A trip to the Sweet Sixteen is on the line when the Big East meets the SEC in a re-match of last year’s East Regional final.

The Mountaineers tamed the Wildcats a year ago.

Some names on the backs of the shirts have changed.

Bob Huggins vs. John Calipari.

West Virginia vs. Kentucky

The Logo vs. The Program

West Virginia’s probable starters:

No. Name……………………. Pos…. Ht… Wt. …Cl……….. Statistics
5 Kevin Jones …………………F …..6-8..260 …Jr. 13.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg
2 Cam Thoroughman ……….F….. 6-7. 235.. r-Sr. 2.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg
41 John Flowers…………….. F….. 6-7.. 215…. Sr. 9.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg
25 Darryl Bryant……………. G ……6-2 195….. Jr. 11.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg
21 Joe Mazzulla……………… G ……6-2.200.. r-Sr. 7.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg

Kentucky’s probable starters:

P # Name…………………… Pts….. Rebs……. Assts
G 1 Darius Miller ………….11.4…. 4.7………. 1.7
F 3 Terrence Jones……… 16.3…. 8.7………. 1.9
G 12 Brandon Knight ……17.0…. 3.9………. 4.2
G 20 Doron Lamb ………..12.8…. 2.1………. 1.8
F 55 Josh Harrellson …….7.0 ….8.8 ……….1.5

West Virginia is making its 24th appearance in the NCAA championship, dating back to 1955.
• The Mountaineers are 25-23 all-time in NCAA championship play.
• The Mountaineers made their second Final Four appearance in 2010. The other was in 1959, led by the great Jerry West.
WVU advanced to the national championship game, falling to California, 71-70.
• WVU has reached the Sweet 16 in five of its last six NCAA tournament appearances (2010, 2008, 2006, 2005 and 1998).
• West Virginia is 19-6 in postseason games (6 NCAA and 2 NIT appearances) in the last eight seasons.
• Last year, WVU defeated No. 15 Morgan State, No. 10 Missouri, No. 11 Washington and No. 1 Kentucky to win the East
Region. The Mountaineers fell to Duke in the Final Four.
• Combining the NCAA championship and the NIT, WVU is 45-38 all-time in 39 postseason appearances.

Kentucky in the NCAA tournament
Overall Record: ……………………………………………………….102-45
Championships: ………………..7 (1948, ‘49, ‘51, ‘58, ‘78, ‘96, ‘98)
In Tampa: ……………………………………………………………………5-1
Third (Second) Round Record: ……………………………………..12-5
Record as No. 4 Seed: ………………………………………………….3-1

TEAM STATISTICS ………………………WVU………………………. OPP
SCORING ………………………………………….2240…………………….. 2063
Points per game ………………………………..70.0 ……………………….64.5
Scoring margin ………………………………….+5.5 -
FIELD GOALS-ATT …………………………761-1773……………….. 728-1777
Field goal pct ……………………………………. 4 2 9 …………………….. 4 1 0
3 POINT FG-ATT …………………………….199-592 ……………………166-574
3-point FG pct ………………………………….. 3 3 6 ………………………. 2 8 9
3-pt FG made per game ………………………..6.2 …………………………..5.2
FREE THROWS-ATT ………………………….519-731 …………………..441-634
Free throw pct ………………………………….. 7 1 0 ………………………. 6 9 6
F-Throws made per game ………………………16.2 ………………………..13.8
REBOUNDS …………………………………………1197 ………………………..1082
Rebounds per game ……………………………..37.4 …………………………33.8
Rebounding margin ……………………………..+3.6 -
ASSISTS ………………………………………………482 ………………………….355
Assists per game …………………………………..15.1 ………………………….11.1
TURNOVERS………………………………………… 386 …………………………..383
Turnovers per game ……………………………….12.1 …………………………12.0
Turnover margin ……………………………………-0.1 -
Assist/turnover ratio ……………………………….1.2 …………………………..0.9
STEALS ………………………………………………….149 …………………………..211
Steals per game ……………………………………….4.7 ……………………………6.6
BLOCKS ………………………………………………….134 ……………………………96
Blocks per game ……………………………………….4.2 …………………………..3.0

