Sam Federman

Lower Saxony, Minneriya, Syracuse, White Plains

MAAC and NY Hoops Writer at Mid-Major Madness

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Articles

Saint Joseph’s just lost the Holy War forever because of the new Pope

1 week ago | midmajormadness.com | Sam Federman

I’m Jewish, from New York, and did not even attend a religious school past elementary. I should have no input on any of this. But even I was struck by how down bad Saint Joseph’s University must be right now. For some background and a little history lesson:There are hundreds of Judeo-Christian schools in America, all from different denominations. Some schools are evangelical, some schools are Lutheran, some schools are Baptist, some non-denominational. Most of those schools are in the south.
Syracuse Orange women’s basketball lands Texas transfer Laila Phelia

1 week ago | nunesmagician.com | Sam Federman

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images It’s never a good sign when the press release announcing transfers has to tell the fanbase explicitly to be excited about the players. A few weeks ago, that’s where Syracuse Orange women’s basketball was, having signed a few players that — while highly recruited — had not produced at a high level in college basketball.
These are the 3 best mid-major coaching hires in the 2025 cycle

1 week ago | midmajormadness.com | Sam Federman

Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images Forty-one mid-major Division I programs across 21 of the 26 mid-major leagues have a new head coach representing their school who are tasked with working on building up a roster for the 2025-26 season. This year’s hiring cycle featured a ton of different wrinkles. The new wave of hiring coaches off of NBA staffs has gotten lots of talk, and even two mid-major programs hired coaches with primarily NBA backgrounds.
Syracuse Orange men’s basketball: Scouting Oregon State transfer Nate Kingz

3 weeks ago | nunesmagician.com | Sam Federman

Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Syracuse Orange men’s basketball’s second transfer addition of the 2025-26 cycle was Oregon State wing Nate Kingz. Kingz is a sharpshooting, 6 foot 5 wing who played his first few years of college at levels below Division I. In 2024-25, he started all 31 games for the Beavers, averaging 11.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and shooting 44.6% from three on 4.2 attempts per game.
Syracuse Orange men’s basketball: Scouting UCLA transfer William Kyle III

1 month ago | nunesmagician.com | Sam Federman

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Syracuse Orange men’s basketball’s first transfer acquisition of the 2025-26 cycle was UCLA big man William Kyle. Kyle is a versatile threat at the five who can guard multiple positions and a major finisher at the rim. In his only season at UCLA after transferring from South Dakota State, he averaged just 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
Syracuse women’s basketball: Orange lands USC transfer Dominique Darius and Miami transfer Aurora Almon

1 month ago | nunesmagician.com | Sam Federman

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images With the transfer portal open for nearly three full weeks, the Syracuse Orange women’s basketball program had not made any movement in either direction. There hadn’t even been rumors thrown out there about what Felisha Legette-Jack was up to after her team finished year three 12-18. Then, on Sunday, the dam finally opened, and the Orange added its first commit of the 2025 transfer portal cycle.
Gator Boys Stayed Hot

1 month ago | bracketsbubblesandbidstealers.com | Sam Federman

By Sam FedermanThe great irony of Florida's national championship was that none of it would've happened had its former head coach jumped ship for a soft landing at the Gators' longtime rival. Mike White was tapped as the successor to Billy Donovan in 2015-16, and led Florida to four NCAA Tournaments and five 20-win seasons. Sure, he wasn't quite Billy, but he was still probably a year away from truly being on the hot seat. Then, he left, and the domino effect led to Monday night.
One sentence for every 2025 NCAA Tournament game

1 month ago | midmajormadness.com | Sam Federman

Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images The confetti has cleared from the court. One Shining Moment has been played, and the season is officially over. Here’s one sentence to encapsulate each of the 67 games from this year’s tournament. First FourThe Hail Mary never works, until it did for Alabama State’s Amarr Knox to defeat Saint Francis in the First Four.
Ranking the last 10 National Championship games

1 month ago | bracketsbubblesandbidstealers.com | Sam Federman

By Sam FedermanAs tonight's national championship game between Florida and Houston looms, with potential to be one of the all-time greats considering the quality of both teams, it's worth a look back at the last ten deciders, seeing how they stack up. The games are ranked on quality of game, quality of teams, the buildup and payoff of storylines surrounding the game, and how memorable the game itself was. 2016, Villanova 77, North Carolina 74This one is a no-brainer for the top spot.
Kevin Hovde brings the nerdball back to Columbia … once Florida’s season ends

1 month ago | midmajormadness.com | Sam Federman

Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images SAN ANTONIO — The day after Florida defeated UConn to advance to the Sweet 16, assistant coach Kevin Hovde jetted up to New York City for a preview of his new life. The week prior, he’d accepted the head coaching job at Columbia, replacing Jim Engles, but he’s not about to leave the Gators out to dry in search of a national championship.