Ultimate Cranston
@ultimatecranston.bsky.social
Subscribe (free of charge) to my Substack on basketball where I focus, in particular, on Providence College Friars and Big East hoops ultimatecranston.substack.com
Words on Providence's first game vs. Holy Cross, including thoughts on other PC opening nights, how the passing and shooting looked and more. Also, how did a bunch of former and almost Friars perform in their debuts with new teams? #pcbb ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/underreact...
Underreactions to Providence's 89-79 win over Holy Cross
Plus Friar-relevant tidbits from around the nation on the first week of the college basketball season
ultimatecranston.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Words on Providence's first game vs. Holy Cross, including thoughts on other PC opening nights, how the passing and shooting looked and more. Also, how did a bunch of former and almost Friars perform in their debuts with new teams? #pcbb ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/underreact...
The college basketball season is nearly upon us, which means it's time to take stock of reasons for optimism and reasons for concern for Providence Friars fans entering the 2025-26 season: ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/3-reasons-...
3 reasons to believe, 3 reasons for concern for the Friars this season
As we’re on the cusp of the Friars’ first exhibition (Sunday at Pitt), let’s get back on the horse by updating my season preview from last year in hopes that we’ll actually have a season this season (...
ultimatecranston.substack.com
October 18, 2025 at 12:08 PM
The college basketball season is nearly upon us, which means it's time to take stock of reasons for optimism and reasons for concern for Providence Friars fans entering the 2025-26 season: ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/3-reasons-...
Coming tomorrow at ultimatecranston.substack.com ...
October 17, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Coming tomorrow at ultimatecranston.substack.com ...
For the love of God, stop calling it a "ghost runner." There is a person standing on second base -- it's not a ghost.
July 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
For the love of God, stop calling it a "ghost runner." There is a person standing on second base -- it's not a ghost.
Reposted by Ultimate Cranston
Focusing on Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri and UCLA, I dove into the big improvers from last season in college basketball to see what the Friars could learn from their turnarounds. ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/the-path-t...
The Path to Improvement
Looking at significant leaps from last season to identify a blueprint for the Friars
ultimatecranston.substack.com
May 2, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Focusing on Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri and UCLA, I dove into the big improvers from last season in college basketball to see what the Friars could learn from their turnarounds. ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/the-path-t...
There's no truth to the rumor that Goga Bitadze left Georgia for the NBA because he was only third-string center behind Asa Newell and Somto Cyril.
April 24, 2025 at 2:16 AM
There's no truth to the rumor that Goga Bitadze left Georgia for the NBA because he was only third-string center behind Asa Newell and Somto Cyril.
Consider starting your Good Friday with my essay on what it's like being a college basketball fan in 2025: a lot of people I respect are saying the sport is doing great, but my eyes see something different. Plus, 2 suggestions to improve roster-building: ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/being-a-co...
Being a College Basketball Fan in 2025
How roster-building has made following the sport less fun and how we can make it better
ultimatecranston.substack.com
April 18, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Consider starting your Good Friday with my essay on what it's like being a college basketball fan in 2025: a lot of people I respect are saying the sport is doing great, but my eyes see something different. Plus, 2 suggestions to improve roster-building: ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/being-a-co...
Reposted by Ultimate Cranston
The very nature of writing a story like this prompts even more coaches to reach out. I just had a head coach in the Big Ten text me to say a Missouri Valley player they were recruiting suddenly let it be known he wanted $2.5 million.
"We didn’t call him back after that."
"We didn’t call him back after that."
The price of talent is spiking to record levels—with hundreds of millions now at stake in CBB’s unregulated economy.
Detailed reporting below on the teams spending 8-10 million+.
One player’s on the hook after breaking his contract.
A wide look at how we got here … and if there’s no going back.
Detailed reporting below on the teams spending 8-10 million+.
One player’s on the hook after breaking his contract.
A wide look at how we got here … and if there’s no going back.
