MEMPHIS TIGERS

1. The Plush Club. The Tigers' late-night exploits at 380 Beale St led Coach John Calipari to institute an 11 p.m. curfew and no-nightclub policy. The first incident at the Plush Club happened in the early morning hours of September 2, 2007, when forward Shawn Taggart and shooting guard Jeff Robinson were charged with disorderly conduct and inciting a riot. The police report suggests that it was actually forward Joey Dorsey who got things going when he climbed up on the bar and "made it rain" (just whose money he was throwing is still undetermined). Dorsey had already left the scene before 20 police cars arrived to disperse the crowd. Charges against Taggart and Robinson were later dismissed. Despite Calipari's no-nightclub policy, Robert Dozier was involved in a second incident at the Plush Club on February 3rd. After an initial confrontation with ex-girlfriend LaParis Woods, Dozier followed her out of the club in his car before both pulled over and continued their argument on a downtown street corner. It was there that Dozier allegedly slapped her twice. Woods, a stripper at The Gold Club in East Memphis, has not filed charges but did take out a restraining order against Dozier. Dozier's current girlfriend, Andrea Brown, followed suit and took out a restraining order of her own against Woods, who allegedly had threatened her at the Plush Club and went to Brown's apartment later that night where she continued her tirade and warned, "I'll be back." Calipari, always the strict disciplinarian, suspended Dozier for one game, not for the alleged assault, but for breaking curfew. One particularly creative fan in Birmingham blacked out her eye for the Tigers' game the following week at UAB and wore a shirt that read "I dated Dozier." This is featured prominently in one of the greatest photos of the college basketball season. Backup forward Pierre Niles' blue-sleeved hand can be seen slapping someone resembling Larry the Cable Guy, though no disciplinary action was taken against Niles following the melee.

2. Blue and Grey. The Tigers' colors were established as a gesture of national unity to commemorate the opposing armies in the Civil War. Aside from the clichéd images of Elvis and Graceland, Tiger blue is emblematic of Memphis's long tradition of blues and soul music, made famous by artists like B.B. King, Furry Lewis, Booker T. and the MG's, Otis Redding, the Bar-Kays and Isaac Hayes. Famous alumni of the Memphis Tigers basketball program include Anfernee Hardaway, Keith Lee, Elliot Perry, Dajuan Wagner, Rodney Carney, Lorenzen Wright, Shawne Williams and 1998 Name-of-the-Year finalist, Paris London.

3. Style of Play. Calipari describes the Memphis offense as "Princeton on Steroids." Based on the dribble-drive system pioneered by Pepperdine coach Vance Walberg, Memphis's offense utilizes the Tigers' superior athleticism and ability to exploit one-on-one mismatches to beat teams off the dribble for easy lay-ups. Most teams employ zone defenses to slow the pace of the game and force the Tigers to rely on their average outside shooting. Freshman phenom Derrick Rose has drawn comparisons to Jason Kidd given his speed and strength and is a potential top-5 draft pick, should he decide to go. Junior swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts is the top scorer and veteran leader of the team. CDR, a Detroit native, is primarily known as a slasher, but he has developed his outside shot in the past year (45 percent from behind the arc). When at his best, Joey Dorsey resembles a young Ben Wallace, a tenacious defender and shot blocker who averages 10.4 rebounds per game. Though he has the size and talent to dominate, Dorsey is prone to mental lapses and foul trouble. Memphis's superior defense and athleticism could carry them to the final four and the title, but success in the tournament will largely depend on role players like Antonio Anderson, Willie Kemp and Donneal Mack getting hot from behind the arc. Memphis's Achilles heel is their team 58% free throw shooting, but if you remove Dorsey's 33% rate from the mix, the team shoots a more respectable 62%. Rose (68% FT) will likely receive the inbounds passes toward the end of games, so the Tigers' hopes may hinge on whether the freshman has the mental toughness to hit free throws with the game on the line. — Jay Lewis

TEXAS-ARLINGTON MAVERICKS

1. You Ain't From Around Here, Are Ya, Boy? Ten of the eleven players listed as eligible on the UTA roster are from the state of Texas. The eleventh is 6'1" Guard Brandon Long, who hails from Richton Park, Illinois. The Junior was scoring 12 ppg before an injury vs. Texas Christian put him out for the season.

2. Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home. South Park fans will be surprised to see the name Trey Parker on the UTA roster. Considering that this guy is black, 19 years younger and has more manageable hair, we're thinking he's no relation to the co-creator of Eric Cartman. The redshirt freshman doesn't play much right now, so we're looking forward to his second season.

3. Also Known As. Since its inception as Arlington College in 1895, the school has had eight different names. It has been a military academy three time, and once went by the name Grubbs Vocational College. UTA was actually part of the Texas A&M system from 1917-1967, but balked when asked to change their name to Texas A&M-Arlington. Maybe they just don't like ampersands. — Storming The Floor

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CLEMSON TIGERS

1. "Clempson," as some locals refer to it, resides in the city of Clemson in the northwestern region of South Carolina known as "The Upstate." It was opened in 1893 as a military academy exclusively for Caucasian males, serving as one of the rare instances of racial discrimination in the South. The school later abandoned its military curriculum and started its rich tradition of admitting hot, bangable women that would make your penis explode in 1955. Notable Clemson alumni include tabloid television anchor Nancy O'Dell and noted statesman/multiculturalist Strom Thurmond, for which the university's Strom Thurmond Institute is named ... I think.

2. The HNIC.Head coach Oliver Purnell came to Clemson from Dayton in 2003, where he had led the Flyers to two NCAA berths in four years. He has served seven times as an assistant to the US Men's National Team. He also won an NCAA Division II title with Old Dominion as a player in 1975. Oh, and he blogs, albeit infrequently. Clemson also has an assistant coach named Shaka Smart. It's worth passing along.

3. Weak Down The Stretch.The Tigers won their first 18 games of the 2006-07 season, but shit the bed in conference play and had to settle for a 1-seed in the NIT (they lost in the championship game of that tournament). Although Clemson boasts a better mark in the ACC this season, they've suffered losses against Florida State, Charlotte, Ole Miss, and Miami, none of whom are currently ranked. The Tigers also took North Carolina to OT twice, but lost both times.

And Some Actual Player Info...A slogan commonly seen on car decals promoting the aforementioned fuckability of the female student body reads, "Clemson Girls, Best In The World." Ballers Junior K.C. Rivers, senior Cliff Hammonds, and spohomore Trevor Booker have been the best in the world for the Tigers, having started every games this season through March 1. Hammonds leads the team in points, assists, steals, and minutes. —Monday Morning Punter

VILLANOVA WILDCATS

1. I Got A Name. As if it wasn't rare enough to find one young African-American with the name Corey, Coach Wright went out and found two: freshman guards Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher, both McDonald's All-Americans in high school. Each has shown tremendous promise in their limited time on the court (Stokes is an 89percent free-throw shooter, and Fisher is third on the team in points and steals per game). Not since the days of Mssrs. Feldman and Haim has such untapped, dual-Corey-based potential lay waiting to be sprung upon an unsuspecting America.

2. Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels). Whereas most college athletic programs are content to limit their scandals to recruiting violations and date rape, Villanova's athletes strive to achieve a more genteel form of notoriety. And so, enter the phone cards. On two separate occasions, in 1996 and 2002, Villanova students were busted for unauthorized use of calling cards (a violation of an NCAA rule prohibiting extra benefits to student athletes), the latter incident resulting in a suspension of twelve players on the active roster which carried over into the 2003-04 season.

3. New York's Not My Home. Jay Wright's first coaching gig was at Hofstra University, which offered him a rich recruiting environment among the private schools and public playgrounds of New York City and Northern New Jersey. He continued to scout for players in that area even after landing the head coaching position at Villanova. In 2004 Wright recruited Kyle Lowry, a scrappy guard from Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philly. While a significant portion of the current underclassmen still hail from Brooklyn, the Bronx and North Jersey, local players such as Reggie Redding and Shane Clark show that Wright is now willing to seek talent further south along the Northeast Corridor. — Chamomiles Davis

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LOUISVILLE CARDINALS

1. Remember, Remember, The Ninth Of February. Barring a run that ends with the third national title in program history, Louisville's 2007-2008 season is likely to be best remembered for the events of Feb. 9. Acting in accordance with a "white out" theme, Rick Pitino walked onto the floor for the Cardinals' home against Georgetown wearing an all-white suit. The questionable sartorial decision resulted in a hoard of predictably disappointing Scarface/Fantasy Island/Saturday Night Fever jokes from the old and new media alike, as well as a 31-23 halftime deficit for his team. He ditched the duds in favor of a more traditional black suit for the second half, and then watched the Cards outscore the Hoyas 36-20 and snatch their biggest win of the regular season. Pitino initially told Erin Andrews after the game that the switch was made because he spilled Diet Coke on himself in the locker room, but later admitted that he was actually worried about sweating through the suit and people being able to see that he was "wearing blue filters." Proving once again that he is indeed the greatest head coach to ever come out of Dickensian London.

2. You Are My Everything. Senior center David Padgett's college career was thought to be over after he broke his right knee cap in the second game of the season, but he made a miraculous five-week recovery, and ended up being a unanimous All-Big East selection. When asked about how important Padgett was to the team, junior forward Terrence Williams tried to sum up his feelings in a way everyone could relate to: "How much do people eat off plates? We feed off him a lot because he's our point-center, our point-forward, our point-shooting guard. He's everything because he rebounds the ball, he passes the ball, he leads us. He could lead us out of the closet, lead us to the ocean. He's just our everything." Also, a fun game to play if you're watching Louisville in the tournament is to count how many times Padgett is referred to as a "coach on the floor," or some slight variation. You won't win anything, but it's a good "God, announcers suck" anecdote to use around your friends, which is the only real reason you watch the tournament anyway.

