As you're probably well aware, the Red Hawks lost on a buzzer beater by uber-frosh John Wall, even though they led by as many as 18 points early in the game. Some might see that as a moral victory. Others, a terrible debacle. Those two viewpoints collided during the post-game press conference.

"I can't believe you asked that .... Let me see here, Kentucky Wildcats, number-four in the country, I'm hearing four first-round draft choices, and you're asking me how that got away from me? Why don't you ask John why it was so close? I'm not going to answer that question man.

The dressing down continued, but just enjoy it yourself. There's no coach quite like an angry, disrespected coach.

Charlie Coles Can Sometimes Get a Little Touchy [WKYT, via Brooks]

* * * * *

Well, I'm off to the Ranger game. Ovechkin's (hopefully) in town, so the locals might be interested in that. Barry P. is on deck. Enjoy the evening.

I can't tell you what will happen on the court this year—other than that Michigan State will not win the Big Ten title—but it's fairly easy to guess what plotlines will be most attractive to us media vultures as fall turns into winter which turns into March which turns into you wasting a lot of money on bracket pools. Here are just a few stories you'll probably sick to death of by January (if you aren't already.)

The Isiah Experiment

The previously mentioned Thomas leads a terrible squad in a terrible conference, so naturally, you should expect to hear a lot about him. No team this bad will ever get more attention than Isiah's Panthers, who could lose by 50 at Carolina tonight and still consider it a moral victory. Look for him to orchestrate some sort of trade for Marcus Camby in early February.

The One and Dones

This could be year that finally pushes all the people lamenting the NBA age limit rules over the edge. If John Wall and Xavier Henry lead Kentucky and Kansas to the Final Four the way everyone expects them to—and then promptly bolt to the pros the way everyone knows they will—it might have even more people wondering why this charade continues to go on every year when these kids could just go to Europe and be easily forgotten about. I'll take my slow and stiff four-year seniors, thank you.

Yep, That's A One-Handed Basketball Player

This is Kevin Laue, 6-foot-11 center from Pleasanton, Calif., who is now a freshman on scholarship at Manhattan College. Also, he was born without the lower half of his left arm. (Hint to opposing centers: Try to make him put the ball on the floor.) [Photo via NY Daily News]

Marcus Jordan Sticking It To Adidas

Again, with the terrible small colleges in the middle of Florida? Marcus started his college career with a bang—by humiliating his program so that Nike could make .00089% more money next year. Thanks, Dad!

Just-in'love Smith, Guard, Siena Saints

Because why not?

Rick Pitino

Hey, remember when he fucked that woman in a restaurant, (allegedly) got her pregnant, bought her (temporary) silence, (probably?) convinced one of his assistants to marry her and then got all pissy when people pointed out that he shouldn't have done that? That's it. Just reminding you that happened so you can think about it anytime you see him on TV this season. (P.S. 9/11.)

Everything You Need to Know About the 2009-10 Season… [Rush The Court]
2009-10 Preseason 347 Countdown [Rivals]
65 things to watch during the 2009-10 season [FoxSports]

Wall—who has still not committed to a school for next fall—was cited with breaking and entering a home last week, which I guess in Raleigh, North Carolina, is like getting a speeding ticket. He didn't actually break anything to enter and nothing was stolen and he was not detained by police, so I'm not really sure what the point of any of this is.

Authorities said Wall, 18, was charged with misdemeanor breaking and entering in connection with an April 27 break-in at a home at 3924 Laurel Glen Drive in Raleigh.

An officer saw Wall leaving from the rear of the residence and was able to detain him, police said.

Two other people were also charged. Bria Renea Draughn, 16, was detained while walking along a nearby street. Reginald Leonard Jackson II, 17, was detained when he returned to the residence, police said.

So basically, a few bored kids were caught being somewhere they weren't supposed to be. Also known as "Friday night in Raleigh."

Top high school athlete John Wall charged with breaking and entering [WRAL; Photo by C.F.Ward]

UPDATE: The current rumor is that Wall was at a house party thrown in an abandoned, foreclosed home. Squatter! [RTC]

College fans have taken to creating fan pages or groups on Facebook in an effort to lure top talent to their favorite schools. Because most players really seek out the respect and advice of 2,000 anonymous internet friends. It's a stupid idea to be sure, but it may also be a recruiting violation. North Carolina State has actually asked one of their students to remove his "John Wall PLEASE Come to NC State" group on Facebook ... and not because John Wall would never go to N.C. State in a million years.

Students, alumni, and boosters cannot contact recruits on their own and Facebook groups are totally, utterly, completely useless—but it would still be hilarious if a team got slapped because its idiot students thought they could change the world with a status update. (If would also be funny if the NCAA did anything worthwhile ever, but that's another story.)

ACC Now - Wall sparks Facebook frenzy [News and Observer]
NCSU Violates NCAA Code with John Wall Facebook Group [The Jock Itch]

A reporter at a high school basketball tournament in Missouri explains how he was waiting by himself outside a locker room where a prized recruit from North Carolina named John Wall was celebrating his team's win.* (The locker room was outside the main arena, so there was no other media around.) Wall had justwould later lead his school to the championship and was the top unsigned prospect at the eight-team tourney. (And maybe in the whole nation.) Naturally, there were coaches at the tourney, but this is an "evaluation" period when college scouts are allowed to look, but not touch.

That's what was so curious when Kansas coach Bill Self came rolling through. ... Of course, Wall is the top uncommitted recruit. Self had to know I was a reporter and even said hello to me. I just thought he'd stand there, maybe even wave to Wall to let him know he was there. Instead, when the Holy Rams poured out of the locker room, Self was excited:

Self: "Johnny, great win man. You really played well."

Wall: "Thanks."

Self: "I'm not supposed to be talking to you, and you know that, but I just wanted to tell you that was a great win."

Then Self vanished.

That my friends, however minor, is a recruiting violation. Is it true? Would Self be that blatant? Wall had 41 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists in the final game, scored or assisted on his team's final 25 points, had two thunderous dunks (he's a generous 6'4") and plays for a school named Word Of God Academy.

So, yes, he would be that blatant.

T of C gone as quickly as it got here [News-Leader]

* The reporter, Allen Vaughn, writes into clarify: The incident happened on Thursday, the first night of the tourney, and not after the championship game, on Saturday. He also adds that even though Kansas had a game in Boulder on Saturday afternoon, Self returned to Springfield, Missouri, to watch Wall play that night. Memphis coach John Calipari was also in attendance, but did not appear to have any contact with players.

** Clarification No. 2: Per the NCAA: "A contact occurs any time a coach has any face-to-face
contact with you or your parents off the college's campus and says more than hello. A contact also occurs if a coach has any contact with you or your parents at your high school or any location where you are competing or practicing." That means, if Self accidentally runs into Wall at the grocery store, they may exchange pleasantries, but I would think tracking him down outside the locker room violates that edict, which is why Self apparently admitted as much.