We're Baaaack

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. I spent the past few days keeping a low profile and relaxing up in Boston. But that didn't keep me from hoops ...

And what a welcome-back present Louisville gave us today:

Western Kentucky 68, Louisville 54

Monday's Top 5 will not look the same as last week's. Expect Pitt to climb to No. 3, while UNC and UConn will hold firm at 1 and 2, respectively. Michigan State will also drop out of the Top 5 because of its loss to Maryland, which turned around and got slaughtered by Gonzaga and Georgetown on consecutive nights.

Gonzaga and Tennessee are going at it as we speak, with Gonzaga up by 10.

Game of my vacation: No. 11 Oklahoma 87, No. 10 Purdue 82, in overtime.

Tomorrow, we'll review who had a good break and who didn't.

Why We Watch

We watch college hoops for a reason, and last night provided us with more than a few ...

No. 8 Notre Dame topped No. 7 Texas in a thriller, 81-80.

No. 17 Florida escaped with a win against Washington, 86-84.

And No. 22 Kansas lost to Syracuse, 89-81, in overtime.

Let's break these games down ...

-- Notre Dame cemented its status as a Final Four contender with a gritty, exciting win against Texas. The Longhorns didn't really lose much in terms of reputation or respect, just dropped the game.

-- Jon Brockman had a chance to tie the game for Washington in the waning moments, but his shot rimmed out off the glass. This would have been a huge win for Washington; instead, it's another disappointing loss. It's hard to come away with positives from KC after two really rough losses.

-- And the Syracuse-Kansas game was the game of the night. We had Sherron Collins and Jonny Flynn going toe to toe, runs catapulting one team into the lead before the other team roared back, and an extra five minutes to enjoy the competition. The CBE Classic turned out to be a pretty good tournament, and these guys have a lot to do with that.

Quote of the day: "I had a few too many Wheaties on it." -- Washington's Jon Brockman, after missing the would-be tying putback with less than five seconds to play in Washington's 86-84 loss to Florida.

Great game in KC

Regardless of who wins, Kansas and Syracuse are giving us a great late-night show after Texas and Notre Dame delivered on the promise of a marquee matchup.

Big Fella's Bad News

Pitt star DeJuan Blair isn't playing in tonight's game against Belmont because of swelling in his knee. Not a good thing for the Panthers after his hot start.

Blockbuster Tuesday

No. 6 Texas and No. 8 Notre Dame meet tonight at 7 p.m. in the Maui Invitational. This game could turn into a track meet, given the athletic talent of Texas and Notre Dame's ability to fill it up in a hurry.

Still, the Longhorns' have a little bit more of a defensive bent than Notre Dame, and the Irish are one of the less physical teams in the Big East. It'll be fun seeing who adapts to the other more, but I think Texas might be the better team.

Best matchup: It has to be Tory Jackson vs. AJ Abrams. I've seen Jackson play a few times, and he is one of the fastest players I've ever watched in person (fastest being Darren Collison). Abrams is the most important player on Texas. Both are fast, but I give the slight edge to Abrams in terms of overall ability. In this game, this matchup might be the best indicator of who is winning.

Penn State at Penn ... just kidding.

A quietly good matchup in Dayton: Mercer at Dayton. Mercer surprised Alabama and Auburn and almost beat Georgia Tech (lost in OT), so expect the Bears to challenge a good Dayton team at UD Arena. This is the beginning of a really tough stretch for the Flyers, who host Mercer tonight, then play Auburn and No. 15 Marquette on Friday and Saturday, respectively, in the Chicago 'burbs. If Dayton is working on its Tournament resume, going at least 2-1 in this three-game period will help a lot. Undefeated will go a long way come March.

Florida-Washington in Maui. Florida needs to recover after its loss to Syracuse; Washington has less than 24 hours to change its ways. I like Florida, but this is secretly an important game for both teams.

UNC-Oregon. We know who will win this game, but if the Ducks can at least have a solid showing, it can only help, confidence-wise. Oregon has the talent, but does it have the guts?

Kansas-Syracuse for the CBE Classic title. Kansas is the favorite, but Syracuse looked good against Florida, not that that surprises anyone. But if the Orange can win again here, expect them in the Top 25 on Monday. And a win here will also quiet the always-rowdy critics in March, who always shellack Jim Boeheim for his scheduling.

Swallowed by the Beast

Jonny Flynn and the Syracuse Orange upset No. 17 Florida last night, 89-83. Wow. The second-best SEC team against the seventh-best Big East team. Keep watching Big East teams for more signs of dominance the rest of the year.

Or I could just give you some now ...

No. 2 UConn 76, No. 25 Wisconsin 57

No. 8 Notre Dame 88, Indiana 50

Oh, and Cincinnati and St. John's won, too, but those are just icing on the cake. Plus, who's really counting anyway?

Let's play good loss/bad loss
-- There is never really such a thing as a "good loss," but there are losses that, if close and against a good team, mean a little bit more than a bad loss to a bad team or a blowout loss to anybody. Yesterday provided a full plate of games to pick from:

Terrible loss: Jacksonville State 75, UMass 74. If UMass was hoping to surprise people in the A-10 and make a run as an at-large team, starting 1-3 and losing to Jacksonville State at home usually won't help.

Disappointing but not terrible loss: Syracuse 89, No. 17 Florida 83 (see above)

Tough home loss: UNLV 80, UTEP 67. UNLV is good, but UTEP had a chance to get a quality home win and build up its resume leading into C-USA play. If the Miners want to challenge Memphis for the conference title and stake a claim as a second or third bid out of the C-USA, a win in a game like this always helps.

Bad loss against a good team: Kansas 73, Washington 54. If Washington (or Worshington if your Bob Knight) wants to find its way out of basketball purgatory, it needs to come closer to good teams and win a few of them. More importantly, if Lorenzo Romar wants to keep his job after this season, the Huskies need to do better against quality teams. First step, don't shoot so many 3s if you aren't making them. Just a suggestion.

Awful loss: Yale 53, Oregon State 52. Craig Robinson is off to a very rough 0-3 start. Losing to Howard is tough. Losing to Yale is probably worse.

Embarrassing blowout: Oregon 82, Alabama 59. Not only is Alabama 1-2, with this blowout loss at home and a loss to Mercer ... at home ... but the Crimson Tide suddenly look like one of the worst teams in the SEC, which is terrible because some floated the idea of them being an at-large bid or a bubble team come March. At this point, they might still be a reach bubble team ... for the NIT.

