In the paint

BY STEVEN MARCUS

His coaching pupils include Jay Wright and Tom Pecora. He will be 74 this year, but he isn’t slowing down. Rollie Massimino, who started his career at Stony Brook almost 40 years ago, is still coaching—and still winning. In only its second season, Massimino's Northwood University (Fla.) is 16-5 and playing Embry-Riddle (20-2) in a game for the Florida Sun Conference lead. Massimino, who won an NCAA title at Villanova, has as much energy as ever and is looking forward to tonight’s game. ``It’s a major test,’’ he told the Palm Beach Post. ``It’s a pivotal game for us.’’

BY RODERICK BOONE

Kansas State finished off one of the two remaining undefeated teams in Division I last night, leaving top-ranked Memphis as the lone squad without a blemish. The Wildcats stunned visiting rival and No. 2 Kansas in Manhattan (no, not ours) 84-75.

It ended the Jayhawks' ridiculous domination of K-State in the Little Apple. Kansas hadn't lost to the Wildcats there in 24 straight years. Michael Beasley was Michael Beastley, pumping in 25 points and going 4-for-4 from behind the arc in the win, which kept K-State undefeated and in first place in the Big 12 standings at 5-0.

While disappointed, Kansas coach Bill Self looked at the loss with perspective.

"We weren't going to run the table," Self told reporters after the game. "As much as I wish we could, that wasn't going to happen. So this could be a good thing for us in the long run. But certainly it stings."

BY RODERICK BOONE

Hofstra's season continues to spiral in the wrong direction. Just when you think things can't get any worse in a tough season for the Pride, it suffers another blow to the gut.

Arminas Urbutis is out for six weeks with a third degree sprain of his MCL. That means the season is essentially over for the junior forward who hails from Kaunas Lithuania. Urbutis injured his knee Monday in Hofstra's win over Longwood. He went down with about 14 minutes left in the second half near the south baseline and immediately clucthed his right knee.

He was averaging about 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game. He gave the Pride another good body inside the paint to help compliment Antoine Agudio and Charles Jenkins and did a nice job of spelling Dane Johnson and Darren Townes.

The latest installment ...

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,035
Points shy of school scoring record: 187
Last time out: Scored 28 points vs. Longwood Monday
Tonight's opponent: Towson (first meeting of season)
Next game: Saturday vs. Delaware
Latest projection: At his current pace of 23.2 points per game, he'll break the record at Delaware Feb 27.

RODERICK BOONE

BY JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

If you ask most casual college basketball fans who will be the No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament the answers you most likely get are: Kansas, UCLA, Memphis and North Carolina.
Even the esteemed Mike and the Mad Dog recently named those four teams as the number ones. They are certainly casual fans, especially Chris, until the tournament grows a bit closer.

There is a forgotten team though.

Duke

It’s amazing that one “down year” could remove the Blue Devils and Coach K from the tips of people's tongues.

Duke has rebounded from a record of 21-11 overall and 8-8 in the ACC last season by going 17-1, 5-0 and are currently ranked No. 3 in the nation this year. Their lone setback was a 65-64 overtime defeat to Pittsburgh at the Garden during the Aeropostale Classic back on Dec. 20. Since then they have won seven straight games, including a 93-84 win over Maryland, the only team to beat North Carolina. The Tar Heels and Blue Devils renew their rivalry at Chapel Hill on Feb.6.

Duke has used balanced scoring, superb shooting and excellent defense to work it’s way to the top of the ACC. Freshman Kyle Singler is a versatile inside player to complement the outside threat of Gregg Paulus. Singler is averaging 12.9 points and 5.9 rebounds and is shooting 48.5 percent from the field. Paulus, now a junior, has emerged out of the shadow of J. J. Reddick and is now comfortable being a leader. Senior DeMarcus Nelson gives Duke a do it all player out on the perimeter. He is the team’s leading scorer, 14.8 points per game and is also averaging 5.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

We will not truly know where Duke stands up against North Carolina, which plays suspect defense, until they are on the court together. As good as Singler has been I think UNC’s Tyler Hansbrough could eat him a live. After watching Hansbrough dunk over UNC-Ashville’s 7-foot-7 Kenny George, I gained so much respect for his ability and his heart.

It is possible that Kansas, UCLA, Memphis and North Carolina are the top-seeds come March?

Of course.

Duke has put itself in the conversation.

BY JOE GERGEN

Of the many brother acts in Division I men's basketball, Pat and Nick Calathes hold a special place at this stage of the season. That's because each leads his team in scoring. The trick is that they represent different schools.

Pat Calathes, a 6-10 senior forward for Saint Joseph's, was honored as Atlantic-10 Player of the Week for the second time after dispatching Temple, 68-67, with a three-point shot with 3.9 seconds left in their weekend contest. Nick Calathes is a 6-6 freshman wing who has helped Florida overcome the loss of the top six players from its two-time national championship clubs.

Not only has the younger brother averaged 16 points per game for the Gators, who remain a contender for the SEC East title, but his 127 assists is best on the team. The taller and older sibling has scored 18.5 for the Hawks and also is first on the club in rebounds with 141. In addition to their versatility, both are outstanding three-point shooters.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Suffolk CC-Selden is now ranked second in the latest NJCAA poll. The 18-1 Clippers, national champs in the 2003 and 2004 season, trail only Hudson Valley (21-0 ).

In NCAA Division II, C.W. Post moved to 16th in the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The Pioneers, 16-2 and 11-0 in the East Coast Conference, have won nine straight and 14 of their last 15 games.

BY RODERICK BOONE

With Hofstra taking on Longwood (who? yeah I know) Monday night, I didn't write a normal game story and chose to author a mini feature on Antoine Agudio. So just so some things don't get lost, we'll make use of this great thing we call a blog and highlight a few important nuggets in the Pride's 75-60 win over the Lancers.

-- Arminas Urbutis went down with a knee injury with 16:46 left in the second half and did not return. He couldn't put any pressure on it as he was helped to the locker room. Coach Tom Pecora said the junior forward is scheduled to undergo an MRI Tuesday. It doesn't look too good for Urbutis, but Pecora isn't asking for any sympathy.

