The late shift means I get all homerrific: my focus will be between USC-Wazzu and the UConn-ND match-up.

Mississippi State @ Georgia (ESPN2, 6pm)- Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes
Charlotte @ Temple (ESPNU, 6pm)- Scott Graham, John Celestand
Iowa @ Penn State (BTN, 6pm)- TBD
Houston @ Arizona (FS Arizona, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Atlantic)
Colorado State @ Wyoming (MTN, 6pm)- TBD
USC @ Washington State (FS Regional, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Northwest, Rocky Mountain, West, FCS Pacific)
Oregon @ California (OSN, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN California, CSN Northwest)
Kansas State @ Colorado (Big XII Network, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on Altitude, ESPN Full Court)
Connecticut @ Notre Dame (ESPN, 7pm)- Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale, Erin Andrews
Northeastern @ Old Dominion (CSN Regional, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Mid-Atlantic, CSS)
Rutgers @ St. John's (Big East Network, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on MSG+, ESPN Full Court)
Indiana State @ Bradley (Valley, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Midwest, CSN Chicago)
St. Joseph's @ Pennsylvania (Comcast Network, 7pm)- TBD
Radford @ Liberty (Liberty Channel, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on MASN)
Xavier @ Louisiana State (ESPN2, 8pm)- Ron Franklin, Fran Fraschilla
Texas A&M @ Texas (ESPNU, 8pm)- Clay Matvick, Dickey Simpkins
Northwestern @ Michigan (BTN, 8pm)- TBD
Mississippi @ South Carolina (SEC TV, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS South, SUN, ESPN Full Court)
Gonzaga @ Loyola Marymount (KHQ, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Northwest, Prime Ticket)
Southern Utah @ Oral Roberts (KGEB, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Central, ESPN Full Court)
Weber State @ Northern Arizona (FS Arizona, 8:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Pacific)
San Diego State @ Brigham Young (MTN, 9pm)- TBD
UC-Santa Barbara @ Pacific (ESPNU, 10pm)- Steve Physioc, Miles Simon
Oregon State @ Stanford (FS Northwest, 10pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Bay Area, FCS Pacific)
UC-Riverside @ Long Beach State (Prime Ticket, 10pm)- TBD
Utah State @ Hawaii (KJZZ, 11:59pm)- TBD (Will Air on KFVE, ESPN Full Court)

Coach K DEMANDS you watch his Duke squad today, or else you're gonna get it.

Pretty safe to say I'll be leaning on the remote all day, and starting early. Let's have some fun with this, because it's my last weekend with y'all here (more on this later.)

Maryland @ Duke (ESPN, Noon)- Mike Patrick, Len Elmore
Marist @ Siena (MAAC TV, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on MSG, FCS Atlantic, ESPN Full Court)
Villanova @ South Florida (Big East Network, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on CST, MASN, SNY, ESPN Full Court)
Kent State @ Akron (MAC TV, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on FS Ohio)
Auburn @ Arkansas (Raycom, 1pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Texas Tech @ Missouri (Big XII Network, 1:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on Altitude, YES, ESPN Full Court)
Kansas @ Iowa State (ESPN, 2pm)- Terry Gannon, Stephen Bardo
DePaul @ Marquette (ESPN2, 2pm)- Sean McDonough, Bill Raftery
American @ Holy Cross (ESPNU, 2pm)- Bob Socci, John Feinstein
Loyola-Chicago @ Detroit (FS Detroit, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Atlantic)
North Carolina State @ Boston College (Raycom, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Wisconsin-Milwaukee @ Butler (TWC Sports 32, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Charleston @ The Citadel (SportSouth, 3pm)- TBD
Kentucky @ Alabama (Raycom, 3pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Memphis @ Tennessee (CBS, 3:30pm)- TBD
Wisconsin @ Illinois (ESPN, 4pm)- Dave O'Brien, Doris Burke
George Mason @ Virginia Commonwealth (ESPN2, 4pm)- Eric Collins, Bob Wenzel
UCLA @ Washington (FSN, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Arizona, Detroit, Florida, North, Northwest, Ohio (JIP), Prime Ticket, Rocky Mountain, Southwest, CSN Bay Area, New England, MSG+, FCS Pacific)
Utah @ Nevada-Las Vegas (VS, 4pm)- TBD
Baylor @ Oklahoma (ESPNU, 4pm)- Dave Armstrong, Jon Sundvold
Florida State @ Virginia (ACC Network, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS South, CSN Mid-Atlantic, NESN, SUN, ESPN Full Court)
St. Francis-PA @ St. Francis-NY (NEC, 4pm)- Dave Popkin, Terry O'Connor, Paul Dottino (Will Air on MSG, FS Pittsburgh, FCS Atlantic)
Oklahoma State @ Nebraska (Big XII Network, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on MASN, YES, ESPN Full Court)
Louisiana Tech @ Boise State (ESPN+, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on Altitude, CST, KTVB 24/7, ESPN Full Court)
East Carolina @ Southern Methodist (CBS College Sports, 5pm)- TBD
Western Carolina @ Appalachian State (SportSouth, 5pm)- TBD
Southern Illinois @ Illinois State (Valley, 5pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Midwest, CSN Chicago)
Florida Atlantic @ Arkansas State (Sun Belt TV, 5pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSS, ESPN Full Court)

