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  • Beyond the Arc is moving!

    Beyond the Arc is moving to a new Web address. Reset your bookmarks and links accordingly. And even if you lose the new address, you'll still be able to find the blog from our college basketball section.

    As for the content, well, you're still stuck with me (mostly) except for the occasional bracket update or post from Dave Ommen. Once the 2010-11 season begins, we'll roll out some new bylines for Beyond the Arc. Stay tuned.

  • Cross your fingers for Negedu

    Emmanuel Negedu says he's following his dream by transferring to New Mexico to continue his basketball career.

    Good luck, Emmanuel. It could end up being a bad dream.

    Negedu suffered sudden cardiac arrest last September after he completed a Tennessee weightlifting session and was racing a teammate on the Vols' indoor football field. He lost consciousness, had no pulse and had to be revived with a defibrillator. He later had surgery to implant a cardiac defibrillator in his chest to monitor his heart's rhythm and deliver energy when an irregularity occurs.

    That was enough for Vols coach Bruce Pearl to declare Negedu's playing career over. Not Negedu.

    "I've got to do what I've got to do," the 21-year-old said. "I want to chase my dreams to play basketball. I want to do what makes me happy, and that's what makes me so happy."

    Pearl's worried Negedu's health could again take a serious turn, which makes sense. Negedu's heart stopped and he now relies on a machine to ensure it works properly. If that's not scary for an elite athlete, I don't know what is.

    Good luck, Emmanuel. Be healthy.

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

  • A&M recruit dies after accident

    A Texas A&M recruit died Sunday from injuries sustained in a car wreck earlier that morning after attending his school's prom.

    Tobi Oyedeji was set to graduate from Bellaire High (Texas) this month and enroll at Texas A&M this summer. But a head-on collision with another car caused serious injuries. Attempts at life-saving surgery weren't successful.

    He was 18.

    "The world has lost a great kid today," Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon said in a statement. "Tobi epitomized the term student-athlete. He was a very good student. He worked hard in the classrooms and on the basketball court and he was a terrific basketball player.

    "This is difficult to understand, and today is a very sad day. My heart aches for his mom and dad. Tobi was an only child and I would like everyone to pray for Tobi's parents."

    Oyedeji was a 6-foot-9, 220-pound power forward who was expected to have in immediate impact for the Aggies.

    "He was going to be a big part of our program," Turgeon told Andy Katz. "More than just basketball, his personality, his character, he would have helped us in so many ways. He was a great student. He epitomized the values we have here."

    Details on a memorial service will be announced in the next few days.

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

  • Beware those mock drafts

    NBA mock drafts make for entertaining reading, but don't take them as gospel. Just ask Kenneth Faried.

    When the Morehead State center was scoping his draft prospects earlier this month, what little information he could glean from NBA teams was that he'd either be drafted in the second round or not at all. So he withdrew his name and will be back in Morehead for his senior season.

    Yet when he checked out some mock drafts, he was in for a small surprise.

    "After I made up my mind, though, I went online and saw the ESPN mock draft where they had me in the first round [at No. 22 to Portland]. And I was just wowed by it. Shocked. I was happy to see myself there, but I didn't know what to think. Were they getting information that was right? Because when I was hearing from NBA teams, they had been telling me completely different things."

    That's from this great story by SI.com's Luke Winn, who talked to six underclassmen after the early entry deadline to withdraw passed. Some, like Fredette and, JaJuan Johnson and Faried, chose to return to school after learning all they could during the shortened window.

    Others, like Darington Hobson and Jordan Crawford heard enough to stay in … not that it was easy with the stupid two-week window.

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

  • Krzyzewski changing for Irving

    Nolan Smith was the driving force behind Duke's NCAA tournament title. Kyle Singler was the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Both will be on the shortlist for 2010-11 national player of the year.

    But neither will be the focal point of Duke's offense.

    Sam Forencich/Getty
    Kyrie Irving will be the focal point of Duke's offense in 2010-11.


    That's how good incoming freshmen Kyrie Irving is. Just ask Mike Krzyzewski.

    "We'll change our whole offense, the way we play because of Kyrie," Duke's coach said in a story from Adam Zagoria.

    "Just like we did when we had Jason Williams, he'll make a big impact right away. He's going to be very, very good."

    Hyperbole for incoming freshmen is nothing new, especially the last few years when we've seen John Wall, Derrick Rose, Kevin love, Greg Oden, Michael Beasley and Kevin Durant all live up to that hype.

    But to have Coach K admit the offense will change because of a guy who hasn't put on the uniform yet? That's saying something.

    True, the Devils will be forced to be more guard oriented next season because they won't have established post players like Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas. Yet that's not bad thing because an up-tempo team will suit Irving's talents – and Krzyzewski's knows it.

    "We'll run a lot more, we'll press and he's fortunate to have Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler on the perimeter with him and the Plumlees," Krzyzewski said. "He'll have good weapons with him."

    A slightly smaller, faster, pressing Duke team? Sounds like fun. Is it possible this could be season when people don't mind watching the Devils win?

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

  • Calipari, NBA rumors won't die

    John Calipari says he has no interest in leaving Kentucky. He's coming off a marvelous first season, he has another sparkling recruiting class and the school is working on a contract extension. And Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart expects the coach to be back in Lexington next season.

    Yet the NBA rumors just won't go away. And it sounds as if some are starting to believe the rumors.

    This online poll from the Louisville Courier-Journal – not a scientific poll! – has 46 percent of respondents thinking he'll stay. About 28 percent think he'll be coaching the Chicago Bulls. Roughly 20 percent are unsure where he'll coach, but that it won't be Kentucky. Three other options include the Nets, Knicks and Cavs.

    More than half of votes think he'll be somewhere else.

    It's not a huge number of respondents and the poll doesn't tell you where the voters live or what sources they've read. Still, it's a telling snapshot of how the public views the whole situation.

    Does it mean people aren't taking Calipari at his word? That the lure of coaching in the NBA again – and possibly coaching LeBron James -- will be too great?

    Or is simply that we're all cynics?

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

  • Stock up on McDonald's

    Having a McDonald's All-American on the roster doesn't guarantee success – but it sure doesn't hurt.

    North Carolina had more than any other school last season and missed the NCAA tournament. Duke had the second most, yet won it all.

    So who has the McDonald's All-Americans for next season? CollegeHoopsNet projected lineups for all 30 teams that'll have All-Americans and also included the nine schools that no longer have 'em around.

