The EvanMiya College Basketball Show

Transfer Portal 101: NIL Market Trends + Roster Strategies

Evan Miyakawa — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400

The transfer portal is exploding—and so are NIL prices. In this episode, Evan Miyakawa breaks down a “Transfer Portal 101” guide to how teams are navigating the modern roster-building landscape, including why the NIL market is up 65% year-over-year and how that’s impacting decisions across college basketball. He dives into the economics of the portal, explaining why centers are being overpaid, why point guards may actually be the best value right now, and how supply and demand is reshaping roster construction. Evan also highlights key player archetypes to target (like sophomore breakout candidates) and ones to be cautious of (like high-volume scorers without well-rounded skill sets). If you want a clear, data-driven understanding of how teams are spending millions to build rosters in today’s game, this episode is for you.

Chapters

(00:00) Transfer Portal 101
(01:56) NIL Market is up 65%
(05:25) Front Office Suite tool for teams
(11:26) Is the market sustainable?
(14:09) Bigs are being overpaid
(17:47) Where teams can find value in the portal
(21:08) The Vandy and Nebraska model
(22:32) Freshman to Sophomore leap
(25:25) Teams are overvaluing volume scorers

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Michigan Beats Dan Hurley, Demolishes Arizona To Get Title + More With Eric Fawcett

Evan Miyakawa — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Michigan is your 2026 national champion, and in this season finale of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa is joined by analyst Eric Fawcett to break down how the Wolverines captured the title and what made their roster construction so dominant. The episode dives into Michigan’s 69–63 championship win over UConn, the tactical battle between Dusty May and Dan Hurley, and the defensive switching scheme that helped shut down UConn’s offense. Evan and Eric also revisit Michigan’s semifinal blowout of Arizona, discuss Terris Reed’s incredible tournament run for UConn, and examine how players like Elliot Cadeau and Yaxel Lendeborg powered Michigan to the title. The show wraps up with a look at the future of roster building in college basketball, including NIL economics, the transfer portal market, and why elite big men are becoming the most valuable commodity in the sport.

Chapters

(00:00) Eric Fawcett joins the show!
(01:34) Michigan wins the national title
(10:54) Xs and Os title game battle
(17:15) Standouts: Cadeau and Yaxel
(25:51) MIchigan dominates Arizona
(33:41) UConn beats Illinois in semis
(41:21) How rosters will be built this offseason
(56:59) Recapping bracket performance
(59:15) The Front Office Suite tool at EvanMiya.com
(01:02:54) Best moments from Indianapolis
(01:07:12) Listener contest winner!

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UConn's All-Time Elite Eight Ending + More With Carter Elliott, Ant Wright

Evan Miyakawa — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

The Final Four is set, and it's one of the more loaded group of teams we’ve seen in years. In this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa is joined by Carter Elliott of Sleepers Media and former Michigan player Ant Wright to break down how Arizona, Michigan, UConn, and Illinois reached Indianapolis and preview the biggest matchups of the weekend. The show begins with one of the most unforgettable Elite Eight finishes in tournament history as UConn stunned Duke with Braylon Mullins’ last-second three, followed by a deep dive into Illinois’ impressive run behind freshman star Keaton Wagler. Later, Evan and Ant Wright analyze Michigan’s dominant tournament performance, the rise of Yaxel Lendeborg, and the heavyweight clash awaiting them against Arizona. Evan closes the show by examining the analytics behind both Final Four matchups and explains why the Michigan-Arizona game could ultimately decide the national championship.

Chapters

(00:00) Carter Elliott (Sleepers Media) joins!
(01:46) UConn's improbable win over Duke
(12:22) Duke blows a lead... again
(18:21) Illinois is in the Final Four!
(23:21) Iowa's magical run ends
(26:51) UConn vs Illinois preview
(34:10) Arizona's dominant run to a Final Four
(41:47) Michigan is a juggernaut (with Ant Wright)
(46:01) Arizona vs Michigan preview
(55:42) Listener contest!

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Is Cinderella DEAD, First Weekend Reactions + More With John Martin, Myron Medcalf

Evan Miyakawa — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

The first weekend of the NCAA Tournament delivered drama, buzzer-beaters, and one of the wildest finishes we’ve seen in years. In this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa is joined by John Martin of Field of 68 and ESPN’s Myron Medcalf to break down the biggest moments from the opening rounds and preview every Sweet 16 matchup. They discuss Iowa’s stunning upset of defending champion Florida, Nebraska’s thriller over Vanderbilt, Duke’s uneven path to the Sweet 16, Texas’s surprising tournament run, and whether the era of Cinderella is really disappearing in modern college basketball. Plus, Evan revisits his bracket strategy from last week’s show to see how the analytics-based approach is holding up after the first two rounds.

