Tyler Hansbrough is out indefinitely with a stress reaction condition in his right shin.

Hear that? That whoosh? It's the collective breath of North Carolina fans being taken away.

John Bazemore/AP

Tyler Hansbrough is the first national player of the year to return to school since 1991.

What other reaction is possible when your best player, the reigning player of the year and a three-time first-team All-America is out indefinitely with an unfamiliar injury? The good news – if there is any when an injury is reported – is that the Heels are taking precautions.

An MRI Thursday revealed the stress reaction, which can lead to a stress fracture. So Hansbrough's going to be sitting out of practice until further notice.

UNC coach Roy Williams won't comment until after he meets with Hansbrough and the school's medical staff on Friday. But I can't imagine he says too much about Hansbrough other than he'll be evaluated often, and sit until the staff thinks he's ready. Williams isn't about to jeopardize a chance at a national title by making a foolish move in November.

After all, the Heels were just tabbed as a unanimous No. 1 in the coaches' poll. Expect the AP poll to do the same on Friday.

Ultimately, this shouldn't affect the Heels in March. It's hard to believe Hansbrough's right shin won't be the most closely monitored body part on the East Coast this winter and spring.

I'm not worried about UNC and its title aspirations, but I do hope Hansbrough is healthy soon. He's college hoops' biggest name and the star of the nation's No. 1 team.

It's not Tom Brady going down for the season, but it will hurt the game's overall visibility. No Hansbrough updates on SportsCenter, fewer splashes in USA Today, etc. It's like kryptonite for the casual fan.

Guess Stephen Curry will have to carry the superstar load for a while.

College hoops coaches finally got their wish. The three-point line grew a foot.

Considering how unpopular the distance (19-feet-9) was when the NCAA began using the 3 in 1986, it's surprising it took 22 years to extend the shot to 20-9. Coaches said 19-9 was a chip shot that turned the sport into a circus, i.e., took the game away from dominant big men.

"The line was so short," Louisville coach Rick Pitino told Athlon Sports. "I'm 55 (years old) and I could go out there and shoot 45 percent if nobody played defense on me. It really was too short. Inferior shooters ended up taking it. And that's not good."

The new line will supposedly open up offenses. Defenses will have to stretch to guard the perimeter, allowing those big men room to work in the lane.

At least, that's the conventional thinking.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Davidson's Stephen Curry won't be fazed by the longer 3-point line.

Most shooters won't be fazed by the extra foot. And if they connect (likely), it'll surely open up offenses. Some coaches, like Memphis' John Calipari, aren't the least bit concerned. The Tigers made about 35 percent of their 3s last season, and Coach Cal can't see them being any worse this year.

This shot selection chart from Ken Pomeroy (compiled from more than 4,000 games over the past 5 years or about 340,000 shots), shows as much.

Players make about 37 percent of their attempts from 20 feet. At 21 feet, it's about the same. Also true from 22 feet. Percentages don't drop significantly until they start heaving it from 25 feet (about 34.5 percent).

In theory, teams shouldn't be overly affected by the extra foot, and defenses will have to work harder to guard the three.

Still, it may not open up the game because there will likely be fewer overall attempts.

Coaches will reign in some of their more questionable shooters. Those 6-10 power forwards? Probably not going to get the green light, which will mean fewer 3s overall. (Officials expect 3s to encompass about 30 percent of the game's attempts.)

And if there are fewer attempts, that means more guys drifting toward the basket, which makes it easier on defenses. If that doesn't work, expect coaches to use more zone defense.

Any changes to the game will be subtle. Teams will adjust and still play to their strengths, whether it's hoisting 3s or scoring in the paint. (Nobody uses the mid-range game anymore.)

You can read an excellent analysis on those subtle changes here. SI.com's Luke Winn detailed four areas that he thought would be affected and come to these conclusions: Mid-majors will be hit the hardest; UNC and UConn – two of this season's biggest contenders – won't have any issues; defenses that force mid-range jumpers will thrive; and marginal shooters will be ignored.

It's good stuff. Keep the first two in mind when filling out your bracket.

The mid-major aspect doesn't apply to every mid-major (not everyone relies on the 3), but does affect three of 2007-08's most impressive teams, Butler, Drake and Davidson. All three relied on 3s for more than a third of their offense. If any of those three struggle with the 20-9 line, this season may not be as kind.

As to UNC and UConn not having many issues, that's because neither relied on 3s as much as the rest of the 2008 field. The same was true for other contenders like Michigan State and UCLA. It's reasonable to expect all four won't miss a beat this season with the longer line.

But wait, there's more!

Rush the Court tried to determine which teams had the fewest "pure shooters" by separating shooting percentages at home and on the road. If a team had a large disparity between the two, they will likely struggle this season at 20-9 because they benefited from a shorter line at home.

Among the most vulnerable big names? Vandy, Temple, BYU, Georgetown, Florida, Pitt and defending champion Kansas. The Owls were the worst, shooting 10 percentage points worse on the road.

Teams unfazed on the road include Oregon, Arizona, Duke, Miami (Fla.), Baylor, Gonzaga and Michigan State. The Ducks and Devils shot better than 38 percent on the road.

(RTC did have six teams who were better on the road than at home, but chalked them up as abnormalities.)

Finally, who are the players unlikely to be affected? ESPN's Fran Fraschilla compiled a list of his top 10 shooters in the game. (Jay Bilas compiled a list of the best all-time college shooter, with Georgia Tech's Dennis Scott atop the list. I'd go with Ray Allen.)

Most of 'em are who you'd expect – Davidson's Stephen Curry and Notre Dame's Kyle McAlarney are probably the best pure shooters. Others like UAB's Robert Vaden and Miami's Jack McClinton are scorers who can also hit from anywhere on the court. And some, like American's Garrison Carr and Cornell's Ryan Wittman, are little-known players who could shoot their way into some highlights this season.

A couple of others to consider: Texas Tech's Alan Voskuil (hit 50 percent of his 134 attempts last season), West Virginia's Alex Ruoff (Bob Huggins always has one go-to guy who emerges as a star) and BYU's Jonathan Tavernari (only made 37.6 of his attempts, but he has unlimited range.)

And it always helps to have that guy who can knock down a 3 when needed. Ask Kansas.

Maybe I'm biased, but the best sports blogs out there are usually about college hoops.

Two of my favorites – and two of the best, period – are Rush the Court and Yahoo! Sports' The Dagger. Both blogs excel at finding aspects of news stories others might overlook and turning them into insightful, excellent reading.

Take Tuesday, for example.

Rush the Court had five postings, including a great section on the ACC "preparing to propose NCAA legislation that will allow players considering the NBA draft only ten days from the date of the NCAA Championship game to decide on whether they're staying in school."

The gist: ACC coaches think athletes have too much time to decide if they're going to stay in school, and it messes with recruiting. Coaches hate it, so let's get rid of it! Good stuff.

The Dagger tends to focus on the lighter side of college hoops. Like Indiana hiring an athletic director with no previous experience in athletic departments (who needs experience?) or Gary Williams miffed at the media for burying Maryland before the season begins (the Terps are not irrelevant!).

Gotta love it.

What hoop blogs are you reading?

The reason behind Lute Olson's sudden retirement became clear on Tuesday when Olson's doctor revealed the coach suffered a stroke during 2008. As a result, Olson was advised to retire.

So there's the reason. And it's a mighty good one. Olson, who recently announced his engagement, just turned 74. He'd like to spend more time with his grandkids, kids and fiancée.

