Brian Rauf
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Brian Rauf
@brauf33.bsky.social
2.2K followers 120 following 190 posts
Senior national writer for @HeatCheckCBB, videos for @SleepersMedia. Author of the #RaufReport. @USBWA Member. Proud @UofSC alum.
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brauf33.bsky.social
Cam Boozer has turned into Duke's de facto point guard late in close games, and his playmaking has made all the difference for the Blue Devils the last two weeks.

I talked about Boozer's clutch playmaking on Weekend Under Review:
December 8, 2025 at 10:03 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
When Duke needs a bucket late, the Blue Devils are turning to Cam Boozer to be their PG - and it's working.

A new #RaufReport dives into Boozer's late-game brilliance along with some troubling Nate Ament stats & much, much more.

For Basket Under Review($): www.basketunderreview.com/rauf-report-...
Rauf Report: Boozer as late-game PG, Ament concerns and troubling trends
An independent college basketball outlet.
www.basketunderreview.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:37 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
Where is NC State's defense failing?
Can Derek Dixon really be a difference-maker for UNC?
Why can't Florida find its offense?

Answering these questions and more in a new #RaufReport for Basket Under Review subscribers: www.basketunderreview.com/rauf-report-...
Rauf Report: UNC's new X-Factor, concerns with Florida, NC State and more
An independent college basketball outlet.
www.basketunderreview.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:30 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
A new #RaufReport dissects my top weekend takeaways:

-UConn’s top tier performance
-Why TCU is legit
-Malik Reneau’s star start
-A 4-bid A10?
-Diatribe on why it’s *way* too early for conference play to start this week

For Basket Under Review subscribers: www.basketunderreview.com/rauf-report-...
Rauf Report: TCU's resurgence, Malik Reneau's stardom and more
An independent college basketball outlet.
www.basketunderreview.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:40 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
Sounds like a good time to remind you that Homefield is already offering 30% off sitewide!

Get your Christmas shopping done early
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November 29, 2025 at 4:36 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
A new #RaufReport dissects #FeastWeek’s biggest winners & losers!

Context on Michigan’s play, but I also discuss the positives Kansas & USC showed.

Also, what red flags mean for NC State, St John’s & San Diego State.

FREE at Basket Under Review: www.basketunderreview.com/rauf-report-...
Rauf Report: Dissecting Feast Week's Biggest Winners & Losers
Every Feast Week delivers a team that looks like it’s arriving a little earlier than expected. This year, that team is Michigan. Winning the Players Era Tournament is impressive on its own given that...
www.basketunderreview.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:19 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
A new #RaufReport is live at Basket Under Review! We dive into:

-Butler's legitimacy (they're good!)
-Where Clemson sits in the ACC
-Why Victor Valdes is the mid-major star you need to know now

and much more - including my complaints about #FeastWeek:
www.basketunderreview.com/rauf-report-...
Rauf Report: What to make of Butler & Clemson's MTE titles, Feast Week gripes and more
An independent college basketball outlet.
www.basketunderreview.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
A new #RaufReport is out! Discussing:

-Arizona's case to be #1
-A breakdown of UConn's offense
-Michigan St's secret sauce
-Tamin Lipsey's historic start
-Why South Carolina looks like the NCAAT version of itself
-A word on the Mountain West's struggles

www.basketunderreview.com/rauf-report-...
Rauf Report: Michigan State's secret sauce, breakthroughs to monitor and more
An independent college basketball outlet.
www.basketunderreview.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:11 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
🚨New #RaufReport!🚨

-Big East struggles and Marquette's uncharacteristic defense
-Why Kingston Flemings is even better that you think
-Xavier Booker's improvement
-Why Vanderbilt and Hawaii(!!) deserve your attention

For Basket Under Review subscribers: www.basketunderreview.com/rauf-report-...
Rauf Report: Why Kingston Flemings is even better than you think, Xavier Booker's improvement and more
An independent college basketball outlet.
www.basketunderreview.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:31 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
Today’s #RaufReport is LOADED!

-Deciding factor in Purdue’s win over Alabama
-Robert McCray’s historic start
-JT Toppin!!!
-Andrej Stojakovic’s improved efficiency
-How Chris Beard is using Ilias Kamardine like Jarrett Culver

For Basket Under Review: www.basketunderreview.com/rauf-report-...
Rauf Report: JT Toppin's historic start, under-the-radar impact players and more
An independent college basketball outlet.
www.basketunderreview.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:50 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
Mikel Brown's performance last night was the latest star showing from a freshman class already reaching unprecedented levels. We haven't seen this many freshmen be this productive this fast.

My column on the group shaping the season for Basket Under Review: www.basketunderreview.com/ready-on-arr...
Ready on Arrival: The Freshman Class Dominating College Basketball
Every few years we get a freshman crop in college basketball that oozes promise. That promise, however, typically centers around a handful of one-and-done prospects that can define a season (see Flagg...
www.basketunderreview.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:47 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
Start your week with a new #RaufReport!

We dive into UNC’s backcourt, KJ Lewis’ importance to Georgetown, Arizona State’s budding star and…why Michigan State reminds me of KPop Demon Hunters.

For Basket Under Review subscribers: www.basketunderreview.com/rauf-report-...
Rauf Report: North Carolina's deciding factor, Georgetown's engine and more
An independent college basketball outlet.
www.basketunderreview.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:25 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
It's time for a new #RaufReport! Looking back at the week that was, I dive into:

-Koa Peat's unblockable shot
-Thoughts on Xaivian Lee & Cam Boozer
-A pair of mid-major stars to monitor

For Basket Under Review subscribers: www.basketunderreview.com/rauf-report-...
Rauf Report: Koa Peat's underrated skill, potential Cam Boozer concerns and more
An independent college basketball outlet.
www.basketunderreview.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:34 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
A new episode of Weekend Under Review is LIVE & in your podcast feeds!

