In the paint

BY RODERICK BOONE

Norm Roberts isn't going anywhere.

St. John's just sent a release out stating Roberts is still going to be roaming the Red Storms' sidelines next season. With St. John's fading badly down the stretch and once again being irrelevant in the metropolitan area's college basketball scene, there had been whispers about Roberts' job security.

SJU athletic director Chris Monasch put a rest to that by announcing Roberts is safe for next season and beyond.

“In recent weeks there has been speculation regarding the status of Norm Roberts’ future as head men’s basketball coach at St. John's University,” Monasch said in a statement. “Most of those comments focused on the pace of progress measured solely by wins. Our assessment of what Norm and his staff have accomplished over the past four years is broader than that, and in many key areas the progress is consistent with the expectations expressed by the University, our supporters and Coach Roberts when he was hired in 2004. Norm has established the foundation of a great program – integrity, hard work and discipline – and while we join many of our loyal fans in wanting to see that foundation generate greater success on the court, we are confident that the program will return to its winning tradition in the very near future.

"I felt it was important to make this announcement at this time so that our coaches and players can focus on the last three games of the season as we attempt to qualify for the Big East Championship Tournament," Monasch's statement continued. "Also, it is important for recruits who are in the process of making decisions to know that Norm Roberts will be the coach at St. John’s University."

So in essence, for those who wanted Roberts out, it's not going to happen.

To check out Joe Gergen's story on Roberts, click here.

BY RODERICK BOONE

NEWARK, Del. – It’s his. Antoine Agudio’s name now sits atop Hofstra’s career scoring list.

Agudio’s season-long pursuit of the record came to a climax moments ago inside Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center. With a 15-foot fadeaway jumper with 18:18 left in the second half of the Pride’s CAA matchup with the Blue Hens, the Hofstra senior guard eclipsed Steve Nisenson’s 43-year-old record of 2,222 points.

Agudio needed just 11 to break the mark coming in and wanted to get it over with. He sure looked that way at the outset, scoring Hofstra’s first points of the game on a jumper a step away from the free throw line. He had 10 points in the first half before hitting the bucket to shave Delaware’s lead to 31-29.

The Walt Whitman High School product likely would have broken the record sooner had he not sat out three games midway through the season with an ankle injury. Agudio has now reached the double-digit scoring plateau in 60 of his last 61 games and 114 times in 120 career games.

Hofstra plans on honoring Agudio at the senior day festivities Saturday prior to tipoff against Drexel in the Pride’s regular-season finale at Mack Sports Complex. The ceremony is expected to start at 11:30, a half hour before the game’s noon start.

BY RODERICK BOONE

NEWARK, Del. -- I'm setting up shop here at the Bob Carpenter Center. We're here to see if Hofstra can keep this thing going and move to within one game of .500 in the CAA.

Ok, really we are here to witness history. As many of you are likely aware, Antoine Agudio is 11 points shy of breaking Hofstra's 43-year-old career scoring record, which was set by Steve Nisenson. Funny, but Agudio was one of the last ones to emerge from the Hofstra locker room. Perhaps he was making sure he is going to look good for the TV cameras.

Oh wait, there aren't any here since this game isn't on TV. One of the local TV stations could always show up, however. But mostly, if you want to view video of Agudio's feat, you will have to check back with this amateur photographer/videographer. I plan on getting video of the record breaker and have it posted on our Web site. Wish me luck.

When he does break the record, we will make sure you guys are the first to know so keep it right here. Now it's time to get back to work.

UPDATE 7:24 p.m. -- Agudio has four points with 7:36 left in the first half. He's struggling a little bit, hitting just 2 of 7 shots. He's 0-for-1 from three.

UPDATE 7:30 -- A fastbreak layup gives Agudio six points and he's five shy of breaking the record now.

UPDATE 7:45 -- Agudio scored four points in the final 1:17, including a long jumper with 23.9 left. It initially appeared as if the shot was a three, but his foot was clearly over the line. He's officially tied with Nisenson an his next bucket will put him in a class by himself.

UPDATE 7:50 -- We are at the half.

UPDATE 7:55 -- Agudio hit a fallaway jumper near the free throw line to give him the record breaker.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Some loonies in Indiana want Bob Knight back to coach the Hoosiers, figuring his bully pulpit will make all things right after a messy parting with phone-addict Kevin Sampson, who was bought out for $750,000. Luckily, George Steinbrenner does not run the institution known as Indiana basketball and that Billy Martin-like move will not happen despite what the apologists for Knight are dishing out. And the St. John’s fan hocking me about Knight heading here to replace Norm Roberts can also forget it. Like the guy who coaches the Knicks, Roberts isn’t going anywhere for awhile.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Saturday will mark Antoine Agudio Day at Hofstra. That is not an official Hofstra designation but there is no denying the day will be all about the senior guard who likely will enter the last regular season game of the year as Hofstra’s all-time leading scorer. Agudio will undoubtedly get the 11 points he needs tomorrow night at Delaware.

A pre-game ceremony on Senior Day is expected to include Steve Nisenson (2,222 points), the soon to be former record holder who wore the same uniform number (13) as Agudio. By the way, that number will not be retired any time soon. Hofstra athletic director Jack Hayes said the university is exploring a format for retiring numbers. No basketball players have had their numbers retired.

BY MARCUS HENRY

The Memphis-Tennessee game didn't have the impact some might have thought. As you will see below, Duke losing two games in a row had a bigger impact as North Carolina took over the top spot. Duke is a 2 seed for now, but that could change if the Blue Devils take care of UNC in the regular season finale...A few weeks ago the Atlantic 10 was looking like a four-bid conference. Needless to say that has changed. Rhode Island and Dayton are out...The Big East has eight bids. And don't look for Syracuse to become the ninth. The Orangemen need to win the Big East Tourney to get in...The MAC could get an at-large bid if Kent can't win the tournament...The CAA has become a two-bid conference...The Mountain West is a lock for two teams and could get a third if New Mexico finishes the season strong...That bid could come from the SEC or the Big 12 if Arkansas and Baylor don't turn themselves around.

