Inside College Basketball Now

By CBS SportsSports News Sports News Basketball

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Inside College Basketball Now episodes

August 07, 2025 Pat Kelsey says Rick Pitino can come back to Louisville anytime he wants
On a new episode of Inside College Basketball Now, Jon Rothstein is joined by Louisville basketball head coach Pat Kelsey to discuss the state of the program. Kelsey breaks down the impact some of the transfers, like Aly Khalifa, can make this season, as well as the incoming freshman, like Mikel Brown. Later, they discuss their challenging non-conference schedule as well and the rekindling of old rivalries. Finally, they discuss how the ACC improves and what it will take for the Cardinals to win the ACC regular season title and earn a spot in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
1:43 - Why do you think you've been so successful as a HC?
2:10 - Who taught Pat Kelsey how to instill culture?
3:38 - How did you flip Louisville's program so quickly?
4:40 - Losing to Tennessee early last season
6:20 - What did you tell the team after you lost to Creighton in the NCAA Tournament?
8:30 - What's the biggest thing you know about being the Louisville HC now that you didn't know before you took the job?
9:45 - Thoughts on the roster
11:45 - Mikel Brown
12:45 - Conwell, McKneely, Wooley --- combined to make 273 three-point shots last season
14:00 - What type of impact can Aly Khalifa make?
15:00 - Which other newcomers could make an impact?
16:00 - Kasean Pryor's progress with his injury and process of being cleared
17:30 - Non-conference schedule this season
18:45 - Rekindling old rivalries
20:30 - Why is playing Kentucky earlier in the season better for CBB
22:00 - Welcoming Rick Pitino back to the KFC Yum Center
23:30 - How does the ACC improve?
25:10 - What’s 1 great win and 1 tough loss he careers with him
25:50 - What has to happen for Louisville to win an ACC regular season title and earn a high seed in the NCAA Tournament?
29 min
August 04, 2025 Early ACC Breakdown: ACC needs to send 6 teams to tournament + Louisville’s MOST ANTICIPATED season
Jon Rothstein provides a full breakdown of the ACC entering the 2025-2026 college basketball season.

The ACC NEEDS to put a third of its teams into the 2026 NCAA Tournament in order to start being viewed as respectable in the power conference landscape. Duke is Duke; they have some of the best freshmen in the country, and returning players who can make a big impact. Louisville’s revival continues under Pat Kelsey.

Jon runs through his complete preseason power rankings from top to bottom, with Duke at No. 1 and Florida State rounding out the list. He delivers projected starting fives, key newcomers, and notable departures for every team, along with his picks for preseason Player of the Year, All-ACC First Team, and the sleeper program that could sneak into the top tier.

He answers questions from the audience and closes with three key nuggets to keep in mind heading into the year: Louisville’s three perimeter transfer additions will make a big impact, Isaiah Evans’ stock is escalating and Syracuse is looking to return to the tournament for the first time since 2021.

Wall-to-wall ACC hoops. No nonsense. Just Rothstein.

0:00 - Intro
1:45 - Three big things about the ACC
12:50 - Early Projections and Preseason Awards
27:45- All-ACC Preseason First Team
28:11 - ACC Preseason Player of the Year
29:30 - ACC Preseason Sleeper
31:50 - Listener Questions
34:00 - Three things to note about the ACC
34:00 - Three things to note about the ACC
33 min
July 31, 2025 Bill Self says Darryn Peterson is BEST freshman he has recruited + what's succession plan at Kansas?
Production note: *This episode was recorded on Monday, July 21, prior to Coach Self's hospitalization*
The introduction of the transfer portal and NIL has affected everyone, even historically dominant programs like Kansas. Every coach has had to operate differently in new environment. So when a coach like Bill Self wants to sit down and talk about what he's learned. Obviously, you listen. Jon Rothstein sits down with legendary Kansas head coach Bill Self on what to expect in 2025-2026.
35 min
July 28, 2025 Early Big 12 Breakdown - MOST ANTICIPATED season in BYU history + Kansas & Baylor in transition
Jon Rothstein provides a full breakdown of the Big 12 entering the 2025-2026 college basketball season.
Houston may be younger than we’re used to, but they’re deep, talented, and right back in the mix for a league title. BYU is heading into the most anticipated season in program history, while Kansas and Baylor — two longtime anchors of the conference — are facing major transitions on and off the floor.
Jon runs through his complete preseason power rankings from top to bottom, with Houston at No. 1 and Arizona State rounding out the list. He delivers projected starting fives, key newcomers, and notable departures for every team, along with his picks for preseason Player of the Year, All-Big 12 First Team, and the sleeper program that could sneak into the top tier.
He answers questions from the audience in a live chat and closes with three key nuggets to keep in mind heading into the year: BYU’s Richie Saunders averaged 22 a game in the NCAA Tournament, Cincinnati hasn’t danced since 2019, and Baylor, UCF, and West Virginia return zero percent of their scoring from last season.
Wall-to-wall Big 12 hoops. No nonsense. Just Rothstein.
33 min
July 24, 2025 Even With A Succession Plan, Creighton's Greg McDermott isn't slowing down.
Jon talks with Creighton's Greg McDermott about his long career, the succession plan with head coach in-waiting Alain Huss and moving forward without impact big man Ryan Kalkbrenner.

