CJ Moore
@cjmoorehoops.bsky.social
š¤ 5413
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š 146
National college basketball writer at The Athletic.
Fun mailbag with
@brendanmarks.bsky.social
, starting with the question: Is this the best two-month start to the season ever?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
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The best start to a basketball season? Studs, duds and more in college hoops mailbag
With nonconference play coming to a close, what college basketball teams have stood out and disappointed in 2025-26?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6894618/2025/12/17/college-basketball-mailbag-best-season-start-studs-duds/?source=emp_shared_article
3 days ago
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Mailbag time with my guy
@brendanmarks.bsky.social
. Send us your questions here:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
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Submit your questions for the college basketball mailbag
A fireworks-filled nonconference portion of the season is winding down. Ask us anything about this season.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6891010/2025/12/15/college-basketball-mailbag-submit-your-questions/
5 days ago
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In this weekās Top 25, Michigan, Arizona, Iowa State, Nebraska, BYU, Louisville, Arkansas and Kansas are featured:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
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Menās college basketball Top 25: Whatās fueling still-unbeaten Michigan, Arizona ⦠and Nebraska?
Not only are there still seven undefeated teams in college basketball, but most of them have already faced stiff competition.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6885106/2025/12/15/mens-college-basketball-top-25-michigan-arizona-iowa-state/?source=emp_shared_article
5 days ago
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Why isnāt Kentucky winning with a $22 million roster? Mark Pope built a team that doesnāt fit him and a defense that is supposed to be elite hasnāt played like it:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
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Kentucky reportedly spent $22 million on its basketball roster. Why isnāt it working?
The Athletic spoke with coaches and watched UK's games to assess what Kentucky must do to salvage its still-young season.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6882985/2025/12/12/kentucky-basketball-losing-analysis-mark-pope/?source=emp_shared_article
8 days ago
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The Miami Heat are barely running any plays or setting ball screens. How did they end up here? It starts with a chance meeting with a former D3 coach. Story with
@fredkatz.bsky.social
:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...
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Inside the Heat and their offensive turnaround: 'We have to evolve'
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6865797/2025/12/08/heat-cla-nba-erik-spoelstra/?source=emp_shared_article
12 days ago
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This weekās Top 25, starting with a breakdown of Iowa Stateās statement win at Purdue:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...
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Menās college basketball Top 25: Michigan is still my No. 1, but Iowa State is surging
The Cyclones own one of the best wins of the season at Purdue, and vaulted to No. 3 in CJ Moore's Top 25.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6868321/2025/12/08/mens-college-basketball-top-25-michigan-iowa-state-duke/?source=emp_shared_article
12 days ago
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reposted by
CJ Moore
Fred Katz
12 days ago
After an "embarrassing" playoff loss, offseason convos with coaches and meetings with Bam Adebayo, Erik Spoelstra decided to overhaul the Heat's offense. "We have to evolve," Spo said. Story w/
@cjmoorehoops.bsky.social
on an evolution which appears to be working:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...
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Because of NIL, Darryn Peterson was beginning to become a guy some KU fans resented for sitting out. My column on the new lens we look at these players through and why playing the long game made sense:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
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Kansasā Darryn Peterson makes long-awaited return, with hope thereās plenty more to come
Peterson's injury had raised eyebrows, but coach Bill Self says the freshman was dedicated in his recovery.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6871098/2025/12/07/kansas-darryn-peterson-returns-from-hamstring-issue-to-help-down-missouri/?source=emp_shared_article
13 days ago
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Dan Hurley is ready to talk about something else other than UConnās back-to-back titles and ready for his current team to build its own legacy. My column on the Huskies from last night:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...