3. Say It Right, People. There's a lot of confusion over the proper way to say "Louisville," so I'm going to use this space to clear up the issue once and for all. It's not "Loo-ee-ville," it's "Loo-uh-vull." The correct pronunciation, of course, is derived from the city's namesake: King Louah XVI of France, whose zany antics and legendary late-night dance parties endeared him to an entire nation. While the right answer is common knowledge to all Lou-uh-villians, debate over the appropriate way to articulate the beloved King's name has raged since his peaceful passing at the end of the 18th century, and was the subject of a hit song by The Kingsmen in 1955. — Card Chronicle

BOISE STATE BRONCOS

1. I Just Flew In From Boise, and Boy Are My Legs Tired. Four days might not be near enough time for the Broncos to rest up for their first round game. They needed three overtimes and 107 points to put away the pesky New Mexico State Aggies and take the WAC's auto-bid. The good news is that it was only 10pm in Las Cruces when the game finished up, so I guess everyone got their beauty sleep.

2. Dear Tiny, Infant Jesus. Call it the Ballad of Reggie Larry. The man with two first names is the most dangerous college player you've never heard of. The New Jersey native played two years at College of Southern Idaho before transferring in to BSU. He's averaging 19 points and 9 rebounds, and he can do this.

3. Multiple Personality Disorder. The Broncos have been a baffling team all season. They began the season with an obvious laugher against DI independent Utah Valley State, but needed OT to pull out the win in the home opener. They then proceeded to lose to Loyola Marymount in December, giving that moribund program one of their five wins this season. Then they finished 2007 with a huge out-of-conference home win over a ranked Brigham Young squad. They could lose by 20, or pull the upset of the tournament. I have no idea. — Storming The Floor

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INDIANA HOOSIERS

1. Dan Dakich is a savvy fellow. The Hoosiers' interim head coach is part of a new trend for interim coaches: Being vastly overqualified. (Kevin O'Neill at Arizona also qualifies here.) Dakich was formerly the coach at Bowling Green before serving as West Virginia coach for one week. He left because he got spooked about potential recruiting violations that could hinder his time there, and ultimately came back to Indiana, because Indiana would never, ever be involved in recruiting violations. Within four months of his arrival, Kelvin Sampson was gone and Dakich was the temp coach.

2. F— Eric Gordon? The Hoosiers' overtime victory over Illinois in Champaign was a personal highlight for our family. Hearing the "fuck Eric Gordon" chants on television, we called our father and asked if he heard the people yelling the chants. "Heard 'em? I'm one of 'em!" Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther apologizes for the Illini fans, but we're not sure why that's necessary. If you're actively taunting a guy's family, then yes: You're an asshole. But is there really something wrong with screaming, "Fuck Eric Gordon!" at the top of your lungs? Isn't that one of the rewards of being a sports fan, something that comes with the price of the ticket? Gordon might not deserve the jeers, but shouldn't the fans have the right? We say yes.

3. Enjoy this while you can. As exciting a player as Gordon is, Indiana pretty much needs to win a national championship to make his recruitment worth the trouble. To get Gordon, Indiana had to bring in Sampson, who brought with him shady recruitment techniques that are going to cost the school with the NCAA in the next few months, and over the next few years. Gordon, however, will be long gone by that point, sure to be one of the top 10 picks in the NBA draft next season. But his aftereffects will be around for years. So they better win it all now. Otherwise ... heck, one might end up being better off with Demetri McCamey. — Will Leitch

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

1. Record Breaker. New coach John Pelphrey set the record for most wins by a first year head coach at Arkansas with 20 when the Hogs beat Auburn at home to finish the regular season. That isn't a minor feat when you realize two of the best coaches in history coached at Arkansas, Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson. They had 17 and 12 wins in their first seasons, respectively. The record was held by Eugene Lambert who led his first team to a 19-7 record during the 1942-43 season. Pelphrey also broke the 100-win barrier with that victory.

2. Road Woes. The Razorbacks squad can't seem to find their groove away from Fayetteville this season. They are 4-9 when playing outside of Fayetteville. But when at Bud Walton Arena the team is 16-1. These stats include a loss in Little Rock to Appalachian St. at Alltel Arena.

3. A Tumultuous Year. In the span of 12 months the University of Arkansas pretty much turned over the entire leadership of the Athletic Department. Frank Broyles, Athletic Director retired after 50 years in Fayetteville. He was replaced with former Pittsburgh AD Jeff Long. Broyles fired Basketball Coach Stan Heath in March of last year and hired John Pelphrey. Then in December, football coach Houston Nutt left and Long replaced him with Bobby Petrino. — Hawg Blog

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NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

1. Look Out.North Carolina enters the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and prohibitive favorite. Their path to the Final Four would start in Raleigh and move all the way to Charlotte. (Jim Boeheim on PTI Monday: "Does Carolina even need to get out of bed to advance?") They are peaking at the right time, with their ACC tournament championship capping a strong stretch in which the Heels won their final six ACC games by an average of 17.5 points. Point guard Ty Lawson is fresh, back from injury, and the rest of the team is as healthy as you can hope for. And Tyler Hansbrough is still, presumably, yelling at his muscles to "lift harder!" and, when they refuse, subjecting them to ping-pong punishment. Anything short of a Final Four berth would be something of a disappointment. Luckily, UNC will win the NCAA Tournament.

2. Blood Bracket. The bracket is set up for what would be two dream Final Four matchups for any blue-blooded Carolina fan. With Kansas #1 in the Midwest, UNC could face Roy Williams's old team in the semifinals, in an environment that surely will cause the dag-nabbed coach to, finally, give a shit. That's happened before; in 1991, Kansas beat UNC in the national semifinal; in 1993, UNC returned the favor. But looming as a possibility beyond that is the Holy Grail of college basketball What-Ifs, the ratings bonanza that might save CBS no matter how badly their fall series tank, the event that would cause Dick Vitale's tonsils to rip free from his throat and flee to Canada: a potential UNC-Duke matchup in the championship game. (Ed. Note: UNC-Duke is actually the Finals pick of this site's humble editor.) We can't even begin to express the amount of anxiety that would cause us, imagining Duke and its coach, Satan-Rat-Spawn, beating the Heels in the biggest game of their lives. Luckily, UNC will win the NCAA Tournament.

3. A Doherty Year. 2001-2002 was a great year for ACC schadenfreude, as the Heels went 8-20 under coach Matt Doherty and missed the tournament for the first time in 27 years. That disaster led my friends to coin the phrase "a Doherty year" to describe a period in your life when, in the midst of a long tradition of success, everything goes to shit, only to return fairly quickly to previous levels of quality. Our own personal Doherty year was 1995-1996. For Duke's lacrosse team, it was 2006. Queen Elizabeth's was 1992. It's possible that for Eliot Spitzer, it's 2008, or it's possible that things will never get better, making this less a Doherty year than a, say, Art Shell year. Matt Doherty's safely out at SMU these days, leading the Mustangs to a 10-20 record in his second year. Luckily for us, Roy Williams is our coach now, as we abandoned Matt Doherty like he was an Enron stock certificate dipped in herpes. Luckily, UNC will win the NCAA Tournament. — Dan Kois

MOUNT ST. MARY'S MOUNTAINEERS

1. Fun facts about your Mount St. Mary's University Mountaineers. Mount St. Mary's University was founded in 1808, making it the oldest independent Catholic college in the United States. It's located in Emmitsburg, a tiny mountain town in Central Maryland just south of the Mason-Dixon Line. The Mount (and yes, that's really what they call it) has been co-educational since 1972 and has seen a sharp spike in impure thoughts in the ensuing decades. According to my friend John, a 2002 grad, a popular saying around campus is, "Mount. It's not just a school. It's a verb." Basketball-wise, the most famous alumnus is former Bullets, 76ers, and Bucks guard Fred "Mad Dog" Carter. The Mount (18-14) gained the third tournament berth in school history by winning the Northeast Conference tournament. Strong efforts from the Mountaineer bench powered the team down the stretch, as the reserves notched at least 39 points in each of their last three games.

2. Hooked on a Phelan. If you have any familiarity with the Mountaineers, it's probably because of their former coach, the legendary Jim Phelan. He coached at the Mount for his entire 49-year career before retiring in 2003 with 830 wins (fourth all-time) in an NCAA-record 1,321 games. He guided his teams to 16 Division II tournament appearances, reaching the Final Four five times and winning it all in 1962. Phelan has received the honor of having the Mount's home court named for him; the NEC Coach of the Year award and the collegeinsider.com National Coach of the Year award also now bear his name. His trademark was an ever-present bow tie, and he kept a set of ninja throwing stars in his breast pocket, which he used to intimidate referees and gain favorable calls for his team. I may have just lied to you.