    The only school that's close to UNC and Duke for number of McDonald's players? Villanova. The 'Cats seem to accumulate star guards the way the Patriots compile draft picks…

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

  • Can Big Ten do it again?

    We saw a first in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge last season. How about two in a row?

    The matchups and dates for the annual event were announced Wednesday, with a Duke-Michigan State showdown headlining the whole thing. As an added bonus, Purdue plays at Virginia Tech, North Carolina's at Illinois and Ohio State travels to Florida State.

    Those are arguably the four top teams from each conference facing off, while the rest aren't as appealing.

    Monday, November 29
    Virginia at Minnesota

    Tuesday, November 30
    North Carolina at Illinois
    Ohio State at Florida State
    Michigan at Clemson
    Georgia Tech at Northwestern
    Iowa at Wake Forest

    Wednesday, December 1
    Michigan State at Duke
    Purdue at Virginia Tech
    North Carolina State at Wisconsin
    Indiana at Boston College
    Maryland at Penn State

    So who wins? Eammon Brennan thinks it'll be two straight for the Big Ten, while KJ at the Only Colors says a Big Ten repeat is plausible, but not probable.

    Tough to argue against the Big Ten, which is going to have at least three national title contenders next season, but all three of those – MSU, Purdue and Ohio State – all play on the road. If one of those three can steal a win, two in a row isn't far off.

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

  • The Midwest loves its hoops

    They pack 'em in at Kentucky, Syracuse and Louisville. It's hardly a surprise to see those three college hoops powerhouses sit atop the attendance figures released by the NCAA on Wednesday.

    But what about a nod to the devoted fans at Iowa State?

    The Cyclones were hardly a success last season, winning just four Big 12 games and finishing 15-17 overall. Yet the good folks in Ames filled the Hilton Coliseum with 12,491 fans on average for 18 games, 26th overall. For a place that only seats 14,356 people, that ain't bad.

    Also impressive? Creighton. The Blue Jays were 15th overall, filling Qwest Center Omaha (capacity 17,560) with 14,495 fans, second among non-BCS schools. Considering Creighton's enrollment is only 7,385, that's some support from the city. (Memphis tops non-BCS schools, but has nearly three times as many students.)

    Also in the Top 15? Wisconsin, Kansas, Marquette, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan State. They love their hoops in the Midwest. 

    Other tidbits:

    Highest per-game attendance: 1. Kentucky (24,111), 2. Syracuse (22,152), 3. Louisville (19,397)

    Lowest per-game attedance: 1. Nicholls State (328), 2. New Jersey Institute of Technology (422), 3. New Orleans (477)

    Best average attendance per conference: 1. Big Ten (12,591), 2. Southeastern (11,770), 3. Big 12 (11,214)

    Lowest attendance for NCAA tournament qualifiers: 1. Robert Morris (1,029), 2. Lehigh (1,285), 3. Sam Houston State (1,434)

    (H/T: The Dagger)

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

  • That Final Four run is big $$$

    If Butler's financial windfall for reaching the Final Four is anything close to the boost George Mason received, the Bulldogs will be sitting pretty for the next few years.

    How pretty? Enough to pay for Miramax.

    According to a story from the Epoch Times, when George Mason made its Final Four run in 2006, the university's had a boom in applications, ticket sales and media coverage. And it wasn't a small bump, either. The school completed a two-year study in 2008 that found:

    [R]equests for information about GMU jumped by 350 percent. Applications from out-of-state students swelled by 40 percent and all freshman year applications increased by 22 percent. Computer-generated applications rose by 52 percent and alumni interest in the school jumped by 25 percent.

    Page views on the sports division's website soared by 503 percent and unique viewers by 702 percent. Almost everything that had to do with GMU's sports division rose drastically. More season tickets for games were sold and home games were packed with fans wanting to see the game.

    Most importantly, GMU earned roughly $678 million in totality, factoring in free local, regional, and national print and electronic media coverage, due to its game exposure.

    More well-known schools don't receive the same kind of bump, but it's no secret that winning does pay off. When Kansas beat Memphis for the 2008, the school's merchandise sales topped $47.3 million, of which the school and the athletic department retained about $2 million.

    That's the power of winning, and winning in the NCAA tournament. Why else do you think everyone wants in?

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

  • UConn shells out more money

    Connecticut is paying some serious basketball money right now.

    Not only did the school just finalize a 5-year, $13 million contract extension for men's coach Jim Calhoun, it also asked the state to spend an additional $375,000 to a Kansas City law firm to defend the school against an ongoing NCAA investigation into the men's team.

    The original contract with Bond, Schoeneck & King called for a three-year deal capped at $300,000, according to a story in the Hartford Courant. Yet the state spent more than that in a one-year period between April 2009 and April 2010, when $338,000 in legal bills were paid.

    (But before anyone sends nasty letters to the school and state officials for wasting taxpayer money, know that the athletic department reimburses the attorney general's office for all the payments. It's just that that state comptroller's office has to pay the firm.)

    This will hardly be the end of the legal fees, too. From the Courant:

    And the bill is only going to get larger as the NCAA investigation into the school's recruitment of Nate Miles and the program's ties to former UConn team manager-turned-agent Josh Nochimson continues…

    OPM Deputy Secretary Michael Cicchetti approved an additional $200,000 in legal fees to pay the Kansas City firm in late 2009. That was the second time that OPM had granted additional funds; it signed off on an extra $175,000 in July 2009, records show.

    The school is already burning through the new money, records show. In a five-day period last month between April 10 and April 15, Bond, Schoeneck & King billed the state for more than $37,000. Enright said those legal bills were accrued from Dec. 1, 2009, through Jan. 31, 2010, and not during just a five-day period.

    Well, at least the basketball coach is in place.

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

  • Post-draft deadline Top 25

    And, now the day you've all been waiting for: The way too early top 25 is now the post-deadline, pre-NBA draft Top 25. Try to contain your excitement.

    This version considers all the early entrants to the NBA draft and some surprise transfers – North Carolina losing the Wear twins dropped UNC down this list – though there's not a whole different from that early April Top 25.

    The next Top 25 update won't be until October, after I've had a summer to re-consider these teams and re-think all the irate comments that'll accompany this version.

    Michael Conroy / AP
    Will you see Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith doing this again in March of 2011?


