It seems a Washington State basketball fan ran into an old friend of John Brockman—the starting forward for the rival Huskies—the night before the "big" UW-WSU game last weekend. So he spent the bulk of the evening calling and texting Brockman in the hopes of giving him a sleepless night. Since Brockman had a career-high 18 rebounds the next day and UW won, I'm going to say that it didn't work.

But it got worse when Brockman decided to enact some revenge on the griefer via this message he posted on everyone's favorite web-menacing tool, Twitter:

Requesting all dawg fans to call (208) 625 0872 and tell him about the husky win......he called me 25 times last night.....let him have it!

James Monsey, the Washington State senior who started the whole thing, received approximately 400 calls from Brockman's Twitter army. (So I guess it backfired?) Both gentlemen seem to be taking the whole thing in the spirit of old fashioned sportsmanship and no one will be indicted. However, I suggest you throw away your cell phone and never go on the internet again.

Brockman gets his revenge [Seattle Times]
A Chat with Jon Brockman's Cell-Phone Adversary [Seattle Weekly]

The staff of Cougarfan.com know a ginned up charge when they see one. Their side of the story says that Lobbestael was not "passed out." He was merely sleeping in a car in a police parking lot at 1:00 a.m., which is totally non-suspicious behavior. Oh, and the bag was not filled with vomit—it was filled with leftover McDonald's food. (Although that would be an honest mistake.)

Lobbestael, who missed most of 2008 with a knee injury, was cited for being "a minor exhibiting the signs of having consumed alcohol," which may be the most ridiculous charge in the history of law enforcement when you consider that drinking a two-liter of Mountain Dew will have roughly the same physiological effects. Anyway, per team rules he has been suspended, even though his coach says all is not what it seems. I'm sure vindication will be forthcoming.

But you can't really dust for vomit, can you?

Discerning fact from fiction on Lobbestael [Cougar Fan.com]
WSU Blog: WSU QB Got A Raw Deal Getting Arrested [Hotdog & Friends]
WSU QB FOUND DRUNK AND PASSED OUT IN POLICE PARKING LOT WITH A BAG FULL OF PUKE [Graney and The Pig]

NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

1. He Got Served. His intense weight room workouts earned him the nickname Psycho T, and his predilection for pedicures has led some to call him a sissy. But it's Tyler Hansbrough's dedication to the ping-pong table that has earned him true notoriety. The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated national player of the year, who loses more contact lenses than he does loose balls, has brought with him to Chapel Hill the Texas-style version of table tennis. The rules are simple: the first player to lose two consecutive points has to remove his shirt, and the winner gets to hit the ping-pong ball as hard as he can ... right at the loser's bare chest.

The off-campus apartment Hansbrough shares with teammates Bobby Frasor and Marcus Ginyard has a ping-pong table in the basement (along with a Wii that has a full Rock Band set-up). And when the Princeton tennis team was recently in Chapel Hill, getting a tour of the Dean Dome, Hansbrough challenged the teams' co-captain to a game of table tennis in the basketball players' lounge. Hansbrough, despite having virtually no backhand, won.

2. Perhaps he has a point. Roy Williams is a legend in North Carolina. But his sentiments about the state's most-watched tournament are akin to blasphemy. When the Heels' head coach was asked in 2004 about the ACC Tournament, he responded: "Do I love the tournament? No. I don't love the tournament at all." Williams downplayed the event last week, saying, "It's a great cocktail party and a big party for all the fans." Then, hours after winning the ACC Tournament on Sunday, he continued to disparage the conference tournament, saying what he really wants to win is the NCAA's event.

Maybe ol' Roy has a point: the Heels' last two NCAA championships - in 1993 and 2005 - came in years when they didn't win the ACC Tournament. And the team's success in the ACC event hasn't been a predictor of their performance in the NCAA tourney: Of the past six times they won the conference tournament - 1989, 1991, 1994, 1997, 1998 and 2007 - they made it to the Final Four "only" three times.

