Holiday Favorites

Besides spending time with family and friends, here are some other reasons why I look forward to the holiday season:

Favorite Christmas carols:

• Sleigh Ride, as I mentioned yesterday
• Mariah Carey, "All I Want For Christmas Is You". I play this song all year round, it puts me in a good mood. I played it before an 8th grade basketball game, where we were 0-3 going into the game. We won and I scored 23 points, so it also works as a good luck charm.
• Beach Boys, "Lil Saint Nick".
• Mitch Miller, "Must Be Santa".
• Muppets, "Christmas Is Coming" and "It's In Every One of Us". The latter is actually called by something else but I can't remember at this time.

Favorite Christmas specials:

• Muppet Christmas Special, not to be confused with the Muppet Christmas Carol. In the Muppet Christmas Special, they all go to Fozzie's Mom's house where later on Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock join them.
• California Raisin Claymation Special. If anyone happens to know where to find this on DVD, let me know!!!!!!
• Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Yes, the one that was made in the 1950s with the Abominable and the Island of Misfit Toys. "Nobody wants a Charlie in the Box!!!!!!"
• Garfield's Christmas. "And once again, Binky the Clown saves Christmas!!!!"

Favorite Christmas movies:

• National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
• A Christmas Story. Yes, I watch it all day long Christmas Day
• It's a Wonderful Life
• Miracle on 34th Street, older version. I think if I grew up at the time this movie were made, I'd have a big crush on Natalie Wood.
• Love Actually. Not really a Christmas movie per se, but since it ends on Christmas Eve, I'll include it.
• Ernest Saves Christmas. Not joking. This is the best Ernest movie of them all. "O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree."
• Christmas in Connecticut. Another golden oldie.

Other great Holiday Things:

• Going to church on Christmas Eve
• Christmas Cookies, and let me tell you our house is the king of Christmas cookies.
• Christmas Ham
• Still getting up at 7am to open up presents.

I'm sure I've left some things off, I'm sure I remember them as the holiday season progresses. My laptop is getting devirused, so hopefully it'll be back to full strength when I get it back later today/early tomorrow. The sudden 70 degree weather has triggered my sinuses, so today I have a stuffy nose, which is just great. Hopefully it's gone before my trip to Motown early next week.

Ohio University football coach Frank Solich pleaded no contest to DUI charges. Solich was discovered asleep behind the wheel of his car, which was parked illegally. He refused a breathilizer and was arrested around 10pm last Saturday. Man Frank, out by 10pm, even the college kids have trouble doing that. Not bad for a 61 year old. I guess we should now refer to Coach Solich as "Frank The Tank, and you know it!!!!!!" Again, that is why OU deserves to be made fun of.

Pride and Prejudice.....and Keira Knightley

You couldn't pay me enough to read or watch something Jane Austen wrote. I dreaded the days when my mom watched "Pride and Prejudice", all 5 hours of it. But, my feelings changed when I saw that Keira Knightley would star in the latest version of the Jane Austen novel. I thought to myself, at some point, I might actually watch this. Little did I know I would see it so soon. Mom wanted to go see it, Brother and I wanted to see Keira Knightley, and Dad had no choice. And there I was, caught up in the story, not just Keira Knightley. I defintiely recommend you seeing it, it is worth your time. Donald Sutherland did a good job of playing Mr. Bennett. I didn't think Sutherland was capable of being funny in anything, but he made me chuckle a couple of times.

And of course, Keira Knightley was sensational and sexy. I can't help but smiling when she does, the way she puts her teeth together is unlike anyone else when they smile, it makes you pay attention to her. In addition, the way she speaks with an attitude, which comes across as flirtatious sometimes is very sexy. So thank you Keira for capping my wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

Saturday night, our basketball team, along with the freshmen and varsity, faced Greenville, with each team scrimmaging for a half. It's safe to say when the lights come on, our boys play. Earlier in the day, we scrimmaged Wapakoneta and Hilliard Darby and played them evenly, both being good teams. We played decently, not bad but not great either. But Saturday night showed what we are capable of. In a half mind you, which is 14 minutes, we outscored the Green Wave 42-12. 42 points in 14 minutes!!!! Greenville's an ok team, but they're not terrible. The parents afterwards treated us like we were Red Auerbach. Even as coaches, we looked at each other afterwards and collectively said, "Wow." The season opens for us Saturday at home vs. Meadowdale.

