Close but no cigar were the Rams to crashing the NCAA Tournament party a year ago. With the gang all back, can Niko Meded and CSU RamRod(dy) their way into the 2022 dance party?
Read moreNational Championship Preview: Gonzaga v. Baylor
This is it. Gonzaga and Baylor have been on a collision course all season long - now, the two heavyweights will square off for all the marbles.
Read moreRoot's (Power) Rankings, Edition 4
Now that we’re through the holidays and into the thick of conference play, let’s check back in with Root’s Rankings…
Read moreRoot's (Power) Rankings, Edition 3
There’s certainly been some movement in the rankings - most notably due to Northwestern’s impressive dismantling of Michigan State on Sunday. But of course, the #1 and #2 teams remain unchanged…
Read moreRoot's (Power) Rankings, Edition 2
Edition 2 of Root’s Rankings has arrived! The top two teams are on the shelf with COVID, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn a lot from the past week of hoops…
Read moreRoot's (Power) Rankings, Edition 1
The first edition of Jim’s rankings have arrived! He takes a look at the Gonzaga/Baylor separation atop the country, who deserves to be behind them, and whether Tennessee will ever play basketball this season (plus much more).
Read moreZonal Shift - Part 2
Here’s Part 2 of Jim’s exploration of the decline in zone usage in college hoops. What goes into the decision to play zone? And how does level of play/conference affiliation factor in?
Read moreZonal Shift - Part 1
Over the past seven years of college hoops, zone usage throughout the sport has been on a steady decline. For a sport that thrives on stylistic differences, why has the zone defense been fading from view?
Read moreHandicapping Home Court Advantage: Part 2
COVID-induced boredom equals bonus content. We expand on last week’s 2019-20 home court value analysis by overlaying actual against-the-spread performance.
Read moreMovement to Man: Five Teams Who Found Success Switching Defenses
At 3MW, we celebrate coaches that successfully tailor their styles to particular rosters each year, shifting strategy to match personnel. We took a look at five teams that found massive defensive success in switching from zone-heavy looks to more man-to-man.
Read moreNext Year is OUR Year
As Aaron Burr once said, “Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow. Delay may give clearer light as to what is best to be done.” The following squads herein have taken Burr’s mantra to heart.
Read moreRoot's (Power) Rankings: 2020 Week 8
Kansas takes the top spot, Kentucky continues winning, and Duke…blew a nine-point lead in 75 seconds at Wake Forest? Perhaps all is not well in blue blood world!
Read moreRoot's (Power) Rankings: 2020 Week 7
The Power Ranks took a spa week in mid-February, but they are BACK this week and as packed as ever. Enjoy!
Read moreBeating the Books: The Grind of Conference Play
Are your college basketball gambling returns flatlining? We probe into why the current betting environment is becoming increasingly difficult to find an edge against the books.
Read moreRoot's (Power) Rankings: 2020 Week 5
Our weekly check-in with the top of the college basketball world - both nationally and in the mid-major rankings - is back, and we’re as shocked as you are that the upper echelon has remained stable once again. Is this season finally getting a little bit sane?
Read moreRoot's (Power) Rankings: 2020 Week 4
Last week saw only two members of the Rankings lose (sorry, Michigan State and Florida State), so we finally have some stability. The Mid-Major Five saw its #1 team take it on the chin twice, though…
Read moreRoot's (Power) Rankings: 2020 Week 3
A day late but definitely not a dollar short - here’s Jim’s weekly column, and yes, he finally conceded that Baylor should sit atop the rankings…
Read moreRoot's (Power) Rankings: 2020 Week 2
Jim’s weekly check-in on the top tier of college basketball, both nationally and in the mid-major realm, debates the purpose of polls/rankings, stubbornly keeps two undefeateds out of the top five, and waves goodbye to the Big Ten…
Read moreMid Major Reinforcements
For a select few mid major programs, New Year’s resolutions hinge on some timely reinforcements. We highlight a dozen critical cogs recently infused into the mix.
Read moreRoot's (Power) Rankings, Week 5
The game of musical chairs at the top of the sport continues, with the Jayhaws settling into the top spot for the week. This week’s Rankings are Christmas-themed, and Jim plays the role of Santa by giving out a theoretical gift to each Top 12 team (plus the Mid-Major Five)…
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