3. They Don't Burn Couches in Emmitsburg. The Baltimore Sun's recap of the NEC tournament final in Fairfield, CT notes that an unspecified number of Mountaineers fans celebrated the victory by storming the court post-game and ... throwing confetti. The reporter fails to describe the manner in which the fans threw the confetti. Were they tossing it in the air and letting it rain gently down? Or were they firing it at the Sacred Heart players and fans in an aggressive and taunting fashion? Personally, I approve of the injection of small-time whimsy into what is becoming an overdone and unimaginative expression of euphoria by college hoops fans. But I suppose Storming The Floor will have the final ruling on the matter. — Kevin Brotzman

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MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

1. Erick Dampier, Basketball Guru. Mississippi State's best postseason performance came in 1996. (Insert high-larious joke about Dishwalla, the movie "Bulletproof," or Bob Dole here) The Bulldogs won the SEC tournament by surprising eventual national champ Kentucky in the conference finals. They then went on to reach the Final Four in the NCAA's, defeating #1 seed UConn and #2 seed Cincinnati before losing to Syracuse in the semifinals. The team was led by center Erick Dampier, also known as "Damp" or "Contract Year," guard Darryl Wilson, and halfway possessive forward Dontae' Jones. Jones, a junior college transfer, risked being ineligible before the season, but, through the miracles of big-time college basketball, managed to pass thirty-six (freaking! and totally legitimate!) hours of coursework over the summer in order to qualify. Also, Dampier visited my middle school one time to recruit participants for some skills camp he was running, and he had, like, the biggest head I've ever seen on anyone ever.

2. Just Not Ready For a Commitment. In the late 90's and early aughts, lots of high school basketball players skipped college and went directly to the NBA. It's doubtful that any college program was a bigger loser as a result of this than Mississippi State. Over the years, the Bulldogs lost out on three top players—Jonathan Bender, Travis Outlaw and Monta Ellis—all of whom committed to the Bulldogs
before telling MSU, "It's been real, baby girl, but I'm not ready for a 'relationship' relationship." On the flipside, State might have been the biggest beneficiary of the 2003 Dave Bliss-Baylor Scandalgate Funktacular, as it freed Lawrence Roberts to transfer to State without having to sit out a year. He subsequently won the SEC Player of the Year Award and the hearts of Bulldog fans everywhere.

3. The "Voice of the Bulldogs." Jack Cristil has been the play-by-play announcer for State basketball games since 1957, and for football games since 1953. He started calling games so long ago, it was the Stone Age. No, but seriously, it wasn't the Stone Age...it was the Ice Age! No, really, it was the Stone Age. Cristil got his start before the era of sportsertainment, as evidenced by the fact that, oh, I don't know, listening to his broadcasts is actually enjoyable. The man in old school in the best sense. Upon his hiring, then-AD Dudy Noble told him, "Boy, here's what I want you to do. You tell that radio audience what the score is, who's got the ball and how much time is left and you cut out the bullshit." Where, oh where, is that voice of reason when our hype-machine-lanced sports world needs it most? — David Newman

OREGON DUCKS

1. Should of Just Been a Duck. The Oregon student section, or The Pit Crew, was awesome enough to get mentioned (with an accompanying picture) in Sports Illustrated as one of the nastiest, most verbally abusive, over-the-line student sections in the country. Oh wait, not so awesome. When Portland native Kevin Love made his way up to Eugene in January, The Pit Crew exacted their revenge on his going to UCLA instead of Oregon (where daddy Stan played with Ernie Kent) by posting his cell phone number on Facebook (leading to death threats), throwing things at his family in the stands (including his Beach Boy uncle, Mike Love) and chanting things about Kevin Love that I won't get into here. Ok fine, they insinuated that he enjoys the peen.

2. The Phil Knight Dome. McArthur Court has been around for 80ish years and is falling apart. Beyond the clear structural issues, it's apparently partially overrun with insects and features what are probably the least appealing locker rooms and press areas in the country. Will Phil Knight stand for that any longer? No, no he won't. Plans are now all but finalized, thanks in part to Uncle Phil donating, you know, like a hundred million dollars to the Duck Athletic Fund. Scheduled to open in 2010ish, the new arena, which will be built on land now occupied by a bread factory next to campus, will be the most expensive ($200m) college arena ever built. There's talk of it housing two playing areas, one regular 12,500 seater and a smaller gym for volleyball and other miscellaneous activities. As far as anyone can tell what $200 million buys you arena-wise, the mockup looks like some sort of cross between the Death Star and a Brita Water Filter.

3. Fun Duck Facts. Ray Schafer, an Alaskan 7-footer, is married and has his wife rebound for him when he practices alone in the arena at night ... Freshman PG Kamryn Brown hurt himself playing in a pick-up game at the Rec Center in the middle of the season ... Aaron Brooks was really good last year, and they're not as good without him ... Oregon got new uniforms midway through the season (blacks, yellows, greens, and whites) and the names are on the backs are printed in same color as the jerseys themselves ... Since growing a beard for the season, Maarty Leunen has been the best and most consistent player for the Ducks ... Freshman SF Drew Viney looks like he's 14 years old ... Senior PF Mitch Platt looks really funny and pale in one of those skin-tight Nike under-jersey shirts. — Dan Rubenstein

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VANDERBILT COMMODORES

1. It's Shan "Rhymes With Pain" Foster. Perhaps more peculiar than the spelling of his name is the form of his jump shot: Foster shoots the ball with his hands virtually behind his head. This causes trouble for almost every defender, as he is able to get off any shot with a defender in his face. He recently went 9-for-9 on 3's in the 2nd half in a career-high 42-points peformance (and a game winner) against Mississippi State. That game helped the Commodores to finish the season 18-0 at home. The 6'6" Senior from Kenner, La. is averaging 21 points and 5 rebounds this season. Foster has recently become the school's all-time scoring leader and is 42 points shy of the 2,000 mark for his career (this is before the SEC Tournament). After Derrick Byars won the award last season, Vanderbilt has the chance to pick up back-to-back SEC Player of the Year awards for the first time in school history.

2. The Big Man From Down Under. Much of Vanderbilt's success this season is due to former Utah (and now Gonzaga assistant) Ray Giacoletti. After bringing Andrew Bogut to Utah in 2004, Giacoletti had become familiar with the talent in Australia - specifically at the Australia Institute of Sport - a school setup by the government to train people for the Olympics. After using their last scholarship on a Juco transfer, Giacoletti recommended to Vanderbilt's staff that they go down and check out the latest Australian talent: a 6'11" big man named A.J. Ogilvy. Although he was under the radar at that time, A.J. Ogilvy exploded onto the scene at the FIBA U-19 World Championships where he averaged 22 and 10 while shooting 70 percent from the field and 79 percent from the stripe. Ogilvy has averaged 17 points and 7 boards this year and provided a steady force in the paint - something that Vanderbilt teams of the past have sorely missed. There are some strange connections between Ogilvy and Vanderbilt's Last dominant big man: Ogilvy is from Syndey, Australia, while Will Purdue grew up in Melbourne, Florida. Other players to watch out for include a British rugby player named Alan Metcalfe, Jamie Graham, a cornerback on the football team who joined the basketball squad after the football season ended, and 5th year senior Ross Neltner whose 8 points and 6 rebounds a game are overshadowed by his near-Kordell-esque affinity for hugging players in moments of drama.

3. Who Ya With?! While a lot of the talk the past two seasons has been about Florida winning back to back titles in basketball, Vanderbilt has picked up back to back titles themselves, in an endeavor slightly more noble than basketball. Both the 2006 and 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Winners were affiliated with Vanderbilt. Mohammad Yunus, an Indian Economist who popularized microlending, picked up the prize in '06 and Al Gore (who enrolled several times, but never graduated) won it last year. And while Kentucky gets lots of attention for famous fans (read: Ashley Judd), Vanderbilt is no slouch themselves: country stars Amy Grant and Vince Gill are easily spotted on the sidelines of any Vanderbilt home game. — Mark Bashuk

SIENA SAINTS

1. Fun facts Siena is a Catholic college established in 1937 by the Franciscan order, named after Saint Bernardine of Siena. (Who's the patron saint of gambling addicts, actually.) The campus was built on an old asparagus farm.

2. "We love our Saints." That is the slogan the college uses to promote their men's and women's basketball teams. But until 1988 Siena's athletic teams were known as the Indians, not Saints. The name was changed out of respect for Native Americans, and to honor St. Bernadine who the school was named after. (Ed. Note: It happens.) This explains why Siena uses a St. Bernard dog as their mascot; Bernardine is Italian for Bernard. This is Siena fourth NCAA appearance. In 1989, they defeated No. 3 seed Stanford, and the team's big win this season also came against Stanford.

3. Senior leadership......literally. Siena guard Tay Fisher is the only senior on this years team. With practically the whole team returning next season, one has to believe Siena will be favored to repeat as MAAC champs. — Upstate Underdog

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OKLAHOMA SOONERS

1. His One Shining Moment?: True freshman Blake Griffin hasn't gotten the same amount of hype that super froshes Derrick Rose, Kevin Love or Michael Beasley have received, but his 15 points and 9 boards per game are the biggest reason the Sooners are back in the NCAA Tourney field after a mediocre 16-15 record last season. Griffin displays freakish athleticism and a good arsenal of low post moves and has been slotted as high as the 9th pick in NBA mock drafts if he decides to leave school following this season. To outsiders, it would seem that Griffin is poised to use the tournament as a launching pad to a pro career. But even if his stock soars in the next three weeks, Griffin may well postpone his date with the NBA lottery and return to Norman for one more season. The main reason? Griffin is having a blast playing with his older brother Taylor, who will be a senior for the Sooners next season. I know blood is thicker than water, but Blake will soon have to decide if it's also thicker than an eight-figure contract.

