Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social
Senior Writer and talking head for CBS Sports. Music obsessive 🎸 Ski lover ⛷️
Pinned
Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social
· Jul 24
The Top 25 (And 1) biggest stories in men's college basketball since 2000
The players, coaches, games, moments and off-the-court stories that had the greatest impact in college hoops in the past 25 years
www.cbssports.com
I wrote nearly 8,000 words on the people, moments, stories and scandals that have defined men's college basketball over the past 25 years.
A labor of love. Let's hop in the time machine!
A labor of love. Let's hop in the time machine!
Everyone underrated Gonzaga. Again. Shame on me, shame on you, shame on us all.
Zags got dudes, same as it ever was, and Mark Few is referencing his two best teams when talking about this one.
Overnight column from the Strip:
Zags got dudes, same as it ever was, and Mark Few is referencing his two best teams when talking about this one.
Overnight column from the Strip:
We underrated Gonzaga. Mark Few appears to have another team with Final Four DNA
The Bulldogs got off to a great start at Players Era with a double-digit win over No. 8 Alabama late Monday night
www.cbssports.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Everyone underrated Gonzaga. Again. Shame on me, shame on you, shame on us all.
Zags got dudes, same as it ever was, and Mark Few is referencing his two best teams when talking about this one.
Overnight column from the Strip:
Zags got dudes, same as it ever was, and Mark Few is referencing his two best teams when talking about this one.
Overnight column from the Strip:
Texas just lost on a late 3 to Arizona State after 2 am ET and I’m still in love with Maui. Always will be.
November 25, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Texas just lost on a late 3 to Arizona State after 2 am ET and I’m still in love with Maui. Always will be.
St. John's-Iowa State is THE GOODS. It's messy, but good.
(And critical PG Tamin Lipsey is now down for the Cyclones.)
(And critical PG Tamin Lipsey is now down for the Cyclones.)
November 24, 2025 at 11:41 PM
St. John's-Iowa State is THE GOODS. It's messy, but good.
(And critical PG Tamin Lipsey is now down for the Cyclones.)
(And critical PG Tamin Lipsey is now down for the Cyclones.)
About to get underway here for Baylor-Creighton.
November 24, 2025 at 7:06 PM
About to get underway here for Baylor-Creighton.
Reposted by Matt Norlander
The biggest takeaways from this from me as a non-cbb fan are:
1. The checks are clearing, and as long as they're clearing this will grow.
2. The other tournaments are actually in trouble because ESPN has 0 interest in making their cheap T-week inventory not-cheap
3. THE AND1 GUY IS RUNNING THIS?!
1. The checks are clearing, and as long as they're clearing this will grow.
2. The other tournaments are actually in trouble because ESPN has 0 interest in making their cheap T-week inventory not-cheap
3. THE AND1 GUY IS RUNNING THIS?!
The biggest disruptor to college basketball's MTE environment began a little more than two years ago, when a low-level agent DM'd a Patriot League player. Now the Players Era has gone from 8 to 18 teams. Next year? A whopping 32.
Here's how a polarizing event has changed the sport—and what's next.
Here's how a polarizing event has changed the sport—and what's next.
How the Players Era Festival came to be and why it's changing college basketball
Big tournament, bigger money: How the Players Era Festival came to be and why it's changing college basketball
www.cbssports.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
The biggest takeaways from this from me as a non-cbb fan are:
1. The checks are clearing, and as long as they're clearing this will grow.
2. The other tournaments are actually in trouble because ESPN has 0 interest in making their cheap T-week inventory not-cheap
3. THE AND1 GUY IS RUNNING THIS?!
1. The checks are clearing, and as long as they're clearing this will grow.
2. The other tournaments are actually in trouble because ESPN has 0 interest in making their cheap T-week inventory not-cheap
3. THE AND1 GUY IS RUNNING THIS?!
Reposted by Matt Norlander
The biggest disruptor to college basketball's MTE environment began a little more than two years ago, when a low-level agent DM'd a Patriot League player. Now the Players Era has gone from 8 to 18 teams. Next year? A whopping 32.
Here's how a polarizing event has changed the sport—and what's next.
Here's how a polarizing event has changed the sport—and what's next.
How the Players Era Festival came to be and why it's changing college basketball
Big tournament, bigger money: How the Players Era Festival came to be and why it's changing college basketball
www.cbssports.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The biggest disruptor to college basketball's MTE environment began a little more than two years ago, when a low-level agent DM'd a Patriot League player. Now the Players Era has gone from 8 to 18 teams. Next year? A whopping 32.