Mostly regional stuff tonight. I might check in on the regional Big West action that will be on Fox Sports in my area, as well as some Pac-10 action.

Utah @ San Diego State (Versus, 4pm)- TBD
Virginia @ Virginia Tech (ACC Network, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS South, Florida, CSN Mid-Atlantic, NESN)
Oregon State @ Stanford (FS Regional, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Arizona, Northwest, Prime Ticket, FCS Pacific)
Georgia Southern @ Charleston (CSS, 4pm)- TBD
Texas @ Iowa State (Big XII Network, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on Altitude, YES, ESPN Full Court)
Connecticut @ Cincinnati (Big East Network, 4:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Ohio, MASN, SNY, WCTX, ESPN Full Court)
Bucknell @ Navy (ESPNU, 5pm)- Bob Socci, John Feinstein
Memphis @ Central Florida (CBS College Sports, 5pm)- TBD
Nevada-Las Vegas @ Texas Christian (MTN, 5:30pm)- TBD
Mississippi @ Florida (SEC TV, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS South, SUN, ESPN Full Court)
California @ Washington (CSN California, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Northwest, FCS Pacific)
Miami @ Boston College (ESPNU, 7pm)- Clay Matvick, Dickey Simpkins
Richmond @ George Washington (MASN, 7pm)- TBD
Syracuse @ Rutgers (Big East Network, 7:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on SNY, ESPN Full Court)
Mississippi State @ Arkansas (SEC TV, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS South, SUN, ESPN Full Court)
Portland @ Gonzaga (KHQ, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Northwest, Pittsburgh)
Missouri State @ Northern Iowa (Valley, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Midwest)
Arkansas-Little Rock @ New Orleans (Sun Belt TV, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSS, CST, ESPN Full Court)
Oakland @ Oral Roberts (KGEB, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Central)
Western Kentucky @ Florida Atlantic (WKYU, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Pacific)
Wright State @ Valparaiso (WYIN, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Texas A&M @ Oklahoma State (ESPNU, 9pm)- Brad Sham, Stephen Howard
Hawaii @ Boise State (KTVB 24/7, 9pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Utah State @ New Mexico State (Aggie Vision, 9pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Air Force @ New Mexico (MTN, 9:30pm)- TBD
Stanford @ Washington State (FS Northwest, 10pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Central)
Cal State-Fullerton @ UC-Santa Barbara (Prime Ticket, 10pm)- TBD
Long Beach State @ UC-Davis (CSN California, 10pm)- TBD
Loyola Marymount @ Pepperdine (ESPNU, 11pm)- Steve Physioc, Krista Blunk

Bill Self and crew take on the T to the Izzo this afternoon in East Lansing. Currently watching Loovll at the Nova, and remarking about how amazingly overrated the Cardinals are this year. Scottie Reynolds is having his way with them right now.

