Sometimes, you can never find video when you want it.

When the Connecticut women's basketball team visited the White House and President Obama Monday, it was the typical news story -- President honors NCAA champs, etc, etc -- but with a nice spin.

He played the Huskies in a game of P.I.G.

The president is an unabshed hoops fan -- his NCAA tourney bracket was the source of numerous news stories and daily updates -- and this was a brilliant way to liven up what's usually a formal affair.

Except I couldn't find any video. Not on NBC's affiliate Web sites, not on YouTube, the White House, nada.

Well, just needed to wait a day, and look again. It's not bad video, either. Not sure what P.I.G. rules applied, but it's a lot of laughing, shot-making and a little good-natured trash talking from both sides. Enjoy.

The deadline was Sunday. Now the real guessing game begins: Who's going to keep their name in the NBA draft and who's going to withdraw by June 15?

More than 50 underclassmen submitted their names, but probably half of that number will return to college for the 2009-10 season. Guys like Texas A&M's Donald Sloan, Villanova's Scottie Reynolds and Notre Dame's Luke Harangody will surely return after they hear what aspects of their games need work.

Others, like UConn's Hasheem Thabeet or Memphis's Tyreke Evans, are gone. They're lottery picks.

But there's a handful of players who could go either way. They're guys who could be lottery picks (Jeff Teague), could last until the later part of the first round (Damion James) or could get taken in the second round (Derrick Brown). Or they could return to school to boost their draft stock and make a deep run in the NCAA tourney. It's fluid, depending on their workouts during the next six weeks.

Sara D. Davis/AP

Gerald Henderson

Here's a closer look at 10 of those guys.

Derrick Brown, Xavier
At 6-8 and 225 pounds, Brown'll get dogged by scouts and draftniks as a "tweener" because he's not a swingman and is a little short for a power forward. But that's an old, tired argument. NBA rosters are filled with guys like Brown – explosive, long-armed athletes who can just play. If he returns, Xavier will be the favorite in the A-10 and a Sweet 16 candidate. He's not a sure-fire first-round pick, which means he should return.

Austin Daye, Gonzaga
The Zags' sophomore forward has the right size (6-10) and skill set (adept ball-handler, good outside shot) of an NBA player, which makes sense. His dad, Darren, played in the league. But – and there's no other way to put it – Daye's soft. He averaged 12.7 ppg and grabbed 6.8 rpg, but never impressed against defenders his size, or seemed willing to play down low. He'd be a first-round pick, but that applies for next season, too. He should go back to school.

Gerald Henderson, Duke
Everything about Henderson screams NBA. He's an explosive 2-guard who's increased his scoring average each season (including a 35-point game vs. Wake) and can be a lock-down defender. Sure, his jumper needs work, but he's ready. But part of me wonders if he'll be back in Durham. Without Henderson, Duke's capable of a Final Four run. But with him, they could win it all. Flip a coin here.

Jrue Holiday, UCLA
Full disclosure: Russell Westbrook is a better pro as a rookie than I ever thought possible. He's a great defender, his athleticism translates perfectly to the pro game and he can play both guard spots. Why does any of this matter? This all applies to Holiday. The Bruins freshmen didn't have great stats (8.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.6 spg), but scouts think he'll bloom in the pros. Anytime you turn in a freshman season like Holiday's and still be a lottery pick, you gotta go pro.

Damion James, Texas
Seems like James is just getting the NBA out of his system for now. He's still adjusting to playing the 3 (his future NBA position) and working on his outside shot, which makes him a borderline first-round prospect. Go back to school and challenge Kansas for the Big 12 title. The Longhorns certainly have the recruits to do it.

Patty Mills, St. Mary's.
Go back to school. Mills is a blur with the ball, but plays too fast and his outside shooting is sub-par and probably just a late first-rounder as a result. An injury deflated his season, and the Gaels'. If he returns, Mills could dethrone Gonzaga in the WCC, be a national player of the year candidate, get to the Big Dance and re-establish himself as a lottery pick.

Patrick Patterson, Kentucky
I know Big Blue Nation wants their workhorse power forward back in Lexington. He could certainly benefit from another season in school and one without any issues (injuries, Billy Gillispie). But he's projected as a possible lottery pick, which probably won't improve after next year when he has to share the front court with DeMarcus Cousins and Daniel Orton. Patterson could stay in school and possibly help the 'Cats back to NCAA tournament glory. But if he's anywhere near a lottery pick, it might be time to bail.