Still, the timing remains curious. Where was Olson's support staff? 

On Nov. 3, 2007, Olson told Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood that he would need a leave of absence. On Dec. 6, Olson said he would miss the entire season. The same day, Olson filed for divorce from his wife, Christine.

Conventional thinking? Divorce isn't easy, so Olson would need time to recover. But health questions lingered.

In January, the Tucson Citizen revealed Olson would have to be using sick leave by the end of January, and that "sick leave can only be used by someone who is ill or caring for an immediate family member who is ill." The school doesn't comment.

After that, there wasn't much mention about Olson's health because neither Olson nor the school was talking about it. When he returned in March, he tried to re-establish himself, but he wasn't the same coach Arizona was used to seeing. 

Now the doctor says Olson's "severe depression" and "changes in judgment" were the result of a stroke and no doubt contributed to his tumultuous summer. Hey, no argument there.

The thing is, what took so long to make this decision? Olson's stroke happened months ago. (It was confirmed by an MRI on Monday, but why did it take so long to perform the MRI? This never occured to anyone during the summer?)

It's not an easy thing to convince a coach like Olson to retire. That's a given. But this wasn't a case of him being unable to produce a winning team anymore. This was about his health. His doctors should've been more forceful. School officials should've taken a stand. His fiancée and his kids could've convinced him.

The whole episode just makes Olson's departure even more sad. The coach deserved better.

UPDATE: From Olson's doctor, Steven Knope:

"Unlike a typical stroke that you may imagine where someone is unable to walk or talk or move a limb, this stroke occurred in a part of the brain where much of his intellectual function and his motor function was perfectly normal," Knope said. "So it wasn't quite apparent. The tipoff and the clue came in the last several weeks, when we began to treat what appeared to be a bout of depression that simply didn't respond."

There's my answer. I'd like to think this was the first time Olson showed any symptoms of a stroke, but his summer says otherwise to me. I wish more could've been done for him before now.

The economic downturn threw a big wrench into T. Boone Pickens's grand scheme to revamp Oklahoma State's athletic faculties. For about 72 hours.

Boone, an Oklahoma billionaire who chairs the hedge fund BP Capital Management, donated $165 million to his alma mater in 2006. But the record gift didn't go directly to the school – it was reinvested in BP Capital.

Instead of a direct donation, the plan was to have the money grow along with the economy and eventually fund several projects. When it swelled to more than $300 million about 14 months ago, the money still stayed in, though Oklahoma State did secure enough money to start refurbishing its football stadium.

A few days ago, reports circulated that the money was gone. Ouch.

So Pickens, like any good, devoted sports booster, promptly gave more dough. Another $63 million. (And he took the remaining $125 million out of the hedge fund.)

Cowboys football coach Mike Gundy promptly issued this understatement.

"He's very committed. There's not very many people that will say, 'I'm going to do this and take care of you,' and then they'll back it up," Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy said. "That's what he does. It's pretty simple."

Committed to the program or embarrassed the money went the way of my 401(k)?

The weekend links, starting with picks to win in the Big East, ACC and Big Ten.

• Big East media members tabbed UConn as the league favorite, followed by Louisville, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame. The Huskies received nine first-place votes, while the Cards and Panthers nabbed three. Seems like one of those years when the conference places multiple teams in the Final Four.
• North Carolina was the unanimous pick to win the ACC, followed by Duke, Wake Forest and Miami.
• Big Ten writers think Purdue's the team to beat, with Michigan State right on its heels. It's tough to overlook the Boilermakers, who return all five starters. SI.com's Luke Winn thinks they're a darkhorse Final Four team.
• With four-year starter Jamar Butler gone, Thad Matta is desperate for some "consistency" at the guard spot. Junior college transfer Jeremie Simmons, freshman Anthony Carter and junior P.J. Hill are vying for playing time, but the Big Ten Geeks can't see any way around the Buckeyes having turnover problems.
• Bill Self isn't sure who's going to start for Kansas, at least among his newcomers. It won't be junior college transfer Mario Little, who's out for about a month due to a stress fracture in his lower left leg.
• No Derrick Rose, no Chris Douglas-Roberts. So who will be Memphis' go-to guy?
• Finally, Jerry Tarkanian posted another entertaining blog. This one focused on the would-be dynasty UNLV missed out on when Tark was ousted in Vegas. He says everyone in college hoops, including Jason Kidd and Shawn Kemp, wanted to be a Runnin' Reb.

Lute Olson capped a bizarre year with a bizarre finish to his career.

The various reports about the Arizona basketball coach retiring were true, and it's a melancholy, ultimately unsatisfying end to a Hall of Fame career. Olson, 74, will go down as one of college hoops' greatest coaches, but I wonder how long the events of the last year will stick with him.

With any luck, it won't be long. Olson deserves better.

Steve Dipaola/Reuters file

Lute Olson won 780 games and an NCAA tournament title during his 34-year career.

For those needing a refresher, the Tucson Citizen compiled an Olson timeline of events. It covers the exit of a longtime assistant, Olson's leave of absence and subsequent divorce, the Wildcats' struggles last season, losing the nation's top recruit and an NCAA boo-boo.

It's a tough ending for a coach who built Arizona into one of the game's premier programs.

When Dick Vitale broke the story earlier Thursday, the school wouldn't confirm the story, even though assistants were telling recruits that Reggie Geary would be taking over the program.

That prompted reactions of disbelief and indignation. (None of the players have commented yet.) The school later confirmed the retirement Thursday evening.

Chase Budinger's father, Duncan, said the reports were "disturbing" and told the Citzen that the program "did not need any more drama".

Debbie Witley, the mother of freshman center Jeff, was less delicate. She found out about Olson through a text message.

"That's how I find out?" she told the Citizen. "The mother of one of the top players. . . To find out this way is unbelievable."

She went on to say, "I feel totally betrayed. That's me personally. I have no clue how Jeffrey feels right now. He probably is just concerned with playing. He doesn't care about this stuff. But that's why we're the parents."

No reason has emerged why Olson is retiring, but the Arizona Daily Star reported Olson missed practice on Wednesday because he wasn't feeling well. Combine that 12 previous months that were stressful and speculation about Olson's retirement focuses around his health.

But maybe not. Olson's a fit 74-year-old. He announced his engagement earlier this fall and – though the timing could be better – he could just want to enjoy time away from hoops.

It creates an odd ending to his career, but not an overshadowing ending. Unlike ex-coaches like Eddie Sutton (forced out at Oklahoma State on the heels of a DUI), Clem Haskins (charges of academic fraud at Minnesota) or Dave Bliss (who sullied a murdered player's name), Olson's legacy isn't in question.

Rush the Court did an excellent analysis of Olson's accomplishments, including his regular-season and postseason successes and failures. The highlights are impressive:

• 780-280 (.736) record in 34 years
• 1 national title and 5 Final Fours
• 23 consecutive NCAA tourney appearances, 45-27 in the Big Dance
• 11 Pac-10 titles

But beyond the numbers, Olson's legacy will be secure because Arizona is likely to fall off the map as a college hoops contender. The Wildcats were the premier program west of the Mississippi during Olson's tenure.

And that's something an odd finish can't tarnish.

The average male life expectancy is 75 years. By then, Ken Mink's college basketball days will barely be over.

Mink, 73, is one of the newest players on Roane State (Tenn.), a junior college about 35 miles west of Knoxville.  The 6-foot, 190-pound Mink is listed as a senior on Roane's roster. No kidding.

The records aren't clear, but he's likely the oldest person to ever play college hoops.