Louisville @ Villanova (ESPN, Noon)- Dave Pasch, Len Elmore
Hofstra @ Virginia Commonwealth (CSN Regional, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Mid-Atlantic, New England, Philadelphia, CSS, MSG+)
Tennessee @ Georgia (Raycom, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
North Carolina State @ Clemson (Raycom, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Georgia Tech @ Maryland (Raycom, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
West Virginia @ Marquette (Big East Network, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on CST, MASN, SNY, ESPN Full Court)
Providence @ Georgetown (ESPNU, 1pm)- Lou Canellis, Jack Armstrong
Texas Tech @ Baylor (Big XII Network, 1:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Oklahoma @ Kansas State (Big XII Network, 1:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on Altitude, YES, ESPN Full Court)
Kansas @ Michigan State (CBS, 2pm)- TBD
Duke @ Florida State (ESPN, 2pm)- Mike Patrick, Jay Bilas
Missouri @ Nebraska (ESPN, 2pm)- Terry Gannon, Stephen Bardo
Oregon @ Arizona State (FSN, 2pm)- Barry Tompkins, Dan Belluomini (Will Air on FS Arizona, Detroit, Florida, Midwest, North, Northwest, Ohio, Rocky Mountain, South, Southwest, West, CSN Bay Area, Chicago, MSG+, FCS Pacific)
Old Dominion @ George Mason (CSN Regional, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Mid-Atlantic, New England, CSS)
Vanderbilt @ Kentucky (Raycom, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Seton Hall @ Notre Dame (Big East Network, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on MSG, MASN, FS Ohio, ESPN Full Court)
Rhode Island @ St. Joseph's (Cox-Rhode Island, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Philadelphia)
Austin Peay @ Murray State (ESPNU, 3pm)- Dave Weekley, Mark Adams
East Carolina @ Marshall (CBS College Sports, 3pm)- TBD
Indiana @ Illinois (BTN, 3pm)- Dave Revsine, Jim Jackson
Brigham Young @ Colorado State (MTN, 3pm)- TBD
Towson @ Northeastern (CN8, 3pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN New England)
Sam Houston State @ Stephen F. Austin (Southland TV, 3pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)

I'm presuming that NC State-Florida will either be helmed by Verne and Clark or Gus and Greg. Could be completely and totally off. Anyway, lots and lots of regional action today for those of you not watching the NFL playoffs.

North Carolina State @ Florida (CBS, 4pm)- TBD
Charlotte @ Maryland (CSN Mid-Atlantic, 4pm)- TBD
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi @ Florida State (FS Florida, 4pm)- TBD
Cleveland State @ Detroit Mercy (STO, 4pm)- TBD
Houston @ Mississippi State (CSS, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
West Virginia @ Seton Hall (Big East Network, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on CST, MASN, SNY, FS Pittsburgh, ESPN Full Court)
Wisconsin-Milwaukee @ Loyola-Chicago (TWC Sports 32, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Indiana @ Iowa (BTN, 4:30pm)- TBD
Virginia Commonwealth @ Delaware (CN8, 4:30pm)- TBD
Vanderbilt @ Massachusetts (CBS College Sports, 5pm)- TBD
Washington @ Washington State (FS Regional, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Northwest, Rocky Mountain, FCS Pacific)
Tulane @ Auburn (CSS, 6pm)- TBD
Denver @ Louisiana-Lafayette (Sun Belt TV, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on CST, ESPN Full Court)
Michigan State @ Northwestern (BTN, 7pm)- TBD
Rutgers @ Connecticut (Big East Network, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on SNY, WCTX, ESPN Full Court)
DePaul @ Providence (Big East Network, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on MSG+, ESPN Full Court)
UNC-Wilmington @ George Mason (ESPN+, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on MASN, ESPN Full Court)
Eastern Illinois @ Jacksonville State (ESPNU, 8pm)- TBD
Wake Forest @ Brigham Young (MTN, 8pm)- TBD
Creighton @ Illinois State (Valley, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Midwest, CSN Chicago)
Lamar @ Memphis (CSS, 8pm)- TBD
SIU-Edwardsville @ Iowa State (Mediacom-Iowa, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Arkansas-Little Rock @ Western Kentucky (WKYU, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Atlantic)
Butler @ Valparaiso (WYIN, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
New Mexico State @ Fresno State (Aggie Vision, 10pm)- TBD (Will Air on Altitude, FS Arizona, ESPN Full Court)
New Mexico @ Nevada-Las Vegas (MTN, 10:30pm)- TBD
Boise State @ Hawaii (KVFE, 11:59pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)

A lot of TBDs this Saturday thanks to the holiday, feel free to fill us in on what you might be watching and who's calling 'em. Marquee of the early shift: Dan and Dick calling the Big East match-up between Pitt and G-Town.