Chapters

(00:00) John Martin (Field of 68) joins the show!
(02:05) Iowa takes down the reigning champs
(09:14) Nebraska Vandy instant classic
(13:28) Duke's first weekend struggles
(17:16) Texas Sweet 16 + Purdue game
(20:38) Arizona Arkansas preview
(25:11) Michigan Alabama preview
(28:38) Iowa State Tennessee preview
(31:03) Is Cinderella dead?
(44:26) Myron Medcalf (ESPN) joins!
(45:45) St. John's thriller over Kansas
(50:28) Duke St. John's preview
(54:24) High Point's magical run
(59:15) Kentucky thriller over Santa Clara
(01:02:38) VCU topples UNC + Hubert Davis future
(01:06:37) UConn MSU preview
(01:09:33) Houston Illinois preview
(01:12:12) Nebraska Iowa preview
(01:15:18) Grading my bracket value picks
(01:18:39) Other notable results from the weekend
(01:23:47) Tournament weekend highlights

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Filling Out My Entire Bracket - Bonus Episode

Evan Miyakawa — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:49:19 -0400

In this special bonus episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa officially fills out his 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket and walks through every pick from the first round to the national championship. Before diving into the selections, Evan explains the statistical strategy behind how he builds his bracket each year, including avoiding narrative-driven picks, leveraging tournament probability simulations, identifying bracket value compared to public pick distributions, and applying his “10% rule” for realistic outcomes. Evan then goes region by region through the bracket, highlighting key upset opportunities, controversial value picks, and the teams he believes are most likely to make deep March Madness runs, ultimately revealing his Final Four and national champion.

Yahoo pick distribution: https://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/mens-basketball-bracket/pickdistribution.

Chapters

(00:00) My bracket strategies

(07:45) Picking the East region

(11:28) Picking the West region

(15:44) Picking the Midwest region

(20:16) Picking the South region

(25:20) Final Four picks

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MEGA BRACKET BREAKDOWN SHOW

Evan Miyakawa — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

WE HAVE A BRACKET! This special episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show breaks down the entire NCAA Tournament bracket with a full regional preview and deep analytics insight. Evan Miyakawa is joined by Terrence Oglesby, Isaac Trotter, Brian Rauf, and Jim Root to analyze all four regions of the bracket, including Duke’s challenging path in the East, Michigan’s favorable draw in the Midwest, Florida’s dangerous South region, and Arizona’s matchup-filled West bracket. Evan also dives into the key analytics that can shape your bracket, including the title favorites tier, under-seeded teams with bracket value, kill shot momentum data, and which programs historically play up or down to competition. If you’re filling out a bracket, this episode covers everything you need to know heading into March Madness.

Chapters

(00:00) Initial bracket reactions
(03:53) East Regional w/ Terrence Oglesby
(21:38) Title Favorites
(25:12) Midwest Regional w Isaac Trotter
(42:32) Underseeded Teams + Bracket Value
(45:55) South Regional w/ Brian Rauf
(01:03:07) The Kill Shot
(01:08:30) West Regional w/ Jim Root
(01:27:55) High Ceiling / Low Floor

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A cinderella that could be a matchup nightmare + more with Seth Davis, Joe Lunardi

Evan Miyakawa — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

With Selection Sunday just days away, this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show dives deep into the chaos of Championship Week and the rapidly evolving NCAA Tournament picture. Evan Miyakawa is joined by Seth Davis of Hoops HQ and CBS to break down the weekend’s biggest games, debate which teams are built for deep March runs, and analyze how this year’s unusually weak bubble could shape the field. Later in the show, legendary bracketologist Joe Lunardi joins to go full bracketology mode, discussing which teams are safely in, which programs are sweating out conference tournaments, and what the committee may prioritize as Selection Sunday approaches. Evan also reveals a mid-major Cinderella team he believes could cause real problems in the NCAA Tournament.

