Adam Zielonka
@adamzielonka.bsky.social
Senior editor and writer for Field Level Media. Bylines on Substack and in your local paper. Never fly United.
This week's awesome slate of on-campus college basketball games ought to prove that the sport is at its best when played at home in front of students and fans, not in a corporatized environment in either Las Vegas or Dubai. I wrote about it for Deadspin: deadspin.com/why-taking-c...
Why Taking College Basketball to Dubai Is a Mistake for the Sport | Deadspin.com
College basketball’s new Dubai tournament highlights the sport’s growing shift toward money-driven neutral-site events and away from campus traditions.
deadspin.com
December 7, 2025 at 4:12 PM
This week's awesome slate of on-campus college basketball games ought to prove that the sport is at its best when played at home in front of students and fans, not in a corporatized environment in either Las Vegas or Dubai. I wrote about it for Deadspin: deadspin.com/why-taking-c...
I think Monmouth has a shot today against Georgia Tech. Yellow Jackets have been in a rut and have the No. 240 KenPom offense. Hawks behind just 20-15 midway through the first half.
December 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I think Monmouth has a shot today against Georgia Tech. Yellow Jackets have been in a rut and have the No. 240 KenPom offense. Hawks behind just 20-15 midway through the first half.
Rothstein: "The Royal Palm Invitational --- a new early season tournament in college basketball --- will debut in Dubai in November of 2026.
Multiple power conference teams are expected to be involved."
Multiple power conference teams are expected to be involved."
December 4, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Rothstein: "The Royal Palm Invitational --- a new early season tournament in college basketball --- will debut in Dubai in November of 2026.
Multiple power conference teams are expected to be involved."
Multiple power conference teams are expected to be involved."
I'd like Kevin Hart to know that I, in fact, do not love slots so I don't need to be shown his ads anymore. If someone could get this message to him for me I'd be grateful
December 4, 2025 at 7:19 PM
I'd like Kevin Hart to know that I, in fact, do not love slots so I don't need to be shown his ads anymore. If someone could get this message to him for me I'd be grateful
Princeton has been the mid-major du jour in New Jersey for several years now. That's why Monmouth's win last night felt like a changing of the guard in the state. Notes on Boog Robinson, Stefanos Spartalis, CJ Happy and more in Guarden State: guardenstate.substack.com/p/monmouth-p...
Monmouth and Princeton have traded places
Four observations from a changing of the guard in New Jersey mid-major hoops.
guardenstate.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Princeton has been the mid-major du jour in New Jersey for several years now. That's why Monmouth's win last night felt like a changing of the guard in the state. Notes on Boog Robinson, Stefanos Spartalis, CJ Happy and more in Guarden State: guardenstate.substack.com/p/monmouth-p...
FINAL: Monmouth beats Princeton 63-58 on the back of Jason Rivera-Torres' 20 points and Cornelius Robinson's 13. Those two combined for 18 of Monmouth's 32 in the 2nd half.
CJ Happy has 20 pts and Jack Stanton has 14 + nine rebounds for Princeton, which loses its fifth straight.
CJ Happy has 20 pts and Jack Stanton has 14 + nine rebounds for Princeton, which loses its fifth straight.
Huge layup by Cornelius Robinson to beat the shot clock and make it 60-55.
Jackson Hicke then steps up with a three for Princeton, but now Monmouth's at the line with 30 seconds left.
Jackson Hicke then steps up with a three for Princeton, but now Monmouth's at the line with 30 seconds left.
December 4, 2025 at 3:17 AM
FINAL: Monmouth beats Princeton 63-58 on the back of Jason Rivera-Torres' 20 points and Cornelius Robinson's 13. Those two combined for 18 of Monmouth's 32 in the 2nd half.
CJ Happy has 20 pts and Jack Stanton has 14 + nine rebounds for Princeton, which loses its fifth straight.
CJ Happy has 20 pts and Jack Stanton has 14 + nine rebounds for Princeton, which loses its fifth straight.
At 8:26, we have tip-off. Follow along for updates from Princeton-Monmouth!
December 4, 2025 at 1:26 AM
At 8:26, we have tip-off. Follow along for updates from Princeton-Monmouth!
Princeton starters: Landon Clark, Jack Stanton, Sebastian Whitfield, Jackson Hicke, CJ Happy.
We'll see how the Tigers look without both Dalen Davis (ankle) and Malik Abdullahi (foot). It's the freshman Whitfield's first start.
We'll see how the Tigers look without both Dalen Davis (ankle) and Malik Abdullahi (foot). It's the freshman Whitfield's first start.
December 4, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Princeton starters: Landon Clark, Jack Stanton, Sebastian Whitfield, Jackson Hicke, CJ Happy.
We'll see how the Tigers look without both Dalen Davis (ankle) and Malik Abdullahi (foot). It's the freshman Whitfield's first start.
We'll see how the Tigers look without both Dalen Davis (ankle) and Malik Abdullahi (foot). It's the freshman Whitfield's first start.