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How this UConn team did something even its title team couldn't: Win at Allen Fieldhouse
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6857577/2025/12/03/uconn-beats-kansas-allen-fieldhouse/?source=emp_shared_article
17 days ago
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How good are Michigan and Purdue? According to KenPom ratings, they are the best two teams through four weeks of the last 15 years. Blurbs in this weekās Top 25 on Michigan, UConn, Duke, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Michigan State, Kansas, Vanderbilt, Iowa and St. Johnās:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
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Menās college basketball Top 25: Why Michigan and Purdueās hot starts are also historic
Michigan's first month of the season is unparalleled in recent history, according to the numbers.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6847718/2025/12/01/mens-college-basketball-top-25-michigan-purdue-uconn/?source=emp_shared_article
19 days ago
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reposted by
CJ Moore
Brendan Quinn
22 days ago
Sometimes everything works and the right writer is in the right position to tell the right story. You love to see it. Elite stuff from
@cjmoorehoops.bsky.social
going all-access as Michigan officially announces itself among the national championship contenders.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
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Inside the week Michigan basketball became a leading title contender: āJust scratching the surfaceā
The Athletic went all-access with the Wolverines as they pummeled Gonzaga by 40 points to win the Players Era Festival.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6844128/2025/11/28/michigan-basketball-players-era-championship/
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Dusty May granted me all access for the Gonzaga game. From the meeting room to the locker room and walks with May, let me take you on a fun ride with the Wolverines:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
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Behind the scenes with Michigan in Las Vegas: Late nights, a $1 million prize and raised expectations
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6844128/2025/11/28/michigan-basketball-players-era-championship/?source=emp_shared_article
22 days ago
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reposted by
CJ Moore
Gonzaga at No. 12? Time for my fellow pollsters to watch the Zags. Mark Few has a title contender again, one he feels like has a lot of room for growth. Impressive considering Gonzaga has been as good as anyone thus far. My column from Vegas:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
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Underrated Gonzaga claps back in Players Era Festival win over No. 8 Alabama
The Zags found themselves down at No. 12 in the latest AP Top 25, leading Mark Few's group to take out any frustrations on the Crimson Tide.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6835688/2025/11/25/underrated-gonzaga-win-alabama/?source=emp_shared_article
26 days ago
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Gonzaga at No. 12? Time for my fellow pollsters to watch the Zags. Mark Few has a title contender again, one he feels like has a lot of room for growth. Impressive considering Gonzaga has been as good as anyone thus far. My column from Vegas:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
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Underrated Gonzaga claps back in Players Era Festival win over No. 8 Alabama
The Zags found themselves down at No. 12 in the latest AP Top 25, leading Mark Few's group to take out any frustrations on the Crimson Tide.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6835688/2025/11/25/underrated-gonzaga-win-alabama/?source=emp_shared_article
26 days ago
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In my Top 25 this week, Nebraska debuts. I also write about Purdue, Arizona, Duke, Alabama, BYU, Michigan State, Florida and Kansas:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
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Menās college basketball Top 25: Purdue, Arizona affirm status as 1-2 before loaded Feast Week
As many as 15 ranked teams could play another ranked opponent in a week full of neutral-site tournaments and invitationals.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6829485/2025/11/24/mens-college-basketball-top-25-purdue-arizona-duke/?source=emp_shared_article
26 days ago
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reposted by
CJ Moore
SkinsHoops86
about 1 month ago
Only in CJs articles do we get such niche stuff like this about Kylan Boswell manipulating the floor, ensuring he could take a rim protector out of the picture if Mirkovic and Wagler switch spots. Great stuff
add a skeleton here at some point
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In this weekās Top 25, why Purdue is No. 1 again and what makes TKR effective at the 4. Plus thoughts on Houston, UConn, Louisville, Gonzaga, Michigan, Illinois and Kentucky:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
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Menās college basketball Top 25: Why Purdue looks like a No. 1 team again
