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!
Something different. Nice!
So, it'll be Georgia-Alabama in the SEC championship game next weekend.
November 30, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Something different. Nice!
Noted and just, then. And a disastrous 2025 for the ACC in the revenue sports, by the way, if Duke were to actually pull it off.
Your point about the super conferences is valid, but no Duke cannot make the playoffs. They’d be ranked lower than James Madison or even the mountain west champ
November 30, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Noted and just, then. And a disastrous 2025 for the ACC in the revenue sports, by the way, if Duke were to actually pull it off.
You mean to tell me a 7-5 is on the table to make the CFP this year????
This is what happens when you build 16/18-team leagues all for — while at the same time that very sport can't produce the regular-season inventory to justify the size of the leagues and validate its seeding/standings. Comical.
This is what happens when you build 16/18-team leagues all for — while at the same time that very sport can't produce the regular-season inventory to justify the size of the leagues and validate its seeding/standings. Comical.
I have said for years that a coin flip is a better tiebreaker than some of these bizarre options and I'm dead serious. People would understand and accept it.
November 30, 2025 at 3:41 AM
You mean to tell me a 7-5 is on the table to make the CFP this year????
This is what happens when you build 16/18-team leagues all for — while at the same time that very sport can't produce the regular-season inventory to justify the size of the leagues and validate its seeding/standings. Comical.
This is what happens when you build 16/18-team leagues all for — while at the same time that very sport can't produce the regular-season inventory to justify the size of the leagues and validate its seeding/standings. Comical.
These continual shots of endlessly pissed off Eagles fans are better than any Thanksgiving dessert.
November 28, 2025 at 10:26 PM
These continual shots of endlessly pissed off Eagles fans are better than any Thanksgiving dessert.
Locked in on Bears-Eagles, but to the hoopheads who can go dual-screen: Oklahoma-Marquette tied at 72 on NBC. My buddy John Fanta on the call, too.
November 28, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Locked in on Bears-Eagles, but to the hoopheads who can go dual-screen: Oklahoma-Marquette tied at 72 on NBC. My buddy John Fanta on the call, too.
It's absurd how loaded today's sport slate is.
From NFL to CFB to a stuffed slate of college basketball, Black Friday is moving in on "top 10 sports TV day" of the year status.
From NFL to CFB to a stuffed slate of college basketball, Black Friday is moving in on "top 10 sports TV day" of the year status.
November 28, 2025 at 4:33 PM
It's absurd how loaded today's sport slate is.
From NFL to CFB to a stuffed slate of college basketball, Black Friday is moving in on "top 10 sports TV day" of the year status.
From NFL to CFB to a stuffed slate of college basketball, Black Friday is moving in on "top 10 sports TV day" of the year status.
Black Friday pod is going to be absolutely STUFFED, and I mean it, with college hoops talk.
We're live in about five here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Vw...
We're live in about five here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Vw...
Duke's Cam Boozer drops 35 on Arkansas; Michigan steamrolls the Players Era; CBB weekend preview
YouTube video by CBS Sports College Basketball
www.youtube.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Black Friday pod is going to be absolutely STUFFED, and I mean it, with college hoops talk.
We're live in about five here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Vw...
We're live in about five here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Vw...
Cameron Boozer is a MONSTER.
November 28, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Cameron Boozer is a MONSTER.
Reposted by Matt Norlander
Jack White wrote the preeminent 21st century sports anthem ... and I think this is the first time he's ever played it at a sporting event.
Great halftime show.
Great halftime show.
November 27, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Jack White wrote the preeminent 21st century sports anthem ... and I think this is the first time he's ever played it at a sporting event.
Great halftime show.
Great halftime show.
👎🏼👎🏼
It changed this year. According to Gill on VSiN this morning, the NFL said it was to make the kickoff times today more like those on a normal Sunday.
November 27, 2025 at 6:05 PM
👎🏼👎🏼
Didn’t the Lions Thanksgiving game always used to kick at 12:30? When did this change?
November 27, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Didn’t the Lions Thanksgiving game always used to kick at 12:30? When did this change?
Reposted by Matt Norlander
Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving from my redeye flight back to the East Coast. Here's one final column from Vegas, on the juggernaut that is Michigan. What I witnessed this week was literally record-breaking. A three-day regular-season performance unlike anything college basketball has ever seen.
Who's college hoops' best team? Michigan makes case in Players Era title romp
An emphatic message was sent in Las Vegas this week, as Dusty May's Wolverines set records and earned their perch for No. 1
www.cbssports.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving from my redeye flight back to the East Coast. Here's one final column from Vegas, on the juggernaut that is Michigan. What I witnessed this week was literally record-breaking. A three-day regular-season performance unlike anything college basketball has ever seen.
Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving from my redeye flight back to the East Coast. Here's one final column from Vegas, on the juggernaut that is Michigan. What I witnessed this week was literally record-breaking. A three-day regular-season performance unlike anything college basketball has ever seen.
Who's college hoops' best team? Michigan makes case in Players Era title romp
An emphatic message was sent in Las Vegas this week, as Dusty May's Wolverines set records and earned their perch for No. 1
www.cbssports.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving from my redeye flight back to the East Coast. Here's one final column from Vegas, on the juggernaut that is Michigan. What I witnessed this week was literally record-breaking. A three-day regular-season performance unlike anything college basketball has ever seen.
Neglected to share my overnight column from Vegas.
Some good news beyond what's in here: Earlier this morning, Players Era co-founder Seth Berger told me they are open to getting ride of the point differential format for 2026 and moving to a bracket. Not yet a guarantee, but now on the table.
Some good news beyond what's in here: Earlier this morning, Players Era co-founder Seth Berger told me they are open to getting ride of the point differential format for 2026 and moving to a bracket. Not yet a guarantee, but now on the table.
Players Era format determining teams playing for prize money needs to be fixed
As the biggest regular season event continues to grow, it also needs to evolve to allow fans to embrace it to its full potential
www.cbssports.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Neglected to share my overnight column from Vegas.
Some good news beyond what's in here: Earlier this morning, Players Era co-founder Seth Berger told me they are open to getting ride of the point differential format for 2026 and moving to a bracket. Not yet a guarantee, but now on the table.
Some good news beyond what's in here: Earlier this morning, Players Era co-founder Seth Berger told me they are open to getting ride of the point differential format for 2026 and moving to a bracket. Not yet a guarantee, but now on the table.
Players Era is one big change away from becoming everything its creators want it to be.
Ditch the point differential tiebreakers and move to bracket play starting next year.
Column from Vegas:
www.cbssports.com/college-bask...
Ditch the point differential tiebreakers and move to bracket play starting next year.
Column from Vegas:
www.cbssports.com/college-bask...
Players Era format determining teams playing for prize money needs to be fixed
As the biggest regular season event continues to grow, it also needs to evolve to allow fans to embrace it to its full potential
www.cbssports.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Players Era is one big change away from becoming everything its creators want it to be.
Ditch the point differential tiebreakers and move to bracket play starting next year.
Column from Vegas:
www.cbssports.com/college-bask...
Ditch the point differential tiebreakers and move to bracket play starting next year.
Column from Vegas:
www.cbssports.com/college-bask...
Reposted by Matt Norlander
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:
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?!