Tyler Smith, Tennessee
Think Josh Howard. That's who I see. Smith's a great college player (two-time All-SEC) who can score, defend and is decent shooter. But he's never going to be a star. He'll be a great complementary player (like Howard is to Dirk Nowitzki). As a result, he's a late first-round pick, who could improve that draft stock slightly with a great senior season. But is it worth another year? He stays in, maybe he plays with LeBron James next season.

DaJuan Summers, Georgetown
This one's strange. Summers told Hoyas coach John Thompson III that "he is closing the book on his college career," but the 6-8 swingman isn't a first-round lock. He led Georgetown in scoring, but that's not something to brag about since the Hoyas went in the tank last season. Summers could be a good pro. He's athletic and has a reliable outside shot, but he isn't ready. Go back to school. UPDATE: Too late. Summers signed with an agent. Doh!

Jeff Teague, Wake Forest
Tough call here. The Deacs' point guard could be a lottery pick, but he also could pair with teammate Al-Farouq Aminu to form one of the NCAA's best inside-outside combos next season. Teague is ready for the pros, but everything will depend on him. If wants to go for some NCAA hardware, he'll come back to school. Another year should also cement his lottery status, but it's hard to see him back in Winston-Salem.

Coach K the author made the rounds this week.

What? You didn't know Mike Krzyzewski could write?

The Duke coach has written or co-written more than a half dozen books on coaching schemes, season recaps and Duke in general. His last two (The Gold Standard: Building a Wolrd-Class Team and Beyond Basketball: Coach K's Keywords for Success) go beyond the court.

It's a page from John Wooden's textbook – translate your coaching philosophies into a model that can be used in the business world or as motivational team-building techniqes. In short, extend the Coach K brand out from the college hoops world.

Thus, the appearance on the Colbert Report Tuesday night.

I never get a lot out of Colbert's interviews, though this one did have an occasional chuckle.

The better Coach K interview was Monday on Charlie Rose. (That's what happens when you get the late shift on the desk. You flip through channels after the late SportsCenter and run across something like this.) That shouldn't be a surprise given the interview is 25 minutes longer than Colbert's and isn't on Comedy Central.

A lot of it focuses on his Olympic coaching experience last summer (which is the focus on his latest book), but there are some interesting moments when Krzyzewski was asked if hhe was still getting the best players, if the program wasn't as good as it used to be and the pressure on reaching Final Fours.

And it was cool to hear Krzyzewski talk about how impressive LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and the rest of Team USA was focusing on winning the gold, putting aside personal goals and working as a team. (In fact, he sounded overly impressed with LeBron, as a leader and a once-in-a-lifetime talent.)

It's almost enough to make me want to read the book. Almost.

The NBA draft did a number on Big East teams this week.

Underclassmen stars like UConn's Hasheem Thabeet, Syracuse's Jonny Flynn and Louisville's Earl Clark all signed (or, in the case of Thabeet, is expected to sign) with agents, ending their college eligibility. Another, Notre Dame's Luke Harangody, declared for the draft, but probably won't sign with an agent.

That follows earlier decisions to turn pro from guys like Pitt's DeJuan Blair and Syracuse guards Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris.

Georgetown was one of the few schools that did get some good news: The Hoyas' rising star, freshman Greg Monroe, announced he'll return to school.

Monroe, a 6-11 center, took a page out of Blake Griffin's book. Instead of declaring after his freshman year to likely be a Top 10 pick, he could boost his stock with a monster sophomore season and be the No. 1 overall selection in 2010.

And if any team could use a Blake Griffin-type season in 2009-10, it's the Hoyas.

Georgetown imploded this year. It finished 16-15, and lost 12 of its last 16 games. It's hard to imagine this was a team that beat UConn, Memphis, Villanova and Syracuse.

More disappointing is the attrition on John Thompson III's roster.

The school announced sophomore swingman Omar Wattad will transfer, making him the eighth Hoya in the last four seasons to leave Georgetown before his eligibility expired. That only includes two players who jumped to the pros. The other six transferred.

Ouch.

"People leave for different reasons," Thompson told the Washington Post. "Some leave because they are unhappy with their playing time. Some leave because of family situations and personal issues. Some people don't necessarily have the option to return. There are different reasons why people leave."