25 min
July 21, 2025 Early Big East Breakdown - St. John's and UConn are on a collision course + Power Rankings
We’ve got a lot to get to.
St. John’s and UConn are on a collision course. Rick Pitino’s roster looks like a high-major All-Star team, and Dan Hurley is reloading with talent that fits his system like a glove. Those two are headed for fireworks.
Shaka Smart? He’s about to face his greatest challenge yet at Marquette. No more Tyler Kolek. No more Oso Ighodaro. This will be a pure coaching job — and it’ll tell us a lot about where the program stands.
And then there’s Villanova and Georgetown. Two of the most storied programs in the Big East — and quite frankly, the league needs them to matter. The Big East is better when the Wildcats and Hoyas are in the mix.
Jon dishes his full preseason power rankings — from St. John’s at No. 1 to Seton Hall at 11 — along with projected starting fives, key newcomers, and a few names you’re going to want to remember come February. Plus, he hands out his preseason awards, including Player of the Year, All-Big East First Team, and his sleeper pick to shake things up.
Jon takes your questions and your takes in the live chat — let’s make this a conversation.
And before we wrap, Rothstein has three nuggets you need to know:
— Bryce Hopkins averaged 17 and 7 in just three games last year. He’s back and healthy.
— It’s been over 1,200 days since Villanova played in an NCAA Tournament game.
— And DePaul? Quietly returns nearly 49% of its scoring from last season. Only UConn returns more.
Let’s talk Big East basketball.
36 min
July 17, 2025 John Calipari says transfer portal NEEDS TO BE FIXED in college basketball + Arkansas expectations for 2025-2026
Arkansas head coach John Calipari gets candid in a wide-ranging interview with Jon Rothstein. He opens up about the state of college basketball today — from the chaos of the transfer portal and why he believes “we’re hurting kids, not helping them.”
Calipari explains how he turned around Arkansas last season, how he finally feels like he has a team, and why his '25/'26 squad is built differently — with elite guard play, old-school conditioning, and a schedule he isn’t afraid of. He also shares behind-the-scenes moments from beating Kentucky, the heartbreak of the 2008 title game Kansas loss, and reflects on what drives him heading into the next chapter of his career.
From tournament expansion talk to why he’s calling Congress about the transfer portal, Coach Cal holds nothing back. And no — broadcasting is not in his future.
This is Calipari unfiltered, and it's a must-watch for any college hoops fan.

46 min
July 14, 2025 Early SEC Breakdown -- Florida could go back-to-back + all eyes on Jayden Quaintance at Kentucky
We start with Three Big SEC Things: why 10+ teams could make the NCAA Tournament again, how Florida has a real shot to go back-to-back, and why all eyes are on Jayden Quaintance to lead a revamped Kentucky.
Then, we roll through SEC Preseason Power Rankings and Early Season Awards — Florida grabs the top spot, but Arkansas, Kentucky, Auburn, and Alabama are right behind. We dive deep into rosters, transfers, and breakout candidates for each team in the top 10 and beyond. Plus, we hand out our Preseason Player of the Year (Otega Oweh), First-Team All-SEC, and name a sleeper team to watch (looking at you, Texas A&M).
Later, we turn to viewer questions and live chat, before closing with Three Good SEC Nuggets, including.
A wave of new faces in familiar places
LSU and South Carolina looking far more competitive
Nearly half the league’s coaches boasting Elite Eight credentials
This is your full SEC preseason primer — rosters, rankings, and the storylines that will shape the season.

(2:15) 3 Big Things
(14:00) SEC Preseason Rankings
(35:00) Live Chat
(45:00) 3 Good Nuggets
45 min
July 10, 2025 Ohio State HC Jake Diebler talks about improving on Year 1 & the importance of a strong non-con
Jon talks with Jake Diebler about improving on year one, the improved roster and the importance of scheduling strong non-conference games.
20 min
July 09, 2025 Alex Jensen explains how coaching in the G-League is like the current state of College Basketball
Alex Jensen talks with Jon Rothstein about the similarities between the NBA G-League and the current college basketball climate.

13 min

About Inside College Basketball Now

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Inside College Basketball Now with Jon Rothstein is your courtside seat to the inner workings of the sport. Known for his unmatched insider knowledge, bold takes, and relentless coverage,…