3. Preserving the mold. Heading into the NCAA tourney, the Tar Heels are looking to replicate both the full-throttle style and championship success of the 2005 national-title team. Speed merchant Ty Lawson continues to channel and shift Raymond Felton into an ever-higher gear; Wayne Ellington is every bit as dangerous and streaky a threat as Rashad McCants; and ultrafocused star Tyler Hansbrough is doing his best Sean May impersonation ... and then some. Piecing it all together, however, is the new-jack Jackie Manuel: defensive stalwart and resident noise-maker Marcus Ginyard. Arguably the best on-ball defender in the ACC and perhaps the nation, the starting wing player and fourth-string point guard not only has served as the squad's stopper, but has helped his Heels overcome the early-season loss of second-stringer Bobby "Fraser-Frase" Frasor; the seven-game absence of injured starter Lawson; and the well-meaning-but-often-shaky ways of former third-string senior Quentin Thomas.

As Ginyard's role increased throughout Lawson's lengthy ankle rehabilitation, Carolina benefited from his individual play and managed to improve as a defensive unit — long seen as the program's Achilles heel following Williams' return to The Hill. And though Ginyard may not have a posse, he does have a protege. The Archbishop O'Connell High School alum is a friend and mentor of elite prospect Kendall Marshall, a sophomore point guard for the Arlington, Va., school who already stands 6-foot-3 and has verbally committed to be one of Roy's Boys after graduating in 2010. The Prep Stars Recruiter's Handbook — based in Chapel Hill, appropriately enough, and published by former UNC All-American Dennis Wuycik — ranks Marshall as the 15th best sophomore in the country. The young lefty is no Ginyardian ball-hawker just yet, but he excels in the passing game and in shooting the trey. The slight-and-sleek Marshall has two more years to strengthen his frame and game before taking the torch from Ginyard and running with it.

The Dookies in Krzyzewskiville would expect nothing less from their hated archrivals. — Matt Viser and Brian Styers

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS

1. RAW Rochestie Junior guard Taylor Rochestie (pronnounced RAW-chess-tee, more on this later) is a great personification of what makes the Cougs. He is unconventional (a lefthander, like his coach Tony Bennett), judicious yet generous (in the tournament his assist to turnover ratio is 3.5-1, in the regular season led the team in assists; also, in an unprecedented move, gave up his scholarship for the 08-09 season to incoming recruit Marcus Capers), unathletic yet effective (a certain west coast sportswriter "He resembles an intramural player until he burns you), as well as lethal (leads the team in 3 point/free throw percentage). The talented Mr. Rochestie took the road pretty much never traveled to Pullman. Born in Santa Barbara, Rotchestie first attended Tulane and proceeded to ball it up, earning Conference USA all Freshman Team honors in 04-05. But then an injured Rochestie watched as on Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, destroying sizable portions of New Orleans, including the Tulane rehab facility. This forced Rochestie to exile in Texas, where he began seeking a transfer. That January Rochestie transferred to Washington State, where he was originally recruited but was not offered a scholarship. After sitting out the 05-06 season Rochestie worked himself into lineup last year, and has shown marked improvement since. Enough to be named a candidate for this years V-Foundation Comeback Player of the Year. But enough of the seriousness: A common "please put me on tv" sign at Friel Court this year was "show me your chesties." I have also heard the sophomoric utterance of "Taylor Raw-Testes", which I will not dignify with a response.

2. Can You Hear, Can You Hear The Thunder? Another junior who has emerged is Aron Baynes, Australian-Ass-Annihilator. The meaty Kiwi delivered a solid season for the Cougs, averaging 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, as well as providing the WSU faithful with the basketball equivalent of a lineman running back a fumble 80 yards for a TD. So far on the Cougars tourney run Baynes has had a great offensive game, where made 9 of 9 field goals against Winthrop, and defensively against Notre Dame, where he managed to slay the Giant Harangody as well as pull down 11 boards. But there is no rest for the Aussie as he goes against the UNC front-line, who are shorter/slighter than Mr. Baynes, but far more quick and agile. If it does come down to a slugfest down in the trenches, I'll put my $10 net worth on the Bayne(s)-Train (he might have a knife). Baynes has a background playing rugby. If Baynes can translate that aggression into keeping opponents off the offensive glass, the Cougars will continue to dance.