The Jam Really Is Paradise

No. 2 UConn takes on No. 25 Wisconsin tonight in the Paradise Jam title game. UConn thumped Miami despite Jack McClinton's 27 points, while Wisconsin stifled San Diego.

It will be a matchup of gritty defenses, one (UConn) predicated on rebounding and thunderously blocking shots, the other on hand-in-your-jersey man-to-man and closed-off cutting lanes.

I suspect UConn will win this game, but I'll be interested to see how the Huskies handle the Badgers' jarring defense. Wisconsin will provide UConn with a nice preview of what's to come in Big East hoops. A lot of teams in the Big East, especially Pitt and Georgetown, play physical, grueling man-to-man. That's not to say the Huskies don't pack a punch of their own -- they brutalize even the toughest teams with their own tempo and toughness -- but a game against Wisconsin, one of the toughest defensive teams in the nation, will be a nice way to prepare for the rigorous 18-game conference schedule.

The difference lies in the offense: UConn has multiple weapons who can score from all over the place; Wisconsin doesn't. With enough creativity and innovation, UConn will get points, even if its ugly.

Elsewhere
-- I highly recommend this Dana O'Neil story on recruiting. It's a wide-ranging topic that I'd like to analyze and write a lot about when I have more time.

Big East Whiteout

The Big East has three teams in the top five of the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. Pitt leapfrogged Duke and landed at No. 4, behind the usual suspects North Carolina, Connecticut and Louisville.

Xavier is the only new team in the Top 25. USC dropped out.

Turkey and Hoops

The Maui Invitational tips off today in ... Maui. Here are the first-round matchups:

St. Joe's vs. No. 7 Texas
Indiana vs. No. 8 Notre Dame
Chaminade vs. No. 1 North Carolina
Oregon vs. Alabama

Here's how the bracket looks.

There's a good chance we'll see Notre Dame-Texas on Tuesday and North Carolina-Notre Dame/Texas on Wednesday. Those four hours of hoops will be enjoyable to say the least. It could determine how seriously we take Notre Dame and/or Texas early in the season.

Another big tourney tips off today, too
The CBE Classic in KC kicks back into action tonight with two semifinal matchups: No. 18 Florida-Syracuse and Washington-No. 24 Kansas. I don't think it's too crazy to say at least three of those teams are probably Tournament teams. The question is, like we asked above, how serious are thes guys?

Elsewhere
-- No. 2 UConn took care of business against No. 17 Miami, 76-63. I was right about Jack McClinton -- he had 27 points and five boards -- but the Huskies never trailed and led by as many as 15.

-- Little Rhody had another nice performance Sunday, topping VCU, a major CAA contender and probable bubble team, in the battle of the Rams.

-- Xavier beat No. 13 Memphis, 63-58. Xavier has wins against Missouri, Virginia Tech and Memphis now. Not a bad way to start building that resume.

-- Missouri beat No. 19 USC, 83-72. That's two tough losses for USC early in the season. Luckily for USC, it looks like the Trojans still might be at least the second or third best team in the Pac-10.

-- The Big East is good. Even its cellar-dwellers get results.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Jack McClinton

If you haven't heard of Jack McClinton yet, you will after Sunday night's showdown between No. 17 Miami and No. 2 Connecticut. McClinton can fill it up in a hurry. At 6-1, he's not overly imposing from the wing, but the all-ACC guard can leave his mark on a contest with his long-range sniping.

His coach, Frank Haith, calls him the "heart and soul" of Miami. He's the little engine who can. And he will, if you don't lock him up. Dude shot 43 percent from 3 last year. He gets to the line, too, where he shot 92 percent last year.

But enough about last year, McClinton and his 'Canes are ready to push the Dukies and Carolina for the ACC title this year. The best way to enter the national spotlight at this juncture in the season is extremely simple: Beat UConn.

McClinton is Miami's ticket to the big time. And the first chance to earn some shine is topping the Huskies, which certainly isn't an easy task.

Other games to watch
-- Xavier and No. 13 Memphis do battle in Puerto Rico. The finals of the Tip-Off.

-- I smell a trap game.

-- I noticed ESPN the Magazine got a lot of complaints about Hasheem Thabeet after his short Q&A in its November 17 issue. Thabeet, when asked who the toughest big man in college basketball is, said, "Nobody's better than me, only more experienced. I played Luke Harangody and he was not tough ... "

I agree: Harangody is not that tough. I'll go out on a limb -- I have never seen someone complain to the referees more than Harangody does in a game, except for maybe me circa 2000 (trust me, it was a lot). I won't question his numbers; the kid is talented. He works hard. But he works the refs harder. If he is near the ball and he doesn't score, it's automatically someone else's fault. Just sayin', but maybe Thabeet is on to something ...

Parting thought: I can't believe a BCS bowl will have Cincinnati in it. Yikes.

Gardner-Webb's Causing Trouble Again ...

Thanks to Blake Griffin's 35 points and 21 rebounds, Oklahoma barely squeaked out an 80-76 win against Gardner-Webb today. I have a feeling there will be lots of posts about big Griffin outputs.

Elsewhere
-- I would've said this regardless of URI's performance at Duke, but the Runnin' Rams take on ... the Runnin' Rams ... of VCU today. It's closing in on the final buzzer. Been a good one so far.

-- Other goodies still left: Clemson at Charlotte, UW-Milwaukee at Marquette (always a good one) and Oregon State at Nevada.

-- Boy, Mercer is tough. Georgia Tech had some trouble with the Bears. Mercer led, 58-40, with 12 minutes left before the Jackets came storming back to win in OT. How's that for an encore?

-- Rick Majerus and company got a nice win against Boston College today.

-- Providence has two wins in a row now after a devastating loss to Northeastern to start the season.

-- DeJuan Blair had 20 points and 16 rebounds ... at halftime ... in Pitt's 86-60 victory against Indiana (Pa.). Big Fella Blair finished with 27 and 19, and he was 13 of 14 from the floor. Nasty.

-- And Bryant has its first win as a Division I program, a 59-50 thriller against Quinnipiac.

You Can't Make This Up

Yes, there is actually a player on Akron named Humpty Hitchens. He's actually Anthony Hitchens, and he's 5-8, 170 pounds.