Purdue, Arizona and UConn lead our Top 25 ranking after the first two weeks of the season.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6808428/2025/11/17/mens-college-basketball-top-25-purdue-arizona-uconn/?source=emp_shared_article
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
CJ Moore
The Athletic
about 1 month ago
āHeās very attentive to make sure that his teammates know that heās there for them.ā āļø
@cjmoorehoops.bsky.social
on the BYU star freshman:
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AJ Dybantsaās secret sauce? BYUās star has a curiosity that matches his talents
The potential No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft is "always inquisitive," his mom, Chelsea, says.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6799088/2025/11/12/aj-dybantsa-byu-basketball-nba-draft?source=bsky_hq
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What makes BYU star AJ Dybantsa special? His size, athleticism and skill obviously. But his separator might be a curiosity that reminds one of his coaches of a young Shane Battier:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
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A potential No. 1 draft pick's secret sauce? AJ Dybantsa 'is so intellectually curious'
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6799088/2025/11/12/aj-dybantsa-byu-basketball-nba-draft/?source=emp_shared_article
about 1 month ago
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In this weekās Top 25, I hit on the offenses of Arizona, Alabama, Gonzaga, North Carolina, Indiana and Michigan State:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
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Menās college basketball Top 25: Arizona, UNC rise after big week for freshmen
First-year players keyed the big movers in this week's men's college basketball top 25.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6792250/2025/11/10/mens-college-basketball-top-25-arizona-alabama-gonzaga/?source=emp_shared_article
about 1 month ago
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Sean Miller is back at one of the best jobs in college basketball and hoping to finally get to a Final Four. Miller opened up about the end at Arizona and what attracted him to Texas.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
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Texas and Sean Miller both need a breakthrough. Is this where they finally get it?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6774437/2025/11/04/texas-sean-miller-college-basketball-preview/?source=emp_shared_article
about 2 months ago
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Love that college hoops is here but opening day/week could be way better. My ideas to improve scheduling to draw more attention to the sport:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
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Menās college basketballās opening night is a missed opportunity. Hereās how to fix it
There's only one matchup of ranked teams on the first night of the college basketball season ā a night that should be more of a spectacle.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6771624/2025/11/03/college-basketball-opening-night-games/?source=emp_shared_article
about 2 months ago
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Emanuel Sharp had the shot to win the national title but didnāt take it. How do you come back from that? Luckily for Sharp, resilience is in his DNA:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
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How Emanuel Sharp learned to live with the moment he won't escape ā and why he's still fearless
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6767186/2025/11/03/emanuel-sharp-houston-basketball/?source=emp_shared_article
about 2 months ago
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Bucky McMillan has lived his entire basketball life with people saying, āNo way youāll be able to do that,ā and him firing back, āWatch me.ā The next test for the new Texas A&M coach is showing his style can work in the SEC:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
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Bucky McMillan rose from high school to Texas A&M in 5 years. Will āBucky Ballā work in the SEC?
Bucky Ball is a religion in Birmingham, Ala. Now, McMillan is trying to win with it at the highest level of college basketball.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6757652/2025/10/29/bucky-mcmillan-texas-am-new-basketball-coach/?source=emp_shared_article
about 2 months ago
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My final preseason Top 25. I made updates after watching preseason games and I have a new No. 1:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
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NCAA menās college basketball 2025-26 preseason Top 25: Michigan, Kentucky lead field in wide-open year
A new trend of marquee preseason matchups has given us some data points when it comes to ranking teams before the season begins.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6751366/2025/10/27/mens-college-basketball-preseason-top-25/?source=emp_shared_article
about 2 months ago
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This weekendās college basketball preseason matchups are as good as any non-conference weekend in the regular season. A rule change made that possible, and college coaches want even more of these games:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...
