Adam Zielonka
@adamzielonka.bsky.social
Senior editor and writer for Field Level Media. Bylines on Substack and in your local paper. Never fly United.
Women’s hoops whiparound: Rutgers staves off FDU, Seton Hall hits 3-0 and more guardenstate.substack.com/p/womens-hoo...
Women’s hoops whiparound: Rutgers staves off FDU, Seton Hall hits 3-0
FDU may have an NCAA Tournament team again. A week of covering women’s ball begins with their near-upset of Rutgers.
guardenstate.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Women’s hoops whiparound: Rutgers staves off FDU, Seton Hall hits 3-0 and more guardenstate.substack.com/p/womens-hoo...
FINAL: Rutgers escapes FDU 59-49 thanks to a late 11-0 run. RU gets to 4-1.
Zachara Perkins led four double-digit scorers (17, 9 reb). Imani Lester scored 13.
Ava Renninger kept FDU in it with 20 pts. Madlena Gerke scored 11 and Kailee McDonald (6 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) shined.
Zachara Perkins led four double-digit scorers (17, 9 reb). Imani Lester scored 13.
Ava Renninger kept FDU in it with 20 pts. Madlena Gerke scored 11 and Kailee McDonald (6 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) shined.
Kaylah Ivey, who started 1-for-10 from the floor, has taken over in the closing minutes for Rutgers. She briefly put RU ahead 46-43 with a three and she's hit another pair of jumpers in crunch time for a six-point lead.
November 16, 2025 at 8:59 PM
FINAL: Rutgers escapes FDU 59-49 thanks to a late 11-0 run. RU gets to 4-1.
Zachara Perkins led four double-digit scorers (17, 9 reb). Imani Lester scored 13.
Ava Renninger kept FDU in it with 20 pts. Madlena Gerke scored 11 and Kailee McDonald (6 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) shined.
Zachara Perkins led four double-digit scorers (17, 9 reb). Imani Lester scored 13.
Ava Renninger kept FDU in it with 20 pts. Madlena Gerke scored 11 and Kailee McDonald (6 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) shined.
Game on, and FDU has an early 6-2 lead.
Rutgers starters: Kaylah Ivey, Nene Ndiaye, Zachara Perkins, Janae Walker, Imani Lester.
No Lauryn Swann or Faith Blackstone as they continue to nurse injuries.
FDU starters: Madlena Gerke, Ava Renninger, Rebecca Osei-Owusu, Kailee McDonald, Leah Crosby.
No Lauryn Swann or Faith Blackstone as they continue to nurse injuries.
FDU starters: Madlena Gerke, Ava Renninger, Rebecca Osei-Owusu, Kailee McDonald, Leah Crosby.
November 16, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Game on, and FDU has an early 6-2 lead.
Rutgers starters: Kaylah Ivey, Nene Ndiaye, Zachara Perkins, Janae Walker, Imani Lester.
No Lauryn Swann or Faith Blackstone as they continue to nurse injuries.
FDU starters: Madlena Gerke, Ava Renninger, Rebecca Osei-Owusu, Kailee McDonald, Leah Crosby.
No Lauryn Swann or Faith Blackstone as they continue to nurse injuries.
FDU starters: Madlena Gerke, Ava Renninger, Rebecca Osei-Owusu, Kailee McDonald, Leah Crosby.
November 16, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Rutgers starters: Kaylah Ivey, Nene Ndiaye, Zachara Perkins, Janae Walker, Imani Lester.
No Lauryn Swann or Faith Blackstone as they continue to nurse injuries.
FDU starters: Madlena Gerke, Ava Renninger, Rebecca Osei-Owusu, Kailee McDonald, Leah Crosby.
No Lauryn Swann or Faith Blackstone as they continue to nurse injuries.
FDU starters: Madlena Gerke, Ava Renninger, Rebecca Osei-Owusu, Kailee McDonald, Leah Crosby.
Catching a few women's games this week, starting with FDU at Rutgers here in Piscataway in about an hour.
FDU is unanimous pick to repeat in the NEC and Rutgers has already taken a loss to Stony Brook.
FDU is unanimous pick to repeat in the NEC and Rutgers has already taken a loss to Stony Brook.
November 16, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Catching a few women's games this week, starting with FDU at Rutgers here in Piscataway in about an hour.
FDU is unanimous pick to repeat in the NEC and Rutgers has already taken a loss to Stony Brook.
