College basketball

The pinnacle of amateur competition in the United States, college basketball has served as not just a feeder system for pro leagues but a consistent source of exciting basketball, especially come March

FEATURED LISTS

Larry Bird isn’t walking through that door: 14 successful NCAA coaches who struggled at the NBA level

April 21, 2023

Uncut nets: 25 greatest NCAA programs without a Final Four appearance (since 1985)

March 1, 2023

Line of succession: 20 NCAA coaches who replaced departing legends

November 11, 2022

Black excellence: 16 greatest players who reached the NBA from an Historically Black College and University (HBCU)

April 21, 2022

index

Click here for index

FULL archive

Mahalo!: 12 greatest NBA and ABA players from Hawaii

On America’s 250th anniversary, we honor its 50th state, Hawaii, and the 11 greatest NBA players to emerge from the islands

July 21, 2026September 30, 2026

Welcome to the big leagues: Ranking the NBA careers of the 52 Naismith Award winners

Handed out yearly since 1969, the Naismith Award represents the best of college basketball but not always the best pro prospects

March 21, 2026September 30, 2026

Advanced wizardry: Ranking the pro careers of the 23 NBA players who played at UCLA under John Wooden

The greatest coach in college basketball history, John Wooden guided UCLA to 10 NCAA championships in a 12-year stretch. On the 60th anniversary of his first title, we rank the NBA careers of the 23 players from his program who reached the pro ranks.

March 1, 2026September 30, 2026

Expired tokens: Seven defunct major basketball awards

While awards like league MVP and Rookie of the Year have become iconic signifiers of individual success, these seven basketball awards lost their meaning and then their existence.

May 11, 2025September 30, 2026

Branded crews: 15 collective basketball nicknames

From Run-TMC to the Splash Brothers and Showtime to the Fab Five, we run down the most memorable basketball nicknames that applied to multiple teammates

April 21, 2025October 1, 2026

Leveling Up: Eight players who have won an NCAA title, Olympic gold medal, and NBA title

Only eight players in history have reached the ultimate goal at the international, amateur, and professional levels of basketball, and we detail them here.

July 1, 2024September 30, 2026

Saving the best for last: 21 most exciting NCAA Tournament National Finals

Which men’s NCAA Tournament games had the most excitement, star power, incredible play, and historical significance? Here, we rank the top 21

April 1, 2024September 30, 2026

Extra sweet 16: 23 significant NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal upsets

The second week of the NCAA Tournament is typically where the best Cinderella runs end, but for these 23 teams, it was an extension if not just the beginning

March 21, 2024September 30, 2026

Don’t you forget about me: 80 basketball moments from the ’80s that changed the sport forever

As part of our Totally ’80s series, we explore the 80 most monumental, controversial, influential, unforgettable, and indescribable basketball moments from the 1980s.

January 11, 2024September 30, 2026

Early adopters: 12 legendary women’s basketball players who pre-dated the WNBA

Long before the WNBA started play in 1997, women’s basketball was generating legends at every level available to the pioneers who deigned to break into the boys’ club.

November 21, 2023September 30, 2026

When the game was theirs: Eight crucial games that defined the Bird vs. Magic rivalry

Their rivalry is still the pinnacle of the NBA for many, and their subsequent friendship still inspires. As we approach the 30th anniversary of their final NBA match-up, we take a look back at the eight most unforgettable games involving two of the game’s all-time greatest, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

October 1, 2023September 30, 2026

Larry Bird isn’t walking through that door: 14 successful NCAA coaches who struggled at the NBA level

The transition from NCAA stardom to NBA success has proven difficult for most players but it’s been even more problematic for most coaches. We detail 14 such examples below.

April 21, 2023September 30, 2026

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.