Mink, a semi-retired journalist who lives in Farragut, Ky. Tenn., played for Lees (Ky.) Junior College until 1956 when he was dismissed – wrongly, he says -- for allegedly covering the coaches' office with shaving cream. It didn't hamper his love for hoops, though.

He stayed fit through the years with various athletic activities (Golfing, snow skiing, hang gliding, hiking and basketball), but realized he could still hoop when he was shooting baskets in his driveway last fall.

"I had been knocking down shot after shot, so when I came in the house I told my wife, 'I've still got it,' " Mink told the Knoxville News Sentinel. "She said, 'You've got what?' I said, 'I can still play.' "

That prompted Mink to write various schools, asking about hoops opportunities. Roane's coach, Randy Nesbit, gave him a shot. Mink spent the summer getting into shape, shooting baskets and playing with a senior team from the area in three state tournaments.

Now, he's playing with guys more than 50-years younger.

For context, most college basketball players are in their late teens or early 20s. Utah State's Gary Wilkinson will be among the oldest D-I players this season. He just turned 26.

Older athletes occasionally make their marks in college sports, which doesn't have an age limit for eligible athletes. (Regulations in Division I sports and junior colleges relate to participating in organized sports, not age.)

• Charlie Bickford played for the University of Maine in Augusta in 2006 when he was 52 and a fan favorite.
• The year before, Russ Maki, 52, was studying criminal justice at the Western Upper Peninsula (Mich.) school when he made the roster as a walk-on.
• Even college football's featured an older player recently. Mike Flynt, 59, dealt with injuries last season but finally played for his alma mater, D-III school Sul Ross State. Even better, he was part of the winning play against Texas Lutheran.

However, Mink has them all beat.

He says he was a good high school player in the '50s and had several scholarship offers, but went to Lees because it offered a full ride. He says he averaged about 12 points a game until his dismissal.

He can still shoot (click here for video), moves pretty well for a septgenarian and has bonded with his younger teammates.

Mink is unlikely to play for more than five or six minutes a game for Roane State, which opens its season on Nov. 3. Conditioning isn't the issue as Roane State coach Randy Nesbit says Mink can take care of himself on the court. But adjusting to today's game and picking up the Roane offense could be a challenge.

"There's a lot of complicated offensive and defensive schemes that I have to learn, but the other players have been helping me every step of the way," Mink told the Roane County News.

Being a non-traditional student making a 30-mile commute from his home outside Knoxville isn't easy, either.

Mink takes 12 hours of classes (Spanish, Computer Science, U.S. History and Criminal Justice), practices a couple hours a day and also edits the Web site Travellingadventurer.com, which he founded in 2002.

Roane's ideal ending to the year – after the Guinness Book of World Records officials reportedly attend the Nov. 3 game – is to "get 20 points this season" and eventually write a book on his Roane State experience.

Then again, he could always shoot for another record.

Random question: Is it strange to have a new award honoring college basketball coaches their character and coaching ability and not have John Wooden as one of the recipients?

Sorry, make that a redundant question. It is strange.

Pat Summitt, Lou Carnesecca and Dean Smith will receive the inaugural Joe Lapchick Character Award on Nov. 20 during the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer.

All three coaches are already in the hoops Hall of Fame, and certainly deserving of any coaching awards. Yet nada for the Wizard of Westwood.

Summitt is the winningest coach in women's hoops history, racking up 983 wins and eight national titles in 34 years. Carnesecca won 524 games at St. John's and never missed a postseason. Smith was 879 games and two titles at North Carolina.

If you're not a New York Knicks or a St. John's fan, you might know Joe Lapchick. From the AP story:

Lapchick, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1959 as a member of the original Celtics, coached at St. John's from 1936-47 and again from 1956-1965. He compiled a 334-130 record and won four NIT championships. He spent nine seasons coaching with New York in the fledgling NBA and was credited as one of the leaders in integrating the league. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a coach in 1966. He died in 1970.

Not bad. Gus Alfieri, who played for Lapchick at St. John's in the '50s and conceived the award, says "There could not be a better time to focus attention on character in sports but the present and Joe Lapchick is the model for the person we should look to."

Alfieri also wrote a book on Lapchick, which featured this little nugget on how much NYC loved the coach:

"The sports editor of the New York Post, Ike Gellis, was a very good friend of Lapchick's. Gellis once said something like, If Joe Lapchick assassinated John F. Kennedy in Times Square in broad daylight, no one would write about it the next day."Retrieved from "http://hoopedia.nba.com/index.php/St._John%27s_Red_Storm"

Clearly, this was before 1963.

Anyway, the award, which is backed by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, but isn't listed among their official awards, sounds like a nice way to center some attention on Lapchick and the game's coaching legends.

But where is Wooden? College hoops' greatest coach and model of dignity isn't honored for a character award? Hm.

The problem is Wooden turned 98 last week. He's been in the hospital three times since April 2006 for various ailments (the most recent a broken left wrist and collarbone from a fall on March 1), so making a cross-country flight can't be real high on the list.

I wouldn't want to leave sunny L.A. for NYC in mid-November either.  

Next day follow-up with Alfieri:

"It's all about straight forwardness. We wanted people with high ethical principles. Today, so much of high-level sports is driven by trying to be successful and in many cases ethics is out the window," he said by phone.

"The people that were chosen were all excellent. They didn't have to be successful, but these three were. The award doesn't necessarily have anything to do with athletic success."

Essentially, Alfieri wants the award to focus on people that can be held up as a higher standard. I asked who might be considered for next year's award, mentioning Wooden or Bob Cousy. He said Mike Krzyzewski would be an ideal candidate or Bill Bradley. Both would be great.

But so would Wooden.

Some Monday links to open your work week. Remember, only three weeks until tip-off!

Interesting tidbit from Duke's annual Blue-White Scrimmage. The Devils used a three-guard lineup (sometimes four-guard) last season to take advantage of their three-point shooting and myriad ball-handlers. Among all those guards, Greg Paulus usually ran the show.

This year, maybe not.

Sophomore Nolan Smith was far more effective than Paulus during the scrimmage, and Mike Krzyzewski acknowledged afterward that Smith, who's a little bigger and quicker than Paulus, was making a push for the starting spot.

That would be a small surprise in Durham, though Duke fans have been debating most of the summer about who would be best at the point. Paulus has started since he was a freshman, but his streaky shooting inconsistent play has never endeared him to fans.

• I missed this heading into Friday, but Seth Davis offers up 20 questions for the season. Nice catch-all.
• Last year, Memphis advertised around town like crazy in effort to drive season-ticket sales. This season, people will be encouraged to get on a waiting list for season tickets. Whoa. A waiting list? In one year, you can't snap up season tickets anymore? Curse you, Derrick Rose!
• OK, you're a 7-foot-2 Kentucky native. You're a senior on a Wildcats team that could desperately use another big man to take some pressure off Patrick Patterson. Jared Carter, are you ready to be that man? Billy Gillispie sure hopes so. "I'd be very surprised if he doesn't really impact our team."
• Ben Howland's trademark defense is already gassing one of his prized freshmen, J'Mison Morgan. But if you're senior point guard Darren Collison, that's a good thing. Collison, one of the game's better on-ball defenders, was worried the Bruins wouldn't be as physical this season. After a few practices, he says that's no longer a big concern.
• Democrats are to basketball as republicans are to football? Yeah, that's probably right.