2. So Nice They Named Him Twice: Griffin may be the superstar on this team, but senior center Longar Longar is the glue. The Sooners were 0-2 this season in games Longar missed due to a stress fracture. For comparison's sake, Oklahoma went 2-0 without Blake Griffin in the lineup. How's that feel, superstar? Longar's journey from war-torn Sudan to Oklahoma by way of Egypt is a terrific story, but here's the real scoop you're waiting for. His middle name (disappointingly) is not Longar; it's Salvatory.

3. Can I Get an Encore, Do You Want More?: When Jeff Capel was hired as head coach at Oklahoma two years ago, many Sooner fans were concerned that the 31-year-old would be a too inexperienced to run a program that had been to the NCAA tournament in 20 of the past 24 years. The Capel era began auspiciously, with the loss of heralded Kelvin Sampson signees Scottie Reynolds and Damion James. With the cupboard bare, Capel struggled to keep the Sooners above .500 last season. But then Capel stepped up and signed McDonalds All-Americans Blake Griffin in this year's class and Willie Warren in next year's class. It turns out that young ballers tend to respect both Capel's Duke pedigree and his hip-hop stylings (he's been known to quote Jay-Z in post game interviews). I can't see Jim Boeheim or the toupee-wearing Bill Self dropping a HOVA reference in a recruit's living room without it seeming at least a little contrived. This season Capel showed that he's got some coaching chops to go with his street cred. The Sooners were 5-1 in games decided by three points or less. — Dave Grogan

ST. JOSEPH'S HAWKS

1. How Many Passes before You Shoot? Hawks sophomore guard Garrett Williamson came to Saint Joseph's from Lower Merion, where he was the second all-time leading scorer, behind Jelly Bean Bryant's kid. Somehow in the transition to college, he turned "scorer" into "defensive specialist" and has averaged fewer than three shots a game. That means more shots for freakish senior Pat Calathes, who grew a foot before his senior year in high school and is now a 6'10" ball handler and perimeter threat.

2. Home Away From Home. The Hawks closed down Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, their home of 59 years, with the regular season finale against Xavier and will play all their home game at Penn's Palestra next year while the home gym undergoes $30 million in renovations. Just in time, too. Saint Joseph's was a below-average 6-3 at home this year, and just days after the final regular season game, heavy rains caused a leak in the roof during the women's A10 tournament. The dozen fans that attended seemed unfazed.

3. Don't Call Me Author, Either. Head Hawk Phil Martelli's new memoir, Don't Call Me Coach, ranks #62 in Amazon.com's Books>Sports>Basketball>College & University as of the writing of this note. #61 (Mitch Albom's book on the Fab Five) and #63 (Rick Majerus' My Life on a (greasy) Napkin) aren't even available to buy on Amazon. Can someone get Kige Ramsey to pimp this? We promise a lifetime supply of metallic decals. — Jeff Martin

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CONNECTICUT HUSKIES

1. Our Little Baby's All Growns Up! Since the Huskies won their second national championship in 2004, UConn fans haven't had that much to cheer about. In 2004-05, the Huskies couldn't rebound from the loss of Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, sleepwalked through the season and got knocked out by NC State in the second round of the NCAAs. In the 2005-06 Elite Eight, despite a rotation featuring five future NBA draft picks, UConn played the role of Michigan to George Mason's Appalachian State. Last season, after a mass exodus to the NBA, UConn was the youngest team in the country (its roster included five sophomores, eight freshmen and zero upperclassmen), and it showed; the team lost 11 out of its last 15 games and didn't even garner an NIT bid despite winning 17 games. Without any significant changes to the roster, fans were not optimistic that this season would be much different, and this skepticism appeared to be justified by several close early-season losses to ranked teams. But following a loss to Providence on January 17, the young Huskies matured overnight, and proceeded to knock off 10 straight opponents, often in dramatic fashion. Interestingly, eight of those wins came after the program suspended guards Jerome Dyson and Doug Wiggins. (Dyson, who led the team in scoring — and apparently was a big fan of Funyuns and the movie Friday — at the time of his suspension, has struggled since returning in late February.) The team has benefited from the major improvement of 6'2" point guard AJ Price, whose career did not begin until last season after being initially delayed by a brain hemorrhage and then a brain fart (he was involved in a laptop theft). Price has raised his game this year, averaging 15 points and six assists per game. Other standouts include 6'6" junior bruiser Jeff Adrien (15 points and nine rebounds per game) and the Tanzanian Devil, 7'3" sophomore center Hasheem Thabeet (10 points, 8 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game). Price and Adrien were named to the All-Big East First Team and Thabeet was voted the conference's Defensive Player of the Year.

2. Ain't No Party Like A Block Party. Thanks to Thabeet (as well as Adrien and mercurial 6'9" forward Stanley Robinson), UConn leads the nation in blocks per game (8.8), which the team has now done for seven consecutive seasons. UConn's shot-blocking prowess began with the arrival of Okafor in 2001. In Okafor's three seasons as a Husky, UConn averaged 6.9 blocks in 2001-02, 7.5 in 2002-03, and 8.1 in 2003-04. With an increased emphasis on shot-blocking, the team actually swatted more shots without Okafor, averaging 8.9 blocks in 2004-05 (led by Boone, Gay, Villanueva and Armstrong) and 8.8 in 2005-06 (same crew minus Villanueva). Last season, Thabeet's first as a Husky, UConn averaged 8.6 blocks per game. Due in no small part to its shot-blocking, UConn is holding opponents to 38 percent shooting.

3. You're not the run-of-the-mill kind of asshole, are you, Jimmy? You're a special kind of asshole. UConn's Hall-of-Fame coach Jim Calhoun speaks with a Masshole accent thicker than clam chowder, swears like Bunk Moreland after a long night at Kavanaugh's and has a quicker hook with his players than the clown at the Apollo on Amateur Night. A Lady Byng Trophy winner he's not. But there's one thing he does better than any other college coach in America: develop NBA players. Indeed, UConn has thirteen graduates...er...former players in the NBA — more than any other college program. It's an impressive list: Ray Allen (Celtics), Hilton Armstrong (Hornets), Josh Boone (Nets), Caron Butler (Wizards), Rudy Gay (Grizzlies), Ben Gordon (Bulls), Richard Hamilton (Pistons), Donyell Marshall (Sonics), Emeka Okafor (Bobcats), Kevin Ollie (Sixers), Charlie Villanueva (Bucks), Jake Voskuhl (Bucks), and Marcus Williams (Nets). Calhoun also happens to be a perfect 4-0 in Final Four games and, by virtue of out-coaching Mike Krzyzewski twice in those four games and thus denying Duke two additional national titles, on his deathbed will receive total consciousness. So he's got that going for him, which is nice. — Josh Blosveren

SAN DIEGO TOREROS

1. Taming The Bulldogs. The Toreros may be the least likely team to make the tournament, until you factor in their coach. The big reason is that few expected them to be able to get past Gonzaga in the conference tournament; the Bulldogs having beaten them 13 times in a row. But San Diego is coached by Bill Grier, in his first year with the Toreros after having spent the previous 16 seasons as an assistant at Gonzaga. The Toreros, a No. 13 seed, will meet No. 4 seed UConn in the West Regional; the first time ever that the schools have played each other.

2. Kirstie Alley Approves. The Toreros play in Jenny Craig Pavilion, named for the weight-loss magnate who donated $7 million to build the facility in 1996. It was dedicated in Oct., 2000, and is known to students as the Slim Gym. Jenny Craig Inc. is based in nearby La Jolla, CA. Ironically, the university is also home to the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, named for the wife of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, who has foiled many diets.

3. Seeing Red. No one is going to be able to push around the Toreros; they have one of the heaviest rosters in the tournament. They have six players who weigh in excess of 220 pounds, including freshmen Rob Jones and Josh Miller (both 230), junior forward Gyno Pomare (240) and 6-foot-10 freshman center Nathan Lozeau (280) ... Jones played at Archbishop Riordan in San Francisco, whose league nemesis is Serra High, which produced Tom Brady, Lynn Swann and Barry Bonds ... a Torero is a bullfighter; not exactly a politically correct nickname for a university these days. — Rick Chandler

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TEXAS LONGHORNS

1. Never Gonna Give You Up. Strangely, after last year's second-round loss to USC (which is almost fitting, really), the people least confused by the Texas Longhorns' early exit were their own fans. The prevailing opinion was one of satisfaction that was unexpected six months prior. Who can blame them? The 'Horns started four freshmen and a sophomore and carried virtually no depth on their bench. It's certainly no secret that a Texas hoops fan's expectations aren't Duke- or Kansas-sized, but maybe they had a notion that this was all part of Rick Barnes's long-term plan. To that end, Kevin Durant and Craig Winder were the only two departures from last year's squad. If you're not up to speed on the starting five: D.J. Augustin is among the best players, let alone point guards, in the nation, A.J. Abrams has evolved into an effective pick-and-pop shooter, Justin Mason plays defense as well as anybody, Damion James is a double-double magnet, and Connor Atchley can score from anywhere and is the Big XII's best shot blocker. Off the bench: Gary Johnson provides the skill down low which the Longhorns have lacked since Lamarcus Aldridge split for The Association.

