Step into the film room with Purdue’s Braden Smith, who will become the NCAA’s all-time assist king today. Had a blast taking this trip back through Smith’s career with him (free to read): www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

Faith, fortune and a phenom: How BYU became a player in college basketball’s new era Story with Chris Kamrani. Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

We haven’t really gotten to know Darryn Peterson or the details behind what’s been going on with his health this year. I got him to open up some about a visit to the hospital and set out on a mission to learn more about who he is. His story (free to read): www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

My bracket picks and why I went pretty chalky for a second year in a row: www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Tommy Lloyd credits last year’s Houston for inspiring this year’s build of Arizona’s juggernaut. “They kicked our ass in the last five minutes of both games.” Story on the endurance of a champion & how Arizona turned the page from Friday’s epic semis (free to read): www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

How’s the NCAA Tournament bracket made? A look at the process and why the committee isn’t trying to generate storylines. Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

Jaden Bradley hit one of the shots of the year in one of the games of the year, and he didn’t even see it go in. Story on Bradley’s first buzzer-beater of his college career to put Arizona in the Big 12 championship game: www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

Mid-major coaches to watch this cycle: www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

Basketball on glass? No more. Why the Big 12 tournament will be back on the hardwood tonight: www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

Orange jumpsuits, Serbian music, the most hilarious player in college hoops… a behind-the-scenes look at the Balkan Four-and-a-half at Illinois. Free to read. www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

My final Top 25 for the season. Featured this week: Duke, Michigan, Florida, St. John’s, Wisconsin and UCLA. Also why we could be headed for another Final Four of all No. 1 seeds. www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

This week’s Top 25 includes Duke’s defensive evolution, Aday Mara taking off, Arizona’s winning formula, UConn being clutch, Florida’s rebound gravity, why I was wrong about Michigan State, how Texas Tech is winning w/o Toppin and Saint Mary’s statistically weird win: www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

Darryn Peterson provided a moment last night that shows he cares about his team, the opposite of what’s been spewed lately. My column on Peterson and narratives. Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

The Top 25 is read to read this week. Starts with Duke and some praise for Jon Scheyer. Thoughts on Michigan, Arizona, UConn, Purdue, Florida, Virginia, Texas Tech and JT Toppin, and finishes with KU and Darryn Peterson: www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Matt Painter got real nerdy and detailed when I asked him about Indiana’s post defense plan. Here’s why (a free read for all): www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

In this week’s Top 25, the sublime passing of Aday Mara, the formula to beat Arizona, Iowa State’s historic ability to force TOs, Illini P&R, Purdue shooting more 3s, Texas Tech’s historic P&R, a blind PG test and how Wisconsin beats T10 teams: www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Really enjoyed visiting with Michigan’s Aday Mara. Awesome young man, who has found his happy place with Michigan. This link is free for everyone, including non-subscribers. www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Haven’t seen Bill Self that excited about a home win since maybe 2012 against Mizzou. There were many reasons, but at top of the list, I think he’s falling in love with this team: www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Darryn Peterson not playing tonight. He has flu-like symptoms. He went out with the team for warmups, but can’t go, according to a KU official.

In this week’s Top 25, what makes Arizona’s defense so good, Houston’s shot differential, Jeremy Fears using Gortats, Florida’s defensive bigs and key lineup changes for UNC and St. John’s: www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Why was Portland coach Shantay Legans hopping around on one foot during the biggest win of his career? He got tired of watching turnovers and decided to punch a gap. www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

Today feels like one of the legacy NBA teams just closing shop midseason. “The Knicks had a good run but they’re done.” Their players all suddenly free agents. Hope everyone from the Post sports section is able to find new employers who value their work. A ton of talent just hit the market.

College basketball players are taller than ever. Small ball was the rage. Now we’re entering a big ball era, where teams like Michigan and Florida are winning playing three bigs together. Story on the benefits of going big: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

This week’s Top 25 starts with the difficulty of judging Kansas and Darryn Peterson. Blurbs on Arizona, Michigan, Duke, Illinois, Gonzaga, KU, Florida and Saint Louis: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

My column on another day that brought optimism and then confusion in Lawrence: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

The six teams I think are most likely to win the national title, plus other teams I wouldn’t be shocked to see win it, wildcards and mid-majors who could win a game: www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

A friend called on my way to Lincoln last week. “Are you going to find out how in the heck this (Nebraska) team is any good?” The answers for a team destined to make history: www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

More Keaton Wagler goodness in this week’s Top 25. How the Illini set up Wagler to go for 46, plus notes on other top freshman performances this weekend, the value of Michigan’s depth and SLU on its way toward statistical history: www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

Mike talks to the Athletic's CJ Moore about his connection to Keaton Wagler, the NBA Draft & the Illini team expectations come tourney time. @theathletic.com @cjmoorehoops.bsky.social @mikecagley.bsky.social #Illini #Illinois #collegebasketball illiniguys.com/555-cj-moore...

Keaton Wagler went to my old high school and I thought he was gonna be special. But this fast? A possible one-and-done lottery pick? Not even he dreamed it. But his story is one other players should learn from. www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

Nebraska, Kansas, Florida and Virginia move up and I wrote about all four in this week’s T25, plus UConn’s 3-point defense, Duke’s passing bigs, Texas Tech slowing Dybantsa, North Carolina’s defensive struggles and St. John’s and Wisconsin’s hot offenses: www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

My column on college basketball’s betting scandal and who needs to take action: www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...

Mailbag with @brendanmarks.bsky.social. Thoughts on Michigan’s first loss, a mid-major top five, the strength of the Big 12, UNC’s front court, how Iowa can get Bennett Stirtz going in big games and best transfers from outside of D1: www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...

KU looked like KU again on Tuesday night. My column on what had gone wrong, what went right and why the Jayhawks have hope again: www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...

This week’s Top 25 with Saint Louis, Clemson and Utah State making their debuts and both Vandy and Nebraska moving up: www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...

Michigan breaking algorithms and debuting at No. 1 in a new stat, plus nuggets on Purdue, BYU, Nebraska, Alabama, SMU and Villanova in this week’s Top 25: www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...

In this week’s Top 25, I celebrate Braden Smith and Christian Anderson’s P&R wizardry, Gonzaga’s hook kings, Vandy’s thieves, Houston’s firepower and Caleb Wilson’s twitchiness. Plus, is Kentucky back? Should we question Duke’s title chances? www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...

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...

Mailbag time with my guy @brendanmarks.bsky.social. Send us your questions here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...

In this week’s Top 25, Michigan, Arizona, Iowa State, Nebraska, BYU, Louisville, Arkansas and Kansas are featured: www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

Why isn’t Kentucky winning with a $22 million roster? Mark Pope built a team that doesn’t fit him and a defense that is supposed to be elite hasn’t played like it: www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

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...

This week’s Top 25, starting with a breakdown of Iowa State’s statement win at Purdue: www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...

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...

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...

Dan Hurley is ready to talk about something else other than UConn’s 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...

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 week’s Top 25 on Michigan, UConn, Duke, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Michigan State, Kansas, Vanderbilt, Iowa and St. John’s: www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...

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...

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...

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...