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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.

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Defector

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

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Live Event

<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

Head coach Rick Pitino of the St. John's Red Storm speaks with Deivon Smith #5 of the St. John's Red Storm during the first half of the game against the Connecticut Huskies on February 23, 2025.

Connecticut v St. John’s

College Basketball

Tom Izzo And Rick Pitino Are Up Against One Of March’s Weirdest Curses

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David Roth

N'Faly Dante of the Oregon Ducks celebrates with fans after defeating the Arizona Wildcats at Matthew Knight Arena on January 14, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon.

Arizona v Oregon

Podcasts

In Search Of The Vibes Team, With Ken Pomeroy

<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>

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Dave Madden

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

North Carolina v Duke

The Family Queer Flies Home For March Madness

Robert Weintraub is the author of four books, including “The Divine Miss Marble,” now <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Miss-Marble-Tennis-Mystery/dp/1524745367/ref=asc_df_1524745367/?tag=hyprod-20&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=459515946640&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=6202131795131082661&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9010752&amp;hvtargid=pla-926582175995&amp;psc=1">out</a> in paperback. He has also written for the New York Times, ESPN/Grantland, Slate, Columbia Journalism Review, the Guardian, Football Outsiders, and many other outlets. Follow on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/robwein" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@robwein</a>.

Robert Weintraub

Coach K seen here complaining to officials in a game that could have been played any time in the last 40 years.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – Elite Eight – San Francisco

Coach K’s 30 NCAA Tournament Losses, Ranked From Delightful To Even More Delightful

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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)

Saint Peter’s v Kentucky

The Only Peacocks In College Sports Broke Kentucky’s Heart

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

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.

Texas v South Carolina

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

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 30: Tyger Campbell #10 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates with the East Regional Champion trophy after defeating the Michigan Wolverines 51-49 in the Elite Eight round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

UCLA v Michigan

UCLA Kept The Chaos Going A Little While Longer

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Forgot About The Pac-12, Did Ya?

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Barry Petchesky

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 21: Jacob Young #42 and Myles Johnson #15 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights react after being defeated by the Houston Cougars 63-60 in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

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Rutgers Learned What It’s Like To Get Its Hopes Up

Three big boys from Northern Iowa in their big purple shorts.

Defector Up All Night

This Is The Season Of College Basketball Guys

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Ray Ratto

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)

Creighton v Seton Hall

What If They Revealed A Bracket And No One Noticed?

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: The basket and the arena sit unused after the announcement of the cancellation of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The tournament has been cancelled due to the growing concern about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The NCAA tournament has also been cancelled. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament – Second Round

The NCAA Has A Plan For March Madness, And They Don’t Care That It’s Not A Very Good One

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