TEAM STATISTICS……………………………… UK ………………………OPP
SCORING ………………………………………………..2581……………………….. 2164
Points per game ……………………………………….75.9………………………… 63.6
Scoring margin ……………………………………….+12.3 -
FIELD GOALS-ATT ………………………………908-1967………………….. 772-1966
Field goal pct …………………………………………. 4 6 2……………………….. . 3 9 3
3 POINT FG-ATT …………………………………..248-623 ………………………193-586
3-point FG pct ……………………………………….. 3 9 8 ………………………….. 3 2 9
3-pt FG made per game ………………………………7.3…………………………….. 5.7
FREE THROWS-ATT ……………………………….517-723……………………… 427-594
Free throw pct ……………………………………….. 7 1 5 ………………………….. 7 1 9
F-Throws made per game …………………………..15.2 …………………………….12.6
REBOUNDS ………………………………………………1283 …………………………….1145
Rebounds per game …………………………………..37.7 ……………………………..33.7
Rebounding margin …………………………………..+4.1 -
ASSISTS ……………………………………………………431………………………………. 374
Assists per game ……………………………………….12.7 ……………………………….11.0
TURNOVERS ……………………………………………..361 ………………………………..412
Turnovers per game …………………………………..10.6 ……………………………….12.1
Turnover margin ……………………………………….+1.5 -
Assist/turnover ratio ……………………………………1.2 ………………………………..0.9
STEALS ……………………………………………………..186 ………………………………..176
Steals per game …………………………………………..5.5 ………………………………….5.2
BLOCKS ……………………………………………………..214 …………………………………121
Blocks per game …………………………………………..6.3 …………………………………3.6

A year ago, the Mountaineers used a 1-3-1 to pinch the lane and forct the Wildcats to shoot jumpers. This year’s version of Kentucky blue can connect from long range.

What is a “huggy bear” to do?

Notes courtesy of msnsportsnet.com and ukathletics.com.

Kentucky Wildcats-West Virginia Mountaineers matchup features John Calipari vs. Bob Huggins

West Virginia and Kentucky open third round of NCAA Tournament

MSN’s Tony Caridi and Jay Jacobs preview the game.

AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza

2009-10 Result: 35-3 (14-2 SEC) lost to West Virginia 73-66 n East Regional final.

Coach: John Calipari 438*-142 in 18 seasons. Last season was his first with the Wildcats.

Sixty-seven Wildcats have laced them up in the National Basketball Association. Currently, Kelenna Azubuike, Keith Bogans, Chuck Hayes, Jamaal Magliore, Jodie Meeks, Nazr Mohammed, Randolph Morris, Tayshaun Prince and Rajon Rondo all play in the N.B.A.. Three Wildcat alums have a spot in Springfield: Cliff Hagan, Dan Issel and Frank Ramsey.

Kentucky has made 51 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats have scratched their way to the title seven times: ’48, ’49, ’51, ’58, ’78, ’96 and ’98. UK has also made three appearances in the finals: ’66, ’75 and ’97.

Notable non-conference tilts: 11/19 at Portland State, 11/22 vs. Oklahoma, 12/4 at North Carolina, 12/8 vs. Notre Dame, 12/11 vs. Indiana, 12/31 at Louisville

Stat of Identity: 79.3 points per game (15th in the nation). Kentucky finished less than that total in six of their final eight games a season ago. The Wildcats want to dictate tempo and create as many possessions as possible. In other words, they don’t know many shots they don’t like.

Key Returners:

Darius Miller 21.2 mpg, 6.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg

DeAndre Liggins  15.3 mpg, 3.8 ppg

By Paul Casey Gotham

Can Kentucky Wildcat fans explain what it feels like to be a lame duck? Are they buying tickets and making plans to cheer for a team that will go through the process of vacating wins? Will this season prove to be just another in a growing list of asterisks in the career of John Calipari? Time will tell.  After leading Massachusetts and Memphis to the Final Four only to have those seasons nullified, Calipari’s road show continues in Lexington. This time, Coach “Refuse To Lose” found a school district that doesn’t take price in keeping academic records.

