Midnight Blogging Madness!

Rush the Court takes a very detailed look at graduation rates. Gary Williams fans, do not read it. March to Madness discusses this as well!

There's a new blogger's poll coming soooon! Want to find out more? Interested in participating? Details at March to Madness!

Calhoun makes the rules, Calhoun decides the menu, Calhoun decides the flowers, Calhoun decides who plays in his Coaches versus Cancer region. A Sea of Blue comments on this as well.

Thad Matta and Jim Barron watch Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns according to Goodman. But they were not the only ones, others were watching too. Meanwhile Ben Howland gets an extension through 2013 along with a salary boost. Except him to cancel their offensive plays now ;-) He also takes a look at Tulane and the head coaching opening at Texas Southern (one week before Midnight Madness).

Speaking of Ben Howland, Yahoo Sports says he goes from 1.2 million to 1.5 million and then to 2 million. Two back to back final fours, despite the slugfest and sub-par recruiting success will cure all. But now with the big recruits, what will Ben Howland do? Will he become the next John Wooden? Because certainly no one expected back to back Final Fours from his last two UCLA teams. Now everyone is expecting it with Kevin Love. Can he deliver when the spotlight and the target is on? We will know more in April 2008!

Meanwhile Majerus finds a new assistant, Paul Biancardi, formerly of Jim O'Brien State.

Dick Hoops Weiss points out that the December 4 Jimmy V Classic will feature three of the top incoming freshmen as USC, Notre Dame, Memphis and USC will participate.

NYC guard Levance Fields gets probation says Dick Hoops Weiss.

Rivals profiles Marquette's Dominic James.

More from Rivals, can UConn with Hasheem shot-blocking Thabeet retain its shot blocking title?

Mike De Courcy makes the case that Kosta Koufos will be the offensive version of this year's Greg Oden at Ohio State. That's what DeCourcy said, not me! He apparently turned down a multi-million contract offer in Europe, so DeCourcy may not be far off on the one-and-doneness.

Bad luck for forward Mike Williams, after having to transfer out of Texas, he now has to take a medical redshirt for an injury. He will still have two years remaining, but it must be really frustrating for a player to have to sit out two years in a row.

Inside the Hall says that according to Andy Katz Indiana will withdraw the Bud Mackey offer. I'm sure the Suttons will offer ;-) They also discuss Midnight Madness at Assembly Hall featuring some very touted recruits visiting, including the next big thing out of NY, Lance Stephenson.


The 2007-2008 Preview Files
As we get closer to the new season, the preview content continues to increase exponentially. So here's what we have:

An updated Top25+10 at SEC Hoops Good, Bad & Dirty.

March Madness of Season has began their comprehensive preview, discussing the fifty impact freshmen, the impact transfers (D1 and JuCo), best wing duos, best trios, best inside/out combos, and more!

The Rivals countdown continues with lofty expectations for the USC Trojans. It's not just OJ Mayo, it's Devon Jefferson that could make them a dangerous team. Jefferson was good enough to play in the spring all star games two years ago, so after two years of seasoning in prep schools, he could be an instant impact player!

DeCourcy looks at the top 10+ power forwards and goes medieval for the #1 spot. I'm not sure I agree with Earl Clark at #6 though - he has plenty of potential, but he hasn't delivered yet, unlike some of the other players DeCourcy picked below him. (Wow James Gist is still playing at Maryland? It feels like he was there 200 sweaty Gary Williams suits ago)

Meanwihle CHN's famous Top 144 preview continues with George Mason, Florida, Kansas State, Jon Stewart's Daily Show in Dayton, Georgia, Theus-less New Mexico State...

Gary Parrish reveals his top 25 point and scoring and lead and combo guards. One reader wonders why Greg Paulass is not in the top 25. I wonder whether he is in the top 250 :)

DeCourcy looks at the top smaller forwards.

Rush the Court previews the NEC (Northeastern) and the MEAC and the SWAC.