Chapters

(00:00) Seth Davis (Hoops HQ) joins the show!
(04:56) Florida moves ahead of UConn for 1-seed
(09:16) Wisconsin's dark horse potential?
(12:19) Miami goes 31-0!
(17:20) Louisville's tourney outlook
(19:50) Teams to watch: UCLA + Ohio State
(22:38) Mid-majors who could make noise
(25:21) Weakest bubble we've ever seen?
(32:31) A cinderella with HUGE upset potential
(37:50) Joe Lunardi (ESPN) joins the show!
(39:03) Auburn's resume
(43:27) Miami OH vs Auburn
(52:21) Cincinnati's resume
(57:02) Texas, Missouri, and A&M
(59:56) Indiana's resume
(01:02:41) Virginia, Arkansas, Saint Mary's
(01:12:06) Purdue's vexing tourney outlook
(01:14:02) Duke's injuries + expectations
(01:15:33) Michigan and Ohio State wins
(01:16:48) My conference tourney prediction

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March is HERE, the true title favorites are separating + more with Tate Frazier, Mike LaTulip

Evan Miyakawa — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0500

March is officially here, and this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show dives headfirst into a massive weekend of statement wins and rising title contenders. Evan Miyakawa is joined by Tate Frazier to break down dominant performances from Michigan, Duke, Arizona, Florida, and Texas Tech, debate whether Michigan and Duke have separated from the field, and play a game of Fact or Fiction on Kansas, the SEC, UConn, and more. Later, Mike LaTulip joins to analyze Michigan’s road win over Illinois, Purdue’s recent struggles, Miami (OH)’s undefeated run, and the evolving March landscape. Evan also shares updated under-seeded analytics insights, highlighting teams that could outperform their tournament seed and swing your bracket.

Chapters

(00:00) Tate Frazier (The Ringer) joins the show!
(04:26) Florida crushes Arkansas in a statement win
(09:58) Arizona controls Kansas
(13:15) Duke handles Virginia
(17:42) Tate's quick thoughts on Michigan
(19:35) Texas Tech wildly impresses vs Iowa State
(24:32) Game of March "Fact or Fiction"
(37:54) PSA to Arizona and Texas Tech fans
(42:05) Bracket value: under-seeded teams
(48:29) Mike LaTulip (Field of 68) joins the show!
(49:49) Michigan clinches Big Ten title vs Illinois
(01:05:18) Insider look at Miami Ohio's success
(01:14:10) Purdue outlook after Ls to OSU, MSU
(01:22:03) Picking our favorite March teams
(01:28:52) Other noteworthy results

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Which 6 teams can win a national title + more with Jeff Goodman, Will Warren

Evan Miyakawa — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa is joined by Jeff Goodman of Field of 68 and Will Warren of Basket Under Review to break down a loaded weekend of top-tier matchups, including Duke’s defensive win over Michigan, Arizona’s gritty road victory at Houston, UCLA’s overtime thriller against Illinois, and BYU’s statement win over Iowa State without Richie Saunders. The show dives into the evolving one-seed picture, Cameron Boozer’s historic season, concerns surrounding Darryn Peterson and Kansas, Tennessee’s rebounding dominance, Miami (OH)’s undefeated run, and early Final Four picks as March approaches. Evan closes with Analytics Corner, examining updated injury impacts for Texas Tech, BYU, and UNC, along with a fresh efficiency landscape snapshot identifying current title favorites and Final Four tiers.

Chapters

(00:00) Jeff Goodman (Field of 68) joins the show!
(01:56) Duke takes down #1 Michigan
(11:42) Arizona's Impressive Win Over Houston
(18:59) Michigan, Duke, Arizona: Best team?
(21:51) Kansas stunned by Cincy at home
(28:33) Mock selection committee insights
(36:17) Will Warren (Basket Under Review) joins the show!
(37:51) UCLA buzzer beater vs Illinois
(45:52) BYU gets a much needed W over Iowa State
(51:15) Tennessee's big road win over Vandy
(56:59) Picking our Final Four teams
(01:02:35) Remembering Wes Rucker
(01:08:17) UConn > Villanova
(01:09:55) Virginia > Miami FL
(01:10:42) St. Louis's comeback win vs VCU
(01:12:02) Miami OH's unbeaten run, tournament outlook
(01:15:53) Injury impact for BYU, Texas Tech, UNC
(01:18:39) Efficiency landscape insights
(01:24:43) EvanMiya Youtube Outro.mp4

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How far can Texas Tech go, kill shots + more with Ryan Hammer, Terrence Oglesby

Evan Miyakawa — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa breaks down a massive week in college basketball, highlighted by Texas Tech’s overtime road win over Arizona, Iowa State’s dominant defensive performance against Kansas, and major injury news impacting BYU and North Carolina. Evan is joined by Ryan Hammer of the Blue-Blooded Podcast to analyze the Big 12’s chaos, the rise of JT Toppin as a National Player of the Year contender, and how “Kill Shot” dominance separates elite teams like Michigan and Arizona from the rest of the field. Later, Terrence Oglesby joins the show to discuss Wisconsin’s statement win over Michigan State, Duke’s defensive ceiling, North Carolina’s outlook without Caleb Wilson, and debate current First-Team All-Americans. Evan closes with additional insights on Michigan’s No. 1 ranking at EvanMiya.com, Florida’s frontcourt dominance, Louisville’s surge behind Mikel Brown Jr., and key upcoming matchups that could reshape the national title race.

