The EvanMiya College Basketball Show

In this episode, Evan Miyakawa is joined by ESPN's Jeff Borzello for a transfer portal-focused offseason episode, the final installment before preseason content begins. The two open by surveying the 2026 portal cycle — roughly 2,500 Division I transfers, with elite talent slightly thinner at the top than last year — and assess the three biggest names still weighing the NBA draft: Allen Graves (Santa Clara), Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor), and Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State). The centerpiece is a five-player transfer portal draft, with both analysts building teams of who they expect to perform best in 2026-27. Picks include Flory Bidunga (Kansas to Louisville), John Blackwell (Wisconsin to Duke), Acaden Lewis (Villanova to Miami), PJ Haggerty (to Texas A&M), Isaiah Johnson (Colorado to Texas), Massamba Diop (Gonzaga), Stefan Vaaks (Providence to Illinois), Somto Cyril (Miami), Leroy Blyden (Toledo to Kansas), and Mustafa Thiam (Michigan). They also discuss underrated fits and standout team-level portal classes, with Borzello highlighting Missouri and Evan making the case for Xavier. In the second segment, Evan unpacks his updated roster retention study from his blog, breaking down how Michigan won a title with just 34% returning minutes and why Florida, Illinois, Michigan State, and Virginia stand out as high-retention contenders — while Louisville represents the contrasting top-10 roster built almost entirely from new pieces.Chapters(00:00) Jeff Borzello (ESPN) joins the show!(02:24) Analyzing the 2026 portal cycle(05:35) Biggest portal names still available(12:48) Drafting our favorite portal additions(34:11) Other favorite portal fits(38:52) Missouri and Xavier portal classes(41:28) Analytics Corner: Roster retention studyConnect with the show:Visit EvanMiya.comFollow on Twitter/XSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on InstagramFull Show ArchivesMerch

The transfer portal is exploding—and so are NIL prices. In this episode, Evan Miyakawa breaks down a “Transfer Portal 101” guide to how teams are navigating the modern roster-building landscape, including why the NIL market is up 65% year-over-year and how that’s impacting decisions across college basketball. He dives into the economics of the portal, explaining why centers are being overpaid, why point guards may actually be the best value right now, and how supply and demand is reshaping roster construction. Evan also highlights key player archetypes to target (like sophomore breakout candidates) and ones to be cautious of (like high-volume scorers without well-rounded skill sets). If you want a clear, data-driven understanding of how teams are spending millions to build rosters in today’s game, this episode is for you.Chapters(00:00) Transfer Portal 101(01:56) NIL Market is up 65%(05:25) Front Office Suite tool for teams(11:26) Is the market sustainable?(14:09) Bigs are being overpaid(17:47) Where teams can find value in the portal(21:08) The Vandy and Nebraska model(22:32) Freshman to Sophomore leap(25:25) Teams are overvaluing volume scorersConnect with the show:Visit EvanMiya.comFollow on Twitter/XSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on InstagramFull Show ArchivesMerch

The Final Four is set, and it's one of the more loaded group of teams we’ve seen in years. In this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa is joined by Carter Elliott of Sleepers Media and former Michigan player Ant Wright to break down how Arizona, Michigan, UConn, and Illinois reached Indianapolis and preview the biggest matchups of the weekend. The show begins with one of the most unforgettable Elite Eight finishes in tournament history as UConn stunned Duke with Braylon Mullins’ last-second three, followed by a deep dive into Illinois’ impressive run behind freshman star Keaton Wagler. Later, Evan and Ant Wright analyze Michigan’s dominant tournament performance, the rise of Yaxel Lendeborg, and the heavyweight clash awaiting them against Arizona. Evan closes the show by examining the analytics behind both Final Four matchups and explains why the Michigan-Arizona game could ultimately decide the national championship.Chapters(00:00) Carter Elliott (Sleepers Media) joins!(01:46) UConn's improbable win over Duke(12:22) Duke blows a lead... again(18:21) Illinois is in the Final Four!(23:21) Iowa's magical run ends(26:51) UConn vs Illinois preview(34:10) Arizona's dominant run to a Final Four(41:47) Michigan is a juggernaut (with Ant Wright)(46:01) Arizona vs Michigan preview(55:42) Listener contest!Connect with the show:Visit EvanMiya.comFollow on Twitter/XSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on InstagramFull Show ArchivesMerch

