CJ Moore

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?

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...

Why Jordan Smith, the No. 2 player in 2026, isn’t 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.

Jordan Smith Jr. is the 2026 prospect college coaches would love to coach. Here’s why: www.nytimes.com/athletic/653...

Tyran Stokes or Jordan Smith Jr.? College coaches on their favorite players in 2026

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...

I was with him today. He seemed fine. Strange day.

Kansas coach Bill Self admitted to hospital, has 2 stents inserted

Kansas coach Bill Self admitted to hospital, has 2 stents inserted: www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...

What we heard from coaches about NCAA Tournament expansion

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...

The best — and most underrated — players we saw at Peach Jam

www.nytimes.com/athletic/650... Tyran Stokes, Jordan Smith and the best — and most underrated — players at Peach Jam

Ranking the 25 best men’s college basketball games of the 2000s: Chalmers’ 3, 6 OTs and more More than 100,000 games over the last 25 years were whittled down to the best of the best.

Ranking the 25 best men’s college basketball games of the 2000s: Chalmers’ 3, 6 OTs and more

www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

Ranking men's college basketball's top 25 coaches of the 2000s: Bill Self finishes No. 1

This week we’re ranking things for the first 25 years of this century. I was assigned college basketball coaches. Here’s the list: www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...

Why this NBA Draft prospect could be one of the last of his kind

Nique Clifford turned down $$ to stay at Colorado State and bet on himself that he’d help his draft stock there. Could he be the last of his kind? www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

Second rounders and sleepers: www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

How rival college hoops coaches see the 2025 NBA Draft's first-round prospects

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...

Men’s college basketball Top 25 reset: How transfers, draft decisions change 2026’s 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 men’s college basketb...

With rosters mostly set, an updated Top 25. Lineup projections and thoughts on every team: www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...

I’m saying that Michigan is a challenger to Purdue. Purdue is the preseason favorite.

NBA Draft withdrawal deadline takeaways: Auburn in title mix, UNC needs a wing We now have better clarity on who will (and won’t) be suiting up in college next season.

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...

What Bill Self has learned about the transfer portal, and what it means for Kansas’ 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.

I talked with Bill Self last week about adjustments he’s made in the transfer portal, his vision for next year’s KU team and his plan for adding one more player: www.nytimes.com/athletic/636...

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.

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 Top 25 teams are drawing international rising stars to college hoops

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...

College basketball mailbag: AJ Dybantsa's impact on Big 12? Can Kevin Willard win at Villanova?

I answer why KU is lower in preseason rankings but could be moving up and will Kevin Willard bring Villanova back, plus my colleagues answer questions on BYU, Michigan State and the new Pac-12. Mailbag: www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

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

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...

Ranking the best players in college basketball's transfer portal

Our top transfer list is now at 100. Have spent last week since season ended going through any guys we might have missed. @samvecenie.bsky.social and I have scouting blurbs on every guy. www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

It’s hard to keep track. They were one of the teams I considered. Just not enough there yet.

Stromer is gone

Thanks. Been a fun ride.

Way-too-early men's Top 25: Who's got a shot at No. 1 for 2025-26?

I realize it’s a silly exercise, but here’s your way-too-early preseason Top 25, led by Purdue: www.nytimes.com/athletic/626...

Kelvin Sampson and Houston forced to deal with another cruel ending

Kelvin Sampson only has one more box left to check in his career. What it was like for the Sampsons to get so close. “He deserved it.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/626...

Inside the epic Final Four rally Houston basketball was built for: Belief, grit, trust, luck The Cougars started to believe anything was possible in January, then drew upon their biggest win when Duke pushed them to the brink.

Houston and the Sampsons are used to heartache in this tournament. Used to being good enough to win it but something goes wrong. Last night, Lauren Sampson couldn’t watch so she started adopting dogs.

On the incredible comeback she missed and a team of destiny: www.nytimes.com/athletic/625...

Final Four scouting reports: Opposing coaches break down Duke, Houston, Florida and Auburn Coaches who saw the 2025 Final Four teams this season get into the nitty-gritty details of what makes them good and how to beat them.

Scouting reports on Duke, Houston, Auburn and Florida from coaches who have faced them: www.nytimes.com/athletic/625...

Tales of The Wanderer: J’Wan Roberts, Kelvin Sampson and the heart of Houston’s Final Four run There's a reason the player who has been at Houston for over half of Kelvin Sampson's 11-year tenure made his coach cry on Senior Day.

Kelvin Sampson cried like he never has before when he saw J’Wan Roberts on Senior Day. On their special bond and the value of Roberts to Houston: www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...

‘We knew where he was going’: The death of a rising coaching star at 43 rocked college hoops

Inspired and amazed my the man Amir Abdur-Rahim was. Lessons to be learned by how he lived. Hope you’ll take the time to allow those who knew him best to share his story. Thanks to @brianchamilton.bsky.social for his work on a story I felt like needed to be told: www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...