Jon Rothstein sits down with Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey to discuss his highly rated roster, Flory Bidunga's impact, the turn around at Louisville and plenty more.

(0:00) Intro + Pat Kelsey joins the show

(0:30) The vacation spot & family-work balance

(2:45) Why Pat can see himself doing this for a long time

(5:20) Louisville vs. Charleston and Winthrop

(7:00) 51-19 through two years at Louisville

(8:05) Louisville with and without Mikel Brown

(9:50) Coaching a brand new team every season in this climate

(11:30) Roster impressions (after a foreign tour)

(12:30) Flory Bidunga and the Louisville defense

(15:20) Importance of getting Adrian Wooley back

(17:00) Obinna Ekezie Jr.

(18:45) Non-conference schedule + potentially playing Rick Pitino’s St. John’s at the Players Era

(21:15) Biggest keys to a big season for Louisville

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We're also the home for Inside College Basketball Now, hosted by Jon Rothstein. Known for his unmatched insider knowledge, bold takes, and relentless coverage, Rothstein goes deep to deliver what’s really happening in college hoops. From breaking down the biggest storylines to in-depth interviews with the top coaches in the country, this podcast is your all-access pass to the pulse of the game — 365 days a year. This. Is. March… and everything in between.

Jon Rothstein sits down with Illinois head coach Brad Underwood for a wide-ranging conversation following the Fighting Illini’s run to the Final Four and a look ahead at what’s next for the program. Underwood reflects on whether reaching the Final Four has changed anything for him, the impact of Illinois’ early exit from the Big Ten Tournament and the biggest moments of its NCAA Tournament run, including the Sweet 16 win over Houston and the matchup with Iowa. He also reveals when he first realized his team was capable of making a Final Four run and what he learned from the experience. The conversation then turns to the upcoming season, as Underwood breaks down Illinois’ roster, the players poised to make the biggest jump, the program’s newcomers and how the Illini plan to move forward after Keaton Wagler. Plus, he discusses the schedule, the challenges of coaching in today’s college basketball landscape and what it will take for Illinois to make another deep March run.

Sean Miller joins Jon Rothstein to discuss all things Texas, including what he learned during the team's Sweet 16 run last season, what to expect from this year's squad and why Marcus Spears Jr. reminds him of Lauri Markkanen.

Additionally, they dive into Arizona's success in the Final Four last season, how important culture is in building a team and why he's a fan of a 76-team NCAA tournament.

0:00 Intro

0:07 How he would describe the year he spent between Arizona and Xavier

2:00 On continuing to have gratitude for the job and keeping perspective

4:36 How often he thinks about making the Final Four

5:48 How being head coach at Texas compares to Xavier and Arizona

8:12 What he learned during last season’s Sweet 16 run

10:43 On being a play away from the Elite Eight

12:41 What it was like to see Arizona make the Final Four

13:49 What Tommy Lloyd’s compliment meant to him and the importance of creating a winning environment

15:42 Initial impressions of the current roster

18:30 Does the lack of continuity in the Texas roster raise concerns

20:14 Which newcomers will have the biggest impact for Texas this season

21:37 Which player does Marcus Spears Jr. remind him of?

24:02 What makes an exhibition game with St. John’s so important

26:28 How a 76-team NCAA tournament will impact the SEC

30:08 Biggest keys for Texas to make the Elite Eight in 2026-27

Matt Painter joins Jon Rothstein on Inside College Basketball Now for an in-depth conversation about the Boilermakers, including whether or not he feels his team left anything on the table in the Elite Eight.

He also shares his thoughts on this season's roster, newcomers like Luke Ertel and where his readiness ranks among the great first-year players he's coached.

0:00 Intro

0:07 Matt Painter is a Wrigley Field staple

0:22 Is Chicago a default vacation destination for the Painter family?

1:05 What the last two decades have been like at Purdue for Matt Painter

2:10 On the loss to Arizona in the Elite Eight: ‘Simply outplayed us’

4:08 Does he feel more pressure in the Elite Eight

5:22 Did Purdue leave more on the table last season?