Pittsburgh @ Georgetown (ESPN, Noon)- Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale
UNC-Greensboro @ Princeton (ESPNU, Noon)- TBD
Ohio State @ Minnesota (BTN, Noon)- TBD
Missouri @ Georgia (Mizzou Sports, 1pm)- TBD (Will Air on SEC TV, FS Florida, Midwest, South, ESPN Full Court)
North Carolina Central @ Miami (SUN, 1pm)- TBD
Coppin State @ Oklahoma (Sooner Sports, 1:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Tennessee @ Kansas (ESPN, 2pm)- Dave O'Brien, Jay Bilas
Notre Dame @ St. John's (ESPNU, 2pm)- Clay Matvick, Dickey Simpkins
Penn State @ Wisconsin (BTN, 2pm)- TBD
Xavier @ Virginia (FS Ohio, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Mid-Atlantic)
Drexel @ Hofstra (MSG+, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Atlantic)
Idaho State @ Kansas State (FS Kansas City, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Georgia Tech @ Alabama (SEC TV, 3pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS South, SUN, NESN, ESPN Full Court)
North Texas v. Arkansas (RST, 3pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)

If you're not bowl attached, the stuff worth watching involves WVU and Huggy Bear taking on Thad and the Buckeyes, and that's pretty much it. Quiet Saturday here.

Miami @ St. John's (ESPNU, Noon)- Justin Kutcher, Doug Gottlieb
Washington State @ Louisiana State (ESPN2, 2pm)- Dave Barnett, Jimmy Dykes
Florida Atlantic @ Kentucky (SEC TV, 3pm)- Dave Baker, Kyle Macy (Will Air on FS South, SUN, ESPN Full Court)
Rider @ Drexel (CN8, 3pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSS)
West Virginia @ Ohio State (CBS, 4pm)- Verne Lundquist, Clark Kellogg
Alabama-Birmingham @ Louisville (ESPN2, 4pm)- John Saunders, Len Elmore
SIU-Edwardsville @ Missouri (Mizzou Sports, 4pm)- Dan McLoughan, John Sunvold (Will Air on FS Midwest, ESPN Full Court)
Michigan State v. Oakland (FSN, 5pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Arizona, Detroit, Florida, North, Northwest, South, West, CSN Chicago, New England, FCS Atlantic)
Northwestern State @ Arkansas (ESPN2, 6pm)- Sam Gore, Mark Adams
Iona @ South Florida (Bright House-Tampa, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Western Illinois @ Iowa (ESPNU, 8pm)- Lou Canellis, Mike Kelley

A sad note while watching the UConn-Gonzaga game: there is nothing quite so depressing as seeing KeyArena with the "Sonics" part on the sideline covered up with yellow tape.

Citadel @ South Carolina (SportSouth, 5pm)- TBD
Syracuse @ Memphis (ESPN, 6pm)- Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale
Weber State @ Utah (MTN, 6pm)- TBD
Tennessee Tech @ Vanderbilt (CSS, 6pm)- TBD
Coppin State @ Wisconsin (BTN, 6pm)- TBD
Nevada @ California (CSN Bay Area+, 6pm)- TBD
Central Florida v. Florida (FS Florida, 6:30pm)- TBD
Eastern Kentucky @ Cincinnati (FS Ohio, 6:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on SNY)
Colorado State @ Denver (FS Rocky Mountain, 6:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Central)
Stetson @ Missouri (Mizzou Sports, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Midwest)
American @ Maryland-Baltimore County (MASN, 7pm)- TBD
Rhode Island v. Oklahoma State (ESPN Classic, 7:30pm)- Ron Franklin, Fran Fraschilla
Detroit @ Illinois (BTN, 8pm)- TBD
Portland @ Oregon (OSN, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Northwest)
Arkansas State @ Arkansas-Little Rock (Sun Belt TV, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSS, CST)
Virginia Commonwealth v. Oklahoma (ESPN2, 10pm)- Ron Franklin, Fran Fraschilla
Eastern Washington @ Washington (FS Northwest, 10pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Pacific)
Mercer @ UCLA (FS West, 10:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Atlantic)

Highlights of the first five hours of college hoops today: Duke/Xavier, Temple/Kansas, and most definitely UConn/Gonzaga (I may even take a break from bowl games for that.)