Love the nickname, Humpty.

Words Cannot Describe

Are you serious?

167 points?

In the Big Apple, Anything Can Happen

How's that for an upset? Michigan takes down No. 4 UCLA at MSG, winning 55-52. Darren Collison's last-gasp runner was blocked, and the Wolverines escaped with a shocker.

Is the Beilein Effect wearing off on Michigan?

Hot Seat Cooling Off

Seton Hall 63, No. 19 USC 61.

Huge win for Seton Hall and coach Bobby Gonzalez, whose prickly personality has him on a short leash in New Jersey.

Tonight, a well-deserved reprieve from all the chatter. And it's not a terrible loss for USC, but the Trojans should've won.

Programs on the Rise: Indiana and Minnesota

After slogging through this season, Tubby Smith's rebuilding project at Minnesota will hit its major stride. Smith landed a consensus Top 25 recruiting class to supplant an 08-09 team that might be an NIT team.

Before Christmas this year, we'll see Minnesota battle Louisville. Yes, a battle of the two former Kentucky coaches: Smith and Rick Pitino. Louisville should win the game, but watch for how close Minnesota comes.

With this recruiting class -- ranked 22nd on Rivals, 10th on ESPN.com and 11th on Scout -- Smith has Minnesota back on the map. There were four signings announced:

Wings Royce White and Rodney Williams, Juco power forward Trevor Mbakwe and point guard Justin Cobbs

White is a combo forward and Williams seems more like a perimeter player. They will form a nice tandem in the Big Ten.

But Smith isn't the only one getting it done in the Big Ten. Indiana snagged a consensus Top 10 recruiting class. I told you Tom Crean had the Hoosiers on their way.

The class -- rated seventh by Rivals, eighth by ESPN.com and seventh by Scout -- has six signees. After all, there's a lot to replace at Indiana.

Three wings: Maurice Creek, Derek Elston and Christian Watford
One point man: Jordan Hulls
Two big fellas: Bobby Capobianco and Bawa Muniru

Creek's a stud, so're Elston, Watford and Hulls. Nice start for Crean.

Elsewhere
-- Perennially big-time (at least these days) Tennessee snagged one recruit, but got a good one: 6-9 power forward Kenny Hall will head to Knoxville.

-- UNC is the consensus No. 1 recruiting program.

-- Memphis keeps landing in the Top 5.

-- 'Nova reloaded.

-- Texas got a pair of studs.

-- Kentucky did well ... again. Will it turn into wins?

More at a later time.

As If Being in New Jersey Wasn't Punishment Enough ...

Rutgers is in trouble. According to a school panel, there was not enough oversight of the athletics department, which was spending money like a rich girl at Barney's.

Seriously, the Star-Ledger blew this thing up over time. Look at all those stories! This is why there are reporters and media outlets. What a story.

On a side note, Derek Anderson hates his life. Even with Brady Quinn's broken finger, Anderson can't get on the field.

Viva Puerto Rico

Good Thursday morning. The Puerto Rico Tip-Off, um, tips off today. It has four games on tap, some of them decent.

Virginia Tech and Fairfield get the party started with an 11 a.m. tip. Don't worry, Hokies fans, it'll be noon in San Juan. No need to worry about an early-morning upset to wake up your club.

Then, it's Missouri-Xavier.

After that, Memphis will shoot poorly and still win by 20 against Chattanooga.

The night-capper is the best matchup of the day (at least in San Juan): No. 20 USC vs. Seton Hall. Seton Hall will be without one of its best players. On a side note, the NCAA dealt USC a big blow today.

Elsewhere
-- Don't worry, 2k Sports Classic, we ain't mad atcha. And we didn't forget your on tap, either. Tonight's games -- liiive from New York! -- are Southern Illinois-Duke and Michigan-UCLA. SIU could make it close, and John Beilein always troubles UCLA, but the top dogs should win both these games.

-- Bad news for UNC: Freshman Tyler Zeller is probably out for the year. This is why Roy Williams likes to have 10 pro prospects on his roster at a time.

-- Moose is retiring.

-- OMG.

-- Seriously, enjoy your flights. Talk about scary. "Um, sir, do you want something to drink -- uh, hold on, I'm gonna go land the plane."

Off to a Great Start in Cambridge

Tommy Amaker new-and-improved Harvard is off to a good start. Keep an eye on Harvard, it could compete for the Ivy League title.

Crimson 80, UNH 69.

The 2008 What If Tournament

I compiled the best college basketball teams in my lifetime of watching hoops and put them through the What If Sports simulator. These teams aren't necessarily champs, although lots of them are. Picks and rankings, of course, are all mine. The year of the team is the year of the NCAA Tournament, not the beginning year, so assume a team from "1992" is the 1991-1992 team.

This is a great way to waste some time, by the way.

The Teams
1. 2005 North Carolina
2. 2007 Florida
3. 1993 Michigan
4. 1996 Kentucky
5. 1997 Arizona
6. 1992 Duke
7. 2000 Michigan State
8. 1999 Connecticut
9. 1995 UCLA
10. 1994 Arkansas
11. 2001 Duke
12. 2003 Syracuse
13. 2008 Memphis
14. 2005 Illinois
15. 1996 UMass
16. 2006 Villanova

The Matchups
(game) Teams
(1) 2005 UNC vs. 2006 Villanova
(2) 1999 UConn vs. 1995 UCLA
(3) 1996 Kentucky vs. 2008 Memphis
(4) 1997 Arizona vs. 2003 Syracuse
(5) 1992 Duke vs. 2001 Duke (a coincidence)
(6) 1993 Michigan vs. 2005 Illinois
(7) 2000 Michigan State vs. 1994 Arkansas
(8) 2007 Florida vs. 1996 UMass

First Round
All games simulated at neutral sites

UNC 93, 'Nova 84
Sean May's 19 points and 11 rebounds propelled top-seeded UNC to a win against the four-guard Wildcats of Villanova. Randy Foye had 29 points and Villanova made 14 3-pointers, but UNC's big rebounding advantage took the cake. Mike Nardi had one weird-looking mustache for the game. I was rooting for 'Nova.

