How UNC landed Michael Malone and why it could be a perfect fit w/ @brendanmarks.bsky.social | Revisiting Malone's Nuggets tenure | OG Sports Phone! linktr.ee/ogtriangleme...

Interesting point here by our @brendanmarks.bsky.social - gotta wonder if that North Carolina job is more tempting to Billy Donovan than another half-decade of 33-49 (trying again with an actual link!) www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

Hubert Davis is out at UNC, opening a premier job. Who could replace him?

Arizona's Tommy Lloyd and Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls are among the big-name candidates on UNC's wish list.

nytimes.com

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...

Was Michigan’s loss just a blip? Mid-major teams to eye for March? College basketball mailbag

Why Saint Louis and Saint Mary's are among the mid-majors who could spring a win or two in the NCAA Tournament.

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

A college basketball tournament in Vegas pays players, and shakes up the sport

“These kids are like professional athletes,” said an industry expert. "They don’t care about swimming with dolphins. They wanna get paid.”

nytimes.com

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...

UNC football GM Michael Lombardi met with Saudi Arabia about potential investment

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“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...

Bill Belichick pledged an NFL approach at North Carolina. Program insiders call it flawed

Inside the decisions that have led to North Carolina's on-field dysfunction.

nytimes.com

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...

ACC men’s basketball preseason rankings: Duke, Louisville look loaded. Who else can contend?

After getting just four teams in the NCAA Tournament last season, are things looking up for ACC basketball?

nytimes.com

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...

Where does Hubert Davis' new UNC roster stand?: 11 thoughts on 11 rotation players

nytimes.com

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

Which Duke players will step up with no Cooper Flagg?: Here's 10 possible rotation players

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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...

Can Bill Belichick change the Carolina Way when it comes to UNC football?

Days before one of the most storied openers in Tar Heels history, UNC's all-in commitment to Belichick is coming to life.

nytimes.com

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...

How is revenue sharing affecting college basketball budgets? 'The money-dump year'

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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...

How is revenue sharing affecting college basketball budgets? 'The money-dump year'

nytimes.com

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...

Ranking men's college basketball's top 25 teams of the 2000s: 2001 Duke or 2012 Kentucky at No. 1?

nytimes.com

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...

NCAA Tournament expansion is a joke, but sadly, it looks like the punchline is coming

nytimes.com

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...

Duke basketball takeaways: With Cooper Flagg in NBA, Jon Scheyer talks what's next

nytimes.com

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...

Cooper Flagg, a competitive apparel battle and the winning pitch: 'Like a movie'

nytimes.com

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

Finding Jordon Hudson: What a New England road trip reveals about a 'supernova'

nytimes.com

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...

How college basketball’s wave of European imports rose from a recruiting sea change

International prospects from some of the top professional leagues in the world are about to become household names in college basketball.

nytimes.com

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...

How Top 25 teams are drawing international rising stars to college hoops

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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...

Out of college eligibility, 100-plus basketball players entered the transfer portal anyway

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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...

Out of college eligibility, 100-plus basketball players entered the transfer portal anyway

nytimes.com

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...

Bill Belichick, girlfriend ended UNC’s ‘Hard Knocks’ dalliance as fast as it began. Why?

The deal fell apart just before a public announcement was to be made. Industry sources and obtained emails detail why the show moved on.

nytimes.com

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...

Best college basketball transfer portal fits: Who makes the top 5?

Emphasis on fit, because these are not the five most-talented players. These are situations most beneficial to both player and his new team.

nytimes.com

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...

Cooper Flagg, projected No. 1 pick, declares for 2025 NBA Draft: What makes him so special

The Duke forward had one of the best statistical freshman seasons in college basketball history to earn National Player of the Year honors.

nytimes.com

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...

Rory McIlroy’s Masters win gives him, at last, his seat at the table

Catharsis, thy name is Rory.

nytimes.com

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...

Cooper Flagg, Duke searching for answers after fateful Final Four collapse

Duke was cruising toward the title game. Cooper Flagg had 27 points and the ball at the end. So how did a dream season end like this?

nytimes.com

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

Cooper Flagg, Duke searching for answers after fateful Final Four collapse

Duke was cruising toward the title game. Cooper Flagg had 27 points and the ball at the end. So how did a dream season end like this?

nytimes.com