That leaves Georgetown with eight scholarship players for the 2009-10 season or five spots open and forces Thompson to hit the recruiting trail ASAP. It also makes next season crucial.

The Hoyas still have talent. Sophomores Austin Freeman and Chris Wright progressed nicely this season, though Freeman's outside shot was inconsistent. But after you get past freshman Jason Clark and sophomore Nikita Mescheriakov, there isn't much.

That's where Monroe comes in.

He doesn't play with Griffin's brute force (he averaged 12.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg last season) and won't log any 40-20 nights (Georgetown's offensive style also plays a factor). But he's just as capable of dominating a game thanks to his all-around skills.

When the Hoyas run their offense through Monroe, he's just as likely to find the open man as he is to take his man off the dribble and drive to the bucket. That's what happens when you're 6-11 and handle the ball like a guard.

He led the Hoyas in steals (1.8 a game), blocks (1.5) and was second on the team with 2.5 assists a game (though maybe that says more about the Hoyas…) Kenpom.com had him among the national leaders in ORtg (110.8), eFg% (57.9), true shooting percentage (61.2), offensive and defensive rebound % (8.8 and 16.7), blocks (5.1), steals (3.7) and fouls drawn per 40 minutes (4.8).

Everything in that list (except rebounding) was better than Griffin did as a freshman.

If Monroe can make a Griffin-esque jump as a sophomore, the Hoyas are going to be Big East title contenders. Simple as that.

Isiah Thomas has lofty goals. And "lofty" is being kind.

Thomas, the former college hoops- and NBA star-turned failed coach/executive with the New York Knicks, is Florida International's new coach. He's either unafraid of losing games (been there, done that) or a supremely confident in his abilities, because it'll take a small miracle to win there.

"I like rolling up my sleeves. I like taking some from the bottom and building it to the top. There's a lot of risk in that and there is also a lot of reward in that. But that's how I grew up. I want to take FIU to the next level and I know it's going to take a lot of hard work, but I'm willing to pay the price to do that," he said Wednesday.

Indeed. Thomas' salary for the first year will be donated to the school's athletic department. Give Thomas credit – he knows how to set the stage.

But it's not the ideal place for someone who has no previous college coaching experience to start from scratch.

The Golden Panthers' last winning season was the 16-14 campaign in 1999-2000, and that team featured future NBA point guard Carlos Arroyo. In just under 30 years, the program's had seven winning seasons and been to one NCAA tournament (in '95).

Since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 1999, FIU is just 69-132. Home game attendance is dismal. It's also on NCAA probation for multiple rules infractions. Was this really the best place to start over?

"Coming back to the college game has always been a dream of mine, and I didn't want to pass up an opportunity to go somewhere where we can build a basketball legacy together," Thomas said earlier this week.

It must be exhausting to be an NCAA compliance officer. Ensuring your school follows every rule and regulation is a never-ending task.

It's a gig where you're usually the party pooper and tell people they can't do something.

And make no mistake, there's a lot to cover. Give the rule book a read sometime. Catch up on your text messaging protocol or what kinds of greetings are appropriate between coaches and players.

But this new Facebook spin is over the top, even for the NCAA.

An N.C. State freshman started a Facebook group called "John Wall PLEASE come to NC State!!!!" only to have the school's compliance officer send a cease and desist letter. From the AP story:

The NCAA says such sites, and dozens more like them wooing Wall and other top recruits, violate its rules. More than just cheerleading boards, the NCAA says the sites are an attempt to influence the college choice of a recruit.

Hogwash. They're certainly an attempt to influence a recruit, but does anyone actually think it's going to? It's not so much for the recruit as it's for the people in the group. They all want the same thing and are bonding over it.

Even the woman who sent the letter, Michelle Lee, thinks it's a stupid rule. But she has to do her job and ensure the Wolfpack doesn't commit any NCAA violations.

"I think nationally the NCAA needs to address further Facebook and how these groups play a part in recruiting," she told the AP. "Is it realistic for us to be able to monitor them? What harm is a group like this causing? But as the legislation stands right now, this is the position we have to take."

An NCAA spokesman says the organization is concerned about "intrusions into a high school student's life when they're trying to decide where to go to college."