3. Good/Bad Things About Pullman. Informed Deadspin reader, if you ever find yourself extremely lost and or accepted into WSU here are some things you should know.

GOOD THINGS ABOUT WSU
*Bear Facility, nuff said.
*Zen Staircase, legally graffiti'd staircase, in the art department building, it puts you at peace.
* Sellas, so good, so cheap, so much.
* The com program.
* Just say "go cougs" to everyone, you'll be the most popular person in town in 20 minutes.
* Glenn Johnson, man, myth and legend.
* Nice change of pace from living in western Washington, avoiding these kind of white people.

WHATS NOT SO GOOD
* For as long as Daven Harmeling (sounds like its spelled) plays at WSU, he will have the most mispronounced name in college basketball.
* Every attempt at art, is a failure...
* Running into these kinds of white people.
* I wouldn't trust the sushi.....
* Edward R Murrow, famed Cougar grad, lied on his resumes, saying he went to Stanford. — Brian Tesch

Washington State vs. North Carolina, 7:27 pm Thursday

#4 Washington State Cougars

Last Weekend: Defeated #13 Winthrop 71-40, defeated #5 Notre Dame 61-41.

How Washington State Got Here: Defense to make the gods weep. When Winthrop got uppity and scored 29 points in the first half of the teams' first round meeting, the Cougs slammed the door on them, allowing only 11 thereafter (two treys, one dunk, a jumper, and one free throw, if we're counting). Notre Dame got one more point, but did it with less efficiency, shooting 24 percent from the floor.

What the Sweet 16 Means to WSU: Happy days are here again. The Cougs played for a national championship in 1941, losing to Wisconsin. But back then, there were only eight teams in the dance, so they've technically never been to the Sweet 16. This achievement means that young Tony Bennett was the right hire, and if Wash State is wise, they'll come up with whatever it takes to keep him around.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Eesh. In any other region, probably excellent, based on that lockdown D alone. But Wazzou face their Bizzaro-selves in the Tar Heels, who have yet to score less than 100 points in any game they've played in this tournament. And if they get past the Heels, it's more of the same with Louisville or Tennessee.

#1 North Carolina Tar Heels

Last Weekend: Defeated #16 Mount St. Mary's 113-74, defeated #9 Arkansas 108-77.

How North Carolina Got Here: Absolute domination. Their two games - in particular the 108-77 destruction of Arkansas - were a complete team effort. Everyone played to their capabilities, and Arkansas, a good team, seemed shell-shocked from the get-go.

What the Sweet 16 Means to UNC: The real tournament begins. With their talent level and the expectations of Tar Heel fans everywhere, anything less than the Final Four would be considered a failure.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: If the Heels play like they did against Arkansas, their chances could be near absolute. If they play like they did during the regular season...their chances are substantially less than absolute. Every team they face is a Final Four, perhaps even Championship-caliber, from this point on. Carolina's had a tendency to get behind early in their ACC games. So far they've managed to escape with wins in all but one of those games (Maryland). If they do that in the Charlotte regional, over even let their opponent hang around too long, they could be watching the Final Four from home.

Louisville vs. Tennessee, 9:57 pm Thursday

#3 Louisville Cardinals

Last Weekend: Defeated #14 Boise State 79-61, defeated #6 Oklahoma 78-48.

How Louisville Got Here: In waves. At least, that's how they came at opponents. The Cards under Rick Pitino have the type of talent-laden bench that signals elite status, allowing the team to appear perpetually fresh and rested as they toy with lesser opponents. Eight players logged double-figure minutes vs. Boise State, and that number went up to nine in the savage, back-alley beating of the Oklahoma Sooners.

What the Sweet 16 Means to the Cards: Another shot at history. The Cardinals are rarely mentioned with the all-time programs, but they are no strangers to the Final Four or the National Championship. Rick Pitino aims to remind us all that this ain't his first rodeo, either.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: It's going to be tough. The East is deadly this year, but there isn't much of a talent gap between the four remaining teams. In that respect, the Cards have as good a chance as anyone. They'd probably like to see a little more out of David Padgett to get them over the hump.

