Pitt football is playing in the Sun Bowl right now. Pitt basketball is playing Rutgers in the Big East opener for both teams.

Just put it directly into my veins.

Hoops Party on New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve? Who cares! College basketball's gonna party.

There are 12 ranked teams playing today. Probably because they knew you'd be around, one eye on the TV, waiting for the drinking to begin. That's why most of the games tip off before 7. But before we dive into tonight's games, how about last night's?

Teams of the Day: Illinois, which beat No. 9 Purdue in overtime in West Lafayette, and Arkansas. The Razorbacks stunned No. 4 Oklahoma in Fayetteville.

Huge wins for both teams.

OK, to today's games ...

-No. 10 Michigan State at No. 21 Minnesota tips off at noon

-Wisconsin at No. 24 Michigan starts at 2 on ESPN 2

-No. 3 Pitt at Rutgers is at 2, as well

-Loyola (Md.) at No. 5 Duke is at 4 and of course it's on ESPN, Duke has its own broadcasting network

-Iowa at No. 24 Ohio State is also at 4 as the Buckeyes try to recover from their annihilation at the hands of West Virginia

-Jackson State is at No. 19 Baylor at 5

-UNLV at No. 18 Louisville at 6 on ESPN ... Upset Watch ...

-Robert Morris at No. 22 Xavier at 6

-No. 17 Gonzaga at Utah tips at 8 ... another Upset Watch ...

-No. 10 Notre Dame starts its Big East play at DePaul at 8 on ESPN 2

-No. 1 UNC offers the night capper at Nevada at 10 on ESPN 2

Elsewhere
-- I would guess that Pitt is the undisputed No. 2 team in the country if it beats Georgetown on Saturday. If the Panthers fall, UNC and Duke will be 1 and 2. If Pitt is playing for anything, it's playing to prevent Duke and UNC from being the top 2.

-- Denver should never have fired Mike Shanahan, and the Jets made a mistake firing Eric Mangini. Cleveland will make out well if it gets Mangini, and if Denver snags Bill Cowher, the Broncos will be fine, too.

-- I'm sorry, but I'll say it again, Mark Teixeira is not worth $180 million.

Have a happy new year.

Holy Hoyas!

Everyone knew Georgetown would be good. I thought the Hoyas would really come into their own in Big East play. But there were at least six teams that many thought would be better than John Thompson III's guys.

Yet here we are, the morning after the Big East opener, clearly scrambling to make sense of Georgetown's 74-63 throttling of UConn ... in Hartford! The No. 2 Huskies did very little right. Just look at the box score, where you can always find the reasons for the loss. Seventeen turnovers and six assists? (I'm going to beat this into your head this year, but there are four principles to winning -- good field-goal shooting, good free-throw shooting, few turnovers, lots of offensive boards.)

There is a laundry list of other things that went wrong for UConn -- Hasheem Thabeet only took four shots and scored four points; Jerome Dyson was 1 for 10 from the field for four points; and Georgetown scored 26 points off turnovers.

Sloppy play doesn't help you win games, let alone a Big East or national title. Jim Calhoun has to be furious about his team's performance. His Huskies won the battle of the boards and scored plenty of second-chance points, but turnovers and that lack of the extra pass killed them.

But give Georgetown credit. The Hoyas didn't have a much better stat line -- 14 turnovers, 10 assists, lost the rebounding fight, didn't shoot any special percentage -- but they just capitalized on UConn's mistakes.

This is the difference in the game: Points off turnovers -- Georgetown 26, UConn 13.

Simple as that.

Moving forward, Georgetown returns home to the Verizon Center for the ultimate chance to take advantage of its momentum and beat No. 3 Pitt. But the Panthers have a slightly different style than UConn and (I think) they match up better with the Hoyas.

This is a primetime Big East showdown with a lot on the line -- Georgetown raised the stakes with its pummeling of UConn. Pitt and G'town have the two best defenses (in terms of FG defense) in the Big East and they are both in the top three of the RPI right now.

How can I make this any simpler? In terms of efficiency, Georgetown has the No. 1 offense and No. 6 defense; Pitt's No. 12 and No. 8, respectively.

Each team has an Achilles' heel or two -- Georgetown one of the worst rebounding teams in the Big East (Pitt gets a ton of offensive boards) and turns the ball over a lot; Pitt shoots 67 percent from the charity stripe (Georgetown boasts a 75-percent clip) and doesn't have more than one legitimate outside shooter.

Let's just hope it doesn't come down to free-throw shooting ...

Monday's Must-See Matchup

If you hadn't already heard, there's kind of a big game tonight. No. 12 Georgetown at No. 2 UConn tips off tonight at 7 p.m. The game will be on ESPN. What a way to start the Big East season, with a contest showcasing two of the top five teams in the conference.

This is a tone-setting game for the conference slate, too, because both of these teams figure to be in the top five of the league, with UConn favored to win the conference. Pitt, Notre Dame, Louisville and Syracuse will be praying for a Georgetown win -- any help in derailing UConn's title run will be appreciated by the other contenders. And if Georgetown wins, the best conference in America has a new frontrunner.

Key Matchups
Everyone talks about Hasheem Thabeet. He's probably the most intriguing newcomer to the nation's elite playerdom. At 7-3, dude swats shots. Pure and simple. Thabeet will even give a Tony Parker floater its sending orders. You're about to see more of Thabeet than you have so far this year.

But a big-time showdown with freshman sensation Greg Monroe will definitely set this party off right, as Jamie Foxx would say. Monroe is a 6-11 big fella with a little mobility. He'll have to aim high off the glass tonight, and not just because of Thabeet's reach, but also because of the ability of UConn's Jeff Adrien and Stanley Robinson to come off their man and swat shots.

Which leads us to another big matchup at the 4 spot between Adrien and Georgetown's best player, DaJuan Summers. Summers is supposed to be "the next Jeff Green," but he hasn't always been the same kind of player. He has the size and skill of Green, and he can operate on the perimeter like his power-forward predecessor, but he doesn't quite have the same ability to pass the ball. Still, Summers has put together a great start to the season, averaging 15 points a game. He'll need to lure Adrien away from the basket and help Monroe with Thabeet on defense.

Why I like UConn
The Huskies gutted out a win in Seattle against Gonzaga last week. And Hartford is not an easy place to play. Trust me -- I saw Pitt blow a game-long lead against UConn as the crowd got into it. UConn is just so rugged, and Georgetown has always had trouble against teams that push it around a little bit.

Georgetown is a good club. I think the Hoyas were underrated coming into the season. But winning at UConn in December in the first Big East game of the year is a tall order. I like UConn in a good, physical game.

A Post-Christmas Edition

Wow, that's a big picture of Santa, huh?

Happy holidays and all that.

Let's get down to business -- lots of things happened in college hoops over the holiday weekend:

-- Syracuse compromised its principles and values for the sake of winning.

-- There were three big transfers.

-- None of the AP Top 5 lost (Oklahoma and Duke didn't play).

And how about in just sports in general?

-- Heads are rolling in the NFL. Detroit, New Jersey (Jets) and Cleveland all made regime changes. There might be more to come. Meanwhile, Mike Singletary keeps his job in San Fran. I have a feeling Matt Cassel will end up in a 49ers uniform.

-- Brett Favre needs an MRI, and his future as a Jet is in doubt. But really, if thisMi QB cries retirement, does anybody hear him?

-- Big Ben suffers a concussion; this time, it's not related to being an idiot.

-- The Greatest Quarterback Ever is behind schedule in his recovery from a devastating knee injury, according to NBC Sports.