UCLA 93, UConn 81
All five UCLA starters scored in double figures to help UCLA upset UConn. Diminutive guard Khalid El-Amin had 24 points and Rip Hamilton had 23, but UCLA's balance and 62-percent shooting made the difference. Coach Jim Harrick celebrated with his team by buying them stuff.

Kentucky 98, Memphis 88
Derek Anderson's 22 points off the bench sparked Kentucky's win in this shootout. Derrick Rose had 22 points, four assists and four rebounds and Chris Douglas-Roberts had 19 points and nine rebounds, but poor free-throw shooting plagued the Tigers. Rick Pitino and John Calipari agreed to a suit- and slick-hair-off.

Syracuse 86, Arizona 78
Carmelo Anthony had 25 points and nine rebounds and Hakim Warrick added 20 points to help Syracuse upset Arizona. Jason Terry had 17 points and seven assists, but the Wildcats shot just 42 percent as a team. Don't call 'Melo overrated ... because he isn't ... unlike someone else ...

01 Duke 116, 92 Duke 95
Jason Williams scored 35 points in the highly anticipated Williams-Bobby Hurley showdown. Hurley had 15 points, but 2001 Duke's 11 more 3-pointers did the trick in this shootout. I did not see this coming. I thought Thomas Hill's tears would stream out in this one, playing against his old coach and all. In related news, Grant Hill made it through the entire game uninjured.

Illinois 82, Michigan 78
Luther Head led the way with 16 points, six assists and four rebounds and Dee Brown had 11, six and three in this stunning upset of the Fab Five. Juwan Howard had 24 points and Chris Webber and Jalen Rose each had 14, but Michigan's cold outside shooting did it in. Years later, Michigan will have to vacate this game because a laundry list of violations.

Arkansas 97, Michigan State 83
Corliss Williamson had 22 points and seven rebounds and Al Dillard had 21 points off the bench in yet another first-round upset. The Spartans' defense made more stops than a small-town cop at the end of the month. Somewhere, Mike Miller (the NBA) and Teddy Dupay (jail) are vindicated.

Florida 72, UMass 69
The ugliest basketball player ever Joakim Noah had 11 points and nine rebounds to help the Gators stave off an upset bid. Marcus Camby was held to 10 points and nine rebounds. Florida's defense was so tough, even Calipari was held to just 1 pound of hair gel (he had averaged 6).

Second Round
All at neutral sites

UNC 92, UCLA 90
The O'Bannon brothers combined for 41 points, 22 rebounds and eight assists, but North Carolina had five double-digit scorers. It's impossible to know if Tyus Edney ran the length of the floor and missed a layup at the buzzer.

Kentucky 92, Syracuse 64
Antoine Walker scored 22 points and Kentucky held Syracuse to just 37 percent shooting in the second-round blowout. Carmelo Anthony only had 12 points. Rick Pitino had 10 white suits.

Duke 101, Illinois 75
Jason Williams had 24 points, Shane Battier had 21 and Chris Duhon and Mike Dunleavy each had 14 as the Blue Devils stomped the Fighting Illini. Illinois' Big Three -- Dee Brown, Deron Williams and Luther Head -- was just 12 of 28. Bruce Weber, however, was a perfect 1 for 1 in delivering a squeaky-voiced press conference after the game.

Arkansas 91, Florida 82
In a shocking upset of what many considered one of the greatest college basketball teams ever, Arkansas had a plus-nine rebounding advantage that made the difference. Corliss Williamson and Roger Crawford each had 19 points, while Taurean "The Dream" Green (11 points), Corey Brewer (8) and Joakim Noah (9) were just 10 for 26 from the field.

Final Four
All games simulated at neutral sites

Kentucky 87, North Carolina 74
The top seed crumbled under the heat of Rick Pitino's full-court press. Derek Anderson continued his big tournament with 21 points, thanks to four 3-pointers. UNC's 19 turnovers and its woeful 6-of-20 3-point shooting made the upset possible. Fourth-seeded Kentucky advances to the title game to play ...

Duke 106, Arkansas 73
With revenge for the 1994 title game, where Arkansas topped Duke, on its mind, 11th-seeded Duke continued its miracle ride to the championship. Shane Battier had 30 points and a weird head, while Jason Williams (20 points), Mike Dunleavy (16) and Carlos Boozer (16) had big games. Arkansas committed 22 turnovers and had only one scorer, Corliss Williamson, in double figures.

Title Game
Neutral site

Duke 101, Kentucky 93
In a shootout among two of the best college basketball programs of all time, Duke completed its stunning run to a championship. Against all odds, the 2001 Blue Devils toppled some of the greatest teams of my life. Shane Battier earned Final Four MVP with his second consecutive 30-point performance. Jason Williams added 25 points and Carlos Boozer had 13. Despite shooting 58 percent, Kentucky's run-and-gun offense met its match. Tony Delk led the Wildcats with 18 points.

The Perfect Team

At point guard, I want Darren Collison.

On the wings, I want Stephen (not "Steph") Curry and James Harden.

On the blocks, I want Blake Griffin and Tyler Hansbrough.

Honorable mention: Ty Lawson, Patty Mills, Sam Young, Hasheem Thabeet, Chase Budinger, Luke Harangody.

The Bumpy Ride Begins

Arizona won't surprise anyone this year when it loses games it shouldn't. And here's the first chance to (not) shock you: UAB 72, Arizona 71 ... Tucson.

What will shock you, however, is how 'Zona lost the game: As UAB's Paul Delaney III wound up for a more-than-halfcourt heave as time ran out, Arizona's Jamelle Horne dove at Delaney's back and grabbed his jersey.

The refs called an intentional foul. And with 0.8 seconds on the clock, Delaney did all he had to -- make a free throw.

I find this all vaguely reminiscent of Justin Dentmon's ridiculous fouling of Chris Hernandez as he shot a halfcourt runner a few years ago. Hernandez sank all three foul shots to force overtime, and the deflated Washington Huskies lost to Stanford, 76-67. Dentmon had trouble dealing with the whole ordeal.

There's a reason the coaches yell "Don't foul!" before every big last-second play. Get ready for a wild season, Arizona fans.


Elsewhere
We had a great Tuesday night in Basketball Land:

-- Stephen Curry and Davidson pushed Oklahoma and Blake Griffin to the brink, but the supremely talented Sooners held on.

-- North Carolina confirmed its top-dog status against the woe-is-them Kentucky Wildcats.

-- Syracuse took about 39 minutes to put away Richmond.