Here's how a polarizing event has changed the sport—and what's next.
Here's how a polarizing event has changed the sport—and what's next.
Gonna podcast from my hotel room in 15 minutes. We'll open on Players Era and what it's doing to change November basketball before looking back to all of Friday's notable outcomes, then set you up for the Monday/Tues sked in college hoops.
Never miss a Sunday show. Chat here @ 6:20 ET.
Never miss a Sunday show. Chat here @ 6:20 ET.
The Players Era Festival changed Feast Week; No. 1 Purdue's statement at Baha Mar; CBB weekend recap
YouTube video by CBS Sports College Basketball
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Gonna podcast from my hotel room in 15 minutes. We'll open on Players Era and what it's doing to change November basketball before looking back to all of Friday's notable outcomes, then set you up for the Monday/Tues sked in college hoops.
Never miss a Sunday show. Chat here @ 6:20 ET.
Never miss a Sunday show. Chat here @ 6:20 ET.
The Chicago Bears are 8-3 and I'll be high-fiving everyone in navy and orange I see in Vegas the rest of the night.
November 23, 2025 at 9:12 PM
The Chicago Bears are 8-3 and I'll be high-fiving everyone in navy and orange I see in Vegas the rest of the night.
Scoop inside the story: The Big 12 has agreed to a deal with Players Era that will sent eight of its teams each year in the upcoming seasons to participate in the event. It's an unprecedented arrangement between a league and an MTE operator. An announcement is expected this week, per league sources.
The biggest disruptor to college basketball's MTE environment began a little more than two years ago, when a low-level agent DM'd a Patriot League player. Now the Players Era has gone from 8 to 18 teams. Next year? A whopping 32.
Here's how a polarizing event has changed the sport—and what's next.
Here's how a polarizing event has changed the sport—and what's next.
How the Players Era Festival came to be and why it's changing college basketball
Big tournament, bigger money: How the Players Era Festival came to be and why it's changing college basketball
www.cbssports.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Scoop inside the story: The Big 12 has agreed to a deal with Players Era that will sent eight of its teams each year in the upcoming seasons to participate in the event. It's an unprecedented arrangement between a league and an MTE operator. An announcement is expected this week, per league sources.
Caleb just found out why T.J. Watt is different from 99% of every other defender in the league.
November 23, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Caleb just found out why T.J. Watt is different from 99% of every other defender in the league.
The biggest disruptor to college basketball's MTE environment began a little more than two years ago, when a low-level agent DM'd a Patriot League player. Now the Players Era has gone from 8 to 18 teams. Next year? A whopping 32.
Here's how a polarizing event has changed the sport—and what's next.
Here's how a polarizing event has changed the sport—and what's next.
How the Players Era Festival came to be and why it's changing college basketball
Big tournament, bigger money: How the Players Era Festival came to be and why it's changing college basketball
www.cbssports.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The biggest disruptor to college basketball's MTE environment began a little more than two years ago, when a low-level agent DM'd a Patriot League player. Now the Players Era has gone from 8 to 18 teams. Next year? A whopping 32.
Here's how a polarizing event has changed the sport—and what's next.
Here's how a polarizing event has changed the sport—and what's next.
This is an eye-popping score. Texas Tech won't have a loss this bad the rest of the season.
Purdue will hold its No. 1 ranking on Monday, even with Arizona's huge W/third top-15 win at UConn earlier in the week.
Purdue will hold its No. 1 ranking on Monday, even with Arizona's huge W/third top-15 win at UConn earlier in the week.
November 22, 2025 at 4:53 AM
This is an eye-popping score. Texas Tech won't have a loss this bad the rest of the season.
Purdue will hold its No. 1 ranking on Monday, even with Arizona's huge W/third top-15 win at UConn earlier in the week.
Purdue will hold its No. 1 ranking on Monday, even with Arizona's huge W/third top-15 win at UConn earlier in the week.
Wake Forest wins on the Bryce Drew play to knock off Memphis. COLLEGE HOOPS!!!
November 22, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Wake Forest wins on the Bryce Drew play to knock off Memphis. COLLEGE HOOPS!!!
Same, Pope, same!
Today's will be BLURT
Today's will be BLURT
Pope Leo XIV has revealed a closely held secret: He uses a different Wordle start word each day.
Pontifical secret revealed: Pope Leo XIV changes his Wordle start word each day
Pope Leo XIV has revealed a closely held secret: He uses a different Wordle start word each day. Leo divulged his strategy playing the popular New York Times online game during an online encounter with American young people.
bit.ly
November 21, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Same, Pope, same!