-- Josh Bard and Brad Penny are headed to the Red Sox.

-- An 8-8 team is in the AFC playoffs while the 11-5 Patriots and 9-7 Jets are not. The Chargers are 8-8. Want to know who else is 8-8? The Broncos, Texans, Saints and Redskins. Wow. Those are all great playoff teams, huh? Want to know who isn't in the playoffs but would be if they were in the AFC West? The Cowboys, Bears, Bucs, Jets and Pats.

There is, however, some argument that the Chargers can be dangerous in the playoffs if the right version of the team shows up. After all, San Diego's eight wins include victories against the Jets, Patriots, Bucs and Broncos. The other four? Uh, two against both the Raiders and the Chiefs ...

-- Oh, and Mark Teixeira is not worth $180 million. I'm sorry. Not even close. And the Yankees spent $423.5 million -- on three guys ... Teixeira, CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett. Teixeira and Sabathia I can understand. But AJ Burnett?

-- When are pro athletes going to say, hey, I'll take a pay cut to help this franchise pay its employees who don't wear uniforms?

Bracketology

ESPN's Joe Lunardi released a new Bracketology today.

The 1 seeds are easy to pick: UNC, UConn, Pitt and Oklahoma.

Here's the rest.

Rank 'Em and File: Week 3

Saturday's hoopsnanza gave us a little bit of a clearer picture and lived up to its billing as a day of quality hoops. No. 19 Michigan State dropped No. 5 Texas, No. 2 UConn traveled almost 3,000 miles to Seattle and beat No. 8 Gonzaga in overtime, and Minnesota upset No. 9 Louisville in Glendale, Ariz. Not surprisingly, there's no movement at the very top.

1. North Carolina (11-0; next game: Rutgers 12/28) -- The Heels dropped Evansville and Valparaiso in an incredibly challenging pair of games (he said sarcastically) last week. There really is no reason to rank anyone else, but we do that so we can give out ribbons for runner-up.

2. Connecticut (10-0; next game: Fairfield 12/26) -- UConn crushed Miami (Fla.) and Wisconsin, both of whom were ranked at the time, and crossed the Lower 48 to take on a very good Gonzaga team ... and beat the Zags, too. If you need any more proof, you'll have to wait until Dec. 29, when the Huskies host Georgetown.

3. Pitt (12-0; next game: at Rutgers 12/31) -- It was a struggle at Florida State yesterday, but Pitt held on to stay unblemished. Shooting 33 percent as a team ... not good. Sam Young taking over at the game's most critical juncture ... great. And more proof that he's the man Pitt has always needed in the NCAA Tournament.

4. Oklahoma (11-0; next game: at Rice 12/22) -- The Sooners took care of business in OK City against VCU this weekend. Apparently it was the first time a home team had won in Oklahoma City in a few years ...

5. Duke (10-1; next game: Loyola (Md.) 12/31) -- Duke crushed Xavier. Crushed 'em. I think that's enough for the Dukies to replace Texas at No. 5.

6. Wake Forest (10-0; next game: at East Carolina 12/22) -- The Deacs won at Richmond this weekend. Not exactly riveting, but hey, if everyone else loses, there's a door opening.

7. Gonzaga (8-2; next game: Portland State 12/22) -- I know the Zags lost to UConn on their kind-of home floor. I know they have two losses. But I can't help but feel like they're still big-time. Which is why I ranked ...

8. Texas (9-2; next game: at Wisconsin 12/23) -- ... at No. 8. I know the Longhorns lost to Michigan State, a team with more identities than Larry Sinclair, but it's hard to find teams that are better than them.

9. Syracuse (11-1; next game: Coppin State 12/22) -- Must be nice to punch a girl in the face and get away with it. I guess Jim Boeheim is so desperate to get back to the NCAA Tournament that he checked his principles at the door.

10. Ohio State (8-0; next game: UNC-Asheville 12/22) -- Being undefeated before conference play will help this young Buckeyes team feel confident. Playing Michigan State and Purdue four times will hurt that confidence. But right now, Ohio State is playing better basketball than both of them.

11. Georgetown (8-1; next game: Fla. International 12/23) -- The Hoyas struggled with Mount St. Mary's, but that's OK. I'm still buying this club's darkhorse chances in the Big East. People will look up and see them with 11-14 wins in the conference and remember how good the coaching is in DC.

12. Purdue (9-2; next game: IPFW 12/22) -- The Boilermakers handled Davidson on Saturday. And I mean handled.

13. Baylor (9-1; next game: Hartford 12/22) -- Baylor didn't beat anyone good this week. In fact, Baylor beat UT-Arlington by three. But the Bears weren't embarrassed by anyone.

14. Arizona State (9-1; next game: Idaho State 12/23) -- The Sun Devils bounced back from a scary one-point win against IUPUI with a gritty win against a very good BYU team.

15. UCLA (8-2; next game: Wyoming 12/23) -- UCLA won two games by 58 combined points against Loyola Marymount and a decent Mercer team.

16. Tennessee (8-2; next game: La. Lafayette 12/29) -- Bruce Pearl's Vols dominated Marquette in every way imaginable and followed up with a nail-biter against Belmont. Is there a less predictable team than Tennessee this year?

17. Louisville (7-2; next game: UAB 12/27) -- After UAB on Saturday, the Ville gets UNLV, Kentucky, Villanova, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia all within a month. Those are a lot of chances to prove if the Cardinals are in or out of the title race.

18. Xavier (9-1; next game: Butler 12/23) -- The Musketeers were run out of the building by Duke on Saturday. How can you fall behind by 31 in the first half if you are a serious contender? Even Louisville or Tennessee would keep it close in the first half, right?

19. Notre Dame (8-2; next game: Savannah State 12/22) -- Absolutely demolished Delaware State. Still the most overrated team in America.

20. Clemson (12-0; next game: South Carolina 12/30) -- The Tigers are making their yearly run to 20-0, then we'll have to see if they make their yearly collapse to 21-10. But for now, handling teams like Miami (Fla.) help you in my rankings.

Devendorf could return before New Year's

That man, Eric Devendorf, is suspended indefinitely, but could return in less than two weeks, reports say. I guess hitting a girl in the face doesn't warrant that much punishment. And hey, Syracuse fans are happy. It's almost like he goes to UConn or something.

Merry Christmas, Hoops Fans

Right now, there is not one team that can beat North Carolina anywhere, at any time. I've even contemplated that very question in the past. But, as you can see on that list, there are a few teams that might keep it within 10 points.

Two of them play in Seattle on Saturday. No. 2 UConn goes to Starbucks City for a showdown with the High-Flyin' Zags of Gonzaga, the eighth-ranked team in the nation.

If it talks like a Final Four preview and walks like a Final Four preview, it's a Final Four preview.

UConn has a whole fraternity chapter of guards. Take your pick: UConn's leading scorer, Jerome Dyson; McDonald's All-American Kemba Walker; 07-08 unanimous all-Big East selection AJ Price; or Stamford's finest Craig Austrie. All of them are studs. All of them produce. And they all make Jim Calhoun's life -- at least when he's coaching them on the court -- at lot easier.

And there's that whole bruising inside presence thing, ya know, the best defensive center in college basketball, Hasheem Thabeet, and his sidekick, Jeff Adrien, the scariest man in hoops, especially with the mouthguard in.

Meanwhile, the Zags can fly up and down the floor like they have rockets on their shoes. They score about 79 points as a team, which isn't that huge of a number, unless you look at who they've played. Blowout wins against Maryland, Oklahoma State and Washington State look good; a strong performance and victory against Tennessee looked even better.