-- Indiana beat IUPUI by three points, and it's almost definitely a sign of things to come.

-- Providence took one step back in the right direction with a win against Dartmouth (even if the Friars gave up 82 points).

-- Washington recovered, topping Cleveland State.

-- Washington State has given up 58 points ... in two games.

-- San Diego's not going anywhere fast, and Nevada has a tough road in front of it.

A few other things ...
-- I hereby declare it not OK to call Stephen Curry "Steph" Curry. It's a new trend in the media (well, on ESPN) -- and it's not OK.

-- There are still some good people in sports, even if this does seem like a minor thing to many.

-- Ryan Dempster got a big deal with the Cubs.

-- I clicked on the link to see if People had picked me for Sexiest Man Alive. No dice. Oh well, there's always next year. Damn you, Hugh Jackman.

-- Enjoy your flight home for the holidays! Seriously, what's next? A cavity search?

Parting Thought: I've decided that II is much cooler than Jr. after a name. So, if you're going to narcissistically name your kid after yourself, give him the II, it makes him seem much cooler

Seriously, Kid Is Nasty

I told you to watch Oklahoma-Davidson. Did you?

If you did, great decision.

If you didn't, you missed Stephen Curry put on a show. The Baby-Faced Assassin had 44 points on an off night ... and Davidson still lost. The Wildcats were behind by as many as 21 in the second half, but stormed back with two runs of 14-0 and 16-5. Free throws and a turnover on the last possession did Davidson in.

And don't forget the winning team. You can thank Blake Griffin, who had 25 points and 21 rebounds, for helping the Sooners get the home win. After all, Griffin's supposed to be the top pick in the Draft next year, right? He sure played like it. Griffin and Curry are two of the top three players in the country. What a treat it was to watch their teams battle this early in the season.

Final score: Oklahoma 82, Davidson 78. Instant Classic.

Sign of Things to Come?

Indiana 60, IUPUI 57.

Forget UNC-Kentucky

You should be watching Davidson-Oklahoma on ESPN 2. Do it.

Top Recruit Picks Memphis

A little late on this ...

Unfortunately for Memphis, Xavier Henry does not arrive until next summer, way after the Tigers need him. This year's Memphis backcourt couldn't put a basketball in the ocean from 15 feet or farther.

Big Token for a Small Fella

Dustin Pedroia is your 2008 American League MVP.

Buzz Word Tuesday

Sometime in the very near future, basketball analysts and color commentators will slip into catch phrases and buzz words. We won't even heard verbs. Here is a completely unrealistic (because they are never a duo) example that features two of my favorite hoops broadcasters.

Verne Lundquist: You really like this kid, Jay, tell us why.

Jay Bilas: Major upside potential. Great ticker. Strong engine. Long length. High Basketball IQ.

It gets old after five months of hoops. Or, in my case, 16 years of hoops. We can thank all of the recruiting and scouting Web sites and the guys who spend way too much time on the NBA Draft. It's almost like everyone speaks in shorthand now. Great.

Elsewhere
-- Boywonder Luke Winn gives us the Hoops Ideology Report. If you are a nethead, brackethead or just want to be able to tell your family/wife/girlfriend that you still read things, you will enjoy this.

-- Well, the wheels are coming off in Michigan. On David Letterman tonight, the Top 10 Ways to Quickly Be Hated in Ann Arbor, starring Lloyd Carr and Rich Rodriguez, with a special celebrity appearance by Chris Webber!

Red Scare ... or Not

Pitt took care of Miami (Ohio) last night, 82-53. The first half was close; second half wasn't.

Like I said yesterday, the Panthers need Little Fella Levance Fields to ignite them, and he did in a major way. The 5-10 senior had his first career double-double: 12 points, 12 assists.

Jermaine Dixon and Sam Young each had 14. Big Fella Blair and Tyrell Biggs had 10. Call it a team effort.

This is a nice win for the Panthers. Miami (Ohio) gave UCLA all it could handle a few days ago before falling, 64-59. This time, the Redhawks were bludgeoned by a similarly styled team.

Next up for Pitt: Akron. Friday at 7.

Elsewhere
-- It's only a rivalry because there's a BCS bid (potentially) at stake.

-- Memphis and UMass were terrible last night, but the Tigers slowly but surely crunched the Minutemen, 80-58. It was fun to see Derek Kellogg and Coach Cal across the floor from one another.

-- Pete Newell, a legend, died Monday. Any true hoops fan should read more about him.

-- It's kind of weird seeing outlets report on their own news, but I guess we can all breathe easy now that Fox is out of the running for any future BCS games. Seriously, the less Joe Buck, the better.

The Perfect Fit

Great story by Andy Katz on ESPN.com about Derek Kellogg (above) and UMass. I suggest you check it out.

Unanimous No More

As I teased in today's main post, it's Rankings Monday. Check out the Top 25(s).

North Carolina is no longer the unquestioned No. 1 team in the Coaches' Poll. Has Jim Calhoun gone rogue? Well, no. He doesn't have a vote in the poll. Neither does Western Carolina coach Larry Hunter, whose Catamounts had their butts whipped by UConn in the season opener.

So, that means someone broke with the crowd. Was it Boeheim?

Other than that, no one dropped out; no one jumped in.

After one week in your 2008-2009 NCAA hoops season, here's your top five in the AP Poll:

1. North Carolina
2. Connecticut
3. Louisville
4. UCLA
5. Michigan State

Little Man, Big Impact

No, this is not my rendition of a show staring "little people." It has everything to do with Levance Fields's successful return on Friday night, and what should be his encore tonight. Miami (Ohio) has dropped by the 'Burgh for a showdown with the Pitt Panthers.

Fields had 15 points and eight assists in Pitt's 86-63, season-opening win against Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday. No one really knew what to expect from Fields, and many didn't think he'd even dress. But he did. And the little fella with the big heart didn't turn the ball over in 25 minutes. That shouldn't surprise anyone. As DeJuan Blair said after Friday's game, it's like Fields has the ball on a string.

He'll have to be just as sturdy tonight when Pitt takes on Miami (Ohio) at the Pete at 7 p.m.

Those of you who know me surely expect me to say, "Don't sleep on Miami." But before you roll your eyes, let me know just hit you with some knowledge: No. 4 UCLA 64, Miami (Ohio) 59. Yeah, that was five days ago. And Miami led UCLA by five points in the second half. In LA.

