CJ Moore

They’ve already beat Illinois and Michigan State. Even if they were to lose all three of those games, it wouldn’t be fair to call them a pretender.

On it. Good catch. My 8 year old self is ashamed. Big Eight made me fall in love with college hoops.

Nebraska has never won an NCAA Tournament game. So how are the Huskers — now 20-0 — doing this? Nearly everything has gone right for a Nebraska program whose fans grew accustomed to everything going wrong.

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...

Men’s college basketball Top 25: A historically great freshman class is only getting better From Arizona to BYU to Illinois and many more, the Top 25 is full of teams led by star freshmen.

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...

555 - CJ Moore Talks Keaton Wagler, the NBA Draft & Illini Tourney Expectations - YouTube Edition - IlliniGuys.com Mike Cagley talks to the Athletic's CJ Moore about his personal connection to Keaton Wagler, the NBA Draft & the Illini team expectations come tourney time.

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...

He was the 261st-ranked player in his class. Now he could be an NBA lottery pick

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...

Men’s college basketball Top 25: Why Nebraska, Virginia, Florida are flying up the rankings Plus: St. John's and Wisconsin return to our Top 25.

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...

Thanks Seth!

College hoops’ point-shaving plot begs the question: Why even allow bets on low-major games? Most of the games prosecutors allege were fixed were at the low- and mid-major levels, where players aren't making much money.

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

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.

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...

In crushing No. 2 Iowa State, Kansas finally begins to look like team Bill Self envisioned

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...

Men’s college basketball Top 25: Unbeaten Vanderbilt, Nebraska are bona fide top-10 teams It's also time to consider mid-majors — and Utah State and Saint Louis join our ranking this week.

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...

Men’s college basketball Top 25: Michigan’s dominance is breaking Vegas Plus: How Purdue's Braden Smith makes passing magic and why SMU and Villanova are the newest teams in our ranking.

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...

Men’s college basketball Top 25: Michigan, Arizona remain at top, but here come Purdue, Houston Plus: Kentucky returns to our ranking after getting healthy and beating St. John's.

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...

The best start to a basketball season? Studs, duds and more in college hoops mailbag With nonconference play coming to a close, what college basketball teams have stood out and disappointed in 2025-26?

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...

Submit your questions for the college basketball mailbag A fireworks-filled nonconference portion of the season is winding down. Ask us anything about this season.

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

Men’s college basketball Top 25: What’s fueling still-unbeaten Michigan, Arizona … and Nebraska? Not only are there still seven undefeated teams in college basketball, but most of them have already faced stiff competition.

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

Kentucky reportedly spent $22 million on its basketball roster. Why isn’t it working? The Athletic spoke with coaches and watched UK's games to assess what Kentucky must do to salvage its still-young season.

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...

Inside the Heat and their offensive turnaround: 'We have to evolve'

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...

Men’s college basketball Top 25: Michigan is still my No. 1, but Iowa State is surging The Cyclones own one of the best wins of the season at Purdue, and vaulted to No. 3 in CJ Moore's Top 25.

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...

Thanks sir.

I think not having him talk is the old world influence. Agree he probably should have talked at some point.

Kansas’ Darryn Peterson makes long-awaited return, with hope there’s plenty more to come Peterson's injury had raised eyebrows, but coach Bill Self says the freshman was dedicated in his recovery.

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...

How this UConn team did something even its title team couldn't: Win at Allen Fieldhouse

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...

Men’s college basketball Top 25: Why Michigan and Purdue’s hot starts are also historic Michigan's first month of the season is unparalleled in recent history, according to the numbers.

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...

Thanks Matt!

Inside the week Michigan basketball became a leading title contender: ‘Just scratching the surface’ The Athletic went all-access with the Wolverines as they pummeled Gonzaga by 40 points to win the Players Era Festival.

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...

Behind the scenes with Michigan in Las Vegas: Late nights, a $1 million prize and raised expectations

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...

Underrated Gonzaga claps back in Players Era Festival win over No. 8 Alabama The Zags found themselves down at No. 12 in the latest AP Top 25, leading Mark Few's group to take out any frustrations on the Crimson Tide.

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...