If big fella Josh Heytfelt doesn't kill you with his inside-outside game, then Gonzaga's collection of wingers will. Austin Daye, Matt Bouldin, Micah Downs and Stephen Gray all average nine or more points. And Jeremy Pargo (above) makes the team go with never-ending energy.

The Zags doubled up Texas Southern as a form of punishment for being the next opponent on their sked. Gonzaga lost a gritty game to Arizona in Phoenix before beating up Texas Southern.

UConn-Gonzaga will be a track meet, with some physical play underneath and a lot of textbook rebounding. Offensively, it will be like an NBA game. Gonzaga has the ninth most efficient offense in the nation; Connecticut has the eighth.

Just enjoy the game. I won't even attempt a prediction.

-- Tomorrow is going to the equivalent of a lifetime's supply of crack to a crack addict for hoops fans. Let me just map out this list and you can digest it ...

No. 9 Louisville vs. Minnesota in Glendale, Ariz., at 2 p.m.
No. 19 Michigan State at No. 5 Texas at 2 p.m. on CBS
No. 7 Xavier at No. 6 Duke at 2 p.m. also on CBS (one of these two games must be a regional broadcast)
Temple at Kansas at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN 2
Providence at Boston College at 4 p.m.
No. 2 Connecticut at No. 8 Gonzaga in Seattle at 4 p.m. on CBS (regional broadcast)
No. 22 Davidson at No. 13 Purdue at 4 p.m. also on CBS (national broadcast, trying to capitalize on the Curry Phenomenon)
BYU at No. 20 Arizona State at 4:30 p.m.
LSU at Texas A&M at 5 p.m.
Saint Mary's at Southern Illinois at 6 p.m.
No. 11 Syracuse at No. 23 Memphis at 7 p.m. on ESPN
URI at Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m.
Northwestern at Stanford at 10 p.m. (haha, just playin')
VCU at No. 4 Oklahoma at 10 p.m. on ESPN 2

Seriously, just put it directly into my veins.

-- Maybe MLB should ask Mark Teixeira for some of his contract.

-- Not sure how to break this to you, Jack, but ... you're screwed.

Is it the program or the coach?

I have a lot of casual basketball fans ask me a question that is actually tricky to answer: When a school has a successful basketball era, or a longer chain of runs, is it the coach or the program that breeds success?

It's a case-by-case thing. And it's usually a tangled web because one coach usually builds a program into a powerhouse.

Example of "It's the program": Kentucky -- the winningest program in college hoops history. It started, of course, with Adolph Rupp, but the Wildcats have been winning -- for the most part -- for their entire existence. The winning tradition started with E.R. Sweetland in 1912. Sweetland helped UK to a 9-0 record. JJ Tigert, Alpha Brummage and James Park coached Kentucky to a 32-16 record over four years. Only three coaches out of seven over the next 11 years had losing records. Then Rupp came and went 876-190, winning four national titles.

But Rupp's retirement didn't end Kentucky's ongoing success. Joe Hall won 297 games and a title in 1978. Hall's Wildcats made it to the finals in 1975 and a Final Four in 1984. Eddie Sutton was 88-39, but left the school in controversy and scandal without ever reaching a Final Four. Then, Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith each won titles.

And while Billy Gillispie has struggled in his first few season, and Smith struggled toward the end of his time there, Kentucky is still a program built over a century by numerous coaches, most influential being Rupp, Hall and Pitino.

Others that "are the program" include Duke, Syracuse, Indiana (although Bob Knight, like Jim Boeheim at 'Cuse, really helps the Hoosiers make a good "It's the coach" argument), UCLA, Kansas, Louisville and St. John's.

"It's the coach" caveat: There are a lot of schools that have become superpowers because of a coach -- Arizona and UConn come to mind. But also, college basketball is such a young sport that many of these schools just hadn't plugged into the game until the '60s, '70s or later. Others, however, were good, but then became great.

Take UConn, for example, where Hugh Greer (wish I was related to him, but I'm not) guided the program to 286 wins through 1963, but for 23 years, UConn was irrelevant. Then Jim Calhoun came and made it a superpower.

Here's a good "It's the coach" example: Look no farther than a pair of A-10 teams for "It's the coach." John Calipari (pictured at the top) took UMass from obscurity (except for the Julius Erving years) to significance in a very short amount of time. Calipari was 193-71 in nine seasons at UMass, which included a Final Four trip and a No. 1 ranking.

At Temple, John Chaney won 724 games and made 30 trips to postseason play. For the most part, Temple was nothing before Chaney came. Temple is struggling to reach the same level of relevance in modern days.

DePaul is another good example of "It's the coach," but we'll throw in, "the coach's family." Ray Meyer coached the Blue Demons to 37 winning seasons, 12 20-win seasons and a pair of Final Fours. Meyer retired in 1984, and his son, Joey, took over the reins. Joey Meyer took DePaul to seven NCAA tournaments, but DePaul hasn't been near those levels since Joey left in 1997.

Overall, it's really hard to define many programs as "just the coach" or "a sustained winner as a program." Almost every school has had a few coaches with blips of success, but very few have had consistent brand names as winners. Some schools, like Arizona, Connecticut and Gonzaga, will grow into sustained programs for a while. Pitt, thanks to Ben Howland his predecessor, Jamie Dixon, will probably develop into a decent, sustained winner in the future.

Is Young the Elite Scorer Pitt Has Always Needed?

While Pitt raced to its first nationally televised victory of the 2008-09 season, ESPN's broadcasting crew mentioned something that I've been talking about for years: The reason Pitt basketball has not made the Elite 8 and more is because of the lack of an elite scorer to carry the Panthers through March.

Is Sam Young the man to fill that need? He sure looks like it. And if Young isn't 100 percent the man, DeJuan Blair helps out a lot, too. To be competitive, Pitt has to keep quality offensive teams in check. But this year's team, more so than any of others in recent history, can fill it up easier and compete with offensively efficient programs.

(In fact, nothing has validated that change more than Pitt's shifting gears early in the season, beating up-tempo Texas Tech, 80-67, and slow-down, drag-out Washington State, 57-43.)

There are three reasons Pitt will have an easier time scoring this year: (1) Better, more mobile post players (Blair, Tyrell Biggs), (2) a great transition game sparked by Blair's impressive outlet passing and usually led by creative point guard Levance Fields and (3) Sam Young.

Young has been an elite scorer for some time now, but national analysts are only just picking that up. His 6-6 frame is muscular and rugged. And with the 6-8 Biggs emerging as a quality starter in the post, Young can finally roam all areas of the floor. Young operated almost entirely along the baseline, in the paint and in transition as a freshman and sophomore. Last year, he extended his game to about 20 feet, and expanded his repertoire of moves to the basket. This year, he has only improved those parts of his game.

His ball-handling still needs work, but Young's game right now is elite enough to score in bunches. He can step out for 3s, drop some mid-range knowledge, throw down in traffic, flip a floater over a taller defender, bang around inside for a putback or baby J, or dunk on your entire program in transition.

Dude averages 20 points in 29 minutes a game. He has taken over several contests, too. He has only been held to single-digit points once, and that was in Pitt's mauling of D-II school Indiana (Pa.), when coach Jamie Dixon limited his starters' minutes. Young has scored 20-plus points four times and 30-plus once. He's shooting 36 percent from 3 and 52 percent from the field. Not bad for a guy who takes 15 shots a game, including more than four 3s.