MAC teams have always had a way of sticking around on the road. Do I think the Redhawks can steal one from Pitt? Probably not. But there's a chance.

And that's why Fields has to deliver a solid follow-up performance. The rest of the cast relies on him.

Elsewhere
--God, I would have rather watched "American Dad" than this game. What an awful, awful game.

--You can only imagine how angry/terrified I was as I suffered through the night-capper.

--Our Name of the Week: Flozell Adams (pronounced FLOW-zell). Not only was he frequently mocked by John Madden and Al Michaels as one of the most penalized linemen in NFL history who "should know better" after 11 years in the NFL, he also has a first name that sounds like asthma medicine.

--Apparently I don't talk enough about Tennessee on here. Yeah, that Tennessee -- 3-7, 1-5 in the SEC and on the brink of being coachless. But hey, at least the hoops team is the best team in the worst power conference in college basketball.

--Pitt-Cincinnati is this weekend. This game will go a long way toward deciding the Big East's BCS bid. In the words of the always-awesome Joe Castiglione, can you believe it?

--Nothing too exciting in Hoops World yesterday, other than Li'l Rhody almost KO'ing Duke at Cameron. Yesterday morning, I was thinking there might be some trouble in Carolina. Own-horn-tooting stops here.

--Yikes. I don't know who's/what's worse: Phil Martelli or his team.

--Kansas awkwardly began its title defense. Count me among those who think the Jayhawks will be tougher than expected this year.

--I know you're all as excited as I am ... new rankings come out today.

--There are games other than Pitt-Miami (Ohio) today: UMass-Memphis is at midnight. Should be a good experience for the Minutemen and a W for the Tigers. Expect a lot of scoring.

--Tournament Watch: The Preseason NIT begins today. Good games: St. John's-Cornell and UAB-Santa Clara. If all the top seeds make it to the semifinals in New York, it'll be Purdue-Boston College and Arizona-Oklahoma. The latter could go a long way toward Oklahoma's Tournament seeding and whether or not Arizona gets in.

--Tournament Watch II: The Puerto Rico Tip-Off and its Web site have the most confusing bracket ever. Took me a minute to figure it out. Anyway, Xavier-Missouri and USC-Seton Hall should be good first-round showdowns. If I'm reading the bracket right -- and there's a chance I might not be -- we could see Virginia Tech-Xavier and USC-Memphis in the semis. Just to be clear: Memphis does not play its first-round game in Puerto Rico until Thursday.

--Somebody's desperate. Just win, baby ... with JaMarcus Russell at quarterback. (Cue uncontrollable laughter.)

--Parting thought: Did anyone else see John Madden sporting "Tony Romo tape" on his pinky to show what Romo's finger looked like during the game? Poor Al Michaels -- trying to call the game while Madden is playing with athletic tape. But hey, even with the tape on his finger, Romo's playin' like a kid out there.

Fall Fright

Bobby Knight must have intimidated No. 8 Duke, even in front of the Cameron Crazies. With The General in the crowd, the Dukies needed a pair of late free throws from Kyle Singler and a cooled-down Jimmy Baron to hold on to a 82-79 win at home Sunday night.

I hate to say I told you so ...

SIU Edwardsville dropped Western Michigan, too. Rough days in Kalamazoo.

Upset Watch

Not saying it will happen, but Duke will have its hands full with Rhode Island today. Luckily for Coach K and company, the game's at Cameron.

Li'l Rhody can fill it up, though. The Rams will either shrink against a very good team with a very hostile home crowd, or stand tall and make it a ball game.

--Oh, and as of right now, Western Michigan is losing to Southern Illinois ... Edwardsville. Yikes.

--A good game will quietly take place in Omaha today: New Mexico-Creighton. Creighton is the Missouri Valley favorites. Steve Alford has a decent team out west that has a rough road ahead of it in the Mountain West, but should at least be competitive.

--Also, a few other good games on Sunday: Bradley-Florida, VMI-Virginia, Temple-Clemson, UW-Milwaukee-Iowa State.

Off to a great start in Providence ...

Final score from Providence:: Northeastern 70, Providence 66.

Great start for Keno Davis. Great start.

Rainy Saturday Quick Hits

That man up top -- the Godfather of Basketball, Rick Pitino -- is not walking through that door in Lexington. (He's walking through another door a few hours away, actually, coaching a team that', dare I say, good.) And you have to wonder if anyone in Kentucky basketball world is wishing Rick was ambling into Rupp Arena, because the Wildcats got off to another terrible start, this time losing to VMI, 111-103.

Not even kidding. VMI.

-- Does this really surprise you? Have you seen Nick Calathes? Plus, he plays for Florida, so it figures.

-- UNC topped Penn, 86-71, today. I know you were holding your breath.

-- Really? Davidson dropped 107 points?

-- Pitt took care of business, so did UConn, Texas, Purdue, Oklahoma and Arizona State. Buzz Williams is 1-0 at Marquette. Florida, Wake and 'Nova got off on the right track, too.

-- Just wondering: Is VMI a bubble team now? Kentucky certainly is.

How Tom Crean is winning at Indiana

Indiana hired Tom Crean for two reasons:

(1) He will clean up a Hoosiers program destroyed by notorious rule-bender Kelvin Sampson.

And (2) he'll continue Indiana's winning tradition without cheating or getting in trouble.

No one said it would be easy. Crean inherited a program ready to fall apart. Within the first few weeks of his arrival in Bloomington, fall apart things did. Crean has two players left from Sampson's 2007-2008 team. No Eric Gordon. No DJ White. Nothing, really.

But Crean went right to work, enforcing academic standards that eventually made his roster woefully thin. Then he started recruiting. Crean collected a manageable group of JUCO and D-I transfers and freshmen.

After yesterday, Crean took another huge step toward making Indiana Indiana again. I know two people who are Indiana fans. For them, I will say this: Endure this year, root like you're rooting for Rudy. Next year, Indiana will be an extremely young, extremely talented group.

That's a pretty good reason to be optimistic.

Elsewhere
-- Looks like Coach Roy is getting ready to reload the musket ... UNC, your 2011 national champs!