2. Never Gonna Let You Down. After losing one of the best players in college basketball history, the fans assuredly would've forgiven Barnes for a Dance-less season. The play on the court, however, has rendered that a moot point. The Longhorns "share" this year's regular season Big XII title with Kansas (although we'll happily remind everyone that UT beat KU in Austin this year) and will have the #1 seed in the Big XII tournament. Additionally, this year's team has set a school record for regular season wins at 26, breaking the 2005-2006 squad's mark. The Pomeroy ratings have the 'Horns 3rd in offensive efficiency, 35th in defensive efficiency, and 9th overall — each one is an improvement from last year — and, if that weren't enough, it's all been done playing against the 9th most difficult schedule in the country. The 'Horns boast quickness and deadly outside shooting which helps them beat the UCLAs and Kansases and Tennessees but the flip-side is the lack of depth and undersized guards. Four of the five starters average over 30 minutes per game; all the three guards average over 32. When Mason, Abrams, and Atchley pick up two early fouls, teams like Wisconsin and Missouri and Texas Tech have been able to take advantage.

3. Never Gonna Run Around and Desert You. Years like these — teams like these — make Longhorn fans think back to the dubious era of Tom Penders and his Runnin' Horns. Although his success will always be overshadowed, even tainted, by the Luke Axtell debacle, he is credited as the man who renewed interest in Texas hoops — a tall order for a school with a football addiction and a baseball dependence. Barnes, however, has done something that Penders never did: he's made the fans think and believe that the Real-Actual-Accept-No-Substitutes National Championship, something that has eluded UT for its entire history, is just around the corner. — Patrick Nance

AUSTIN PEAY GOVERNORS

1. Name to know. Drake Reed: Austin Peay's best player is an Academic All-American and was the Ohio Valley Conference player of the year as a sophomore in 2007. Averaging about 15-5 for the second year in a row, Reed has a good chance to go pro. And by that I mean "play basketball in Turkey."

2. The governors that don't pay ho's*. Austin Peay's team is named the "governors," honoring the former Tennessee chief executive that hailed from the same town where the school was founded. They are the only D-I basketball team with that nickname. Before 1937, Austin Peay was nicknamed the "normalities."I looked up that word online, and I still don't know what it means.

3. Favorite team of six-year olds everywhere. Schools have designated cheers unique to their institution. Kansas sings "Rock Chalk Jayhawk." Duke chants the number of opposing player's cell phones. The Governors have "Let's go Peay." Peay. As in "urinate." C'mon, that's funny. Bonus Video: Not sure why I'm including this, but Dick Vitale hasn't changed a bit.

*Might not actually be true. — Slick Bomb

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GEORGETOWN HOYAS

1. How It Got Here. Founded in 1789 by John Carroll, Georgetown was part of a larger educational effort by the Pope's "Team America" approach to help educate young Catholics in post-Revolutionary War America. Carroll went out to start out other universities, including his namesake in Cleveland, Ohio. The blue and gray clad Hoyas colors were so chosen when the university decided to honor the service of its civil war veterans. Though the school was active in football at the turn of the century (where its motto, "Hoya Saxa!" was coined), the last fifty years the school's sporting prowess has been decidedly basketball related. Ex-NFL commish Paul Tagliabue was a member of the squad in 1962 and former Illinois representative Henry Hyde led the team to the NCAA tournament final in 1943. But those were sporadic successes until the arrival of John Thompson (II) in 1972. The Hoyas made their first tournament under JTII three years later. By 1979, they were tournament regulars. By the mid-80s, the basketball team had most of America fearing for their lives.

2. Lucky or Good? Rick Pitino on the Hoyas this year: "They've been lucky." Have they? The Hoyas needed a three by Roy Hibbert (!) to edge UConn at home by 2 with seconds left on the clock, 72-70; a 64-62 overtime win over 'Cuse on Big Monday where a young and tired well-defended Orange squad didn't score in the last 2 minutes of regulation despite being up five points; a last second shot by WVU at the buzzer was goal tended blocked by Patrick Ewing, Jr. to preserve a 55-54 Hoya win; a bullshit controversial blocking foul with 6 seconds left allowed the Hoyas to escape overtime against Villanova with two Jonathan Wallace free throws and a 55-53 win; and finally, down three at Marquette with 3 seconds left, an idiotic amazing foul call on a Jonathan Wallace three point attempt by Marquette allows the Hoyas to force OT after three made free throws. The Hoyas went on to win, 70-68, where the winning margin was simply a banked three made by Wallace during the overtime. All of the Hoyas losses have been on the road this year and all by 7+ or more points (to Memphis, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Louisville). While there is some truth to Pitino's comments, I'd also like to think that Branch Rickey said it best.

3. Well Guarded Home. The Hoyas 15-0 home record this year could not have come with the support of a strong home court advantage. Not only has the student body rallied around the team, but with the protection of an actual bulldog patrolling the sidelines it has clearly inspired the team to new heights. Clearly, security is important to prevent road teams from stealing our wins. Jack the Bulldog, led by handlers who don "Team Jack" t-shirts for the game, are fan favorites as they patrol the concourses at games, allowing Hoyas large and small to pet and photograph Jack. However, it's not just photos and pampering for the pint-sized pooch. At the 8 minute timeout in the second half of every home game, Jack runs onto the floor and chases (while attempting to bite) a package wrapped with the opposing teams' colors and logos. Naturally, the witty Hoyas in the student section cheer him along with chants of, "Eat that box!"**

** The administration of the Georgetown University would like to take the time to remind you that a marriage certificate, signed by the controlling Catholic diocese, is needed first before said activities can be performed. Thank you. — Christopher Klejdys

MARYLAND-BALTIMORE COUNTRY RETRIEVERS

1. Retriever Fever. Every March, we are presented with a mid-major that you can't help but root for. This year, that team is the UMBC Retrievers. You have the fantastic nickname of "Retrievers." Then, you have the hyphenated university name, which unfortunately sounds like a school that you find advertised on the side of a bus. But don't let the fun names fool you, this team can ball. The Retrievers are 24-8 with an RPI of 89, boasting one of the most balanced scoring attacks in the nation.

2. This Retriever Will Bite Your Face Off. UMBC first caught our attention when they beat defending A-10 champs George Washington back in November, and they haven't let up since. UMBC defeated fellow tournament newbie American and A-10 teams Richmond and La Salle in the preseason, then dominated the America East with a 13-3 mark. They rolled over Hartford 82-65 (not as close as the score appears) to earn their first trip to the Dance in school history.

3. Balanced Dogs. The Retrievers have four players averaging at least 13 ppg, and that doesn't even include one of the most valuable players in 5'8 Jay Greene. Ray Barbosa is the leading scorer for the Retrievers, averaging 16.9 ppg and drilling 84 threes on the season. Not far behind him are big man Carvell Johnson (13.2) and guard Brian Hodges (14.1). A veteran squad with a balanced scoring attack is exactly the kind of team I wouldn't want to face if I'm a fading top seed. — Storming The Floor

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BUTLER BULLDOGS

1. If your erection lasts for more than four hours, Brad Stevens may know how to help. Prior to becoming a college basketball coach, Butler coach Brad Stevens worked for Indianapolis-based drug company Eli Lilly, makers of Cialis. That Stevens worked for Eli Lilly was no surprise, given that he played high school basketball in lily-white Zionsville and then played in college at (mostly) lilly-white DePauw. The Kevin Bacon department reports that Zionsville is also the hometown of Colorado Avalanche defenseman John-Michael Liles and Cleveland Indians pitcher Tom Mastny. And while we're at it, other DePauw graduates include the chick who started Angie's List, Brad Brownell (coach of the evil Wright State Raiders, one of Butler's 3 losses this year), and Steve Hollar (who played the guy who was benched for violating Norman Dale's four-passes-until-you-shoot rule in Hoosiers). Coach Stevens is only the second drug-selling coach to take his team to the NCAA tournament, however. And the first coach to do it, Kevin Mackey with Cleveland State in 1986, also lives in Indianapolis as a scout for the Pacers. Doses! One for 2, three for 5!

2. Mayor of Swish City. Butler guard A. J. Graves was the subject of a feature in the 2007 NCAA Final Four program entitled "Mayor of Swish City." A takeoff on the name of his hometown of Switz City, Indiana (population 311), the full-page color photo suggested that the town might what to consider a name change. As we told you in this spot last year, A.J. is the third Graves brother to play for Butler. Oldest bro, Matthew, helped Butler to its first NCAA Tournament in 35 years in 1996-97, and current assistant coach Andrew played on three Butler NCAA tourney teams, including the one that lost to Florida in OT in 2000. The Graves' high school, White River Valley, is actually a consolidation of several smaller schools. One of the schools that became White River Valley was L&M High School, which also has had some players worthy of being from "Swish City." The 1984 L&M team went undefeated in the regular season and included IU's Jeff Oliphant and Tony Patterson, who played for Purdue and SMU. The sixth man on that L&M team was none other than Ollie, who is famous for the underhand swish.

3. Butler hates playing mid-majors and hates Bruce Pearl. Butler's only three losses this year came at the hands of fellow mid-major programs Wright State, Cleveland State and Drake. Contrast that with Butler's 5-0 record against teams from the "power conferences." The Bulldogs beat Michigan, beat Florida State, won at Virginia Tech, beat Texas Tech in Lubbock, and made Thad's back hurt worse than normal by beating Ohio State by 20. Although playing another mid-major, South Alabama, doesn't provide the underdog role, getting a 7-seed despite being ranked in the top 10 and having to play USA in Birmingham, is sure to make the Dawgs mad. Looking to the potential second-round matchup, another thing that makes Butler mad is Bruce Pearl. Prior to landing at Tennessee, Pearl was the coach of Butler's Horizon League foe, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Butler and UWM played some fierce battles and in one title game, Butler guard Avery Sheets hit a three to win, causing Pearl to cry. Look for the Bulldogs to make Bruce Pearl cry again. — Bulldog Lounge

SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS

1. It's the Jags baby... The University of South Alabama will be coming to a television near you this March. I'm guessing most of you are surprised that such a school exists. USA is a small school located in the Mobile area. That's pretty much as far south as you go in Alabama. Last year, they enrolled a little over 14,000 students (undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral), so it is indeed small. USA calls the Sun Belt Conference home, along with other teams like Florida International and Troy. However... this is a team that you shouldn't simply dismiss and it won't be their first time in the Tourney. In 1989, the Jaguars took out Alabama in the first round, and lost to Michigan in the second. Who won the whole shebang in 1989? That's right, Michigan. They also made a first round exit in 1991. The coach and the program have been there before, and they may turn some heads this year. More on that in a bit...

