SI
Kevin Sweeney

Kevin Sweeney

Joined: Jan 1, 2021

Kevin Sweeney is a staff writer at Sports Illustrated covering college basketball and the NBA draft. He joined the SI staff in July 2021 and also serves host and analyst for The Field of 68. Sweeney is a Naismith Trophy voter and ia member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Auburn Tigers forward Chris Moore celebrates after beating the Houston Cougars.
College Basketball

Auburn Off to Impressive Men’s Basketball Start With Loaded Nonconference Schedule Ahead

The Tigers knocked off Houston to claim the top spot in KenPom, and elsewhere around the country, North Florida is 3–0 with two high-major wins.

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The Jayhawks held off a furious second-half comeback from the Tar Heels to notch a high-profile early-season win.
College Basketball

Kansas-UNC Showdown Was Everything Early-Season College Basketball Should Be

The Jayhawks held off a furious second-half rally from the Tar Heels to legitimize their preseason No. 1 ranking, but both teams delivered a spectacle for fans.

Kevin Sweeney, Kevin Sweeney
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Kansas Jayhawks guard Zeke Mayo watches his three-point attempt during an exhibition game against Washburn.
College Basketball

Men’s College Basketball: Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios for AP Preseason Top 25

A projection of how each top team could fare if everything goes right or if things go horribly wrong in the 2024–25 season.

Kevin Sweeney
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Demin’s choice to come to BYU could be a watershed moment.
College Basketball

Foreign Takeover: More Elite NBA Draft Prospects Choosing College Basketball

Thanks to NIL, top young men’s basketball players are leaving their European pro teams and coming to America to play in the NCAA.

Kevin Sweeney
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Indiana is 63–40 under Mike Woodson, who missed the NCAA tournament in his third season in 2024.
College Basketball

Nine Men’s College Basketball Coaches Hoping to Avoid Hot Seat in 2024–25

The coaching carousel from the spring is still spinning right before the new season begins.

Kevin Sweeney
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Tigers forward Caden Pierce returned to Princeton this season to follow up his conference player of the year honor.
College Basketball

Princeton Men’s Basketball Bucks Trend By Retaining Its Top Two Players

Of the 22 conference players of the year from one-bid leagues a year ago, just one returned to the same school this season: the Tigers’ Caden Pierce.

Kevin Sweeney
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Dylan Harper, left, and Ace Bailey are bringing a lot of attention to Rutgers in what is likely their lone college basketball season.
College Basketball

How Rutgers Became an Unexpected Landing Spot for Two Top Men’s Basketball Recruits

Five-star freshmen, and projected top NBA draft prospects, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey will make the Scarlet Knights a must-see this season for fans and scouts.

Kevin Sweeney
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Alabama’s Mark Sears leads the top-ranked team; John Calipari’s move to Arkansas was the biggest coaching hire of the offseason; and Mississippi Valley State and Donovan Sanders hope to win more than one game this season.
College Basketball

Sports Illustrated’s Complete Men’s College Basketball Rankings, From No. 1 Alabama to No. 364 Miss. Valley State

The annual preseason list predicts where every program across the country in the 2024–25 season will finish with insights and analysis.

Kevin Sweeney
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South Florida head men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died Thursday at age 43.
College Basketball

Amir Abdur-Rahim, South Florida Men’s Basketball Coach, Dies at 43

Kevin Sweeney
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UConn guard Solomon Ball is primed for a breakout season with the two-time defending national champions.
College Basketball

10 Men’s College Basketball Breakout Candidates for 2024–25 Season

Kevin Sweeney
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North Carolina Tar Heels guard RJ Davis is projected to be one of the top college basketball players this season.
College Basketball

Sports Illustrated’s 2024–25 Men’s College Basketball Preseason All-American List

Kevin Sweeney
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Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg is projected to be a top pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
NBA

2025 NBA Draft: Ranking the Top 10 Prospects Ahead of 2024–25 Season

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