The $10 million club: College basketball's portal recruiting hits unthinkable levels of financial chaos
The price of talent is spiking to record amounts -- again -- now with hundreds of millions at stake in college hoops' unregulated economy
www.cbssports.com
April 18, 2025 at 12:59 AM
The very nature of writing a story like this prompts even more coaches to reach out. I just had a head coach in the Big Ten text me to say a Missouri Valley player they were recruiting suddenly let it be known he wanted $2.5 million.
"We didn’t call him back after that."
"We didn’t call him back after that."
Hello, England's Rose.
April 13, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Hello, England's Rose.
Most may have moved on from a forgettable PC basketball season, but I present my post-mortem, which hopefully provides some learnings (or at the very least a catharsis) before fully moving on to what's next: ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/on-the-sea...
On the Season That Never Was
Wherein I get out all the 'yuck' from a Friars season we'd all just as soon forget
ultimatecranston.substack.com
April 9, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Most may have moved on from a forgettable PC basketball season, but I present my post-mortem, which hopefully provides some learnings (or at the very least a catharsis) before fully moving on to what's next: ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/on-the-sea...
And now begins the most scintillating part of college basketball games: end of game reviews.
April 8, 2025 at 3:01 AM
And now begins the most scintillating part of college basketball games: end of game reviews.
That said, this is a ref show.
April 8, 2025 at 2:50 AM
That said, this is a ref show.
The only rule I would take from the NBA to college is challenges for replays. I embrace the difference for the others: no advance on timeouts, no quarters, 1 and 1's, 30 second shotclock. I don't think any of those makes the sport better.
April 8, 2025 at 2:45 AM
The only rule I would take from the NBA to college is challenges for replays. I embrace the difference for the others: no advance on timeouts, no quarters, 1 and 1's, 30 second shotclock. I don't think any of those makes the sport better.
I joined Richard Coren and Steve Hartnett on the 247ScoutFriars Podcast to put a bow on a disappointing Friars season. We also discussed the Big East Tournament, the NCAA Tournament field and what's next for the Friars this offseason. ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/podcast-fr...
Podcast: Friars down, Johnnies up, field announced
The Friars’ season is officially over after an underwhelming performance at the Big East Tournament.
ultimatecranston.substack.com
March 17, 2025 at 1:59 PM
I joined Richard Coren and Steve Hartnett on the 247ScoutFriars Podcast to put a bow on a disappointing Friars season. We also discussed the Big East Tournament, the NCAA Tournament field and what's next for the Friars this offseason. ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/podcast-fr...
Reposted by Ultimate Cranston
Here's my historical analysis of the 2025 NCAA Tournament field, one which is setting records for gaps between the haves and have-nots. A particularly dry Round of 64 if you like moonshots...but its contemporaries say to expect great S16/E8 matchups. open.substack.com/pub/statsbyw...
A historical analysis of the 2025 NCAA Tournament field
Hope you hate upsets
open.substack.com
March 17, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Here's my historical analysis of the 2025 NCAA Tournament field, one which is setting records for gaps between the haves and have-nots. A particularly dry Round of 64 if you like moonshots...but its contemporaries say to expect great S16/E8 matchups. open.substack.com/pub/statsbyw...
[Tongue in cheek] I'm now in favor of a theory that fabricating Abner Doubleday's role as the inventor of baseball was done as a massive middle finger toward the former Confederacy. (Below is an excerpt from Erik Larson's "The Demon of Unrest.")
January 6, 2025 at 6:06 PM
[Tongue in cheek] I'm now in favor of a theory that fabricating Abner Doubleday's role as the inventor of baseball was done as a massive middle finger toward the former Confederacy. (Below is an excerpt from Erik Larson's "The Demon of Unrest.")
I wasn't really in the best mood to talk Friars basketball last night, but it was therapeutic to work it through with the lovely
@mhopkins-pcbb1917.bsky.social and Brian Reddy. Listen on Spotify, Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Podbean and more: ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/providence...
@mhopkins-pcbb1917.bsky.social and Brian Reddy. Listen on Spotify, Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Podbean and more: ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/providence...
Providence Friarcast: Learning Growth Mindset and State of the Program
It was another 1-1 week for the Friars, and now they prepare to host St.
ultimatecranston.substack.com
December 18, 2024 at 3:18 PM
I wasn't really in the best mood to talk Friars basketball last night, but it was therapeutic to work it through with the lovely
@mhopkins-pcbb1917.bsky.social and Brian Reddy. Listen on Spotify, Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Podbean and more: ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/providence...