#2 Tennessee Volunteers

Last Weekend: Defeated #15 American 72-57, defeated #7 Butler 76-71 (OT)

How Tennessee Got Here: White-knuckled. The Vols had to crank up the defense over the last six minutes of their game against tourney virgins American in order to advance, and then Butler took them to the limit in the second round until fouls claimed two of the Bulldogs' best players. At least we know they can play tough now.

What the Sweet 16 Means to the Vols: Us against the world. It's an old coaching chestnut, but it's got to be working for Bruce Pearl. Tennessee felt like they deserved a #1 seed, but they got stuck in the toughest region instead. Now they play a loaded Louisville team just to get to the Elite Eight. Oy vey.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Depends on whether that alarm clock finally went off or not. The Vols won't be able to run the Cards out of the gym or wear them down with depth and talent, so it's time to simply want it more. And if they pull it off, there's more of the same on the other side. Tough draw.

Bruce Pearl's troops just frittered around enough to give the East Region its one shot of intrigue; Louisville, Washington State and especially North Carolina have looked dominant so far. How awesome have the Heels looked? Roy Williams actually admitted after the win yesterday that "we looked doggone good today." For God's sake, someone put a leash on that guy! He's out of control! (All together now: At least he finally gives a shit about North Carolina right now.)

Meanwhile, Louisville is one of the few teams we've seen in person this year ... and they lost, to Seton Hall. (This had the added humiliation of having taken place in Newark.) So where did that come from?

More to the point, though: Anyone who picked North Carolina to win the whole thing has to feel rather positive right now. So, Heels fans can all relax and just enjoy The Truth About Duke right now.

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS

1. A Dingo Ate your Jumper Allowing only 56 points per game (good for third in the nation) in 07-08, this version of the Cougars are one that stifles on the defensive end. And assembling this team of defensive aficionados was an interesting and far flung task for the Coaches Bennett. Not one player who stepped on the court for the Cougs this year resides in the Evergreen State. And only one current Washingtonian is listed on the active roster (freshman Charlie Ernquist). In fact the Cougars recruiting base ranges from Belgrade to Auckland, and everywhere in between. Part of this can be attributed to the basketball globetrotting past of Coach/Female Forbidden Fruit Fantasy, Tony Bennett. Bennett spent three years with the Charlotte Hornets, and then played and coached in New Zealand for the North Harbor Kings until 1998. His international connections have been key in building this team, "The further away we went, the better chance we had of getting someone" Said Bennett. This was basically the tactful way of saying "it's pretty hard to sell the middle of nowhere."

2. The Triforce. The team is built around seniors Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and Robbie Cowgill. All three have been deemed to have a "intramural" look to them, but don't be fooled, they're all skilled ballers. Weaver is a sinewy 6-6 athlete who can play any position from the 1 to the 3. He leads the team in no offensive category, but contributes with feints through the lane, creating shots for teammates. But where Weaver gets his accolades is as a shutdown perimeter defender. Second in the Pac-10 in steals, he's become a Jay Bilas favorite, who rendered this wondrous nugget "he's not a shooter, but he's a winner." Talk on Jay: talk on. Low, the team's leading scorer and 3-time Hawaii High School Player of the Year, committed to WSU without ever seeing the campus. I could see this happening going from Pullman to Hawaii, but Hawaii to Pullman? That's how much Low trusted the Bennett's coaching philosophy. And last but not least fan favorite and Pac 10 Scholar athlete of the year, Robbie Cowgill. The laid-back Cowgill has been called a "glue-guy" and is always around the ball, creating opportunities with hustle. When WSU has a fever, it's usually cured by more Cowgill. Explore that space Robbie!