Six incoming freshman will tell the tale of the 2010-11 season. Miller and Liggins were nothing more than afterthoughts on offense last seaason.

Expect the Wildcats to bring a track meet feel to the hard wood. They will run every chance they get in hopes to diminish the significance of their execution on offense.

Brandon Knight is the flavor of the year. Much is expected from the freshman. Doron Lamb, Terrence Jones and Stacey Poole will get a chance to prove they are ready to be drafted by the N.B.A..

By Paul Gotham

Setting: The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York is the place for the East Regional final as Bob Huggins and his No.2 seed West Virginia Mountaineers (30-6) tip it off with John Calipari and the No. 1 seed Kentucky Wildcats (35-2).

Plot: Big East clashes with the SEC for a spot in the Final Four. The Mountaineers seek their first trip to the Final Four in 50 years. WVU lost the national championship in 1959. Kentucky won the national title in 1998. The Wildcats have not made it back to the Final Four since then.

Sub-plot: With a win, Calipari will take a third different school to the Final Four. WVU would be the second school Huggins has taken to the last weekend of the season. Huggins is 7-1 all-time against Calipari.  WVU will play without their starting point guard, Darryl Bryant who was injured in practice.

Flashback: Jodie Meeks dropped 19 and Patrick Patterson added 15 as the Wildcats trimmed the Mountaineers 54-43 in last year’s Las Vegas Invitational.

Kentucky holds a 13-4 advantage in a series that dates back to the 1923-24 season. The Wildcats have taken the previous seven games in the series. The last time WVU beat Kentucky was 1959 – a 79-70 triumph in the Kentucky Invitational.

West Virginia is making its 23rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament and third trip to the Elite Eight.  This is Kentucky’s 50th appearance in The Dance. The ‘Cats have 13 Final Four appearances and seven national championships.

Foreshadowing: Thirteen Mountaineers have played in the NBA. Joe Alexander is the only current alum of West Virginia basketball in the Association. Sixty-seven Wildcats have made their way into the NBA including current players Kelenna Azubuike, Keith Bogans, Chuck Hayes, Jamal Magloire, Jodie Meeks, Nazr Mohammed, Randolph Morris, Tayshaun Prince and Rajon Rondo.

Conflict:  Who will establish tempo, and which players will execute? Kentucky averages almost 79 a game while allowing 60.  West Virginia goes for almost 73 and keeps opponents to 63. Thursday night, they held Washington to 24 points under their average.

Huggins deploys seven of his troops for double digit minutes. Da’Sean Butler leads three Mountaineers in double figures.

Kevin Jones and Devin Ebanks combine for 25 points and 15 and a half rebounds for the Mountaineers. The Mountaineers hold a +7 advantage on the glass.

WVU will need to slow the ‘Cats in transition.

Freshman phenom, John Wall, leads four Wildcats in double figures with 16 and a half per game. Wall adds 6.6 assists, four rebounds, and just under two steals.

Eric Bledsoe averages 39.8 percent from long range. It is not so much that Bledsoe has hit from behind, but that he is threat from long range. West Virginia will need to stay close to Bledsoe which opens up more room for Wall to drive.

Patrick Patterson and DeMarcus Cousins combine for 17 boards per game. Cousins grabs almost four offensive rebounds per game. The front court tandem scores almost 30 a game.

Resolution: In the Regional semi-final Cornell held Kentucky to 62 points. The Wildcats did not break 40 until the game’s 32nd minute. Huggins had a front-row seat for the game. Can the Mountaineers execute a page or two from the Big Red’s play book? West Virginia will need to resist the temptation to get into a track meet with Kentucky.That would be an exercise in futility. The Mountaineers need to win the game in the paint.

Huggins’ troops will slow it down and give Butler another chance to finish one. WVU advances to the Final Four.

Got any comments on the game? Post them here.

By Paul Gotham

Setting: It’s time for an SEC showdown at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on the University of Florida campus.  John Calipari comes calling with his No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats (16-0/1-0) to take on Billy Donovan and his Florida Gators (11-4/0-1).