And how about Da Bears?!?!?! 7 in a row after squeaking out a 13-10 win at Tampa Bay. This team is playing the NFL version of Tressel-ball. Play good defense, stay sound in the kicking game, and get lucky at the end. And yes, this defense might be better than the 85 Bears. The front 7 are just as good, if not better. The secondary makes more plays than the 85 Bears from my recollection.

A week from today, I'll be interviewing in Detroit, so this week I'll be getting ready for that. I may be making an appearance at the Michigan/Miami hockey game in Oxford Friday night. Both teams are ranked in the top 10, Michigan was #1 before losing twice this past weekend.

And if you haven't noticed, the Holiday season has begun, but for some it began a couple of weeks ago. There's a radio station in Cincinnati that started their Christmas music marathon about 3 weeks ago. Yikes. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas music, but starting in early November???? No thanks. I don't need to hear every version of The Christmas Song because some need to be forgotten.

I will say I heard one of my favorites this weekend, Sleigh Ride, the orchestra version. It was my favorite to play in high school band. You low brass, low woodwinds players know the part I'm talking about, the part that sounds like "Let's Go Band". When we got to that part, I would play as loud as humanly possible.

Talk to y'all later.

No More Nick and Jessica, how sad

After a year of gossip, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson have officially decided to separate after 3 years of marriage. Maybe she actually has a few brain cells, finally realizing that she brings home the bread in the relationship and that he is just there for the ride. Jessica still sells out the big arenas, Nick shows up to watch whatever sports team he decides to root for, which became his favorite that same week. Hopefully, Nick goes away as he did after his 2 failures on College Gameday this season.

Also, Tom Cruise bought Katie Holmes a sonogram so they could monitor the growth of their newborn baby. I bet ya that's just what she always wanted.

And is it just me, or does the Macy's Parade get weaker every year??? The only things I look forward to are the balloons, the high school bands, and Santa Claus. The musical acts are a joke. First, they're people who I've never heard of or are irrelevant. Second, they lipsync all of the music, and they do a poor job of that at best (see Brian McKnight's "performance" this morning). And third, the drill teams/cheerleaders/dance teams just have to go. They are the reason cheerleaders/drill teams/dance teams: they have no ability. There are a few exceptions, but the majority don't have any athletic ability whatsoever and shouldn't be out there.

Alright, the college hoops season is almost two weeks old, here are some thoughts from what I've seen:
-I'll start at the top with Duke. They don't look like the #1 team right now, the young guys are still growing into their roles. I like Paulus and McRoberts a lot, but they need to be more assertive. Shelden Williams needs to stay out of foul trouble, and where's the improved play of Sean Dockery the Dukies all raved about???? I think Memphis will beat them tomorrow night.

-Memphis is young, but they're quick and they're playing together. Darius Washington has used the missed free throws and being cut from the Junior World team to only get better. Shawne Williams may be the Freshman of the Year. Rodney Carney can flat out play.

-Gonzaga had a great week in Maui and Adam Morrison is on his way to National Player of the Year, but until they can guard people, they'll be out in the 2nd round in March again. You've got to be able to stop people when you need one, and they can't get a stop.

-Michigan St. fans don't worry yet. Let the young guys play more, Matt Trannon will be coming over from the football team, and by January, Sparty will be ready to roll. Same goes for Maryland, but they need better point guard play. And Nick Caner-Medley needs to step it up.

-Texas is going to be tough. They beat West Virginia and Iowa, both in come from behind efforts. PJ Tucker has added the dribble drive to his game, making him even more dangerous offensively.

-UConn could be scary good when they get Marcus Williams back in January. They beat an improved Arkansas team, a talented Arizona team, and a gritty Gonzaga in 3 straight days with a freshman point guard. Rudy Gay needs to use his size and quickness to his advantage. We know you have NBA range Rudy, but use your skills in the post where you can dominate smaller guards.

-And Bucknell is for real. They beat Syracuse at Syracuse this week. When's the last time Syracuse lost at home in November/December??? It's been awhile.

Look out for the Big 10 next week in the ACC/Big 10 challenge. The Big 10 might actually win it this time.

Yesterday, I had a phone interview with a Federal Reserve branch and they immediately granted me an in-person interview that will take place in Detroit in a couple of weeks. So look out Motown, I'm coming to 8 Mile, ready to pounce!!!!

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

Number of turkey sandwiches eaten: 5, but they were on hamburger buns, so that's probably the equivalent of 3 regular sandwiches.