3. Basket-wha!? The Pullman sports landscape has been dominated over the years by the whiz of footballs flying through the air, as well as irrational thoughts of a Mike Price return. Due to this dominance of football, basketball has traditionally been the oft forgotten runt of men's revenue sports. In some respects it still is; currently the Cougars play their games in the "Beasley Performance Arts Coliseum" (which has banners to honor NIT appearances). To avoid being lumped in with trade shows and productions of Oklahoma, the Cougar basketball team plays its games on "Friel Court." Confusing. It's also hurts your reputation as a basketball school when your three most famous former players are a Gatorade commercial staple/MJ poster boy (Craig Ehlo), a mediocre rapper/former G-Unit member who got kicked out before ever playing a minute (The Game, who might in fact be working me into a diss track right now), and Florida Marlins lefty Mark Hendrickson, who was drafted into the NBA with the 76ers in the late 90's, and is now working as a human testament to the benefits of being able to throw a baseball left handed. But with every win against traditional Pac-10 powerhouses, and every report of Tony Bennett going to a bigger school for a much bigger salary, the student body seems to sense exactly how special this team is. — Brian Tesch

WINTHROP EAGLES

Get to Know Winthrop. Winthrop University is a public school in Rock Hill, SC, across the state line from Charlotte. It's considered to be the best academic university in the state of South Carolina and one of the best public universities in the southeastern United States. Winthrop gets its name from former Massachusetts senator and congressman Robert C. Winthrop, who was the university's first major donor in the 1880s.

Winthrop hails from the mighty Big South Conference, which has been a one-bid basketball conference for its entire existence. The Eagles have dominated the recent history of the conference, making eight of the last 10 NCAA tournaments despite only one previous appearance in school history. They owe their unprecedented level of basketball success in the last decade to Gregg Marshall, who was the head coach for seven of those tourney bids. Marshall said a few years ago that he was too happy at Winthrop to leave for another job. Until, of course, he left Winthrop for another job as head coach at Wichita State. The team is now coached by longtime assistant Randy Peele. Aside form basketball, Winthrop athletics is known for its world-class Frisbee golf course. Winthrop's logo is actually one of your grandmother's toenail clippings. It's a well studied exact replica, right down to the yellow-red fungus.

Why Winthrop will bust your bracket

1. Michael Jenkins. The Kinston, NC senior leads the team with 14.3 points per game. He may be an undersized 2 guard, but he can create space for his shots, he's very effective at using screens, and can blow up for 30+ points in a game if you let him.
2. Perimeter defense. The Eagles guards play aggressively on defense, leading the Big South with 8.3 steals per game. If their opponent's point is liable to turn the ball over, or just has a bad day, Winthrop could send his team packing.
3. Depth. Considering that Winthrop is a small university in a one-bid conference, their bench is surprisingly good. The Eagles have nine players who clock at least 10 minutes per game, and the team gets about 18 points per game off the bench.
4. Experience. While this team lost some if its best players from last year (most notably Australian forward Craig Bradshaw), Winthrop return four seniors and six upperclassmen. Seniors compose the entirety of Winthrop's aforementioned backcourt.
5. For DeAndre Adams. Adams, a 5-8 point guard who played in all of Winthrop's games last season, died from complications of a car accident in May of 2007. Both the team and Winthrop fans have dedicated this season to his memory.

Why Winthrop will lose in the first round
1. Free throw shooting. The Eagles are one of the worst free throw shooting teams in college basketball, shooting only 59.5% from the line this season. Any chance of victory the Eagles would be in a very close game, and in these circumstances missed free throws could betray them.
2. Inconsistency. Even when Winthrop plays well, players like Jenkins don't always deliver consistently great performances. In five of the Eagles' seven losses, for example, Jenkins had been held to less than ten points. Winthrop has no chance of winning if players like Jenkins, Taj McCullough, and Chris Gaynor suddenly go cold.
3. No more surprises. By now, any team who draws the Eagles will be keen for the upset, and will have enough game film through the last few years to plan an effective strategy. — Mike White

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2. The Triforce. The team is built around seniors Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and Robbie Cowgill. All three have been deemed to have a "intramural" look to them, but don't be fooled, they're all skilled ballers. Weaver is a sinewy 6-6 athlete who can play any position from the 1 to the 3. He leads the team in no offensive category, but contributes with feints through the lane, creating shots for teammates. But where Weaver gets his accolades is as a shutdown perimeter defender. Second in the Pac-10 in steals, he's become a Jay Bilas favorite, who rendered this wondrous nugget "he's not a shooter, but he's a winner." Talk on Jay: talk on. Low, the team's leading scorer and 3-time Hawaii High School Player of the Year, committed to WSU without ever seeing the campus. I could see this happening going from Pullman to Hawaii, but Hawaii to Pullman? That's how much Low trusted the Bennett's coaching philosophy. And last but not least fan favorite and Pac 10 Scholar athlete of the year, Robbie Cowgill. The laid-back Cowgill has been called a "glue-guy" and is always around the ball, creating opportunities with hustle. When WSU has a fever, it's usually cured by more Cowgill. Explore that space Robbie!