SOUTH - HOUSTON
LITTLE ROCK
1. Memphis – The loss to Tennessee shouldn’t effect the Tigers’ seeding.
16. Austin Peay (OVC winner)

8. Florida – No danger here, but Florida could drop a seed with another loss.
9. Miami – The ‘Canes have won four in a row.

TAMPA
5. Marquette – Marquette has recovered from its midseason slumber.
12. George Mason – This might be a stretch, but Final Four teams get the benefit.

4. Purdue – Wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State prove Purdue is for real.
13. Davidson (Southern Conference winner)

ANAHEIM
6. Gonzaga – Winning six of seven keeps the Zags here.
11. St. Joe’s – Sunday’s win at Rhode Island keeps the Hawks in.

3. Michigan State – Losses to Purdue and Indiana drops the Spartans down a notch.
14. CS Northridge (Big West winner)

BIRMINGHAM
7. Pittsburgh – Three straight losses knocks Pitt down a few pegs.
10. USC – Two straight wins after two straight losses keeps USC hanging around.

2. Texas – The Longhorns have quietly emerged as the Big 12’s best.
15. UMBC (America East)

MIDWEST - DETROIT
OMAHA
1. Tennesse – The Volunteers are the hottest ticket in the land.
16. (Play-in teams) – SWAC/SOUTHLAND.

8. BYU – The Cougars are dangerous
9. Houston – The Cougars had won two of their last four. But the losses were at Memphis and at UAB. They’ll stay here if they sweep their final four games.

DENVER
5. Notre Dame – Kyle McAlarney makes the Irish a team to look out for.
12. Western Kentucky - With 21 wins, the Hilltoppers are on a mission.

4. Wisconsin – A strong No. 4 seed.
13. Utah State (WAC winner)

OMAHA
6. St. Mary’s - Loss to Kent drops St. Mary’s a notch.
11. UAB – A win over Houston and a close loss to Memphis makes UAB a tourney team.

3. Indiana – Sampson’s departure hasn’t effected the Hoosiers, yet.
14. Marist (MAAC winner)

RALEIGH
7. Mississippi State – The Bulldogs have benefited from a weak SEC.
10. Ohio State – With Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue and Michigan State still left, the Buckeyes could find themselves on the outside looking in next week.

2. Georgetown – The Hoyas need to keep winning to hold off Indiana.
15. Lafayette (Patriot winner)

WEST - PHOENIX
ANAHEIM
1. UCLA – The Bruins have overcome a bad loss to Washington last week.
16. Jacksonville (Atlantic Sun winner)

8. West Virginia – A recent loss to Villanova makes the Mountaineers' last four games critical.
9. Arkansas – The Razorbacks absolutely MUST win at Alabama on Wednesday.

TAMPA
5. Xavier – Xavier has won 10 straight and is surging.
12. Illinois State – The Missouri Valley Conference has enough clout to get an at-large bid.

4. Stanford – The Cardinal could be a 3 when it’s all said and done.
13. UNC Asheville (Big South winner)

LITTLE ROCK
6. Drake – Drake was a 4 (Probably too high), but losses to Southern Illinois and Bradley knocked off some of the luster.
11. Texas A & M – The Aggies were looking good until a three-game losing streak hit them like a ton of bricks.

3. Louisville – The Cardinals are blazing hot. Don’t be surprised if they end up as a No.2 seed.
14. Oral Roberts (Summit winner)

WASHINGTON D.C.
7. Vanderbilt – Winners of six straight, Vandy could rise to a six.
10. UNLV – The Runnin’ Rebels have won three of four and should remain here.

2. Duke – Two straight losses makes Duke a No.2 for now.
15. Morgan State (MEAC winner)

EAST - CHARLOTTE
RALEIGH
1. North Carolina – This will change if UNC loses to Duke in its regular season finale.
16. Wagner (Northeast winner)

8. Villanova – Consecutive wins over West Virginia and Connecticut put the Wildcats in.
9. Kansas State – Losers of three of their last four, the Wildcats need a boost.

DENVER
5. Washington State – The Cougars, winners of four of five, are surging at the right time.
12. Kent State (MAC winner) – With Saturday’s win over St. Mary’s, Kent could get an at-large if it loses in the MAC Tournament.

4. Butler – Its loss to Drake notwithstanding, Butler has a strong enough resume to stay at the fourth seed.
13. VCU (CAA winner) – VCU could grab and at-large bid if they lose in the CAA tournament.

WASHINGTON D.C.
6. Clemson – The Loss to Florida State hurt, but Clemson’s third-place status in the ACC keeps it here.
11. South Alabama – Another loss and the Jaguars could be off to the NIT.

3. Connecticut – Surprise! The Huskies are here.
14. Cornell – Not much room for Cornell to move upward.

BIRMINGHAM
7. Arizona – Arizona is waking a real tight rope.
10. Wake Forest – Three straight wins, including one over Duke, makes the Demon Deacons a major player.

2. Kansas – Another loss and the Jayhawks will be looking at a No.3 seed.
15. Northern Arizona (Big Sky winner)

Bid by conference: America East (1), Atlantic 10 (2), ACC (5), Atlantic Sun (1), Big East (8), Big 10 (5), Big 12 (4), Big Sky (1), Big South (1), Big West (1), CUSA (3), CAA (2), Horizon (2), Ivy (1), MAAC (1), MAC (1), MEAC (1), Missouri Valley (2), Mountain West (2), Northeast (1), OVC (1), Pac 10 (5), SEC (5), Southern (1), Southland / SWAC (1), Summit (1), Sunbelt (2), WAC (1), West Coast Conference (2).

BY RODERICK BOONE

He's almost there.

Antoine Agudio rebounded from a slow start and dropped in 24 points this afternoon in Hofstra's relatively easy 81-63 win over Iona. The senior guard is now just 11 points shy of breaking the program's 43-year-old mark of 2,222 set by Steve Nisenson.

He's got at least three games left and something unforseen would have to take place for him to not finish off a brilliant career as the guy who scored the most points in a Hofstra uniform.

Really, though, Charles Jenkins stole the spotlight from Agudio against the Gaels. Jenkins poured in a career-high 28 points and swiped a career-best 10 boards to help the Pride win to its season-long third straight win.