    1. Michigan State

    Record: 28-9
    Key returnees: Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers, Draymond Green, Delvon Roe, Korie Lucious, Derrick Nix
    Key losses: Raymar Morgan
    Newcomers: Adrieian Payne, Keith Appling

    Duke will probably be the preseason No. 1 in the AP and coaches' poll, but I like the Spartans. They're coming off a 28-8 season, their second consecutive Final Four and have a Top six recruiting class coming to East Lansing. Yes, Lucas' Achilles' tendon will be a question and there are rumors that guard Chris Allen will transfer, but MSU will be a healthy favorite to win it all. I'll take that bet.

    2. Duke

    Record: 35-5 (national champs)
    Key returnees: Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, Miles Plumlee, Mason Plumlee, Andre Dawkins
    Key losses: Jon Scheyer, Brian Zoubek, Lance Thomas
    Newcomers: Kyrie Irving, Seth Curry, Josh Hairston

    Is this dissing the defending champs or simply playing it safe given that the Devils lost three starters from their 35-5 squad? The Plumlees should provide enough punch inside to offset Zoubek and Thomas, but I think they'll miss Scheyer's reliable, efficient scoring. Yes, Curry and Dawkins can both shoot and incoming freshman Irving may be the best guard in Durham since Jay Williams. But how tough will the transition back to a guard-heavy rotation be?

    3. Purdue

    Record: 29-6
    Key returnees: Robbie Hummel, E'Twaun Moore, JaJuan Johnson, Lewis Jackson, Kelsey Barlow, John Hart
    Key losses: Chris Kramer, Keaton Grant
    Newcomers: Terone Johnson, Anthony Johnson, Travis Carroll

    Matt Painter can finally relax. A little. Moore and Johnson will be back in West Lafeyette, along with a healthy Hummel. The Boilers will miss Kramer, but if the defense is even close to as good as it was during the NCAA tournament, they'll be in the mix for the Big Ten title, a No. 1 seed and possibly – finally – reach that elusive Final Four. Size will be an issue – again – unless Carroll or sophomore Patrick Bade can spell JaJuan Johnson inside.

    4. Pittsburgh

    Record: 25-9
    Key returnees: Ashton Gibbs, Gilbert Brown, Brad Wanamaker, Gary McGhee, Travon Woodall, Dante Taylor
    Key losses: Jermaine Dixon
    Newcomers: J.J. Moore, Isaiah Epps, Cameron Wright

    There's a drop from 3 to 4, but not as much as some might think. Considering the Panthers return seven of their top eight players from a 25-9 squad, including two star-caliber players in Gibbs and Brown and Jamie Dixon's squad is a fair bet to make that Final Four breakthrough. There won't be any embarrassing losses in 2010-11.

    5. Kansas State

    Record: 29-8
    Key returnees: Jacob Pullen, Curtis Kelly, Jamar Samuels, Wally Judge, Dominique Sutton, Rodney McGruder
    Key losses: Denis Clemente, Luis Colon
    Newcomers: Freddy Asprilla, Shane Southwell, Will Spradling

    Flipped the Wildcats up a few spots from the previous version mostly because of Pullen and the likelihood that Judge has a breakout season. Not that Kelly or Samuels should be ignored, or Sutton and juco transfer Asprilla, for that matter. K-State was a few missed shots away from a Final Four in 2010. Expect the same in 2011.

    6. Ohio State

    Record: 29-8
    Key returnees: William Buford, David Lighty, Jon Diebler, Dallas Lauderdale
    Key losses: Evan Turner, Kyle Madsen, Jeremie Simmons
    Newcomers: Jared Sullinger, Deshaun Thomas, Jordan Sibert, J.D. Weatherspoon

    Turner's gone, yet some think the Buckeyes could be the nation's second-best team. That's mostly because everyone but Turner is back and will be bolstered by a dynamite recruiting class, led by unflappable big man Sullinger. The last time Thad Matta had freshmen like this, he reached the title game.

    7. Villanova

    Record: 25-8
    Key returnees: Corey Fisher, Corey Stokes, Antonio Pena, Mouphtaou Yarou, Maalik Wayns, Dominic Cheek, Taylor King
    Key losses: Scottie Reynolds, Reggie Redding
    Newcomers: James Bell, Jayvaughn Pinkston

    Originally slated the Wildcats at 16, but various raves regarding Wayns changed my mind. Jay Wright's team remains a deep, talented squad that should benefit from a full season with Yarou down low. Still, this may be optimistic given how crucial Reynolds was the last four seasons.

    8. Kansas

    Record: 33-3
    Key returnees: Tyshawn Taylor, Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed, Thomas Robinson, Jeff Withey, Elijah Robinson, Mario Little
    Key losses: Sherron Collins, Cole Aldrich, Xavier Henry
    Newcomers: Josh Selby, Royce Woolridge

    Adding Selby – perhaps the nation's top recruit – makes the Jayhawks a Top 10 team again. The transition to life without Collins and Aldrich won't be easy, but Marcus Morris and Taylor are both poised for breakout seasons. There's plenty of depth while Morningstar and Reed are the stabilizing upperclassmen.

    9. Washington

    Record: 26-10
    Key returnees: Isaiah Thomas, Venoy Overton, Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Justin Holiday, Abdul Gaddy, Darnell Gant, C.J. Wilcox, Scott Suggs
    Key losses: Quincy Pondexter, Elston Turner
    Newcomers: Terrence Jones, Terrence Ross, Aziz N'Diaye

    This assumes Jones ends up in Seattle (still waiting). The addition of shooting guard Ross to an already excellent perimeter featuring Thomas, Holiday and Overton (to say nothing of sharpshooter Wilcox) will only make Lorenzo Romar's team even more fun to watch – and tough to play. Even if post players Amaning and N'Diaye only block shots and rebound, that's enough.

    10. Kentucky

    Record: 35-3
    Key returnees: Darius Miller, DeAndre Liggins, Darnel Dodson, Jon Hood
    Key losses: John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton, Perry Stevenson, Ramon Harris
    Newcomers: Brandon Knight, Enes Kanter, Doron Lamb, Stacey Poole

    Six guys are gone, but John Calipari reloaded. Knight, Kanter (assuming he's fully eligible) and Lamb don't have the pop of his 2010 recruiting class, but they're close. It'll be interesting to see how guys like Miller and Liggins – who mostly focused on defense – fare . Will they assume a larger role in the offense or will they defer to the newcomers?

    Toyed with several variations from 11-20, and settled on the following. It'll likely change in October.