Miami (OH) @ West Virginia (ESPNU, Noon)- Quint Kessenich, Bob Wenzel
Appalachian State v. Kentucky (SEC TV, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on FS South, SportSouth)
Iona @ Ohio State (BTN, Noon)- TBD
Mount St. Mary's @ Georgetown (Big East Network, 1pm)- TBD (Will Air on MASN, SNY)
Michigan State v. Texas (CBS, 2pm)- Carter Blackburn, Bill Raftery
Duke v. Xavier (CBS, 2pm)- Verne Lundquist, Clark Kellogg
Louisville v. Minnesota (FSN, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Arizona, Detroit, Houston, North, Northwest, Pittsburgh, Rocky Mountain, South, Southwest, CSN Bay Area, Chicago, Mid-Atlantic+, SUN, MSG+, FCS Central)
Virginia Tech v. Columbia (MSG, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Atlantic)
North Carolina v. Valparaiso (ESPNU, 2pm)- Clay Matvick, Dickey Simpkins
Wofford @ Georgia (CSS, 2pm)- TBD
Temple @ Kansas (ESPN2, 2:30pm)- Dave O'Brien, Jay Bilas
Arizona @ Nevada-Las Vegas (Versus, 3pm)- TBD
Belmont @ Tennessee (SportSouth, 3pm)- TBD
Davidson v. Purdue (CBS, 4pm)- Don Criqui, Jim Spanarkel
Connecticut v. Gonzaga (CBS, 4pm)- Gus Johnson, Greg Anthony
Iowa @ Drake (ESPNU, 4pm)- TBD
Providence @ Boston College (NESN, 4pm)- TBD
UC-Santa Barbara @ San Diego State (MTN, 4pm)- TBD
Michigan v. Oakland (FS Detroit, 4pm)- TBD
Auburn @ Virginia (FS South, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Mid-Atlantic, SUN)
Brigham Young v. Arizona State (FSN, 4:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Arizona, Detroit, Houston, Midwest (JIP), North, Northwest, Pittsburgh, Rocky Mountain, South, Southwest, CSN Bay Area, Chicago, Mid-Atlantic+, SUN, MSG+, FCS Central)
Marist @ St. John's (MSG, 4:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Atlantic)

For you late night hoops people, after a day where Dionte Christmas drops 35 on Tennessee, G'Town takes out Memphis in OT, UMass beat a lackluster looking Kansas team, and the peppermint blood flowed freely in Lexington:

Xavier @ Cincinnati (ESPN2, 8pm)- Dave O'Brien, Jay Bilas
UW-Green Bay @ Wisconsin (BTN, 8pm)- Mel Proctor, Shon Morris
Nebraska @ Oregon State (FSN Regional, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Northwest, Midwest, FCS Pacific)
Texas A&M @ Alabama (CSS, 8pm)- TBD
San Diego @ Oregon (OSN, 8pm)- TBD
Portland @ Brigham Young (MTN, 10pm)- TBD
Montana State v. Washington State (FS Northwest, 10pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Pacific)

Two marquee programs on hard times are the focus on the 2nd CBS game of the day, with Tom Crean leading a decimated Indiana team and Billy Gillispie still having some struggles in his second year in Lexington. We get the CBS debut of Greg Anthony on color commentary (I've not heard him do color for a game before; at least not that I can remember), as he's teamed up with everyone's favorite Uncle Verne.

Indiana @ Kentucky (CBS, 4pm)- Verne Lundquist, Greg Anthony
Utah @ Oklahoma (ESPN2, 4pm)- Terry Gannon, Stephen Bardo
Mississippi @ New Mexico (Versus, 4pm)- TBD
Florida State @ Georgia State (CSN Regional, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Mid-Atlantic, CSS)
San Diego State v. St. Mary's (HDNet, 4:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on KCAL, CSN California)
Prairie View A&M @ Baylor (FS Southwest, 5pm)- TBD
Oral Roberts @ North Carolina (ESPN2, 6pm)- Mike Patrick, Len Elmore
Alcorn State @ Michigan State (BTN, 6pm)- Mark Neely, Trent Tucker
DePaul v. UCLA (HDNet, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on KCAL)
Murray State @ Missouri (Mizzou Sports, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Midwest)
UMBC @ Pittsburgh (Big East Network, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Pittsburgh, MASN)

It's kind of weird having a weekend without the Pammies for me. So, we'll do open threads for the hoops games, and maybe a live-blog of the Xavier-Cincinnati game if I feel up to it/if there's enough interest. Anyway, the early shift starts with some interesting non-con matchups, Memphis-G'Town and Tennessee-Temple among the bigger names. Here's this week's schedule, and the games running until 4 PM EST.

We'll see if Nessler is as goofy with Raf as he is with Griese and Maguire.