If that's true, potential recruits should probably live in a protective bubble and not watch any TV, listen to any radio or read anything online, especially in March. Just think of the added "intrusions" from North Carolina's run to the national title. The Heels were thrust into everyone's living room on a daily basis by virtue of winning NCAA tournament games. Foul!

The NCAA's trying to prevent schools from smothering recruits. I get that. And when fans start holind vigils outside of player's houses, begging them to attend a certain school or if recruits are besieged by phone calls or flyers, it'd be time to step in. But this new wrinkle isn't that. Not even close.

The rules are supposed to foster a level recruiting environment among schools and ensure nobody goes over the top and a precedent is set for what's proper and what's not. But there are other ways to lure recruits, and some of them aren't against the rules.

Sigh. When will the NCAA just regulate with common sense?

Thinking about the NBA draft? Take some advice from Mr. T: Stay in school.

Just ask North Carolina, Kansas or Florida. There's never been a better time to come back and win a title.

Gregory Shamus/Getty

From left, Wayne Ellington, Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green

"We came back to accomplish something," UNC senior Danny Green said after beating Michigan State on Sunday. "We had to make some sacrifices. We had to give up a lot of individual things to make this work. I think we did a great job the whole season of being selfless and sharing the ball with each other and sacrificing."

The Tar Heels' quartet of Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Green were just the latest group of players to put their professional careers on hold and have it result in NCAA glory. If college coaches are smart, they're gathering their players and telling them that they too could win it all.

Prime examples for next year:

Wake Forest
James Johnson says he's going pro, but Jeff Teague and Al-Farouq Aminu are thinking about staying put. Convince Johnson to do the same and the Deacs will have one of the most talented rosters next season.

Purdue
JaJuan Johnson is a future star, while Robbie Hummel and E'Twaun Moore could be serviceable pros. All three should stay put.

Kansas
Cole Aldrich could be a lottery pick. If he returns, the Jayhawks could be the preseason favorites. KU coach Bill Self is one guy who's seen the benefit of guys returning to school – even if it took a lucky break.

Brandon Rush was set on entering the 2007 NBA draft when he tore his ACL. He withdrew, rehabbed his knee and helped the 'Hawks to the 2008 crown. And he loved every bit of it.

"It just feels good right now, just coming from what I had, ACL surgery, coming back and giving my teammates a Final Four — I mean a championship," Rush said.

Florida made big headlines the year before when its core – Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green – made a group decision to try and make history as repeat champs. When they pulled it off, it cemented that Gators group as one of the NCAA's great teams of the modern era.

"We're a team. We always stick together. It's what we came back to do. We won back-to-back," Brewer said.

Maybe the hardest part of returning to school is dealing with expectations.

Carolina entered this season ranked No. 1. It dominated early on, raising the possibility of going undefeated. That kind of pressure isn't easy to handle.

 "A lot of outside people were saying we have to win it all or it's going to be a failure," Hansbrough said Monday. "Well, you know what? It's not a failure. We came back to win a championship. We did and we got the job done."

And just think, all it took was passing on the NBA for a year.

Want to make yourself crazy? Try making a Top 25 for next season before all the dust's settled with early entries to the NBA draft, late-signing recruits and any coaching changes.

It's not a complaint, just the way it is. When the NCAA tournament title game ends, people start speculating about next year. Yet there are many, many variables before next year starts.

That said, here's an early look at the 2009-10 season.

Orlin Wagner/AP

Sherron Collins

It differs slightly from Ken Davis' teams to watch, but features many of the same teams, including the top two: Kansas and Syracuse. After that, it's wide open. And it'll likely change before October rolls around …

1. Kansas
Expect Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins back in Lawrence next season. That would give Bill Self every player back from this year's Big 12 champs, along with five-star prospects in Elijah Johnson, Thomas Robinson and possible Xavier Henry and Lance Stephenson. Is that too much of a good thing?

2. Syracuse
Jim Boeheim told Jonny Flynn to test the NBA draft waters, but unless the star point guard is a Top 10 pick, he's supposed to be back for his sophomore season. If that happens, the Orange will be deadly. They'll have all five starters back.

3. Duke
Scoff if you choose. The Devils will probably lose Gerald Henderson to the NBA, but they'll bring back every other starter to pair with five-star prospects Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee. Adding them to a 30-win team is sick.

4. Purdue
The Boilermakers dealt with more injuries this season than nearly any other contender. If Robbie Hummel's back is healthy, Purdue should be the Big Ten's best team. It returns every starter, including budding superstar JaJuan Johnson.

