Eye On College Basketball Podcast

🎉 Our BIG 2025 Year-in-Review! Parrish + Norlander Reveal Their Top 10 Stories of the Year in College Basketball

Date: December 29, 2025
Hosts: Gary Parrish (GP) & Matt Norlander
Podcast: CBS Sports Eye On College Basketball

Episode Overview

In this special year-end episode, Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander revisit and rank their Top 10 college basketball stories of 2025. Each creates a personal list, covering the year’s major headlines—from on-court triumphs and historic firsts to off-court controversies and evolving landscapes in NIL, recruiting, and the NCAA Tournament. Expect insightful debate, nostalgia, humor, and sharp college hoops analysis that makes Eye On College Basketball a listener favorite.

Main Discussion: Top 10 College Basketball Stories of 2025

[02:26] – Episode Kickoff & Rules

• Norlander and Parrish greet listeners, swap Christmas stories, and remind the audience: their Top 10 lists are independently created and not shared with each other ahead of time.
• Norlander: “It is my vow...this podcast will not go more than an hour 45. The last one. We very much intend to make this at least somewhat shorter than that one.” [08:20]
• GP: “Let’s get going so I can spend time with my family.” [10:19]

#10 Stories [11:10]

Norlander’s #10:
February 1st: Chaos Day—Historic Upsets Everywhere

• 11 ranked teams lost, 10 to lower/unranked opponents (most ever in one day).
• Five top-15 teams lost at home (also a record).
• Notably: “Luca for AD” blockbuster NBA trade broke during the college hoop mayhem.
• Upsets included:
  • Tennessee routing Florida by 20
  • Texas Tech snapping Houston's 33-game home streak
  • Sub-.500 Kansas State wins at #3 Iowa State by 19 (largest ever for such matchup)
  • Arkansas beats Kentucky at Rupp, changing the Razorbacks’ season trajectory
  • More: Duke over UNC, K-State over Iowa State, and a record day for losses by bluebloods
• Norlander: “February 1st, top 10 chaos day in the past 10, 15, 20 years. That’s number 10 on my list.” [15:56]
• GP: “Definitely not on my list. I don’t even think like that.” [16:16]

Parrish’s #10:
Daryn Peterson's Start at Kansas Marred by Injury & Family Decisions

• KU star freshman, hyped as perhaps the nation’s best, missed 9 of 13 games.
• Debates swirl about Peterson’s readiness/rest, with his family involved in choices.
• GP: “I do hope...we see him play next weekend in KU’s Big 12 opener and then never miss another game again.” [18:43]

#9 Stories [19:26]

Norlander’s #9:
Players Era Non-Conference Event Changes the Calendar and Dollars

• Players Era pays out $20M+, hosts a record 18 teams, and becomes a November force.
• Big 12 secures major future involvement.
• Major shakeup for non-league scheduling and Maui Invitational's future.
• Norlander: “Frankly, Players Era probably will make this list...again one of the bigger stories." [21:00]

Parrish’s #9:
Maui Invitational Fading as Players Era Rises

• Former Thanksgiving classic now weakly attended by top teams; future uncertain.
• GP: “My fear is that we’re losing something that was special to the sport and special for the people..." [22:05]

#8 Stories [23:20]

Norlander’s #8:
Best Freshman Class—"The Year Freshmen Mattered Again"

• Class headlined by Boozer, DeBansa, Caleb Wilson, and Kingston Flemings praised as maybe the best ever.
• Norlander: “It really could be the best freshman class we’ve seen ever, or one of the two or three best ever at this point, and it has uplifted the watchability of the sport.” [25:03]

Parrish’s #8:
Gambling Scandals Sideline Players & Threaten Integrity

• Ongoing, frequent headlines—Arizona State, New Orleans, others.
• GP: “Bringing gambling as mainstream as it now is is going to lead to these headlines being fairly common, I’m afraid.” [27:01]

#7 Stories [30:38]

Norlander’s #7:
Willard & Miller Coaching Dramas: Villanova & Texas Shakeups

• Kevin Willard leaves Maryland for Villanova, openly pines for Philly return, draws ire by dragging out process.
• Sean Miller leaves Xavier for Texas, burning bridges.
• Norlander: “Willard was openly discussing [leaving], and as I said on the show then...he made enemies out of Maryland fans forever.” [31:00]
• GP: “He must have regrets.” [32:56]