Tennessee @ Temple (ESPN, Noon)- Brad Nessler, Bill Raftery
Long Beach State @ Syracuse (ESPNU, Noon)- Dave Ryan, Jay Williams
St. Francis (NY) @ Hofstra (MSG+, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Atlantic)
Butler @ Ohio State (BTN, Noon)- Tom Hamilton, Jim Jackson
Texas State @ Texas (FS Southwest, 1pm)- TBD
Austin Peay @ Louisville (Big East Network, 1pm)- TBD (Will Air on SNY, MASN, WHAS)
Memphis @ Georgetown (CBS, 2pm)- Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg
Massachusetts @ Kansas (ESPN, 2pm)- Ron Franklin, Fran Fraschilla
Virginia Commonwealth @ Richmond (ESPNU, 2pm)- TBD
Indiana State @ Purdue (BTN, 2pm)- Tom Werme, Bob Ford
IPFW @ Marquette (Big East Network, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on TWC Sports 32)

I don't know how many people saw this, but this clip just blew my mind. Here is Bobby Knight and his 21 Month Old Grandson at his press conference last night....

I have no comment (and this was after a win).

Texas Tech Coach Bobby Knight Swears at Media With Grandson on His Lap (Fanhouse)

This has to be the most random collection of individuals ever, but The B10 Network has decided on a studio team that will bring you games on Tuesdays, a double-header every Wednesday night and a good number of games on the weekends.


The team will consist of lead host Dave Revsine (no different than football), Tim Doyle (Northwestern alum), Jimmy Jackson (yes, that Jim Jackson), and none other than ex-Purdue Head Coach Gene Keady!

Umm, okay. Don't you wish that you were a marginal college athlete/coach just so you could have a job lined up no matter what? Not the Jimmy Jackson was marginal, but Tim Doyle? Come on....that's like giving Jesse Palmer a full-time job.....oh wait.....

Many of you mentioned that you'd love to check out the Midnight Madness whip around that the Big Ten Network was going to be doing, but were upset because you don't have the network. Well the BTN announced today that all of the feeds will be broadcast on the BTN Website.....for free.....

Tonight, Friday, October 12 at 9:30 PM ET, BigTenNetwork.com will provide a live video stream simulcast of the Big Ten Network's 90-minute program, "Big Ten Tonight: Basketball Tip-Off Edition," at no charge to viewers. Highlights from the program will also be archived on BigTenNetwork.com for fans to enjoy at a later date.

The special edition of "Big Ten Tonight" will feature live coverage from Illinois'' "Illini Madness," "Hoosier Hysteria" at Indiana, Michigan State's "Midnight Madness," "Tubby's Tipoff" at Minnesota and Wisconsin's "Night of the Grateful Red."

Say what you want about what's going on with the television deals....this is a cool thing. Check them out between innings tonight. The fun starts at 9:30pm.

Catch our Midnight Madness webcast (Big Ten Network Online)

(Source BTN Press Release)

The Big Ten Network is scheduled to broadcast a program they are dubbing "Big Ten Tonight: Basketball Tip-Off Edition" where they will jump from school to school to bring you Midnight Madness from 5 of the Conference's schools.

The Big Ten Network will be live on the campuses of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota and Wisconsin for their versions of Midnight Madness. The network show, BIG TEN TONIGHT: BASKETBALL TIP-OFF EDITION, airs at 9:30 PM ET Friday, Oct. 12.

The 90-minute program will feature live coverage from Illinois' "Illini Madness," "Hoosier Hysteria" at Indiana, Michigan State's "Midnight Madness," "Tubby's Tipoff" at Minnesota and Wisconsin's "Night of the Grateful Red."

Dave Revsine will anchor the show from Big Ten Network studios in Chicago. On-site reporters will provide live look-ins from Champaign, Bloomington, East Lansing, Minneapolis and Madison for team introductions, three-point and dunk contests, and the pep bands, and all the hype and hoopla that come with a new basketball season.

God that is such a great idea. I know ESPN has featured some in the past, but no one cares about one team enough for it to carry a whole program. They should just schedule every school's Midnight Madnesses on the same night and just switch back and forth through each.

Well ESPN wouldn't be able to pull that off because UNC and Duke would account for 90% of the programming, but you get the idea.

(Source: Big 10 Press Release via Extra P)

When I was nineteen years old, the biggest decision I was ever forced to make was whether or not I felt like making the five-minute walk to the HLC for my nine o’clock Health class. More often than not, the answer is no, but either way, “to class or not to class” was not a life-altering choice.