• Good point-counterpoint about Gary Williams and the prospects of Maryland basketball. The Terps have missed the NCAA tournament three of the last four season, which seems strange given they were one of the game's premier programs in the late '90s and early '00s.
• Finally, I'm with the rest of the hoops world on this one: Good luck to Kenny George. We'll miss ya, big fella.

Good news for nervous Kansas fans this season: Since the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, the defending champion has missed the Big Dance just three times.

Bad news for Kansas fans: One of those times was last season.

The Jayhawks must replace about 80 percent of their scoring from their championship roster, including all five starters. The pressure to win remains the same, but it'll fall on the shoulders of junior guard Sherron Collins, sophomore center Cole Aldrich and seven newcomers to this year's squad.

It's a tall order, to be sure, but not an unfamiliar one to other defending champs.

Louisville's 1986-87 team lost three starters and missed the NCAAs. UCLA's 1995-96 squad lost two starters, but went 23-8 and won the Pac-10 title. Kentucky was so loaded in 1996-97, it lost three starters, but reached the NCAA title game, finishing 35-5.

But for Kansas comparisons, there are three teams that faced similar situations to this year's Jayhawks squad: Maryland ('02-'03), North Carolina ('05-'06) and Florida ('07-'08). All three of those teams lost at least 70 percent of their scoring and rebounding from their title teams, but only Florida missed the NCAA tournament the following season.

How did those teams do it?

The Terps lost national player of the year Juan Dixon and its entire frontline of Lonny Baxter, Chris Wilcox and Byron Mouton from its 32-4 title team. They retained two important pieces in point guard Steve Blake and swingman Drew Nicholas.

The next season, Maryland finished 21-10 overall (11-5 in ACC play), nabbed a No. 6 seed in the NCAAs where it lost to Michigan State in the Sweet 16.

Nicholas emerged as a significant scoring threat, averaging 17.8 ppg. (His 1.33 PPS was slightly lower than Dixon's 1.37 the year before.)

Blake upped his scoring to 11.6 ppg, did it just as effectively as Nicholas (1.31 PPS) and his assists barely dipped (7.1).

An important aspect was freshman Nik Caner-Medley. He took some lumps, but his 5.9 ppg – at 1.33 PPS – gave the Terps added punch when needed.

Also, forwards Ryan Randle (12.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.17 PPS) and Tahj Holden (8.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.31 PPS) did just enough to make up for the loss of Baxter and Wilcox up front. Neither was as explosive, but were capable.

Maryland also used a deep bench extensively. Jamar Smith, Calvin McCall, John Gilchrist and Travis Garrison also played more than 12 minutes a game.

Bottom line: Maryland used Nicholas as a go-to guy, had a great point guard in Blake and wasn't afraid to go to the bench.

North Carolina in 2005-06 had it much worse.

The Heels lost their top seven scorers, including four NBA lottery picks. They accounted for 86 percent of UNC's scoring and 80 percent of the rebounds.

But UNC finished the season 23-8 (12-4) in ACC and nabbed a No. 3 seed in the Big Dance, where it lost to George Mason in the second round.

Tyler Hansbrough, then a freshman, carried much of the load. He averaged 18.9 ppg and was incredibly efficient, going for 1.68 PPS (still his highest PPS for a season) and grabbing every rebound in sight.

Title-team holdovers Reyshawn Terry (14.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and David Noel (12.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg) both increased their scoring and did it efficiently, while point guards Wes Miller and freshman Bobby Frasor ensured Carolina never slowed down. Also important, freshmen Danny Green (7.5 ppg) and Marcus Ginyard (6.3 ppg).

After all, how many teams could lose their top seven scorers and still feature the nation's 10th most efficient offense?

Bottom line: Don't shy away from relying on your top players, no matter how old they are, but having an experienced upper classman is key.

The transition isn't always smooth, though. Especially if you falter down the stretch.

After back-to-back titles, Florida lost its top six players for the 2007-08 season (about 85 percent of their scoring and 80 percent of their rebounds), and started 15-2, but ultimately missed the NCAAs. The Gators ended 24-12 (8-8 in SEC).

The Gators' offense wasn't the issue, either. Behind forward Marreese Speights (14.5 ppg, 1.51 PPS) and guard Walter Hodge (10.4 ppg, 1.26 PPS), they were among the nation's most efficient scoring teams last season.

Freshman Nick Calathes was their best all-around player, leading the team in scoring (15.3) and assists (6.1), but could be sloppy with the ball.

Florida's other young players were solid (sophomore Dan Werner went for 9.1 ppg and 6.4 rpg, while freshmen Jai Lucas and Chandler Parson combined for 16 ppg), but something was missing late in the season when Florida closed the regular-season with just 3 wins in its last 10 games, then lost in the SEC tournament opener.

Bottom line: Those young guys have to learn to play defense. The Gators were 77^th in adjusted defensive efficiency and 246^th in turnover percentage. (Frankly, an offense like Florida's should've been able to overcome a mediocre defense.)

That leaves Kansas to put the ball in Collins' hands (coach Bill Self wants him to shoot about 18 times a game), use its depth (that means all 9 guys) and ensure its newcomers can handle play defense. With only two players 6-9 or taller, that could be an issue in the post.

Collins isn't an efficient scorer (1.25 PPS last season, which, at 18 attempts per outing in '08-'09, translates into 22.5 ppg this season), with an offense rating hovering around 1.07 last year. That was the worst among Kansas' nine players of note, except Aldrich. That will have to change.

Aldrich, who rebounded more efficiently than any other Kansas play last season, but didn't have enough rebounds to have a significant statistical impact, could be a double-double man. He'll see a lot of double teams, though, which means his passing out of the post to Kansas' perimeter players will be key.

And there's the rub.

Among Kansas' seven newcomers, only Travis Releford is a real three-point threat. Self's offense doesn't require a lot of long-distance shooting, but as anyone who saw Mario Chalmers' shot in the title game knows, hitting the three is key. JUCO transfer Mario Little could hit a few, but that's about it.

Right now, Kansas seems more like Maryland 2003 than UNC 2006 or Florida 2008. Collins can be the Nicholas-type scoring threat, especially if transfer Tyrone Appleton and freshman Tyshawn Taylor can handle point-guard duties. Beyond that, reliable bench production from the five freshmen and two JUCO transfers seems manageable.

With games against non-conference Washington, Arizona, Tennessee and Michigan State, the Jayhawks will see plenty of talented teams before Big 12 play begins. If Kansas isn't ready for the conference grid by then, it could be on the bubble in March.

Think being a coach's right hand man is a thankless job? Not if you can recruit.

A great story by Rivals.com's Bob McClellan details the deal of Kansas State assistant Dalonte Hill, who was the main man behind Michael Beasley's Wildcats 1-year stint.

Put it this way: Hill doesn't have to worry about the stock market collapse.

Combine Hill's base salary ($150,000) and his additional compensation ($270,000 for television, radio, Internet, promotional and other services) for a $420,000 gross this season. Hey, if you can bring in the nation's top talent, it's worth it.

According to Rivals' research, that's far and away the largest assistant coach contract in college hoops, and more than half of what K-State head coach Frank Martin makes.

Other top assistants make up to $265,000 (like UNC assistant Joe Holladay), while guys on Tony Bennett's Washington State staff got $25,000 raises to bump their pay to $110,000.

Essentially, as college hoops' profile keeps growing, the salaries grow too. Head coaches like Kansas' Bill Self and Florida's Billy Donovan make more than $3 million annually.

Of course, the game's changed a lot in recent years. Just ask Jerry Tarkanian.