5. West Virginia
Maybe the Mountaineers looked strange among kenpom.com's Top 10 this season, but get used to it. They'll lose senior Alex Ruoff and perhaps freshman Devin Ebanks, but having a healthy Joe Mazzulla makes up for it.

6. Wake Forest
Big "if" here. James Johnson already declared for the NBA draft, but coach Dino Gaudio expects forward Al-Farouq Aminu and point guard Jeff Teague to return. If that happens, Wake could be the preseason No. 1.

7. Michigan State
Kalin Lucas can carry the Spartans, but he doesn't have to. MSU returns three starters and has budding stars in Durrell Summers and Raymar Morgan.

8. North Carolina
No Tyler Hansbrough, no Danny Green and maybe no Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington. No problem. The Heels still have Deon Thompson and Ed Davis up front, and bring in prize recruits John Henson and Leslie McDonald.

9. Florida
The Gators will have too much talent to be an NIT team for three straight seasons. They lose one starter and bring in a dynamite freshman class, headed by star guard Kenny Boynton.

10. Tennessee
Much was expected of Bruce Pearl's team this season. It was a year too soon. The Vols return every starter, including national player of the year candidate Tyler Smith.

11. Villanova
The Wildcats bring in freshman swingman Dominic Cheek and three other four-star recruits. Paired with Scottie Reynolds, Reggie Redding and the two Coreys, 'Nova should make it 5 Sweet 16s in the last six years.

12. Ohio State
So B.J. Mullens is going pro. Big deal. The Buckeyes will bring back Evan Turner, David Lighty and every other starter.

13. Pittsburgh
DeJuan Blair isn't ready for the NBA. If he stays, it'll offset the loss of Levance Fields, Sam Young and Tyrell Biggs. Pitt also brings in prep star Dante Taylor.

14. Texas
Longhorns could be higher if Damion James fulfills the sky-high expectations surrounding him. Having Dexter Pittman and five-star prospects Jordan Hamilton and Avery Bradley offsets the loss of A.J. Abrams.

15. Florida State
The 'Noles lose Toney Douglas, but feature perhaps the nation's most imposing frontcourt in Solomon Alabi, Chris Singleton and Jordan Mercy.

16. Washington
The Huskies will be small next season, but it won't matter. You try guarding Isaiah Thomas, Quincy Pondexter and incoming point guard Abdul Gaddy.

17. Kentucky
Another wild-card. Wildcats could be much higher if Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson stick around and depending on how many five-star recruits John Calipari can lure to Lexington.

18. Minnesota
Tubby Smith returns all five starters and brings in a solid recruiting class. Gophers' biggest problem will be dealing with Purdue, Ohio State and Michigan State.

19. Cal
Patrick Christopher is submitting his name for the NBA draft, but expect him back in Berkeley. That'll give Mike Montgomery every starter back on perhaps the Pac-10's best team.

20. Butler
The Bulldogs averaged 28 wins a season the last three years. That won't change with everyone returning, including Horizon player of the year Matt Howard.

21. Michigan
Four starters return for John Beilein, which means the Wolverines have another year to adjust to his specialized offense. It's also bad news for everyone else.

22. Texas A&M
Aggies lose sharpshooter Josh Carter, but bring back everyone else, including floor leader Donald Sloan and big men Bryan Davis and Chinemelu Elonu.

23. Clemson
K.C. Rivers is gone, but Trevor Booker and Terrence Oglesby return. Tigers should have another strong start.

24. UCLA
Strange to think that the Bruins would be this low, but Ben Howland's team has a lot of unknowns. How to replace Darren Collison and Josh Shipp? Are the prized recruits ready?

25. Oklahoma State
The Cowboys' run-n-shoot offense is tough to stop, but will it struggle without Byron Eaton running the show?

Just missed
Georgetown (if Greg Monroe returns, Hoyas are a Top 20 team), Missouri (by end of season, Tigers will be a Top 25 team), Louisville (losing Terrence Williams, JerryAndre McGee and likely Earl Clark is too much) and Connecticut (at least three starters are gone, and Hasheem Thabeet is probably going pro.)

Quick tip for any major program seeking to hire a coach in the next few years: Pursue whomever Xavier picks to replace Sean Miller.

Seriously. It'll save you a lot of time and effort, provided your sales pitch is good enough.