Plot: After beginning the season with eight victories, the Gators have limped through a 3-4 stretch with losses to Richmond, South Alabama and most recently at Vanderbilt, 95-87. Six of Kentucky’s victories have been by single digits.

Sub-plot: Florida has shown flashes of brilliance this year. They recovered from a second-half eight-point deficit to draw even with the Syracuse Orange in November. Kentucky deceives its opponents into thinking they can be beaten. SEC rival, Tennessee knocked Kansas from the ranks of the undefeated by going with a zone. Will Billy Donovan follow Bruce Pearl’s lead?

Flashback: Walter Hodge led Florida with 18 points as the Gators closed last year’s SEC regular season play with a 60-53 victory over Kentucky. Alex Tyus added 11, and Erving Walker chipped in 10 off the bench. Kentucky leads the all-time series 86-32, but Florida has won the last five in Gainesville and eight of the last ten meetings between these rivals.

The two schools have combined for 15 NCAA Tournament appearances since 2001. The Wildcats reached the Elite Eight in 2003 and 2005. Florida won back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007.

Foreshadowing: Sixty-seven Wildcats have made their way into the NBA including current players Kelenna Azubuike, Keith Bogans, Chuck Hayes, Jamal Magloire, Jodie Meeks, Nazr Mohammed, Randolph Morris, Tayshaun Prince and Rajon Rondo. Twenty former Gators have made rosters in the Association. Current players include Matt Bonner, Corey Brewer, Udonis Haslem, Al Horford, David Lee, Mike Miller, Joakim Noah, Marreese Speights and Jason Williams.

Tone: Florida needs redemption. Losing four of their last seven has the Gators in a tail spin. Knocking off the number two team in the country could propel Florida into SEC play. Going undefeated is unrealistic in 21st century division one play. Kentucky will lose eventually. Is it tonight?

Conflict: Nine Wildcats average double-figure minutes played per game.

Six Gators log at least 22 minutes per game. Ray Shipman plays just under 15 minutes per contest. Erik Murphy gets 9.8 per game. Which number is closer to reality and which is closer to fiction?

Do all the Wildcats get meaningful minutes, or has Calipari been able to substitute liberally in blowout games?

Five Gators average double figure points per game while three Wildcats score 15 or more.

Kentucky scores at a rate of 82.4 per tilt. Florida holds its opponents to 61.7 per game. Kentucky has a rebound margin of 10.6 while Florida grabs 2.6 more boards than its opponents.

Kentucky hands out 16.6 assists per game. Florida gets eights steal per night.

Which force will succeed?

Figuring out Kentucky out Kentucky becomes an analysis of the cart and horse theory.

Popular opinion suggests rookie sensation John Wall is the horse. Wall leads the Wildcats with 17,  seven assists and two steals.

Would Wall’s effectiveness decrease if he did not have Eric Bledsoe hitting threes. Bledsoe averages 45.2 percent from long range. It is not so much that Bledsoe has hit from behind the arc, but it is THAT he can hit from long range. Bledsoe nailed back-to-back three pointers as the Wildcats took a one-point halftime lead over Indiana and turned the game into a 17-point blowout.

Of course, Bledsoe and Wall benefit from Patrick Patterson and DeMarcus Cousins combining for 17.5 boards per game. Cousins grabs almost four offensive rebounds per game.

Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker combine for 26 points and eight and a half assists per game to lead the Gators. The back-court tandem has hit 60 three pointers and 73 free throws.

Vernon Macklin, Alex Tyus, and Dan Werner will have the responsibility for keeping the Wildcats off the boards. The trio combines for 17 rebounds.

Chandler Parson adds 11 points and six and a half rebounds off the bench.

Symbol: Florida prides itself on defensive pressure, but playing an extended man-to-man against Kentucky is a losing proposition. Will Billy Donovan deploy a zone?

Resolution: There is long way to go before the end of the season, but Florida needs this game more than Kentucky.  The Gators can not afford to start out conference play in a two-game hole.