Tark – who now has a blog on the Las Vegas Sun – writes in entertaining fashion about trying to recruit Sam Bowie, going against Arizona and how they got Anderson Hunt out of Detroit and into UNLV.

How would Tark fare in today's recruiting world? Probably not well. He's got a bit about how he wouldn't be one of those coaches who offer more scholarships than he has, but that's not how the big boys roll nowadays.

In the age of one-and-done players, you have to count on players leaving for the NBA, thus leaving you with more scholarships every season.

But I bet Tark could still get a few players.

There are really only two sure things when it comes to preseason All-Americans this season.

Tyler Hansbrough and Stephen Curry. One's a three-time All-American who's trying to lead North Carolina to back-to-back Final Fours and its fifth NCAA title. Curry is the Davidson sharpshooter who led the Wildcats to within a whisker of the 2008 Final Four.

Everything else is up for grabs. And there are plenty of great players to choose.

Three names – Oklahoma's Blake Griffin, Notre Dame's Luke Harangody and UCLA's Darren Collison – will circulate often. Others like Arizona State's James Harden or Kentucky's Patrick Patterson should garner attention.

But frankly, most of the preseason teams are a mix of established stars and players pundits think will emerge as stars in 2008-09.

For example, take our list.

UConn's A.J. Price may be a surprise pick as a first-teamer along with Curry, Harden, Harangody and Hansbrough, but I love the senior's all-around game. He can score, pass, defend and has great size for a lead guard. He should be recovered from a torn ACL.

Still, it's a great year for point guards, so Price would have to be even better than last season to live up to All-America billing.

With that in mind, just who didn't make NBCSports.com's squad and why? Good question

GUARDS

A.J. Abrams, Texas. Losing D.J. Augustin as a backcourt mate hurts, but Abrams can handle it. The Big 12's leading returning scorer is also one of the country's hottest outside shooters.

Dionte Christmas, Temple. Great leader who's consistency (20.0 and 19.7 ppg in the last two seasons) sets the tone for an improving Owls squad.

Nick Calathes, Florida. Hustling, heady sophomore was the SEC co-freshman of the year who shattered the school record for assists.

Devan Downey, South Carolina. A great talent on a bad team, Downey does it all for the Gamecocks. He scores (18.4 ppg), dishes (5.4 apg) and had an SEC record 103 steals last season.

Jonny Flynn, Syracuse. The sophomore point guard is the Big East's most talented point guard and a handful to stop off the dribble. He's tireless (39.2 minutes in conference play), and figures to lead the Orange to their first NCAA tourney since 2006.

Manny Harris, Michigan. The dynamic swingman didn't have much help as a freshman, but still managed to finish among the Big Ten's leading scorers. The Wolverines are still a borderline NCAA tourney team, but Harris is a big-time player.

Ty Lawson, North Carolina. Few players are faster from rim to rim, which is ideal for the Heel's secondary break. The junior led the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio and doesn't have to carry UNC's scoring load.

Kalin Lucas, Michigan State. Another speedy guard, Lucas emerged as the Spartans' top playmaker last season as a freshman. He'll blow by most Big Ten opponents.

Jack McClinton, Miami. The 'Canes senior can fill it up (17.7 ppg), especially from three-point range. He was second in the ACC in 3-point percentage.

Jeremy Pargo, Gonazga. Two WCC players are among the nation's best point guards? Fer sure. The Bulldogs' senior was last year's conference player of the year and remains a potent combination of scoring (12.1 ppg), assists (6.0) and savvy.

Tyrese Rice, Boston College. The Eagles leaned on Rice for nearly 30 percent of their scoring last season. The senior guard is capable of even more this year.

Robert Vaden, UAB. The senior loves his 3s. He made a C-USA record 142 three-pointers last season and made 40 percent of them.

FORWARDS

Jon Brockman, Washington. The Huskies senior averaged 17.8 pgg and 11.6 rpg last season – though those numbers don't fully encapsulate how good he was on a bad team. With improved free-throw shooting, he could average 23 ppg.

Chase Budinger, Arizona. Budinger's production isn't the issue (17.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg). If he elevates the Wildcats in the Pac-10 race, then he'll be even better.

Dejaun Blair, Pittsburgh. Co-Big East newcomer of the year is a force down low, despite standing just 6-7. Expect a significant upgrade from his 11.6 ppg and 9.1 rpg.

Robbie Hummel, Purdue. Sophomore swingman is an efficient scorer (126.7 ORtg) who could see his scoring average (11.4 ppg) rocket.

Kyle Singler, Duke. The Devils' best all-around player is a potent mix of size (6-8) and perimeter scoring. He was worn down by the end of his freshman season – don't expect that again.

Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut. The nation's best shot blocker (sorry Varnardo) is also one of its most improved players over the last two seasons. As long as Thabeet is more aggressive on offense, the Huskies will shine.

Jarvis Varnado, Miss State. Shot-blocking machine (NCAA-best 4.62 a game) tied Shaquille O'Neal single-season SEC mark as a sophomore. If you're shooting, make sure you know where the 6-9 jumping jack is.

Terrence Williams, Louisville. Dynamic senior has improved his scoring, passing and rebounding each season.

Sam Young, Pittsburgh. Panthers senior could be the Big East's player of the year if his outside shooting improves. He's already really, good, though. (18.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg).

FRESHMEN

DeMar DeRozan, USC. No O.J. Mayo? Enter the explosive DeRozan, who's probably the most NBA-ready talent in the game.

Tyreke Evans, Memphis. With Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts gone, Evans could emerge as the Tigers' go-to guy. An explosive 6-6 guard, he'll could put up big numbers against C-USA teams.

Jrue Holiday, UCLA. How long until Holliday runs the Bruins' offense? Only when Darren Collison is injured or out of the game. But UCLA will still ensure the ball is in Holliday's hands as often as possible.

B.J. Mullens, Ohio State. Another 7-foot center in Columbus? What else is new? He's not as dominant as Greg Oden, or as skilled as Kosta Koufos, but he'll likely be among the Big Ten's best big men.

Samardo Samuels, Louisville. Rick Pitino's most prized recruit while at Louisville, Samuels (6-8, 240) will replace most of the post-production lost with David Padgett, Juan Palacios and Derrick Caracter gone.

There you have it. Between our All-America team and this list, that's enough players to start a conference. Damn good one, too.

But who are your players to watch this season?

Spin isn't just for presidential campaigns. Anywhere basketball recruits are found, there's some spin to go with 'em.

Both Kansas and Kentucky nabbed a five-star prospect over the weekend. But the timing of each commitment depends on your source.

The Jayhawks landed Thomas Robinson, a 6-8 power forward ranked as the nation's No. 18 overall prospect by Rivals.com.

Kentucky snagged Daniel Orton, a 6-9 center ranked as the No. 15 overall prospect by Scout.com. He's slightly higher than Robinson according to Scout, but slightly lower according to Rivals.

Typical recruiting ranking stuff. Basically, they're both prized recruits.

But when Robinson committed to Kansas, it didn't leave any room for Orton. So when Kansas coach Bill Self called to tell Orton as much, it didn't faze Orton. He said he was heading to the Blue Grass state anyway. (There were other factors at work, according to Jeff Goodman.)

Yet if you ask Kansas folks, Orton was the second choice. Robinson was the real prize. After all, recruits are just lining up to play for the Jayhawks.

Why the spin? Well, neither Self nor Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie are done selling their program to potential players. It's one reason why they're both among the nation's top recruiters.