Princeton at Monmouth slated to tip off 8:20.
December 4, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Princeton at Monmouth slated to tip off 8:20.
Here at the OceanFirst Bank Center, Monmouth and Princeton are about to play their annual game. I'm on the scene for Guarden State.
December 4, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Here at the OceanFirst Bank Center, Monmouth and Princeton are about to play their annual game. I'm on the scene for Guarden State.
Just want anyone who talks in absolutes about "the media" to know it's not reporters and news editors who say crazy divisive stuff like this, it's ex-athletes trying to game the attention economy with ragebait. Consume it or don't, but don't target actual journalists over it.
December 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Just want anyone who talks in absolutes about "the media" to know it's not reporters and news editors who say crazy divisive stuff like this, it's ex-athletes trying to game the attention economy with ragebait. Consume it or don't, but don't target actual journalists over it.
Well they say Princeton's a fourth quarter team for a reason. Major win for the Tigers and a tough first loss for Seton Hall as Princeton rallied 82-78. Today was Skye Belker's turn to catch fire, and Ashley Chea hit another four threes after finding her stroke Sunday.
December 3, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Well they say Princeton's a fourth quarter team for a reason. Major win for the Tigers and a tough first loss for Seton Hall as Princeton rallied 82-78. Today was Skye Belker's turn to catch fire, and Ashley Chea hit another four threes after finding her stroke Sunday.
He really said "We'll get to the bottom of this with Hunter Yurachek" as if those interviews with the committee chair ever produce anything worthwhile. Do you really think a couple pointed questions suddenly get him to say, "Shucks, you guys are right, we'll move Miami up"?
December 3, 2025 at 12:11 AM
He really said "We'll get to the bottom of this with Hunter Yurachek" as if those interviews with the committee chair ever produce anything worthwhile. Do you really think a couple pointed questions suddenly get him to say, "Shucks, you guys are right, we'll move Miami up"?
In today's paper, ahead of tonight's Princeton-Seton Hall WBB matchup: Ashley Chea finds her shooting stroke with a little help from Taylor Swift and a dose of confidence from her coaches www.trentonian.com/2025/12/01/p...
December 2, 2025 at 3:01 PM
In today's paper, ahead of tonight's Princeton-Seton Hall WBB matchup: Ashley Chea finds her shooting stroke with a little help from Taylor Swift and a dose of confidence from her coaches www.trentonian.com/2025/12/01/p...
Ashley Chea is happy to be a facilitator for Princeton WBB this season, but Sunday's 22 points + six threes showed she'll still step up as a scorer when the moment demands it.
For the Trentonian, my first time making a Taylor Swift reference in a story: www.trentonian.com/2025/12/01/p...
For the Trentonian, my first time making a Taylor Swift reference in a story: www.trentonian.com/2025/12/01/p...
Princeton women’s basketball’s Ashley Chea shakes off shooting slump thanks to ‘Orange Era Night’
Ashley Chea broke out with 22 points in Princeton’s win over DePaul. The Tigers play another Big East opponent on Tuesday in Seton Hall.
www.trentonian.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Ashley Chea is happy to be a facilitator for Princeton WBB this season, but Sunday's 22 points + six threes showed she'll still step up as a scorer when the moment demands it.
For the Trentonian, my first time making a Taylor Swift reference in a story: www.trentonian.com/2025/12/01/p...
For the Trentonian, my first time making a Taylor Swift reference in a story: www.trentonian.com/2025/12/01/p...
Princeton WBB up to six votes in this week's AP poll, fifth in the others receiving votes category.
December 1, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Princeton WBB up to six votes in this week's AP poll, fifth in the others receiving votes category.
Carla Berube told us Olivia Hutcherson would have been fine to re-enter the game but there was no need. She isn't concerned long-term about Fadima Tall's situation either. I wouldn't be surprised if Tall is back for Tuesday vs. Seton Hall.
November 30, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Carla Berube told us Olivia Hutcherson would have been fine to re-enter the game but there was no need. She isn't concerned long-term about Fadima Tall's situation either. I wouldn't be surprised if Tall is back for Tuesday vs. Seton Hall.
Correction to this, the program record for blocks in a game is 10, but it's the most since an eight-block game in 2014.
FINAL: Princeton thoroughly beats DePaul 71-41 to finish November 7-1.
Ashley Chea: Season-high 22 points, 6-of-13 from three
Skye Belker: 15 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast
Taylor Charles: Five points, nine boards, three ast, two stl and a program-record-tying seven (!!!) blocks.
Ashley Chea: Season-high 22 points, 6-of-13 from three
Skye Belker: 15 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast
Taylor Charles: Five points, nine boards, three ast, two stl and a program-record-tying seven (!!!) blocks.
End Q3: Princeton leads DePaul 54-34. The Tigers are sailing to their seventh straight win over a Big East opponent.
Chea has 19 points, a season high, and Belker is at 15-7-4. Tigers have held DePaul to a paltry 24.5% shooting.