"Those things I don't worry about because I can't control them," Pecora said. "As coaches, we worry about everything we can control. Some of us are more control freaks than others. But I mean, injuries, there's just nothing you can do about it. So we'll say a little prayer and hope for the best."

-- Expect Greg Washington, who was in the doghouse and played sparingly of late, to see more action. The freshman forward played well after Urbutis went down, scoring four points and grabbing five rebounds in 13 minutes.

-- Greg Johnson had easily one of his best games of the season, registering his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He also had four assists and, better yet, zero turnovers. His confidence is growing and he's looking for his perimeter shot more. "Coach Pecora always tells me to keep my head on the basket," Johnson said. "If I keep my head on the basket, I can see everything. So I've just been taking good shots."

-- Dane Johnson continued his beast-like play inside. He had 12 points, five rebounds and swatted seven shots, two coming in a matter of seconds on one possession. He's giving the Pride that much-needed interior presence and is turning into a major force.

-- The students, although not many of them were at the game, are back and they actually let loose a few boos in the direction of Zygis Sestokas when he missed the first of three three-point attempts. The boos weren't as loud on his second miss, but were still noticeable. Sestokas has struggled with his shot and even though the students have been gone seemingly forever, they apparently were aware of his 31 percent (and 32.1 from beyond the arc) shooting percentage coming into the game. Longtime Newsday editor Greg Gutes, who's attended his fare share of Hofstra games over the years, was sitting next to me and couldn't remember the last time he heard boos hurled at a Hofstra player like that.

-- Lastly, for those of you who can't stop trying to figure who the heck Longwood is, I'll provide the insight. It's located in that bustling town of Farmville, Va. The reason Hofstra played the game so late in the season despite being in the midst of conference play is simple: there was no other time the Pride could schedule the game. Pecora would've preferred to play it in November, but the schedule wouldn't allow it. FYI: It's a return game from the meeting the two teams had Dec. 6, 2004 at Longwood, when Hofstra played there on the back end of a road trip to James Madison. It's the first full-fledged year of Division I for Longwood, which joined UC Davis and Northern Colorado as the latest additions to the D-I ranks.

Since Hofstra is pretty much going nowhere, we now bring to you The Agudio Watch. Antoine Agudio broke 2,000 points and is on his way to topping the 2,222-point school record, which was set 43 years by Steve Nisenson. Before every game, we'll detail his progress, beginning with tonight's non-conference game with Longwood.

Anyone willing to go on the record and guess what game he'll break the record? I'm no Neil Best or Bob Glauber, but I'll find a way to reward the winner somehow. First one to guess correctly wins!

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total Points: 2,007
Points shy of record: 215
Last time out: Scored 32 points vs. Northeastern Saturday
Tonight's opponent: Longwood, a team in its first year as a Division I program
Next game: Wednesday at Towson

RODERICK BOONE

BY STEVEN MARCUS

The Division III feat of the year belongs to SUNY Old Westbury’s Lester Prosper, a 6-8 freshman from Mepham High School, who had 18 points, 13 rebounds and 14 blocked shots in a 73-71 victory over Mount St. Mary. His triple double was capped off by a last second dunk to win the game. He was four blocks shy of the D-III record held by John Bunch of Lincoln University (Pa.).

BY STEVEN MARCUS

A former Hofstra player has something in common with the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer. Steve Nisenson holds the Hofstra record of 2,222 points in only three seasons. That is the same number of years it took Pete Maravich (1967-70) to score an NCAA record 3,667 for LSU. Remember, no three pointers and one less year of competition because freshmen were not eligible until 1973. Nisenson averaged 26.8 points in a varsity career of 83 games.

Fast forward to 2008: Hofstra’s Antoine Agudio, with 110 games in his four-year career, needs to average 18 points over the next 12 games to pass Nisenson’s 43-year-old mark. He is ranked eighth in the nation at 22.9 points a game and has 2,007 for his career.

BY MARCUS HENRY

Anyone who attended the Crotty Classic at Hofstra yesterday got a glimpse at the Pride’s future in Bishop Ford point guard Chaz Williams. Williams, a 5-9 junior who made a verbal commitment to the Pride, put on a show scoring 17 of his game-high 32 points in the second half of a 60-54 win over Massapequa.

Williams said it was a thrill to get a chance to play on the Pride’s home court. “It was pretty fun,” he said. “It’s a new atmosphere and I’m adapting to it.”

As for choosing Hofstra, Williams said it was an easy choice. “It’s a good place. The coaching staff is good and so are the players,” Williams said. “They teach you to play and do things the right way.”

As for his current team’s plight, the Falcons are 11-5 overall and are a top the CHSAA A South division standings with a 4-1 mark.

“We got off to a slow start, but we’ve been playing a lot better lately,” he said. "We definitely want to challenge for the city A title."

BY JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

I logged on to the Memphis Athletic site to find information for a blog.

Instead I found a totally different topic.

In the upper right hand corner of the page I saw an ad for a Memphis t-shirt. On the blue shirt it says “Number 1 In The Nation”, with a big one in the middle of a silver ball. Price tag: 20 bucks, before shipping and handling.

Are you kidding me?

I understand Memphis is undefeated and recently moved into the top spot in both polls for only the second time in school history. Yet losing to Gonzaga on Saturday or an unset loss to UAB or Houston could have the Tigers sitting well below No.1.

You would look pretty funny walking around with a big blue number one on your chest when your team is No. 5 or 6. The student who dropped $20 on the shirt could always run to the bookstore and buy a marker to update the number.

I believe Memphis is a legitimate national title contender, unlike years past, who could finish the season undefeated. If so then anyone who buys the shirt could never take it off. But if I were a Memphis fan I’d lean towards caution because college sports are so unpredictable. I’d save my money for hopefully and more meaningful t-shirt.

One that reads: National Champions.

BY MARCUS HENRY

Last week I wrote there were at least 17 mid-major schools that could make a case for an at-large bid. This week that number remains the same as three schools from last week were jettisoned and three new ones entered. Akron, UTEP and Air Force were dropped, while BYU, Stephen F. Austin and South Alabama were added.

CAA
George Mason (14-5, 5-2): Consecutive wins over conference foes James Madison and Old Dominion have George Mason right on track. The 14-5 record isn’t exactly a masterpiece, but like I wrote last week, getting to a final four normally gives a team tremendous clout.
Key wins: Kansas State, Dayton, South Carolina.