The whole production is fairly standard, but remains a little silly. The bottom line is Kentucky and Kansas both scored, nabbing a couple of players that any program would want.

A win-win! Brilliant!

Random link
Bill Self wrote a book during the offseason, mostly about Kansas' 2008 season and how he landed the job. His introduction to the school was as a graduate assistant under Larry Brown in the 1980s immediately after concluding his playing career at Oklahoma State.

But how did he become a graduate assistant? Put it this way – now I know how Self recruits. A little humor, a little touch of personality and being direct.

You can read the whole thing here.

The 2008-09 college basketball season is here. Well, almost.

Kentucky, Illinois, West Virginia and a handful of others jumped on an NCAA rule that allows schools two hours of team workouts per week (since mid-September) to host their Midnight Madness festivities a week before the season's official start date of Oct. 17.

The early starts aren't a big hit with the National Association of Basketball Coaches board, who see it as flouting a rule that was meant to let coaches work with their players more, not parading them around.

"We don't want to hurt further (NCAA) legislation in trying to have coaches have more access to their players," NABC spokesman Rick Leddy told the AP.

The NABC's heart is in the right place – coaches should have more access to their players – but it's head got in the way. As the Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy writes, these schools aren't breaking any rules, nor are they doing anything remotely wrong. It's just a way of kicking off the season with fans and recruits in mind.

For those who have never attended a Midnight Madness event, it's not a typical practice, but a way to introduce players with a little fanfare. It's food, contests, some showing off and a scrimmage. Consider it a cousin to college football's spring games.

But mostly, it's great way to sell a program to recruits.

Kentucky expected 12 recruits to attend Friday's events, including top prospect Daniel Orton. (He's one of the top centers available in the 2009 class, according to both Scout.com and Rivals.com.)

Illinois has 16 recruits for their event, mostly with an eye on the future. Eight prospects from the class of 2011 should be on hand, notably five-star forward Mike Shaw, a Chicago native.

For more on where recruits are headed, click here.

Next week, it'll be more of the same, just on a larger scale.

National champion Kansas will reportedly have six five-star recruits on hand (tip of the hat to Making the Dance), including Scout.com's top prospects at shooting guard and small forward in Xavier Henry and Lance Stephenson.

Guess it's true what Mel Brooks says.

It feels like I'm a student again, sitting down to write a "How I spent my summer" essay.

The last 26 weeks of ranking the greatest college basketball programs was a fun, enriching and, at times, difficult experience that was one of the best ways to spend the summer doldrums of college hoops.

It certainly beats reading the endless glut of campaign stories…

The rankings, which started here and finished Tuesday with Kentucky assuming the No. 1 spot, probably weren't perfect (what is?), but in the end, I hope everyone enjoyed my assessments and learned something about each school that they didn't before.

(My favorite factoid: Sandy Koufax earned a hoops scholarship at Cincinnati. As if Koufax's athletic career wasn't impressive enough.)

As readers discussed here, sometimes I made some errors (thanks for the corrections, and your patience) or left out some good facts. Some disagreed with the methodology, and maybe they were correct. I'll stick with the final results.

Ultimately, it was a ranking system that rewarded consistency and multiple periods of great basketball, not just one or two excellent eras. That's how Illinois ended up ahead of Michigan State and UCLA behind Kansas and North Carolina, among others (and were the two most heavily discussed programs).

Next time, maybe it'll just be ranking during the NCAA tournament era. But that's for another summer season. For now, I'll leave you with the top 50, including final point totals from the 11 categories. I've left notes besides each team indicating what their biggest factors were.

Keep reading!

1.    Kentucky, 64. 'Cats among top 4 in 9 categories. Even if Billy Gillispie doesn't reach a Final Four soon, UK isn't dropping on this list anytime soon.

2.    North Carolina, 87. Heels 2^nd or 3^rd in six areas. Only hurt by NIT, though they fared better than KU or UCLA there.

3.    Kansas, 119. 'Hawks were top 5 in 10 categories, including No. 1 in conference titles and recent dominant seasons. NIT showing kept it from No. 2.

4.    UCLA, 124. Bruins' 11 titles, 18 Final Fours and 72 NBA players were tops. Recent seasons, NIT showings were significant factors for fourth.

5.    Duke, 127. Devils have best NCAA tourney win percentage. Speaks volumes for how dominant they've been lately. Need more conference crowns (21) to move up.

6.    Indiana, 156. Five NCAA titles are behind only UK and UCLA. But Hoosiers could fall behind Louisville overall due to recent slippage.

7.    Louisville, 166. Cards do it all well, ranking among top 30 in every category. Top 10 in five. Another Final Four or title would move them up.

8.    Arizona, 189. 'Cats haven't missed NCAAs since '84. Also don't have an NIT win. What happens when Olson leaves?

9.    Syracuse, 210. Overall consistency helps Orange. Recent NCAA misses and long run as independent (no conference titles) don't.

10. Connecticut, 219. Multiple NCAA titles and recent excellence key to Huskies' rise. So do 28 conference crowns.

11. Cincinnati, 239. 'Bearcats' multiple NCAA trophies and Huggins' era were key here.

12. Utah, 250. Respect the Utes. They were great in '40s (NCAA and NIT title) and awesome under Majerus.

13. Villanova, 253. 'Cats quietly snuck in here. Solid in everything, great in NBA players, recent success and NIT.

14. Illinois, 274. Illini here because of top 15 showings in wins, win percentage, recent success, Final Fours, Big Dance appearances and NBA players.

15. Michigan State, 279. Proud recent history (2 titles since '79, awesome in NCAAs) can't overcome poor overall mark (almost 60 teams have a better win percentage). They'll likely pass Illinois this season.

16. Georgetown, 290. Hoyas weren't a factor until mid-'70s. Also could pass Illini this season.

17. Arkansas, 299. Six Final Fours, 29 tourney appearances and 26 conference titles. Lacking in NIT and recent success.

18. Ohio State, 312. One of two schools really hurt by NCAA sanctions. Lost 76 wins and a Final Four berth.

19. St. John's, 324. Once-proud program (owns the NIT and is top 10 in wins, win percentage and NBA players) needs some recent success.

20. UNLV, 330. Tarkanian responsible for most of Rebels' success (NCAA title, 4 Final Fours, 3^rd-best win percentage), but Kruger is doing his part.

21. Texas, 338. Football scores scores behind Barnes' and Penders' recent success, conference crowns (25) and overall wins.

22. Notre Dame, 344. No conference titles? Make it up with overall wins, NCAA tourney appearances, NBA players and NIT success.

23. Temple, 352. Another Big Five school, which is 6^th in wins, but lacking in Final Fours and conference titles.

24. Oklahoma, 364. Consistency – a top 30 mainstay in most areas – boosts Sooners.

25. N.C. State, 367. Two titles and plenty of wins, but nothing lately.

26. Marquette, 372. Been to Big Dance often, but could use some conference crowns.

27. Oklahoma State, 375. Two NCAA titles, but Cowboys have been up and down lately.

28. Purdue, 383. Somehow didn't mention Boilermakers in initial post. An oversight. Two Final Fours and no NCAA titles kept them from top 25.

29. Michigan, 401. Another early omission. Wolverines' NCAA penalties cost them more than 100 wins and two Final Fours. Otherwise, top 20 program.