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Why college basketballās preseason is full of top-25 exhibitions ā and fewer āsecretā scrimmages
College basketball's preseason used to be closed-door scrimmages and exhibitions against DII opponents. Not anymore.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6746610/2025/10/24/college-basketball-preseason-exhibition-schedule/?source=emp_shared_article
about 2 months ago
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Four years ago Baylor won a national title. This season that same program does not return one player who played a minute for the Bears last season. An inside look at how you pull off a total rebuild in this new era:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
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How Baylor took on a modern college basketball problem: Rebuilding a team from scratch
WACO, Texas ā Last December, Baylor general manager Jason Smith met with coach Scott Drew and told him the program needed to adjust its thinking on recruiting. āIt doesn’t matter if they’r...
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6713454/2025/10/14/baylor-scott-drew-roster-rebuild/?source=emp_shared_article
2 months ago
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Next up for our conference previews is the SEC. Hard to see the league being as good as it was last year, but the league definitely spent to try.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...
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SEC menās basketball preseason rankings: An encore act after a record-setting year?
Itās reloading time in the SEC after one of the greatest single seasons for a league in the history of college basketball.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6658065/2025/10/02/sec-basketball-preview-rankings-florida-kentucky/?source=emp_shared_article
3 months ago
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Previewing the Big 12, which has six really good teams and then a bunch of wildcards:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
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Big 12 men's basketball preseason rankings: Houston, Arizona and a crowded top 5
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6676543/2025/10/01/big-12-basketball-preview-rankings-houston-arizona/?source=emp_shared_article
3 months ago
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Big Ten preview with lineup projections and predictions. Iām probably higher than consensus on Iowa, Washington and Ohio State:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...
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Ranking Big Ten men's basketball programs: Purdue and Michigan lead this season's deepest conference
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6665174/2025/09/30/big-ten-basketball-preview-rankings-purdue-michigan/?source=emp_shared_article
3 months ago
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reposted by
CJ Moore
Rock M
3 months ago
NEW PODCAST: We got
@cjmoorehoops.bsky.social
to talk MU-KU basketball on the latest episode of Dive Cuts -- if you're subscribed it's available now, or catch us on YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEBC...
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Talking Mizzou & college hoops with CJ Moore of The Athletic | Dive Cuts
YouTube video by Rock M Radio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEBCKzWio48
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Good stuff here. Ben McCollum thinks the game in a very unique way. Also very interested in how this plays out this season. Iād never bet against him.
add a skeleton here at some point
3 months ago
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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...
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He left his mid-major school for Indiana. Then he donated six figures back
Lamar Wilkerson credited Sam Houston for his development, and donated a portion of his NIL earnings back to his old school.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6624461/2025/09/13/lamar-wilkerson-indiana-sam-houston-donation-basketball/?source=emp_shared_article
3 months ago
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Iāve 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...
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Six college basketball freshmen who impressed this summer and could surprise in 2025-26
Teams have looked at their teams for a few months in the summer. Here's who coaches and scouts have been impressed by.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6573873/2025/08/27/college-basketball-freshmen-to-watch-2025-26/?source=emp_shared_article
4 months ago
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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...
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Why Kansas legend Jacque Vaughn is back at KU after 2 stints as an NBA head coach
Vaughn joined the Jayhawks staff over multiple NBA coaching positions. Why? He sees himself as a "guardian" of the next generation.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6560687/2025/08/19/jacque-vaughn-kansas-college-basketball-coach/?source=emp_shared_article
4 months ago
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Kansasā Bill Self ready to coach after recovering from July procedure, he says
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
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Kansas' Bill Self ready to coach after recovering from July procedure, he says
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6556184/2025/08/15/bill-self-kansas-coach-procedure-recovery/?source=emp_shared_article
4 months ago
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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...
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NCAA Tournament expansion was tabled, but we should still scrutinize how the field is picked
As the conversation about whether to add teams continues, there's another discussion worth having: Is there a better way to pick the field?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6535358/2025/08/05/ncaa-tournament-expansion-field-selection/?source=emp_shared_article
5 months ago
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Jordan Smith Jr. is the 2026 prospect college coaches would love to coach. Hereās why:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/653...