2. Coach Ron Arrow... This is Coach Arrow's second stint at the USA helm. He lead the Jags from 1987 through 1995, bringing home two conference titles and two NCAA berths; he also took Texas A&M - Corpus Christi last year. Arrow returns this year to add another Sun Belt title, and NCAA birth at USA. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to Coach Arrow, as his team is gearing up for the tournament. (Really... I did.) He describes the Jags as "an up tempo team" that's "fun to watch." He also noted the work ethic of his kids and thinks it's a team that "the public will like," especially those who haven't seen them play. Arrow is a good coach that stresses fundamentals and hard work with his kids. There was once another solid NCAA (football) coach by the name of Arrow. Coach Ed "Straight Arrow" Genero. This guy left his analyst job to take over a program guilty of NCAA violations that would make Kelvin Sampson blush. He may have only won 1 game, but come on, he suited up a team made of 20 kids (all walk-ons). The kicker from that team did go on to have a somewhat fruitful career.

3. Who to watch for... Guard Demetric Bennett is the best player on the team, and in the conference. This year, he's averaging 19.5 point, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists a game. At 6"4'205, Bennett is big enough to take it hard to the basket, but he's also a high percentage shooter (48% from the floor, 83% from the line, and 40% from beyond the arc.) Arrow described him as "a go to guy" and a complete package that has the talent to play at the next level. I agree. Paired with their other guard, Daon Merritt (11.3/2.8/5.5), the have possibly one of the most explosive back courts in the country. Third guard, Domonic Tilford (13.3/2.5/2.1), adds speed and flexibility to the mix.

Why will they go far? We've already covered the backcourt, and they will be dangerous. Let's talk about size. This team may be the biggest team that makes the tournament. They've got two kids at 6"9', two at 6'7" and Bennett at 6'4". They most definitely have the size to go up against any other team in the country. However, they are very fast and well conditioned. USA runs very well, won't get run out of the gym, and won't be doggin' in it the fourth quarter. They're size and speed gives them a huge rebounding advantage (they average almost 40 rebounds a game.) Yeah, they may not have UNC, Duke, or Memphis on their schedule, but they did have Vandy. Anyone been watching Vandy lately? I'm pretty sure they can play some ball. So, how did USA stack up against Vandy you ask? Although they went down 91 - 88, they did so in two overtimes, IN Nashville. No one else has done that this year. They can play with the big boys. Arrow noted that they let Vandy "get away," and they know they can play with anyone. He added that the Vandy game "got us ready for the rest of this year."

The coach has experience in the tournament, the team is big and fast, and they have shown they can play with teams from the bigger conferences. Look, they're going to come in probably ranked as an 8 or 9 seed. I guarantee they win their opening game, hands down. Depending who they draw from there on, who knows what can happen. When you see USA in your office poll, give them a look, even though you may have never heard of them. The Jags may end up being this year's George Washington, and if they do, remember where you heard it.... — Michael Cunius

DRAKE BULLDOGS

1. Where Did You Come From? Drake graduated four starters last year - Al Stewart, Aliou Kieta, Nick Grant and Ajay Calvin. It would have been five graduating starters had Klayton Korver not medically redshirt his junior year. Enter Josh Young, Adam Emmenecker, Jonathon Cox and Leonard Houston. Not surprisingly, Drake wasn't expected to do all that well this year. Instead of the 9th place finish that was the preseason prediction for the Bulldogs, they locked up the No. 1 Seed for the MVC Tournament for the first time in school history.

2. The Shooting Korvers Kinda like the Flying Wallendas or the Catching Molinas. Drake senior Klayton Korver is the younger brother of the Utah Jazz's Kyle. Third brother Kaleb is a freshman on the Creighton Blue Jays (as was Kyle). Youngest brother Kirk is still in high school, and as usual the youngest is supposed to be the best one of the group. That is, if you don't count their mother, Laine Korver, who scored 74 points in a high school game.

3. A Bit of a Dry Spell In 1969, Drake lost bythree3 points in the Final Four to a UCLA team led by Lew Alcindor that went on to beat UNC in the Consolation Game. After making the Elite Eight each of the next two years, Drake has been a bit of a stranger to the postseason. Those three years are the only times in school history that the Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA Tournament. Elsewhere in the world of sports the last time Drake went dancing? Super Bowl V, Frazier-Ali I, and Pete Sampras was born. — Andrew McGuire

WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS

1. There's Only One Big Red! While a number of other schools claim to be the Big Red, there is only one mascot that fits the bill ... our Big Red. He's without a doubt the most famous alumnus of our school. He's been featured in ESPN's "This is SportsCenter" commercials, and some of those silly Capital One Mascot commercials. More important, Big Red recently attempted to start an International dispute with the ItalianTV star, Gabibbo. Gabibbo is Big Red's long lost brother. Rather than nurturing our international brethren, we did what all Americans would do ... we sued him. You heard me, we sued the Italian Big Bird. You should also know that the TV station (along with most) that owns Gabibbo is owned by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. I don't need to tell you how this ended. I'm betting our court-appointed attorneys didn't speak Italian.

2. Why do we need Big Red? Because our nickname is the Hilltoppers. People associated with WKU take great pride in the fact that we have an original nickname. We are the only Hilltoppers in Division I NCAA Athletics. Interestingly, there is nothing remotely intimidating about our nickname or mascot. We're lovers, not fighters! So, what does a Hilltopper look like? Well, we couldn't figure it out, so an ingenious student named Ralph Carey created Big Red in 1979. I guess we could have gone the route of the West Virginia Mountaineer, but we have enough crazy dudes with beards and rifles around these parts. We don't want one representing our school.

3. Let's meet the Toppers. One player stands firmly above the rest ... Courtney Lee. His name might sound feminine, but he's a MANBABY! He's been our all-everything man for a couple of seasons now, currently sitting at No. 2 on the all-time scoring list. He has a real shot at reaching No. 1, especially if we can pull a George Mason (we made the Final Four in 1971). Mr. Lee's backcourt mate Tyrone Brazleton is the catalyst, jump-starting our offense whenever possible. These two will score the majority of our points. Well, they better or we have issues. Let's see; we have a senior-laden team with strong backcourt play ... sounds like a recipe for an upset tome. We relish the underdog role; after all, we did try to sue the former Italian Prime Minister remember. — Drew Hensley

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MIAMI HURRICANES

1. The Saving Grace of South Florida Sports. South Florida is not exactly considered a college hoops hotbed. The Canes have long been an afterthought even for their own students and the community. But with every team associated with the Miami area deciding to suck all at once, the Canes basketball team has emerged from relative anonymity at the start of the season to be the saving grace of South Florida sports in 2008. The Canes' 22 wins this season are more than the Hurricanes football team, Dolphins and Heat combined. It will also most likely rival the number of wins the Marlins pick up this season.

2. In Frank We Trust. How Frank Haith wasn't named ACC Coach of the Year remains a mystery. Picked to finish dead last in the ACC preseason poll, Haith officially stamped his mark on the program with a 96-95 won victory over Duke on February 20. Haith, a well traveled coach with previous assistant gigs at Wake Forest, Texas, Texas A&M and Penn State, has done a remarkable job in rebuilding the Canes while competing in the best conference in America. Don't be surprised to hear his name swirling when big name vacancies start popping up in few weeks.

3. Jack in the Box. Jack McClinton's shooting range begins once he crosses mid-court. The leading scorer for the Canes (17.0 ppg) has the sweetest shot in college basketball that no one knows about. The first team All-ACC selection struggled throughout the conference tournament (just 24 points in two games) and Miami will need him to heat up soon if they are to have any shot of winning a game in the Dance. — Storming The Floor

ST. MARY'S GAELS

1. That Confusing Nickname. Saint Mary's, out of the West Coast Conference (aka Gonzaga's Conference) cannot be found on a map by many (or any?) but is 20 miles from Oakland and San Francisco in the hills of the East Bay. They may suffer from having the most confusing name in college basketball. To Clarify, a Gael is not a bird, nor a storm, nor wizard, it is a Scottish or Irish knight who fought on foot.

2. Mate! A big part of the Gaels' success and media recognition this year can be accredited to the country that has given us Mel Gibson, Marion Jones' Olympic platform, Andrew Bogut and Corey Delany Washington. That's right, the Land Down Under continues to impact the American landscape. Patrick Mills, a freshman Aussie Aboriginal point guard has attracted a lot of attention this year, not only for being second native Australian (after his uncle) to play for his country's Olympic team but for ROASTING Oregon for 37 points early in the year. He was named All-Conference, All-Freshman, All-Around popular kid. He's been supplemented by big impact from backup point, Carlin Hughes, and athletic forward Lucas Walker, both Aussie transfers from Montana St. Billings. Redshirting is Indiana transfer Ben Allen. Next year the Gaels will run 4 Aussies at once at times. (Be afraid Gonzaga, be very afraid.) And true to stereotype, they are a people that like to have fun. (Be afraid Campus Police, be very afraid.) Regardless of what you may have heard (in the previous paragraph), they have more than Men from the Land DownUnder. Local talent Diamon Simpson, a junior, was named first team All-Conference this week. He's only 6-7 but is so long...7 footer's wingspan. He works extremely hard on the glass, blocks shots, and usually can out-quick his matchup on the block. Omar Samhan, 6-10 center and Honorable Mention All-Conference, is another local product; he has a great touch around the rim and also works extremely hard underneath. What he doesn't have is athleticism so if the Gaels face a team with some athleticism and size to match, he's pretty ineffective.

