

Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast
Chris Dortch
The Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcasts discuss all things college hoops. Hosts Chris Dortch and Kevin Ingram welcome guests from around the country in national podcasts and conference-only podcasts. blueribbon.substack.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 15, 2025 • 46min
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, Ep. 152: NCAA expansion shelved for now; schools search for increased revenue; a venerable league expands; and Kevin shows his versatility.
In the newest episode of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, hosts Chris Dortch—editor and publisher of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook—and Kevin Ingram—the radio voice of Vanderbilt men’s basketball—discuss a variety of college basketball (and other) topics:• The NCAA has decided against expanding the NCAA Tournament field—for now. Good news, but expansion appears inevitable.• Shoe deals, raising season-ticket prices, and booting media out of primo seating locations as schools hustle to increase revenue in the NIL era.• Kevin, who broadcast the first-ever event on the SEC Network, talks about the differences between calling soccer and basketball.• Blue Ribbon’s “soft opening” is up and running. Pre-order the 45th edition of the college basketball “bible” at blueribbonyearbook.com.All Blue Ribbon college basketball podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.You can also listen in your email client or click on the “Listen In Podcast App” link above to listen in your podcast player of choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blueribbon.substack.com

Aug 1, 2025 • 46min
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, Ep. 151: What it’s like being embedded with a mid-major team when it bags an upset in the NCAA Tournament.
In the newest episode of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, hosts Chris Dortch—editor and publisher of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook—and Kevin Ingram—the radio voice of Vanderbilt men’s basketball—discuss a variety of college basketball (and other) topics:• Former Division I assistant coach and current podcast host Richmond Weaver tells Chris and Kevin about his five-part documentary on the incredible journey Furman’s basketball team took through two cycles of March Madness.• Blue Ribbon’s “soft opening” is up and running. Pre-order the 45th edition of the college basketball “bible” at blueribbonyearbook.com.• How different coaches are managing their rosters in the portal/NIL era.• Kansas coach Bill Self undergoes heart procedure.• Monstrous Florida big man Olivier Rioux gives football a try, wisely sticks to hoops.All Blue Ribbon college basketball podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.You can also listen in your email client or click on the “Listen In Podcast App” link above to listen in your podcast player of choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blueribbon.substack.com

Jul 10, 2025 • 41min
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, Ep. 150: NCAA Tournament expansion, policing the NIL boom, conference shifting, and a loaded Player’s Era field
In the newest episode of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, hosts Chris Dortch—editor and publisher of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook—and Kevin Ingram—the radio voice of Vanderbilt men’s basketball—discuss a variety of college basketball (and other) topics:• NCAA Tournament expansion seems inevitable. We’ll probably know for sure this week.• Good luck to Bryan Seeley, the Ivy League-educated former federal prosecutor charged with vetting NIL deals.• The Pac-12 is back from the dead, but would Bill Walton have approved? We think not.• EA Sports is set to bring back its popular March Madness game that Chris, and Blue Ribbon, were a part of back in the day.All Blue Ribbon college basketball podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.You can also listen in your email client or click on the “Listen In Podcast App” link above to listen in your podcast player of choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blueribbon.substack.com

Jun 17, 2025 • 41min
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, Ep. 149: Discussing NCAA rules changes, the aftermath of the historic House settlement, a special game for Dickie V and the passing of two musical giants
In the newest episode of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, hosts Chris Dortch—editor and publisher of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook—and Kevin Ingram—the radio voice of Vanderbilt men’s basketball—discuss a variety of college basketball (and other) topics:• Is this what athletes really wanted? A cap on potential NIL earnings? The boys discuss.• Hooray for the NCAA’s men’s basketball rules committee, which has made changes to speed the games along.• Awesome baby! ESPN icon Dick Vitale finally gets an event named in his honor.• Paying tribute to two giants of 20th-century popular music—Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone—after both passed away last week.All Blue Ribbon college basketball podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.You can also listen in your email client or click on the “Listen In Podcast App” link above to listen in your podcast player of choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blueribbon.substack.com

Jun 5, 2025 • 39min
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, Ep. 148: College hoops benefits from NBA Draft exits, and good international players are flocking to college ball. Thank NIL.
In the newest episode of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, hosts Chris Dortch—editor and publisher of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook—and Kevin Ingram—the radio voice of Vanderbilt men’s basketball—discuss a variety of college basketball (and other) topics:• College basketball was a big winner—especially the juggernaut SEC—when several players withdrew from the NBA Draft.• Watch for the influx of talented international players in college hoops in 2025-26.• Kevin and Chris discuss suing for more years of college eligibility. Our consensus: Don’t open Pandora’s Box.• There are just some things gentlemen of a certain age should refrain from attempting. Kevin explains.All Blue Ribbon college basketball podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.You can also listen in your email client or click on the “Listen In Podcast App” link above to listen in your podcast player of choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blueribbon.substack.com

