Chris Dortch

Chris Dortch

Chris Dortch has been editor and publisher for Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook — considered the “bible” of college hoops — for the last 26 years. Before that, he covered college basketball for four newspapers. His work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, NBA.com, ESPN.com, The Athletic, Lindy’s, Athlon’s, the Washington Post, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and SECSports.com. Dortch has also taught sports writing and narrative non-fiction writing at East Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is a member of the East Tennessee State Communication Department Alumni Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame, and the United States Basketball Writers Association Hall of Fame.
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University of Texas head basketball coach Sean Miller on the sideline

Sean Miller Reloads, Has Texas Pointed in Right Direction

With a series of wins on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal, the Longhorns have surrounded Matas Vokietaitis with shooting and versatility

By Chris Dortch
Auburn coach Steve Pearl speaking with the media following his team's victory over Tulsa in the NIT championship game

Steve Pearl Is Going Big for Year Two at Auburn. Will It Work?

The Tigers didn’t make the NCAA Tournament but won the NIT championship. Pearl has his sights on bigger things in year two.

By Chris Dortch
Juke Harris at the 2026 ACC Tournament

“We’ve Got a System”: With Juke Harris on Board, Tennessee Is Finally Complete

Vols coach Rick Barnes proved patience is a virtue in landing portal prize Juke Harris. The star guard is the final piece of a new system for Tennessee.

By Chris Dortch
Nabbing VCU star Terrence Hill Jr. was the crowning achievement on a strong portal season for Tennessee

Tennessee Is Loading Up in the Transfer Portal. Again.

Following his philosophy of “production over retention,” Rick Barnes has landed several big-time transfers and has the Vols ready to contend

By Chris Dortch
Andrej Stojakovic of the Illinois Fighting Illini brings the ball up court

Illinois Headed to Sweet Sixteen as Andrej Stojakovic Stars in Win

The llini, a No. 3 seed, notched an easy 76-55 win over VCU. Stojakovic, a 6-foot-7, 215-pound junior, scored a game-high 21 points.

By Chris Dortch
Terrence Hill Jr. celebrating VCU's upset win over the Tar Heels in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament

VCU’s Terrence Hill Could Write His Own Life Story

Rams guard Terrence Hill Jr. lists writing as one of his interests. His heroics in March so far have given him plenty of material.

By Chris Dortch
Xavier Edmonds developed a work ethic at Salt Lake Community College and it's paying dividends at TCU

TCU’s Edmonds Goes from Junior College Star to NCAA Tournament Hero

Xavier Edmonds' last-second game-winner against Ohio State sends the ninth-seeded Horned Frogs into a matchup against top-seeded Duke

By Chris Dortch
Senior guard Justice Shoats was part of Siena's starting five, which played the entire game

‘Close Doesn’t Count’: Siena Saints Nearly Upset No. 1 Seed Duke

16th-seeded Saints wear down late as top-seeded Duke escapes with a 71-65 victory. Siena kept its starting five in for the full 40 minutes.

By Chris Dortch
Penn basketball player TJ Power

After Stops at Duke and Virginia, TJ Power Finds a Home at Penn

The sweet shooting 6-foot-9 junior has found a home, and Penn finds itself back in the NCAA Tournament, facing off against Illinois

By Chris Dortch
The First Four games tip off March 17th in Dayton, OH

Chris Dortch's Bracket

Hoops HQ's SEC correspondent makes his (unbiased) picks for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. This year, he isn't anticipating a Southeastern sweep.

By Chris Dortch
Darius Acuff Jr. of the Arkansas Razorbacks drives to the basket around Latrell Wrightsell Jr. of the Alabama Crimson Tide

Inside the SEC: Arkansas Freshman Closing in on a Unique Double-Double

Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas and Mississippi State's Josh Hubbard light up the scoreboard, while Florida closes in on a regular-season title

By Chris Dortch
Dailyn Swain leads Texas this season in points, rebounds, assists, steals and minutes

A Much-Improved Dailyn Swain Is Carrying Texas Into March

Swain followed Sean Miller from Xavier to Texas and is having an All-SEC caliber season. Will it be enough to send the Longhorns dancing?

By Chris Dortch
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