Happy Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is the big day, so here's what I'm thankful for:
-All of the support from my family and friends, especially everyone who supported and took care of me the past couple of days on my trip to Lafayette and Chicago. I know the ideal payback would be to get a high score on the test, and I did the best I could, so hopefully I'm able to pay you back with a good performance. You guys have continued to push me to keep going in this job search, and now I have two great opportunities to get it done, hopefully I can.

-The start of college hoops season. You all know my love for basketball, it runs deep. I'm also thankful for the opportunity to coach at Northmont, hopefully I can serve as a teacher and an example for the team.

-Everything I've been blessed with, which I give thanks for every day. Don't waste any skill or talent you may have because there's a reason you have it.

And there are more things, which will probably come up as the Holiday season continues. Those are the biggies.

Ok, so Sunday I headed up to Lafayette to spend the night with family, and I had a great time. My aunt and uncle have four great kids, one of which an infant who is the fastest eater I've ever seen. My aunt made steak fajitas for dinner, mmmm good. I stuck around for a little bit on Monday to see my uncle at work, then I was off to Chicago.

I stayed at the Union League Club in the heart of downtown, thanks to one of my uncle's friends who went above and beyond anything he had to do. And I will remember the favor, thank you sir. Staying at the Club was great because it was right across the street from where I took my test the next morning. Plus, it had all the amenities: valet parking, room service, dress code, exercise rooms on the top, it was very comfy. I took the afternoon and went to Sears Tower to get a view of the city, then walked around downtown, going to my first ESPNZone, then to a local restaurant and eating the local favorite baby back ribs for dinner.

When it came test time the next morning, I was ready to grind it out. I did everything I could to get ready, going through the study guide and similar GRE questions, so there isn't anything I would change about my prep work. Hopefully I was able to come through with a high score. I was satisfied enough to sing happily along with the radio on the drive home. Luckily the weather was good, and I made it back to Dayton in 4.5 hours (with the bad Chicago traffic and 2 stops), yes I drove within the rules.

The one negative about being out-of-town was not seeing the beatdown Miami handed Dayton in basketball. UD ducked the Redhawks last year and paid for it this year, losing 58-42, and I guess it wasn't even that close. It was 56-28 with about 5 minutes left when Miami began to clear their bench. It almost made up for the 60-23 loss to the Flyers a few years ago. It was nice to see the UD coach confused and flustered after the game. Add to that Miami football beating OU, and it was great to be a Miami Redhawk. Redhawk football is 7-4, and on the bubble of going to a bowl game. I know it's hard to believe, but it may happen.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all, I'll try and have some of my early thoughts on college hoops in the next couple of days.

My Return

8 days is an eternity between posts for me, but there have been good reasons why I haven't been able to post. I'll get into those in a minute. For you SEC basketball fans, I apologize, there won't be a preview. Let me just say if Kentucky doesn't win, I'll be shocked. Alabama will be a team to contend with also, they have great size, but will need someone besides Ron Steele to score from the outside. My sleeper is Georgia. Dennis Felton has the program coming back onto its feet and has some talented players, they may contend for an NIT berth. The season has started and just like last year, I'll break down the big games for you.

Speaking of which, Miami opens their regular season at Alabama tonight in the 1st round of the Preseason NIT. Miami doesn't have the size, but they have the ability to make shots, something Alabama doesn't have, so it will be an interesting matchup. The winner will play the winner of Wisconsin-Milwaukee/Memphis. If Miami gets hot from the 3 point line and stays close on the boards, there might be an upset.

Also tonight, Miami football hosts Bowling Green in a game that will most likely decide the MAC East. Omar Jacobs will play tonight, so BG's offense will have everyone ready to go. The weather is nasty here, rainy and windy, so it might slow down the offenses a little bit. Turnovers will be a big key tonight, especially for Miami. Look for BG to put 7-8 in the box and stop the run, putting the game on Josh Betts's shoulders. If Josh can make good decisions, he should have a big night. BG's defense relies on confusing the opposing offense with multiple looks. When they can't provoke confusion, they get beat. Miami will need great play from their front 4 tonight. If 4 guys can get pressure on Jacobs, Miami can drop 7 into coverage, giving Jacobs little to work with. Despite the weather, hopefully the students turn out to give Miami a home field advantage something like 2 years ago....

I apologize if I've talked about this game before, but this week has brought up memories from 2 years ago. BG was ranked 19th nationally and were coming off a win over Northern Illinois, which was witnessed on ESPN and by the College Gameday crew. Miami was ranked 25th and hadn't lost since Iowa, so it was their chance to become the MAC Daddy. It was the first week of November, yet gametime temperature (Tuesday night) was 70 degrees. I wore a t-shirt and shorts, it was that warm. The ladies were in their small tanktops, it was great. 90 minutes before the game started, the student section was full, already harrassing BG quarterback Josh Harris & Co. It was ESPN's first appearance at Miami, and the crowd was ready, all 28,000+ of them, there wasn't a seat to be found.