FDU is unanimous pick to repeat in the NEC and Rutgers has already taken a loss to Stony Brook.
Everything is getting worse and costing more, day by day and year after year, but I would put up with a lot if you'd just let me create my own multiview and mix football with basketball.
November 15, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Everything is getting worse and costing more, day by day and year after year, but I would put up with a lot if you'd just let me create my own multiview and mix football with basketball.
I think Jackson Hicke was nearly standing on the Jayhawk's feathers when he hit that three.
November 15, 2025 at 7:07 PM
I think Jackson Hicke was nearly standing on the Jayhawk's feathers when he hit that three.
Stoked to see Navy make the playoff as a conference champ this year
November 15, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Stoked to see Navy make the playoff as a conference champ this year
For paid subscribers: Seton Hall is 4-0 but had to survive some near-disasters to get there. There are (at least) three ways they look better than a year ago guardenstate.substack.com/p/column-pir...
Column: Pirates had shaky start, but this year’s team is better in 3 ways
Seton Hall is 4-0 after a pattern of blowout wins and near-disasters.
guardenstate.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:33 PM
For paid subscribers: Seton Hall is 4-0 but had to survive some near-disasters to get there. There are (at least) three ways they look better than a year ago guardenstate.substack.com/p/column-pir...
Reposted by Adam Zielonka
"I just think every game comes down to four to five plays. We've been good at that lately. And again, lately being years, but not on Saturday. And I'm glad we can flush that one." Princeton's first win lessens some early concerns guardenstate.substack.com/p/princeton-...
Princeton’s first win lessens some early concerns: ‘We got to grow real fast’
Princeton's will to win was best illustrated by two sequences in the second half against Bucknell.
guardenstate.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:31 PM
"I just think every game comes down to four to five plays. We've been good at that lately. And again, lately being years, but not on Saturday. And I'm glad we can flush that one." Princeton's first win lessens some early concerns guardenstate.substack.com/p/princeton-...
"I just think every game comes down to four to five plays. We've been good at that lately. And again, lately being years, but not on Saturday. And I'm glad we can flush that one." Princeton's first win lessens some early concerns guardenstate.substack.com/p/princeton-...
Princeton’s first win lessens some early concerns: ‘We got to grow real fast’
Princeton's will to win was best illustrated by two sequences in the second half against Bucknell.
guardenstate.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:31 PM
"I just think every game comes down to four to five plays. We've been good at that lately. And again, lately being years, but not on Saturday. And I'm glad we can flush that one." Princeton's first win lessens some early concerns guardenstate.substack.com/p/princeton-...
Good stuff from our postgame talk with Mitch Henderson, Dalen and Jacob. Guarden State coming out in the morning.
FINAL: Princeton earns its first win of the year, 73-63 over Bucknell. Never trailed after Bucknell scored the first four.
Dalen Davis: Career-high-tying 25 pts
Jackson Hicke: 12 pts, 5 reb
Jacob Huggins: 11 pts, 4 ast
Two children behind me: A very long "Start the buses" chant in the final seconds
Dalen Davis: Career-high-tying 25 pts
Jackson Hicke: 12 pts, 5 reb
Jacob Huggins: 11 pts, 4 ast
Two children behind me: A very long "Start the buses" chant in the final seconds
Excellent sequence of rebounds by Princeton creates a three-point possession that also took about 50 seconds off the clock. One FT, second one missed but tipped out for an offensive rebound... then another offensive board before Dalen Davis scores a layup for a six-point lead
November 12, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Good stuff from our postgame talk with Mitch Henderson, Dalen and Jacob. Guarden State coming out in the morning.
FINAL: Princeton earns its first win of the year, 73-63 over Bucknell. Never trailed after Bucknell scored the first four.
Dalen Davis: Career-high-tying 25 pts
Jackson Hicke: 12 pts, 5 reb
Jacob Huggins: 11 pts, 4 ast
Two children behind me: A very long "Start the buses" chant in the final seconds
Dalen Davis: Career-high-tying 25 pts
Jackson Hicke: 12 pts, 5 reb
Jacob Huggins: 11 pts, 4 ast
Two children behind me: A very long "Start the buses" chant in the final seconds
Excellent sequence of rebounds by Princeton creates a three-point possession that also took about 50 seconds off the clock. One FT, second one missed but tipped out for an offensive rebound... then another offensive board before Dalen Davis scores a layup for a six-point lead
November 12, 2025 at 2:10 AM
FINAL: Princeton earns its first win of the year, 73-63 over Bucknell. Never trailed after Bucknell scored the first four.