-- Bad news for Big East contenders ... Just throwing this out there: How is it possible for coaches like Bob Huggins, Jamie Dixon, Jim Boeheim, John Thompson III and Mike Brey to get out-recruited by a guy who has one year of head-coaching experience and is 14-17 lifetime? Dude hasn't coached a single Big East game and he out-recruited some of the biggest names in coaching. That's impressive for Buzz Williams, embarrassing for the big wigs.

-- There has been way too much Marquette talk in today's posting. I'm gonna puke.

-- SIU had a big win last night in the season's early-going. Tough loss to swallow if you're UMass.

-- No. 4 UCLA dropped Prairie View A&M last night. Stunning, I know.

Parting thought: Pitt. Fairleigh Dickinson. Tomorrow night.

Hoops season off and running

It's hooping tiiiiime in the cityyyy. It feels like Christmas season already, but only because roundball is back and OJ Mayo is gone. Every new hoops season reminds me of a freshly fallen snow just waiting for footprints. Alas, the first footprints have been made ...

The 2k Sports Classic (benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer) has produced one intriguing matchup and a handful of blowouts so far, but it'll only get better as the field narrows and the action moves to New York, where we can expect UCLA, Duke, Southern Illinois (or UMass?) and Michigan to meet up.

For now, though, there are regional finals and semifinals to look at.

In Durham, No. 8 Duke has trampled its first pair of opponents -- shocking, I know -- with a 31-point win against Presbyterian (yes, that's a team in Division I and, yes, they are called the Blue Hose) and a 43-point knuckle-wringer against Georgia Southern. Houston, which I still can't believe lost to Georgia Southern in the first round, toppled Presby in the consolation game.

The best region, though, is in Carbondale, Ill., where the regional final has UMass taking on Southern Illinois. The Minutemen looked good in their opener against Arkansas-Monticello (how can you not look good in this game?), but SIU is another beast all together. The Salukis' defense is usually one of the best in the nation -- if not the best -- and will be able to slow UMass's offense. The Minutemen are trying out a new O with their new coach, Derek Kellogg, a former UMass point guard and coaching protege of John Calipari. He even looks like Coach Cal. In all seriousness, while I think SIU is a team should have a shot at the Tournament come March, UMass is a team to keep your eye on. Ricky Harris, Chris Lowe and Tony Gaffney are pretty good players.

The worst grouping has to be in Ann Arbor, Mich., where Michigan beat Michigan Tech, Northeastern topped IUPUI and the title game is tonight. Terrible.

Kicking off today in Movieland, No. 4 UCLA gets set to absolutely annihilate Prairie View A&M. Miami (Ohio) will play Weber State in the early game. None of these games matter in terms of wins and losses -- UCLA is going to win both games by 20 or more -- but they do matter in terms of how UCLA plays. Is its defense stifling as usual? How are the new guys playing together? Keep a close eye on this, because Duke will probably see UCLA in the finals of the tournament, and if UCLA is having chemistry problems, Duke has to be the favorite to win the tournament.

And one more thing, SIU can beat UCLA and Duke in November. SIU can beat those teams in March. I've seen the Salukis in action twice over the past three years. That is not a team I'd ever want to play.

Side notes and elsewhere
-- Watch how Miami (Ohio) deals with UCLA's pressure D. Not that Pitt's defense is anywhere near UCLA's, but it's still a good barometer for how the Redhawks will (or won't) handle Pitt.

-- Also, if a school doesn't have its own site for athletics, expect a blowout (see: Arkansas-Monticello).

-- Did you see ESPN.com's power rankings? Doug "I don't know anything about college basketball" Gottlieb didn't even rank Pitt. You know, the No. 5 team in the AP poll.

-- And that brings us to polling. During the presidential campaign, there was a lot of hubbub over which polls are the best. There isn't that kind of confusion in college hoops. Start with the AP poll. End with it, too.

-- ABC should have flipped this to some channel in the thousands, not ESPN 2. Spare us, please.

-- Haha, a brief look into why everyone hates Duke.

River City Rivalry ... means something?!?!

If you asked me in 2006 if Pitt vs. Cincinnati could decide which Big East team goes to a BCS bowl, I probably would've had a crazier smile than Ted Nugent after killing a buck. Seriously? Pitt vs. Cincinnati? The made-up River City Rivalry?

This is about the time of year when Pitt football is in the midst of a multiple-game losing streak that costs it bowl eligibility. This is right about when Cincinnati hits the 4-5 mark with stunning indifference. This is juuust around the time that West Virginia and Louisville should be 8-1 and angling for a BCS bid.

Not this year.

On Nov. 22, Pitt and Cincinnati meet on ESPN 2 for, as my dad would say, a "donnybrook of epic proportions." Somewhere, Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese is muttering, "Dear God ..."

Which cusp is Pitt basketball on?

Pitt basketball stands at a crossroads in its relatively short-lived time at the top of college basketball. The program has consistently ranked as a top team in the nation since 2002.

Compared to ageless wonders like UCLA, Kansas, North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, Indiana and a few others, six years in the upper echelon of college hoops is child's play. For Pitt fans, it has been a fun ride, but things are getting more serious.

Most importantly, for head coach Jamie Dixon, 2008-2009 is a transformative year. The 07-08 season was the first campaign that Dixon had a roster of just his players, meaning the seniors were the first class he fully recruited and signed himself. After this year, the second wave of stars will be gone, too, with Tyrell Biggs, Levance Fields and Sam Young all graduating.

And while it's almost certain that Pitt will be at the very least a competitive club in the Big East this year, what's more evident is that the program stands on the brink of stepping forward or stepping backward. The old guard has one more crack; the new guard waits on the bench.

Led by instant star DeJuan Blair (pictured above), the future of Pitt basketball looks, well, beastly. The Panthers, who have always competed with scrappy above-average talent and a team philosophy, are starting to pull in stars, guys who can score with the best of 'em and still rebound and defend the way Dixon wants them to.

Five-star power forward Dante Taylor will arrive on campus next summer. Dixon and his staff are hoping five-star shooting guard Dominic Cheek will join him. If Cheek comes, a three-headed monster of Blair, Cheek and Taylor will usher in the new era at Pitt. And that doesn't even mention Nasir Robinson, a freshman, who is expected to be a star at some point in his career, and incoming wing Lamar Patterson, who is also considered a good perimeter guy. Meanwhile, the tradition of no-nonsense floor generals will be passed from Fields to freshman Travon Woodall, who, after a year of seasoning, should be more than capable of taking the reins.