Virginia Commonwealth (14-4, 7-1): Wednesday’s win over Hofstra ran the Rams win streak to six straight, making 20-plus wins a real possibility.
Key wins: Maryland, Houston.

Conference USA
UAB (13-6, 3-1): Last Saturday’s loss to Marshall was a killer for UAB. But the Blazers recovered with an easy win over East Carolina on Wednesday. No more mistakes, though.
Key wins: Cincinnati, Kentucky.

Houston (14-3, 3-0): Wednesday’s easy win over Rice was Houston’s third straight. The Cougars have a date with Marshall on Saturday and an even bigger one against Memphis on Wednesday.
Key wins: Kentucky, UTEP.

Horizon
Butler (18-2, 7-2): Butler has won 10 of its last 11 games. The Bulldogs are likely on their way to the NCAA Tournament. Still, running the table in conference would be nice.
Key wins: Virginia Tech, Texas Tech, Ohio State, Florida State.

Cleveland State (14-6, 6-1): The Vikings NCAA hopes took a blow with their loss to Wisconsin-Green Bay on Thursday. The only reason the Vikings are still an at-large hopeful is because of their win over Butler. A second win, along with no more conference losses could be enough.
Key wins: Butler, Florida State.

MAC
Kent State (15-4, 4-1): Kent’s at-large hopes took a hit when it lost to Ohio last Saturday. But the Golden Flashes came back with a big win over Akron. Sunday’s game against Western Michigan is a big one. A win will keep them in this for another week.
Key wins: George Mason, Illinois State, Akron.

Missouri Valley Conference
Drake (17-1, 8-0): Drake’s win over Creighton on Tuesday kept it fresh in everyone’s mind. The Bulldogs have won 16 straight and are rolling.
Key wins: Illinois State, Creighton.

Illinois State (14-5, 6-2): Consecutive losses to Drake and Bradley were damaging. One more conference loss and Illinois State’s hopes for an at-large bid are history.
Key wins: Cincinnati, Creighton.

Creighton (14-4, 5-3): Tuesday’s loss to Drake wasn’t a killer, but if the Bluejays fall in the rematch on January 30, things could get tight.
Key wins: DePaul, St. Joe’s.

Mountain West Conference
San Diego State (14-4, 3-1): Wednesday’s three-point loss to BYU definitely didn’t help San Diego State. But a win over UNLV on Saturday should restore order.
Key wins: New Mexico, Utah.

UNLV (14-4, 3-1): Wins over BYU and Wyoming has the Runnin’ Rebels ready for a huge matchup against San Diego State on Saturday.
Key wins: Minnesota, UTEP.

BYU (14-5, 3-1): The Cougars improved their chances of an at-large bid with their win over San Diego State. But they have five losses, so there can’t be anymore unexpected losses.
Key wins: Louisville, San Diego State, Utah.

Southland Conference
Stephen F. Austin (15-3, 3-2): The Lumberjacks haven’t caught the nation’s eye like Drake, but they have a big win over Oklahoma under their belts. That notwithstanding the Lumberjacks, who fell to Sam Houston State last night, can’t have anymore conference losses.
Key wins: Oklahoma.

Sunbelt Conference
South Alabama (16-3, 8-0): The Jaguars have been quiet, but efficient. An undefeated conference season and a run to the Sunbelt final would be enough in a perfect world. But you never know with the NCAA selection committee.
Key wins: Mississippi State, Western Kentucky.

West Coast Conference
Gonzaga (15-4, 4-0): Gonzaga, winners of five straight, is probably a lock for the tournament. But a win at Memphis on Saturday could make them a top 5 seed.
Key wins: Virginia Tech, UConn, St. Joe’s.

Saint Mary’s (16-2, 3-0): The Gaels are certainly NCAA-worthy. Still, a win over Gonzaga on February 4 would loom large in the committee’s eyes.
Key wins: Oregon, Drake, San Diego State, Seton Hall.

BY RODERICK BOONE

The season is barely halfway over and the rumor mill is already churning.

VCU coach Anthony Grant, whose Rams walloped Hofstra Wednesday night, is a hot commodity. With the impending retirement of Dave Odom, there's a sure opening at South Carolina. And remember, SEC folk (that there is Southern talk) are well aware of Grant. He was an assistant under Florida coach and Rockville Center's own Billy Donovan and was thought to be the heir apparent back in the spring when Donovan bolted to the coach the Orlando Magic before recanting.

Some people are acting as if it's a slam dunk and Grant is on his way to Gamecock nation. I've been told not so fast. With a 42-11 record in two seasons, Grant should be able to pick where he's going to land next and there could be better jobs out there than South Carolina. There's growing speculation about the LSU gig opening up. They will be surely more jobs he'll be linked to.

Hey, there could be an opening at St. John's the way things are going over there if Norm Roberts isn't careful. You can bet the powers that be in Jamaica are paying attention to all those open seats at the Garden, and they should jump at the opportunity to bring someone like Grant on board if he is available.

Grant, who credited former VCU coach Jeff Capel with building the program to its current status, was asked after the game what he thought about his name popping up among coaching rumors.

''For me, that's all it's about -- is winning,'' Grant said. ''I can't control the hearsay and the he said, she said. My focus is on this team, competing for a championship and doing the things we need to do. All of that stuff I guess makes for an interesting story, a good read. But it's not reality."

Spoken like a man who's going to have to be hit with a major multi-million dollar offer from a high profile institution to pry him away from his digs in Richmond. But anyone who follows "mid-major" basketball knows coaches at that level have to jump at the right chance when it comes along. It may take two or three solid seasons to rise on the coaching radar, but it takes only one bad season to fall off it.

BY MARCUS HENRY

Five overtimes. Baylor and Texas A&M needed a Big 12-record five overtimes to determine a winner. No, you don't have to rub your eyes, because that wasn't a misprint, Baylor needed five overtimes to top host Texas A&M, 116-110. Multiple overtime games in college football have almost become the norm. But not in basketball. Overtime and double overtime basketball games happen. Anything after that is an extreme rarity.

"Everyone's going to have great stats after this as far as averages," Baylor coach Scott Drew joked in an audio clip on the Texas A&M athletics website.