3. Basket-wha!? The Pullman sports landscape has been dominated over the years by the whiz of footballs flying through the air, as well as irrational thoughts of a Mike Price return. Due to this dominance of football, basketball has traditionally been the oft forgotten runt of men's revenue sports. In some respects it still is; currently the Cougars play their games in the "Beasley Performance Arts Coliseum" (which has banners to honor NIT appearances). To avoid being lumped in with trade shows and productions of Oklahoma, the Cougar basketball team plays its games on "Friel Court." Confusing. It's also hurts your reputation as a basketball school when your three most famous former players are a Gatorade commercial staple/MJ poster boy (Craig Ehlo), a mediocre rapper/former G-Unit member who got kicked out before ever playing a minute (The Game, who might in fact be working me into a diss track right now), and Florida Marlins lefty Mark Hendrickson, who was drafted into the NBA with the 76ers in the late 90's, and is now working as a human testament to the benefits of being able to throw a baseball left handed. But with every win against traditional Pac-10 powerhouses, and every report of Tony Bennett going to a bigger school for a much bigger salary, the student body seems to sense exactly how special this team is. — Brian Tesch

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS

1. Worst to, well, second. Without question, Washington State was the single most surprising team in a BCS conference this year. Coming off a last-place finish last season, and with Tony Bennett taking over as a first-time head coach from his father, Dick Bennett, the media picked Washington State as an overwhelming favorite to repeat that last place finish. However, the added maturity of an additional year, and the good health of a couple of key players (Derrick Low and Daven Harmeling), made an enormous difference to a team that had only had one senior last year. In fact, Tony Bennett has gotten off to such a flying start this season, with a 13-5 record in the Pac-10, that he could lose his next 85 straight conference games and still have a higher winning percentage in conference than his father's predecessor, the shockingly inept Paul Graham.

2. A motley crew. The Cougars' 13-year absence from the NCAA tournament, and the tremendous success of Gonzaga and, more recently, U Dub, certainly hasn't helped their recruiting in the state of Washington any. In fact, Washington State does not have a single scholarship player from the state of Washington. They do, however, have players from eight different states, and three foreign countries. Included amongst these are a long-haired Hawaiian point guard (Derrick Low) with a traditional tattoo covering the entire length of his right leg, a 6'10" Texan (Robbie Cowgill) who needs to eat 7000 calories a day to maintain himself at a svelte 210 pounds and a 6'10", 270 pound beast from Australia (Aron Baynes) that has come out of seemingly nowhere to have a huge impact in WSU's last two Pac Ten wins.

3. Like father, like son. Without question, the backbone of Washington State's success this season has been the defensive system developed by Dick Bennett. Throughout his career Bennett built a reputation as a defensive innovator. In fact, in a 1998 SI poll of Division-I coaches, Bennett placed third when they were asked, "If you could go to only one coaching clinic, whose would it be?" They certainly wouldn't be there to learn the offense that his Wisconsin team scored 41 points with against Michigan State in the 2000 Final Four. The Bennett Defensive philosophy is sometimes referred to as a pack-line defense. Alternatively, UCLA swingman Josh Shipp refers to it as "kind of weak." The basic idea is to pressure the ball and force it in the middle, while all other defenders stay within 17 feet of the basket; at practice they tape a line on the floor three feet inside the 3-point line. If the defensive system is working effectively, you will see no penetration to the baseline, quick traps by the other big man anytime the ball goes inside, a lot of forced, heavily contested jump shots and frustrated looks on the opponents' faces. If it's not working effectively, you'll see Wazzu lose, as they simply don't have enough firepower to succeed otherwise. — Ted Murray

ORAL ROBERTS GOLDEN EAGLES

1. So, Then, Why The Hell Are You At Oral Roberts? The Golden Eagles, in the tournament for the second year in a row, are defined by their star player, Caleb Green. He's a 6-8 forward who has won the Mid-Continent player of the year award three years in a row, which I guarantee will never happen again in any major conference. He's actually from Tulsa and, in high school, won the Jim Thorpe Award for the best athlete in the state of Oklahoma. He's best friends with fellow ORU star, guard Ken Tutt; together, the duo has won 83 games in their four years on campus.