On the video board, it showed Miami in the tunnel ready to come out. When this image came on, the crowd began a thunderous crescendo, getting louder and louder until it hit its peak when they appeared on the field. The first half was ugly, Miami only led 10-7 as both teams turned the ball over multiple times, the game had no flow. That changed in the 2nd half when Ben Roethlisberger faked to Cal Murray, then faked the end around to Ryne Robinson. Ben found Martin Nance at the 3 yard line on a play that sent Yager into a frenzy (the loudest I ever heard Yager). That led to a touchdown, and the rout was on. BG continued to turn the ball over, and "Har-ris, Har-ris!!!" reigned from the crowd. Miami won 33-10 and they were on their way to the MAC Championship. Ahh the memories.

Ok, now for why I haven't posted in awhile:
-While I continue to search for a job, I'm the assistant coach for Northmont's junior varsity basketball team. I'm coaching with the two gentlemen who coached me at the freshman and JV level, so it's a perfect match. Practice started last week, and we have the potential to be very good. I'm excited because we're going to full court press most likely. We're big, quick, and athletic. We have guys who love playing defense on the perimeter, which is a rarity. We're a little weak shooting and rebounding, but that's been getting better. I think the guys respect me. It brings a smile to my face when they do something and see success after I've told them they should do that. I try and contribute most on defense and rebounding since those were my strong suits. It's been a lot of fun, and I look forward to every day of practice. Coaching is definitely in my future.

It's interesting being back at Northmont. I've run into some old friends and teachers, which has been nice. It's weird coaching on the same floor that I played on. Not many get to do that, so I consider it a privilege.

-Speaking of the job search, I've had a handful of phone interviews in the last couple of weeks, which has been really encouraging. In addition, I've been invited up to Chicago to take the Bureau of Economic Analysis's placement test for a job. So I'll be in the city that begins with a C, ends with an O, and has a HICAG in the middle early part of next week. Of course, test means studying, and I'll begin that later today.

When buying my dad's birthday present yesterday, I found Season 1 of the Muppet Show on DVD. I also found the original Bad News Bears at a very cheap price. Things continue to get better!!!!

I think that's it. I played my last 18 holes of the season yesterday and carded a 77. Root on the Redhawks tonight!!!!!!

Big 11 Preview

The Big 10 took a lot of shots for being weak last year. But, they had 3 of the Elite 8 and 2 of the Final 4, the best performance of any conference. This year, they have 8 teams that could be playing in March, no joke. The conference is strong.

1. Michigan St. Yup, Sparty is ready for another Final 4 trip. Losing Alan Anderson, Chris Hill, and Cedric Tolbert will hurt, but with this team, I think it'll end up being addition by subtraction. Michigan St. has been so deep the past few years, yet have had problems. Those have mainly stemmed from having so much talent, Tom Izzo gave everyone playing time, which didn't allow Izzo to find combinations that worked because he was playing so many people. Now, with a set rotation of 7-8 guys, all with defined roles, I think Sparty will click. It all starts with Drew Neitzel at the point, who played very well as a freshman last year. Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager are dynamic wing players. They can shoot, rebound, defend, and fly on the fast break. Paul Davis had a monster NCAA Tourney down low. If he can play like that for a whole season, look out. Usually a strength, a weakness of this team could be rebounding, mainly at the power forward position. Will it be Drew Naymick or football player Matt Trannon. If Sparty can find someone to defend, rebound, and score garbage points at this position, they'll be just fine. The young guys are fast and athletic also. Look out for Marquise Gray, he could be Freshman of the Year. I've been critical often about MSU because they've had a lot of talent, but wasted it, until last year's NCAA's. I'm looking forward to watching them play this year because I think they'll have a big year.

2. Iowa. Everyone returns from a team that won 21 games last year, except for Pierre Pierce, who's in legal trouble. This is your typical Steve Alford team: gritty, gutty, not pretty, but they compete. They have bombers outside in Jeff Horner and Adam Haluska. Haluska is your classic jump-shooter, Horner is the guy who makes it all go, shoot, drive, dribble, defense. Mike Henderson gives them defense outside, Greg Brunner is the blue-collar guy inside. Iowa has fallen into a habit of starting strong, faltering in the middle, then doing just enough in the end to make the NCAAs. With all of the distractions gone from last year, they have enough experience starting and coming off the bench to have a big year.