Unfortunately, the game wasn't televised nationally.

The game was significant for several reasons. For one: I don't remember seeing a basketball game go five overtimes on any level. I've been covering basketball on every level for over 10 years, so it's possible there was a game that went 5 OTs. Right now, I can't recall one.

Another significant aspect of this game is that the Baylor Bears entered the contest as the 25th-ranked team in the latest AP Poll. The last time the Bears were ranked was in 1969. It would've been a shame to see them lose their very first game after finally breaking through. The win also allowed Baylor (16-2, 4-0 BIG 12) to keep pace with undefeated Kansas (19-0, 4-0) in the conference. The loss dropped No.18 Texas A&M to 1-3 in the conference.

Curtis Jerrells scored a career-high 36 points, including 11 in the fifth overtime to lead Baylor.

A couple of oddities surrounding this game: The teams combined for just 30 turnovers. Baylor had 16 and Texas A & M had 14 (Hofstra had 22 in its lost to VCU)...Texas A&M went 36-for-59 from the line. Baylor shot 39-for-47...Eight players fouled out. Five for Baylor, three for Texas A&M...It was Baylor's fifth straight win and Texas A&M's third straight loss...Three A&M players played 56 minutes or more...Four Baylor players played 42 minutes or more...It was the first time Texas A&M and Baylor played each other as ranked teams...

For those who don't remember, this was a Baylor program that was left in total disarray after murder of forward Patrick Dennehy in the summer of 2004. Dennehy's decomposed body was found in a gravel pit near Waco, Texas. on July 25, 1004. Teammate Carlton Dotson plead guilty to shooting and killing Dennehy, June 8, 2005.

BY MARCUS HENRY

Hearing a coach utter the phrase "I look for positives in a loss" or "There were some positives last night we can build on" sounds a lot like they are searching for a moral victory.

Hofstra coach Tom Pecora could say with a straight face (If he wanted to) that the Pride could take several positives from Wednesday night's 82-65 loss to VCU without it sounding like he's looking for a moral victory. The one positive from the loss is the way big men Dane Johnson, Darren Townes and Urbutis Arminas played.

Last year Hofstra's guards did all of the heavy lifting as Antoine Agudio, Loren Stokes and Carlos Rivera were the be all, end all of the Hofstra offense. Chris Gadley showed flashes in the paint, but was nowhere near a consistent player and Mike Davis-Sabb was rarely a factor on offense.

This year things are a little different. The Pride (4-13, 2-6 CAA) are struggling, but their young players are developing. Townes had 16 points, five rebounds and three blocks and Dane Johnson added eight points and six boards and three blocks.

"I'm starting to feel my groove now and they are making plays for me," Townes said.

Agudio, who has struggled the past two games, scoring a combine 16 points, including 10 on Wednesday, lauded Townes and Johnson. "I'm starting to trust my teammate more," he said. "Darren's been playing well [and so has] Dane."

With Charles Jenkins emerging as a prime time player and Nathaniel Lester showing star potential, it's important that Pecora have big men who are capable of having an impact. Townes and Johnson have both showed they can produce.

Townes, who is scoring 7.6 points per game, is averaging 10.6 points over his last 9 games. He scored 11 or more points in five of those contests. Johnson is averaging five points per game, but has eclipsed double figures in two of his last three contests. Arminas, who had seven points, four rebounds and two blocks last night, has scored in all but three games he has played in this season.

Finding dominant big men at the mid-major level has always been difficult. Hofstra may not have a Patrick Ewing or Hakeem Olajuwon on its roster, but it does have a productive trio in Townes , Johnson and Urbutis.

BY JOE GERGEN

Scrawling the name of a successful coach on the court is all the rage in college basketball. An exalted few even have their identities attached to the entire building, i.e. Rupp Arena, the Dean Dome and Carnesecca Arena. But the whole flattery business can look pretty foolish when a coach so honored continues his career at another institution.

So it was the other night when ESPN progressed from a game between Texas and Oklahoma State at Stillwater, where the court bears the signature of Eddie Sutton, to a late-night game from the West Coast where Gonzaga was hosting San Francisco, coached by none other than Eddie Sutton.

He is not alone in this strange turn of events. Georgia Tech placed the name of Bobby Cremins in hardwood heaven a few years back, only to have him come out of retirement. The Bronx-born Cremins now is employed by the College of Charleston. The more cluttered America's courts become, the more this trend will continue.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

The Division I basketball landscape from Jamaica to Stony Brook is grim. At 10-8 (but falling), the St. John’s women may have the distinction, if you want to call it that, of being the only D-I with a winning record, but that is tempered by a 1-4 mark in the Big East. The SJU men’s team is 7-9, 1-4. Drive east and its gets worse. The Hofstra men are 4-12, 2-5 in the CAA, while the women are 3-13 and 1-4. Finally, Stony Brook’s men stand at 4-14 and 1-5 in America East, the women 6-11 and 1-3 in the conference. Add it all up and you get a collective record of 34-67. No March Madness around here.

The matchup: Virginia Commonwealth (13-4, 6-1 CAA) at Hofstra (4-12, 2-5)
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Mack Sports Complex
TV/Radio: YES Network/WHRU (88.7)
Key players: Hofstra – Antoine Agudio, Sr., G (25.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.2 apg); Charles Jenkins, Fr., G (13.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.4 apg); Nathaniel Lester, Fr., G (7.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg); VCU – Eric Maynor, Jr., G (18.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.3 apg); Jamal Shuler, Sr., G (15.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.0 apg); Michael Anderson, Sr., F (7.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
All-time series: VCU leads 8-5
Current streaks: Hofstra won 1; VCU won 5
Last time out: Hofstra beat Drexel 67-58; VCU beat Old Dominion 78-68
The skinny on VCU: VCU, the reigning CAA champion, is in sole possession of first place in the conference. Junior point guard Eric Maynor, the CAA's Preseason Player of the Year, headlines the VCU offense. He's scoring 18.2 points per game and handing out 5.3 assists per game. The Rams are the top defensive team in the CAA, holding opponents to 37.1 percent shooting from the field and an average of 58.6 points per contest. They also are holding opponents to 25.4 percent from three-point range, which ranks tops in the nation.

