Coming tomorrow at ultimatecranston.substack.com ...

[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.")

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...

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...

The night @samvecenie.bsky.social listed him #2 on his 2025 NBA Draft Big Board, Egor Demin vs. PC had season-low in points (6), made FGs (0), minutes (22), assists (2), tied low in blocks/steals (both 0). Remember their names: Cardet, Floyd, Bensley, even Christ got in there. Great scout.

Dedicate your commute home to the latest Providence Friarcast featuring @mhopkins-pcbb1917.bsky.social, Brian Reddy and yours truly. We have an Atlantis post-mortem, preview BYU (tonight) and URI (Saturday) and remember Bilal Dixon. ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/providence...

Demin has struggled some against better comp (Mississippi and NC State) in La Jolla last week. In particular, he had 5 turnovers and shot 5-for-13 vs. the Rebels. Comp set over last week or so (25%+ assists, 20%+ turnovers, 2%+ blocks).

And here's a Demin comp set -- 5 inches taller than all the other players with 30%+ assist rate, 2% block 2%+ and steals rates, and a better 3-point shooter than all of them (unexpected since he came to Provo with questions about his shot).

Fousseyni Traore is a 6-foot-6 center for BYU, and he's actually shorter than 6-9 point guard Egor Demin. He has a Norchad Omier-type game, dominant on both glasses, 70% shooting and some shot-blocking to boot.

Four weeks into the season, here are the Big East teams taking the adjusted offense and defense from @totally_t_bomb, averaging each performance this season (no preseason bias included for the teams below). #pcbb defense collapsed in the Bahamas.

I joined @mhopkins-pcbb1917.bsky.social and Brian Reddy to preview the Battle 4 Atlantis (PC vs. OU at 5p today), talk about some analytics BS, discuss early-season improvers and remember some guys, namely one guy from the mid-2000s. ultimatecranston.substack.com/p/providence...

This is a world that now exists. Roar, Lion, Roar.

I can't believe Getty is using AI to generate images of Pat Driscoll.

Have to think the obvious choice to be the next Georgetown president is sitting right there. Like, right there.

@bsky.app Can't get out of this state on my Profile or Following page after I just posted. Any ideas? Tried logging out and in.

There is a current (and former) Oregon assistant with Big East experience ripe (some may say "overripe") for Villanova to pluck. bsky.app/profile/bypa...

Perhaps Blue Sky is where I exclusively post about Southland Conference basketball. It'll be true until it's not. It's at least a geographically coherent league.

Ex-BYU assistant Kahil Fennell is off to a great start in his first season at UTRGV. KenPom ranking improvement of 108 spots (307 to 199), largest in nation. Tested Creighton and nearly knocked off Wisconsin. Playing fast, shooting 3's. Fennell went from DBO at Louisville to D1 head coach in 3 years