Brendan Marks

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...

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.”

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

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

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...

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.

“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...

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?

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...

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

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...

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

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

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.

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...

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

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...

I’d recognize that meaty paw to your left anyday

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

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...

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

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...

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

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

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...

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

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...

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

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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.

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...

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

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...

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.

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...

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.

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...

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.

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...

Rory McIlroy’s Masters win gives him, at last, his seat at the table Catharsis, thy name is Rory.

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...

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?

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?

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

Will Cooper Flagg’s momentous choice to play for Duke be capped with fabled finish? Duke is on the precipice of doing just what Cooper Flagg and Jon Scheyer dreamed about many months ago when the star committed.

NEW @theathletic.bsky.social: The untold story of the day Cooper Flagg committed to Duke, and how Flagg’s relationship with Jon Scheyer — 18 months later — has led the Blue Devils to the Final Four:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/625...