3. Indiana. As you've probably heard me say a lot, it's now or never for Mike Davis. This is the team that has to get it done and I think it will. Marshall Strickland provides experience at the point. Good defender, good slasher, and good foul shooter. Not a great 3 point shooter, but it's his job to find the shooters IU does have. Robert Vaden, Roderick Wilmont, and AJ Ratliff are the long-range bombers. The thing to see will be if they now have the ability to create their own shot. DJ White should have a big year, especially now with Marcus Killingsworth and Lewis Monroe, the Auburn transfers now eligible to play who have been hyped for more than a year. This team will play good defense, but their offensive output will determine how far will they go. Will Monroe and Killingsworth live up to the hype, and can the team, still relatively young, be able to produce knowing this is the big year for their coach???

4. Illinois. You know Dee Brown and James Augustine will get theirs and Brown will be a force at both ends. But who will step up and also be a playmaker??? Warren Carter was only put in to give Roger Powell a rest, Rich McBride was strictly a spot-up perimeter shooter, and Brian Randle was out all last year with a injury. They will play good defense also, but where will the point production come from??? This will be Bruce Weber's toughest coaching job in awhile.

5. Ohio St. I was never a fan of ballhog Tony Stockman and no game Brandon Fuss-Cheatham. They're gone and the Bucks can only be better. Stockman not shooting the ball every 5 seconds and Fuss-Cheatham's lack of production cost them in key moments. This year, Terrence Dials will get more touches inside, JJ Sullinger will be able to score more, and Ivan Harris could have a breakout year. Point guard Jamar Butler has size and looks to get people involved. Matt Sylvester provides points off the bench. The glaring weakness is inside play. Outside of Dials, the Buckeyes lack another proven brute. Sylvester and Harris like to hang around the perimeter. If no one steps up and Dials gets in foul trouble, that will cost OSU games. But, this team beat Illinois and won 20 games last year, and Thad Matta is a really good coach. They'll be ready to play every night.

6. Wisconsin. The Badgers don't have much coming back from last year, but Bo Ryan will find a way to win 20 games. Alando Tucker is back, he needs to stay healthy for the entire year. Kammron Taylor has a lot of ability, can he include more discipline in his game. Who will fill the shoes of Mike Wilkinson, the heart and soul of this team last year. McDonalds high school all-american Brian Butch is the logical choice, but he hasn't even come close to living up to the hype. And, I haven't even seen glimpses of it yet. Every good Wisconsin team has had a post player you could count on. Right now, this team doesn't have one, which will make it hard for Tucker and Taylor to be as productive as they can be.

7. Michigan. Last year was supposed to be the year for the Maize and Blue, but injuries and legal problems turned it into a nightmare. Everyone is back again this year, but does this team have the maturity to be successful??? They have the talent, in fact, they may be the most talented team in the league, including Michigan St. Daniel Horton and Dion Harris are fantastic point guards, Lester Abram is the prototypical swing player, Brent Petway is the athlete who can do it all, and Courtney Sims and Chris Hunter provide the beef down low. And I still didn't mention Sherrod Harrell, Ron Coleman, and Graham Brown, who started last year. Michigan needs to cut down on turnovers, they have a tendency to play out of control. If they do that, improve shot selection, and avoid off the court problems, look out.

8. Minnesota. 8th place for a team that made the NCAAs last year. The Gophers were one of the surprise teams of the year thanks to Vincent Grier. One of the best slashers out there, Grier wills his way to the basket. With Dan Coleman coming back and UNC transfer Adam Boone ready to go, the Gophers are capable of making it back to postseason play. The Gophers need to find someone up front and another shooter to make that happen. They'll win their fair share of games, especially at home. Williams Arena and the raised floor still gives teams fits.

9. Purdue. How will the Boilers respond from the disaster that was Gene Keady's last year??? Carl Landry is their scorer, his midrange game is second to none. His game is 18 feet in, and he sticks to it. David Teague will be healthy at the start of the year, unlike last year. He can score from the outside, look for him to shoot the 3 better than he did last year. Like Minnesota, Purdue lacks a big man who can score. Matt Kiefer is back, but he's mainly a face up jump shooter. Matt Painter begins just his 2nd year as a head coach. He had one great year at Southern Illinois, but with Bruce Weber's players. The word is still out as to whether he can be a good coach at the highest level.