Simply put, the common knock on Pitt for all these years has been the same one: The Panthers can't score when they need to, and elite opponents will find a way to be efficient against Pitt's stifling D. When they meet a marquee opponent in the Tournament -- or (ahem) teams like Pacific, Kent State or Bradley -- that can withstand the defensive pressure enough to be remotely efficient, the Panthers struggle mightily. And while defense and rebounding are still the two main attributes of Pitt's dominant start to the 2008-09 season, it's lazy of reporters and commentators to just assume that it's the same old, same old.

Pitt can score this year. And it can rebound. And it still has one of the nation's most efficient defenses. But, surprise, surprise, its offense is third in the country in maximizing offensive possessions. So, how are the Panthers doing it? Limiting their turnovers, getting defensive rebounds, shooting well and getting the ball to Sam Young.

So, while it's still early and Tournament pairings always take precedence over individual teams and their abilities, this Pitt team has the elite scorer it needs to break the Sweet 16 curse. And it will be fun watching the Panthers try to reach that goal.

Other thoughts
-- UTEP handled its business at home against Texas Tech, winning, 96-78. I'd say that of John Calipari's two former players who now coach, UTEP's Tony Barbee is winning this year's battle.

-- I complained about it yesterday, but Cincinnati and Mississippi State match up tonight on ESPN 2. It'll be fun for some people to see Mississippi State's Jarvis Varnado for the first time.

-- Ole Miss is at No. 9 Louisville at 9. That'll be on ESPN. Ole Miss might have some distractions, though. The 'Ville still needs a reliable point guard. I've seen flashes from Edgar Sosa, but never enough consistency.

-- I'm sorry, but Mark Teixeira is not worth $20 million a year. In fact, I don't think anyone's services in any profession are worth $20 million. Just throwing that out there.

Best Unranked Teams

These teams aren't ranked, but have a shot to sneak in the back end of the AP Top 25 after No. 24 Marquette and No. 23 Memphis both lost tough games against good opponents.

Memphis will be back in eventually, but the Tigers need to take better, smarter shots, and hope that Tyreke Evans improves as a decision-maker.

Marquette has the talent to win a lot of games at home, but it's starting to look like this batch of Golden Eagles -- ya know, Jerel McNeal, Wesley Matthews, Maurice Acker, Lazar Heyward and the most overrated player in the history of college basketball, Dominic James -- can't be counted on to win road games.

So, without any more posturing ...

1. Michigan -- The Wolverines are the easy choice because they are No. 26 in the AP rankings. But John Beilein (above) has his kids winning games they should and competing in the tough ones. If anyone is surprised by Beilein's getting results, you are crazy. Kentucky has to be kicking itself right now.

2. Miami -- The 'Canes get a chance to totally redeem themselves with an early conference donnybrook with No. 25 Clemson, which has zoomed to a 10-0 record. It's not like two losses against No. 2 UConn and No. 17 Ohio State are all that bad anyway ...

3. BYU -- The Cougars are 10-0 and have a marquee matchup at No. 20 Arizona State on Saturday and a home game against No. 10 Wake Forest on Jan. 3. Those two games will test BYU, and prepare it for the Tournament, where you should expect to see the Cougars.

4. Saint Mary's -- I don't see how one loss against a good UTEP team on a neutral floor has knocked the Gaels this far down the rankings, but the fightin' Patty Millses will be back. Trust me. We mentioned Saint Mary's earlier today because it has a big matchup with Oregon tonight. A game at Southern Illinois follows on Saturday, but after that, Saint Mary's will only have two more chances to beat any big-name teams -- and both of those changes are against No. 8 Gonzaga.

5. Minnesota -- I'm not sold on Tubby Smith's Golden Gophers yet, and neither are the AP voters, who gave the 'Sota two votes in last week's poll. But Minnesota is 9-0, and three of its next five games are against currently ranked teams -- No. 9 Louisville (in Arizona) and home against No. 17 Ohio State and No. 19 Michigan State. With the two calkwalks in between the big games, I think Minnesota will have a tough time doing better than 2-3.

6. Temple -- Riding the high of one upset isn't enough. And the 5-3 record isn't that great, either -- although losses to tougher-than-expected Buffalo, great shut-you-down D and Miami (Ohio) and Clemson aren't bad. But the Owls play at Kansas on Saturday and against Villanova Dec. 29.

Don't Get Ahead Yourself, SEC

OK, No. 16 Tennessee beat No. 24 Marquette -- in Tennessee -- and Vanderbilt crunched South Florida. Big deal. Why don't you pick on someone your own size?

So the SEC's best team beat the Big East's eighth-best club. And a 4 seed in last year's Tournament beat the worst team in Big East history. Congratulations.

And on Thursday, we get Ole Miss at Louisville and Mississippi State at Cincinnati. Wow. Thrilling showdowns in the Big East/SEC Challenge.

Why can't we have UConn-Tennessee, Pitt-Florida, Louisville-LSU and Notre Dame-Kentucky? It's not a challenge if we don't get to see the top teams play. Big Ten/ACC brought us Duke vs. Purdue and UNC vs. Michigan State.

And second of all, why can't it be the Big East/[Insert halfway decent conference here] Challenge? Maybe the A-10 would be a better opponent ...

Nonetheless, there are still some good hoops games tonight:

-- Texas Tech goes to UTEP for an in-state showdown. The Red Raiders are 7-2 with Pat Knight at the helm, and can score in bunches. UTEP is working hard to be a major challenger to Memphis's dominance of Conference USA. Beating a decent Texas Tech team will help UTEP's resume in March, too.

-- Siena at No. 3 Pitt would be a bigger game if Siena had held up its end of the bargain. You know, the whole "being good" thing. Remember when I mentioned Vanderbilt as a 4 seed in last year's Tournament? Well, Siena beat Vandy by 21 in the first round. And the Saints returned all five starters from that lineup. But now they're 5-3 and shooting 29 percent from 3 as a team. Not quite the same. This one's on ESPN 2 at 9:30.

-- Saint Mary's at Oregon should provide some quality entertainment. The Gaels are quietly one of the best teams on the West Coast and Oregon is desperately trying to find its stride.

Here's Your Morning Update

Cleveland State 72, No. 11 Syracuse 69 ... in the Carrier Dome.

'Nuff said.

The Beast Rears Its Ugly Head

The Big East is responsible for eight teams in both the AP and Coaches polls today. Only one other Big East team received any votes -- West Virginia got one AP vote.

So, how hard will it be for the teams that line up behind the Big 8?

Well, last year, the first year the conference went to 18-game schedule, 9-9 was the worst record that a Tournament team had in the Big East. This year, 8-10 might be acceptable, given the challenging nature of conference play.

This year, the five teams destined for Nos. 9 through 13 in the Big East are all doing reasonably well:

-- Seton Hall is 8-1, with wins against USC and Virginia Tech. Those should hold a lot of weight if the Pirates don't lose any bad games before conference play, which would leave them at 11-1 before Big East games start. SHU should finish at least 7-11 in conference, so stealing one or two games against the top 8 would go a long way. Eighteen wins might not be good enough unless SHU gets a good win against a top-15 team.

-- St. John's is also 8-1, albeit against a cupcake schedule. But still, hosting Miami (FL) and Duke at MSG gives the Red Storm two more opportunities to snag a marquee nonconference win. I just don't see St. John's getting more than seven conference wins, and without the marquee wins like Seton Hall, that's not good enough.

-- West Virginia is 7-2, with losses to Davidson (in New York) and Kentucky. Good wins came at Ole Miss and in Las Vegas against Iowa. Games against Miami (OH) and Ohio State (on the road) give the 'Eers a chance to get two more good nonconference wins. My initial count says WVU goes just 6-12 in the Big East, but knowing its track record at home, I'm willing to adjust to 8-10 or even 9-9. If WVU does that, and wins the rest of its nonconference sked aside from the one at Ohio State, it will finish 19-12. That's good enough, I'd say.