By the way, starting point guard Greg Johnson bruised the upper thigh in his right leg in the opening moments of the second half when he collided with a teammate at midcourt. He had to be helped off the court and didn't return, sitting on the bench with a bandage and ice wrapped around it. Coach Tom Pecora didn't seem too worried about the injury, but it will bear watching.

Even without Johnson, and despite an ineffective Dane Johnson (two points, two rebounds), Hofstra still had its way with Iona on the Gaels' turf. It's looking like the Pride has turned the proverbial corner, but the players don't think they've completely hit their stride.

"We haven't really peaked yet," Agudio said.

With the postseason two weeks away, that could be a good thing. Hofstra is on its best run of the season, scoring 80 points in three consecutive games for the first time since the 1999-2000 team did it for seven straight contests. It's been an exciting, and promising, stretch.

"This is what I envisioned us being," Pecora said.

And now, back to our regular scheduled program. Here's the latest edition of The Agudio Watch.

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,212
Points shy of breaking school scoring record: 11
Last outing: Scored 24 points vs. Iona Saturday
Next game: Wednesday at Delaware
Latest projection: Unless something crazy happens, Agudio is virtually assured of breaking the record against Delaware. He's averaging 22.8 points per game and scored 26 against the Blue Hens in the Pride's Feb. 2 meeting at Mack Sports Complex.

BY JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

Memphis’ undefeated season ends Saturday.
Oh no?
No. 1 Memphis hasn’t played a team like No. 2 Tennessee yet. The Volunteers can match the Tiger’s athleticism and match their scoring. Memphis has beat quality teams, but none like Tennessee. The Tigers beat UConn, before it found its identity, a Georgetown team that can struggle to score and a good but not great Gonzaga team.
Tennessee is averaging 83.9 points per game to Memphis’s 80.8 and the Volunteers are shooting 46 percent from the field and 36.2 from three. Memphis’ shooting numbers are comparable, but Tennessee is shooting a bit better from behind the arch.
Since Memphis (26-0) runs dribble-drive motion, its inconsistent three-point shooting can be its Achilles heel against a high scoring team like Tennessee (24-2). Long rebounds could lead to the Volunteers punishing Memphis in transition or answering misses with quick scores out of the half court set.
Plus you have to factor in senior All-America candidate Chris Lofton, who is averaging 15.4 points per contest and is one of three Tennessee players averaging double figures. Memphis, which looked shaky in a one-point win at UAB last Saturday, has not had to deal with a legitimate and experienced backcourt star.
The advantage Memphis will have is its size and experience in the front court. Sophomores Wayne Chism and Tyler Smith are very good players, but I would rather go to war with Memphis juniors Robert Dozier and Joey Dorsey. Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas Roberts get a lot of attention, but in my opinion Dozier and Dorsey’s brute force and athleticism is what makes Memphis a great team instead of a very good one. Dorsey is a beast at 6-foot-9 and 265 points.
The FedEx Forum will be a madhouse Saturday because Memphis fans know that a win means their team will likely be the first team to enter the NCAA tournament undefeated since UNLV in 1991. The only trouble game left would be UAB at home to finish the regular season, but it won’t matter.
Tennessee will tame the Tigers.

BY RODERICK BOONE

There's reports surfacing that Kelvin Sampson is out at Indiana. If so, there's a certain guy who thinks it's a good idea and believes his time is up.

If anything, don't feel sorry for Sampson. The people we should feel sorry for are the players, who might've had their season blown up right when we are nearing the most exciting time -- the NCAA postseason.

But don't be surprised if the Hoosiers make a deep run in the Big Dance. This experience might infuriate the players and give them an us-against-the-world mentality. You've got to believe that many of them like Sampson and will try to take out their frustrations on their opponents.

Oh yeah, by the way you can say goodbye to Eric Gordon. Think the sensational freshman won't be one and done and headed to the NBA after this episode?

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,188
Points shy of breaking school scoring record: 35
Last outing: Scored 27 points vs. Towson Wednesday
Next game: Saturday at Iona
Latest projection: At his current pace of 22.8 points per game, he will break the record Wednesday in the Pride's final regular-season road game at rival Delaware.

RODERICK BOONE

BY MARCUS HENRY

There has been one thing missing from Hofstra during the Antoine Agudio, Loren Stokes era; an inside presence. During Hofstra's NIT seasons, the Pride relied on Agudio, Stokes and Carlos Rivera to carry the team. When coach Tom Pecora needed a basket down the stretch, he knew he could rely on one of his big three to produce.

But if one or two of the aforementioned stars were off, finding offense was difficult. The tide appears to be changing at Hofstra. Oh, don't worry, Antoine Agudio is still the main man for the Pride. He scored 27, including 12 during a key second-half run in Hofstra's 81-67 win over Towson Wednesday night. Charles Jenkins, Hofstra's second leading scorer added 17 points.

But Agudio, who's 35 points away from becoming Hofstra's all-time leading scorer, and Jenkins had a lot of help, Dane Johnson finished with 10 points, Darren Townes added eight points and Greg Washington finished with 4. A combined 22 points from the Pride's three frontcourt players may not sound like a lot, but when you consider how little of an offense presence Hofstra has had over the years,

Pecora sees the potential in Johnson, Townes and Washington. But he won't let either one of them rest. "It's huge," Pecora said when asked about the impact his froncourt players have had. He also added that he wants more. "Dane has got to be a double double guy," Pecora said of Johnson's five rebounds.

As for Townes, his athleticism allows him to finish with authority. But he has a penchant for missing layups, which is something that has driven Pecora crazy at times this year. "Darren misses a layup a game," Pecora joked.

It's no coincidence that Hofstra's recent run of success comes at the same time its big men have improved. Johnson has scored eight or more points in eight of his last 12 games and Townes has eclipsed double figures in three of his last four contests.

Hofstra has a chance to finish .500 in the CAA and to really make some noise in the conference tournament. If Agudio doesn't have to shoulder the load every night, the Pride could surprise.

BY RODERICK BOONE

With Antoine Agudio's pursuit of Hofstra's record heating up, so too is our Newsday coverage of senior guard's potential feat.

Mark Herrmann wrote a great story on Steve Nisenson and his thoughts on the distinct possibility of his 43-year-old record going down within the next few weeks. It's a good read and you can check it out here.

