Adam Zielonka

Princeton’s ‘fresh start,’ NJIT’s high hopes: A guide to Jersey mid-major hoops There are no sure things in New Jersey basketball this season, best reflected by Princeton's preseason ranking in the Ivy.

You'll find all six in my New Jersey mid-majors preview, a mess o' thoughts about where each team stands in '25-26. This year more than ever, there are no sure things. But a few individuals (Akil Watson) and teams (NJIT?) do jump out to me. guardenstate.substack.com/p/princetons...

Princeton’s ‘fresh start,’ NJIT’s high hopes: A guide to Jersey mid-major hoops There are no sure things in New Jersey basketball this season, best reflected by Princeton's preseason ranking in the Ivy.

You'll find all six in my New Jersey mid-majors preview, a mess o' thoughts about where each team stands in '25-26. This year more than ever, there are no sure things. But a few individuals (Akil Watson) and teams (NJIT?) do jump out to me. guardenstate.substack.com/p/princetons...

I love a good spreadsheet, so I made some rudimentary but hopefully helpful info cards for Princeton, Monmouth, Rider, Saint Peter's, NJIT and FDU. It's a quick glance at what each team is working with this year, with extra notes and nuggets on several key players.

Had this screengrab saved on an old hard drive from my Jets blogging days. Nick Mangold was such a character and it is awful he is gone so soon. Rest in peace.

We're back and better than ever.

10.11.25

For Seton Hall, a frustrating season fuels changes in roster, philosophy "We're different, we're fast, we're quicker, we got more athletic and we're deep ... now it's time for me to do my job as a coach and put it all together."

"It's time for me to do my job as a coach and put it all together."
"My pride and my joy is inside the paint."
"Everybody's obsessed with the process."

I wrote much more than I planned in previewing Seton Hall, what's changed and what's stayed the same. guardenstate.substack.com/p/seton-hall...

In fact, St. John's-Seton Hall on March 6 is slated for a 9 p.m. start. Yes, Eastern time! Insane!

TV schedules and tip times were released by the Big Ten today, and all I care about right now is the 6:00 start for Rider-Rutgers on the first Wednesday of the season. Blessings. No need for that to be 8 or 8:30.

For Seton Hall, a frustrating season fuels changes in roster, philosophy "We're different, we're fast, we're quicker, we got more athletic and we're deep ... now it's time for me to do my job as a coach and put it all together."

"It's time for me to do my job as a coach and put it all together."
"My pride and my joy is inside the paint."
"Everybody's obsessed with the process."

I wrote much more than I planned in previewing Seton Hall, what's changed and what's stayed the same. guardenstate.substack.com/p/seton-hall...

We had Shaheen Holloway and the Pirates today in their new digs. Seton Hall roster preview coming tomorrow.

Hello from Seton Hall

The only 0-5 team in the NFL is the Jets. The good news is it's college basketball season. The NFL season just ended and btw so did the baseball playoffs.

Start getting Schlittler's bust ready now

Big Ten WBB preseason poll:

1. UCLA
2. Maryland
3. USC
4. Michigan

Lauren Betts is the Big Ten preseason Player of the Year. Maryland gets two players on the First Team in Yarden Garzon and Kaylene Smikle, as does Michigan with Olivia Olson and Syla Swords. #ncaaW

Ben Rice cannot sit the rest of the postseason

But I was told Anthony Volpe was the worst player in baseball!

It's just a ranking. It's not that deep. Everyone does rankings in their head and no one will ever agree on a perfect system. Most of you would miss it if it's gone.

I've had it with content creators doing this weekly bit, "The AP Poll is awful," "The AP Poll needs to go." The irony is people will say journalists chase clicks and then put out the most clickbaity video titles as their offering on the topic.

When you bring back the Player of the Year and near-DPOY in Amarri Monroe, you end up No. 1 in the coaches poll. I had the same top 6 teams for Lindy's, ordered Siena-Manhattan-Marist-QU-Sacred Heart-Iona. That's the MAAC's clear top tier, if anything is "clear" this time of year.

Home after a memorable few days on Long Island. Please check out my two stories on the #RyderCup in review...

U.S. Ryder Cup operation faces hard questions after home defeat FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — The home fans here on Long Island were treated to a thrilling finish to the 45th Ryder Cup, as the United States nearly completed a historic comeback...

And No. 2: The United States' #RyderCup problems seem to run deep, despite Sunday's rally and players cutting in to defend their captain. The whole operation could be at a pivot point. Views from the losing side: fieldlevelmedia.com/news/u-s-ryd...

(With scenes from the course and further input from Shane Lowry, Luke Donald, Keegan Bradley and Bryson DeChambeau ☝️)

Europe wins Ryder Cup 15-13 after U.S. Sunday surge FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Two years ago in Italy, a jubilant Rory McIlroy made a bold guarantee. “I think one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an...

Two years ago in Italy, a jubilant Rory McIlroy made a bold guarantee. Thanks to "absolute confidence" in his captain and the team around him, it came true.

"It's nice to be right," said McIlroy, European flag draped on his shoulders. fieldlevelmedia.com/pga_tour/eur...

Home after a memorable few days on Long Island. Please check out my two stories on the #RyderCup in review...

Shane Lowry: I was out there for two days with Erica McIlroy and the amount of abuse she received was astonishing

Later adds that he felt it was the minority of fans here, "a small subset"

Rory McIlroy on etiquette at Bethpage: "Golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week."

Luke Donald, in explaining his belief that his job is to put his players in best position to win, says they swapped in better-smelling shampoo and different bedding in the players' rooms. How's that for obsessing over the details?

Europe wins Ryder Cup 15-13 after U.S. Sunday surge FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Two years ago in Italy, a jubilant Rory McIlroy made a bold guarantee. “I think one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an...

Europe wins Ryder Cup 15-13 after U.S. Sunday surge fieldlevelmedia.com/pga_tour/eur...

A tradition like no other, not only in golf but across sports: Prefacing your press conference question with, "Obviously not the result you wanted today, but..."