-- Cincinnati is 6-2, with losses against Florida State in Las Vegas and at home against No. 7 Xavier. Two nice wins against UNLV and UAB will help Mick Cronin's squad if its on the bubble in March. A matchup with Mississippi State this week and Memphis in two weeks gives the Bearcats two chances to grab another quality win. I only see Cincy getting 7 wins, which is too few, but a stolen win to get to 8 conference wins, plus a 10-3 nonconference record means 18 wins is possible.

-- Providence was the chic pick to steal one of the top 8 spots in the Big East this year, but the Friars struggled immediately, losing their first game to Northeastern ... at home. Now, PC is quietly 6-3, with a good win against Rhode Island. PC still plays at Boston College, but other than that, there really aren't any other spots for good nonconference wins. This enigmatic bunch looks primed for about a 6-12 or 7-11 finish in the Big East. Steal a win or two, and the Friars could have 17 or 18 wins to their ledger, which still might not be enough.

So, what do these teams do?
Well, that's easy to answer: win. Beating a ranked team or two on your home floor helps. Beating one on the road helps even more. Making sure you win games you should win and beating teams in similar situations as you (these five teams play each other plenty of times) can help overcome the ridiculously tough conference slate.

If I had to pick right now, I'd say Seton Hall and West Virginia are the two teams best positioned to sneak into the Tournament. Marquette and Villanova have some vulnerabilities that leave me thinking those two could struggle, potentially leaving space for one of these next-tier teams to sneak into the Big East's top 8. Keep an eye on Syracuse, too. It'll be interesting to see how the Orange deal with Eric Devendorf's almost certain season-long suspension.

Do any of these teams have the talent to match up with the Big 8? Out of this bunch, I'd say WVU and Providence do; the rest don't. But WVU has had injury issues, and Providence goes cold, can't play defense and is about as predictable as an M. Night Shyamalan movie.

Rank 'Em and File 'Em: Week 2

It's our second week of rankings here on J. Greer, and we do have some movement. A few of the games I highlighted on Thursday turned out to be doozies, with Arizona beating No. 4 Gonzaga, No. 21 Ohio State barely edging Butler, UMass and Temple toppled No. 25 Kansas and No. 8 Tennessee, respectively, and No. 19 Georgetown handled its business against No. 17 Memphis.

So, without anymore chit-chat, here are this week's rankings, served with a morning cup o' joe:

1. North Carolina -- Even if UNC lost, I'd need a really, really good reason to not think this team is clear and away the best team in America. This weekend, someone told me that UNC was on Tier 1 and everyone else started at Tier 2. I said, "You mean, everyone else starts at Tier 5."

2. UConn -- No games this past week for the Huskies, but this week's contest at Gonzaga is gonna be awesome.

3. Pitt -- Still no formidable shooting guards, but the Panthers and their Big 3 continued their early-season, all-you-can-eat buffet of cupcakes with a 91-56 drubbing of UMBC.

4. Texas -- The Longhorns struggled against Texas State, but Rick Barnes has his team playing defense and rebounding better than your typical Texas club. These kids love it, too.

5. Oklahoma -- Like I said last week, Blake Griffin has the Sooners in the second tier of college hoops until he leaves.

6. Xavier -- The Musketeers keep taking care of business. A solid win against Cincinnati confirmed Xavier's ownership of the Queen City.

7. Duke -- When March comes, I really believe Wake might be better than Duke. But right now, the Dukies are far more experienced and far less turnover-prone.

8. Wake Forest -- Easily one of the most talented rosters in the country, the Young Deacs haven't had any problems winning in the early going this season, showing their ability to overcome chronic turnover issues. But those TOs will have to be cut down before ACC play.

9. Gonzaga -- I won't drop 'em too far, but the Zags are on notice. Arizona is talented, but losing to the 'Cats in December is unacceptable, even on the road. If Gonzaga is truly top-of-the-line, it can't lose games like that.

10. Syracuse -- Distractions? What distractions? The Orange rolled over Long Beach State despite all the controversy surrounding star guard Eric Devendorf.

11. Louisville -- A couple of dominant wins showed that the 'Ville is getting its swagger back. But the point-guard play continues to be a question.

12. Ohio State -- Struggled against a very good Butler team. But the Buckeyes aren't looking quite like the Big Ten third wheel we all thought they'd be.

13. Georgetown -- A big home win against Memphis moves the Hoyas into the "Hovering Around the Top 10" group. The question coming into the season was how quickly Chris Wright and Greg Monroe could grow up. We are learning that it didn't take long.

14. Purdue -- At least the Boilermakers played a tough nonconference sked. I know I moved them up, but I've got a few teams to move down.

15. Baylor -- The Bears play a run-and-gun style with a very stingy defense mixed in. This club is for real, and could give Texas and Oklahoma fits.

16. Arizona State -- Only loss is to Baylor, but the Sun Devils are on notice -- 59-58 wins against IUPUI don't look great.

17. Tennessee -- The Vols were embarrassed by Temple, but I think the talent level is still there to be the SEC's best. I have to say, though: Doesn't this team seem to fit the mold of a No. 3, 4 or 5 seed that gets upset in the first round of the Tournament?

18. UCLA -- A win against DePaul would have meant more a year ago. A tough challenge comes Dec. 20 when the Bruins host Mercer, a team that has been more problematic than Lindsay Lohan on a movie set.

19. Davidson -- Stephen Curry had a rough start to his big night at the Garden, but finished strong, keeping his crew right where it was last week.

20. Notre Dame -- Still the most overrated team in the country in the national rankings. And the Fighting Irish barely beat BU.

Weekend Preview

Because I'm away for the weekend, let's run over some of the best games ahead, starting with tonight ...

Games of the Week(end):

St. Joe's vs. No. 15 Villanova (Thursday at 8): Last year, St. Joe's put a hurtin' on the 'Cats. Villanova has the upper hand this year, but Scottie Reynolds has to be a bigger factor if 'Nova wants to go anywhere. And if Tuesday's performance against Texas was any indiciation, Reynolds has a lot of work ahead.

Iowa at Iowa State (Friday at 8:05): This one's not on TV, but a good-old in-state rivalry never disappoints, even if this one lost its relevance about three years ago.

Long Beach State at No. 13 Syracuse (Saturday at noon): It will be interesting to see if Syracuse is distracted by the whole Eric-Devendorf-hitting-a-girl-in-the-face controversy. He'll be on the floor Saturday.

Butler at No. 21 Ohio State (Saturday at noon): Ohio State made its case for being ranked; now it's Butler's turn. We know the Buckeyes are gritty and talented. Butler has a chance to get a really high-quality win on the road.

No. 8 Tennessee at Temple (Saturday at noon on ESPN): The first of many tough games ahead for the Vols. This will test their mettle.

No. 17 Memphis at No. 19 Georgetown (Saturday at 2 p.m. on CBS): Both teams are scrapping to get recognized, but these are two clubs nobody will want to play come March. Or January, for that matter.

UMass at No. 25 Kansas (Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN): Kansas should win this game, but UMass needs to cut down on its turnovers to start competing better with big-name clubs like KU. This would be a nice place to start for the Minutemen.

Indiana at Kentucky (Saturday at 4 p.m. on CBS): Just for the names, not for the hoops.

Utah at No. 5 Oklahoma (Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN 2): The Sooners should win this contest, but the Utes have a nice team.