RODERICK BOONE

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Hofstra left the friendly confines of America East for the Colonial Athletic Association and the promise of multiple post season bids to the NCAA Tournament. We all know how that hasn’t worked out for Hofstra. Zero since joining the CAA in the 2001-2002 season. While other mid major conferences (despite their disdain for that term) may state a case for three or four bids, the CAA most likely will have no more than two this season. After VCU (13-4) and George Mason (13-5), eight of the remaining 12 members are under .500 and out of at-large consideration. The only way to get three in this season would be for the front runners to keep winning and a third team emerge by winning the tournament and automatic bid. Don’t hold your breath.

BY RODERICK BOONE

As in be careful in what you ask for.

Kentucky fans pushed Tubby Smith out the door, saying he wasn't getting the job done. UK nation can be relentless on the school's men's basketball team given the program's high profile status, and no one knew that better than Smith.

When Smith bolted for Minnesota, UK plucked Billy Gillispie away from Texas A&M, making him the 21st coach in Wildcats' history.

So ... how's that move turning out? Let's just say the person who started firetubbysmith.com is already thinking about getting a site going for Gillispie. Just take a gander at the Wildcats' record. It ain't very UK like, that's for sure, not at 7-9 and 1-2 in the SEC. But Gillispie says he sees progress.

“I am really proud of them because they have improved greatly. The record is definitely not anything that any of us want," he said. "We’re trying to continue to improve every single time out. We will if we continue to have the right attitude and the right work ethic. If we can get a little bit more healthy and work some guys in some quality, consistent practice time for a two or three week period, then I think you will see a team that is pretty fun to watch. I think we will be aggressive on offense and defense.”

Things might not get better any time soon. The Cats welcome Tennessee to Rupp Arena tonight and the Vols boast a No. 3 ranking in the AP poll, their highest ever. Tennessee is off to just the second 16-1 start in school history and will look to make it the best start ever if it can beat UK.

BY MARCUS HENRY

The next two nights could go a long way in establishing the mid-major hierarchy in college basketball.

TUESDAY

Drake (16-1, 7-0 Missouri Valley) at Creighton (14-3, 5-2) 8:05 p.m. - Drake, as stated earlier by Newsday's Joe Gergen, is back. But the Bulldogs' first appearance in the AP Poll in almost three decades could be short if they fall to Creighton tonight. A win for Drake will put the Bulldogs will keep them fresh in everyone's mind. A loss won't kill them, but it will knock them off the national stage for a while.

Utah (10-6, 1-2 Mountain West) at New Mexico (15-4, 2-2) 9:00 p.m. - This game doesn't look like much on paper, but wins over Texas Tech and UTEP has New Mexico believing an at-large bid is possible. Utah needs to run the table in conference play (or come close to it) to keep any at-large hopes alive.

WEDNESDAY

VCU (13-4, 6-1 CAA) at Hofstra (4-12, 2-5) 7:00 p.m. - This game obviously doesn't mean much for Hofstra, except for conference tourney seeding purposes. But it's a huge game for VCU. The Pride's struggles notwithstanding, sharpshooter Antoine Agudio and the emergence of Charles Jenkins gives them a shot in this game. If VCU, which has wins over Houston and Maryland, wants to secure its spot in the NCAAs in case it falters in the CAA tourney, it must win this game. Fans can catch this game on the YES NETWORK or on ESPN's Full Court package.

Akron (14-3, 4-0 MAC) at Kent (14-4, 3-1) 7:00 p.m.- Akron's gaudy record notwithstanding, it is still behind Kent in the mid-major world. Its only notable win was over a mediocre Temple team. Kent on the other hand has wins over Illinois State, George Mason and Cleveland State. Akron needs the win badly.

Other games of interest among the mid majors on Wednesday night include Old Dominion at George Mason; Houston at Rice; East Carolina at UAB; Illinois State at Bradley; San Diego State at BYU.

BY JOE GERGEN

Nutritionists need not fear the following message: Drake is back.

We're not talking cake here. The men's basketball team from Drake University has returned to the AP poll for the first time in three decades. The Bulldogs are 22nd this week after winning 16 of their first 17 games under first-year coach Keno Davis.

Those with long memories may recall that Drake not only qualified for the Final Four in 1969 but gave UCLA (and Lew Alcindor) all they could handle in the national semifinal before bowing, 85-82. "I feel," John Wooden said afterward, "like I've gotten a reprieve."

Drake made the NCAA tournament each of the next two years, then slowly faded to the bottom of the Missouri Valley Conference. And there the Bulldogs lay until they were resurrected by Dr. Tom Davis, the father of the bounce pass. He led Drake to its first winning season in 20 years last spring, then turned the program over to his son.

Despite the loss of four starters and the expectation that the Bulldogs would finish ninth in a 1-team league, they have beaten every opponent except St.Mary's which is ranked in the ESPN coaches' poll. They get a real test tonight (Tuesday) at Creighton but, no matter what the result of that game, the re-emergence is a tasty treat.

BY RODERICK BOONE

Syracuse-Georgetown was one of those must-see games? Well, the two Big East rivals meet at 7 tonight at the Verizon Center (and on ESPNHD for those of us who want to pretend as if we are at the game). The Hoyas are 14-2 (4-1 in conference play) and Syracuse is 13-6, 3-3, and preseason All-American Roy Hibbert will try to help snap No. 9 Georgetown's two-game slid to the 'Cuse.

But the Orange will have a tough time trying to make it three in a row and keep any Hoya Paranoya to a minimum. Jim Boeheim has only eight scholarship players available and star guard Eric Devendorf is already lost for the season with a knee injury. So with that in mind, any chances the Orange have to put a halt to Georgetown's 15-game home winning streak are slim. Still, should be interesting to see what happens in this one.

Anyway, it sure beats watching the riveting game between Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foes Iona (7-12, 3-4) and Rider (1-6, 5-2) that MSG will televise in the same 7 p.m. time slot. I'll make sure to have the remote locked in on that one.

BY RODERICK BOONE

While Bob Knight finally reached his 900th career win, another longtime coach is still limping to the finish line as he tries to achieve a career milestone.