Join us as we look back at exhibition season & preview the biggest games of the week!

Watch at Basket Under Review or listen wherever you get your podcasts: www.basketunderreview.com/weekend-unde...
Weekend Under Review - November 3, 2025
On this edition of Weekend Under Review with Brian Rauf and Matthew Winick, the rundown includes: Exhibition season takeaways Florida vs. Arizona BYU vs. Villanova St. Thomas vs. Saint Mary’s Duke v...
www.basketunderreview.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:39 PM
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The first #RaufReport of the regular season takes a look at the biggest games of Opening Night and the key factors that will decide each of them.

For Basket Under Review subscribers: www.basketunderreview.com/rauf-report-...
Rauf Report: Key Factors for Monday's Biggest Games
An independent college basketball outlet.
www.basketunderreview.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:11 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
A new #RaufReport column looks back at my biggest takeaways from exhibition season!

Looking at why I'm confident in North Carolina, previewing an insane NPOY race and MUCH more.

FREE at Basket Under Review: www.basketunderreview.com/rauf-report-...
Rauf Report: Top 5 Takeaways from Preseason Exhibitions
Every October, exhibition games give us our first glimpse of what’s real and what’s just noise. It’s the college basketball version of a trailer — a few promising shots, a couple head-turning performa...
www.basketunderreview.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:10 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
Looking for some spicy college basketball takes? We got em!

Hottest takes from the entire Basket Under Review staff: www.basketunderreview.com/basket-under...
Basket Under Review Staff Hot Takes
At some point during the offseason, everyone anchors themselves to a thought so preposterous, so completely absurd, that it causes literal backlash from the masses. We've compiled the hottest takes f...
www.basketunderreview.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:10 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
The ACC looks deeper than it has in years. But is this a real renaissance or a mirage created by the buzz of new coaching hires & a few strong teams at the top?

Latest at Basket Under Review dives into what's real & what's not in the ACC's comeback season: www.basketunderreview.com/the-acc-rena...
The ACC Renaissance: Real Progress or Just a Mirage?
The ACC looks better than it has in years, but how real is the revival?
www.basketunderreview.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:25 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
A new episode of Weekend Under Review is out!

We break down Yaxel Lendeborg's performance vs Cincy, concerns about Iowa St & St John's and MUCH more.

Available at Basket Under Review & wherever you get your podcasts! www.basketunderreview.com/weekend-unde...
Weekend Under Review - October 20, 2025
On this edition of Weekend Under Review with Brian Rauf and Matthew Winick, the rundown includes: Yaxel Lendeborg Iowa State's offense BYU vs. Nebraska St. John's point guards UCF vs. Duke ...
www.basketunderreview.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
One of my favorite #RaufReport columns do to every year - it's Bold Prediction time!

I give one prediction for each conference in college hoops as we try to guess what craziness will ensue.

How I see the season playing out, for Basket Under Review: www.basketunderreview.com/rauf-report-...
Rauf Report: Bold predictions for every conference in 2025-26
Every year, we spin up predictions. Who wins each league, who steps up, who falls off. But this one feels different. We’re entering a season of uncertainty—rosters are shifting deeper, transfers are m...
www.basketunderreview.com
October 17, 2025 at 12:21 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
A new episode of Basket Under Review's Weekend Under Review is OUT!

Join us as we discuss teams playing exhibition games this weekend and what we hope to learn about each team.

Available on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts! www.basketunderreview.com/weekend-unde...
Weekend Under Review - October 10, 2025
On this edition of Weekend Under Review, Brian Rauf and Matthew Winick preview a handful of exhibition games taking place this weekend. Matchups include: Baylor vs. Grand Canyon Arizona State vs. UC ...
www.basketunderreview.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:39 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
Purdue has a national title ceiling, but reaching that ceiling is dependent upon the Boilers figuring out how to maximize a frontcourt rotation with three bigs anchored to the paint.

Is that a puzzle they can solve?

From July, for Basket Under Review: www.basketunderreview.com/purdues-fron...
Purdue's Frontcourt Puzzle: The Challenge of Maximizing Multiple Bigs
An independent college basketball outlet.
www.basketunderreview.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
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The preseason is the time for optimism, but a few "can't-miss" teams always end up missing.

Who are the contenders that might actually be built on false floors - those with high ceilings but lower floors than we want to admit?

For Basket Under Review ($): www.basketunderreview.com/false-floors...
False Floors: Hidden Flaws in Some of College Basketball's Most Hyped Teams
An independent college basketball outlet.
www.basketunderreview.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:08 PM
brauf33.bsky.social
Tennessee's script is always the same: SEC success and elite defense before falling short in March.

But this roster is a break from the Vols' typical gameplan - could that change help bring Tennessee to its first Final Four?

For Basket Under Review (FREE): www.basketunderreview.com/the-last-mou...
The Last Mountain: Why Tennessee May Finally Climb to a Final Four under Rick Barnes
There’s a familiar cadence to Tennessee basketball under Rick Barnes. The Vols enter every season ranked, usually in the top 15, sometimes even inside the top 10. They stack wins early, grind through ...
www.basketunderreview.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
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Looking for an under-the-radar breakout candidate?

Making the case for Georgetown, and why I think it's time to believe in the Hoyas again.

For Basket Under Review: www.basketunderreview.com/from-rebuild...
From Rebuild to Relevance: It's Time to Believe in Georgetown Again
There’s a version of this season where the narrative around Georgetown flips fast, where we start talking about the Hoyas like other programs that figure out who they are and start winning real games ...
www.basketunderreview.com
September 19, 2025 at 12:16 PM