Dalen Davis: Career-high-tying 25 pts
Jackson Hicke: 12 pts, 5 reb
Jacob Huggins: 11 pts, 4 ast
Two children behind me: A very long "Start the buses" chant in the final seconds
Dalen Davis: Career-high-tying 25 pts
Jackson Hicke: 12 pts, 5 reb
Jacob Huggins: 11 pts, 4 ast
Two children behind me: A very long "Start the buses" chant in the final seconds
New Princeton pregame hype video used parts of "Not Like Us" over a soaring instrumental. It is officially college basketball season
Game on. Follow along!
Game on. Follow along!
Princeton starters: Dalen Davis, Jack Stanton, Jackson Hicke, Malik Abdullahi, CJ Happy. Malik starts after Landon Clark did at Akron.
Bucknell starters: Williams, Spadone, McCreesh, Bijiek, Dorries. Redoing this post after Matt Lange was briefly listed among starters.
Bucknell starters: Williams, Spadone, McCreesh, Bijiek, Dorries. Redoing this post after Matt Lange was briefly listed among starters.
November 12, 2025 at 12:03 AM
New Princeton pregame hype video used parts of "Not Like Us" over a soaring instrumental. It is officially college basketball season
Game on. Follow along!
Game on. Follow along!
Princeton starters: Dalen Davis, Jack Stanton, Jackson Hicke, Malik Abdullahi, CJ Happy. Malik starts after Landon Clark did at Akron.
Bucknell starters: Williams, Spadone, McCreesh, Bijiek, Dorries. Redoing this post after Matt Lange was briefly listed among starters.
Bucknell starters: Williams, Spadone, McCreesh, Bijiek, Dorries. Redoing this post after Matt Lange was briefly listed among starters.
November 11, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Princeton starters: Dalen Davis, Jack Stanton, Jackson Hicke, Malik Abdullahi, CJ Happy. Malik starts after Landon Clark did at Akron.
Bucknell starters: Williams, Spadone, McCreesh, Bijiek, Dorries. Redoing this post after Matt Lange was briefly listed among starters.
Bucknell starters: Williams, Spadone, McCreesh, Bijiek, Dorries. Redoing this post after Matt Lange was briefly listed among starters.
Hello from Jadwin Gym for the first time in a long time.
Princeton entertains Bucknell for its home opener here at 7. Stay tuned for an in-game thread.
Princeton entertains Bucknell for its home opener here at 7. Stay tuned for an in-game thread.
November 11, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Hello from Jadwin Gym for the first time in a long time.
Princeton entertains Bucknell for its home opener here at 7. Stay tuned for an in-game thread.
Princeton entertains Bucknell for its home opener here at 7. Stay tuned for an in-game thread.
The Princeton women's basketball team is second in the "Others Receiving Votes" category in the new AP poll. Got 19 votes, two more than the preseason, after beating Georgia Tech. (Ohio State first in ORV, a good distance behind No. 25 Washington.)
November 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The Princeton women's basketball team is second in the "Others Receiving Votes" category in the new AP poll. Got 19 votes, two more than the preseason, after beating Georgia Tech. (Ohio State first in ORV, a good distance behind No. 25 Washington.)
Princeton's gonna win
Just switched over to the Princeton WBB game, saw this. 😬 college teams around the country must be going through similar nightmares these days.
November 9, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Princeton's gonna win
Just switched over to the Princeton WBB game, saw this. 😬 college teams around the country must be going through similar nightmares these days.
November 9, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Just switched over to the Princeton WBB game, saw this. 😬 college teams around the country must be going through similar nightmares these days.
Reposted by Adam Zielonka
New Guarden State: I've got more on Saint Peter's high-scoring win over FDU, Brent Bland's career day and everything Bashir Mason shared postgame. "Right now we got a player-led locker room and in those huddles, there’s a lot of player talk." guardenstate.substack.com/p/one-battle...
One battle after another: Saint Peter’s scores, scraps its way past FDU
Brent Bland and the Peacocks fought their way to a win coach Bashir Mason believes last year’s team would have let slip away.
guardenstate.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:11 PM
New Guarden State: I've got more on Saint Peter's high-scoring win over FDU, Brent Bland's career day and everything Bashir Mason shared postgame. "Right now we got a player-led locker room and in those huddles, there’s a lot of player talk." guardenstate.substack.com/p/one-battle...