3. Problems Around. For those you looking here for insider bracket help — you're better off picking based on mascots if you're turning here for insider analysis — a few criticisms that might be helpful: St. Mary's really prefers a faster paced game where they can spread the floor and get early shots, they really struggle when the game slows down (76.3 pts/game average yet scoring 61.2 pts/game in loses). Also, no statistics to back it up, but teams that bang on the perimeter are terrible match-ups for Gaels (i.e. Southern Illinois, Kent State losses). Lastly, and not to be a dick, but they don't make in-game adjustments. — Matt O'Leary

GONZAGA BULLDOGS

1. More Than A Few. Since he took over at Gonzaga in 1999, Mark Few is among the winningest coaches in the county. In a nine-year career that includes nine 20 win seasons and nine NCAA tournament berths, Few has an overall record of 204 wins, 53 losses. Gonzaga's West Coast Conference record during that span is 99-13.

2. Not Just Stockton. Point guard Jeremy Pargo was recently named West Coast Conference Player of the Year, the eighth straight time a Gonzaga player has won the award. With all the program's recent success, though, Gonzaga has retired only two jerseys: John Stockton's number 12, and Frank Burgess' number 44. Burgess, who played from 1958-1961, is Gonzaga's all-time leading scorer, and has the school record for points scored in a single game with 51. In the 1960-61 season, he lead the nation in scoring at 32.4 ppg, and was named first-team All-American, the first player in school history to get the honor.

3. Remembering Ehlo. Gonzaga games are broadcast throughout the western part of the country on Fox Sports, with color commentary provided by the world-famous and one-and-only Craig Ehlo. Ehlo, like the current president, hails from west Texas, and Ehlo, also like the current president, has a way with the English language. He has been known to call shooting guard Micah Downs "Michael," once decided that an opponent had an Australian dialogue, and wondered if Gonzaga would ever put a decimal reader in the Kennel. — La Rev

DAVIDSON WILDCATS

1. The freight. Here is some basic info you might hear over the next few days. Davidson has the nation's longest winning streak at 22 games. The Wildcats won the Southern Conference for the third year in a row, have won their past 36 conference games and 46 of the past 47.

That 36-game streak over two seasons encompasses the collegiate career of Stephen Curry. Stephen Curry is good. He was fifth in the nation with 25.1 points a game. He is the son of former NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry. He already is the 10th-leading all-time scorer in Davidson history. He is only a sophomore. This is not insignificant as Davidson had some big-time studs back in the day - like the 1960s and 70s.

Point guard Jason Richards led the nation in assists at 8.0 a game during the regular season. Richards also was the team's second-leading scorer, which is a little unusual. Coach Bob McKillop loves intelligent, feisty point guards who are virtual coaches on the floor. He finds a guy he likes and lets him start for three or four years and really take command of the team. But these point guards pass first, defend second, direct the team third and, if they have any energy left over, try to score. This will become a bigger deal for the Wildcats next season when Richards graduates and they move Curry over to point guard. Curry is a pure scorer and whether he can handle the additional demands of point guard could determine how his final two seasons go. But that is next year's problem.

2. Excitement. Back in my day there, Davidson was a small school in a quaint, sleepy little town of the same name about a half-hour north of Charlotte, a city not quite ready for prime time. And Belk Arena was a nice small-college gym. You could cram about 6,000 people in there if you had to, but there never was any reason to.

Charlotte's urban sprawl has enveloped Davidson, and that gym was packed most of the season. Sections of seats were sold out. People camped out (yes, really) to get tickets. The Wildcats took on top 10 teams North Carolina, Duke and UCLA. They led each of them and lost those three games by a total of 22 points. Early- and late-season top 25 rankings mean this has not been the typical under-the-radar season for this mid-major program. People are noticing, and people are caring. Our long-standing refraining about not getting respect does not ring so true this year.

3. The time. I am an unabashed Davidson fan and have been ever since I enrolled in 1992. The school has had its share of athletic success in other sports, but nothing compares to the potential of the men's basketball team doing well, making an impact in the NCAA tournament. My most heartbreaking collegiate sports memory is of the Wildcats losing to a far inferior Western Carolina team during my senior year in 1996. I will carry this memory with me forever because, as I have written before and will write again, I went through school with that senior-laden team and that conference tournament, and the NCAA tournament to follow, was supposed to be our moment.

That moment was denied. Subsequent potential moments have been denied. Davidson lost to Michigan in the NCAA tournament in 1998, to Ohio State in 2002 and 2006 and to Maryland last year. The Wildcats have not won an NCAA tournament game since Lefty Driesell left as coach in 1969. (In 1964, Davidson was Sports Illustrated's preseason No. 1 team.) This week is the moment now for this team, and we long-waiting fans, students and alumni would dread having another such moment denied.

I have two friends from college who both had their first children born on December 28. And Davidson has not lost since. One said, "Coincidence? I think not." I have no idea what that has to do with anything. Those kids do not realize their fathers' school has not lost in their short lifetime. So, I guess, it's win one for the kids? — Matt Pitzer

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TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

1. Mr. and Mrs. Smith. If the NCAA tourney was played 3-on-3 hoop-it-up style and each team could only field players that had the same name, Tennessee would be considered the greatest college team of all time. Despite some broadcast announcers this season repeatedly insisting that there is a fourth Smith named Jamar, there are in fact three players that share the surname of Smith that are in the starting lineup for the Vols. Ramar starts at point guard, and he is the one the Vols turn to when they need someone to get some dribble penetration in the lane. Tyler, who transferred from Iowa last season, gives Tennessee some much needed help in the post. He leads the team in rebounding and assists and is their third scoring threat. The final Smith is JaJuan. He is an above average defender, leading the team in steals, and when he is on, he can shoot the three ball as well as anyone in the country.

2. Somebody call up House, M.D. Every team has to overcome injuries throughout the year. Tennessee has been relatively injury-free this season, but they have had to deal with an unusual amount of illnesses. First is the case of J.P. Prince. Originally at Arizona, J.P. went to get his wisdom teeth out and ended up in an induced coma. This obviously affected him on the basketball court as well and led to his transfer to Tennessee. He is now back to full strength and is their best option coming off the bench. Next to succumb to the health crisis was Duke Crews. As if Tennessee wasn't already struggling in the post, Duke Crews was forced to sit out for two months due to a heart condition found in a routine physical exam. He was cleared medically at the beginning of conference play, and although it is obvious that he is not as conditioned as the rest of the team, he has been giving the Vols the extra post player they have been waiting for. Coinciding with Crews' return to the court, the team began passing around a nasty flu. That didn't stop JaJuan Smith from playing with a 100 degree temperature against LSU or the several other players who have had to fight through it in other games. Tennessee finally has the bugs worked out, and now Tennessee fans are hoping that they can make it the rest of the year disease free.

3. Want a D-I scholarship? Keep playing video games. The Vols also got some help in the post this season from freshman Brian Williams. Fresh off becoming one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world, Brian Williams has given Tennessee some clutch minutes off the bench. This is remarkable considering how he found his way to campus to play basketball. Three years ago, weighing in at 370+ pounds, his brother convinced him to get off the couch and start playing basketball. Before that time, he had never really played organized basketball other than the kind that requires a controller. In fact, he supposedly learned how to play the real life game of basketball from playing basketball video games. Today, he is more than 100 pounds lighter and is a scholarship player on a top 10 basketball team. And since I don't have it in me to write up these capsules without mentioning them ... Bruce Pearl and Chris Lofton. There, now I feel better. — Matthew Payne

AMERICAN EAGLES

1. Curse-Breakers. Have you ever played Mario Kart and, just when it looks like you're going to win, the computer defies physics and sends Wario out to give you some competition? And then, thanks to a freaking green shell, Wario ends up winning? That's pretty much the relationship between AU and Holy Cross the last few years, with Holy Cross coming into Washington and crushing any Eagle hopes of postseason glory. But not this year. Not the year we were in the top five three-point shooting teams in the country. Not the year All-Patriot Leaguer Garrison Carr set the league record for threes, mainly of the impossible variety. Not the year Brian Gilmore has risen to Eli Manning levels of clutchness. Not the year coach Jeff Jones devoured a human child, although he does that every year just to get himself pumped up.

2. A Proud Legacy. Sure, this may be AU's first time in the NCAA Tournament (eighty-one years, people. We're like the Jews in the desert times two, plus two, minus one). And the seats at Bender Arena are more likely to be half-empty then half-full. And no one in our backcourt is over six feet tall. And the girls at our D.C. school (most politically active in the nation, natch) are more likely to whore themselves out to David Vitter then any athlete (note to AU Women's Initiative: just kidding). (But not really.) But no matter. Our school had its place in basketball history secured long ago. We are the people who brought you Kermit Washington, also known as the guy who knocked the fuck out of Rudy Tomjonavich. You're welcome. We also gave you David Aldridge. We're sorry.