30. Western Kentucky, 409. Lots of conference crowns (26) and 7^th in win percentage.

31. Memphis, 417. As long as Calipari sticks around, Tigers will keep climbing.

32. Maryland, 428. Good in NCAA tourney (4 Final Fours, better win percentage than Louisville).

33. Wisconsin, 430. An NCAA title and haven't missed Big Dance since '98, 6^th best current streak.

34. Florida, 440. This is what happens when you win back-to-back titles.

35. West Virginia, 448. Lots of wins.

36. Penn, 454. Quakers have wins (8^th) and conference crowns (3^rd most).

37. BYU, 461. Excellent in every but Big Dance.

38. Princeton, 469. Just like Penn, but without the Final Four.

39. St. Joe's, 476. Fourth school from Big Five. Bravo, Philly.

40. Stanford, 480. If Montgomery had stayed, Cardinal may have been in top 25.

41. Bradley, 483. Once proud power has been to two Final Fours.

42. Kansas State, 489. Four Final Fours make up for pitiful '90s and 2000s.

43. Iowa, 510. Hawkeyes have wins, and 3 Final Fours.

44. Wake Forest, 518. Could be big year in Winston-Salem.

45. California, 521. Not much since Bears won NCAA title in '59.

46. Xavier, 532. Musketeers rising behind recent tourney success.

47. LSU, 542. Four Final Fours and plenty of NBA players.

48. Missouri, 558. Stewart built a hoops school, but it didn't last.

49. San Francisco, 563. Two NCAA titles won't keep Russell's alma mater in top 50 much longer.

50. Houston, 585. Cougars have five Final Fours.

The greatest college basketball program has it all.

Kentucky has the titles, tradition, consistent success, iconic coaches and the passionate fan base to make it No. 1 on the list of greatest programs.

And really, there shouldn't be much debate about No. 1. The Wildcats have a lengthy tradition to match North Carolina, Kansas and Indiana. Like Duke, they're among the perennial title contenders. And if any school comes close to dominating the hoops landscape like UCLA did, it's Kentucky, which won four NCAA titles and an NIT trophy between 1946 and 1958.

No matter how one measures success, Kentucky's résumé has it.

• Kentucky is No. 1 in wins (1,966), win percentage (75 percent), NCAA tournament appearances (50).
• The Wildcats are 2^nd in NCAA championships (7) and regular-season conference titles (49).
• Kentucky is tied for 4^th most Final Four appearances (13) and is sixth in NCAA tourney win percentage (.6897), though they do have the most victories in the Big Dance (100).
• The 'Cats haven't missed an NCAA tournament since 1991. Only Arizona and Kansas have longer current streaks.
• They've also won the NIT twice. They were 3^rd, 1^st and 2^nd in a 4-year span in the 40s when the NIT was perhaps the nation's premier tournament.
• Only UCLA and North Carolina have produced more NBA players.
• Kentucky's been dominant the last 15 years, including 9 seasons with at least 25 wins. Just Duke and Kansas have more.
• The 'Cats have had 15 players named consensus All-American 20 times (the most) and have been atop the AP poll 80 weeks (behind UCLA, Carolina and Duke). Oddly enough, no player has ever been AP player of the year, or won the Wooden or Naismith awards.

Perhaps the biggest testament to Kentucky's overall dominance? They're always a contender. Always.

No team won more games in the 1940s and '50s. The 'Cats won the 2^nd most in the '30s and '90s, were fifth winningest team in the '60s and '70s and finished among the top 10 in the '80s and '2000s. That's eight decades either leading or being among the best programs. No other school is close.

That's not to say Kentucky's hoops history is perfect.

The NCAA's penalized the school three times for serious violations, including two instances where Kentucky was prohibited from playing games. (But the winning never stopped.)

College basketball's point-shaving scandals from the early '50s affected Kentucky when three players, Ralph Beard, Alex Groza and Dale Barnstable, were arrested in the fall of 1951. They were barred for three years. In '52, Bill Spivey, despite never being implicated in point shaving, also was barred. As a result, the NCAA suspended Kentucky's 1952-53 season. (Amazingly, the 'Cats went 25-0 in the '53-'54 season, but declined an NCAA bid.)

In 1976, Kentucky was placed on two-year probation because of improper benefits to players. (Two years later, the 'Cats won the NCAA title.)

In 1989, the NCAA gave Kentucky three years' probation and barred it from postseason play for the 1990 and '91 seasons for recruiting and academic violations. (The 'Cats reached four Final Fours and won two NCAA titles between 1993 and 1998.)

This isn't to hammer the 'Cats. Nearly every program has been hit with some kind of NCAA probation. But it's important in Kentucky's history for when it occurred (during some of the 'Cats' best eras) and how Kentucky responded (by winning even more). Also, it's fair to say that Kentucky has likely been under more scrutiny than most schools. Winning usually prompts more oversight from the NCAA.

Another issue Kentucky fights is Adolph Rupp's legacy. Not his coaching legacy, but his social views.

Rupp is one of the game's coaching legends. Over 41 seasons, he won 876 games (3^rd) at an astounding rate (.822 win percentage is 2^nd). His teams won four NCAA titles, an NIT title, an Olympic gold medal and turned Kentucky basketball into a national powerhouse.

Coaches regarded Rupp as a master instructor of fundamentals and discipline. His teams often lacked height, but compensated by utilizing the fast break and a stellar defense.

But Rupp also was a man of the era. Kentucky, like any other southern school until the late '60s and early '70s, didn't recruit black players. Various reports indicate Rupp was entirely in favor of this un-written policy. (Kentucky's first black player was Tom Payne, who did play under Rupp in 1970.)

The memorable 1966 NCAA championship game that featured Rupp's Wildcats losing to Texas Western (now UTEP) has become a significant point in NCAA history because it featured an all-black starting five (Texas Western) beating an all-white starting five (Kentucky) on hoops' biggest stage, during the heart of the civil rights movement.

Was it seen as a watershed moment in 1966? Some associated with that game disagree, pointing out that other champions, starting with San Francisco in 1955 and onto Loyola (Ill.) in 1963 featured four black starters. College hoops was already moving toward integration, the reasoning goes.

Perhaps Kentucky's loss cemented it. Perhaps it was inevitable. But in the 40 years since that game, it's become the focal point for the game's race relations and how they progressed, spawning countless articles, interviews and even a movie.

Rupp may have been a racist. He may not have been. There's a comprehensive rundown of his career available here, which includes reasons why he was and was not a racist.

All of this isn't meant to defend or castigate Rupp, but to raise points why Kentucky has its share of detractors -- and to be somewhat amazed that through the NCAA issues and racial tension that Kentucky is still No. 1 on this list.

Frankly, it's because Rupp began an amazing trend of winning at Kentucky that's lasted to this day. Rupp's first team finished 15-3 in 1931. The 'Cats have had zero one losing season since. (To be fair, John Mauer was 40-14 in three seasons before Rupp, but Rupp elevated the program.)

His teams hit their zenith in the '40s and '50s. The NIT saw the 'Cats place 3rd in '44, win in '46 and finish as runner-up in '47, when it vied with the NCAAs as the nation's preeminent tourney. They won the NCAAs in '48, '49 and '51. They were 25-0 in '54, but declined an NCAA bid. They won NCAAs again in '58.

But it didn't stop when Rupp reached mandatory retirement age in 1972.

Longtime assistant Joe B. Hall coached for the next 13 years, reaching three Final Fours and winning a title in 1978. That title not only gave Big Blue Nation a long-awaited championship, but featured one of the sport's most memorable title-game performances when Jack Givens torched Duke for 41 points.