UMBC at No. 3 Pitt (Saturday at 7 p.m.): Cause it's been too long for the Panthers.

No. 10 Xavier at Cincinnati (Saturday at 8 on ESPN 2): The Musketeers are legit, we know that much. But how far has Cincinnati come this season? Good wins against UAB and at UNLV look nice, but a loss to Florida State catches my eye.

No. 4 Gonzaga at Arizona (Sunday at 6): Jordan Hill is starting to be a major player for the 'Cats, but Gonzaga is clearly at Top 5 team that is starting to really jell. They ran over Wazzou (at Wazzou, no less) on Wednesday.

OK, folks, have a nice weekend.

Bye, Bye, Devendorf

The Syracuse guard that everybody loves to hate -- Eric Devendorf -- has been given a season-long suspension from Syracuse. The suspension, as of right now, will be lifted in May.

Seems like the kid can't stop hitting people.

Devendorf's lawyer said Devendorf plans to appeal the decision.

What does this mean for Syracuse?
Well, for a team that has been on a meteoric rise in the national rankings, this is a serious blow. Devendorf averaged 14 points a game and, after missing last year with a knee injury, would have been a key member of Syracuse's campaign this year.

Without Devendorf, expect Andy Rautins's role to expand. There is also a slew of forwards off the bench who will probably see more time, with Syracuse employing a big lineup with Paul Harris at the 2.

The suspension also limits the amount of capable ball-handlers on the floor for Jim Boeheim. Teams might press Syracuse more. And it might also mean Jonny Flynn's minutes will go up -- even though they're already at about 35 a game.

Bottom line: This suspension is a major issue that will have an immediate and lasting impact on the Orange. One of their best players and top shooters/ball-handlers is going to miss the rest of the season. When things like that happen, being successful is difficult at best.

Elsewhere
-- Gonzaga struggled with Washington State for a half before pulling away. Wazzou clearly lacks the punch it had last year, but the Cougs still make it tough for people to score.

-- UMass finally got its second win. Turnovers were still a problem.

-- The Yankees are loading up.

-- And the Nats are trying to.

Is Curry overshooting?

He isn't a point guard. We know that much. But is Stephen Curry overshooting? In other words, is America's Favorite Basketball Player trigger-happy?

Let's break this down:

Caveat: Stephen Curry is one of my favorite college basketball players. He is the second-best player in the country to Blake Griffin, and is clear-and-away the best wing player around.

Last year, Curry played the 2. He V- and backdoor-cut, ran through staggered screens, took handoffs and isolated, launched over people, etc. He did everything he could to touch the ball at least once a possession.

This year, the 6-3 junior -- as you probably already know -- is playing point guard. The departure of his senior sidekick Jason Richards has clearly cramped Curry's style. Last year's Three Amigos -- Curry, Richards and big-man Andrew Lovedale -- are down to two, and Curry has taken on an even larger role in the offense.

None of this means that some role players haven't stepped up their parts. Hell, Davidson is 7-1, with its only loss coming in a thriller at Oklahoma. Steve Rossiter has certainly helped Lovedale underneath, Bryant Barr has fit nicely into the lineup as a wing threat and Mark Paulhus Gosselin (who missed last night's game against WVU) continues to be the team's top perimeter defender. And Will Archambault, Ben Allison and Ben McKillop have done well off the bench at different points.

But Richards was the NCAA's assists leader last year, setting up Curry for quicker, easier shots. And Richards also scored at a 13-point clip. That meant less shooting for Curry.

In eight games this year, Curry has taken 31.2 percent of his team's shots. His shooting percentage is nice -- 47.6 percent -- but in games against BCS opponents (at Oklahoma, NC State and West Virginia), Curry is 36 of 89 overall (40%) and 14 of 45 from 3 (31%). That's 29.7 shots a game, including 15 3s a contest.

At those percentages, that's a little too much. I hear your argument, Peanut Gallery. Those are tougher teams, so there is tougher defense, and Davidson relies on its star more than usual to score.

Fair point.

But in the three games against the BCS teams, Curry at times has forced shots. Maybe it's in his blood to bear any burden his team has. Maybe without Richards the trust isn't exactly there with some of his teammates yet. Who knows? But, like CBS's Gary Parrish notes, there was a point last night when Curry was 5 of 22 from the field. And a lot of those missed shots were forced.

Without having the chance to move off the ball to get open, things have changed for Curry. He has had to reinvent himself offensively and figure out how to get his looks. Part of that process is feeling out his comfort zones, and right now, it doesn't seem like he is entirely comfortable.

When he reaches that comfort zone, dear lord, look out.

Elsewhere
-- Texas' defense is as good as we talked about yesterday. Villanova couldn't get into the paint much. Scottie Reynolds struggled. And Texas overwhelmed the Cats on the inside. Recipe for victory.

-- Good matchups tonight: Cal at Utah, Dayton at Creighton, San Diego State at Arizona and Gonzaga at Wazzou.

Caveman Governor?

Tuesday's Tussle

Jay Wright's Villanova Wildcats have a tall order tonight: Beat sixth-ranked Texas (6-1) in New York. And it won't be easy. Texas has tested itself against some of the best competition in the country; No. 15 Villanova hasn't necessarily played the World's Hardest Schedule.

But here's a big chance to see where 'Nova (8-0) belongs. A win here proves the Cats belong in the top circles of college hoops this year (you know, the tier juuuust below North Carolina, which stands alone in its own group); a loss means there is more work to be done with Big East play lurking around the corner.

We know Villanova can defend. And the perimeter talent is always there. But can the Wildcats score against Texas' blistering D? Texas only allows 57 points a game, forcing opponents to shoot just 35 percent from the field. More importantly, the Longhorns have one of the most efficient defenses in the nation, according to Ken Pomeroy's scouting reports.

But 'Nova is no slouch on the defensive end, either. The Wildcats allow the same amount of points per game (albeit against lesser competition) and hold their opponents to 37 percent shooting. And their efficiency ratings are arguably better than the Longhorns'.

Key matchups: It has to be out on the perimeter, where AJ Abrams will try to continue his hot start to the season. It's simple really: When Abrams does well, so does Texas.

The same can be said for Scottie Reynolds at Villanova. Reynolds, however, hasn't exactly scorched the nets in his first eight games. Not that he hasn't had an impact -- the 6-2 shooting guard still averages 14 points, five assists and three rebounds a game -- but Reynolds only just found his shooting stroke, and it was against Houston Baptist. He's shooting 39 percent from the field, which is right around his career average, but he has always needed to be more selective with his shots.

And the key point to make is this: Even with Reynolds struggling in the early going of the 08-09 season, everyone else, especially Dante Cunningham, has picked up the slack. So any added showtime from Scottie will make 'Nova tough to beat.

Elsewhere
-- Another good, albeit quietly, game is West Virginia-Davidson. Bob Huggins's boys love to defend, and it will be interesting to see how WVU matches up with Stephen Curry. A key Davidson guard, Mark Paulhus Gosselin, received a suspension today from the Southern Conference. Keep an eye on how that impacts Curry's trust in his teammates.

-- Just a quick sidenote on college football: Texas got screwed, so'd Alabama. Ohio State shouldn't even be in a BCS bowl. And while I'm at it, does Georgia have to choke every year, or is that just a thing the Bulldogs like to do on their own?

Rank 'Em and File 'Em

We're into December and starting to see at least some formation of a solid group of contenders. So, with that in mind, I'm gonna rank 'em. Each week from here until the NCAA Tournament, we'll use Mondays to rank teams and talk a little bit about each of them.

Without further ado ... the first 2008-2009 J. Greer Top 20

1. North Carolina -- It has to be, right? No other team has this much talent. Even against highly ranked teams like Notre Dame and Michigan State, the Tar Heels looked like they were from another level.

2. UConn -- The Huskies struggled against Buffalo (Buffalo?) but are still the odds-on favorite to meet the Heels on Championship Monday.

3. Pitt -- This year's Panthers aren't just your old friendly bruisers; they possess a three-headed monster on offense with multiple role players emerging as weapons. They can run, they can score and they can still knock you on your ass.

4. Gonzaga -- The Runnin' Zags are the best team on the West Coast and easily one of the best teams in their school's history. Mark Few has six playmakers on this roster.

5. Oklahoma -- Blake Griffin is the best big man in the country. He has that nimbleness about him. The Sooners are top-notch as long as he's around. Oh, and Willie Warren ain't half bad.

6. Texas -- Another huge test of the Longhorns comes tomorrow, when they play Villanova in the Jimmy V Classic.

7. Duke -- I know Duke lost to Michigan. I know everyone hates Duke. I also know that Duke might be the only team capable of beating UNC in the regular season. And one loss on the road isn't terrible.

8. Xavier -- The Musketeers are good. Get used to it.

9. Tennessee -- Always jam-packed with athletes, Bruce Pearl's bunch can fill it up in a hurry and run with anyone.

10. Louisville -- I'm sticking to my gut here. The Cardinals are nasty, and an embarrassing loss early in the season might be the best wake-up call they could have.

11. Syracuse -- And you thought Donte Greene leaving would be a problem. Silly you. Now the Orange actually have five players trying at once. And oh what a difference it makes.

12. Villanova -- See Texas above.

13. Wake Forest -- Supremely talented, very deep, way too many turnovers.

14. Ohio State -- We knew they had some young studs, but we didn't know they'd actually win big games with them.

15. Georgetown -- Still good, still kicking. If you sleep on the Hoyas, you're an idiot.

16. Michigan State -- Sparty had his butt handed to him last week by the Sprintin' Tar Heels, but it could be a lot worse.

16. Memphis -- See Wake Forest above.

17. Purdue -- I still love the Baby Boilermakers. They are legit. And they will avenge two early (but high quality) losses.

18. UCLA -- See Pitt above, but without the same punch as usual. And it seems like the Bruins could use a big guy or three.

19. Davidson -- I don't care what the Wildcats' record is, these kids can play with anyone, anywhere, anytime.

20. Notre Dame -- Most overrated team in the country, but I have to rank them somewhere, right?

Another Resume-Builder

Add Duke to the list of upsets. Michigan is certainly piling up some nice NCAA Tournament-caliber wins in the nonconference schedule. A win against Duke gives the Wolverines two (UCLA being the other).

Could Michigan challenge for third in the Big Ten? We'll see.

Elsewhere
-- God, of all the teams I wanted to see in the BCS title game, Florida is not even close to being one of them. The only good thing to ever come out of Florida is Erin Andrews.

-- Notre Dame lost to Ohio State. The Buckeyes are snatching up some nice wins early this year, too.

Harmless in Hollywood

The ship hasn't quite sailed on UCLA yet, but it's clear that the Bruins aren't the super-elite team they were in the past three years. Maybe time will change that, but for now, UCLA is clearly in the second tier of college hoops top dogs this season.

Texas, on the other hand, is pending further investigation.

Last night's contest proved two things: AJ Abrams is a stud (but we already knew that) and UCLA has trouble getting points against good teams. The defense is still there for Ben Howland's club, but the offense might be the downfall later in the year. Granted, this game went down to the wire, but UCLA in years past would have won this game.

Elsewhere
-- What happens in Buffalo ... UConn almost lost to Buffalo last night, but held on to win, 68-64. This coming immediately after I wrote that UConn has the best shot of any team to beat UNC.

Spartans Tarred and Feathered; Can Anyone Top the Heels?

If you needed any more proof that North Carolina is clear and away the best team in America, you got it last night. If you didn't, you simply marveled at the NBA-like performance of this battalion of All-Americans.

Michigan State is an elite team. The Spartans, who have lost to Maryland (Maryland? Yes, Maryland), are still my favorite to the win the Big 10 -- sorry, Purdue. And I really do see Michigan State making the Elite 8 and possibly the Final Four.

So last night, while it wasn't surprising to observe the Tar Heels' incredible offensive efficiency -- they run the break like the Celtics from the '80s -- it was surprising to see the Spartans sputter so much in the limelight.

Instead of breaking down the game, let's move to a new discussion: Which teams can *compete* with North Carolina, and possibly top them when UNC has an off night (which, brace yourself, could happen someday)?

We'll settle them into three categories: Line 'em up, Only on a bad day and Upset City.

Line 'em up -- These teams could go head-to-head, and if UNC gets stuck playing the opponent's game, the opponent just might win.

1. UConn -- The obvious choice. The Huskies have the depth and the talent to run with UNC. Can UConn score with UNC? Probably. The Huskies have four very good guards who can fill it up, and Hasheem Thabeet and Jeff Adrien will emerge as two of the best post scorers in the Big East. I'd love to see UNC deal with Thabeet.

2. Pitt -- If the Panthers could dictate the pace of the game and keep star center DeJuan Blair out of foul trouble, Pitt would certainly give UNC some problems. The reason both UConn and Pitt are listed here is defense. Both teams can slow down any opponent, even UNC. The degree to which the Tar Heels are slowed, however, is a key factor. Pitt has similar depth to UConn and UNC, and the athletes to cause UNC problems, but for the Panthers to win, the game couldn't go much higher than the 70s.

3. Gonzaga -- Only in a track meet could the Zags upend the Heels, but it's not out of the question. Mark Few's bunch can score quickly and easily, and much of Gonzaga's points come in transition. This game would go off the rails immediately and, much like the UNC-Notre Dame game in Maui, end up in the 90s and 100s. At that point, all it takes is some missed free throws and a last-second chance to win.

4. Duke -- Similar to Gonzaga, but with a mix of UConn/Pitt. With a taste of rivalry to it, the Duke-UNC matchup is almost a toss-up, with UNC obviously having a slight lean as the favorite. Duke can score with anyone, in transition or the halfcourt, but it can also defend rather well. The only place where the Blue Devils would have a serious disadvantage is in the frontcourt, where UNC's depth and rebounding abilities will overwhelm the Dukies whenever these teams meet.

Only on a really bad day -- This is pretty obvious: If UNC is having a bad day, which by most teams' standards this year is probably still good enough to win, then these teams have a shot. But then again, the only way UNC loses is on a bad day in the first place, so this has to be a really bad day.

1. Oklahoma -- The Sooners have two comparable stars in Blake Griffin and Willie Warren to match UNC's two biggest guns, Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson. But Oklahoma would need a gargantuan performance from both -- something Griffin knows how to do, averaging pretty much a heroic effort every night (26 and 19) -- plus third, fourth, fifth and probably sixth wheels to back those two up. Blake Griffin's brother, Taylor, would probably have trouble against Marcus Ginyard, but Taylor and Oklahoma's four guards behind Warren would all have to play well.

2. Louisville -- I know the Cardinals lost to Western Kentucky. By now, everyone knows. But November's laughing stock will be one of March's most dangerous teams. Rick Pitino's lineup is stacked and his bench is deep. There is no drop-off in talent when Pitino dips into his reserves, and many of the players on his roster remember UNC's toppling of their team in the Elite 8 last year. Motivational tools only go so far, but talent and athleticism will help a lot if these teams match up in March.