Today's will be BLURT
Today's will be BLURT
Fun, fun Friday show is starting in about 10 minutes.
Come mix it up in the show chat if you can.
www.youtube.com/live/83XEylo...
Come mix it up in the show chat if you can.
www.youtube.com/live/83XEylo...
Purdue's dicey Memphis victory; Arizona can't be stopped, beats UConn; CBB weekend preview
YouTube video by CBS Sports College Basketball
www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Fun, fun Friday show is starting in about 10 minutes.
Come mix it up in the show chat if you can.
www.youtube.com/live/83XEylo...
Come mix it up in the show chat if you can.
www.youtube.com/live/83XEylo...
Reposted by Matt Norlander
This is absolutely. batshit. insane.
And one of the most beautifully terrifying things I've ever watched.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjZv...
And one of the most beautifully terrifying things I've ever watched.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjZv...
I Skied Down Mount Everest (world first, no oxygen)
YouTube video by Red Bull
www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:17 AM
This is absolutely. batshit. insane.
And one of the most beautifully terrifying things I've ever watched.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjZv...
And one of the most beautifully terrifying things I've ever watched.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjZv...
This is absolutely. batshit. insane.
And one of the most beautifully terrifying things I've ever watched.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjZv...
And one of the most beautifully terrifying things I've ever watched.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjZv...
I Skied Down Mount Everest (world first, no oxygen)
YouTube video by Red Bull
www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:17 AM
This is absolutely. batshit. insane.
And one of the most beautifully terrifying things I've ever watched.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjZv...
And one of the most beautifully terrifying things I've ever watched.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjZv...
The Texans look like an XFL team. How did these ever get past deck presentation, let alone clearance for public consumption.
November 21, 2025 at 1:26 AM
The Texans look like an XFL team. How did these ever get past deck presentation, let alone clearance for public consumption.
Some AD news: Baylor will announce shortly here that its AD, Mack Rhoades, is out, source tells CBS Sports. Rhoades has been on personal leave the past week-plus while a school investigation was ongoing for reasons that haven't been disclosed.
November 20, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Some AD news: Baylor will announce shortly here that its AD, Mack Rhoades, is out, source tells CBS Sports. Rhoades has been on personal leave the past week-plus while a school investigation was ongoing for reasons that haven't been disclosed.
Reposted by Matt Norlander
Here are the best wins any team has had this year according to Resume Quality at EvanMiya.com, in order:
Arizona @ UConn
Alabama vs Illinois
Arizona vs Florida
Purdue @ Alabama
Michigan St. vs Kentucky
Alabama @ St. John's
UConn vs BYU
Arizona owns 2 of the top 3.
Arizona @ UConn
Alabama vs Illinois
Arizona vs Florida
Purdue @ Alabama
Michigan St. vs Kentucky
Alabama @ St. John's
UConn vs BYU
Arizona owns 2 of the top 3.
November 20, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Here are the best wins any team has had this year according to Resume Quality at EvanMiya.com, in order:
Arizona @ UConn
Alabama vs Illinois
Arizona vs Florida
Purdue @ Alabama
Michigan St. vs Kentucky
Alabama @ St. John's
UConn vs BYU
Arizona owns 2 of the top 3.
Arizona @ UConn
Alabama vs Illinois
Arizona vs Florida
Purdue @ Alabama
Michigan St. vs Kentucky
Alabama @ St. John's
UConn vs BYU
Arizona owns 2 of the top 3.
In the past 30 years, only three teams have opened a season with at least three of their first five wins against top-15-ranked opponents, with all of those victories coming away from home.
• 2001-02 Arizona
• 2020-21 Gonzaga
And?
These Arizona Wildcats.
Overnight column from Storrs:
• 2001-02 Arizona
• 2020-21 Gonzaga
And?
These Arizona Wildcats.
Overnight column from Storrs:
Arizona deserves to be No. 1 after wins over UConn, UCLA, Florida
College basketball has no shortage of potentially great teams. But as of now, everyone is chasing Tommy Lloyd's group
www.cbssports.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:41 PM
In the past 30 years, only three teams have opened a season with at least three of their first five wins against top-15-ranked opponents, with all of those victories coming away from home.
• 2001-02 Arizona
• 2020-21 Gonzaga
And?
These Arizona Wildcats.
Overnight column from Storrs:
• 2001-02 Arizona
• 2020-21 Gonzaga
And?
These Arizona Wildcats.
Overnight column from Storrs: