‘Don’t mess with Texas’, but unfortunately, I must

The University of Texas’ athletic department has agreed to retiring the jerseys and numbers of former Longhorn players. As of today, the Horns have only four jerseys retired, and they belong to Heisman winners Ricky Williams and Earl Campbell, baseball’s Roger Clemens, and hoops star T.J Ford.

In a ceremony planned for the 2008-2009 season, the number “10” will officially be retired, in honor of the achievements of Vince Young. What better way to honor a man that lifted Texas to their first National Championship in 35 years, and giving a “refuse to lose” performance in the BCS championship game to do it? For that decision, I can’t mess with Texas, because that one is a no-brainer. But there is one player number, among the 9 chosen for this year’s retirement, and it makes absolutely no sense.

Back in March, I severely criticized the University of North Carolina for their announcement of the retiring of Tyler Hansbrough’s jersey. I personally felt his collegiate achievements were dwarfed by other retirees. But Texas now makes the Hansbrough announcement appear more proper, by announcing that they will retire the jersey on Kevin Durant.

As a freshman, Durant received the college player of the year award. He was also the first freshman to receive the Rupp and Robertson trophies, but the accolades end there. Kevin Durant only played one season for Texas. In his one season, the Horns finished 3rd in the Big 12, became the runner up in the Big 12 conference tournament, and were bounced in the second round of the NCAA tournament by USC. So, tell me, why all the fuss over Kevin Durant?

The Longhorns had more success before, and after, Kevin Durant. They recorded a 30 win season in 2005-06, and reached the elite eight of March Madness. The most recent 2007-08 season showed the post Durant Longhorns again reaching the round of 8 teams in the tournament. The one season tour of Kevin Durant in Texas shows his team sandwiched between more successful units, so I'm having a hard time finding logic to support jersey retirement.

There are only two reasons possible for Texas to make this decision. First, they are desperate for basketball heroes, as Durant would mark only the second to be retired. Or secondly, they’re sending a recruiting message to future “one and done” players, saying you only need a single season stay to become a legend of burnt orange.

Can anyone make an argument for Durant’s jersey retirement? If so, I’d love to hear it.

DOH-mer Of The Week- University of North Carolina

Before Tar Heel fans get butt hurt and go off on a tangent about the headline and DOHmer choice, sit back and soak up the explanation. I acknowledge and applaud the Tar Heels for the current success on the hardwood. They are the ACC champions, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament, and an early favorite to win it all. What more could you ask for? But I’m not giving this to the North Carolina athletic department for something they’ve already done, but for something they’re about to do.

The University of North Carolina announced that they will be retiring Tyler Hansbrough’s jersey when he leaves school. My initial reaction to the announcement went something like, “What the F*ck?!?!?” Not taking anything away for Psycho T, because after all, he puts in work and has been a force down low for the Heels. I have nothing negative to say about his numbers, and my reaction isn’t about the player, as much as it is the program.

Each program is different, and if Hansbrough’s jersey was being retired at USC, Illinois or Bumf*ck Egypt State, I’d give no second thought. Even if it was at his neighboring North Carolina Charlotte, that would also be suffice. But we’re not talking about a program that’s poor in basketball tradition, because this is about North Carolina. We’re talking about a program that breeds superstars. We’re talking about hanging a Hansbrough jersey adjacent to Michael Jordan and James Worthy. I’d say the bar was set pretty damn high at UNC. Wouldn’t you? Just the thought of that number hanging in the Carolina rafters has me flashing back to Sesame Street learning games, where you choose which item doesn’t belong. Worthy, Jordan, and---HANSBROUGH? Are you sh*tting me?

It turns out that the only requirement the Heels have for jersey retirement is for a player to be selected “national player of the year” by one of these agencies: Associated Press, U.S Basketball Writers Association, The National Association of Basketball Coaches, The Sporting News, The Wooden Award, and the Naismith Award. The Sporting News named Hansbrough the player of the year, which made them equally eligible for a DOHmer. How does Michael Beasley not get that award? It’s obviously another fashion show, with the Heels’ success being a lot prettier than Beasley’s Wildcats. But truth is, Hansbrough will leave the Heels, and they’ll just reload and remain a basketball power. Beasley will leave Kansas State, and they’ll return to their role of sh*t on the bottom of Big XII shoes.

When you really give it a lot of thought, which makes my head hurt, Bob McAdoo, Bobby Jones, Vince Carter, and Rasheed Wallace didn’t receive the honor of having their numbers retired at North Carolina. You also won’t find Kenny Smith, Mitch Kupchak or Matt Doherty, but you’ll eventually find Tyler Hansbrough. Antawn Jamison’s number is also hanging high, which is another “wtf”. Let’s just throw Eric Montross up there, since we’re feeling so generous.

How did Rick Fox miss out on this good stuff? Anyone that was banging both Tyra Banks and Vanessa Williams is legendary and worthy of jersey retirement, in my book. I bow in the presence of that former Heel. Maybe I should start a "Rick to the rafters" petition, and see if I can get the Sporting News to sign it first.

The Utah Jazz retired the jersey of Darrelll Griffith, because they were obviously desperate to have something in the rafters. Eventually, “true” superstars in Karl Malone and John Stockton emerged. The Seattle Seahawks retired the number “12” to represent the fans as the 12th man. How difficult was that one? Hmm---Jim Zorn or the fans? But Carolina isn’t desperate for superstars, because they recruit them in bunches. Legends of the program have given an example of basketball excellence, and in my opinion, their last 2 choices for jersey retirement appear as tiny feet in Worthy and Jordan’s shoes. If anything, anyone following those players should be equal or one size smaller, and not appear as a shoe size difference of "Mens" and "Boys".

It took 10 years for UCLA to consider hanging Ed O'Bannon's number next to Lou Alcindor and Bill Walton. It even took North Carolina a year to lift Jordan's number to the top of the gymnasium to appear beside Worthy's. Hansbrough's airspace has been decided and reserved, while his status in the program remains "active".

Congratulations to you, Tyler. Without a doubt, you're a great college player. Are you considered one of UNC's greatest players? Nah. Unlike the athletic department, I don't think so.

Cats Roar No More?

Sunday’s loss to UCLA may have put a damper on Arizona’s tournament run. Unless the Wildcats can roar their way to the finish, picking up big wins in the Pac 10 conference tournament, their 24 year streak of consecutive NCAA tournament appearances will come to an end. It may have also ended any doubts over who is the dominant team in the Pac 10, a league owned by Arizona for many years. The Bruins have firmly planted themselves back on the throne.

The Wildcats are 17-12 overall, and their 7-9 conference record has them tied for sixth with Oregon. And though Oregon may need a miracle to get to the big dance, Arizona’s position is better, yet still slim. ‘Zona has the No. 1 Strength of schedule in the nation, playing Virginia, Texas A&M, Kansas, Illinois, and Memphis out of conference, and going 2-3 against that field. Couple that with the 6 games played against the Pac 10 powers of UCLA, Washington State, and Stanford, and the Cats submit a fairly good tournament resume. But a Pac 10 team with 9 wins in conference has never made the NCAA tournament field, and Arizona is sitting on 7. The last two regular season games, and at least a couple of conference tournament wins are a must, before throwing themselves at the mercy of the selection committee.

Shrinkage

Cornell is the first school to punch a ticket to the Big Dance, as the Ivy League champion. Do you care? I think we need to shrink the tournament field. It’s grown to 65 teams, with one having a “play-in” game. That play-in game has meant nothing, except showing America the winner, and who will be routed by the No. 1 overall tournament seed in the following game.

A Knoxville First, and Another in Newark

The Memphis Tigers didn’t have to travel as far as the New England Patriots to feel the pain of imperfection, because it came sooner than later. Not that it numbs the pain to finally lose before you reach the postseason, and to do it on your home floor. But In this case, the throbbing could be more severe, because you not only gave an instate rival bragging rights and the honor of ending your perfect season, but you also allowed them to replace you at the top.

For the first time in history, Tennessee Men’s basketball is the No. 1 team in the nation. And the volunteers didn’t just creep to the top spot, they actually did it in style. The top poll position had several occupants over the course of the year, but how many of those mountain climbers achieved the position by defeating the No. 1 team in the nation? To get to that unfamiliar place, the Vols didn’t quietly wait for the Tigers to lose to someone else, they put in the work themselves.

A conference cast in a dim light by voters now has a team on top. Surprised? I’m not. The SEC’s Florida Gators have finished atop the college basketball world for the past two seasons, but we all know how the media suffers with short term memory.

And the state of Tennessee isn’t done with the dramatics, because just one day after receiving the No. 1 crown, the Vols get another instate rivalry road game, against a Vanderbilt squad that has won 6 straight, and have yet to lose in their own house this season.

AP Top 25
1. Tennessee (69) 25-2
2. Memphis 26-1
3. North Carolina (2) 26-2
4. UCLA (1) 24-3
5. Texas 23-4
6. Kansas 24-3
7. Duke 23-3
8. Stanford 22-4
9. Xavier 24-4
10. Wisconsin 23-4
11. Georgetown 22-4
12. Indiana 23-4
13. Louisville 22-6
14. Butler 25-3
15. Connecticut 21-6
16. Purdue 21-6
17. Notre Dame 21-5
18. Vanderbilt 23-4
19. Michigan State 22-5
20. Drake 24-3
21. Marquette 20-6
22. Washington State 21-6
23. Kent State 23-5
24. Gonzaga 21-6
25. Saint Mary's 23-4



A RECORD SETTING PERFORMANCE

In the Northeast, another team was achieving a first that was far less glamourous. On Saturday, the New Jersey Institute of technology set a new NCAA record, by finishing their season with a record of 0-29. Their overall losing streak now stands at 33, and with a loss in next year’s season opener, they can tie the NCAA mark of 34. Hell, they’ve come this far, it would be a shame to actually see them win that game and deprive America of another record setting performance.

The Highlanders reached this mark of futility by accounting for more season turnovers than field goals. But with all said, I can't help but think, if NJIT played in the Big East next year, and posted the exact same record, they would still make the Big East Conference tournament. The Big E will invite all members to participate in next year's postseason.

Unlimited Night and Weekend Minutes-The Kelvin Sampson Calling Plan

Indiana and coach Kelvin Sampson are the newest targets of the NCAA governing bodies. And of all the possible violations that can lead a program and their fanbase to have their hearts skip beats with fear, this is about exceeding the number of calls allowed to recruits.

Let me first begin by saying anyone who believes Sampson and Indiana are the only persons violating this rule, are the same ignorant people believing Reggie Bush is the only college football player to receive illegal benefits, the New England Patriots are the only NFL team to steal defensive signals, and steroid use in baseball is exclusive to Barry Bonds. The link between the aforementioned is not that they stand alone, but that they all got caught. But being one of many doesn’t make an infraction lesser or petty, since the NCAA does have this “calling rule” set in stone, and anyone in violation will gain an unfair advantage over those in compliance.

Fewer dropped calls than any other network

In case you’re wondering how a simple phone call can make a difference, you have to remember that we’re talking about the egos of high school kids. These are celebrities on campus, in their hometowns, and in many cases nationwide. Nothing strokes the ego more than feeling wanted by a college basketball power program. Coaches and recruiters set out to create a relationship between themselves and their possible future stars, which eventually includes a campus visit and a trip to the player’s home. But it’s the personal phone conversation that may keep them dangling on the hook, feeling that the head man of a big program is taking the time to call.

Eventually you reach your limit, and phone recruiting comes to an end. But what happens when another coach ignores the limitations, and continues to call? As a recruit, you feel the others have lost interest or the lone caller is the one caring the most, giving your ego the greatest stroke. He cares so much that he’s bending the rules, just to punch your digits.Exceeding the limit doesn't automatically give one program a player's ink on a letter of intent, seeing that the majority of the nation’s top recruits aren’t exactly flocking to Indiana or Oklahoma. But i may keep those schools on a player's short list, which is better than not being on their list at all. Maybe Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, and Ben Howland have better reception than Sampson. Who knows?

Usage Charges

Kelvin Sampson is a repeat offender. The alleged wrongdoing in Indiana was factual in Oklahoma. This speed dialer has already sacrificed a $500,000 raise in pay and one scholarship, simply because he couldn’t stay off the damn phone. And with this infraction, the Hoosiers themselves may be facing possible postseason bans, loss of scholarships, etc, etc. And for what? A phone call? You’ve gotta be kidding me!

This resembles a parent withholding a child’s allowance for excessive texting that ran the bill sky high. It looks like a parent grounding a child because they continually go over their monthly cell phone minutes, and you’re trying to teach them responsibility. But at least those are examples of fairness. If the NCAA comes down hard on Indiana over phone calls by a coach, let’s just categorize this under “cruel and unusual punishment”. The punishment should fit the crime, and anything harsh from the NCAA would not.

Go directly to the source. Impose a coaching ban on Sampson for a season. Force him to sit out or find work in South America. Habla espanol, Kelvin? You can even extend the punishment to the individuals that did the hiring, already knowing the man’s past. But to punish the University and it’s basketball program over phone usage is laughable, and would make the NCAA the joke of the sporting world.

Free upgrade

I’ll end this by saying the rule itself is ridiculous. Why is there a limit on phone calls made to recruits? Who has an overall advantage in this? If there’s a school out there that would drop out of the recruiting race because they ran out of change for the pay phone, they were never really in the hunt to begin with.After being bombarded by calls about the Dish Network, local paper subscriptions, auto and home refinancing, and winning those supposedly free vacations, I doubt a parent would complain about someone calling everyday to offer their child a free education. And I hardly doubt you would get complaints from the egotistic recruit, who happily walks his high school campus saying, “Georgetown called again last night. They’re all up on my sac right now”.

Is Kelvin Sampson a violator? Yes. Is the rule necessary? No. Well, unless there's someone out there that can tell me why we need this rule in place.

A Knights Tale-What the media should be saying, but won't

The biggest story of the college hoops year has been the resignation of Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight. The media covered the story heavily, but still gave no apparent reason for Knight stepping down. If you listen to the words of the now former Tech coach, it doesn’t even sound like something permanent, leaving the door open for coaching positions in the future. But unlike your national news services, I’m not going to celebrate his “retirement” by focusing on his 902 victories, most winning coach in men’s basketball, and blah blah blah. I’m just going to say it as it is. Bobby Knight is an a$$hole.

The sudden retirement marks another chapter in the life of the most overgrown kid in sports. Outside of the wins and his 3 national titles, his actions on and off the court have been childlike. As a parent, your child is punished for the temper tantrums and unnecessary outbursts. But as a coach, the NCAA allowed it to continue for years, if your name is “Bobby Knight”.

Temple’s John Chaney was slammed by the media in ‘94, for his postgame explosion and threats to kill former UMass coach John Calipari. The NCAA and Temple University demanded and received an apology. Put that man in a red sweater, with either an “IU” or “TT” embroidered on the front, and suddenly there is no pressure for apologies. If the man’s name is Bobby Knight, suddenly it’s not a terrible act, but the terrible twos or terrible 52’s, etc.

The Indiana Hoosiers finally had enough of Knight and sent him packing in 2000. But seriously, how much of his $h!t did they put up with, and for how long? This is a person designated to assist young boys in becoming men, yet he’s never showed any signs of being a man himself. In fact, the sniveling baby showed more signs of needing a pacifier than anything else.

This is the man you want assisting in your child’s steps to adulthood:




I’ll admit the man has done more with less talent than Dean Smith, John Wooden, Joe B. Hall, and some others. But the overachievement of his teams can’t make me ignore the wild man that paces the sidelines. How far did Woody Hayes get at Ohio State? Did anyone cut him some slack, because he was fielding a winner on the football field?

Here are some of the news worthy events in the life of Bobby Knight:

- In 1979, Knight was arrested for assaulting a police officer during the Pan American Games in Puerto Rico. Knight was angry that a practice gymnasium was not opened to his team, which went on to a 9-0 record in the tournament. Knight was later convicted in absentia in a Puerto Rican court. However, the charges were later dropped when Indiana Governor Otis R. Bowen refused to cooperate in extraditing Knight to the island commonwealth.

-In 1985, Knight threw a chair across the court to protest a referee's call during a game against the rival Purdue Boilermakers. Knight was suspended for one game and received two years' probation from the Big Ten Conference.

-Women's groups nationwide were outraged by Knight's comments during an April, 1988 interview with Connie Chung in which he said, "I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it." Knight's comment was in reference to an Indiana basketball game in which he felt the referees were making poor calls against the Hoosiers.

-Knight allegedly kicked his own son, Patrick Knight, during a 1993 game (Knight claims he actually kicked a chair).-Knight was shown berating an NCAA volunteer at a 1995 post-game press conference following a 65-60 loss to Missouri in the first round of the NCAA tournament held in Boise, Idaho. The volunteer, Rance Pugmire, informed the press that Knight would not be attending the press conference, when in reality, Knight was running a few minutes late and had planned on attending per NCAA rules. Knight was shown saying: "You've only got two people that are going to tell you I'm not going to be here. One is our SID (sports information director), and the other is me. Who the hell told you I wasn't going to be here? I'd like to know. Do you have any idea who it was?...Who?...They were from Indiana, right?...No, they weren't from Indiana, and you didn't get it from anybody from Indiana, did you?...No, I—I'll handle this the way I want to handle it now that I'm here. You (EXPLETIVE) it up to begin with. Now just sit there or leave. I don't give (EXPLETIVE) what you do. Now back to the game."

-On March 14, 2000, just before Indiana was to begin play in the NCAA tournament, the CNN/SI network ran a piece on Knight in which former player Neil Reed claimed he was choked by Knight in a 1997 practice. Knight denied the claims in the story.

-On April 11, 2000 CNN/SI aired a tape of an IU practice from 1997 that showed Knight with his hand around the neck of Neil Reed.

-In February 2004, Knight made national headlines when he had an argument with then Texas Tech University Chancellor David Smith at a Lubbock supermarket.-In March 2006, a student's heckling at Baylor University resulted in Knight having to be restrained by a police officer. The incident was not severe enough to warrant any action from the Big 12 Conference.

-On November 13, 2006, Knight was shown allegedly hitting player Michael Prince under the chin to get him to make eye contact. Although Knight didn't comment on the incident afterwards and as of yet hasn't done so, Prince, his parents, and Texas Tech Athletic Director Gerald Myers insisted that Knight did nothing wrong and that he merely lifted Prince's chin and told him "Hold your head up and don't worry about mistakes. Just play the game." Prince commented, "He was trying to teach me and I had my head down so he raised my chin up. He was telling me to go out there and don't be afraid to make mistakes. He said I was being too hard on myself."

-On October 21, 2007, James Simpson of Lubbock, Texas, accused Knight of firing a shotgun in his direction after he yelled at Knight and another man for hunting too close to his home. Knight denied the allegations. An argument between the two men was recorded via camera phone and aired later on television.

*source: Wikpedia

Now Bobby has temporarily retired from coaching college basketball, and his son takes over at Texas Tech. Go ahead ESPN, Fox, and whoever else, and celebrate the achievements of this “great” man. Go ahead and celebrate that he just quit on his team. The same media outlets that threw Bobby Petrino under the bus for quitting on the Atlanta Falcons won’t even take a stab at this Bobby in Texas. Sure, Petrino left a group a guys to go coach another group, but does it make it any worse than what Knight has done?

Unlike the professional level, college players are not drafted. They choose the programs and coach they want to be with for the next 4 years of their life. If Petrino is a snake for running away from multimillionaires that were mostly there before him, and didn’t make Petrino’s hire a deciding factor to play for the Falcons, why is Knight’s stepping down so gracious? He QUIT on all those recruits, and in the middle of the season. He can walk away, but they are locked in for 4 years or will have to sacrifice a year of eligibility to transfer.




One thing Knight mentions in this clip of ESPN’s “top 10 Bobby Knight soundbites” is that when he dies all his critics can kiss his ass. Well, he didn’t have to die, but just retire, because all I’m seeing from the media is a lot of a$$ kissing. But as for myself, I won’t pucker my lips. I’ll just righteously put my foot in his a$$, as it still seems the proper thing to do.

Resignation does not delete files and erase the past. It’s supposed to put an entire career in perspective, but some of us have chosen to skip over the negatives.

Cats and Dogs

The Kitty is purring, the dog is barking, and just that quickly the rankings are flipped. You have a Washington State team that quietly began the year in the top 10, silently maintained that ranking for weeks, and now comes crashing with a thunderous thud. The Cougars spent the week hosting their Pac 10 brethren from Northern California, and were swept on their home court by Cal and Stanford. It's now the stretch run of college hoops, and Wazzu finds themselves bounced from the upper tier of the polls. At a time when programs will battle for tournament seedings, these Cats no longer roar, managing a less frightening purr instead.

But the dogs are barking, as the UConn Huskies are rolling. They've reeled off 5 straight victories, which found them ripping through Marquette, Cincinnati, Indiana, Louisville, and Pittsburgh. Calhoun's team is peaking at the right time, and they have a favorable schedule to close out the season. Can we call the Huskies a dark horse? No. Not quite yet.

Those other Cats in Memphis were supposed to walk through the bulk of their remaining schedule, with a possibility of finishing the regular season undefeated. But it seems there was a "Miner" interuption in the "breezing" part, as UTEP gave the Tigers all they could handle, coming ever so close to pulling the upset. It's not easy being No. 1, and for the first time this season the Tigers appeared vulnerable. After the close call with UTEP, it appears more likely that someone can knock Memphis from their perch. Any Volunteers?

AP Top 25

1. Memphis (31) 21-0

2. Duke 19-1

3. North Carolina 21-1

4. UCLA 20-2

5. Kansas 21-1

6. Georgetown 18-2

7. Tennessee 19-2

8. Wisconsin 18-3

9. Stanford 18-3

10. Michigan State 19-3

11. Butler 19-2

12. Texas 17-4

13. Indiana 18-3

14. Xavier 18-4

15. Drake 20-1

16. Marquette 16-4

17. Washington State 17-4

18. Texas A&M 18-4

19. Connecticut 16-5

20. Vanderbilt 18-4

21. Notre Dame 16-4

22. Florida 18-4

23. St. Marys 18-3

24. Kansas State 15-5

25. Pittsburgh 17-5

ESPN/USA Today Poll

1. Memphis (31) 21-0

2. Duke 19-1

3. North Carolina 21-1

4. UCLA 20-2

5. Kansas 21-1

6. Georgetown 18-2

7. Tennessee 19-2

8. Wisconsin 18-3

9. Stanford 18-3

10. Michigan State 19-3

11. Butler 19-2

12. Texas 17-4

13. Indiana 18-3

14. Xavier 18-4

15. Drake 20-1

16. Marquette 16-4

17. Washington State 17-4

18. Texas A&M 18-4

19. Connecticut 16-5

20. Vanderbilt 18-4

21. Notre Dame 16-4

22. Florida 18-4

23. Saint Mary's 18-3

24. Kansas State 15-5

25. Pittsburgh 17-5

It's Time To Dump The Darlings

Will the media ever dump the darlings for Michael Beasley? If a powerful performance against the second ranked Jayhawks isn’t enough, then I don’t know what is. It took an upset victory, and the snapping of a 24 year home win streak against his Wildcats for Mr. Beasley to even make the ESPN highlights. It’s one thing, if he played beyond himself for one game against a team in the national spotlight, but he didn’t do anything he hasn’t done all season.

The college player of the year award is much like the college football fashion show we’ve come to know as the “Heisman Trophy”. The favorite isn’t a reflection of their overall individual performance on the court, but has a lot to do with the performance and ranking of the team. Those players most televised and playing in more premiere games are going to be the first names to roll off your tongue. This doesn’t make them the most impressive or most impact players in the nation, it just makes them the most watched.

North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough, UCLA’s Kevin Love, Indiana’s Eric Gordon, and a host of other players for highly ranked teams get the sportscenter highlights and all the accolade, and then you’ll probably hear an analyst say “and don’t forget about that guy at Kansas State”. If he didn’t make your daily highlight reel, then you’ve already forgot about him. His numbers are obviously not that important to you, if his team doesn’t have a number in the top 10.

The 6’9 Wildcats forward is 4th in the nation in scoring, and first in rebounding. Can I get some highlights? You want to point your cameras at programs and their players, but how about aiming at a player that's making a program? Why not show me the future first round pick In the 2008 NBA draft? Why not dump some of your media darlings on the back pages, to make more room for Michael Beasley, the best college basketball has to offer this season?

Rutgers? Are You Serious?

Rutgers University made a name for themselves in football, but seriously, when do we ever mention Rutgers on the hardwood and not refer to players that have breasts? The Scarlet Knights' mens team spent the past week playing the role of "giant killers". First they take down No. 18 Villanova, and follow it up with the toppling of No. 13 Pittsburgh. We are talking about Rutgers, right?

The Pittsburgh victory represents the highest ranked opponent the Scarlet Knights have ever beaten on the road in their history. The two victories bring Rutgers to 10-11 on the season, and 2-6 in the Big East. If we pattern this to football, who's the next Big East surprise, South Florida?

Run out of the gym: After starting the year 16-0, Vanderbilt is now 7-3, and with the way the Gators ran them out of the gym, they aren't deserving of any ranking digits preceding their name. I'm not sure which was more embarrassing this weekend, the 23-0 run Florida put on Vandy, or Kansas proving they are far greater than Nebraska, in an 84-49 rout. I guess it would be the Kansas/Nebraska game, because a 23-0 run is embarrassing, but a 40 minute a$$ whoopin' is just painful.

No Place Like Home: UCLA's Kevin Love made his first trip to Oregon, since rejecting his home program and choosing the Bruins instead. The fans were quick to show they have no love for Love, as he was greeted with a chorus of boos. But sticks and stones may break his bones, but the Ducks can never hurt him. The Bruins got the victory, as Love got the last laugh. To make matters worse, Oregon then turned around and lost to USC, giving the Southern California teams a sweep in the State of Oregon. The lowly Beavers proved to be even less of a match, getting their a$$es handed to them by both squads.

Will The Real Contender Please Stand Up: Does the Big 10 have a favorite? If they do, can they make themselves known. Initially, I thought it was the Spartans. Then it was Indiana. Suddenly it became Wisconsin, before going back to the first thought, Michigan State. Looking over the field of the 10+1, I would say the Spartans have the better build to make a final four run. But looking at the schedules and records, whoever reps the 10 will have a tough road, because I doubt any will hold top seeds.

The Digits

AP Top 25
1. Memphis (46) 19-0 1,774

2. Kansas (26) 20-0 1,754

3. Duke 17-1 1,625

4. North Carolina 19-1 1,596

5. UCLA 18-2 1,500

6. Georgetown 16-2 1,377

7. Tennessee 17-2 1,339

8. Michigan State 18-2 1,320

9. Washington State 17-2 1,261

10. Texas 16-3 1,129

11. Indiana 17-2 1,065

12. Butler 19-2 948

13. Wisconsin 16-3 848

14. Stanford 16-3 786

15. Xavier 17-4 638

16. Drake 18-1 616

17. Marquette 14-4 513

18. Pittsburgh 16-4 464

19. Vanderbilt 17-3 397

20. Florida 18-3 374

21. Saint Mary's 17-2 310

22. Kansas State 14-4 281

23. Texas A&M 16-4 277

24. Mississippi 15-3 217

25. Baylor 16-3 166

Others Receiving Votes

Mississippi State 112, Connecticut 108, Arizona 102, Dayton 69, Notre Dame 63, USC 63, West Virginia 63, Louisville 40, Purdue 34, Oklahoma 28, Villanova 27, South Alabama 22, Clemson 20, Rhode Island 17, Gonzaga 17, Arizona State 16, Houston 9, Miami (FL) 7, UNLV 4, Saint Joseph's 3, Virginia Commonwealth 1.

Dropped From Rankings

Dayton 16, Villanova 18, Arizona State 24.

ESPN/USA Today Poll
1. Memphis (20) 19-0 764

2. Kansas (11) 20-0 755

3. Duke 17-1 700

4. North Carolina 19-1 663

5. UCLA 18-2 650

6. Georgetown 16-2 605

7. Michigan State 18-2 584

8. Tennessee 17-2 567

9. Washington State 17-2 515

10. Texas 16-3 473

11. Indiana 17-2 450

12. Butler 19-2 405

13. Wisconsin 16-3 395

14. Stanford 16-3 348

15. Xavier 17-4 252

16. Marquette 14-4 223

17. Drake 18-1 220

18. Vanderbilt 17-3 219

19. Florida 18-3 201

20. Saint Mary's 17-2 183

21. Pittsburgh 16-4 165

22. Mississippi 15-3 157

23. Texas A&M 16-4 136

24. Kansas State 14-4 62

25. Mississippi State 14-5 60

Others Receiving Votes

Arizona 40, Connecticut 35, Notre Dame 35, Baylor 30, Rhode Island 29, USC 29, Villanova 25, West Virginia 25, Louisville 18, Gonzaga 10, Purdue 9, Miami (FL) 8, South Alabama 6, UNLV 5, Arizona State 5, Davidson 3, Clemson 3, Kent State 3, Dayton 2, Brigham Young 2, Houston 1.

Dropped From Rankings

Villanova 18, Dayton 19, Clemson 25.

Pounded Beavers And Sitting Ducks

Trojan cagers are riding a 3 game road win streak. What began with a victory over UCLA, continues with a sweep of Oregon. After pounding the hapless Oregon State Beavers on thursday night, by a score of 68-44, the Men of Troy completed the sweep with an overtime victory over the ducks. USC blew a 10 point lead with 2 minutes to play, giving Oregon an end of regulation tie. But after putting up 21 points in the overtime period, the Trojans rebounded to a 95-86 win.

The Trojans are rolling, with what seems to be like a different contributor each night. Of course, there's always O.J Mayo, but Jefferson and Hackett stepped up and chipped in over the weekend. USC currently stands in a 3 way tie for 4th in the Pac 10, and will be hosting the Arizona schools in the coming week.

You may not like the Oregon Ducks, their team, mascot or colors, but their rah rah girls are unbelievably hot. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to post a babe, so there you have it.

Who Gives A Sh#t About Hoops Rankings?

College basketball actually settles everything on the floor. They play a single elimination tournament that invites a whopping 64 teams to participate. In a two week period, they go from 64 to a final four, and the AP and anyone else has nothing to say about it. Hell, in college basketball, you can be .500 or under, but if you win your conference tournament you still receive the automatic bid and enter the playoffs. Who cares about one upset? Who cares about any midseason slide, if you can peak at just the right time? Who gives a sh#t about rankings?

Bubble teams care about rankings. The difference between watching the NCAA tournament and actually playing in it can come down to your RPI rating. The RPI ranks the power of a team, based on win/loss record and strength of opponents. To increase your RPI, you either need a national ranking or victories over ranked opponents. The RPI is most important to schools from less powerful conferences. Unlike the past, today you see Richmond, Dayton, Southern Illinois and some others, taking on college basketball heavyweights early. Build your RPI early, before it begins to decline in conference play, and may have a good standing on selection day.

Contenders care about rankings. If you're an undefeated Kansas or Memphis, you wouldn't think it mattered if you were ranked among the top 5 in the country, because it would take complete collapse to not make the field of 64 at this point. But as a serious contender, the tournament seeding matters. The tops seeds don't always win the Championship, but their road to the final four is paved a bit smoother than the lower seeds.

It takes 6 consecutive victories to be crowned the NCAA basketball champion. A No. 1 seed has never lost to a No. 16 seed, since the tournament expanded to 64. The 1 seed rarely struggles with the 16 seed. So, if you manage to gain a top seed, now you only have to win 5 consecutive games, after playing that first round "exhibition" match. If you're the No. 1 overall seed, you're playing the winner of the "play in" game, meaning they had to play one more game just to meet you. They usually play that one game just 2 nights earlier, then come out overmatched against a well rested and talented squad.

the No. 1 overall seed is also guaranteed to play tournament games in their region of the country. Meaning you can have 2 teams from the same conference picking up No. 1 seeds, but the lower of the two is going to be shipped to another region of the country. For example, Georgetown is a No. 1 overall seed, coming out of the Big East, and will represent the East region in games played in New York. Then you have Pittsburg, another No. 1 seed from the big east, but a lower overall seed than Georgetown. Pittsburg is shipped out to San Francisco, as the No. 1 Seed in the west region.

Gonzaga and Memphis care about rankings. For years, the Zags complained about how difficult it was for their program to reach the final four, because they were disrespected in the tournament seedings. Memphis once had the same argument, as both teams were penalized for the weakness of their conferences. Now with the opportunity to increase their RPI and grab a higher seeding, the Zags and Tigers power up against out of conference foes, before going into WCC and Conference-USA play.

So to answer the question, "who gives a sh#t about hoops rankings", the answer is that many fans and programs do. The rankings may not appear to mean much, and the regular season less spectacular, with the cagers having a playoff format (and people wonder why football doesn't want one). But where a team ends up, and how difficult the games may be, are all determined by the AP and coaches rankings, which are ingredients to the RPI.

Spreading The Wealth Out West- College basketball rankings (1/21)

For the first time this season, the North Carolina Tarheels find themselves looking up at others. After holding the top spot for 11 weeks, the heels have dropped to No. 5 in the latest AP poll. Meanwhile, another slain giant(UCLA) fell 4 spots to No. 8, following the home loss to USC.

The nation's new No. 1 is a team that should have been atop the mountain a long time ago. The Memphis Tigers staked their claim to No. 1, and should have easy sailing, with only tough games remaining with Gonzaga and Tennesse. Unfairly, the Tigers are often judged according to their conference, and impressive out of conference wins are soon forgotten and discredited. Before going into Conference-USA play, the Tigers picked up victories over Richmond, Oklahoma, Connecticut, USC, Cincinnati, Georgetown, and Arizona. The future in-state meeting with Tennessee will test the best in the SEC, before the madness begins. Have the Tigers managed to remain undefeated with a schedule holding less weight? I would say not.

No. 2 Kansas has a legitimate argument for the top spot, as they remain one of only two unbeaten programs in the country. The Jayhawks are separated from the Tigers by just 11 points in the new coaches poll, and will have the tougher road to season perfection, coming out of the Big 12. Depending on which opinions you read or who you talk to, either Kansas or Memphis will be considered the best team in the country. Does anyone else belong in the argument?

AP Top 25

1. Memphis (49) 17-0 1,777

2. Kansas (23) 18-0 1,751

3. Tennessee 16-1 1,591

4. Duke 15-1 1,543

5. North Carolina 18-1 1,536

6. Washington State 16-1 1,442

7. Indiana 16-1 1,351

8. UCLA 16-2 1,312

9. Georgetown 14-2 1,235

10. Michigan State 16-2 1,175

11. Wisconsin 15-2 1,048

12. Texas 14-3 887

13. Pittsburgh 15-3 781

14. Vanderbilt 17-2 748

15. Butler 17-2 742

16. Dayton 14-2 567

17. Mississippi 15-2 529

18. Villanova 13-3 502

18. Texas A&M 15-3 502

20. Stanford 15-3 444

21. Marquette 13-4 332

22. Drake 16-1 313

23. Xavier 15-4 230

24. Arizona State 14-3 182

25. Baylor 15-2 173

Others Receiving Votes

Saint Mary's 144, Clemson 136, Kansas State 120, West Virginia 90, Florida 49, Massachusetts 47, Gonzaga 32, USC 26, Rhode Island 17, Miami (FL) 15, Louisville 7, Cincinnati 5, South Alabama 5, Oklahoma 4, New Mexico 3, Mississippi State 2, Akron 2, Cleveland State 1, Creighton 1, Maryland 1.

Dropped From Rankings

Miami (FL) 21, Rhode Island 23, Clemson 24.

ESPN/USA Today Poll

1. Memphis (21) 17-0 765

2. Kansas (10) 18-0 754

3. Duke 15-1 682

4. North Carolina 18-1 666

5. Tennessee 16-1 653

6. Washington State 16-1 620

7. UCLA 16-2 581

8. Indiana 16-1 565

9. Georgetown 14-2 543

10. Michigan State 16-2 517

11. Wisconsin 15-2 443

12. Texas 14-3 381

13. Vanderbilt 17-2 336

14. Butler 17-2 316

15. Mississippi 15-2 284

16. Texas A&M 15-3 280

17. Pittsburgh 15-3 267

18. Villanova 13-3 257

19. Dayton 14-2 203

20. Marquette 13-4 158

21. Stanford 15-3 151

22. Xavier 15-4 112

23. Drake 16-1 92

24. Saint Mary's 15-2 89

25. Clemson 14-4 84

Others Receiving Votes

Arizona State 61, Florida 56, West Virginia 42, Rhode Island 24, Gonzaga 14, USC 12, Baylor 11, Massachusetts 9, Kansas State 8, Louisville 7, San Diego State 7, Connecticut 5, Mississippi State 4, South Alabama 3, UNLV 3, Oregon 2, Miami (FL) 2, Arizona 2, Illinois State 2, Cincinnati 1, Houston 1.

Dropped From Rankings

Rhode Island 21, Miami (FL) 24, Arizona State 25.

The Pac 10 has been rated the top basketball conference in the country for 2007, and though they can put up a strong argument for best conference, it would be more difficult to name the best team. The early favorite to win the Pac was UCLA, but after watching the Bruins fall on their own floor, it's clear there is no favorite.

4 Pac 10 teams appear in this week's top 25, with a 5th on the cusp. Surprisingly, Washington State is the highest ranked (6th), and Oregon and Arizona have no rank at all. Arizona State climbed into the top 25 this week, adding more to the conference shake up, and it should be a wild western ride down the stretch. I can't say who will emerge as the Pac 10 champion, but I'll say it will probably be one of the least likely preseason selections.

No. 1 Down and No. 4 Follows

Sometimes you get those annoying houseguests, those that do more than make themselves at home, but end up owning the house. Two such visitors showed up in the homes of top 5 teams on Saturday, and each made themselves very comfortable in picking up cozy upset victories over their higher ranked opponents.

The No. 1 ranked Tarheels hosted the Maryland Terrapins, and looked to defend an 18 game winning streak. But some guests just can’t take a hint, and don’t know when to leave, despite all the hints. UNC’s Tyler Hansbrough gave a 17 point 14 rebound performance, but the visitors insisted on hanging around. In the end, the Terps left on their own terms, with Bambale Osby scoring a go ahead bucket, with 21 seconds remaining, to seal Maryland’s 82-80 upset road victory.

The victory was unexpected, and must have come as quite a shock to the home team. Maryland screams “fear the turtle”, but mostly gave nothing to fear. They went in to Chapel Hill with a record of 12-7, going 2-2 in the ACC. This was a team that suffered embarrassing losses to Virginia Commonwealth, American University, and Ohio. Coming in, they weren’t given a second thought, but going out, they leave the Tarheels and their fans a lot to think about.

Let’s Take It To The Hardwood

The USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins extended their rivalry, this time taking it to the hardwood of Pauley Pavillion. The home Bruins were 4th ranked in the country, and appeared to be peaking. UCLA had suffered just one loss on the season, falling only to Texas, while they awaited the return of key players. All players were present on Saturday for the cross town battle, but the visitors had more desire.

This was the first time super freshmen Kevin Love and O.J. Mayo shared the college floor, and neither did disappoint. Love finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 steals for the Bruins. And though Mayo added 16 for the Trojans, with only 2 first half points, it was USC’s other freshman, Davon Jefferson, that went for 25. The Bruins fought back, after trailing early in the second half, but the Trojans held off the run and were able regain the lead and 72-63 victory.

USC had been inconsistent, jumping in and out of the top 25 all season. They suffered conference losses to Stanford, Cal, and Washington State, leaving Washington as their lone conference victory. Questions began to surround coach Tim Floyd and a basketball program that was picked as a Pac 10 contender. Today’s victory acts as a big step forward and a message to the rest of the conference, as the Trojans gave a look of preseason expectations.

How did the Trojans manage to upset the Bruins in Pauley? Floyd gave the Bruin offense a variety of different defensive looks, and held the team to 33% shooting, while the Trojans shot over 60% from the field. That’s how it’s done.

So BIG, Yet Plays So small

Thanks to ESPN, a nationwide audience was able to watch in amazement the 7'7 360 pound Kenny George of UNC-Ashville. Of course, UNC-Ashville would never be aired, if they weren't playing the top ranked Tarheels of North Carolina. And still, without their giant sophmore, there wouldn't have been enough interest in the game to air it nationwide. This game was played last week, and I'm still not able to get the images out of my head. I stand at 6 feet 4 inches myself, and rarely find myself looking up to anyone. But the Tarheels' superstar, Tyler Hansbrough, who stands 6'9, resembled a child beside the enormous Kenny George.

George represented the tallest player in the college ranks, and unlike former NBA player Manute Bole, who had the 7'7 length, George also came equipped with bulk. Though he did finish the game with 4 blocks, I expected a more dominating performance from him. Size shouldn't always equate to greatness, but my first thought, if I was an opposing center would be something along the lines of, "Oh $h!t". But as I watched, the more obvious came into play. I watched a young man struggle to pull his body, and drag is size 28 shoes, from end to end. The Ashville offense would already be running a play, before he crossed midcourt.

The game moved on, and more and more it appeared to be an exhibition of one player, rather than a spotlighted game on the ESPN calendar. And once George became posterized, with the much smaller Hansbrough rising above him and slamming it through, I thought maybe the Ashville coach would call a timeout to substitute George for the bearded lady. But the ESPN ploy was effective, because I tuned in to that $h!tty game thinking size may bring an upset.

George has 2 more years to become a player, but I think in this instance his size presents a physical handicap. His court expressions often made me believe he was bored, like the kid forced into a sport he doesn't enjoy, just because of his height. Hell, I hear it several times myself. "Wow, you're tall. You play basketball?" Actually, I did, but that's besides the point. Are all short people playing mini golf?

But in all seriousness, I wish the kid the best, but I'm also hoping ESPN and other networks won't continue to use him as a sideshow act.

Why Hate On Boston When The Gators Are More Worthy

2007 has been a hatefest for the Boston area. Well, not if you live there, but everywhere outside the shamrock, baked beans, Paul Revere riding city. The Red Sox are world champions (again), the Patriots are undefeated and pointed in that Superbowl direction (again), and the Celtics have come alive to be a force in the NBA. And for just a moment, it seemed like the Boston College Eagles were going to work their way into the college football championship game. They fell off. Thank God! Boston has had so much recent sports success that we might as well rename it the “city of champions”. That alone will bring the hate, since no one would willingly admit their town is inferior to anyone. But why stop at Boston, when Florida has a little something going on of their own?

Boston may have several trophies grouped under one city, but as a single entity, no one has had more success than the Florida Gators. Florida is your current back to back defending college basketball champions. They are also your current college football champions. And to add insult to injury, they picked up the most prestigious award in college sports, with Tim Tebow grabbing the Heisman trophy. Why no hate for the swamp chompers? I guess if you look at the Marlins, Devil Rays, Dolphins, and some others, the laughter keeps us from bringing hate to the entire State. At least the Gators stink on a baseball diamond, leaving something for the folks out west to boast.

The Lady Trojans just won the college soccer championship. Does that count towards anything? Eh, I’ll mark it down as a point for USC. Take it where you can get it, right?