In this special bonus episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa officially fills out his 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket and walks through every pick from the first round to the national championship. Before diving into the selections, Evan explains the statistical strategy behind how he builds his bracket each year, including avoiding narrative-driven picks, leveraging tournament probability simulations, identifying bracket value compared to public pick distributions, and applying his “10% rule” for realistic outcomes. Evan then goes region by region through the bracket, highlighting key upset opportunities, controversial value picks, and the teams he believes are most likely to make deep March Madness runs, ultimately revealing his Final Four and national champion.Yahoo pick distribution: https://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/mens-basketball-bracket/pickdistribution.Chapters(00:00) My bracket strategies(07:45) Picking the East region(11:28) Picking the West region(15:44) Picking the Midwest region(20:16) Picking the South region(25:20) Final Four picksConnect with the show:Visit EvanMiya.comFollow on Twitter/XSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on InstagramFull Show ArchivesMerch

With Selection Sunday just days away, this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show dives deep into the chaos of Championship Week and the rapidly evolving NCAA Tournament picture. Evan Miyakawa is joined by Seth Davis of Hoops HQ and CBS to break down the weekend’s biggest games, debate which teams are built for deep March runs, and analyze how this year’s unusually weak bubble could shape the field. Later in the show, legendary bracketologist Joe Lunardi joins to go full bracketology mode, discussing which teams are safely in, which programs are sweating out conference tournaments, and what the committee may prioritize as Selection Sunday approaches. Evan also reveals a mid-major Cinderella team he believes could cause real problems in the NCAA Tournament.Chapters(00:00) Seth Davis (Hoops HQ) joins the show!(04:56) Florida moves ahead of UConn for 1-seed(09:16) Wisconsin's dark horse potential?(12:19) Miami goes 31-0!(17:20) Louisville's tourney outlook(19:50) Teams to watch: UCLA + Ohio State(22:38) Mid-majors who could make noise(25:21) Weakest bubble we've ever seen?(32:31) A cinderella with HUGE upset potential(37:50) Joe Lunardi (ESPN) joins the show!(39:03) Auburn's resume(43:27) Miami OH vs Auburn(52:21) Cincinnati's resume(57:02) Texas, Missouri, and A&M(59:56) Indiana's resume(01:02:41) Virginia, Arkansas, Saint Mary's(01:12:06) Purdue's vexing tourney outlook(01:14:02) Duke's injuries + expectations(01:15:33) Michigan and Ohio State wins(01:16:48) My conference tourney predictionConnect with the show:Visit EvanMiya.comFollow on Twitter/XSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on InstagramFull Show ArchivesMerch

In this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa is joined by Jeff Goodman of Field of 68 and Will Warren of Basket Under Review to break down a loaded weekend of top-tier matchups, including Duke’s defensive win over Michigan, Arizona’s gritty road victory at Houston, UCLA’s overtime thriller against Illinois, and BYU’s statement win over Iowa State without Richie Saunders. The show dives into the evolving one-seed picture, Cameron Boozer’s historic season, concerns surrounding Darryn Peterson and Kansas, Tennessee’s rebounding dominance, Miami (OH)’s undefeated run, and early Final Four picks as March approaches. Evan closes with Analytics Corner, examining updated injury impacts for Texas Tech, BYU, and UNC, along with a fresh efficiency landscape snapshot identifying current title favorites and Final Four tiers.Chapters(00:00) Jeff Goodman (Field of 68) joins the show!(01:56) Duke takes down #1 Michigan(11:42) Arizona's Impressive Win Over Houston(18:59) Michigan, Duke, Arizona: Best team?(21:51) Kansas stunned by Cincy at home(28:33) Mock selection committee insights(36:17) Will Warren (Basket Under Review) joins the show!(37:51) UCLA buzzer beater vs Illinois(45:52) BYU gets a much needed W over Iowa State(51:15) Tennessee's big road win over Vandy(56:59) Picking our Final Four teams(01:02:35) Remembering Wes Rucker(01:08:17) UConn > Villanova(01:09:55) Virginia > Miami FL(01:10:42) St. Louis's comeback win vs VCU(01:12:02) Miami OH's unbeaten run, tournament outlook(01:15:53) Injury impact for BYU, Texas Tech, UNC(01:18:39) Efficiency landscape insights(01:24:43) EvanMiya Youtube Outro.mp4Connect with the show:Visit EvanMiya.comFollow on Twitter/XSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on InstagramFull Show ArchivesMerch