Also, another veteran Newsday scribe, Steven Marcus, explores the possibility of Tom Pecora pulling Agudio out of the Pride's game at Delaware a week from tomorrow if the game is well in hand. At his current pace, that's when Agudio is projected to break the record. But anyone who follows Hofstra knows there's been very few instances this season where the Pride had the luxury of sitting Agudio down because a favorable outcome had long been decided. The guy leads the nation in minutes per game at 39.3 and has played 40 minutes or more nine times this season.

But it's kind of intriguing, really. Hofstra people, of course, would love to see Agudio break the record at home and it's going to be fun to see how and when he does it.

Stay tuned.

BY JOE GERGEN

One of the ironies of Duke's first loss in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season is the relationship of Mike Krzyzewski to Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio. The latter began his college head coaching career at West Point, just as Coach K had done two decades earlier.

"I think it was Lou Holtz who said, 'You should talk to your predecessors,'" Gaudio said yesterday. "So when I got the job [at Army], I called Mike and he said he'd see me at Five-Star camp. He was incredibly helpful. He's a great person. We talked about recruiting at the academy and about how to coach the players they get. We developed a friendship over the years.We're not the best of friends but I value the friendship we have."

It was in the last of Gaudio's four years at West Point that the Blue Devils engaged the Cadets for the first time in six decades although it hardly enhanced Gaudio's standing. Duke won, 100-38, in Durham. Gaudio endured four losing seasons at the academy before moving on to Loyola (Md.) but he needn't feel badly abou that. The last coach with an overall winning record at Army was Krzyzewski, who is now recognized as perhaps the best in the businesss.

And Gaudio did get a little payback for that crushing defeat in December, 1996, when Wake, in its first season under Gaudio who placed former boss Skip Prosser, the victim of a fatal heart attac last year, upset Duke on Sunday night.

BY RODERICK BOONE

Really, he needs no introduction to most. Anyone who has followed Hofstra basketball over the last few years knows precisely who Loren Stokes is. But anyway, here's a refresher.

Stokes, whose career began in 2003 and ended last season, paired with Carlos Rivera and Agudio to form the nation's most potent backcourt last season. He guided the Pride to three consecutive 20-win seasons and a trio of berths in the NIT. After coming close to earning the award his previous two seasons, he was the CAA's player of year his senior year after averaging a career-high 20.3 points per game. The three-time first-team All-CAA pick barely missed out on earning CAA player of the year honors during his sophomore and junior seasons, finishing twice in the voting both years.

When Stokes left Hofstra, he was fifth in the assists (377) and steals (180) category, not to mention racked up enough rebounds (657) to place him 15th. He was a Cal Ripken-like ironman, tying the school record for most games played in with 124 after failing to miss one game during his outstanding career.

Stokes was also a big contributor during his junior season, aiding in the Pride's program-trying 26-win campaign. It was one of Hofstra's most memorable seasons -- especially since the Pride felt jilted it didn't get invited to the NCAA Tournament -- and one that saw the Pride earn its first two Division I postseason victories on the way to making it to the NIT quarterfinals.

Stokes was easily one of the most electrifying players even to don Hofstra's gold, blue, and white unis. He had a cup of coffee with the Orlando Magic in the summer league before bouncing overseas to Belgium, where he's now playing for Aalstar.

BY RODERICK BOONE

With the exception of Speedy Claxton, Antoine Agudio doesn't know much about the people he's blowinig by as he ascends up Hofstra's all-time scoring list. But he knows plenty about the guy the he passed Saturday afternoon on the way to dropping 30 points in the Pride's 86-85 win over James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va.

Agudio needed just 17 points to tie former teammate Loren Stokes and went ahead of him with his 24-point first-half output. He did it in a variety of ways, showing off his deadly jump shot as well as driving to the basket and scoring under control. So now when it comes to the freshman class of 2003, the bragging rights belong to Agudio, although he praised the skills of his former teammate.

"He was a great player, a great scorer," Agudio said.

Never one who likes to talk about his individual accomplishments, Agudio did admit that today's effort has a special feel to it. Not only did he pass Stokes, but it came in a victory. It doesn't get much sweeter than that.

"It means a lot," Agudio said. "It's a great accomplishment because he was a great player. I feel much better now. I'm happy that I moved up on the list and we got the win. So I feel real, real good right now."

Agudio's eyes remain fixed on the No. 1 spot occupied by Steve Nisenson, who recorded 2,222 points in three seasons and has held the record for 43 years. He has 2,161 career points and needs 62 to break it. He's on track to do it Feb. 27 in the Pride's final road game of the season at Delaware.

BY MARCUS HENRY

There were a few changes, but nothing earth shattering. Oh, except for Kansas being dropped to a second seed because of a loss to Texas. Tennesse moves into the top spot in the Midwest. UCLA, after getting dumped by Washington, could be the next to go if they drop another game.

SOUTH - HOUSTON
LITTLE ROCK
1. Memphis – Still no debating this.
16. (Play-in teams) – SWAC/SOUTHLAND.

8. Florida
9. Maryland

TAMPA
5. Butler
12. St. Joe’s

4. Pittsburgh
13. Davidson (Southern Conference winner)

ANAHEIM
6. Gonzaga
11. Syracuse

3. Texas
14. CS Northridge (Big West winner)

BIRMINGHAM
7. Purdue
10. USC

2. Michigan State
15. UMBC (America East)

MIDWEST - DETROIT
OMAHA
1. Tennesse - The newest No.1 seed might be the hottest team in the land.
16. Austin Peay (OVC winner)

8. Clemson
9. BYU - This could be a stetch, but the Cougars have won 7 straight.

DENVER
5. Wisconsin
12. Western Kentucky - With 20 wins under their belts, the Hilltoppers are riding high.