@mhopkins-pcbb1917.bsky.social and Brian Reddy. Listen on Spotify, Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Podbean and more: ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/providence...
Reposted by Ultimate Cranston
I caught the terrific baseball movie EEPHUS (coming out this spring) at the New York Film Festival and found out it was shot at Soldiers Field in Douglas, MA near my sister’s family.
Took my nephew there a few weeks back and let him use my film camera.
A great December day at the diamond:
Took my nephew there a few weeks back and let him use my film camera.
A great December day at the diamond:
December 17, 2024 at 3:44 PM
I caught the terrific baseball movie EEPHUS (coming out this spring) at the New York Film Festival and found out it was shot at Soldiers Field in Douglas, MA near my sister’s family.
Took my nephew there a few weeks back and let him use my film camera.
A great December day at the diamond:
Took my nephew there a few weeks back and let him use my film camera.
A great December day at the diamond:
Providence Friarcast streamed Monday night at 9p ET (our regular time now): @mhopkins-pcbb1917.bsky.social, Brian Reddy and I discussed a 1-1 week and previewed the week ahead, including PC's Big East opener. We also remembered a pretty great "some guy." ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/providence...
Providence Friarcast: It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times, 1-1 Week and Big East Play Begins
I spent some time with Mike Hopkins and Brian Reddy on Monday night to review the week that was and preview the week ahead (links to listen or watch below).
ultimatecranston.substack.com
December 10, 2024 at 4:50 PM
Providence Friarcast streamed Monday night at 9p ET (our regular time now): @mhopkins-pcbb1917.bsky.social, Brian Reddy and I discussed a 1-1 week and previewed the week ahead, including PC's Big East opener. We also remembered a pretty great "some guy." ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/providence...
If you missed it last night while reading my latest post: Juan Soto signed with the Mets.
If you missed my post while perfecting your Soto Shuffle (or perhaps sleeping), I consider what we can know about the Providence Friars as they start Big East play ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/what-can-w...
If you missed my post while perfecting your Soto Shuffle (or perhaps sleeping), I consider what we can know about the Providence Friars as they start Big East play ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/what-can-w...
December 9, 2024 at 2:50 PM
If you missed it last night while reading my latest post: Juan Soto signed with the Mets.
If you missed my post while perfecting your Soto Shuffle (or perhaps sleeping), I consider what we can know about the Providence Friars as they start Big East play ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/what-can-w...
If you missed my post while perfecting your Soto Shuffle (or perhaps sleeping), I consider what we can know about the Providence Friars as they start Big East play ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/what-can-w...
What can we be sure of in a season in need of salvaging?
I get both philosophical and practical as the 6-4 Friars get set to enter league play Tuesday night at DePaul. ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/what-can-w...
I get both philosophical and practical as the 6-4 Friars get set to enter league play Tuesday night at DePaul. ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/what-can-w...
What can we be sure of in a season in need of salvaging?
The first five weeks of the season have not gone the way Friartown would have hoped, but there is still time to make something of the next three months -- can this group make it happen?
ultimatecranston.substack.com
December 9, 2024 at 2:49 AM
What can we be sure of in a season in need of salvaging?
I get both philosophical and practical as the 6-4 Friars get set to enter league play Tuesday night at DePaul. ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/what-can-w...
I get both philosophical and practical as the 6-4 Friars get set to enter league play Tuesday night at DePaul. ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/what-can-w...
I don't know if this works as a medium (Substack Notes), but posted this note in light of Dan Hurley's reflectiveness in his postgame comments after UConn's win over Baylor, which came a day after Kim English got reflective after PC's win over BYU: substack.com/@ultimatecra...
December 5, 2024 at 2:22 PM
I don't know if this works as a medium (Substack Notes), but posted this note in light of Dan Hurley's reflectiveness in his postgame comments after UConn's win over Baylor, which came a day after Kim English got reflective after PC's win over BYU: substack.com/@ultimatecra...