10. Northwestern. The Princeton offense lives in Evanston. Michael Thompson, transfer from Duke, showed flashes last year. Vedran Vukusic is your typical European player, great shooter, no defense. The x-factor could be Bernard Cote, ready to play after transferring from Kentucky. He didn't show much at UK. Now given a chance, will he take advantage of it???

11. Penn St. The Nittany Lions are still hoping there's another Crispin brother out there. They've got some players back, Travis Parker is a solid swingman, and Geary Claxton gives them athleticism in the backcourt. But there still isn't a lot of talent on this team. They'll start two Euros up front, but they're known for their shooting, not for rebounding and physical defense which is a Big 10 must.

SEC is next.

Biggest Winners

Before I get to the West Coast, here are a couple of other things. In last night's Amazing Race, the race went to Costa Rica where the teams had to find one red coffee bean among thousands of brown beans among other things. I'm really getting tired of the Weavers saying "pray" or "dear God help us" every 5 minutes. There's a time for prayer, and personally, I don't think during a reality TV competition is the place for it. They're upset that the other teams don't like them. Well, when you say derogatory things within earshot and act disrespectful, guess what. No one's going to like you. Unfortunately, the Weavers stayed ahead of the Gaghins, who were eliminated.

There was an article in the paper about The Biggest Loser the other day. It basically talked about how the show seems to make light of the contestants' weight problems, from the writer's point of view. Basically the article criticized the show, that it's just another example of the media going too far with its view of what everyone should look like, thin. I couldn't disagree more. I've watched the show this season, and the contestants should be commended for admitting something's wrong with their life, admitting they've lost control and self-esteem, and wanting it back. Sure, the money has to be alluring, but all of the contestants from last and this season, except 1 that I've seen, have kept the weight off and lost more. The guy eliminated stared at 370 pounds, he's now down to 228. The media needs to stop automatically equating thinness with trying to keep up with the times and trendy. Looking fit and thin can also equate to high self-esteem and high personal discipline.

Ok, hoops West Coast style, how it's played in Long Beach and the city of Compton. Last year, the Pac 10 was Arizona, Washington, and everyone else. This year, it's pretty wide open. There isn't the outstanding individual talent from last year, but there are good teams aplenty.

1. Arizona. The Wildcats return 5 players who have started at one point or another. Hassan Adams has improved every year while in Tucson, that should only continue. His perimeter game has come a long way, he is a much better player than Andre Igoudala (now with the Sixers). Mustafa Shakur needs to increase his scoring, but with Salim Stoudamire gone, that shouldn't be a problem. Chris Rodgers is an underrated swing player, he can score, rebound, and defend. Ivan Radenovic is a high-post threat, and Isaiah Fox has the bulk to finish down low. The Cats have some experience and talented youth coming off the bench to make them a Final 4 threat.

2. Stanford. When Chris Hernandez came back for his senior year, this team went from mediocre to really good, that's how important he is. Tim Morris, now eligible, provides additional firepower in the backcourt. If Dan Grunfield is 100% healthy, he could be a finalist for National Player of the Year. The weakness lies down low. Someone needs to step up to alleviate the pressure on Matt Haryasz, who undoubtedly will see more double teams. Jason Haas will be one of the best 6th men in the nation this year. Stanford are one of my favorite teams to watch because they play hard and maximize their ability.

3. UCLA. 4 returning starters along with a healthy Cedric Bozeman give the Bruins a chance to have a big year. But, they have to actually do it, all of the potential in the world means nothing. Bozeman should fill the shoes of Dijon Thompson and become the leading scorer and defender. Bozeman is smooth offensively, he can make it look easy, but he also at times has shown disinterest. Michael Fey has gotten better every year inside, but he can still do so much more. Jordan Farmar is the glue guy at the point. He won't shy away from the big shot and can D you up. Coach Ben Howland has the team in his mold now, the Bruins can play defense. If they can find a rhythm offensively, they can win this conference.

4. Oregon. The Ducks have a lot of talent, but still may be a year away. Aaron Brooks is probably the best player you've never heard of, and Malik Hairston's 13 points and 51% shooting in his freshman year were "disappointing". That's how talented the Ducks' guards are. They can run, defend, and they have one of the toughest home courts in the nation at The Pit in Eugene. The question mark is post play. If Mitch Platt can give them 8-10 points a night, that will be enough to let the outside players do their thing.

5. California. The Bears' season will depend on how much Leon Powe can give them. If he has fully recovered from his injuries, he can be conference player of the year. If he can give them anything, the Bears will be a postseason team. Cal returns of their top 11 scorers from a team that underachieved this year. I think the Bears will be back in a big way. Rod Benson gives them scoring inside and Richard Midgley, when under control, is a good guard.