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Why Jordan Smith, the No. 2 player in 2026, isnāt the typical 5-star guard
Smith is "the Class of 2026 player college coaches would most like to coach, a winner" in a recent poll of 35 coaches at Peach Jam.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6530461/2025/08/04/jordan-smith-college-basketball-2026/?source=emp_shared_article
5 months ago
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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...
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Tyran Stokes or Jordan Smith Jr.? College coaches on their favorite players in 2026
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6514279/2025/07/25/college-basketball-coaches-poll-tyran-stokes-jordan-smith/?source=emp_shared_article
5 months ago
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Kansas coach Bill Self admitted to hospital, has 2 stents inserted:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...
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Kansas coach Bill Self admitted to hospital, has 2 stents inserted
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6514507/2025/07/24/bill-self-kansas-health-hospital/?source=emp_shared_article
5 months ago
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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...
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What we heard from coaches about NCAA Tournament expansion
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6507401/2025/07/22/ncaa-tournament-expansion-coaches-opinion/?source=emp_shared_article
5 months ago
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www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...
Tyran Stokes, Jordan Smith and the best ā and most underrated ā players at Peach Jam
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The best ā and most underrated ā players we saw at Peach Jam
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6505252/2025/07/21/peach-jam-best-players-tyran-stokes-jordan-smith/?source=emp_shared_article
5 months ago
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Ranking the 25 best menās college basketball games of the 2000s: Chalmersā 3, 6 OTs and more
www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...
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Ranking the 25 best menās college basketball games of the 2000s: Chalmersā 3, 6 OTs and more
More than 100,000 games over the last 25 years were whittled down to the best of the best.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6501041/2025/07/18/mens-college-basketball-best-25-games-rankings-2000s/?source=emp_shared_article
5 months ago
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This week weāre ranking things for the first 25 years of this century. I was assigned college basketball coaches. Hereās the list:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...
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Ranking men's college basketball's top 25 coaches of the 2000s: Bill Self finishes No. 1
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6491445/2025/07/15/mens-college-basketball-best-25-coaches-rankings-2000s/?source=emp_shared_article
5 months ago
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Nique Clifford turned down $$ to stay at Colorado State and bet on himself that heād help his draft stock there. Could he be the last of his kind?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...
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Why this NBA Draft prospect could be one of the last of his kind
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6441793/2025/06/24/nique-clifford-nba-draft-colorado-state-college-basketball/?source=emp_shared_article
6 months ago
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Second rounders and sleepers:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...
add a skeleton here at some point
6 months ago
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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...
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How rival college hoops coaches see the 2025 NBA Draft's first-round prospects
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6424978/2025/06/19/nba-draft-first-round-college-scouting/?source=emp_shared_article
6 months ago
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With rosters mostly set, an updated Top 25. Lineup projections and thoughts on every team:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...
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Menās college basketball Top 25 reset: How transfers, draft decisions change 2026ās contenders
Now that the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline for college players has passed and only one unsigned player remains in our top 100 transfers list, most rosters are set for the 2025-26 menās college basketb...
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6393331/2025/06/02/college-basketball-top-teams-transfers-draft-deadline/?source=emp_shared_article
7 months ago
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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...
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NBA Draft withdrawal deadline takeaways: Auburn in title mix, UNC needs a wing
We now have better clarity on who will (and wonāt) be suiting up in college next season.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6389546/2025/05/29/nba-draft-withdrawal-deadline-college-decisions/?source=emp_shared_article
7 months ago
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I talked with Bill Self last week about adjustments heās made in the transfer portal, his vision for next yearās KU team and his plan for adding one more player:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/636...
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What Bill Self has learned about the transfer portal, and what it means for Kansasā future
With a potential No. 1 NBA Draft pick and a portal strategy focused on 'fit', Bill Self is hopeful Kansas will bounce back from a down year.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6362561/2025/05/20/bill-self-kansas-transfer-portal/?source=emp_shared_article
7 months ago
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