Great read from @ksweeneycbb.bsky.social on how three high-major GMs see April’s CBB transfer portal playing out, the going rate for superstar players and more. www.si.com/college-bask...
The easy narrative is that Keaton Wagler was an unseen, off-circuit recruit.
The real story is a lot more complicated and explains the imperfect art of modern recruiting.
SI Digital Cover on how the world missed Keaton Wagler… and why Illinois didn’t:
www.si.com/college-bask...
First bracket watch of February centers around the teams that have the most to prove this month, from Arkansas and Texas A&M to Belmont and Cal:
www.si.com/college-bask...
New SI freshman rankings are live!
We lead with the numbers that prove this is the best freshman class of the one-and-done era.
Also why Keaton Wagler cracks the top two, Nate Ament’s recent surge and a mid-major standout in the MVC to watch:
www.si.com/college-bask...
Last year’s Darryn Peterson vs. AJ Dybantsa battle swung many undecideds Peterson’s way.
This year’s made the answer obvious.
Even with his cramping woes, Darryn Peterson is the clear choice at the top of a loaded 2026 draft:
www.si.com/college-bask...
Darryn Peterson.
Bill Self going with Flory to guard AJ Dybantsa is an interesting wrinkle. No shot attempts from AJ in the first four minutes. Peterson with seven early for the Jayhawks. Entertaining start!
Darryn Peterson vs AJ Dybantsa tips in 10 minutes. In case you missed their last matchup… it was electric. Fireworks to come today.
youtu.be/vPhvzCoVMLw?...
Second straight second-half comeback for Seton Hall. Pirates hold serve in a much-needed one against Marquette. Three major road opportunities for Q1 wins in their next four. Incredible bounceback year in South Orange continues.
Road to the NCAAT for Virginia Tech gets a lot tougher after today. Every Q1 opportunity on their schedule in February/March is on the road. Probably will need to steal a couple to get in. Had opportunities today: They'll rue so many good looks missed from three.
Breaking my Bluesky absence to share my annual 1-365 national college hoops rankings, a labor of love (and maybe torture) few others would take on.
Your early guide to college hoops in 2025-26:
www.si.com/college-bask...
Fantastic write-up of Houston's beautiful game-winning inbounds play against Purdue last night from @ksweeneycbb.bsky.social www.si.com/inside-houst...
As I first reported on Twitter (down currently), Penn has parted ways with Steve Donahue after back-to-back 7th-place Ivy finishes, source told @sportsillustrated.bsky.social.
Donahue was 131-130 in nine seasons there.
Arguably the best job in the Ivy League.
Louisiana is parting ways with longtime head coach Bob Marlin, per release.
Marlin had been at UL since 2010. Off to a 3-9 start this year.
Assistant Derrick Zimmerman will be the interim.
Coaches have been angling for this one behind the scenes for months already, if not longer.
🚨 Midseason Portal Rankings 🚨
A check-in on the 10 best/most impactful transfers in college basketball thus far, plus five mid-majors that struck gold with under-the-radar adds.
1. Chaz Lanier
2. PJ Haggerty
3. Adou Thiero
Full top 10 and more:
www.si.com/college-bask...
I don’t think enough people realize that Auburn is currently pacing towards being an all-time great college basketball team. We’ll see if they can maintain it, but there’s a path to this being a historic season for the Tigers.
I’ll double this up…
The KenPom daily ratings archive dates back to the 2011-12 season.
Auburn’s net efficiency rating of 35.00 on December 15 is the highest any team has been at this point in the season… by far.
The next-best efficiency rating on this date: 31.40.
I came into this story wondering how good content and good basketball development could coexist. Was really impressed with Overtime's dedication to making this the best developmental program and building the content around that North Star.
www.si.com/basketball/p...
When Overtime Elite came onto the scene, some expected more flash than substance.
3+ years later, the league is one of the top hoops incubators in the world... and just getting started.
"We try... to make it a place that has literally no weaknesses.”
www.si.com/basketball/p...
Cooper Flagg comes in at No. 1 in my updated 2025 draft big board, but plenty of movement below him.
Check in on where I have Rutgers' star freshmen, the *other* Duke guys and more key names worth tracking:
www.si.com/nba/nba-draft-big-board-cooper-flagg-duke-baylor-rutgers
All told, I think 2-2 for Duke against Auburn, Arizona, Kentucky and Kansas is pretty impressive... and the only reason it doesn't feel like that is that they easily could be 4-0.
The Isaiah Evans Game
North Carolina started from as good a place as anyone this spring with what they were bringing back in the backcourt and the two five-stars incoming.
Just a massive whiff all spring that is translating onto the court now.
3:30 away from a 4-4 start in Chapel Hill.
Entertaining first half between UConn and Baylor. UConn still getting killed at the rim defensively (20 Baylor paint points,+ eight FTs) but looked better later in the half keeping drivers at bay. Getting the threes they want on the other end.
Big 20 mins ahead for both teams.
lol Dan Hurley is a crazy person
The hijinks of early NET rankings… Syracuse lost by 26 to Tennessee last night and still climbed 18 spots overnight, from 178 to 160.
The ACC is now 0-9 against the SEC to start today’s ACC/SEC challenge.
And this isn’t just poor matchups… ACC teams are just 2-7 against the spread.
League is now 1-21 in games against the SEC as we wait on a final result between Kentucky and Clemson.
Disastrous.
Cards not at full strength, but 20+ point drubbings in Pat Kelsey’s first two big home games isn’t ideal as he looks to re-inject some energy into this Louisville program.
Ole Miss rolling tonight at the Yum! Center.
After years of explosive offenses, odd to see a Steve Forbes team be so offensively-challenged. Wake stuck on 44 with three minutes to go on the road at Texas A&M.
Good news? Wake’s early win over Michigan is aging quite nicely.
Providence using Bryce Hopkins as a small-ball 5 tonight in his season debut feels as noteworthy as his 16 points, 5 boards and 4 assists.
Friars bounce back in a BIG way from Atlantis and blow out BYU.