As a team, the Gators shoot 70.4 percent from the free throw line. Kentucky finishes 68.6 percent from the stripe, but the Wildcats have made 118 more attempts (398-280) than their conference rival.

Kentucky is ripe for a loss, and the Gators are prepared to do the picking.

Got any comments on the game? Please post them here.

Phot by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

By Paul Gotham

If all goes as planned, the Seattle Seahawks will announce Pete Carroll as their new coach early this week. The two sides continue to negotiate the extent of Carroll’s potential role with the NFC West team.

Carroll leaves behind a USC program that he led to 97  wins including a 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the 2005 BCS title game.

Carroll’s potential move appears to be that of a coach looking for a new challenge. There is not much more the San Francisco native can accomplish at Southern Cal. His teams have won 10 or more games in seven of his nine seasons. Beyond that, 50 Trojans have moved on to the NFL during Carroll’s  tenure including Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.

With the past closing in on him the nine-year coach knows the time is now for him to make a move.

Recently, the USC athletic department self-imposed sanctions upon its men’s basketball team.  A similar request was made for the Trojan football team. The NCAA declined, thus sending a clear message to Southern Cal: WE want to continue the investigation of the Trojan football program.

It has been four years since Reggie Bush left USC, and that is about how long the NCAA has been looking into possible violations surrounding the Heisman winner. A forced deposition could be coming from the star tailback soon after the NFL season. It appears as if the granules of sand are quickly diminishing from the hour glass.

No one knows what sanctions lie ahead, and Carroll has good reason for not wanting to stay around and find out.

Carroll’s case parallels that of current University of Kentucky basketball coach, John Calipari. The coach who made popular the mantra: “Refuse to Lose,” is on the short list of coaches who have led more than one school to the NCAA’s Final Four. He is on an even shorter list of coaches who have multiple appearances to the Final Four vacated because of violations.

Calipari’s named has been cleared of any wrong-doing with the 1996 University of Massachusetts Minutemen and the 2008 Memphis University Tigers. In other words, Calipari has avoided any consequences for those two programs of which he had direct supervision.

Much of the blame for the situation in Memphis has been placed on the NCAA. College basketball’s governing body gave Derrick Rose his eligibility only to recant that decision later. On the surface, Calipari avoids blame, but it is hard to ignore the coach’s role in the infraction. The NCAA oversees roughly 400,000 athletes. Calipari supervises less than 20.

Both Carroll and Calipari have more than likely addressed current and former players about personal responsibility – responsibility to self, family, team and school.

By week’s end, Carroll will have probably moved up the coast from Los Angeles to Seattle. Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats will still be undefeated. Both leaving behind the responsibility for cleaning up situations which they were entrusted.

What should remain with these coaches is the reputation for leaving when the crime came to light.

Leading up to the 2009 NIT Season Tip Off on November 16th, Pickin’ Splinters will be counting down the top 25 of the college hardwood nation.

’08 – ’09 Results: 22 – 14 (8 – 8 SEC) Lost in the third round of the NIT Tournament to Notre Dame, 77 – 67.

Coach: John Calipari (first season) 444 – 140 17 seasons

Key Returners:

Patrick Patterson – 17.9ppg, 9.3rpg

Darius Miller – 5.3ppg, 3.1rpg

Perry Stevenson – 7.8ppg, 5.9rpg

Ramon Harris – 5.5ppg, 3.8rpg

Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/24 vs. Cleveland State, 11/25 vs. Stanford or Virginia, 12/5 vs. North Carolina, 12/9 vs. UConn, 12/12 at Indiana, 1/2 vs. Louisville

Stat of Identity: 77.3% from the free throw line – 6th in the nation.

By Paul Gotham

Kentucky’s Wildcats have made grabbing headlines a major pre-occupation this off-season – not always to their liking. New head coach, John Calipari, found himself having to answer questions about his former place of  employment. Recruit, John Wall, recently found his eligibility called into question.

Calipari and his Wildcats will need to cast aside any and all distractions and focus on the task of grabbing positive headlines.

Veterans, Patrick Patterson and Darius Miller will lead the way, but this Wildcat squad might be more about its freshman than its experience.

DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, and Wall come with plenty of fanfare. The three freshmen are immediately expected to jump into the Kentucky and make an impact. Calipari is experienced with helping freshmen make a quick adjustment into the college. The Calipari has done well in the past using freshmen, but he has never done it at Kentucky where every move will be scrutinized.

Not only will Calipari need to bring along his freshmen quickly, but the upper-classmen will need to adapt to Calipari’s ‘dribble drive’ offense. While the set is not overly complicated, it will still take some getting used to.

An area of concern for Calipari has to be success from the three-point arc. Kentucky converted 202 trifectas last year – 117 came from the fingertips of the now departed Jodie Meeks. Without a deep threat, defense will easily collapse on Patterson in the post.

At 6’7″, Miller will present match up problems for opponents. The guard should get good looks at the basket.

Sophomores, Darnell Dodson and DeAndre Liggins will see time off the bench.

Considering the free throw woes of his Memphis teams, it will be interesting to see how Calipari’s Wildcats do from the charity stripe. Kentucky ranked high in this category last year.

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

By Paul Gotham

It’s one thing to lose – make sure you don’t lose twice.

Sage advice shared by many a coach.

In the past, the suggestion of such words offered perspective for young athletes. Losing a single contest should serve as an opportunity for learning. One needs to make sure to not lose respect through such a process – respect for the opponent, respect for the game, and respect for oneself.

On this day like so many other days, with sports stories swirling through the ticker,  those words of advice need to find the ears of Coach John Calipari.

The Memphis Tigers’ 2007-2008 season faces extinction. Like a common advertisement delivered by the post man quickly whisked to the circular file, college basketball fans can dispose of the Memphis run to the NCAA finals. For John Calipari, this is not the first time through such an experience.

Followers can consider what might have been for those teams that lost to Memphis. There was the first round victory over Texas-Arlington. It didn’t matter. The Mavericks earned a sixteen seed and would have only fallen to someone else.

Then came the three-point victory over Mississippi State in the second round. Memphis promptly blew out the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ candles of Michigan State before eliminating Texas and earning a spot in the Final Four.  UCLA posed little threat to the Tigers in a national semi-final decided by 15 points.

Maybe fans of those schools can seek the counsel of Central Florida, Stanford, Arkansas, and Georgetown. After all, those teams found themselves trudging through the manure of John Calipari’s University of Massachusetts Minutemen as they rode their horses into the 1996 Final Four.

Forgive me if I overlook those injustices.

I find it difficult to believe Coach Cal is “not implicated in either instance.”

Calipari made famous the mantra: ‘Refuse to Lose.’ As if he possessed some deep understanding of the virtues needed to inspire young men on a quest to become part of something larger than themselves.

Now, it seems impossible to separate Calipari from the allegations of a  fraudulent SAT score, doctored high school grades, and paid trips for relatives.

Yet Calipari has conveniently left all of that behind as he now prepares his Kentucky Wildcats for the upcoming season.

Calipari and his fans can rationalize all they want. Hey! at least Calipari isn’t like that thug Michael Vick who killed defenseless dogs, lied to the Feds, and smoked pot.

No, Calipari didn’t do those things. All he did, in his dapper suit with a clean-shaven face, is lead a team of young men. And he led them to believe in another mantra: “It ain’t cheating unless you get caught.” Now, it seems Calipari has even figured out how to manipulate that adage. Calipari’s new motto reads: it ain’t cheating when you can run from the consequences.

Maybe,  Calipari could consider the wisdom found on a wall of the Philadelphia Palestra:  ”To win the game is great . . . To play the game is greater . . . But to love the game is the greatest of all.”

Winning is NOT the most important thing; loving the game is what matters. For all those who came before him, Calipari needs to take responsibility for what he has done. From now on, all of us will wonder what could have really happened in the 2008 NCAA tournament.

Let’s hope Michael Vick is not like John Calipari. Let’s hope Vick can make good on his second chance.