4. St. Mary’s
13. Utah State (WAC winner)

OMAHA
6. Notre Dame
11. UAB

3. Indiana - Hopefully the Hoosiers don't get sanctioned.
14. Marist (MAAC winner)

RALEIGH
7. Mississippi State
10. Ohio State

2. Georgetown – The Hoyas need too many things to happen to be a No.1 seed.
15. Lafayette (Patriot winner)

WEST - PHOENIX
ANAHEIM
1. UCLA – This could be the last week for the Bruins in this spot.
16. Jacksonville (Atlantic Sun winner)

8. West Virginia
9. Houston

TAMPA
5. Louisville
12. Illinois State

4. Stanford
13. UNC Asheville (Big South winner)

LITTLE ROCK
6. Marquette
11. UNLV

3. Xavier
14. Oral Roberts (Summit winner)

WASHINGTON D.C.
7. Arkansas - A recent loss to Tennessee won't diminish the Razorbacks' flame.
10. Baylor

2. North Carolina – If the Heels can win the rematch against Duke, they could elevate to a top seed.
15. Morgan State (MEAC winner)

EAST - CHARLOTTE
RALEIGH
1. Duke – Coach K's crew continues to roll.
16. Wagner (Northeast winner)

8. Vanderbilt
9. Rhode Island

DENVER
5. Connecticut
12. Kent State (MAC winner)

4. Drake
13. VCU (CAA winner)

WASHINGTON D.C.
6. Kansas State
11. South Alabama

3. Washington State
14. Cornell

BIRMINGHAM
7. Arizona
10. Texas A & M

2. Kansas - Losing to Texas was big.
15. Northern Arizona (Big Sky winner)

BY RODERICK BOONE

Anyone noticed how well UConn is playing of late? Jim Calhoun's crew is on a serious roll, having won eight straight after knocking off No. 20 Notre Dame 84-78 last night.

The Hukies were led by Amityville grad A.J. Price's 26 points and Irish coach Mike Brey lauded Price, saying he's a big reason why No. 17 UConn has turned things around. Price was 10 for 19 from the floor, drained four treys and had nine assists.

"I think he has been a key to their run, how he is stirring the drink so to speak," Brey told reporters afterward. "He was fabulous. We really had a hard time with him."

UConn is 19-5 and 8-3 in the Big East, which remarkably places the Huskies in second place. They have played solid ball since starting guard Jerome Dyson and backup guard Doug Wiggins were suspended. The team seems to have responded.

Man, I wouldn't want to play those guys in the postseason. It seems like they are coming together at the right time. March Madness is just a few weeks away and if you ask any coach, they will tell you this is the time of year when you want to start peaking.

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,131
Points shy of school scoring record: 91
Last outing: Scored 13 points vs. Northeastern Wednesday
Next game: Saturday at James Madison
Latest projection: At his current pace of 22.2 points per game, he will break the record March 1 in the regular-season finale against Drexel at home.

RODERICK BOONE

BY JOE GERGEN

Although Kentucky suffered its worst loss in Southeastern Conference competition and was limited to an unthinkable 11 points in the first half by Vanderbilt on Tuesday night, it was not nearly the most embarrassing moment in the proud history of the Wildcats' program. A far better Kentucky game suffered that fate on the grand stage of the Final Four.

The 1983-84 Wildcats arrived in Seattle with a 29-4 record and realistic expectations of a second national championship in seven years. They had a front line of 7-1 Sam Bowie, 6-11 Melvin Turpin and 6-8 Kenny Walker and a roster chock full of Parade all-Americans. And, after the first half of their semifinal encounter against Georgetown, they also had a 29-22 lead.

What happened thereafter was shocking. Not a single Kentucky starter made a field goal in the second half. Under pressure from Patrick Ewing and 6-9 Michael Graham, the Wildcats missed their first 11 shots after intermission, made one of 22 while the outcome was being decided and finished with three of 33 in the half, a percentage of .0909. They scored all of 11 points at the KingDome en route to a 53-40 defeat.

"Never have we shot or have I seen a team shoot as bad as we did in the second half," coach Joe B. Hall said. "I can't explain it." To some, Hall finally answered the question of what the initial stood for: Befuddled.

And, yes, they scored all of 11 points en route to a 53-40 defeat.

BY RODERICK BOONE

Wonder if the players are wearing dark sunglasses around camups in Lexington today. What an embarassment.

Kentucky was throttled by Vanderbilt 93-52 in a nationally televised game on ESPN last night. Ashley Judd was in the house and it's hard to believe she didn't get up and walk out on that debacle.

It was the worst loss the Wildcats have ever suffered in SEC play. They were down 44-11 at the half. There was 15 minutus left and the Wildcats trailed 55-19. That's 19 points in 25 minutes.

How bad did it get? With 9:37 left, Vandy emptied its bench and brought the scr..., er bench players who work really hard in practice, in. Some checked back in two minutes later, perhaps so it wouldn't appear they were rubbing it in and throwing in the Jerry Tarkanian towel early. But this was a severe beating.

"To have them to stomp us into the ground like that, it's horrible," freshman Patrick Patterson told reporters after the game. "They played like men, and we played like boys."

Actually, it appeared as if the Wildcats didn't play period. Looks like it wasn't all Tubby Smith's fault after all, huh?

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Second year coach C.W. Post coach Tim Cluess is 20-2 and 15-0 in the East Coast Conference.Great hire! Post did not wonder who would replace legendary Tom Galeazzi upon his retirement. The only question was how much Cluess would cost. Not that much, knowing the tight fisted budgets in Division II. Dowling also wanted Cluess, who made St. Mary’s an elite high school program and won the Region XV title in his first and only season at Suffolk CC-Brentwood, but Post had more to offer with its facilities. Cluess was 19-11 last year and now could be looking at an NCAA bid. The eighth head coach in the Pioneers’ history may yield the most post-season success.

By ERIK BOLAND

The recently retired Bob Knight once referred to officials as the most protected group of individuals in America.

Former Georgetown coach John Thompson over a decade ago inquired why a 19 or 20-year-old had to address the media after a close loss and answer questions regarding two missed free throws or a critical mistake, while officials answered to no one.

Both coaches’ musings were mostly dismissed as the rantings of notorious ref-baiters, but every once in a while Knight and Thompson’s comments come to mind. Such as after Georgetown’s 55-53 victory over Villanova last night when Thompson’s son, John Thompson III, was the beneficiary of a call by Bob Donato, a pretty good official for the most part, that required some explaining.

