Mark Cooper
@markcooperjr.bsky.social
Managing Editor for College Sports, The Athletic. Also making Connections: Sports Edition. Go play! https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/connections-sports-edition
Reposted by Mark Cooper
What makes BYU star AJ Dybantsa special? His size, athleticism and skill obviously. But his separator might be a curiosity that reminds one of his coaches of a young Shane Battier: www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
A potential No. 1 draft pick's secret sauce? AJ Dybantsa 'is so intellectually curious'
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:44 PM
What makes BYU star AJ Dybantsa special? His size, athleticism and skill obviously. But his separator might be a curiosity that reminds one of his coaches of a young Shane Battier: www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Reposted by Mark Cooper
Emanuel Sharp had the shot to win the national title but didn’t take it. How do you come back from that? Luckily for Sharp, resilience is in his DNA: www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
How Emanuel Sharp learned to live with the moment he won't escape — and why he's still fearless
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Emanuel Sharp had the shot to win the national title but didn’t take it. How do you come back from that? Luckily for Sharp, resilience is in his DNA: www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
College basketball is so back
November 3, 2025 at 1:54 PM
College basketball is so back
Reposted by Mark Cooper
My final preseason Top 25. I made updates after watching preseason games and I have a new No. 1: www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
NCAA men’s college basketball 2025-26 preseason Top 25: Michigan, Kentucky lead field in wide-open year
A new trend of marquee preseason matchups has given us some data points when it comes to ranking teams before the season begins.
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:56 PM
My final preseason Top 25. I made updates after watching preseason games and I have a new No. 1: www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
Connections: Sports Edition is a year old!! And we've got a special edition to mark the milestone: www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
September 24, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Connections: Sports Edition is a year old!! And we've got a special edition to mark the milestone: www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Reposted by Mark Cooper
New Indiana guard Lamar Wilkerson was grateful for his time at Sam Houston State and wanted to give back. So he took over six figures of his NIL money and donated to the Bearkats. Maybe the best story yet from the NIL era: www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...
He left his mid-major school for Indiana. Then he donated six figures back
Lamar Wilkerson credited Sam Houston for his development, and donated a portion of his NIL earnings back to his old school.
www.nytimes.com
September 13, 2025 at 2:29 PM
New Indiana guard Lamar Wilkerson was grateful for his time at Sam Houston State and wanted to give back. So he took over six figures of his NIL money and donated to the Bearkats. Maybe the best story yet from the NIL era: www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...
Reposted by Mark Cooper
If you find Connections: Sports Edition too easy, give our NFL-themed puzzles (one for each of the 32 teams) a shot. Early reviews are in: They're way tougher than usual. @markcooperjr.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
Test your NFL knowledge with our Connections: Sports Edition team-themed games
During September, try your hand at our 32 team-themed Connections: Sports Edition boards, crafted by our expert NFL writers.
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 4:14 PM
If you find Connections: Sports Edition too easy, give our NFL-themed puzzles (one for each of the 32 teams) a shot. Early reviews are in: They're way tougher than usual. @markcooperjr.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
Reposted by Mark Cooper
Playing Connections: Sports Edition might be the best part of my morning, so I was legit thrilled to partner with Mark Cooper on a special gameboard for Commanders fans. And I was told it was "diabolical," which seems a bit much www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Play Connections: Sports Edition, our newest word game
Group sports terms that share a common thread. A new puzzle is available each day.
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Playing Connections: Sports Edition might be the best part of my morning, so I was legit thrilled to partner with Mark Cooper on a special gameboard for Commanders fans. And I was told it was "diabolical," which seems a bit much www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Reposted by Mark Cooper
I can now proudly say I’m a one-time puzzle maker!
Super cool to team up with our Connections: Sports Edition puzzle master Mark Cooper to do a Bills themed board for @theathletic.com!
If you want to give it a try, the link to the puzzle is on the next post.
Super cool to team up with our Connections: Sports Edition puzzle master Mark Cooper to do a Bills themed board for @theathletic.com!
If you want to give it a try, the link to the puzzle is on the next post.
September 3, 2025 at 12:46 PM
I can now proudly say I’m a one-time puzzle maker!
Super cool to team up with our Connections: Sports Edition puzzle master Mark Cooper to do a Bills themed board for @theathletic.com!
If you want to give it a try, the link to the puzzle is on the next post.
Super cool to team up with our Connections: Sports Edition puzzle master Mark Cooper to do a Bills themed board for @theathletic.com!
If you want to give it a try, the link to the puzzle is on the next post.
Reposted by Mark Cooper
Test your Bears knowledge (and puzzling speed) with this special Connections: Sports Edition board I put together with @markcooperjr.bsky.social
Play Connections: Sports Edition, our newest word game
Group sports terms that share a common thread. A new puzzle is available each day.