Eddie Sutton, the former Oklahoma State coach who's now at the University of San Francisco, is 1-4 as the Dons' head coach. He's one win shy of collecting his 800th career win. His 37-year career included stops at Arkansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma State before he joined USF after coach Jessie Evans took a leave of absence last month when he was reportedly told he either needed to resign or would be fired.

The 71-year-old Sutton, who left Oklahoma State after battling drinking problems, has been to 26 NCAA tournaments as a coach. But it seems a little weird to have someone of his stature coaching at such a small school as he goes for such a big milestone. That would be like Joe Paterno going for his 400th win while coaching Stony Brook.

For what it's worth, Sutton's next chance comes later tonight when Frisco travels to Spoke, Wash. to take on the team that shed its mid-major label a long time ago -- Gonzaga. And guess what? ESPN, of course (shocker!!) is going to televise the game. Tip-off is scheduled for midnight, so you might want to get that nap in now before the big game.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Until it strings together some wins, Hofstra’s season is all about Antoine Agudio and his attempt to become the university’s all-time leading scorer. The senior guard has 1,965 points —258 away from breaking Steve Nisenson’s 43-year-old record of 2,222. With 13 games left (and at least one in the CAA Tournament) Agudio will have to average 18.4 points. That is certainly within the realm of possibility for a player averaging 23.2, but hardly a given as pressure will no doubt mount as he closes in on the mark. It also did not help that he missed four games with an ankle injury. Next up for Hofstra: Virgina Commonwealth Wednesday.

BY RODERICK BOONE

If you're like me and have gotten used to watching either college or NFL football every Saturday for the last four months or whatever it's been, then you'll probably be going through football withdrawal tomorrow.

But there's good news for the college hoops junkies out there: Tomorrow's schedule is loaded with prime national games of interest. Here's a list of games involving Top 25 teams for your enjoyment. Just look at all these lovely matchups.

Maryland at No. 1 North Carolina ABC
Southern Miss at No. 2 Memphis
No. 3 Kansas at Missouri ESPNU
USC at No. 4 UCLA CBS
No. 23 Clemson at No. 5 Duke ESPN
Notre Dame at No. 6 Georgetown
Ohio State at No. 7 Tennessee CBS
No. 9 Texas A&M at Kansas State ESPN
No. 12 Butler at Youngstown State
LSU at No. 14 Vanderbilt
No. 15 Mississippi at Auburn
No. 16 Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
Northwestern at No. 17 Wisconsin
Colorado at No. 19 Texas
No. 20 Xavier at George Washington
No. 21 Villanova at Syracuse ESPN
No. 24 Miami (FL) at North Carolina State
No. 25 Arizona State at Stanford

There's talk of a little snow tomorrow (haven't we heard that before), so what better time to get your college basketball fix on. Plop down on the couch, superglue the remote to your hand, and watch the great slate of games until your significant other threatens to peel you off the cozy confines of the couch like one of those old fruit rollups.

BY RODERICK BOONE

With Clemson coach Oliver Purnell doing some good things in Death Valley, you know South Carolina fans were only going to take it for so long. Apologies to Renaldo Balkman, but there hasn't been much to cheer about for Gamecoack fans of late.

NIT appearances aren't going to cut it in Columbia and the fans were clammoring for something to change. Well, they've got their wish. Dave Odom was beginning to feel the pressure and finally decided to step down yesterday. This will be the last season for the 65-year-old, who's decided to retire and move on to the next phase of his life.

"There will be those, through you (the media), who will stick their chest out and say 'We got it done," Odom said. "We were loud and we were angry and our voice was heard and a change was made. And I will tell you without any fear of contradiction, those people could not be further from the truth."

Odom chalked up four 20-win seasons with South Carolina, the last coming in 2005-06.
He went 14-16 a year ago and the pressure began to mount. And in this you-must-win-now culture, it was inevitable something would happen. It always does.

South Carolina made a big splash by signing the Old Ball Coach Steve Spurrier. Let's see who athletic director Eric Hyman comes up with to replace a guy who went 401-268 in 22 years as coach of South Carolina, Wake Forest, and East Carolina.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Attention Knicks: He dunks without jumping, which helps his always-hurting knees. He has troubling running up the court, but can be instant offense in the paint. At 7-7, he is reported to be the tallest player in college or the NBA. He’s a junior at UNC Ashville and, if he can stay healthy, a definite pro prospect. Kenny George, a junior, is averaging 13.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.9 blocked shots—all in about 22 minutes a game.

BY MARCUS HENRY

The 2005-2006 season was considered the year of the little guy in college basketball as seven so-called mid major schools received at-large bids to the NCAA tournament. And with Hofstra getting left out you can make the argument that it should have been eight. The mid-majors who received at-large bids validated the NCAA Tournament selection committee’s confidence as three of those seven schools advanced to the Sweet 16, including George Mason, which made arguably the greatest final four run in the history of the sport. Wichita State and Bradley, both out of the Missouri Valley Conference, won two games.

Other mid majors who did damage were Montana, Northwestern State, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Bucknell. Those schools, who received automatic bids for winning their conference tournaments, won first-round games.

There are at least 17 mid-major schools that could make a case for an at-large bid. You won’t see any Atlantic 10 Conference schools, because unlike some college basketball observers, I don’t consider the A-10 a mid major conference.

Obviously several of the teams listed below won’t need an at-large bid because they will win their conference tournament. Regardless, here is a look the mid major schools that could warrant at-large consideration.

CAA
George Mason (12-5, 4-2): Wins over Kansas State, Dayton and South Carolina could be enough if GM makes a strong run in the CAA tournament. Making the final four in 2006 gave them some serious clout.

Virginia Commonwealth (12-4, 5-1): The Rams have wins over Maryland and Houston, but that’s about it. But since the conference has had a good showing in the tournament the last few seasons, those non-conference wins might be all the Rams need.

CONFERENCE USA
UAB (12-5, 2-0): The Blazers have wins over Cincinnati and Kentucky. An upset of Memphis (for a change), coupled with 20 wins could seal the deal for them.

UTEP (11-4, 2-0): If the Miners can’t beat UAB or upset Memphis at least once, they will have a tough time convincing the committee they are worthy.

Houston (12-3, 1-0): The Cougars have a gaudy overall record, but there isn’t a lot of substance, except for a win over Kentucky. It’ll take more than that (a win over Memphis) to sway the committee.