    11. Virginia Tech

    Record: 25-9
    Key returnees: Malcolm Delaney, Jeff Allen, Dorenzo Hudson, J.T. Thompson, Terrell Bell, Victor Davila, Erick Green
    Key losses: None
    Newcomers: Allan Chaney, Tyrone Garland, Jarell Eddie

    Malcolm Delaney gives the Hokies the ACC's second-best lineup as every starter returns and Chaney, a Florida transfer, is added to the mix. No way this team misses out on the NCAA tournament again. It should challenge for the ACC title.

    12. UNLV

    Record: 25-9
    Key returnees: Tre'Von Willis, Chase Stanback, Oscar Bellfield, Derrick Jasper, Brice Massamba, Kendall Wallace, Justin Hawkins
    Key losses: Darris Santee, Matt Shaw
    Newcomers: Quintrell Thomas, Henry Buckley

    Don't sleep on the Rebels. All five starters return from a team that was a buzzer-beater away from beating Northern Iowa. They're deep, athletic and experienced. It won't be a shock to see them win the Mountain West and nab a high seed similar to New Mexico last season.

    13. Gonzaga

    Record: 27-7
    Key returnees: Steven Gray, Robert Sacre, Elias Harris, Demetri Goodson, Kelly Olynyk, Bol Kong, Mangisto Arop
    Key losses: Matt Bouldin
    Newcomers: Keegan Hyland

    Bouldin, the WCC player of the year is gone, but there shouldn't be a significant dropoff. Goodson can run the point and Gray should pick up the scoring slack. Harris and Sacre remain a handful inside. What's not to like?

    14. Baylor

    Record: 28-8
    Key returnees: LaceDarius Dunn, Anthony Jones, Quincy Acy, A.J. Walton, Nolan Dennis
    Key losses: Tweety Carter, Ekpe Udoh, Josh Lomers
    Newcomers: Perry Jones, Stargell Love, Bakari Turner

    Can't decide which hurts worse: losing Carter's leadership, outside shooting and ball-handling skills, or Udoh's blocking and rebounding. Freshman Perry Jones – along with the explosive Acy and Anthony Jones -- should help offset Udoh, but who runs the show? Does Dunn assume point guard duties or is Walton ready?

    15. Illinois

    Record: 21-15
    Key returnees: Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale, D.J. Richardson, Brandon Paul, Bill Cole, Tyler Griffey, Jeff Jordan
    Key losses: Dominique Keller
    Newcomers: Meyers Leonard, Jereme Richmond, Crandall Head

    To say Bruce Weber was elated to have McCamey back in Champaign is an understatement. Sure, the Illini coach didn't always see eye to eye with his point guard last season, but there's no doubt McCamey's the driving force behind Illinois. Though having all five starters return and a Top 15 recruiting class is nice too…

    16. Memphis

    Record: 24-10
    Key returnees: Will Coleman, Wesley Witherspoon, Angel Garcia, Roburt Sallie
    Key losses: Elliot Williams, Willie Kemp, Doneal Mack, Pierre Henderson-Niles
    Newcomers: Will Barton, Joe Jackson, Jelan Kendrick, Tarik Black, Chris Crawford, Antonio Barton

    The Tigers could've been a Top 10 team if Williams had passed on the NBA draft. Instead, this uber-talent roster – home to 2010's top recruiting class – will have to mesh with a mix of fab freshmen like Will Barton, Kendrick and Jackson along with experienced guys like Coleman and Sallie.

    17. Butler

    Record: 33-5
    Key returnees: Matt Howard, Ronald Nored, Shelvin Mack, Shawn Vanzant, Zach Hahn, Andrew Smith.
    Key losses: Gordon Hayward, Willie Veasley, Avery Jukes.
    Newcomers: Chrishawn Hopkins, Khyle Marshall

    Gordon Hayward's gone, along with defensive stopper Willie Veasley. But the cupboard isn't bare, what with Howard, a former Horizon League player of the year, underrated Mack and indomitable Nored. The Butler Way – defense and limiting mistakes – will keep the Bulldogs among the Top 25.

    18. Syracuse

    Record: 30-5
    Key returnees: Brandon Triche, Scoop Jardine, Kris Joseph, Rick Jackson, DaShonte Riley, Mookie Jones
    Key losses: Wes Johnson, Andy Rautins, Arinze Onuaku
    Newcomers: Fab Melo, Dion Waiters

    Perhaps this is too low, given we just saw the Orange lose their top three players only to reload for an even better season. Still, it's hard to see them improving upon their 30-5 season unless Triche, Jardine or Waiters become consistent perimeter threats. Keep an eye on Joseph. He's ready for his star turn.

    19. Missouri

    Record: 23-11
    Key returnees: Kim English, Laurence Bowers, Marcus Denmon, Michael Dixon, Justin Safford, Miguel Paul
    Key losses: J.T. Tiller, Zaire Taylor, Keith Ramsay
    Newcomers: Tony Mitchell, Phil Pressey, Ricardo Ratliffe, Matt Pressey, Phil Pressey

    They'll miss Tiller's defense and Taylor's shooting, but English, Denmon and Dixon are just as good, while Mitchell gives Mike Anderson the elite scorer he's never had at Missouri. If the Tigers ever stop getting beaten badly on the boards, they'll be in the Big 12 mix.

    20. Florida

    Record: 21-13
    Key returnees: Kenny Boynton, Erving Walker, Chandler Parsons, Alex Tyus, Vernon Macklin, Erik Murphy
    Key losses: Dan Werner, Ray Shipman
    Newcomers: Patric Young, Casey Prather

    Isn't it about time Billy Donovan's team became a Top 25 mainstay again? Their four top players and sixth man (Macklin) return, while Young's an elite talent who should move into the starting lineup. Look for a breakout season from Boynton.

    21. Tennessee

    Record: 28-9
    Key returnees: Scotty Hopson, Brian Williams, Cameron Tatum, Melvin Goins, Steven Pearl, Renaldo Wooldridge, Skylar McBee
    Key losses: Wayne Chism, Bobby Maze, J.P. Prince
    Newcomers: Tobias Harris, Jordan McRae, Trae Golden

    Chism, Maze and Prince were key to the Vols' run to the Elite Eight, but there shouldn't be a huge dropoff thanks to Williams' development and Harris' instant impact. McRae and Golden should provide backcourt help to Hopson. Still, this is a team that'll win with defense, not its shooting.

    22. BYU

    Record: 30-6
    Key returnees: Jimmer Fredette, Jackson Emery, Noah Hartsock, Brandon Davies, Chris Collinsworth, Nick Martineau
    Key losses: Jonathan Tavernari, Chris Miles, Michael Loyd, Tyler Haws
    Newcomers: Kyle Collinsworth, Anson Winder

    Love Fredette's game. His return places him on the shortlist for national player of the year. But without guys like Tavernari, Miles and Haws (who left to do a mission) and the transfer of talented guard Loyd, everything's on Fredette's shoulders. Are they broad enough to make the Cougars the Mountain West's top team?

    23. North Carolina

    Record: 20-17
    Key returnees: Tyler Zeller, Larry Drew II, John Henson, Dexter Strickland, Will Graves, Leslie McDonald
    Key losses: Ed Davis, Deon Thompson, Marcus Ginyard, Travis Wear, David Wear
    Newcomers: Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock, Kendall Marshall

    Detractors will bemoan having the Heels in the Top 25, and they might not be wrong. They lose three starters and nearly all of their size from a team that wasn't even good enough to make the NCAA tournament. Much depends on Barnes' impact, Zeller's health and if Marshall can form a PG tandem with Drew. Do they eventually land Kadeem Jack to help out in the frontcourt?

    24. Temple

    Record: 29-6
    Key returnees: Juan Fernandez, Lavoy Allen, Ramone Moore, Michael Eric, Rahlir Jefferson, Craig Williams
    Key losses: Ryan Brooks, Luis Guzman
    Newcomers: Anthony Lee, Aaron Brown

    The A-10 champs lose reliable players in Brooks and Guzman, but return four of their top five scorers. The trick will be getting inside scoring from a player other than Allen. Is Lee ready?

    25. Xavier

    Record: 26-9
    Key returnees: Terrell Holloway, Jamel McLean, Dante Jackson, Mark Lyons, Kenny Frease, Brad Redford
    Key losses: Jordan Crawford, Jason Love
    Newcomers: Justin Martin, Jay Canty, Jordan Latham, Griffin McKenzie

    Despite losing Crawford, Xavier's backcourt remains its strength. Holloway's a ferocious defender, while Jackson is a threat from outside. However, the Musketeers do have size with McLean and newcomers Latham, McKenzie and Martin.

    Next 10: Old Dominion, Georgetown, Wisconsin, Wichita State, San Diego State, Richmond, Louisville, Connecticut, UCLA, Texas.

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

  • Stevens hits a stand-up double

    Brad Stevens' Butler squad defied the odds with its run to the NCAA tournament title game. But who knew Stevens could buck the odds twice?

    There's no other way to describe Stevens' performance Monday for "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." The traditional seventh-inning stretch song has chewed up non-singing celebrities before, yet Stevens does a respectable rendition.

     

    More impressive? Stevens also threw out the first pitch – and he's no Mark Mallory.

     

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here for more.

  • Why the rush to grow up?

    Andre Dawkins did it. Daniel Hackett did it. Two more players may do so for the 2010-11 season. Yet don't expect graduating high school early, or "reclassifying" to become the norm anytime soon.

    It just doesn't fit most circumstances or most players.

    This great read by ESPN.com's Matt Winkeljohn details Matt Carlino and Scottie Wilbekin, two players who normally would be part of the 2011-12 freshman class, but are both trying to get to college a year early. (Carlino to UCLA, Wilbekin to Florida.) However, both have academic requirements to meet first.

    Carlino's taking three accelerated-learning classes this spring and plans to enroll in summer school at UCLA. His dad, Mark, says Matt isn't playing any summer hoops, just studying so he can fulfill admissions standards. Wilbekin is doing essentially the same thing. Both are ahead of the curve in that department, which wouldn't be the case for many players.

    Still, getting to school early doesn't matter if the team doesn't have a place for you.

    "It got us thinking, and given the success of the young man (Dawkins) who went to Duke this past year … we investigated," Mark Carlino said. "Now is a great time for him to enter. There is a window of opportunity. The team did not have a record that they would have liked, but it's certainly a time in UCLA's program that it would be a good time to enter because of the youth of the team."

    But is getting to school early a good thing? What about prom or summer days? What about your last gasp as a kid? Once a player gets to college, a lot of that ends. Many of Wilbekin's family members live in or near Gainesville, which was an important factor in his choice – and could be a huge factor in him not getting homesick.

    "I would question anybody who would do this whether they've thought it through all the way through. I told them I thought it was the wrong decision, and it didn't make any difference," Carlino's high school coach, J.R. Holmes, told ESPN. "I just don't see why you want to rush growing up."

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  • Move over Disco Stu!

    Kansas coach Bill Self combined Tom Izzo's costume flair with Bo Ryan's dancing moves for perhaps the awesomest/silliest video I've seen since Tosh.0's last season. (Have you seen that show? It's delightfully crude, hilarious and addictive. Can't wait for season 3.)

    OK, it's not quite that level. Though I am hoping Self wears this suit during at least one game next season.

    More details on 'Boogie' Self can be found here. Details on buying your own leisure suits can be found here. If you can do both, even better.

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here to follow him.

  • Draft deadline winners, losers

    Now that JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore are officially returning to school, Purdue can exhale and finally turn its attention to next season.

    Even better? The Boilermakers can celebrate as the biggest winners from the NBA draft withdraw deadline, along with BYU, Seton Hall and Florida. Mississippi State, Xavier and Louisville weren't so lucky.

    So let's go through the college hoops winners and losers. I'm skipping the teams who lost sure-fire lottery picks. No sense in bemoaning players for starting their professional careers.

    Laura Rauch / AP
    Jimmer Fredette made BYU a big winner with his NBA draft decision.


    WINNERS

    Purdue
    You've heard this before, but it's still true. With Moore, Johnson and a healthy Robbie Hummel, the Boilermakers will be on the shortlist of Final Four contenders next season.

    BYU
    Jimmer Fredette's return gives the Cougars one of the country's premier players and makes them perhaps the best team out West (though UNLV will have something to say about that).

    Virginia Tech
    Does Malcolm Delaney's return give the Hokies the ACC's second-best lineup next season? It's possible.

    Illinois
    Few thought Demetri McCamey or Mike Davis would stay in the draft (though stranger things have happened), which downplays their decisions a bit, but not much. The Illini will be part of a loaded Big Ten.

    N.C. State
    Tracy Smith was a surprise early entrant. His return, along with star freshman C.J. Leslie, could help turn the Wolfpack into one of next season's surprise teams.

    Richmond
    Having Kevin Anderson – the A-10 player of the year – back for his senior season was expected, but still worth celebrating if you're Chris Mooney.

    Dayton
    It didn't take Chris Wright long to withdraw his name from the draft. Flyers fans should expect a return to the NCAA tournament.

    Temple
    Notice a trend? The A-10's best teams got a nice boost. Lavoy Allen gives the Owls an experienced, reliable post presence.

    Seton Hall
    Jeremy Hazell, Herb Pope and Jeff Robinson all withdrew their names, giving new coach Kevin Willard some talent for 2010-11. An NCAA tournament berth isn't out of the question.

    Oklahoma
    How can the Sooners lose three guys – Willie Warren, Tommy Mason-Griffin and Tiny Gallon – and come out as winners?

    Florida
    Alex Tyus wasn't ready for the NBA. Gators are glad to have his size.

    Morehead State
    Keep your eye on Kenneth Faried. He could help the Eagles to the MissouriOhio Valley title.

    LOSERS

    Kentucky
    John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins were always going to be one-and-dones. But losing out on Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton will probably prevent John Calipari's team from returning to the Elite Eight.

    Butler
    Admit it: You were rooting for Gordon Hayward to stay. I was. Butler was too. Even if Hayward staying in the draft was the smart thing to do, it doesn't mean we have to like it.

    Xavier
    Guess Jordan Crawford wanted to be different than Anderson, Wright and Allen. The Musketeers lose an elite scorer and one of the main reasons they reached the 2010 Sweet 16.

    Texas
    There are mixed opinion on Avery Bradley's NBA prospects. Maybe he's Russell Westbrook, or maybe not. I know Rick Barnes would've another year to help him on his way.

    New Mexico
    The Lobos were one 2010's best stories, mostly because Darington Hobson, the MWC player of the year, did a little bit of everything. Now they're behind BYU, UNLV and San Diego State in the conference race.

    Vanderbilt
    Just when the Commodores were primed to make a run at the SEC crown, A.J. Ogilvy decides to go pro. But it probably won't be in the NBA.

    Michigan
    Manny Harris isn't going to be a lottery pick, but the odds of him making an NBA impact are pretty good. He'll be around when all the good teams are drafting. He would've made a bigger impact with another season under John Beilein.  

    Virginia
    Can't blame Sylven Landesberg (too much). I wouldn't want to play in Tony Bennett's system, either.

    Ole Miss
    No Terrico White, no Eniel Polynice, no shot at the NCAA tournament. Again.

    Louisville
    Tough break for the Cardinals. Samardo Samuels will probably a second-round pick, but reading about his family situation in Jamaica makes it hard not to sympathize.

    South Florida
    I wish Dominique Jones luck. I wish Stan Heath even more luck.

    Cincinnati
    Lance Stephenson's nickname is "Born Ready." Not for the NBA.

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here to follow him.

  • Calhoun richer, reenergized

    Jim Calhoun's retirement party is on hold, perhaps until 2014. That's saying something for a 68-year-old coach who missed parts of the 2009-10 season due to health issues.

    Connecticut signed its coach to a 5-year, $13 million contract, a deal that took almost a year to complete. What took so long? Well, it was a fairly complex deal.

    His base salary begins at $325,000 and increases by $25K for each year. In addition, he'll get almost $1.7 million for speaking engagements and media-related appearances for last season. Total compensation for 2011-12 will be $2.7 million and $3 million each year after that. Also, he can retire anytime after 2011 and receive either $1 million of a five-year job with the athletic department.

    But most interesting are the academic ties. Calhoun can be penalized $100,000 if the school loses a scholarship because of poor academic performance rating by his team.

    "It doesn't mean any more to me now or any less to me now, it really doesn't," Calhoun said. "But it's tangible evidence that, yes, I'm really involved in this."

    Perhaps the new contract does indicate Calhoun is reinvigorated and excited about upcoming seasons. As the Hartford Courant's Jeff Jacobs writes, the coach demonstrated passion, energy and healthy vigor during his press conference.

    The lesson? Calhoun's using any negative press as fuel to prime himself for upcoming seasons.

    "We're one year [removed] from being in the Final Four," Calhoun told Jacobs. "It seems to be forgotten. I remember it. Maybe I'm the only one."

    "If I wasn't up to the fight 100 percent I wouldn't be here ... I'm here."

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here to follow him.

  • On athletes and scholarships

    Maybe the Justice Department reads sport blogs. Or maybe it's finally catching on to some of unfair aspects of being a student-athlete.

    Either way, this story is a promising development in how the athlete-college relationship is viewed.

    The DOJ's antitrust division contacted the NCAA last week regarding its scholarship policies, including why scholarships are awarded on a year-to-year basis and when they're limited to five years. The NCAA responded with this statement:  

    "Student-athletes must demonstrate that they deserve the merit-based award of athletics aid in two ways - by remaining academically eligible for competition and by meeting participation expectations in the sport for which aid is granted … The NCAA has also explained that the five year rule (or 10 semesters for Division II) is linked to the fact a student-athlete has only five years or 10 semesters in Division II in which to use his or her four years of eligibility to participate in NCAA sports."

    They're reasonable explanations, but it just reinforces that everything's one-sided in the student-athlete relationship to their schools. It's part of the deal – some want their education paid for, some want exposure before a career as a professional athlete while the schools usually profit off those athletes – but it's good that the DOJ is at asking those questions, because there are several wrinkles that extend beyond just scholarships.

    This excellent post from Chris Littman of the Sporting Blog details a football player and basketball player who must jump through several hoops in order to continue their athletic careers.

    Consider the basketball player, Justin Knox. He's graduating from Alabama in three seasons and would like to play another season as a graduate student but there are three stipulations for him to do so: He cannot transfer to another SEC school; a school on Alabama's 2010-11 schedule; another school in the University of Alabama system.

    Nevermind that previous Alabama athletes have transferred to UAB and played in the past.

    Keep in mind: Not all athletes are simply there to play and entertain us. Most are student-athletes who won't be playing sports for a living. But they're caught up in the athletic machine and can often be treated unfairly.

    It's time to re-evaluate everything, starting with the National Letter of Intent. Maybe the DOJ and the NCAA's new president, Mark Emmert, can work on it.

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here to follow him.

  • UNC scrambles to replace Wears

    Roy Williams better hope Tyler Zeller can stay healthy and that John Henson continues to gain weight because North Carolina's front court went from overcrowded to understaffed in record time.

    The Wear twins, David and Travis, announced Thursday that they'll transfer, much to Williams' consternation.

    "We are extremely disappointed that David and Travis are leaving the program," Williams said in a statement. "I love both kids and they would have been very important parts of our team next season. It is a significant blow to our team as we had four post players and now we are down to two. They are quality kids and will be quality players."

    UNC spent most of the 2009-10 season rotating six big men, but lose the Wears, senior Deon Thompson (to graduation) and sophomore Ed Davis (to the NBA draft). That leaves Zeller, who'll be a junior, and Henson, who'll be a sophomore.

    So now what? Well, Williams has to work fast.

    He could try his luck with Kadeem Jack, a 6-9 power forward who Scout.com rates as the No. 43 overall prospect in 2010. As Jim Young from ACCSports.com writes, Jack would probably be very interested in coming to Chapel Hill.

    If there's a silver lining, it's that many of the ACC's best interior players won't be around next season due to eligibility or declaring for the NBA draft. Not sure that's what Williams or the Tar Heel faithful wanted to hear though…

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here to follow him.

  • Is this a Philip K. Dick story?

    Talk about your lose-lose situations.

    Is Jerry Joseph a 16-year-old playing high school hoops in Odessa, Texas who's an illegal alien? Or is he Guerdwich Montimere, a 22-year-old who previously starred for Ft. Lauderdale's Dillard High School and graduated in 2007?

    Either way, he's in for a rough next few months.

    This ESPN story contains most of the strange details, including the stance from U.S. Immigration officials and how Joseph got to Odessa by way of Fort Myers, Fla.

    But the best quote – and one of the reasons for the added confusion – comes from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. An assistant coach maintains Joseph isn't Joseph at all, but Montimere.

    "I'm 100 percent sure," Cedric Smith told the paper. "I would bet my paycheck."

    You can't make this stuff up. Well, some people can, but not me.

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here to follow him.

  • Teams awaiting draft decisions

    Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
    Purdue's season will hinge on E'Twaun Moore's NBA draft decision.

    And then there were 40.

    Butler sophomore Gordon Hayward became the latest underclassmen to stay in the NBA draft, which leaves roughly 20 players who may seriously consider staying in. Eighty initially declared, but two have withdrawn and at least 15-20 are good bets to do so as well. (See the complete list here.)

    There's not much time left to decide, either. Saturday's deadline is approaching fast. (The choices are difficult given that most NBA teams aren't holding workouts.)

    Now Butler knows its 2010-11 season will be a little bit tougher, but what other teams are also eagerly awaiting decisions from players? Glad you asked.

    Here are the most notable schools that will be affected by decisions yet to come.

    PURDUE
    Still deciding
    : guard E'Twaun Moore, center JaJuan Johnson.
    What's at stake: A national title.

    The Boilermakers will be on the shortlist of contenders if Moore and Johnson return. Yes, Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant are gone, but Robbie Hummel returns from injury and Matt Painter's ready to give guys like Lewis Jackson, John Hart and Kelsey Barlow more prominent roles. But it hinges on Moore and Johnson in West Lafeyette.

    ILLINOIS
    Still deciding: forward Mike Davis, point guard Demetri McCamey.
    What's at stake: A Top-3 Big Ten finish, the Elite Eight.

    It's shaping up to be a brutal Big Ten race. Michigan State, Purdue and Ohio State will garner most of the attention, but if McCamey and Davis both return (as expected) don't ignore Illinois. Bruce Weber also landed a Top 15 recruiting class, though he'll need McCamey to run the show.

    BYU
    Still deciding
    : point guard Jimmer Fredette.
    What's at stake: A conference title and a Top 4 NCAA tourney seed

    Fredette, a national player of the year candidate, has worked out for two NBA teams, with two more workouts remaining. Expect him back in school to help the Cougars compete in the loaded Mountain West and possibly a sweet seed in the Big Dance.

    NEW MEXICO
    Still deciding: forward Darington Hobson.
    What's at stake: A second straight MWC title

    It's 50/50 if the reigning conference player of the year returns. Hobson's skills would be impossible for Steve Alford to replace, to say nothing of his leadership and knack for big plays. If he returns, the Lobos are NCAA bound again. Without him, they're headed for the NIT.

    XAVIER
    Still deciding
    : guard Jordan Crawford.
    What's at stake: A reliable scoring presence for a Top 15 team

    Crawford will probably stay in, which must torment Musketeers coach Chris Mack and their fans. Xavier would be in prime position to mimic Butler's 2010 run next season, but having someone with Crawford ability is key.

    VIRGINIA TECH

    Still deciding: guard Malcolm Delaney.
    What's at stake: Silencing critics and challenging Duke

    A 23-8 record wasn't good enough for the NCAA tournament seeding committee. If Delaney returns to a senior-laden team, the Hokies are not only a good bet to return to the tournament, they could make a serious run at the ACC regular-season crown.

    MOREHEAD STATE

    Still deciding: forward Kenneth Faried.
    What's at stake: A spot in the Big Dance

    Faried's an elite shot blocker and rebounder – but doesn't have NBA size. At 6-8, he's shorter than NBA teams would like, which makes him a good bet to return to school and help Morehead State compete with Murray State for the Ohio Valley crown.

    MISSISSIPPI STATE

    Still deciding: guard Dee Bost, guard Ravern Johnson.
    What's at stake: Someone to stretch the defense for Renardo Sidney

    Bost and Johnson will likely be back in Starkville, but they'll be just one aspect of the Bulldogs' season. The biggest key to an NCAA berth is Sidney, who missed his entire freshman season due to eligibility issues. With him in the post, Bost has an easier time running the point and Johnson has an easier time stretching the defense.

    SETON HALL

    Still deciding: guard Jeremy Hazell, forward Jeff Robinson.
    What's at stake: Continuity

    New coach Kevin Willard would love to have Hazell, the team's leading scorer, and Robinson, an underrated swingman, back in the fold, to say nothing of having a healthy Herb Pope. Twenty victories may actually be attainable.

    UPDATE: Not long after posting this, both reportedly decided to return to school.

    FLORIDA

    Still deciding: forward Alex Tyus.
    What's at stake: Front court depth

    The Gators would survive without Tyus, but a more reliable rebounder and interior scorer than anyone else Billy Donovan has on the bench.