The game looked as if it was headed for overtime as Georgetown’s Jonathan Wallace had the ball deep in the backcourt, the score tied at 53 and the seconds ticking. On the left sideline, Wallace received a slight bump by Villanova’s Corey Stokes.

Tweeeeeet.

Donato called Stokes for a foul, 70 feet from the basket, with one-tenth of a second left. Wallace hit both free throws for a 55-53 Georgetown victory. There’s an old basketball expression that says a foul in the first minute of a game is a foul in the last minute, too.

Whatever.

The call against Stokes wouldn’t have passed muster had it occurred 30 seconds into the game, let alone with one-tenth of a second left in a tie game.

All the relevant parties talked afterward, except Donato, who didn’t have to talk to anyone.
Wallace, so shaken by the contact he later referred to as a “nudge”, simply said, “a call’s a call.”

“I was just playing defense, and the ref called a foul,” Stokes said.

Said Villanova coach Jay Wright: “I can’t complain about it because I didn't see it.”

Difficult to determine if Wright was engaging in some ambiguity there, but overall coaches rarely criticize officials in public. Fines from the NCAA will follow. Accountability for officials doesn’t.

Officials have a difficult job, one where a nightly toil in anonymity is a badge of honor. They shouldn’t be forced to meet with the press after every close game but last night’s disgraceful ending left at least one question unanswered. And the only one qualified to answer it wasn’t talking.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Hofsta was 5-13 in the 2001-2002 season—its first in the CAA—and went to the post season tournament as an unheralded doormat. But it beat Towson and then George Mason in the first two games. Suddenly, Tom Pecora’s first year as head coach was considered successful. This uneven season appears to be setting up the same interesting scenerio. Hofstra has meandered through the regular season but the presence of presumptive CAA player of the year Antoine Agudio may mean some excitement at the end. In a year where little has been expected, Pecora may yet have some surprises.

BY RODERICK BOONE

Go figure.

Purdue was picked to finish in the lower half of the Big 10 standings and the Boilermakers are proving why preseason predictions are about as trustworthy as the weather man.

With its upset 72-67 victory over No. 8 Wisconsin on the Badgers' home court Saturday, No. 24 Purdue found itself in first place as the Boilermakers extended their winning streak to nine while snapping the Badgers' 16-game home win streak.

It was Purdue's first road victory over a top 10 team since March 1, 1998 when it won at then-No. 10 Michigan State. It was also the first time the Boilermakers had knocked off the Badgers (19-4, 9-2) in Madison since Feb. 7, 1996. Freshman Robbie Hummel, who netted a career-best 21 points Saturday, was 6 years old then.

The Boilermakers are 19-5 overall and 10-1 in the league, their best start in the conference in 20 years. They control their own fate in terms of the Big 10 title race and are gunning for their first regular season crown since 1996. Their next test comes tomorrow when they host No. 11 Michigan State. The Spartans are the only team to handm Purdue a loss in conference play so far.

Keep your eye on the Baby Boilers. Purdue could be one of those teams that finds itself in the Sweet 16 -- or beyond -- in next month's NCAA Tournament.

BY RODERICK BOONE

With a layup late in the first half of Hofstra's 57-45 win over Georgia State today, Antoine Agudio moved into sole possession of third place and past Rich Laurel on the school's all-time scoring list. So who exactly is Laurel? We 'splain below in our latest Hofstra hoops history lesson.

Laurel played for Hofstra from 1973-77, guiding it to a 23-7 mark, an East Coast Conference championship, and a berth against Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament during his senior season. He averaged a whopping 30.3 points per game, the highest single-season mark in program history. He scored 908 points in his senior year alone, shooting 53.5 percent from the field and 80.8 percent from the charity stripe. He was Hofstra's leading scorer in 20 consecutive games and scored at least 25 points in 17 of those contests, a big reason he was the recipient of the Haggerty Award. It's given annually to best player in the metropolitan area.

As a junior, he helped lead Hofstra to its first Division I appearance in the NCAA Tournament with a 20.3 points per game average.

Following his impressive career at Hofstra, he was a first-round draft selection of the Portland Trail Blazers and played for a portion of one season with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Here's the latest tally after Hofstra's 57-45 win over Georgia State this afternoon at Mack Sports Complex.

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,118
Points shy of school scoring record: 104
Last outing: Scored 25 points vs. Georgia State Saturday
Next game: Wednesday vs. Northeastern
Latest projection: At his current pace of 22.7 points per game, he will break the record Feb. 27 at Delaware.

RODERICK BOONE

BY RODERICK BOONE

Seems like just yesterday we were watching Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Tyrus Thomas and the LSU Tigers capturing the attention of the nation with their run to the Final Four. Well, it must seem like light years ago to LSU athletic director Skip Bertman and Tiger Nation down in Baton Rouge, La. because the ax has fallen on coach John Brady.

Apparently, Bertman was going to wait until Saturday to fire Brady. That's when the 8-13 Tigers play No. 7 Tennessee and I'm guessing Bertman wasn't confident LSU was going to pull that one out. But when word leaked Bertman planned on geting rid of Brady over the weekend, he decided to cut ties with the 53-year-old coach who's been at LSU since the 1997-1998 season, compiling a mark of 192-139.

Attendance was sagging, but Bertman said that wasn't the sole reason for his decision to fire Brady, who had three years remaining on his contract at $300,000 per season.
"The ultimate reason John was fired was not attendance," Bertman told reporters at a press conference this afternoon. "They just didn't win enough games."

Assistant Butch Pierre will coach the Tigers for the remainder of the season and LSU will more than likely conduct a national search. Look for VCU coach Anthony Grant's name to be tossed into the mix soon.

BY MARCUS HENRY

It's time for an early projection of the NCAA Tournament. Of course things will change in the next few weeks. But if the tournament was held today, this is what it could look like.

SOUTH - HOUSTON
LITTLE ROCK
1. Memphis – Memphis should enter the tourney as the No.1 seed.
16. (Play-in teams) – SWAC/SOUTHLAND.