6:45 Thoughts on his current roster

8:39 Which players will make the biggest jump this year

9:42 Loss of Braden Smith leaves room for Omar Mayer, Luke Ertel to make an impact

10:30 Why Daniel Jacobsen will have a big year for the Boilermakers

12:05 Where Luke Ertel’s readiness ranks among other great first-year playmakers Painter has coached

14:02 On playing Gonzaga opening night

15:57 On navigating the chaos with NCAA athletics, eligibility rules

18:16 On always feeling like you need to have one more player

20:17 How Purdue has stayed vintage Purdue

21:33 What has to happen for Purdue to be vintage Purdue next March

Dan Hurley joins Jon Rothstein entering his ninth season at UConn to reflect on another run to the national championship game, including Braylon Mullins’ unforgettable buzzer-beater to knock off Duke in the Elite Eight. Hurley also reveals that the Huskies rewatched their title-game loss the very next morning.

Looking ahead, Hurley discusses Mullins’ return, the season-ending injury to Solo Ball, replacing Alex Karaban, UConn’s options at the five, the upcoming schedule, and the biggest keys to another championship chase.

(0:00) Hurley’s Vacation Spots

(2:30) 2026 NCAA Tournament

(13:00) Upcoming Season

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▶︎Jon Rothstein: https://x.com/JonRothstein

Jon Rothstein sits down with new North Carolina head coach Michael Malone on Inside College Basketball Now for a wide-ranging conversation about his path to Chapel Hill and the challenge of leading one of college basketball’s most storied programs.

Malone looks back on coaching at Providence in the 1990s, reflects on the whirlwind four months that led him to UNC, and discusses what it means to take over the Tar Heels despite coming from outside the Carolina family. He also details his relationship with legendary UNC coach Roy Williams and explains why he initially turned down the job three different times.

Plus, Malone breaks down the differences between talent in the NBA and college basketball, shares his approach to balancing the transfer portal with high school recruiting, previews North Carolina’s 2026-27 roster, and lays out his expectations for Year 1 in Chapel Hill.

Jon Rothstein sits down with Kansas head coach Bill Self for a wide-ranging conversation about basketball, family, his future in coaching and the state of the Jayhawks heading into the 2026-27 season. Self opens up about balancing the demands of modern college basketball with family life and becoming a grandfather before reflecting on Kansas’ 2025-26 season, including the challenges of playing with and without Darryn Peterson and the Jayhawks’ NCAA Tournament loss to St. John’s. Self also discusses the health concerns that made him wonder whether doctors would tell him it was time to retire, why he ultimately decided to return to the sideline and what continues to motivate him at this stage of his Hall of Fame career. Plus, Self breaks down what Kansas needs to do to get back among college basketball’s elite, the makeup of this year’s Jayhawks, the addition of No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes, the latest on the Kansas-Missouri rivalry and what he expects from another loaded Big 12.

Jon Rothstein sits down with UCLA head coach Mick Cronin ahead of the 2026-27 season. Mick breaks down his approach to retaining players, the additions he made in the offseason, Nikola Kusturica and plenty more.

(0:00) Intro + Mick Cronin joins the show

(0:30) Vacation spots, children in college & living in LA

(4:50) Coaching a below-average Mick Cronin defense last year

(8:00) How will Mick look back at last season after losing Tyler Bilodeau before the tournament?

(10:05) Helping Tyler through his injury at the end of his career

(12:00) Why is Mick so good at retention?

(17:00) Putting together a great team this season

(24:00) Does this year’s team remind Mick of early UCLA or Cincinnati teams?

(27:00) Which returner makes the biggest jump?

(29:00) The importance of retention + adding talent

(33:30) Nikola Kusturica expectations

(38:00) Giving specific goals to players

(42:45) Biggest keys to being a great team in 2026-27

🎥 WATCH

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🎧 LISTEN

• Stream and follow Inside College Basketball Now with Jon Rothstein & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t03SRmmslKzdQ5AtGlXiM?si=9443b63851324a18

• Download and follow Inside College Basketball Now & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-college-basketball-now/id1823022867

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▶︎Jon Rothstein: https://x.com/JonRothstein

📖 READ

• More college basketball news: https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/

🛍️SUPPORT

• Shop our merch: https://www.paramountshop.com/collections/eye-on-college-basketball

🎙ABOUT INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW

We're also the home for Inside College Basketball Now, hosted by Jon Rothstein. Known for his unmatched insider knowledge, bold takes, and relentless coverage, Rothstein goes deep to deliver what’s really happening in college hoops. From breaking down the biggest storylines to in-depth interviews with the top coaches in the country, this podcast is your all-access pass to the pulse of the game — 365 days a year. This. Is. March… and everything in between.