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Test your Bears knowledge (and puzzling speed) with this special Connections: Sports Edition board I put together with @markcooperjr.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Cooper
Jacque Vaughn had opportunities to return to the NBA but felt a calling to return to his alma mater. Story on what convinced him to return and whether a succession plan was part of it: www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
Why Kansas legend Jacque Vaughn is back at KU after 2 stints as an NBA head coach
Vaughn joined the Jayhawks staff over multiple NBA coaching positions. Why? He sees himself as a "guardian" of the next generation.
www.nytimes.com
August 19, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Jacque Vaughn had opportunities to return to the NBA but felt a calling to return to his alma mater. Story on what convinced him to return and whether a succession plan was part of it: www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
Connections: Sports Edition is 300 days old! Speeding toward its first birthday 🥳
Play today's @theathletic.com: www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Play today's @theathletic.com: www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
July 20, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Connections: Sports Edition is 300 days old! Speeding toward its first birthday 🥳
Play today's @theathletic.com: www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Play today's @theathletic.com: www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
All week, @theathletic.com college hoops staff has taken a look back at the last 25 years to rank the best of the quarter-century. The debates — and the nostalgia — have been a lot of fun. ICYMI, catch up, starting with …
Lindsay Schnell's top 25 players: www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...
Lindsay Schnell's top 25 players: www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...
Ranking men’s college basketball’s top 25 players of the 2000s: Carmelo Anthony takes No. 1
Weighing one-and-done stardom against four years of sustained success is tough. How a player elevated his team's success mattered plenty.
www.nytimes.com
July 18, 2025 at 8:16 PM
All week, @theathletic.com college hoops staff has taken a look back at the last 25 years to rank the best of the quarter-century. The debates — and the nostalgia — have been a lot of fun. ICYMI, catch up, starting with …
Lindsay Schnell's top 25 players: www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...
Lindsay Schnell's top 25 players: www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...
Reposted by Mark Cooper
It's Connections: Sports Edition, with a Beast-flavored twist 👀
Can you solve the puzzle?
http://dlvr.it/TKH83L
Can you solve the puzzle?
http://dlvr.it/TKH83L
April 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
It's Connections: Sports Edition, with a Beast-flavored twist 👀
Can you solve the puzzle?
http://dlvr.it/TKH83L
Can you solve the puzzle?
http://dlvr.it/TKH83L
Reposted by Mark Cooper
Ladies and gentlemen... IT'S MARCH 🍿
March 1, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Ladies and gentlemen... IT'S MARCH 🍿
Reposted by Mark Cooper
Check out our Sports Connections game. Test yourself each day
www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Play Connections: Sports Edition, our newest word game
Group sports terms that share a common thread. A new puzzle is available each day.
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Check out our Sports Connections game. Test yourself each day
www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
So thrilled to share that we've officially launched Connections: Sports Edition @theathletic.bsky.social
If you've been playing during the beta period — thank you! If not, join us at www.nytimes.com/athletic/con... or in The Athletic app.
If you've been playing during the beta period — thank you! If not, join us at www.nytimes.com/athletic/con... or in The Athletic app.
February 9, 2025 at 11:08 PM
So thrilled to share that we've officially launched Connections: Sports Edition @theathletic.bsky.social
If you've been playing during the beta period — thank you! If not, join us at www.nytimes.com/athletic/con... or in The Athletic app.
If you've been playing during the beta period — thank you! If not, join us at www.nytimes.com/athletic/con... or in The Athletic app.
Reposted by Mark Cooper
The (other) big game is HERE.
Do you love Connections? We’ve got just the thing. Introducing Connections: Sports Edition.
Can you find the common thread? Test your knowledge ➡️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Do you love Connections? We’ve got just the thing. Introducing Connections: Sports Edition.
Can you find the common thread? Test your knowledge ➡️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
February 9, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The (other) big game is HERE.
Do you love Connections? We’ve got just the thing. Introducing Connections: Sports Edition.
Can you find the common thread? Test your knowledge ➡️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Do you love Connections? We’ve got just the thing. Introducing Connections: Sports Edition.
Can you find the common thread? Test your knowledge ➡️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Like Connections? Like sports?
Did you know there's a Connections: Sports Edition?
Hard to believe we're already at puzzle No. 61 — would love for you to give our game a try @theathletic.bsky.social. www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Did you know there's a Connections: Sports Edition?
Hard to believe we're already at puzzle No. 61 — would love for you to give our game a try @theathletic.bsky.social. www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Play Connections: Sports Edition, our newest word game
Group sports terms that share a common thread. A new puzzle is available each day.
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2024 at 2:17 PM
Like Connections? Like sports?
Did you know there's a Connections: Sports Edition?
Hard to believe we're already at puzzle No. 61 — would love for you to give our game a try @theathletic.bsky.social. www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Did you know there's a Connections: Sports Edition?
Hard to believe we're already at puzzle No. 61 — would love for you to give our game a try @theathletic.bsky.social. www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Reposted by Mark Cooper
Do you play Connections: Sports Edition? Do you even know it exists? If you do, I'd love your feedback. Just be kind to @markcooperjr.bsky.social, the brilliant puzzle maker behind the game.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I encourage you to play: www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I encourage you to play: www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
Play Connections: Sports Edition, our newest word game
Group sports terms that share a common thread. A new puzzle is available each day.
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2024 at 12:15 AM
Do you play Connections: Sports Edition? Do you even know it exists? If you do, I'd love your feedback. Just be kind to @markcooperjr.bsky.social, the brilliant puzzle maker behind the game.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I encourage you to play: www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...
If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I encourage you to play: www.nytimes.com/athletic/con...