Chapters

(00:00) Ryan Hammer joins the show!
(02:43) Texas Tech wins a thriller over Arizona in Tucson
(11:39) Iowa State crushes Kansas
(17:46) BYU loses Richie Saunders for the year
(21:06) The KILL SHOT
(32:46) Dark horse teams who could make a run
(37:47) Terrence Oglesby joins the show!
(38:54) Wisconsin gets another massive W, over MSU
(46:03) Stats most important to winning
(50:18) How the elite teams are separating themselves
(53:34) Caleb Wilson's injury impact for UNC
(57:06) Picking All-Americans today
(01:02:43) Wins by Michigan, Purdue
(01:05:32) Florida beats UK
(01:06:52) Duke wins over Clemson + my experience at Cameron
(01:10:49) Gonzaga > Santa Clara
(01:11:39) Vanderbilt trending up
(01:12:18) Louisville is HOT
(01:13:36) Game predictions
(01:14:41) Listener Contest!

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Duke blows a lead AGAIN + more with Rob Dauster, Eamonn Brennan

Evan Miyakawa — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa is joined by Rob Dauster of Field of 68 to break down a loaded weekend in college basketball, headlined by North Carolina’s dramatic rivalry win over Duke, Duke’s recent struggles closing games, and St. John’s statement victory over UConn at Madison Square Garden. Later, Evan is joined by Eamonn Brennan to analyze Michigan State’s win over Illinois, Jeremy Fears’ emergence as one of the most impactful players in the country, Houston’s dominance against BYU, Florida’s rise as a true SEC and national title contender, and the evolving NCAA Tournament bubble picture. The episode closes with Analytics Corner, examining which teams have been most affected by injuries this season and how health has shaped the national title race heading toward March Madness.

Chapters

(00:00) Rob Dauster (Field of 68) joins the show!

(02:52) UNC Duke rivalry delivers again!

(13:34) St. John's beats UConn in MSG

(23:32) Kentucky sweeps Tennessee

(30:59) Teams we are buying and selling

(40:06) Eamonn Brennan (The Buzzer) joins the show!

(41:33) Michigan State beats Illinois in OT

(52:07) BYU losing continues vs Houston

(58:17) Florida dominates Texas A&M

(01:03:24) Miami Ohio's at-large scenarios

(01:12:26) Bubble talk: M-West and Santa Clara

(01:17:20) Teams impacted most by injuries

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Can Kansas count on Darryn Peterson + more with Matt Norlander, Fran Fraschilla

Evan Miyakawa — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa is joined by Matt Norlander (CBS Sports) to break down the biggest storylines in college basketball, including Illinois’ surge as a national title contender, Michigan’s statement road win over Michigan State, Kansas’ ceiling amid the Darryn Peterson injury saga, and Arizona’s historic undefeated run. The conversation dives into how conference strength really matters in March, which teams are most built for a deep tournament run, and a rapid-fire exercise projecting how far top contenders could advance in the NCAA Tournament. Later, Fran Fraschilla (ESPN) joins to analyze Kentucky’s road win at Arkansas, UCF’s résumé-boosting victory over Texas Tech, Arizona’s consistency and depth, and the evolving National Player of the Year race led by Cameron Boozer. The episode closes with Analytics Corner, highlighting résumé quality, multi-star teams, major player development leaps, and the metrics shaping March Madness.

Chapters

(00:00) Matt Norlander (CBS) joins the show!

(02:21) Illinois beats Nebraska on the road

(09:54) Michigan knocks off Sparty

(16:07) The Darryn Peterson saga

(22:00) Top conference: Big Ten or Big 12?

(27:38) Predicting tourney outcomes for a bunch of teams

(35:00) Fran Fraschilla (ESPN) joins the show!

(36:49) Kentucky beats Arkansas in Fayetteville

(43:15) UCF topples Texas Tech

(47:49) Arizona is undefeated; What makes them special

(59:17) Can anyone catch Cam Boozer?