3. UCLA -- See Pitt above. But also consider the experienced and deep roster. I'm sure you've noticed a trend: teams that want to beat UNC must be deep. UCLA plays great defense, both halfcourt and transition, and would have to really clamp down in the post to keep UNC off the glass. This would be an ugly game, one that UNC would probably win by scoring in the low 70s, but UCLA could cause some problems.

4. Wake Forest -- The Demon Deacons are young, deep and extremely loaded. They can score plenty, and they love to run. The problem with Wake Forest is all the turnovers. If Wake cuts down on turnovers in a game against UNC, maybe the Deacs can cause some problems. Wake gets UNC at home on Jan. 11, but don't use that as a barometer: UNC will probably win, and maybe even blow out Wake. But Wake will be far more mature come March, and that could be a huge difference.

5. Michigan State/Purdue -- I know the Spartans lost by 35 last night and the Boilermakers were crushed by Duke on Tuesday, but both of these teams will be leaps and bounds better by March. Both teams have a lot of talent, depth and coaching (especially Tom Izzo at MSU), and that could help them learn from their early-season troubles against top clubs.

Upset City -- Welcome to Upset City, population: 4. These wins would be huge upsets. Three of the teams are ranked, two of which are from major conferences. But these teams couldn't just win on a really bad day. Any of these teams winning is really more in the line of a "snowball's chance in hell."

1. Miami/Virginia Tech -- Miami's Jack McClinton is the best shooting guard in the ACC -- sorry, Wayne Ellington. McClinton would have to go off for something like 30 or 40, but playing UNC for a second time (the second game being at home for Miami in mid-February) might be the charm. Home crowds help, and that's why I also think Virginia Tech can score a major upset. On March 4, UNC travels to Blacksburg to play the Hokies, and that game is the last game for UNC before its second round of battling with Duke four days later. Virginia Tech always seems to be close to pulling off an upset or actually pulling one off every year, so it's not crazy to think of the Hokies doing it against the biggest of all giants.

2. Davidson -- Would you seriously put it past Stephen Curry to score 50 and help his teammates shock the Tar Heels? UNC beat Davidson, 72-68, in Chapel Hill last year. It was the first game of the season for UNC, the second for the Wildcats, but it was a dandy. With both teams heated up -- they would have to meet in March -- this could be an instant classic. Nobody ever counts Davidson out anymore, even against a team like UNC, which might be the best team college basketball has seen possibly ever.

3. Syracuse -- The Orange really impressed me in their defeat of Kansas last week. So much so that I think they might be the fourth-best team in the Big East behind UConn, Pitt and Louisville. I could see Jonny Flynn dropping 30 and the Orange causing some fits for UNC, but it would really have to be a special afternoon for Jim Boeheim's club.

In the end, UConn and Duke are the only two teams I'd say could win four of 10 matchups between them and UNC. Pitt and Gonzaga are close behind, but after that, we're talking about once-in-a-lifetime upsets. UNC is that good.

ESPN Gives Pitt Some Love

Shocking, I know, given the recent trend among media outlets to completely avoid Pitt in any discussions of title contenders, but Dana O'Neil writes a nice but more than predictable story about Pitt.

Will anyone figure out that Pitt is more than just a grind-you-down defensive team this year? Early signs point to no. But the Big Three will come alive in Big East play.

Starting the Party Off Right

I have to admit something: I refused to watch more than snippets of the Wisconsin-Virginia Tech last night. I can't stand watching Wisconsin. The Badgers are more boring to watch than The Hills. But my college basketball desires could not be entirely crushed, and, with 30 seconds left, I decided to flip back to ESPN to catch the game's waning moments.

Boy, was I rewarded.

It was 67-58 Wisconsin with 1:14 left, so when I tuned in, the commentators were talking about Virginia Tech's comeback in the final minute to make it a game. Here's what ensued ...

0:53 Va. Tech's Malcolm Delaney hits a 3 (67-61 W)
0:43 Wisconsin's Joe Krabbenhoft makes 1 of 2 FTs (68-61 W)
0:36 VT's Dorenzo Hudson hits a 3 (68-64)
0:33 Wisconsin turnover
0:29 VT's Delaney fouled shooting a 3, makes 2 of 3 FTs (68-66 W)
0:26 Wisconsin's Krabbenhoft makes 2 of 2 FTs (70-66 W)
0:18 VT's AD Vasallo makes a 3 (70-69 W)
0:11 Wisconsin's Jason Bohannon makes 2 of 2 FTs (72-69 W)
0:07 VT's Vasallo makes another 3 (72-72)

And that's when Hughes drove (almost) the length of the floor, slipped by one defender and awkwardly released a jumper while sideways and barely avoiding another defender. Nothing but net.

Virginia Tech even had a halfcourt heave to win, and it looked good when released, but not good enough.

What a finish. Wisconsin won, 74-72.

Elsewhere
-- Rosie O'Donnell's show got canceled after one episode. Surprised?

-- Good games tonight: Ohio State at No. 21 Miami and No. 4 Duke at No. 9 Purdue. Big Ten/ACC Challenge games, of course.

Good Break/Bad Break

After a nice five-day break, let's run through some teams that had good Thanksgiving breaks and some teams that didn't.

Good Break
Syracuse -- The Orange ran through Florida, Kansas and Virginia last week to reach the 6-0 mark. Those are some quality wins from a team that never used to play anyone in the nonconference schedule. I think Jonny Flynn and company are ready for Big East action, don't you?

Gonzaga -- The Bulldogs got a lot of deserved national love for their win against Tennessee last night. But the Zags also destroyed Maryland and topped Oklahoma State last week, prompting the coaches voting in the Coaches Poll to put Gonzaga in the Top 5.

North Carolina -- Does it really surprise you? If it does, you are crazier than Rosie O'Donnell. The Heels crushed Notre Dame, 102-87, and rolled past UNC-Asheville (real shocker, right?).

Oklahoma -- Blake Griffin beat -- er, sorry -- the Sooners beat UAB and former No. 10 Purdue, in my Game of the Break, at Madison Square Garden. Icing on the cake -- the Coaches Poll dropped Oklahoma into its sixth slot.

Bad Break
Louisville -- Paving the way for Pitt to claim the No. 3 spot in both polls, the Cardinals were pummeled in their own nest. Sure, sure, Louisville will recover, but this is a tough loss to swallow when you have that much talent.

Michigan State -- Losing to Maryland is bad. Getting clubbed by Maryland? Even worse. And that's all I have to say about that.

Marquette -- Dayton has the Big East's number, I guess. The Flyers are 3-0 over the past season and a quarter against BEast teams, with wins against Louisville and Pitt last year, and now No. 15 Marquette this year. But the Golden Eagles are on notice -- Dayton proved that slowing them down is the path to beating them, and Big East teams can slow down anyone. Buzz Williams and his crew have to prepare for challenges like this from much more talented teams in the future.

Providence -- The Friars have done nothing but disappoint their loyal but hopeful fans with their dismal start to the 08-09 season. PC is 4-3, but losses against both Baylor and Saint Mary's show that Keno Davis's bunch has a lot of work to do before Big East play -- and the regularly solid competition that comes with it -- commences.

Siena -- After their shocking 83-62 upset of fourth-seeded Vanderbilt in last year's Tournament, the Saints were considered a hot new pick to make the mid-major leap to national prominence. Almost nine months later, Siena is fading -- fast. The Saints showed up in Orlando with high hopes for a win, and maybe even an upset. Instead, Fran McCaffery's bunch returns to upstate New York winless, and certainly thankful for three upcoming games against Loyola (Md.), Albany and Marist.