Chea has 19 points, a season high, and Belker is at 15-7-4. Tigers have held DePaul to a paltry 24.5% shooting.
November 30, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Correction to this, the program record for blocks in a game is 10, but it's the most since an eight-block game in 2014.
FINAL: Princeton thoroughly beats DePaul 71-41 to finish November 7-1.
Ashley Chea: Season-high 22 points, 6-of-13 from three
Skye Belker: 15 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast
Taylor Charles: Five points, nine boards, three ast, two stl and a program-record-tying seven (!!!) blocks.
Ashley Chea: Season-high 22 points, 6-of-13 from three
Skye Belker: 15 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast
Taylor Charles: Five points, nine boards, three ast, two stl and a program-record-tying seven (!!!) blocks.
End Q3: Princeton leads DePaul 54-34. The Tigers are sailing to their seventh straight win over a Big East opponent.
Chea has 19 points, a season high, and Belker is at 15-7-4. Tigers have held DePaul to a paltry 24.5% shooting.
Chea has 19 points, a season high, and Belker is at 15-7-4. Tigers have held DePaul to a paltry 24.5% shooting.
November 30, 2025 at 7:55 PM
FINAL: Princeton thoroughly beats DePaul 71-41 to finish November 7-1.
Ashley Chea: Season-high 22 points, 6-of-13 from three
Skye Belker: 15 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast
Taylor Charles: Five points, nine boards, three ast, two stl and a program-record-tying seven (!!!) blocks.
Ashley Chea: Season-high 22 points, 6-of-13 from three
Skye Belker: 15 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast
Taylor Charles: Five points, nine boards, three ast, two stl and a program-record-tying seven (!!!) blocks.
Skye Belker scores off the glass before anyone else can even touch the ball, and we're off. Follow along!
November 30, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Skye Belker scores off the glass before anyone else can even touch the ball, and we're off. Follow along!
Taylor Charles gets her first career start at Princeton, in for Tall.
November 30, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Taylor Charles gets her first career start at Princeton, in for Tall.
Some news: Fadima Tall (15.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg) won't play today for Princeton vs. DePaul. She'd been questionable with a minor injury and tried to give it a go in warmups. We'll see a different starting five for the Tigers for the first time this season.
November 30, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Some news: Fadima Tall (15.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg) won't play today for Princeton vs. DePaul. She'd been questionable with a minor injury and tried to give it a go in warmups. We'll see a different starting five for the Tigers for the first time this season.
Princeton men and women are playing in Mercer County simultaneously. Men are in Trenton to face St. Joe's. I'm at Jadwin to check out the women vs. DePaul. Stay tuned to see if the Tigers get their fourth power-conference win of the month.
November 30, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Princeton men and women are playing in Mercer County simultaneously. Men are in Trenton to face St. Joe's. I'm at Jadwin to check out the women vs. DePaul. Stay tuned to see if the Tigers get their fourth power-conference win of the month.
I want to dive much deeper on some of these teams in December - Seton Hall, Monmouth, Princeton WBB. For now, I've got four big-picture observations about the first month of the season in N.J.
Four things we know about New Jersey hoops four weeks in guardenstate.substack.com/p/four-weeks...
Four things we know about New Jersey hoops four weeks in guardenstate.substack.com/p/four-weeks...
Four things we know about New Jersey hoops four weeks in
Observations from a busy week for Seton Hall, Rutgers, Princeton and more.
guardenstate.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:15 PM
I want to dive much deeper on some of these teams in December - Seton Hall, Monmouth, Princeton WBB. For now, I've got four big-picture observations about the first month of the season in N.J.
Four things we know about New Jersey hoops four weeks in guardenstate.substack.com/p/four-weeks...
Four things we know about New Jersey hoops four weeks in guardenstate.substack.com/p/four-weeks...
Happy Thanksgiving!
I'll bring back the newsletter over the weekend. In the meantime, it feels like a good day to re-share this story about the extent of Darren Buchanan Jr.'s service work and why his community means so much to him. guardenstate.substack.com/p/rutgers-da...
I'll bring back the newsletter over the weekend. In the meantime, it feels like a good day to re-share this story about the extent of Darren Buchanan Jr.'s service work and why his community means so much to him. guardenstate.substack.com/p/rutgers-da...
‘I’m here for them’: Rutgers’ Darren Buchanan Jr. honored for youth service work
The Musial Awards will recognize Buchanan for his commitment to helping kids in his native Washington.
guardenstate.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Happy Thanksgiving!
I'll bring back the newsletter over the weekend. In the meantime, it feels like a good day to re-share this story about the extent of Darren Buchanan Jr.'s service work and why his community means so much to him. guardenstate.substack.com/p/rutgers-da...
I'll bring back the newsletter over the weekend. In the meantime, it feels like a good day to re-share this story about the extent of Darren Buchanan Jr.'s service work and why his community means so much to him. guardenstate.substack.com/p/rutgers-da...