(01:07:17) Notable team resumes

(01:13:07) Teams with multiple stars

(01:16:13) Improvement from Elliott Cadeau and Reuben Chinyelu

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Wagler and Flemings go NUCLEAR, Auburn shocks Florida, hottest teams, and Arkansas deep dive

Evan Miyakawa — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa is joined by Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated to break down one of the wildest weekends of the college basketball season, headlined by Keaton Wagler's historic 46-point performance in Illinois’ road win at Purdue. The conversation spans Illinois’ national title ceiling, Purdue’s contender profile, Texas Tech’s statement win over Houston, Auburn’s road victory at Florida, and what those results mean for the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 races. Evan and Kevin also revisit preseason takes that have aged well or poorly, debate which teams to buy or sell going forward, and evaluate emerging contenders across the country. The episode closes with Evan’s Analytics Corner, highlighting the hottest teams, most productive players, and best lineups in college basketball, followed by a deep dive on Arkansas with Curtis Wilkerson of Inside Arkansas, breaking down the Razorbacks’ upside, defensive consistency, freshman star Darius Acuff, and realistic March expectations.

Chapters

(00:00) Intro
(01:08) Kevin Sweeney (SI) joins the show!
(02:02) Illinois beats Purdue, KEATON WAGLER
(09:45) Texas Tech beats Houston
(15:27) Auburn takes down Florida
(19:21) UNC, Arkansas, Michigan State
(21:37) Revisiting preseason takes
(27:31) Buy/Sell for the rest of the season
(32:34) Analytics Corner!
(32:50) Hottest teams in the country
(35:56) Ranking players with the most production
(39:21) Big 12's best lineup belongs to Baylor
(42:31) Arkansas Deep Dive w/ Curtis Wilkerson (Inside Arkansas)
(01:06:49) Listener contest for free merch!

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Florida surging, Kentucky deep dive, drafting best freshmen

Evan Miyakawa — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show, Evan Miyakawa is joined by Jeff Borzello (ESPN) to break down Florida’s resurgence as a national title contender after a huge road win at Vanderbilt, Texas Tech’s statement victory over BYU, and what those results mean for the national picture. The show also features a deep dive on Kentucky with Jack Pilgrim of Kentucky Sports Radio, analyzing the Wildcats’ dramatic comeback wins, rotation questions, and realistic NCAA tournament outlook. The episode closes with a fun bonus segment as Evan is joined by Stephen Hartzell of the College Sports Now podcast to debate the best freshmen in the country, the state of the ACC, game-of-the-year candidates, and an early national title pick.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro
(01:28) Jeff Borzello (ESPN) joins the show!
(02:28) Florida's resurgence and a win over Vandy!
(11:20) Texas Tech vs. BYU
(20:26) Drafting the best freshmen starting fives
(33:40) Kentucky deep dive with Jack Pilgrim (KSR)
(01:05:43) College basketball hot takes with Stephen Hartzell

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Nebraska’s unbelievable run, title favorites, and Michigan's new outlook after loss

Evan Miyakawa — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Welcome to the debut episode of The EvanMiya College Basketball Show. Evan Miyakawa is joined by John Fanta (NBC / Peacock) to break down a pivotal week in college basketball, including Michigan’s shocking home loss to Wisconsin, Nebraska’s improbable 16–0 start, and how the national title picture is beginning to take shape. The conversation dives into true championship contenders, early one-seed predictions, and why experience and roster continuity matter more than ever in the portal era. Evan is also joined by Greg Waddell of Sleepers Media for an in-depth Michigan deep dive, analyzing the Wolverines’ defensive dominance, lineup construction, volatility, and outlook in a brutal Big Ten race. The episode wraps with Analytics Corner, featuring efficiency tiers, resume quality, opponent-strength adjustments, and the best five-man lineups in the country.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(02:00) John Fanta joins to talk Michigan, Nebraska, and title contenders

(32:28) Team Deep Dive: Michigan Wolverines with Greg Waddell

(58:00) Analytics Corner

(58:16) Team Efficiency Tiers

(01:02:37) Opponent Strength Adjust: Teams playing up or down to competition

(01:06:23) Best Five-Man Lineups

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Trailer / Intro

Evan Miyakawa — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:17:48 -0500

Welcome to the EvanMiya College Basketball Show.

The EvanMiya College Basketball Show is a weekly college basketball podcast covering the biggest national storylines and emerging trends men’s college basketball. Hosted by Evan Miyakawa — PhD statistician and founder of EvanMiya.com — the show blends expert analysis, data-driven insights, and conversations with national analysts and insiders from around the sport.

The first full episode drops this coming Tuesday January 13th, with weekly Tuesday episodes coming for the rest of the season. Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

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