New Guarden State: I've got more on Saint Peter's high-scoring win over FDU, Brent Bland's career day and everything Bashir Mason shared postgame. "Right now we got a player-led locker room and in those huddles, there’s a lot of player talk." guardenstate.substack.com/p/one-battle...
One battle after another: Saint Peter’s scores, scraps its way past FDU
Brent Bland and the Peacocks fought their way to a win coach Bashir Mason believes last year’s team would have let slip away.
guardenstate.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:11 PM
New Guarden State: I've got more on Saint Peter's high-scoring win over FDU, Brent Bland's career day and everything Bashir Mason shared postgame. "Right now we got a player-led locker room and in those huddles, there’s a lot of player talk." guardenstate.substack.com/p/one-battle...
Plenty of good insight from Bashir Mason after that one. Asked about Akil Watson, he said the transfer forward hopefully won't be out much longer with his injury, maybe ready Wednesday or next Saturday.
Guarden State will be out in the morning 🏀
Guarden State will be out in the morning 🏀
November 8, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Plenty of good insight from Bashir Mason after that one. Asked about Akil Watson, he said the transfer forward hopefully won't be out much longer with his injury, maybe ready Wednesday or next Saturday.
Guarden State will be out in the morning 🏀
Guarden State will be out in the morning 🏀
FINAL: Saint Peter's beats FDU 93-83 thanks to a career-high 27 points, seven rebounds and five steals from Brent Bland and a promising showing by the frontcourt. Guards TJ Robinson (16 pts, 6 a) and Bryce Eaton (13 pts, 8 a) also put in work.
TJ Robinson has hit two clutch buckets for Saint Peter's to get this lead back up to 10 for a bit.
November 8, 2025 at 9:18 PM
FINAL: Saint Peter's beats FDU 93-83 thanks to a career-high 27 points, seven rebounds and five steals from Brent Bland and a promising showing by the frontcourt. Guards TJ Robinson (16 pts, 6 a) and Bryce Eaton (13 pts, 8 a) also put in work.
Peacocks swap in Jakhi Gupton for Zaakir Williamson at the last minute.
Also looks like Akil Watson, who didn't play Monday at Seton Hall, isn't dressed.
Game on! I'll have some sporadic updates, follow along.
Also looks like Akil Watson, who didn't play Monday at Seton Hall, isn't dressed.
Game on! I'll have some sporadic updates, follow along.
Saint Peter's starters: Brent Bland, Shaedon Simpson, TJ Robinson, J'Quan Ewing, Zaakir Williamson.
Robinson (top scorer vs. Hall) and Ewing draw in for their first starts of the season.
FDU starters: Joey Niesman, Eric Parnell, David Jevtic, Taeshaud Jackson, Cyril Martynov.
Robinson (top scorer vs. Hall) and Ewing draw in for their first starts of the season.
FDU starters: Joey Niesman, Eric Parnell, David Jevtic, Taeshaud Jackson, Cyril Martynov.
November 8, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Peacocks swap in Jakhi Gupton for Zaakir Williamson at the last minute.
Also looks like Akil Watson, who didn't play Monday at Seton Hall, isn't dressed.
Game on! I'll have some sporadic updates, follow along.
Also looks like Akil Watson, who didn't play Monday at Seton Hall, isn't dressed.
Game on! I'll have some sporadic updates, follow along.
Saint Peter's starters: Brent Bland, Shaedon Simpson, TJ Robinson, J'Quan Ewing, Zaakir Williamson.
Robinson (top scorer vs. Hall) and Ewing draw in for their first starts of the season.
FDU starters: Joey Niesman, Eric Parnell, David Jevtic, Taeshaud Jackson, Cyril Martynov.
Robinson (top scorer vs. Hall) and Ewing draw in for their first starts of the season.
FDU starters: Joey Niesman, Eric Parnell, David Jevtic, Taeshaud Jackson, Cyril Martynov.
November 8, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Saint Peter's starters: Brent Bland, Shaedon Simpson, TJ Robinson, J'Quan Ewing, Zaakir Williamson.
Robinson (top scorer vs. Hall) and Ewing draw in for their first starts of the season.
FDU starters: Joey Niesman, Eric Parnell, David Jevtic, Taeshaud Jackson, Cyril Martynov.
Robinson (top scorer vs. Hall) and Ewing draw in for their first starts of the season.
FDU starters: Joey Niesman, Eric Parnell, David Jevtic, Taeshaud Jackson, Cyril Martynov.