Greg Oden is a nineteen year old who will soon be making a much bigger decision: will he leave Ohio State after one season and move on to the fame and wealth dangled by the NBA, or will he state in college for another year or two and try to win a national championship for the Buckeyes?

If Oden’s father is to be believed, the choice has been made and Young Greg is on his way to Boston, Memphis, or whichever team is lucky enough to land the number one pick. According to his would-be agent, however, the best collegiate big man in a generation has yet to make the final decision.

What should Oden do? Got me. I thought it would be nice to help him sort everything out, though, so check out a few of the pros and cons of early NBA entry after the jump.


Mo’ Money: Under the Rookie Salary Scale detailed in the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, Oden stands to make close to $4 million in the first two years of his initial contract. For a kid who is currently playing for nothing more than a free education (as valuable as that is), that’s a tremendous carrot to dangle. Result: Pro

It’s Getting Hot In Here: It can’t be easy being the big man on campus, especially when your mere presence on the basketball team helps bring about a trip to the national championship game. Depending on where Oden goes in the draft, however, the pressure could be even more intense. Result: Con.

The Shaun Livingston Factor: It’s becoming a common, but completely legitimate, concern: suppose a young, five-star freshman prospect suffers a serious injury that drops his draft status and negatively impacts his future earning potential? This has to be considered a very real possibility for Oden, especially on the heels of last year’s wrist surgery that sidelined him for several months and might have hampered his play when he returned. Strike while the iron is hot, young man. Result: Pro.

Chicks, Man: I’m sure the groupies at the NBA level are top-notch practitioners of their trade, but I tend to view them as more of a professional-style groupie. Jumping to the NBA makes it that much more difficult to return to the amateur ranks. But then, would you want to go back? Really, this one is too close to call. Result: Push.

The Best Years Of Your Life: Are they saying that about college these days or is it more of a high school thing? Regardless, Oden should take the advice of someone who completed his last two years of college as a commuter: you can go back to school after jumping to the NBA and finish your degree, but I don’t know if you can ever regain the feeling of what it’s like to actually be a college student. The window of opportunity for unlimited partying and wanton debauchery won’t stay open forever – enjoy it while you can. Result: Con.

The Game: There’s gotta be at least one category that deals with on-court stuff, right? The bottom line is simple: Oden’s game isn’t NBA ready, and he knows it. He’s an intimidating defensive presence, and chances are that Bill Simmons is right and he hasn’t really cut loose for fear of re-injuring his wrist, and he might end up being the best NBA big man of his generation. But he’s not there yet. This isn’t the 1950s Celtics and Greg Oden is not Bill Russell; these days, even a great defensive player should have a good offensive game (yes, I know you got paid for your defensive talents, Mr. Wallace). Another year in school – his first truly healthy year – would help Oden work on that aspect of his game and provide a more complete player in the long run. Result: Con.

By my count, that’s three cons, two pros and one “doesn’t matter, he’ll be nailing hot chicks wherever he ends up”, so I guess from my perspective, Oden should come back for another year. But hey, that’s just the result of this highly unscientific method of deliberation. Hopefully Oden and his parents have a better way to figure it out, like flipping a coin or playing rock-paper-scissors.

Mike Conley Jr. has proven to be an excellent addition to the Ohio State basketball team this season, averaging 10.1 points and 6.4 assists per game (the latter mark tied for fifth in the nation) as a freshman. After struggling in the NCAA tournament opener against Central Connecticut State, he has averaged 18 points and 4.5 assists in the Buckeyes last four victories, propelling the team to tomorrow’s championship game showdown against Florida.

Conley is great, no doubt. But is he in the discussion for greatest freshman point guard ever?

Gene Wojciechowski seems to think so. In his column today on ESPN.com, presented as a multiple-choice test on stories involving the Final Four, Wojo talked about Conley’s virtually flawless performance last night against Georgetown before briefly touching on his chances of returning to Ohio State for his sophomore season. Wojo thinks Conley is headed to the NBA, and gives two reasons:

“ The guy might be the best freshman point guard, well, ever, and, oh, his dad recently opened up his own shop as a player agent.”

Based on Conley’s stats this season and his performance in the tournament to date, that comment isn’t as outlandish as it first seemed. But it’s not a simple discussion. I admittedly don’t watch much college basketball, but a very little research turned up several freshman guards who put up excellent stats and were as important to their teams as Conley is to the Buckeyes.