Can the A-10 return to legitimacy? Once was a time when Calipari coached UMass, Chaney prowled the Temple sidelines, Jarvis barked orders at GW, and Pete Gillen sweated through his suits at Xavier. The A-10 put four, count ‘em four teams in the ’95 Dance. Yeah, and three of ‘em followed suit in ’96. Since then it’s been hit or miss for the Atlantic Ten. St. Joe’s had a nice run. The Bonnies even played Kentucky to overtime a few years ago, but nothing like the mid 90’s.

That is until now. The A-10 is kinda throwin’ the Big East around. Xavier knocked off Cincy in the battle for Queen City bragging rights. Dayton turned away Louisville at Freedom Hall. Rhode Island leads the conference with ten wins including knocking off Syracuse at the Carrier Dome. The Rams have only one loss on the season: by four at Chestnut Hill to the ACC’s, Boston College. UMass also topped the Orange earlier this season.

Syracuse fans have to be wondering which team will show up from night to night. They beat Virginia at Charlottesville and then suffered the previously mentioned defeats. ‘Cuse fans should seek some solace in that their team is playing a more challenging pre-season schedule. Hopefully, this will help them come tournament selection time. The Orange are a young team. They will play without a conscience in March.

On a personal note – the ‘Cuse / Rhode Island game was of particular interest to me. I worked summer camp for Ram coach, Jimmy Baron, during his previous stint at St. Bonaventure. I can vividly remember Jimmy Baron Jr. running around with a ball attached to his hands at all times. Now to see him light up the Orange for six threes was pretty amusing. The last time I saw him he measured probably three feet in height.

One Big East team trying to maintain their end of the bargain is West Virginia. After playing John Beilein’s finesse game, the Mountaineers have become a rough ‘n’ tumble squad under Bob Huggins. Huggins is employing an open-post set on the offensive end that is rather enjoyable to watch. A lot of cutting and screening going on. Swing man, Joe Alexander, is a beast when finishing.

The Big East is not the only ‘Big’ struggling. The Big Ten is taking some early lumps. The ACC took eight of eleven in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. To add some salt to the wounds this past weekend Marquette beat Wisconsin in Badger Land, and Duke undressed Michigan. Only Michigan State saved the conference as they took down #22 BYU, 68-61.

I am not ready to bury the Big Ten. The last time I did that they put two teams in the Final Four: Illinois and MSU, 2005. As long as Tom Izzo coaches in Lansing the Big Ten will have a team ready to make a run in March. Come tournament time a couple statistics prove important: rebounding margin and field goal defense. Izzo’s teams always rank high in those categories. It’s not pretty, but it wins games.

Back to Marquette – they return an experienced team including guard Dominic James.
Experience and guard play could carry them late in the season. Their only loss thus far was to Duke in the Maui Classic.

Speaking of Duke, I am more cautious than optimistic. I like the athletes they have assembled. After last year’s first round exit to a gamey VCU squad, Duke’s obvious dearth of athleticism needed improving. They seem to be going in the right direction. With the barely athletic McRoberts leaving for the NBA, that made room for Gerald Henderson, and newcomers David McClure and Kyle Singler. While I’m thinking of McRoberts – what does his entering the NBA draft say about the league? I love the NBA – don’t get me wrong (Thank you again JD for opening my eyes), but when McRoberts has one of the 550 roster spots in the league, I gotta wonder. More on the Blue Devils – my concern rests with Paulus. I’m waiting for him to fulfill the hype. In the aforementioned victory over Marquette, Paulus showed little if any leadership in the game’s final moments. Marquette stepped up and pressed, and Paulus decided the time was right to play hot potato. I’m thinkin’ the point guard should be the one takin’ the heat at that point. Instead Paulus ducked the pressure. Every team in the ACC had to be watching and licking their chops. Paulus better be ready when Ty Lawson and the Heels come a calling.

Mentioning Lawson makes me think of the great point guards around the country. I like James from Marquette, Lawson, DJ Augustin of Texas, Drew Neitzel at Michigan State, and Darren Collison from UCLA.

I’m looking forward to conference play, but these December games are just what the doctor ordered.

On deck: Clipboard National Chan’ship begins Saturday.

In the hole: 2007 Clipboard Readers’ Choice Awards – start next Wednesday.