6. Washington. Many people expect a big dropoff with the losses of Nate Robinson, Will Conroy, and Tre Simmons. There will be a dropoff, but not a big one. Brandon Roy and Bobby Jones give the Huskies the best forward duo in the league, along with Jammal Williams who will add defense. Mike Jensen needs to be a threat in the post, but he was mainly a shooter last year. That's where the Huskies will struggle, in the paint against physical teams. They had enough athleticism and experience to get around that last year, but not this year.

7. Oregon St. The Beavers came alive at the end of the year, making it to the NIT. They won't be able to sneak up on people like they did last year, especially without leading scorer David Lucas. Nick DeWitz does give them an inside threat and Chris Stephens is a gunner inside, but can the Beavers put together 2 good seasons back-to-back??? They haven't done that since the Gary Payton days.

8. Washington St. Dick Bennett is transforming Pullman into Madison West. The Cougars are playing Big 10 basketball, and making it work. It will be a tough go at first without their 3 best players from last year, but their sophomore class is good enough to win on talent. Watch out in a year or two for the Cougars.

9. Arizona St. No Ike Diogu = big problem. The Sun Devils have Bryson Krueger and Kevin Kruger to shoot from the outside, but no one inside to rebound the misses.

10. USC. Maybe Pete Carroll should try to coach the basketball team up. I can't believe the Trojans have fallen this far with the abundant talent pool that is available in the LA area. Coach Tim Floyd will rely on youth and junior college players to help things get turned around because the Trojans don't have much.

Tomorrow, Big 10.

Big 12 Preview

Happy November to you all. The leaves have begun to fall and sadly it's now pitch black by 6pm. This is the dark period, when the weather gets cold and the sunshine goes away. But college hoops starts in a week, and I'll get to the Big 12 in a second. On the job front, I've actually had a couple of phone interviews in the last week, so I'm encouraged that activity is starting to pick up again.

Da Bears got it done in overtime against the Lions 19-13. Through 7 games, Da 05 Bears have given up fewer points than Da 85 Bears, that's how well the defense is playing. And how about the guy coming onto the field during the Bengals game. If he would've been dressed up as the Burger King, that would've been awesome. But the moron pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal trespassing and intoxication. Not guilty???? Dude, everyone saw you do it. I'd like to hear his alibi.

The Big 12 basketball season could go the same way as the football season. There's Texas and everybody else. No joke, the Big 12 is down this year. There's a distinct possibility that only 4 teams will make it to the Dance.

1. Texas. The Horns have the most returning talent and depth of anyone by far. Freshman of the Year Daniel Gibson is back to run the show, PJ Tucker is academically eligible, LaMarcus Aldridge is healthy, and Brad Buckman finally played to his potential last year. Gibson is a future NBA star with his ability to do everything, Tucker is the garbage man who scores and rebounds unbelievably well for a guy who's a generous 6'5. Tucker, Aldridge, and Buckman give Texas arguably the best frontcourt of anyone in the nation. Buckman really stepped up last year, averaging 13 points and 8 rebounds while shooting 53% from the floor. Off the bench comes Mike Williams, who started a number of games up front last year and Dion Dowell who is your typical swing player. The only question mark with this team is who will complement Gibson at the 2 guard. Kenton Paulino will start and he is a good shooter, but he is small and has trouble creating offense for himself. JC transfer JD Lewis was brought into help with shooting after high school recruit CJ Miles declared for the draft. If Texas can find another shooter, they could win it all.

2. Oklahoma. Up front, the Sooners can play with anyone. Taj Gray is a beast in the paint and Casey Bookout is the glue guy. When he's out on the floor, OU is at least 10 points better. Add in transfer Nate Carter who was Big West Freshman of the Year two years ago, and the Sooners' frontcourt is one of the best. But to be a good team, you need guards, and the Sooners don't have many. Terrell Everett is the exception. He has size, quickness, and 3 point range, and he'll be asked to do a lot. David Goodbold saw increased playing time at the end of the year and showed flashes, but that's it in terms of backcourt experience. In college hoops, you go as far as your backcourt takes you, which will really apply with OU.