Check out a few of the possibilities after the jump.



Magic Johnson, Michigan State (1977-78) – Johnson averaged 17.0 points and 7.4 assists per game as a freshman for the Spartans, leading the school to the Midwest Regional final of the NCAA tournament, where it lost to eventual national champion Kentucky, 52-49.

Isiah Thomas, Indiana University (1979-80) – Thomas averaged 14.6 points and 5.5 assists per game in his first season with Bob Knight’s Hoosiers. The team lost to in-state rival Purdue in the Sweet Sixteen, 76-69.

Bobby Hurley, Duke University (1989-90) – The NCAA’s record holder for career assists, Hurley averaged 8.8 points and 7.6 assists per game for the Blue Devils as a freshman. Duke advanced to the national championship game against UNLV, losing 103-73.

Jalen Rose, University of Michigan (1991-92) – A member of the most celebrated freshman class in college basketball history, Rose averaged 17.6 points and 4.0 assists per game as a freshman. The Wolverines lost to Duke in the finals, 71-51.

If anyone else follows college basketball more closely and has any more possibilities (or wants to refute any of these), feel free to leave them in the comments below.

(All individual statistics are from Basketball-Reference.com

If OMDQ is going to open up the confessional regarding his appreciation for Bill Simmmons, I can let my dirty little secret out, too.

I tune out sportscasters. During the Liveblogapocalypse, I had to remind myself to even note who was broadcasting the game. When AA left the door open for Channel Four team members to contribute more to the site, I knew I couldn't cover announcing any better than it is already being done by our fearless leader.

So I'll be looking at sports writing, which has, these days, become sort of the minor leagues for TV punditry anyway. I'll mercilessly root out cliches, expose hackery at every level, and even hand out kudos for good, original insight.

This week, I'll be focusing on the hometown columnists of the Final Four teams. For papers that need a login to read, I've provided a generic login that we can all use:

login ID: awfulwrite@gmail.com password: freeharold

I'll get started after the jump.

We'll start our tour with a West Coast Bias (someone has to have one, right?) The L.A. Times is covering the UCLA Bruins, and the most common angle they're taking is "Bruins want Revenge on Gators". Hey, guys, you have to play another game after that one to win the championship:

Ben Howland says "Stop! Collaborate and Listen..." Best line: ""Sometimes you block out his voice and go on instinct," sophomore Josh Shipp said." Hope you enjoy wind sprints, Josh.

Gin N' Goat Cheese - Arron Afflalo grew up on a farm... in Compton. Best line: "We'd be doing squats up and down the road and horses would chase us."

The Final Four is waaay better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Required reading for the Times staff: The Little Engine That Could.
History Suggests UCLA Loss
Bruins Could Be Gator Meat

Cali lives up to its reputation as a progressive state. Most of the Bruins' Final Four coverage comes from Diane Pucin and Helene Elliott.

Collecting the links is taking a while, so rather than make you wait for a long post about all four teams, I'm going to publish this one now, and put out three more posts the rest of the day to cover the rest of the teams.

From The DesMoines Register....Via The Big Lead's Roundup.... comes an interesting story about Doug Gottlieb and Iowa coach Steve Alford.

Apparently Gottlieb has a source that says Alford is going to be replaced in the offseason. While Iowa officials are denying the story....Gottlieb is sticking to his guns.

Gottlieb, meanwhile, discussed the matter during a teleconference this morning.

“All I can tell you is, I wasn’t making an editorial comment,” Gottlieb said. “I was reporting based upon a source that I had.”

Gottlieb added: “Just so you know, it was edited a little bit stronger than the note I sent in to ESPN The Magazine, that Steve Alford may be in trouble.”

I'm beginning to see why Dickie V might not get into the Hall. His "ass-kissing" of coaches really does take away from his reporting. Great job by Gottlieb (whom I've always enjoyed) to stand by his story. It's like knowing your Best Friend is cheating on his girlfriend, and you don't know whether to tell her or not. I know coaches make a ton of money, but ADs and GMs do some shady things behind their backs at times. Alford should be thanking Doug.....well, he should be packing his bags first because he's had 8 years to help Iowa and hasn't done jack.

I don't know why Altman would leave Creighton for a bad Iowa team, but I guess if the money is right you never know. Also....didn't Creighton beat Iowa in the tournament a few years back? Interesting.......