In short, the program seems as though it is ready to burst into an even higher group of elite teams, not just loiter around them until the NCAA Tournament, then drop out when the going gets tough. Watch this year's team to see how the transition is going. If a combination of elder statesmen (Fields, Biggs, Young) and young firebrands (Blair, Robinson, Woodall, others) can make it deep in the Tournament -- you know, past the Sweet 16 -- then Pitt basketball is headed toward set-in-stone status among the hoops elite. If this team falters for any number of reasons -- lack of a perimeter scorer, height issues, inexperienced bench -- then who knows what could happen. Struggling this year might even be a reason for Dixon to leave for Arizona; doing well, however, with the new class coming in, is just one of the countless reasons for Dixon to stay and continue his own legacy at Pitt.

It feels strange to say, but the 2008-2009 season is bigger than all the rest. It could open the door to a new generation of overachievers who never quite make it big, or it could knock down the entire wall and break Pitt into superpower status.

Boy, 2008 really is the year of change.

Craig Robinson isn't just the first-year hoops coach at Oregon State. He's not just the former Brown coach who pushed the Bears to the brink of the NCAA Tournament. No, he's also the president-elect's brother-in-law. Here's an interesting side story about the relationship.

Not much to say other than that. Dude's got a mountain to climb in Corvallis, but is making some headway with recruiting. He's got time though, right? You don't want to fire the first lady's brother, do you?

Elsewhere
-- Not shocking, but is a 36-year-old worth that much?

-- Holding their breath for the big night. Ah, I can see it now:

"The 4-4 Broncos and the league's 29th best defense come to Cleveland, where the 3-5 Browns start a new era in their history with unproven Brady Quinn at the helm of the league's 28th best offense. Shanahan against Crennel. Thursday Night Football at its best. Something has to give. Broncos. Browns. Next!"

Worst. Football season. Ever.

-- Here's a change of pace in terms of reading, but why not? Something has to fill the giant void left by the end of the election, right?

-- Finally, the beans are spilled.

-- The first installment from the archives of ridiculous names in college basketball: J'mison Morgan. Not only is this kid going to be a stud at UCLA, he also has a fresh name that I've never seen before. Comment below with suggestions as we start this series.

-- Also, does anyone know if there is fantasy college basketball out there? Not that I'd want to play or anything ...

-- This is classic. I could have sworn Cory Matthews was dead by now.

Parting thought: Our fight against racial prejudice in this country has just begun, and it's a losing battle right now in college football. It shouldn't be that way.

The Great Giambino, Pavano cut from the Yanks

Jason Giambi and Carl Pavano have lost their pinstripes. The Yankees cut them, saving eleventy billion dollars ... or about $35 million in 2009 salaries.

Seriously, let that number soak in.

$35 million.

For Giambi and Pavano.

The Yanks will pay close to $7 million in buyout money to the duo. The healing process can begin.

Giambi, like the CBS story says, has struggled more recently, both defensively and offensively. He hit .236 in '07 and .247 in '08. His power numbers, though, never really tanked, so he might be a nice DH option for a team that has a solid average-plus-power hitter at first base.

Pavano was 9-8 with a 5.00 ERA in four years -- and just 26 starts -- in New York. Awful.

Elsewhere

-- Jai Lucas is transferring. Jeff Withey is not (allowed).

First, Lucas. Not really sure what to make of it. He was going to be a key guy for the Gators this year. In fact, the transfer really hurts Florida. It'll be fun to see where he goes because this kid is a talent.

Second, Withey. Tall, 'bout 6-10, kinda gangly. It always great to see a school deny a kid's desire to leave. Rules say that he has to adhere to his letter of intent, waste a year of college eligibility and stick around at 'Zona ... or ... transfer to another Division I school (which, being the No. 8 center in last year's class, would make sense), lose a year of eligibility while sitting on the bench.

The NCAA: Where your personal freedoms go to die.

-- Bobby Mo was picked third in the NEC. The Fightin' Bobbies won the league last year, but Mt. St. Mary's won the conference tournament and got stampeded in the NCAAs by UNC, 113-74. Not that Bobby Mo would've done better. But hey, on a side note, Bryant University (formerly Bryant College), one of Rhode Island's finest, is the new kid on the block. Bryant put together some high-quality programs in the 2000s before making the move. It'll be fun watching the new D-I club operate.

-- Look at the last line of this story.

Parting thought: Our first basketball president. May he reform conference tournaments and start letting kids out of scholarships.

Election Day ramblings

First off, if you're reading this and you haven't voted yet, go vote.

[Waits for you return ...]

OK, now, Cleveland fans, have no fear: Your franchise has now been placed in the hands of ... that guy, Brady Quinn. What, exactly, is he doing with that guy from "Rock of Love"? Hopefully not the same thing Pam Anderson did with him ... But hey, at least there aren't pictures of him dancing rather questionably with an underaged girl in an L.A. nightclub (looking at you, Leinart).

This is what I told my only friend from Cleveland:

"The difference between Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn is simple: You'll go from hearing ... 'Anderson flees the pocket, looks right, throws and it is ... picked off!' to 'Quinn flees the pocket, looks right, throws and it is ... picked off!'

Will Quinn ultimately be better than Anderson? Probably. But that won't change much this year.

Still, the move was inevitable. I just thought I'd post about it quickly because everyone is busy paying attention to the election.

Elsewhere
-- What the heck happened to the 'Skins last night? They looked like the ham and salami on Pittsburgh's delicious Leftwich. Terrible joke. Final score: Pittsburgh a lot, Washington a little.

-- It always comes back to math, doesn't it? Simple math, really.

-- Walk carefully around Pitt basketball ... foot injuries spread like wild fire.

Impact: Well, it's safe to say Gilbert Brown won't play in the season opener next week. There's really no reason to play him against the Fightin' Seth Greenbergs (the Virginia Tech coach went to Fairleigh Dickinson). And from the looks of the lineup, as we discussed yesterday, it doesn't look like Brown will be a starter. It's still early, but he will probably back up Sam Young at small forward. His athleticism will be missed, but there are plenty of guys to pick up the slack until he comes back.

-- There is some good news out of the Pitt camp: Levance Fields has been cleared for all-out practice.

Parting thought: I thought I told you to go vote ...