3. Texas Tech. During my lifetime, I rate Bob Knight ahead of Dean Smith in terms of coaching. This might be different if Dean Smith had to go somewhere like Texas Tech to coach instead of staying at North Carolina where he could get anyone to play for him. Bob Knight doesn't get the elite recruits anymore, he's the college hoops version of Moneyball (which I finished the other day, great book). He doesn't care about your potential or physical attributes. He cares if you can produce or not, and if you can at a high level (at any level of play), he wants you. The coaching he did last year after losing his best player was phenomenal. That's why, despite losing 2 starters, I'm rating them this high because I think he can do it again, especially in a year when the league is down. Martin Zeno and Jarrius Jackson are back, along with Darryl Dora. Tech wil rely on their youth to contribute a lot, but you know Coach Knight will have them ready to go. He has a player in Zeno who is a great all-around player, Jackson is the point guard you want, he can score and dish.

4. Iowa St. The Cyclones have the best backcourt in the Big 12. Will Blalock and Curtis Stinson can get into the lane anytime they wish and they can finish. They are strong and get to the foul line. Rashon Clark is a big 2 guard playing the 3 who can score, which gives ISU 3 really good guards. The problem is they have nothing up front except freshmen and junior college transfers. Another weakness is outside shooting. Stinson and Blalock are great penetrators, but shoot less than 30% from 3, so they'll expect to see a lot of zone.

5. Colorado. The Buffs return everybody, and I mean everybody. Add in Dominique Coleman, who averaged 27/game in junior college in the backcourt, and you have a Big 12 sleeper. Richard Roby could have a big sophomore year after averaging 16 points, 5 boards, 45% shooting his freshman year. There isn't a lot of great talent here, but the Buffs have 7 seniors to go along with Roby and Coleman. When you have 7 guys who have been in the same situation for 4 years, that is a big advantage. Boulder is a tough place to play, very underrated.

6. Kansas. Yup, there is a chance that North Carolina and Kansas may not make the NCAA Tourney. With the departure of JR Giddens, this is a Bill Self team. Freshmen and sophomores will make up most of the rotation, with the exception of Christian Moody, the lone returning starter. Self showed he could recruit at Illinois, look for this team to get better as the year goes on. They'll be able to shoot, run, and defend, everyone finding their role. Self does a great job of recruiting players to fill a certain role.

7. Texas A&M. Coach Billy Gillispie did a great job in his 1st year, winning 21 games, taking his team to the verge of the NCAAs. The Aggies have enough players comning back to make another NCAA run. Acie Law is a solid guard, but he'll need some help. Joe Jones and Chris Walker give the Aggies two dependable forwards. It will be tough to replace 1st round pick Antoine Wright who was the Aggie program for 4 years. But attitudes are changed in College Station, they now expect instead of hoping to win, which will allow A&M to win games they shouldn't.

8. Oklahoma St. The only main guy left from last year's Sweet 16 team is JamesOn Curry. Is he mature enough as a sophomore to be the leader of the team? The incoming freshmen and JC transfers are strong and athletic, so look for the Cowboys to rely on defense to win games. And there's no better man-to-man defensive coach than Eddie Sutton. Can they score enough to win?

9. Missouri. Just 3 years ago, the Tigers were among the Elite 8. Now, they're just getting their head back above water after being the NCAA's whipping boy for the last year or so. The Tigers will get solid guard play from returners Jimmy McKinney and Jason Horton, but neither are go-to guys. Kevin Young provides experience at center, but he hasn't proven to be a consistent scorer. The Tigers don't have a lot of depth, so the freshmen will have to step in and contribute, along with A&M transfer Marcus Watkins, who has the potential to play like a Ricky Paulding.

10. Nebraska. Will Nebraska ever be good in basketball??? I'm beginning to think anything at or around .500 is a great year for them. This may be the most talented team Barry Collier team has had t here, but look at where they are in a down year in the Big 12. Joe McCray is a big-time player, but he's a big-time ballhog who only shot 40% last year. The Huskers are big, athletic, and have great young talent coming in, but it's Nebraska.

11. Kansas St. The Wildcats have good guards coming back in Clent Stewart and Lance Harris, but don't have much else, especially inside, w hich isn't good in the Big 12.

12. Baylor. Because of NCAA violations, the Bears only get to play their conference schedule. Their first game is at Texas Tech January 11th. It's unfortunate because Baylor actually has some proven talent, but with no non-league schedule, it'll be extremely tough for the Bears to have any success.

Next is the Pac-10, that's right, West Coast.

We didn't have many trick-or-treaters at the house last night. And the ones that did come weren't really dressed up. I think it's interesting that as a little kid, you get really excited to dress up, but once you reach junior high age, it's cool to just go around and get candy while not dressing up. But in college, it's back to dressing up in the most outrageous costume possible. It's funny how that works.