May 15, 2025 • 42min
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, Ep. 147: Big winners in the portal and NBA Draft combine; two-way contracts in college hoops; proposed rule changes and more!
In the newest episode of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, hosts Chris Dortch—editor and publisher of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook—and Kevin Ingram—the radio voice of Vanderbilt men’s basketball—discuss a variety of college basketball (and other) topics:• Portal winners—not determined by us but by analytics guru Evan Miyakawa, whose work Chris is starting to admire more and more.• An enterprising mid-major coach tosses out an idea based on a standard NBA practice.• The NCAA rules committee is considering a proposal to reduce those absurdly long delays caused by officials going to the monitor. As a broadcaster, Kevin gives a hearty thumbs up. Chris is down for it, too.• In praise of Andor in our final spoiler-filled recap, plus Mary Chapin Carpenter and Wilco in our fastest-growing segment, “What We’re Listening To.”All Blue Ribbon college basketball podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.You can also listen in your email client or click on the “Listen In Podcast App” link above to listen in your podcast player of choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blueribbon.substack.com

Apr 24, 2025 • 41min
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, Ep. 146: Portal prices, coaching domino effects, and a radical new rule change suggestion for college athletics.
In the newest episode of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, hosts Chris Dortch—editor and publisher of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook—and Kevin Ingram—the radio voice of Vanderbilt men’s basketball—discuss a variety of college basketball (and other) topics:• Portal prices are skyrocketing. Even bench players are moving to much greener (think moolah) pastures.• The amazing coaching domino effect that began at two-time national champion Villanova and wound all the way down to Trevecca, a Division II school in Nashville.• We go off topic to football, and then come back around to hoops and ask why the NCAA doesn’t allow trading players?• What we’re listening to runs the gamut from heavy metal to bluegrass to Tom Petty and Don Henley.All Blue Ribbon college basketball podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.You can also listen in your email client or click on the “Listen In Podcast App” link above to listen in your podcast player of choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blueribbon.substack.com

Apr 8, 2025 • 32min
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, Ep. 145: The Gators win an epic NCAA title game; more coaching and portal moves; and Chris’s former employer wins the NIT!
In the newest episode of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, hosts Chris Dortch—editor and publisher of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook—and Kevin Ingram—the radio voice of Vanderbilt men’s basketball—discuss a variety of college basketball (and other) topics:• Florida took the toughest route in history to win the natty, but got the job done in a stellar title-game match-up with Houston.• Texas A&M’s new coach is not to be confused with Buc-ees (yeah, yeah, we know about the brisket). It’s Bucky McMillan, and he brings Bucky Ball with him from Samford.• The portal is still operating in high gear as teams look to restock and players try to relocate.• Chris taught sports writing at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for several years, so of course he was fired up to see the Mocs, under most excellent coach Dan Earl, win the NIT at Butler’s historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.All Blue Ribbon college basketball podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.You can also listen in your email client or click on the “Listen In Podcast App” link above to listen in your podcast player of choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blueribbon.substack.com

Apr 3, 2025 • 41min
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, Ep. 144: Breaking down the Final Four; more coaching changes; portal movement; and Chris’s adventures on the road to the Final Four.
In the newest episode of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, hosts Chris Dortch—editor and publisher of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook—and Kevin Ingram—the radio voice of Vanderbilt men’s basketball—discuss a variety of college basketball (and other) topics:• Breaking down an elite Final Four.• Villanova and Maryland hire new coaches and other schools are still looking.• Some big names hit the portal. Some coaches love the process of portaling; others don’t.• Chris spent the month of March on the road and tells some tales from his travels.All Blue Ribbon college basketball podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.You can also listen in your email client or click on the “Listen In Podcast App” link above to listen in your podcast player of choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blueribbon.substack.com

Mar 25, 2025 • 34min
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, Ep. 143: Talking Sweet 16, coaching changes, the portal opening, and our adventures at the Big Dance.
In the newest episode of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, hosts Chris Dortch—editor and publisher of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook—and Kevin Ingram—the radio voice of Vanderbilt men’s basketball—discuss a variety of college basketball (and other) topics:• The Sweet 16, just like the NCAA Tournament itself, is SEC-heavy (seven teams!) We discuss some key match-ups.• For some coaches, the end of the line in the NCAA Tournament means a new beginning at other schools. The carousel is on full-tilt boogie right now.• As if there isn’t enough going on, the NCAA Transfer Portal opened on Monday. Already nearly 1,100 players have hit the portal eject button.• Kevin and Chris trade war stories from the road to San Antonio.All Blue Ribbon college basketball podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.You can also listen in your email client or click on the “Listen In Podcast App” link above to listen in your podcast player of choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blueribbon.substack.com