Xavier, along with Gonzaga, is the mid-major no BCS school wants to play. And the coaches are a big reason why.

The Musketeers haven't botched a coaching hire in years. The last four – Pete Gillen, Skip Prosser, Thad Matta and Miller – were all great recruiters, solid strategists and knew how to win in the NCAA tournament.

Since Gillen was hired in 1985, the Musketeers have been to the NCAA tournament 18 times – missing the big dance just six times in that span. They've been to four Sweet 16s, two Elite Eights, won 14 regular-season titles and nine conference tourney crowns.

Nice work, eh?

Those four coaches all did OK after Xavier, too. Gillen took Providence to the 1997 Elite Eight before jumping to Virginia. Prosser won an ACC title with Chris Paul and recruited most of the current roster. Matta led Ohio State to the 2007 Final Four.

Arizona may have pursued other coaches before Miller, but he'll be perfect to ensure the Wildcats don't flop in the post-Lute Olson era. Ask Xavier. It wanted to keep him around for the next 8 years.

So it you're a school that could potentially need a new coach next season – like St. John's, Maryland or Oregon – keep an eye on Xavier's new coach. Odds are, he'll be a keeper.

Michigan State and North Carolina will play for the NCAA men's championship on Monday night -- duh. But there's another honor at stake when the two schools take the floor: team of the decade.

The first one's official. You've probably seen the trophy.

But the second carries bragging rights that aren't associated with just one tournament. It's excellence over an extended period of time, using different sets of players and sometimes different coaches.

OK, it's also fodder for pundits and fans to argue about. Consider the fan debate regarding Duke and Kentucky about which team ruled the '90s.

Both teams won two NCAA titles. The Devils went to five Final Fours, the Wildcats four. Kentucky sported a better overall record (282-63) to Duke (271-78). If you love college hoops – or just like to argue – it's a fun one to debate. (Throw in North Carolina or Kansas if you're feeling feisty.)

Paul Sancya/AP

Kalin Lucas, left, and Ty Lawson

As for the 2000s, I'd say it comes down to Monday.

Since 2000, They've both been to four Final Fours, more than any other school. UNC's won five regular-season conference titles; MSU three. Both have two conference tourney titles. Sparty went to the Big Dance each season this decade; the Heels missed two. They're both among the top 15 winningest teams of the decade, have sent at least 8 players to the NBA.

And they each have an NCAA crown this decade. The 2009 title will be the tiebreaker.

The other team with an argument would be Florida.

The Gators won back-to-back titles and lost the 2000 title game to the Spartans. They've logged 261 wins, three regular-season conference crowns and two tourney titles. They've been to eight of 10 NCAA tourneys in the decade.

Other schools like Kansas, Duke, UCLA and UConn would be in the discussion. They've all been to multiple Final Fours, while the Jayhawks and Huskies each have a title. But overall, I'd say they fall short of UNC and Michigan State.

But hey, the more the merrier. Check out the numbers of the schools below. (League titles are regular-season/tournament; *denotes leader in that category)

Team   NCAA titles   FFs   Overall     League titles  NCAA berths
UConn       1             2      253-85          4/2               8
Duke         1             2      291-60*        4/7*            10*
Florida       2*           3      261-85          4/2               8
Kansas      1             3       282-69         7/3              10*
Maryland   1             2       225-110        1/1               7
Mich. St.   1             4*     248-95          3/2              10*
UNC          1             4*     250-94          5/2*             8
Syracuse   1             1       250-95          2/2               7
UCLA         0            3        227-106        3/2               8

As an added measure, Sweet 16 appearances shake down like this: Duke 8; Kansas 7; Michigan St. 6; UCLA 6; North Carolina 5; UConn 5; Syracuse 4; Florida 3; Maryland 3.

So yeah, the Michigan State-North Carolina winner would have the best claim to team of the 2000s, but the decade's been pretty close.

Duke and Kansas have really racked up the regular-season wins and conference titles, but it hasn't resulted in as many NCAA tournament victories. And it's amazing that every time the Gators reached the Sweet 16, they also went to the title game.

So what about the 2000s? Who's your outstanding team of the decade?

On paper, North Carolina should run Michigan State out of the building during Monday's national title game.

The Heels have more NBA-caliber players, a more experienced team and the game's most potent offense.