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here to follow him.

  • Butler drops from 2010-11 elite

    That Duke-Butler rematch just got a little less sexy.

    Bulldogs sophomore Gordon Hayward, the driving force behind their run to the NCAA tournament title game, will reportedly stay in the NBA draft, the Indy Star reported. The 6-9 swingman could be a lottery pick (and should be, but who knows when it comes to NBA teams?).

    Star reporter Jeff Rabjohns explains that the decision was an easy one given the impending NBA lockout:

    Hayward essentially will guarantee himself three years of NBA money, somewhere in the range of $3 million (as the 20th pick) to $6 million (as the 10th pick). … And by going now, Hayward will get to his second contract — when players are free agents and free from the rookie scale — two years sooner. That means two more years at his most marketable, which could be somewhere around $6-8 million per season.

    It's the right move for Hayward, who's NBA ready. It's not so good for the Bulldogs.

    Without Hayward, Butler loses two starters from their 33-5 squad and probably drops from a preseason Top 5 team to somewhere in the 15-20 range. Losing Hayward isn't a deathblow to the Bulldogs' 2010-11 season – Matt Howard, Ronald Nored and Shelvin Mack are still playing and form an impressive trio --  but it certainly hurts.

    Where it hurts most is when it comes to facing opponents like Duke. Hayward's a matchup nightmare for most teams on Butler's schedule and an equalizer against pro-laden schools like Duke.

    Now the Bulldogs have to emphasize their strengths – nasty defense, perimeter shooting, no turnovers – even more to beat a team like Duke, to say nothing of making another Final Four run.

    Mike Miller's also on Twitter, usually talkin' hoops. Click here to follow him.

  • No consensus No. 1 recruit

    Why is high school recruiting an inexact science? Look no further than this year's rankings of prospects.

    Rivals, Scout and ESPNU have finalized their rankings, but can't agree on the top prospect. When someone like John Wall comes along, it's easy. But 2010's different because Scout and ESPNU think North Carolina recruit Harrison Barnes is the best guy out there, while Rivals is going with Kansas recruit Josh Selby.

    Oddly enough, Scout and ESPNU both have Selby 5th. Rivals has Barnes at No. 2, and their Top 10s are essentially the same. Who's right? Who knows? It'll probably be one of those years when everyone misses on a guy like Joakim Noah or Gordon Hayward…

    For what it's worth, Gary Parrish likes Barnes at No. 1, mostly because Barnes is "the single most impressive high school kid I've ever met."

    Rivals.com's final rankings

    1.    Josh Selby (Kansas)

    2.    Harrison Barnes (North Carolina)

    3.    Enes Kanter (Kentucky)

    4.    Kyrie Irving (Duke)

    5.    Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

    6.    Brandon Knight (Kentucky)

    7.    Tobias Harris (Tennessee)

    8.    Cory Joseph (Texas)

    9.    Perry Jones (Baylor)

    10.  Reggie Bullock (North Carolina)

     

    Scout.com's final rankings

    1.    Harrison Barnes (North Carolina)

    2.    Kyrie Irving (Duke)

    3.    Enes Kanter (Kentucky)

    4.    Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

    5.    Josh Selby (Kansas)

    6.    Brandon Knight (Kentucky)

    7.    Tobias Harris (Tennessee)

    8.    Terrence Jones (considering Washington and Kentucky)

    9.    Perry Jones (Baylor)

    10.  Tristan Thompson (Texas)

     

    ESPNU's final rankings

    1.    Harrison Barnes (North Carolina)

    2.    Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

    3.    Kyrie Irving (Duke)

    4.    Brandon Knight (Kentucky)

    5.    Josh Selby (Kansas)

    6.    Tobias Harris (Tennessee)

    7.    Perry Jones (Baylor)

    8.    Will Barton (Memphis)

    9.    Terrence Jones (considering Washington and Kentucky)

    10.  Tristan Thompson (Texas)

     

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  • Kentucky plays it smart with Cal

    Well, that didn't take long.

    Hours after a report surfaced that Kentucky coach John Calipari was interested in the Chicago Bulls coaching vacancy, the school announced that it'll re-do his contract. That's no small deal, either. Calipari's 8-year, $31.65 million deal already makes him college basketball's highest-paid coach.

    "I'm extremely proud of what Coach Calipari has done in just one year as the leader of our men's basketball program," Kentucky A.D. Mitch Barnhart said. "Cal has brought Kentucky men's basketball back to its rightful place of national prominence and I'm excited about our future."

    Barnhart hopes the new deal will keep Calipari in Lexington for the rest of his career. If Calipari's tweets are to be believed, it could be true.

    "Throughout my career I've been mentioned for other jobs," Calipari wrote. "Now that I'm here u won't hear about other colleges because I've got the best job. Every year you will hear my named mentioned for NBA jobs because I coached in the league before. I'm very happy at Kentucky."

    I'm sure that's true. He led the Wildcats back to national prominence this season, going 35-3 and reaching the Elite Eight. He's running arguably the place to play. Who wouldn't be happy?

    Then again, a cynic might believe the rumors and say Barnhart is just doing the smart thing. A new contract would certainly contain a new buyout clause, which means if Calipari does ever bolt to the NBA, Kentucky will get nice chunk of change.

    Everybody wins! Well, everyone except the NBA team…

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  • Capel replenishes his OU roster

    Players bolted Oklahoma like crazy this spring. Sophomore Willie Warren and freshmen Tommy Mason-Griffin and Tiny Gallon all declared for the NBA draft within a span of about three days.

    No sweat. Jeff Capel replenished the roster at an even faster rate.

    The Sooners coach garnered commitments from four players in the last eight days, the most recent being guard Calvin Newell and center Abdi Ahmed, a couple of three-star prospects. That brings Capel's 2010 class to eight players in all, including a five-star prospect in swingman Cameron Clark and three Juco players.

    It's an ideal blend to recover from a disappointing 13-18 season, too.

    The Sooners return one starter (Cade Davis) and a couple of role players (Steven Pledger and Andrew Fitzgerald). Adding the Juco players gives a boost to this season, while the mix of good – but not great – freshmen talents sets up Oklahoma for the future.

    The last thing Capel wants now is another series of one-and-done players like Mason-Griffin and Gallon. After all, even Blake Griffin stayed two seasons.

    (H/T: College Basketball Nation Blog)

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