The funny thing is this is exactly what Purdue wants and exactly what Alabama wants. College basketball is the best.

Purdue’s old-school physicality and elite execution helped it down No. 8 Alabama’s modern attack in a statement road win Thursday. The result is validation the Boilermakers should reclaim No. 1 — and a sign they will remain there. via Kyle Boone cbssports.com/college-basket…

My season debut of the college basketball POWER RANKINGS 📈 at CBS Sports is led by — who else?! — Purdue at No. 1. Full rankings heading into the weekend 👇🏽 cbssports.com/college-basket…

Wild ending in Birmingham as No. 1 Houston hangs on vs. No. 22 Auburn. Steven Pearl seemed pretty fired up about the no-call to end the game. Think they got it right:

CHAOS happening right now at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas takes the late lead vs. Winthrop but things get chippy between Nick Pringle and Logan Duncomb. Oh my.

After a lengthy review late in this Arkansas-Winthrop game, officials called a double deadball technical foul on Nick Pringle and Logan Duncomb. Four players were also disqualified for coming onto the floor amidst this mayhem.

Best resume ≠ best team But Arizona deserves its flowers nonetheless! FWIW, my best team rankings would be ... 1. Purdue 2. Duke 3. Gonzaga 4. Arizona 5. Houston

Anthony Roy is that dude

Vyctorius Miller has .... a cool name ✅ a cool game ✅ He's one of only three players in CBB this season averaging at least 20 PPG who is also shooting 70%+ on 2s, 50%+ on 3s and 80%+ on FTs 👀

There’s a new No. 1 team in the latest college basketball Power Rankings. Welcome to the top, Arizona Basketball. Full rankings below — featuring a major shakeup in the top 10 👇🏽 (via Kyle Boone) cbssports.com/college-basket…

“When you are dying, at least in my limited experience, you start remembering everything.” Tatiana Schlossberg, the daughter of Caroline Kennedy, writes about receiving a terminal diagnosis. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/4SkkDI

I understand why the Players Era Festival is flourishing and Maui is struggling. (Money) But, as I explained on the Eye On College Basketball Podcast, there's something special about that little gym on that island, and I hope there's a way to make it a destination event for elite programs again.

We talked Players Era this morning on the Eye On College Basketball Podcast and Gary Parrish graciously let me get this rant off my chest. Many, myself included, fell in love with CBB because of its soul. That's why the event in many ways feels antithetical to what we grew up loving.

This episode of the Eye On College Basketball Podcast with Gary Parrish and Kyle Boone opens on what the Players Era must address to make this thing work. 19:40: Michigan-Gonzaga is the title game. 27:35: Thanksgiving gives us Duke-Arkansas in primetime on CBS. youtube.com/live/8yW-8XAmX…

The eventual NCAA champ has been top-10 in the first NET rankings of the season every year but once since it was introduced. Previous champs and their place in the debut NET ranks: 24-25 Florida: 6 23-24 UConn: 9 22-23 UConn: 2 21-22 Kansas: 14 20-21 Baylor: 2 18-19 Virginia: 2

The Iowa State team that just dominated No. 1 Purdue in Mackey Arena is the same Iowa State team that looked outstanding in Vegas but wasn't able to play in the Players Era championship because of scoring margin, if you needed a reminder about what a joke that event is

The radio show I’ve loved every moment of for the past nine years comes to an end Dec 19. I left CBS Sports this past summer. And it turns out what comes next is something I hadn’t expected, a surprise that reminds me how lucky I’ve been, and am billreiter.substack.com/p/a-new-advent…

Wrote about the early trends for each of the top transfers. Jackpot or buyer's remorse for their new club? - The Henri Veesaar explosion at UNC is here - Why St. John's is hesitant to play Ian Jackson and Joson Sanon together - An interesting Yax comp cbssports.com/college-basket…

This is the AJ Dybantsa we were promised. Years from now, when we look back at the start of his career, this is the game that will have started it all. Sparking a record-setting comeback and announcing his full-on arrival in CBB. Overnight file from MSG: cbssports.com/college-basket…

Preseason top-10 Kentucky is 6-4 and at a cultural crossroads under Mark Pope. Pop the hood and you’ll see the lack of effort is just one of many reasons to be skeptical this big-ticket Wildcats roster is capable of salvaging their season. Column: cbssports.com/college-basket…