Yet a big, big part of me thinks the Spartans are going to win Monday. Not sure who I'm picking just yet, but I do know that in working up these player matchups for the title game, I found myself unable to choose between Ty Lawson and Kalin Lucas and which roster has the superior bench.  

Plus, there's the whole home crowd thing. Ford Field's a cavernous space, but of the 72,000 fans expected to be in attendance, the majority will be wearing green. That's no small thing.

But I could be wrong. After all, the Heels already ran away from the Spartans once this season … but check out the player matchups and cast your vote. I'll be back with more tomorrow on the title game.

Only a rube would doubt Michigan State's place among college basketball's elite programs. Recently, it ranks among the top 5. Maybe better.

The Spartans may not have the name recognition to casual fans as Duke or North Carolina, but anyone who's filled out a bracket in the last 10 years knows you ignore Tom Izzo's team at your own risk.

Since 1999, Michigan State's been to five Final Fours, more than any other school. Among active coaches, only Mike Krzyzewski (.763) and Billy Donovan (.759) have higher NCAA tournament winning percentage than Izzo (.750).

Throw in the 2000 NCAA title and five regular-season Big Ten titles, and Sparty has the résumé to match any team around.

Yet every year, Michigan State and the rest of the Big Ten are ripped for their slow-it-down, bruising, aesthetic-less style of play. But why is that? Doesn't its record speak for itself?

Consider the league's NCAA tourney record since 2000.

League      FF apps.   Overall record   Win %
ACC                9                  85-46          .649
Big Ten            8                  82-52          .612
Big 12             6                  85-53          .616
Big East           5                  96-54          .640
SEC                 4                  68-53          .562
Pac-10            4                   70-60          .538

This video captures Izzo at his best, defending his league and pointing that Michigan State isn't that different from its Final Four opponent, Connecticut, both in terms of style and scoring.

The Huskies are a lot like the Spartans. They focus on rebounding and defense. They're balanced offensively, but don't have any scoring superstars.

"We're tough and physical, we do the same things they do," senior Travis Walton said Thursday. "I think it's going to be a football game without pads."

That may be. The quote (hat trip: Spartans Weblog) sums up Michigan State's approach to the game – be physical, be tough, don't get beat on defense – and doesn't help its cause when it comes to any naysayers. But don't let it fool you.

The Spartans feature an athletic, talented roster that can run with just about any team in the country.

In a slow league like the Big Ten, they just don't get a chance to run that often. They average about 67 possessions a game, which is right on the D-I average, according to kenpom.com. (UConn's at 68.1. Villanova, 69.2, UNC, 73.8.) They do play faster than any other Big Ten team. And they win.

Yet … it seems respect for Michigan State lags behind the traditional powers.

Duke and Carolina are routinely on ESPN. UCLA has 11 NCAA championship banners hanging from the roof at Pauley. Kansas has Naismith and Phog Allen in its corner.

Most of the Big Ten hoops awe is reserved for Indiana. Yet the Hoosiers have just two NCAA tournament wins since their Final Four berth in 2002. More telling? They're now coached by a former Izzo assistant, Tom Crean.

Kentucky turned to John Calipari to restore its luster, but Izzo made news when he didn't explicitly dismiss the idea of coaching in Lexington. He likely had ulterior motives; it's doubtful he'll ever leave East Lansing.

Izzo just keeps winning, and winning in March. And the more he does that, the more we all might have to change our long-held notions about the truly elite programs.

The next few days will ultimately determine Tyler Hansbrough's college basketball legacy.

Accolades aren't the issue for the North Carolina senior. Few players can match being national and ACC player of the year, a consensus first-team All-American three times (and second-team as a freshman) and the career scoring leader at UNC and in the ACC.

Hansbrough's been the face of college basketball for nearly three years, as the best player on one of the sport's most storied programs. He's led the Heels in scoring and rebounding for four years, the only player to ever do so. UNC's won nearly 85 percent of its games – 122-22 in the last four years – a mark only a few players in NCAA history can surpass.

"People talk about legends," UNC senior guard Bobby Frasor told the Raleigh News & Observer. "I think [Tyler] is going to have a legend quality about him. The stories are going to build up and build up. People talk about [him eating] sushi now; in 20 years, it's going to be Tyler ate a live cow or something."