3. A School for You...Ladies. Remember those women I offended in my second point? Well there are plenty more where they come from, considering American has a Brian Wilson-esqe ratio of two girls for every boy. Of course, most AU ladies are busy getting ready to control the world via low-paying internships and positions as Legislative aides and body painting sessions (h/t to the Sports Bog). But that doesn't mean they're too busy to root for the Eagles. Don't stop believing. — David Grossman

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UCLA BRUINS

1. "Well, Jack Likes It." Remember when Dukie V and the state of Tennessee blew their collective load when "big time celebrities" Peyton Manning and Priscila Presley showed up at the Memphis-Tennessee game? Yawn. As the greatest basketball program in NCAA history, situated in the heart of LA between Beverly Hills and Bel Air, it's commonplace for celebs to catch a game at Pauley. It's nice, but we could really care less. However, I'll gladly admit that we were a little star-struck in the Pac-10 Clincher vs Stanford. After Russell Westbrook's offensive rebound and score with 49 seconds to go in the 2nd half, the camera cut to Jack Nicholson enthusiastically throwing out 13 fist-pumps in celebration of the Bruin comeback. Jack doesn't mess around, kids. He only shows up for the best. UCLA is as good as it gets!

2. 57 North - 10 East. UCLA has a pretty simple path this year to our 12th banner. Just like the last two years, we will again have ridiculous home court advantage in the Anaheim and Phoenix regionals. And ever since the Kingdome blew up, San Antonio is as West as it gets for the final 4. Bruin fans have been booking their flights to SAT ever since Kevin Love picked up his UCLA hat in July 2006.

3. K Love and Russell Youtube. All of UCLA's players are awesome. That being said, these two guys have just been ridiculous this year. Love's All-American low post domination and Westbrook's consistent teabagging of opposing defenders have earned them a special place in the hearts of every UCLA fan. — Trevor Gribble

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE DELTA DEVILS

1. Nine in a Row. The Delta Devils haven't lost a March game this season. In fact, they were sporting a dreadful 8-15 record on February 16, and they have won every game since to get to 17-15. Their overall record didn't get above .500 until their SWAC semifinal win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

2. A Head Slap for Old Times Sake. MVSU produced two of the greatest football players ever. Deacon Jones invented the term "sack" to describe the crippling hits he laid on opposing NFL quarterbacks as an old-school Ram, Charger, and Redskin. Jerry Rice was a legendary workout warrior who amassed over 22,000 receiving yards and 200 touchdowns in the NFL. He ended up at Valley because then-head man Archie Cooley was the only coach to pay Rice a recruiting visit.

3. Stanford is in the Tournament. Duh. They've been an at-large lock for weeks. But the first Stanford to officially make this year's Dance was Valley Senior Stanford Speech. With Chief Kickingstallionsims knocked out in the SWAC semis, Stanford will have to carry the all-name honors for the conference. Also on the MVSU roster: Andrew Jackson. Not the dude on the $20 bill, but the seldom-used 6'1" Freshman Forward Andrew Jackson. — Storming The Floor

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WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

1. Next Year, Buy Us Presents. West Virginia has played 99 illustrious years of basketball, compiling an impressive 61.4 percent winning percentage and a trip to the 1959 NCAA title game. WVU hasn't been as lucky with several opponents, however, owning overall losing records against Steubenville Athletic Club, Smith Skating Rink and the Parkersburg (W.Va.) YMCA. Though, in our defense, both losses to the Parkersburg YMCA came on the road.

2. He Can't Run For President. Over the last six games of the season, junior forward Joe Alexander torched opponents for 26.8 points per game. He was also named First Team All Big East. Alexander, despite having American parents, was born in Taiwan and lived eight years abroad while his father worked for Nestle. After some research, it seems Alexander is already the most successful Taiwanese basketball player in history, just besting Yulon veteran Chen Hsin-an.

NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH

1. Thank God We Don't Need a Shirt Solidarity Day. It is no secret that last fall Notre Dame football was pretty dismal. After an 0-3 start, I received the following email from Student Government:

We all know that this year's football season has not begun as we would have liked. Rough losses at home and on the road have left the nation wondering what has happened to Notre Dame football. The national media has portrayed our season as over and our team as the worst team in the NCAA. It is time for this negativity to end.



This is our team. Those are our friends, our classmates, and our roommates. It is time that we rally around our team and show them that we support them through thick and thin. This Thursday, September 20th, we encourage everyone to wear The Shirt as a sign of solidarity and support for the football team. As it says on the front, we can come "together as one," and battle the adversity of an 0-3 start. The season is still young and by no means over. Let's put the first three games behind us, and prepare for this weekend.

At least basketball is doing well enough so as not to necessitate one of these "morale boosters."

2. George Clooney Loves ND Basketball! He's nominated for an Oscar, yet he still finds time to watch Notre Dame and tell Regis that they were up at the half. Clearly God and George Clooney are on our side and I'm not sure which one I like better. (Kidding. It's totally Clooney).

3. Rooting for Notre Dame is Rooting Against ESPN. By now we are all familiar with Dana Jacobson's "f*ck Notre Dame...and touchdown Jesus...and regular Jesus" rant. It took place at the Mike & Mike roast, which also featured such "distinguished" "talents" as Trey Wingo, Mark Schlereth, Charlie Weis, Dick Vitale and Frank Caliendo. Since Weis is only associated with the football program (and eating), rooting for ND basketball is ostensibly rooting against the WWL Overlords. Go Irish! — Andrea Reiher

GEORGE MASON PATRIOTS

1. They've Been There. All right, so "experience" is incredibly overrated; after all, the Mason team that made the Final Four run had none of it whatsoever. But having been there is better than not having been there, right? Still on this team from the '06 run is point guard Folarin Campbell (no relation to Jason), and much more important, forward Will Thomas, who is - in my humble opinion - the best player in the conference. If you'll recall, Thomas was the guy who outplayed some kid from UConn named Rudy Gay in the regional final.

2. F— It, I'm Expecting Them to Win. When I wrote these here tidbits about Mason for Deadspin two years ago, I absolutely didn't expect Mason to win their first round game. They were playing Michigan State — who had the likes of Shannon Brown, Maurice Ager and Paul Davis - without their point guard Tony Skinn, who was suspended for punching a player in the man-bits during the CAA tourney. This year, they won the CAA tourney without uppercutting anyone in the balls, they're healthy, on fire, and —- as previously mentioned - experienced. This isn't some bull 15 seed. This is a team that can play with anyone (except UNC. They're good). Especially if that someone is a Big Ten team. Or Notre Dame.

3. Santa Claus Is Some Bull. My favorite Patriot is easily guard Andre Leaward LaVaé Smith, based solely on his name. A 26-year-old undergrad buddy of mine and Dre were in the same NCLC 375 class last semester. NCLC 375 is better known as Hip-Hop Literacies. The topic of discussion one day was "urban myths." Some genius in the class offered up "Christmas" as a myth. The teacher responded with something to the affect of, "Well, Christmas itself isn't a myth, it's real, but I suppose Santa Claus would be considered an urban myth." An eager-to-impress student disagrees: "Well, actually St. Nicholas was a real person who dropped treats down people's chimneys in the Old Country," Dre, for the first time all semester, raises his hand: "Not in my hood!"

The point here is that Andre Leaward LaVaé Smith ain't lookin' for no hand-outs, because in his hood, shit doesn't come free. You have to earn your treats. — Chris Mottram

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WISCONSIN BADGERS

1. Team of the 2000's? OK, that may be taking things a bit too far, but let's review what the basketball Badgers have accomplished since the year 2000. One Final Four, 2 Elite Eights, 3 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Big Ten Regular Season titles (2 outright) and two Big Ten Tournament titles. Although the casual fan might most easily identify with Indiana or Michigan State as traditional Big Ten powers, Indiana has not won an outright Big Ten regular season title since 1993 and Michigan State hasn't won one since 1999. The most amazing stat is Wisconsin has made the NCAA Tournament in 10 straight seasons. Coming in to this season, only five teams can top that streak: Arizona (23), Kansas (18), Kentucky (16), Duke (12), Michigan State (10). Not bad company. What is even more amazing is that prior to this run, Wisconsin only made the NCAA Tournament twice since their 1941 national championship; the 1994 Michael Finley-led team and the 1997 squad.

2. The Badgers' leaders. Leading scorer Brian Butch (whose elbow has not been grotesquely inverted yet this season), has two favorite TV shows: Ice Road Truckers and Deadliest Catch. Hopefully those trucks on Ice Road Truckers don't run over any polar bears. Butch also receives text messages from Erin Andrews after hitting game winning shots, so he has that going for him, which is nice. Butch is also the leading rebounder so we will give you a tidbit on second leading rebounder, Joe Krabbenhoft, who Seth Davis said he was going to name his dog after. Krabbenhoft, who played for a team called the Rough Riders in South Dakota in high school, has had more than 35 separate "stitch events" to his face over the years, according to his mom. This will serve him well if he ever tries out to be Mr. Met. Krabbenhoft is also the team's leader in assists, so we will move along to the No. 2 assist man, Trevon Hughes, a promising sophomore from Queens. Two things about Trevon stand out to me. The first is that his favorite Madison restaurant is Qdoba. Outstanding. You can't go wrong with Qdoba on State Street at 2:30 in the morning. Also, his favorite Halloween costume is a skeleton. I can only hope Trevon's friends also dressed up as skeletons and chase