite players in 2026 and whether a fifth year of eligibility should be allowed: www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...

Kansas coach Bill Self admitted to hospital, has 2 stents inserted: www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...

What do college basketball coaches think of the possibility of NCAA Tournament expansion? We polled them at Peach Jam. The results: www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

www.nytimes.com/athletic/650... Tyran Stokes, Jordan Smith and the best — and most underrated — players at Peach Jam

Ranking the 25 best men’s college basketball games of the 2000s: Chalmers’ 3, 6 OTs and more www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

This week we’re ranking things for the first 25 years of this century. I was assigned college basketball coaches. Here’s the list: www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...

Nique Clifford turned down $$ to stay at Colorado State and bet on himself that he’d help his draft stock there. Could he be the last of his kind? www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

Second rounders and sleepers: www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

I asked college coaches who have faced NBA draft projects to give scouting reports on each college player. Round 1 guys here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...

With rosters mostly set, an updated Top 25. Lineup projections and thoughts on every team: www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...

NBA Draft withdrawal deadline takeaways: Auburn in title mix, UNC needs a wing, Michigan and Houston have top five rosters and Florida is a threat to repeat: www.nytimes.com/athletic/638...

I talked with Bill Self last week about adjustments he’s made in the transfer portal, his vision for next year’s KU team and his plan for adding one more player: www.nytimes.com/athletic/636...

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...

I answer why KU is lower in preseason rankings but could be moving up and will Kevin Willard bring Villanova back, plus my colleagues answer questions on BYU, Michigan State and the new Pac-12. Mailbag: www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

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...

Our top transfer list is now at 100. Have spent last week since season ended going through any guys we might have missed. @samvecenie.bsky.social and I have scouting blurbs on every guy. www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

I realize it’s a silly exercise, but here’s your way-too-early preseason Top 25, led by Purdue: www.nytimes.com/athletic/626...

Kelvin Sampson only has one more box left to check in his career. What it was like for the Sampsons to get so close. “He deserved it.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/626...

Houston and the Sampsons are used to heartache in this tournament. Used to being good enough to win it but something goes wrong. Last night, Lauren Sampson couldn’t watch so she started adopting dogs. On the incredible comeback she missed and a team of destiny: www.nytimes.com/athletic/625...

Scouting reports on Duke, Houston, Auburn and Florida from coaches who have faced them: www.nytimes.com/athletic/625...

Kelvin Sampson cried like he never has before when he saw J’Wan Roberts on Senior Day. On their special bond and the value of Roberts to Houston: www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...

Inspired and amazed my the man Amir Abdur-Rahim was. Lessons to be learned by how he lived. Hope you’ll take the time to allow those who knew him best to share his story. Thanks to @brianchamilton.bsky.social for his work on a story I felt like needed to be told: www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...

This Houston run feels karmic, from the state where Kelvin Sampson’s coaching career nearly ended to now the city where he started his career rehab against the opponent that knocked Houston out a year ago. This team with this defense might be his best title shot yet: www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...

This Houston run feels karmic, from the state where Kelvin Sampson’s coaching career nearly ended to now the city where he started his career rehab against the opponent that knocked Houston out a year ago. This team with this defense might be his best title shot yet: www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...

The story from Atlanta on Michigan State, once again, finding a way www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

Kelvin Sampson went with something borrowed to beat Purdue. The story behind the play that put Houston in the Elite Eight, yet another moment in Kelvin Sampson’s career that should lead him to the Hall of Fame: www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

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...

Because of the House settlement, rev sharing and a new clearinghouse for collective deals, there’s a rush to get deals done before April 7. What coaches, GMs and administrators are saying about the market and upcoming changes: www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

Kelvin Sampson is one of the best at putting his guys in position to succeed, and this might be his best team yet at executing what he wants. It also could be the best shot he’s had at winning a national title. Story from Wichita: www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...

Bennett Stirtz introduces himself to all of college basketball, Ben McCollum has receipts and the best story in college basketball somehow keeps getting better. Story from Wichita: www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...

Coaches in the NCAA Tournament you need to know for the carousel: www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...

Last year if you followed my picks you would have won your bracket pool. Had championship game right and three of Final Four. So you know what that means, fade me this year! I’m due to bomb. My picks, going very chalky: www.nytimes.com/athletic/620...

Why Kelvin Sampson wrote “Net time” on the board for the first time ever, the tweak he made on Saturday to win and the story behind the evolution of point guard Milos Uzan: www.nytimes.com/athletic/620...

Kentucky may not have a true star, but its most important player is Lamont Butler, who Mark Pope says has a winner’s DNA. Butler’s story on where that comes from and why he loves defense starts in a mall when he was 10: www.nytimes.com/athletic/619...

One of my favorite teams to watch this year is UC San Diego, with its New Zealander star who likes to “hit boots”, a shooter with a signature celebration and a coach who doesn’t seem to have an ego and has built the perfect team for his school: www.nytimes.com/athletic/619...

CJ's program deep dives are a must read

In its first year eligible for the NCAA Tournament, UC San Diego should make it no matter what happens this week. Eric Olen is winning with former D2 players, led by a star from New Zealand. The story of Olen’s creative build, always doing more with less: www.nytimes.com/athletic/619...

My final Top 25 for the 24-25 season. Thanks to everyone who reads for entertainment and/or to learn something. Apologies to those who hate click to see I’ve misranked a team! www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...

Bill Self asked Hunter Dickinson to put Kansas on his back the rest of the season. KU is 24-2 the last two years when Dickinson hits a certain number. What that is and why KU’s postseason is all about the big man: www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...

New on The Athletic — The March of UConn On a three-peat gone sideways, a season-defining moment of truth, and a single billow of smoke from a mountain ... www.nytimes.com/athletic/617...

A look at what makes Texas Tech’s offense so good and the move Grant McCasland made this summer that has helped the Red Raiders on both ends of the floor: www.nytimes.com/athletic/617...

In this week’s Top 25, Auburn’s excellent defensive plan, Florida’s passing bigs, Tennessee’s formula for beating Bama, Michigan State wearing teams down, the different versions of Iowa State, Saint Mary’s rebounding and Oregon’s Nate Bittle heating up: www.nytimes.com/athletic/617...