8. Purdue
9. Maryland

TAMPA
5. Butler
12. St. Joe’s

4. Pittsburgh
13. Davidson (Southern Conference winner)

ANAHEIM
6. Gonzaga
11. Syracuse

3. Texas
14. CS Northridge (Big West winner)

BIRMINGHAM
7. Florida
10. Dayton

2. Michigan State
15. UMBC (America East)

MIDWEST - DETROIT
OMAHA
1. Kansas – A shaky number one because of a weak non-conference schedule.
16. Austin Peay (OVC winner)

8. Southern Cal
9. Clemson

DENVER
5. Wisconsin
12. Miami

4. St. Mary’s
13. Utah State (WAC winner)

OMAHA
6. Notre Dame
11. BYU

3. Indiana
14. Marist (MAAC winner)

RALEIGH
7. Mississippi State
10. Ohio State

2. Georgetown – If Kansas loses again in the regular season or in the BIG 12 Tourney, the Hoyas will pounce.
15. Lafayette (Patriot winner)

WEST - PHOENIX
ANAHEIM
1. UCLA – The Bruins can’t afford a letdown, especially with UNC breathing down their neck.
16. Jacksonville (Atlantic Sun winner)

8. Baylor
9. West Virginia

TAMPA
5. Marquette
12. Illinois State

4. Stanford
13. UNC Asheville (Big South winner)

LITTLE ROCK
6. Louisville
11. UNLV

3. Xavier
14. Oral Roberts (Summit winner)

WASHINGTON D.C.
7. Mississippi
10. Houston

2. North Carolina – If the Heels can win the rematch against Duke, they could elevate to a top seed.
15. Morgan State (MEAC winner)

EAST - CHARLOTTE
RALEIGH
1. Duke – Arguably the hottest team in the land right now.
16. Wagner (Northeast winner)

8. Vanderbilt
9. Rhode Island

DENVER
5. Arizona
12. Kent State (MAC winner)

4. Drake
13. VCU (CAA winner)

WASHINGTON D.C.
6. Kansas State
11. South Alabama

3. Washington State
14. Cornell

BIRMINGHAM
7. Connecticut
10. Texas A & M

2. Tennessee – The Vols are on a serious roll. Beating Memphis and winning the SEC tourney could get them a 1 seed.
15. Northern Arizona (Big Sky winner)

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Fresh air has replaced the stale stench as Pat Knight took over for his father as Texas Tech coach. The son has a sense of humor. ``I joked with the team telling them that Eli Manning is probably sitting up there in New York wondering who the hell the Texas Tech Red Raiders were,’’ Knight told local reporters after an 80-74 loss to Baylor. ``I told them if Eli doesn’t have [ESPN’s] Full Court package he was calling his cable company to see why we were taking all of his publicity the last two days.’’
Knight tried some new plays, showing that he wasn’t his father's proxy. ``Not to be rude,’’ he said, ``but I’m the head coach.’’ I think I might like this kid.

By ERIK BOLAND

The college basketball season had been too quiet.

Not on the court, of course.

There’s been freshman Michael Beasley looking absurdly good at Kansas State, Memphis making a run at finishing the regular season undefeated and UCLA putting together a season that could end in the program’s first national title since 1995. Nothing wrong there as the sport is offering compelling story lines as it always does.

So what’s been missing?

“I’ve been bored out of my mind,” ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale said toward the end of the first half of tonight’s Duke/North Carolina game.

This, after Vitale had already reeled off an “Awesome, baby!” or two, and rambling ruminations about the ACC’s strength, Duke/UNC as the greatest rivalry of them all, and “Robert Montgomery Knight.”

Throat surgery felled Vitale, an ESPN college basketball broadcaster since 1979, in December, with his return to the airwaves uncertain. He returned tonight for his favorite game – he said it several times - Duke/North Carolina.

The man has his detractors, many of them calling Vitale loud, obnoxious, utterly predictable and pretty much a caricature of himself.

All true.

And tonight, college basketball never sounded better.

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,071
Points shy of school scoring record: 151
Last time out: Scored 26 points vs. Delaware Saturday
Tonight's opponent: William & Mary
Next game: Saturday vs. Georgia State
Latest projection: At his current pace of 22.6 points per game, he'll break the mark Feb. 27 at Delaware.

RODERICK BOONE

BY STEVEN MARCUS

No fanfare, no tribute, no reflection. Bob Knight quit his job after 902 victories and its about time he did. [Perhaps thre was some fit or event that prompted his departure, time will tell].

If Knight thinks he was making a statement by not finishing a so-so season it raises few significant eyebrows. Knight was a bully first and basketball coach second. Having covered many athletic scoundrels, Knight tops them all, even Billy Martin, the great intimidator.

Knight treated nearly every one in my business as an unnecessary evil. We all made him much more important than he was. That was proven one year in spring training when Knight showed up, wearing his Indiana red sweater on an 80-degree day, in the Mets dining room at Al Lang Stadium to general indifference. He could not transcend his own space and it was novel seeing him sitting by himself waiting to be recognized.

Those who thought they were on his good side were kidding themselves. Knight’s fellow coaches mostly spoke about his graduation rate and winning percentage and forgave his many other trespasses. I submit that more players hated than loved him. Those who revered him are fools.

Knight rarely expressed joy in the achievements his players brought him. He was ever reaching and even when he got to that magical number of 900 victories, he treated it with contempt. He left the game better by leaving it.

BY JOE GERGEN

It's not just the Patriots who suffered an imperfection over the weekend. Something similar happened to Adam Emmenecker. The most disciplined guard in Division I men's basketball finally gave in to temptation in Drake's 21st game and hoisted a three-point shot, his first of the season. It failed.

That's one of the few missteps for the senior, a scholar with four listed majors who entered school as a walk-on and earned a starting position at point guard this season. He has made the most of his opportunity, leading the Missouri Valley Conference in assists. Even on the day he launched his first shot from behind the arc, he did well otherwise, scoring a career-best 20 points in the Bulldogs' 19th consecutive victory and 20th in 21 games.

BY JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

The General dismounted his horse and put it in the stable, maybe for the last time yesterday. Chairs everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief.

Bobby Knight resigned as Texas Tech men’s basketball coach. Son Pat Knight has replaced him.

The idea of Knight calling it quits is not surprising, but doing it in the middle of the season was. The 67-year-old Knight coached for 42 years. His 902 wins makes him winningest coach in college basketball history, but with the Red Raiders in the midst of a 12-8 season, Knight apparently lost his furor for coaching.