In this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa is joined by Rob Dauster of Field of 68 to break down a loaded weekend in college basketball, headlined by North Carolina’s dramatic rivalry win over Duke, Duke’s recent struggles closing games, and St. John’s statement victory over UConn at Madison Square Garden. Later, Evan is joined by Eamonn Brennan to analyze Michigan State’s win over Illinois, Jeremy Fears’ emergence as one of the most impactful players in the country, Houston’s dominance against BYU, Florida’s rise as a true SEC and national title contender, and the evolving NCAA Tournament bubble picture. The episode closes with Analytics Corner, examining which teams have been most affected by injuries this season and how health has shaped the national title race heading toward March Madness.Chapters(00:00) Rob Dauster (Field of 68) joins the show!(02:52) UNC Duke rivalry delivers again!(13:34) St. John's beats UConn in MSG(23:32) Kentucky sweeps Tennessee(30:59) Teams we are buying and selling(40:06) Eamonn Brennan (The Buzzer) joins the show!(41:33) Michigan State beats Illinois in OT(52:07) BYU losing continues vs Houston(58:17) Florida dominates Texas A&M(01:03:24) Miami Ohio's at-large scenarios(01:12:26) Bubble talk: M-West and Santa Clara(01:17:20) Teams impacted most by injuriesConnect with the show:Visit EvanMiya.comFollow on Twitter/XSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on InstagramFull Show ArchivesMerch

In this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa is joined by Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated to break down one of the wildest weekends of the college basketball season, headlined by Keaton Wagler's historic 46-point performance in Illinois’ road win at Purdue. The conversation spans Illinois’ national title ceiling, Purdue’s contender profile, Texas Tech’s statement win over Houston, Auburn’s road victory at Florida, and what those results mean for the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 races. Evan and Kevin also revisit preseason takes that have aged well or poorly, debate which teams to buy or sell going forward, and evaluate emerging contenders across the country. The episode closes with Evan’s Analytics Corner, highlighting the hottest teams, most productive players, and best lineups in college basketball, followed by a deep dive on Arkansas with Curtis Wilkerson of Inside Arkansas, breaking down the Razorbacks’ upside, defensive consistency, freshman star Darius Acuff, and realistic March expectations.Chapters(00:00) Intro(01:08) Kevin Sweeney (SI) joins the show!(02:02) Illinois beats Purdue, KEATON WAGLER(09:45) Texas Tech beats Houston(15:27) Auburn takes down Florida(19:21) UNC, Arkansas, Michigan State(21:37) Revisiting preseason takes(27:31) Buy/Sell for the rest of the season(32:34) Analytics Corner!(32:50) Hottest teams in the country(35:56) Ranking players with the most production(39:21) Big 12's best lineup belongs to Baylor(42:31) Arkansas Deep Dive w/ Curtis Wilkerson (Inside Arkansas)(01:06:49) Listener contest for free merch!Connect with the show:Visit EvanMiya.comFollow on Twitter/XSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on InstagramFull Show ArchivesMerch

Welcome to the debut episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show. Evan Miyakawa is joined by John Fanta (NBC / Peacock) to break down a pivotal week in college basketball, including Michigan’s shocking home loss to Wisconsin, Nebraska’s improbable 16–0 start, and how the national title picture is beginning to take shape. The conversation dives into true championship contenders, early one-seed predictions, and why experience and roster continuity matter more than ever in the portal era. Evan is also joined by Greg Waddell of Sleepers Media for an in-depth Michigan deep dive, analyzing the Wolverines’ defensive dominance, lineup construction, volatility, and outlook in a brutal Big Ten race. The episode wraps with Analytics Corner, featuring efficiency tiers, resume quality, opponent-strength adjustments, and the best five-man lineups in the country.Chapters:(00:00) Intro(02:00) John Fanta joins to talk Michigan, Nebraska, and title contenders(32:28) Team Deep Dive: Michigan Wolverines with Greg Waddell(58:00) Analytics Corner(58:16) Team Efficiency Tiers(01:02:37) Opponent Strength Adjust: Teams playing up or down to competition(01:06:23) Best Five-Man LineupsConnect with the show:Visit EvanMiya.comFollow on Twitter/XSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on InstagramFull Show ArchivesMerch