Paul Sancya/AP

Tyler Hansbrough

He'll surely go down as one of the best players of his era, perhaps even of the last decade. But without an NCAA tournament title, will Hansbrough's legacy be remembered as really good, but not elite?

Does Hansbrough need a trophy to be considered an all-time great?

"His career is bigger than that," Dave Odom, the former coach at Wake Forest and South Carolina, told ESPN before the tournament. "There's always one more thing he can accomplish ... but if [his career ended] today he's one of the greats in all ACC history. He plays every possession as if it was his last and conducted himself as the ultimate student-athlete."

Odom's view takes into account the larger picture regarding Hansbrough.

Today's athletes rarely live up to the massive expectations heaped upon them, whether by the media or by fans. It was true of Tim Duncan, a national player of the year who never could take Odom's Demon Deacons into the Final Four during four stellar seasons.

In that sense, Hansbrough's already surpassed some of the greats who finished their college careers without winning it all.

Pete Maravich was a scorer nonpareil and three-time All-American, but never even played in the NCA tournament. Wayman Tisdale was a force for Oklahoma in the '80s, garnering All-America honors three times, but couldn't get to a Final Four.

Others dominating players like Jerry West, Elvin Hayes, Wilt Chamberlain and Ralph Sampson all reached the Final Four, but fell short of a title. They're considered among the game's all-time greats.

Would Hansbrough ever be considered among their class? Perhaps.

"He stands for what's good about college basketball," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said before the tournament. "He didn't run and take the money. He's good for athletics, period. It's how hard you work and how hard you focus, and that's what he stands for in college basketball. That's why he'll be remembered as one of the greatest players to ever play [in college]."

Of course, Williams may be a little biased. Hansbrough's a rare breed in today's game – an star player who stays all four years, stays out of trouble, wins games, all that good stuff.

Still, Williams probably isn't alone in that regard. People's reasons for choosing their best player of all-time usually vary, and it doesn't always include winning a title. These Sports Illustrated writers didn't pick the best scorer (Maravich) or the guys who won the most (Alcindor, Walton and the rest of John Wooden's unstoppable Bruins), but focused on other aspects.

Perhaps they were supremely gifted players overwhelming opponents (David Robinson), or got the most out of limited abilities (Chris Mullin) or were simply … cool (Jimmy Walker).

Surely Hansbrough, a player lauded for his unceasing effort and ferocious style down low, would be lauded one day as a great.

If a guy like Oklahoma's Blake Griffin – the likely No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft and the player likely to prevent Hansbrough from winning a second straight national player of the year award – can give Hansbrough some props, how long until opinion sways in favor of the UNC star?

"He seems like he never gives up and he's always ready to go," Griffin said. "And just also the consistency he's played with over four years. I don't know how many he's averaged over his career, but obviously if he's the ACC-leading scorer, he's done a great job."

Don't ask Hansbrough what he thinks of all this. He's always been a humble star, reluctant to offer sweeping opinions on topics, let alone his place in the game's history. He hasn't even thought about life after the NCAA tournament, let alone out of school.

"I'm not gonna let that affect me right now. I'll think about it in a couple weeks when I'm done," Hansbrough said this week.

"I guess I've prepared myself mentally to leave, but I still think when you're gone you're gonna miss the silly things being in the locker and things like that."

A trickier question: If the Tar Heels do cut down the nets Monday, yet Hansbrough is largely ineffective, what then?

He took just four shots and finished with eight points in Sunday's showdown with Griffin. If it's Ty Lawson or Wayne Ellington or another Heel who makes the big plays in Detroit, what then? Will Hansbrough's legacy be hurt because he wasn't the driving force behind a championship?

Maybe. But it's doubtful Hansbrough would care – especially since he's crucial to Carolina's success.

If he's on the court, opposing defenses' primary concern is stopping Hansbrough. If his presence creates opportunities for teammates, then he's one of the reasons behind a victory. If he carries the load and the Heels win, even better.

Williams has coached plenty of stars during his 21 seasons, including Paul Pierce, Drew Gooden, Scott May and Kirk Hinrich. But Hansbrough may be better than all of them.

"He's a unique young man. That's the best way I can describe him. To me when something is really unique, that means you can't find many of them. And I don't think you can find many Tyler Hansbroughs," Williams said. "I've said before, and I'll say again, I've been awfully lucky."

Perhaps we're the lucky ones. It's not every day you get to watch an all-time great.