2. They Beat My Official Tournament Favorite ... On The Road. I'm terrible at predicting anything, but right now, no team in the country, save for maybe Ohio State, looks better than Kansas. Well, these bad mofos from Oral Roberts won at Allen Fieldhouse earlier this year, 78-71, way back in November. (This was after they had lost to Loyola Marymount.) Oral Roberts was the first job for current Kansas coach Bill "Toupee" Self.

3. Bears Repeating. I mentioned this in their tournament preview last year, but it absolutely must be mentioned any time the Golden Eagles are mentioned anywhere for anything. "The school was indeed founded (and humbly named) by Oral Roberts, who is most famous, of course, for telling his parishioners in 1986 that if they did not raise $8 million by March of that year, God would "call him home." (Sadly, we didn't get to find out if Roberts really had such a conversation with the Almighty; they hit the number.) Roberts has claimed to have personally raised the dead and, last year, said that a vision of a "cloud over New York" has told him Christ is coming soon. (After he dies, Roberts has told followers that he plans to return and rule the world with Christ.)" — Will Leitch

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(That's all of 'em for today, folks. Whew.)

2. A motley crew. The Cougars' 13-year absence from the NCAA tournament, and the tremendous success of Gonzaga and, more recently, U Dub, certainly hasn't helped their recruiting in the state of Washington any. In fact, Washington State does not have a single scholarship player from the state of Washington. They do, however, have players from eight different states, and three foreign countries. Included amongst these are a long-haired Hawaiian point guard (Derrick Low) with a traditional tattoo covering the entire length of his right leg, a 6'10" Texan (Robbie Cowgill) who needs to eat 7000 calories a day to maintain himself at a svelte 210 pounds and a 6'10", 270 pound beast from Australia (Aron Baynes) that has come out of seemingly nowhere to have a huge impact in WSU's last two Pac Ten wins.

3. Like father, like son. Without question, the backbone of Washington State's success this season has been the defensive system developed by Dick Bennett. Throughout his career Bennett built a reputation as a defensive innovator. In fact, in a 1998 SI poll of Division-I coaches, Bennett placed third when they were asked, "If you could go to only one coaching clinic, whose would it be?" They certainly wouldn't be there to learn the offense that his Wisconsin team scored 41 points with against Michigan State in the 2000 Final Four. The Bennett Defensive philosophy is sometimes referred to as a pack-line defense. Alternatively, UCLA swingman Josh Shipp refers to it as "kind of weak." The basic idea is to pressure the ball and force it in the middle, while all other defenders stay within 17 feet of the basket; at practice they tape a line on the floor three feet inside the 3-point line. If the defensive system is working effectively, you will see no penetration to the baseline, quick traps by the other big man anytime the ball goes inside, a lot of forced, heavily contested jump shots and frustrated looks on the opponents' faces. If it's not working effectively, you'll see Wazzu lose, as they simply don't have enough firepower to succeed otherwise. — Ted Murray

What's great too is that, apparently, the 1997 WSU staffers got bored just three weeks into the enterprise and stopped updating three weeks in. That was still enough time for a classic quote.

"They (WSU) have a tremendous quarterback. The blitzes didn't phase him. He is huge and is what the NFL guys are looking for. He is big-time." — Boise State Head Coach Houston Nutt, Sept. 27, 1997.

Also statements from Nutt that year:

• "Barry Bonds is too skinny to ever be considered a power hitter."
• "Yeah, Clinton's totally getting impeached, which is fine, because Al Gore will take over, and he's very electable anyway."
• "I don't understand why everyone's so worked up about Islamic extremism."

The Ryan Leaf For Heisman 1997 Homepage [WSU.org]