HORIZON
Butler (16-2, 5-2): Butler has two conference losses already, but wins over Michigan, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech and Ohio State should make it a lock, assuming the team doesn’t suffer another loss or two in the conference.

Cleveland State (13-5, 6-0): Okay so the Vikings have one quality win (Butler). Another win over Butler on February 16 combined with a 20-plus win season could mean an at-large bid. But with five losses already, there can be no margin for error.

MAC
Kent State (14-3, 3-0): Kent has two quality wins over fellow mid majors George Mason and Illinois State. With the MAC’s suspect RPI, the Golden Flashes probably need to finish with 24 or 25 wins and make the MAC title game.

Akron (14-3, 3-0): Akron probably has less of a chance than Kent, but like the Golden Flashes, a 25-win season plus a strong conference tournament run will make the Zips a factor.

MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE
Drake (15-1, 6-0): Drake’s record has put it on everyone’s radar. But the Bulldogs don’t have any quality wins to speak of. Wins over Iowa, Wichita State and Bradley don’t mean much because they are all having down seasons. That could change, however, with a win over Illinois State on January 19.

Illinois State (14-3, 6-0): Wins over Creighton and Cincinnati will keep Illinois State on the selection committee’s radar. But a win over Drake should have the Redbirds on the radar on selection day.

Creighton (13-3, 4-2): A season-opening win over DePaul gave the Bluejays a leg to stand on. A win over conference foes Drake and Illinois State should give them an entire support foundation.

MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
San Diego State (13-4, 3-0): The Aztec’s don’t have much going for them yet. But the tournament committee has been kind to the Mountain West Conference the last few years.

UNLV (13-4, 2-1): The Runnin’ Rebels have wins over Minnesota and UTEP to hang their hat on. As stated earlier, the committee has been kind to the MWC, so UNLV is on the right track.

Air Force (10-6, 2-1): Nearly two years removed from an at-large bid, the Falcons are hoping for the same magic. They beat UNLV already, so part of the battle is already won. A win over San Diego State and 20 wins would help their cause even more.

WEST COAST CONFERENCE
Gonzaga (13-4, 2-0): Wins against Virginia Tech, UConn and St. Joe’s should mean something. The Zags' NCAA Tournament track record notwithstanding, an appearance in the WCC tourney final would go a long way for them.

Saint Mary’s (14-2, 1-0): The Gaels, who beat Oregon on the road, Drake and Seton Hall, probably have a stronger case than Gonzaga. But the Zags’ past accomplishments give them the edge.

Check back next week for week 2 of my Mid Major watch.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

For those of you who missed it, Bob Knight now has 900 Division I victories. But the 67-year-old Texas Tech coach remained stone-faced after the 68-53 triumph over Texas A&M.

ESPN broadcast the post-game ceremony, such as it was. Knight was handed a microphone to address the screaming frenzy of 11,268 fans in Lubbock. ``Our players really played hard tonight against a really good team," Knight said. "You people here tonight, with seats being full for a change, really made one hell of a difference."

Later was later asked to say a few words about reaching 900, most by a male coach in the division. "I'm [expletive] glad it's over – that's a few words," Knight said. "I'm happy that I've been able to coach this long. ... That's a mark of longevity as much as anything else, so I'm just glad I lived this long."

There is every reason to believe he will reach 1,000.

BY RODERICK BOONE

Hofstra-George Mason.

Over the last few seasons, this has been one of the hottest rivalries in the CAA and the latest chapter takes place Thursday at Mack Sports Complex. Here's Pride coach Tom Pecora's thoughts on the Hofstra-Mason series.

"There's lot of history. We've always beaten them here and they've always beaten us there. They beat us here the first year we were in the league. I remember the play ... offensive rebound. They got an offensive rebound with about eight seconds to go in the game, put it in to go up one and that's how they beat us -- on a missed jump shot. We finally beat them in the Patriot Center. Last year was the first time we beat them down there. There's great history. And obviously, you can't avoid it. They went on that (Final Four) run two years ago in that (NCAA) tournament we were supposed to be in, so that is always going to be a part of the history of these two teams."

Below is a scouting report on the game.

The matchup: George Mason (11-5, 3-2 CAA) at Hofstra (3-11, 1-4)
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Mack Sports Complex
TV/Radio: ESPNU/WHRU (88.7)
Key players: Hofstra – Antoine Agudio, Sr., G (25.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.2 apg); Charles Jenkins, Fr., G (13.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.4 apg); Nathaniel Lester (7.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg); George Mason – Will Thomas, Sr., F (15.7 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.0 apg); John Vaughan, Jr., G (13.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.3 apg); Folarian Campbell, Sr., G (11.6, 4.4 rpg, 3.0 apg)
All-time series: Hofstra leads 7-6
Current streaks: Hofstra lost 2; George Mason won 1
Last time out: Hofstra lost to VCU 59-49; GMU beat Northeastern 80-52
The skinny on Mason: George Mason is coming off a 28-point pasting of Northeastern, the Patriots' second-largest win of the season. They opened the season with a nice 6-1 mark, but have cooled off more than the temperature of late, going 5-4 since. The Patriots are 1-3 on the road and winless (0-2) in CAA action away from road games. They haven't fared well in Hempstead, having lost four straight. This will be the first time the two have met since the Patriots beat Hofstra 64-61 in the CAA Tournament. Actually, they have eliminated each other in the CAA Tournament in the last two seasons. Mason is a good defensive team, allowing only 62.8 points per game and are also among the top rebounding teams in the conference with a +4.5 margin.
Outlook: Just when fans are ready to wrap their arms around the Pride, it returns to its losing ways with back-to-back road losses at UNC Wilmington and VCU. Those two losses put Hofstra in a 1-4 hole in the CAA. It's going to be hard to get out of the conference cellar if the Pride don't find a way to beat Mason. Games at Drexel and then a home date with VCU are on the horizon and Hofstra could be starting at an 1-7 conference mark. Bottom line: Hofstra's three wins have all come at the friendly confines of the Mack Sports Complex and it's imperative the Pride find a way to win this one. Fans have already lost interest, so the Pride at least need to give them a reason to press the snooze button and stay awake -- even if it's only momentarily.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Check out the Colonial Athletic Association standings. It is refreshing to see the Delaware Blue Hens lead the pack at 5-0 over the usual suspects. Perhaps it will not last, but included in Delaware's perfect CAA record is victories over George Mason and Old Dominion, two of the old guard CAA teams. Delaware has had little success in the conference since coming over from the America East with Hofstra, Towson and Drexel in the 2001-2002 season. Hofstra and Delaware owned the later years of America East, with Hofstra winning the last two titles before leaving. Now Delaware is at the top and Hofstra is at the bottom in the CAA.