Hall, who won 75 percent of his games and eight regular-season SEC titles, was replaced by Eddie Sutton in 1985. He never matched Rupp's legacy – who could? – but thrived in his own right. Kentucky's upset of previously unbeaten Indiana in the 1975 signaled his teams were capable of big things. The NCAA title sealed it.

Sutton lasted just four seasons, winning a couple of SEC titles and nearly 70 percent of his games, but his tenure ended with NCAA violations – and ushered in the Rick Pitino era, which effectively cemented Kentucky's status as the all-time elite program.

Coming off a failed stint as the Knicks coach, Pitino settled right in at Kentucky. He opened up the Wildcats' offense by embracing the three-pointer and used a full-court press to create easier scoring opportunities.

Jamal Mashburn's arrival during Pitino's second season gave the 'Cats a superstar player that Pitino could build around and eventually ride to the '93 Final Four. Mashburn also signaled an accumulation of NBA talent in Kentucky few teams had seen before.

Kentucky's 1995-96 squad was so loaded (five first-round NBA draft picks), it ran away with the NCAA title and is often on the short list of the sport's greatest teams. Only a stunning OT loss to Arizona kept the 'Cats from back-to-back titles.

In the end, Pitino's 8-year tenure saw Kentucky win 250 219 games, reach three Final Fours and win another title (and set the stage for Tubby Smith to win in '98). As if that wasn't enough, the 'Cats played in perhaps the best game ever seen in college hoops, if not the most replayed.

Smith replaced Pitino, but fans never fully embraced him, despite an NCAA title and seven SEC titles in 10 seasons, including a 16-0 SEC run in 2003.

Part of that stems from Smith never taking Kentucky back to the Final Four after that initial trip. Part of it comes from replacing a legend like Pitino. And part of it comes from Kentucky backers' sky-high expectations for their school.

Is it fair? Probably not. But that's part of coaching at Kentucky. Even if one wins 76 percent of the time (as Smith did), the ultimate goals are NCAA titles and Final Fours.

Such is life at the greatest college basketball program of all time. Kentucky's not perfect, just the best.

How long until Tom Crean doesn't regret taking the Indiana job? Two years? Three? Four?

There's going to be time when Crean has the Hoosiers winning. It may not be soon, but it'll come. But when it finally arrives, just how exhausted is he going to be?

Because Crean sounds like a coach who's desperately hoping the worst has passed.

The NCAA infractions committee is going to decide in the next few weeks if it will impose more sanctions on Indiana stemming from a phone-call scandal that occurred under ex-coach Kelvin Sampson. It's already hammered the Hoosiers, stripping the school of three scholarships this season and placing a limit on visits and calls to recruits.

So Monday, Crean asked for mercy.

"We've paid a price, a lot of people have paid the price and it's been a serious price," Crean said Monday in Indianapolis before participating in the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase golf tournament. "So I say let's move forward because (the program) is already behind, way behind, where it should be and where it could be."

Indiana only has two returning players from last season. One of those, Kyle Taber, is recovering from knee surgery and could be out until Dec. The roster includes two junior college transfers, eight freshmen and only three players taller than 6-foot-6.

No wonder Crean hopes the NCAA is done dishing it out.

Among other things, it's making recruiting – especially at a storied program like Indiana – tougher than it should be.

"I think you try to explain past precedent to them (recruits)," Crean said. "When you're not seen at their games or at their school, it is hard to talk to them, and you feel like it will be a lot more work."

Even if more penalties are handed down, the Hoosiers are unlikely to reach the severity of Kentucky's 1989 ruling, when it received three years' probation and was banned from postseason play for two seasons. Rick Pitino's first season in Lexington wasn't pretty (when he had eight scholarship players and no one taller than 6-7), but by 1993 the 'Cats reached the Final Four. Three years later, they won the national title.

Could Indiana recover that quickly? Don't count against Crean, who hasn't wasted any time while in Bloomington.

Still, for a coach with a Final Four berth to his credit, getting the Hoosiers to the Final Four by 2012 would be the biggest accomplishment of his career.

Lute Olson's had a busy year by anyone's standards, let alone a guy who just turned 74 less than two weeks ago.

Olson took last season off as Arizona's basketball coach for personal reasons, finalized a divorce and came back this summer to find his star recruit bolt for Europe and two others change their minds. Last month, the NCAA announced it will investigate a possible recruiting violation.

None of that slowed down Olson, though. During a benefit dinner Wednesday hosted by ex-Wildcats star Steve Kerr, Olson announced his engagement to Kelly Pugnea, a Tucson resident. The two haven't set a wedding date.

Never confuse Lute Olson with a man who focuses on one thing at a time.

Pugnea, 47, is a divorced mom of two boys. She met Olson about seven months ago. (Yes, that was when Olson was still finalizing his divorce.)

So, to recap, here's Olson's year, in a nutshell:

In November, Olson announced he'd take a leave of absence for undisclosed reasons. By Dec. 7, it was clear that it extended to the rest of the season when he filed for divorce from his wife, Christine. (They were married in 2003.) Assistant coach Kevin O'Neill took over on an interim basis.

Jan. 8: Christine Olson filed a court challenge to the divorce, asking for the couple to take counseling instead.

March 11: Arizona announces Olson will resume his head coaching duties once the season ends.

April 5: Star freshman Jerryd Bayless declares for the NBA draft.

Things didn't go well when Olson returned. The Wildcats finished the season 19-15 and lost in the NCAA tournament's opening round. By April 23, O'Neill was re-assigned in the Arizona athletic department.

May 18: Star recruit Emmanuel Negedu asks for a release. He would later enroll at Tennessee.

The biggest blow to the Arizona program came on July 9 when the nation's top prep player, Brandon Jennings, officially announced he would play next season in Europe.

July 29: Another recruit, center/forward Greg Smith, decides not to attend Arizona. He'll go to Fresno State instead.

Sept. 15: The NCAA will investigate a possible Arizona recruiting violation. Olson sent a letter to basketball boosters asking for a donation to Jim Storey's Arizona Cactus Classic basketball tournament. Rules prevent boosters from arranging financial assistance for potential recruits. Olson called the letter "an unfortunate and regrettable error."

But good news on the recruiting front: Olson secured a commitment for the 2009 class in guard Abdul Gaddy on Sept. 17. He'd originally settled on Arizona back in 2007, but wasn't sure if he'd stick with the commitment.

If nothing else, Olson still has the recruiting touch.

Eat your heart out John McCain. You're not the only Arizona 70-something who seemingly never sleeps.

What price for a piece of history?

Specifically, what price for George Mason's 2006 Final Four berth, one of the most memorable NCAA tournament runs ever seen? (Unless you're a UConn fan. Then it's just painful.)

The bidding starts at $255. Or $561, depending on your taste.

Speculation about the former owners of the two George Mason Final Four rings available on eBay is that they belonged to a school official. Could be. I'm sure it'll eventually come out.

More interesting to me is just how much championship ring bling is available for the eager collector.

Some of the rings are knockoffs. For about $300, there's a fan replica 2007 LSU national championship ring.

Some are just random. Who's paying $1,300 bucks for a Minnesota Music City Bowl ring? Or $3,000 for an NFL Europe ring? (This Penn State 1995 Rose Bowl is better, but for four grand? Yeesh.)

Maybe you're super fan and would shell out $7,000 for Bart Starr's ring from Super Bowl I.

Maybe you're a really super fan and don't mind paying $10K for Larry Brown's 1996 Super Bowl XXVII ring, when he was MVP.

Or maybe I'll just settle for some cheap memorabilia and call it a day.