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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Tom Ley

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 15: A general view of Wells Fargo Arena during open practice ahead of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament First Round on March 15, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. (

College Basketball

It’s March Freakin’ Madness. Here’s Your Open Thread

<div>Dave Madden is the author of two books, and his essays have appeared in The Guardian, Harper&#8217;s, Lithub, Zyzzyva, and elsewhere. He teaches nonfiction in the MFA Program at the University of San Francisco, and publishes a newsletter named <a href="https://shennymag.substack.com/">Shenny</a>.</div>

Dave Madden

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski congratulates UNC forward Brady Manek after his Blue Devils lost in the 2022 Final Four.

The Family Queer Flies Home For March Madness

Lauren Theisen

There Is A Right Answer To Duke–Oral Roberts

Ray Ratto

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 04: The Kansas Jayhawks celebrate after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 72-69 during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

This Is All So Much Better When It’s Not About The Coaches

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Hailey Van Lith #10 of the Louisville Cardinals cuts down the net after the 62-50 win over the Michigan Wolverines in the Elite Eight round game of the 2022 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Intrust Bank Arena on March 28, 2022 in Wichita, Kansas.

Hailey Van Lith Wants To Be Your Worst Nightmare

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

Members of the Creighton Bluejays women's basketball team celebrating after upsetting Iowa to make it to the Sweet 16.

Creighton Crushed Iowa’s Big Tournament Dreams

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 8: (L-R) Tom Holmoe, director of athletics at Brigham Young University, works as the NCAA Basketball Tournament Selection Committee meets on Wednesday afternoon, March 8, 2017 in New York City. The committee is gathered in New York to begin the five-day process of selecting and seeding the field of 68 teams for the NCAA MenÕs Basketball Tournament. The final bracket will be released on Sunday evening following the completion of conference tournaments. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

This March Madness, Consider Suffering In Silence For Once

Defector Up All Night

Let’s Have A Dang March Madness Open Thread

Patrick Redford

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 17: Doug Edert #25 of the Saint Peter's Peacocks celebrates after making a three-point basket against the during the second half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 17, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

The Only Peacocks In College Sports Broke Kentucky’s Heart

<a href="https://twitter.com/kenpomeroy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ken</a> has been cranking out college basketball statistics at <a href="http://kenpom.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kenpom.com</a> since 2004. He’s written at The Athletic, Slate, the late ESPN The Magazine, and the late Basketball Prospectus. He hopes to live long enough to see the men&#8217;s game start using quarters, like every other basketball league in the world.

Ken Pomeroy

Keegan Murray exultant during Iowa's victory in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game.

Live Free, Pick Iowa

Luis Paez-Pumar

Hell Yeah, It’s Buzzer-Beater Season

Destiny Littleton #11 of the South Carolina Gamecocks controls the ball during the second half against the Texas Longhorns in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at the Alamodome on March 30, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas.

Report: The NCAA Can’t Be Bothered To Make Money Off Women’s Basketball

Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 05: MaCio Teague #31 of the Baylor Bears drives to the basket against Andrew Nembhard #3 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Sometimes You Gotta Watch The Whole Blowout

Justin Ellis

Jalen Suggs Is An Agent of Chaos And Destroyer Of Worlds

Death To The NCAA

Here Is Your Open Thread For The First Weekend Of The NCAA Men’s Tournament

Only Bill Walton’s Bracket Dares To Be Great

Stanford, UConn, South Carolina and NC State are top seeds in the NCAA women's tournament.

The Best Feuds In Women’s Basketball Are All In One Bracket Region

NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 27: Sandro Mamukelashvili #23 of the Seton Hall Pirates blocks a shot by Ryan Kalkbrenner #32 of the Creighton Bluejays during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Prudential Center on January 27, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)