Parrish’s #7:
AJ DeBansa’s Groundbreaking NIL Move to BYU

• Top-5 national recruit from New England spurns bluebloods, enrolls at BYU for reported unprecedented NIL deal.
• GP: “Is AJ DeBansa the biggest example of NIL can take an elite prospect anywhere?” [35:36]
• Norlander: “Just seeing someone as good as him how just him on the floor, it’s like, huh, Jimmer for that doesn’t even compare.” [38:43]
• GP: “Money well spent. I’d double the wage right now if I needed to.” [39:37]

#6 Stories [39:42]

Norlander’s #6:
Dan Hurley: “Two Rings, Baldy”—UConn Coach Stays in the Headlines

• Multiple viral moments (ex: “Two rings, baldy!” to a Creighton fan).
• Book release, admits to “a shit year. I didn’t coach my best. I didn’t lead my best.” [43:09]
• Rumors of stepping away, but returns—and keeps UConn relevant and unpredictable.
• Norlander: “He is the face of the sport with what UConn has been able to do and with the headlines he’s been able to produce.” [43:49]

Parrish’s #6:
St. John’s: Big East Titles, Offseason Drama, Highs and Hangovers

• St. John’s wins first outright Big East title since 1985, then crashes in NCAAs and stumbles early in new season.
• GP: “Everything St. John’s is a big story in the year 2025.” [48:05]

#5 Stories [48:05]

Norlander’s #5:
No True Cinderellas in 2025 NCAA Tournament

• No mid-major in Sweet 16 for (almost) the first time ever; all Sweet 16 are "power conference" teams.
• Only double-digit seed: #10 Arkansas under John Calipari.
• Norlander: “Statistically, the 2025 NCAA Tournament had the fewest upsets of any March Madness ever…” [50:02]
• GP: “When John Calipari is your Cinderella, you’ve lost something.” [51:13]

Parrish’s #5:
Former NBA Draft Pick James Nnaji Cleared to Play College Ball

• Nnaji, drafted, played pro, then ruled eligible at Baylor—the doors now wide open for similar future cases.
• GP: “There is not a single person on the planet right now who can tell you...who is eligible and who’s not...The NCAA is consistently telling us that they’re adjusting on the fly.” [58:20]

#4 Stories [58:47]

Norlander’s #4:
Cooper Flagg vs. Johni Broome: An All-Time National Player of the Year Race

• Flagg (Duke) and Broome (Auburn) with extraordinary stats, trade leader status all season.
• Norlander: “One of the best national player of the year races of the past 30 or 40 years.” [58:47]

Parrish’s #4:
Cooper Flagg: Youngest Wooden Award Winner Ever

• The presence of elite talent still pays off, even in the experienced-transfers era.
• “Even in the transfer portal era, where older teams tend to do better...elite talent is still elite talent, whatever the age.” [62:52]

#3 Stories [64:12]

Parrish’s #3:
SEC’s Unprecedented Dominance: 14 Teams in the NCAA Tournament

• All but two SEC programs (LSU, South Carolina) make the dance.
• SEC sets records: 14 bids, 8 in Round of 32, 7 Sweet 16, 4 Elite Eight, 2 Final Four, Florida wins the title.
• GP: “It didn’t just put a record number of teams in the tournament. Once they got there, they performed well.” [65:28]

Norlander’s #3:
Portal Money & The “House” Settlement Redefine Recruiting Chaos

• $10M+ rosters become the norm for ~20 teams.
• Questions about collectives, cap, legal limits, fairness, and the future.
• Norlander: “The gears and levers that maneuver the sport are in many ways working against each other... this is my number three story.” [67:56]

#2 Stories [69:08]

Parrish’s #2:
The Death of Mid-Major Cinderella—No Power Conference Teams in Sweet 16

• See #5 for details; noted as symbolic of a likely trend.
• “Cinderella’s non-existent...I think that’s going to be more common than it’s ever been.” [51:13]

Norlander’s #2:
Duke’s Epic Season + Cooper Flagg’s Collapse in Final Four vs. Houston

• Flagg, Knueppel, and loaded Duke dominate most of the year before an all-time Final Four collapse to Houston (squander 14-point lead, offensive heat check, Houston rallies).
• Norlander: “The most efficient offense in the history of KenPom scored one field goal in the final 10 minutes and 30 seconds.” [70:09]