“He said he was tired and that it was best to go ahead and do it now,” Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance told The Associated Press. “I think Bob is through with coaching. I think he got to the point where it wasn't fun for him.”

Knight, always coaching, helped his team by stepping down. His last coaching decision is one that can work out well for his son and the program.

It gives Pat the chance to inject energy into an inconsistent squad. The players have a chance to get use to Pat and have immediate success under him, with a possible NCAA tournament berth in sight.

I’ve always admirered coach Knight. I’ve read his book and even watched his reality show Knight School. Though he was one of sport’s most controversial figures, you have to respect what he stands for and what he has accomplished. Knight is an old-school, intense drill sergeant. Sure he’s taken his temper over the edge more than a few times but, his intentions are to make his players, respectful, hard working and mature young men.

If they can survive him, the can survive anything. Knight is the coach that pushes to you your limits in hope of eventually pushing you beyond them.

That doesn’t always happen though, but he is not just preparing you for the game each week, but the rest of your life. I am confident the majority of his current and former players will concur.
Knight’s overall success may not be matched, unless disciple Mike Krzyzewski coaches for a long time. Coach K is currently at 787 wins. Still Knight, won three nationals titles and has had a consistent level of success at three schools: Army, Indiana and Texas. He’s always had a high graduation rate and is the only person to coach an undefeated championship team. He’s even won an Olympic gold medal as a head coach, something Krzyzewski hopes to accomplish this summer is Beijing.

Knight’s decision to resign may go down as one of his best. He coached until the end.

BY MARCUS HENRY

The ESPNU BracketBusters pairings for weekend of February 22nd were released.

UC Santa Barbara at Utah State (Friday night telecast) - Nothing doing here. Neither team has a shot at an at-large bid.

Davidson at Winthrop (Friday night telecast) - Davidson has won 11 straight and has put itself back into the at-large picture.

#15 Drake at #11 Butler - Huge game for both teams. Could mean the difference between a seven or eight seed and a top 6.

Kent State at #23 Saint Mary’s - Big game for Kent's at-large hopes if it can't win the MAC Tournament.

Virginia Commonwealth at Akron - VCU needs to win this.

Marist at Cleveland State - Cleveland State still has an outside shot at an at-large bid.

Siena at Boise State - This one has "pride" written all over it.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Bradley - Not much to get excited about here.

Rider at Cal State Northridge - See above.

George Mason at Ohio - A loss here might kill George Mason's at-large hopes.

Creighton at Oral Roberts - Creighton can't lose this one.

Nevada at Southern Illinois - See Wisconsin-Milwaukee vs. Bradley.

Miami (Ohio) at Valparaiso - Sorry, no dice here.

Wright State at Illinois State (Sunday telecast) - Ilinois State has a solid season. But even a win in this game might not be enough.

Hofstra drew Iona in its bracket-buster.

BY RODERICK BOONE

We're about 48 hours away from the latest edition of one of sport's biggest games. No, they aren't playing the Super Bowl over although I'm sure there's thousands of Patriots (ha, ha) fans out there who wish that was the case.

Wednesday in Chapel Hill, N.C., Duke and North Carolina meet for Tobacco Road bragging rights in the first of their two -- usually wildly entertaining -- regular-season matchups. But the Tar Heels might not be at full strength.

Point guard Ty Lawson is suffering from a high left ankle sprain. The injury took place in the first half of of UNC's overtime win over Florida State last night. Coach Roy Williams said he wouldn't have a better grip on Lawson's status until after Tuesday's practice, but didn't seem overly optimistic when asked today during the ACC's weekly teleconference.

"I don't feel real good about him playing," Williams said.

If Lawson can't go, swingman Marcus Ginyard might be pressed into some point guard duties. But you've got to think Lawson will do everything he can to give it a go against the Dukies.

BY RODERICK BOONE

If you read the game story recapping Hofstra's 64-58 win over Delaware Saturday, you probably noticed the reference to Bill Thieben. He was the guy Agudio moved past and into fourth place on the Pride's all-time scoring list all by his lonesome.

You also likely have no clue about who Thieben was. So that's what we are here for: to provide you the fans with all the insighttful information /commentary you could ever ask for. So why go any place else?

Thieben suited up from 1953-56 and averaged 26.8 points and 22.7 rebounds (no, that is not a misprint) in helping Hofstra complie 22 wins against four losses in Butch van Breda Koff's first season. His junior season, had the second-highest single season output in program history, netting 29.2 points per game. He established a single-game school record for points with a 48-point outing against Wilkes, and he racked up 1,837 rebounds in his three seasons. For a little context, nibble on this: only one other player in program (John Irving) history even has surpassed 1,000 career boards.

Thieben holds the record for highest scoring average as a sophomore, his 25.8 points remaining tops to this day, just as his 43 rebounds in one game does. As a senior, he was the recipient of the prestigious Haggerty Award, which is given annually to the best college player in the New York metro area.

Thieben, who finished his collegiate career with 2,045 points, was a third-round NBA draft pick of the Fort Wayne Pistons and played for them for two seasons.

In short, he had a great career in Hempstead.

BY RODERICK BOONE

So what's the best conference in the country so far? Some argue it's the SEC, others boast it's the Pac 10. The SEC has four teams ranked in the latest coaches poll (Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss). And the Pac 10 has three (UCLA, Washington State, Stanford).

As of this morning, both divisions in the SEC had three teams with .500 conference marks or better, which is usually the barometer used by the NCAA selection committee as it decides the final few at-large berths for the Big Dance.

Looking at the Pac 10 standings going into today's action, six of the conference's 10 teams have at least .500 marks and three others all have overall winning records and are two games below .500 in conference play.

What do you think? Which conference is better and will get more bids than the other? SEC or Pac 10?

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,045
Points shy of school scoring record: 177
Last time out: Scored 10 points at Towson Wednesday
Tonight's opponent: Delaware (first meeting of season)
Next game: Wednesday at William & Mary
Latest projection: At his current pace, he'll need to average 17.8 points per game the next 10 games (that includes nine regular-season games and one guaranteed CAA tourney game) to break the mark.

RODERICK BOONE