BY JOE GERGEN

As Vincentian institutions of higher learning, St. John's and DePaul share common values. As members of the Big East Conference, they share a similar philosophy when it comes to sports. But they differ strongly in the matter of non-conference scheduling.

Shortly after DePaul defeated St. John's, 60-54, on Saturday at Carnesecca Arena, Blue Demons' coach Jerry Wainwright credited his team's ability to rally from a second-half deficit in an opponent's gym to a schedule that included such nationally-ranked teams as Kansas, Vanderbilt, Mississippi and Clemson. "I really think it's helped us," he said. "Plus, in our city, we're also fighting for the entertainment dollar."

Certainly, it didn't help DePaul's overall record. The Demons were 4-7 against non-conference teams but have begun the Big East season by winning three of thier first four. St. John's, which faces even greater problems attracting attention in New York than DePaul does in Chicago, opened its non-conference campaign by beating four Northeast Conference foes in succession and was 6-5 in non-conference games before losing three of its first four Big East games.

St. John's coach Norm Roberts insisted ACC members Miami and Virginia Tech both were difficult opponents and the former has lived up to that perception. "But it's a totally different scenario," Roberts said. "They've got seven guys in their program for 2-3 years. So that's what you do, you play a schedule like theirs. When you're young, you play a schedule like ours."

Certainly, Wainwright didn't mean to infer St. John's should have stepped up its scheduling. "I think it's really hard for young coaches," he said. "I'm 61. This is my last job and we're swinging for the fences."

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Unless you go for junior college basketball, this is probably another weak week for Long Island’s Division I schools. Suffolk CC-Selden, now 14-0 and ranked third in NJCAA play, hosts Fashion Institute Thursday in what coach Rich Wrase is calling the game of the season.

But the season continues in free fall for our D-I schools. Stony Brook (4-11) plays at Binghamton Tuesday and hosts Boston University Saturday. Hofstra (3-11) is home to George Mason (remember when that was exciting?) and travels to Drexel Saturday. Stony Brook is still trying to make an impact in Division I and is built on promise, not wins. Hofstra is hoping to salvage something out of what surely has become a rebuilding season. Take away top scorer Antoine Agudio and watching young and inexperienced is getting old.

BY JOE GERGEN

Even before his first team at St. Louis University set a modern college basketball record for dubious achievement by scoring a total of 20 points in a loss at George Washington, Rick Majerus was sounding alarms. While he didn't appear ready to abandon ship, the coach did express serious reservations about the state of the program which, perhaps due to the school's proximity to the Mississippi River, he described as "a big barge that's been wallowing in ambivalance."

If he eventually succeeds in turning around the clumsy vessel and heading upstream in the resurgent Atlantic-10 Conference, he may well look back on this week as the pivotal moment. If not, well, the next message may be an SOS. During the weekly teleconference of conference coaches, Majerus said the Billikens were accustomed to playing zone while he insisted on tough man-to-man defense,.

"There's a lot of ways to cook the roast," he said, "but you have to cook it to your own recipe." His recipe worked very well at Ball State and Utah but he questioned the work ethic of some players he inherited. "Playing hard is a skill," he said. "Sometimes, it's an acquired skill."

If the Billikens don't acquire it soon, this situation may bear watching.

BY RODERICK BOONE

Because it sure seems like Hofstra has lost more heartbreakers than any team in the nation. And so it went again last night in North Carolina. Hofstra played admirably and had a lead in the waning minutes before watching UNC Wilmington finish off the game -- and the Pride's chances for its first two-game win streak -- with a 6-0 run.

T.J. Carter went berserk, hitting a big three and another driving floater in the final two minutes to send Hofstra to a 74-69 loss. Stop me if you've heard this before: A few plays here and there down the stretch, and rather than finding themselves wondering how it let the game slip away, the Pride would've won.

"We're very inexperienced and we don't know how to close games out on the road yet," Pride coach Tom Pecora said. "These kind of losses are accumulating for us."

You can check out a recap of the game here.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

A prediction: Albany coach Will Brown will make it to the big time. He already has made two trips to the NCAA Tournament with his America East team and no one will be surprised if he makes it three straight this season. Only UMBC may stand in the way. Albany was nothing when he took over and Brown guided the Great Danes to the top of the conference. Brown makes a nice salary (about $350,000) but bigger money and opportunity awaits the former Miller Place High School and Dowling College star. Look for him in the Big East down the road. Where? St. John's should look his way.

BY MARCUS HENRY

It was another tough home loss for Stony Brook men on Wednesday night. Albany, two-time defending America East champion, dispatched the Seawolves, 80-64, in front of 1,197. What's perplexing about the loss is the tale-of-two-halves type of performance Stony Brook put together.

The Seawolves were awful in the first half, falling behind 42-21. But they came to play in the second half, outscoring Albany, 43-38. Bad starts against good teams won't get it done. In any league.

But there were a couple of bright spots. Redshirt freshman Chris Martin scored a career-high 12 points. And 10 of those came during a 10-2 Stony Brook in the second half run that go it within 10, 65-55, with 2:58 left. There was also Demetrius Young, who scored 10 points (5-6 FG). Young has been a real positive for the team lately. He's averaging almost nine rebounds per game.

Mitch Beauford and Ricky Lucas had off nights. When those two are off, you can forget about Stony Brook winning. Lucas ended up with 15, but 13 of those came late in the second after the game was decided. Beauford managed just four points on 2-for-7 shooting.

Another positive is the team survived against the two top teams in the conference (UMBC, Albany) and weren't totally outclassed. The Seawolves clearly have a long way to go, but they aren't that far from becoming a competitive team.

And you can't fault their dedication. Beauford was in the gym doing jump shot and dribb