#1 Stories [71:29]

Norlander’s #1:
Florida’s National Title Crowns SEC as Greatest Conference Ever

• Florida wins third title, led by Walter Clayton (Final Four MOP, clear #3 player nationally).
• SEC sets all-time record for NCAA Tournament wins (23), KenPom rating, and 14 bids.
• “Florida’s national title cements the SEC having the best season in college basketball history.” [71:29]
• “Florida does it by overcoming Houston down 12 in the second half to the Cougars. They never led by more than two in the entire game. The Gators up their position... getting that third national championship, doing it the way you did, getting another Final Four ... a really, really strong run.” [74:08]

Parrish’s #1:
Todd Golden's Stunning Arc: Title IX Investigation to National Champion

• Golden survived a Title IX investigation (allegations of harassment, stalking)—facing the prospect of losing his job, then coaching Florida to the title amidst heavy scrutiny and pressure.
• GP: “That is an all-time flip script, buddy. I mean, that’s an all-timer.” [73:46]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the NIL Era's Influence:
  “Is AJ DeBansa the biggest example of NIL can take an elite prospect anywhere?” – Gary Parrish [35:36]
• On SEC’s rise:
  “Florida’s national title cements the SEC having the best season in college basketball history. There’s no argument.” – Matt Norlander [71:31]
• On Gambling’s impact:
  “Bringing gambling as mainstream as it now is, is going to lead to these headlines being fairly common, I’m afraid.” – Gary Parrish [27:01]
• On Dan Hurley’s persona:
  “Two rings, baldy.” [40:36]—creighton fan moment
  “It was all my doing. I’m not a victim... I did it throughout the year.” – Dan Hurley (quoted by Norlander) [43:09]
• On the unpredictability of eligibility rules:
  “There’s not a single person on the planet right now who can tell you with any sort of degree of certainty who is eligible and who’s not... The NCAA is consistently telling us that they’re adjusting on the fly.” – GP [58:20]
• On the competitive landscape:
  “When John Calipari is your Cinderella, you’ve lost something.” – GP [51:13]

Fun Housekeeping / Listener Engagement [76:55]

• Favorite running jokes from the year (St. John’s preseason #1 flameout; Norlander hitting wrong soundboard buttons)
• Podcast countries: Heard in 189 countries in 2025, including one download each from exotic locales (Lichtenstein, Vanuatu, Marshall Islands).
• Trivia: Top non-US countries for podcast downloads – Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, Singapore [83:40]
• On AI & misinformation: “It’s becoming increasingly difficult to tell fact from fiction...I feel like this is gonna get bad.” – GP [81:26]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 02:26 – Banter, holiday recaps, show format
• 11:10 – Beginning of Top 10 lists
• 21:20 – Feast week/Players Era discussion
• 25:22 – Best freshman class in history
• 27:01 – Ongoing gambling headlines
• 35:36 – Impact of NIL on recruiting/deBansa to BYU
• 39:42 – Dan Hurley’s year of controversies
• 48:05 – St. John’s highs/lows, tournament Cinderella narrative
• 58:20 – NBA Draftee eligibility chaos (James Nnaji)
• 62:52 – Cooper Flagg and NPOY race
• 64:12 – Portal $/House settlement chaos
• 65:28 – SEC’s historic 2025, Florida title
• 70:09 – Duke’s epic collapse in Final Four
• 73:46 – Todd Golden’s tumult, Florida’s title
• 76:55 – Listener moments, trivia, wrap-ups

Summary

This episode delivers a comprehensive, entertaining, and enlightening look back at the wild, unpredictable, and impactful year that was 2025 in college basketball. Parrish and Norlander’s lists examine not only what happened on the floor—legendary seasons, epic collapses, and the slow extinction of Cinderella—but also what’s shaking the foundation of college hoops: the transfer portal, NIL, gambling scandals, and eligibility conundrums. Through playful ribbing, memorable soundbites, and sharp insight, they offer a must-listen wrap of the year—all in their signature tone that blends deep reporting with diehard fan enthusiasm.

If you missed 2025, or just want a refresher, this episode puts a bow on college basketball’s biggest developments—while leaving you laughing and eagerly awaiting what 2026 will bring.