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I remain unconvinced by the argument that the 2013 draft is historically bereft of talent. I think the meme that has seemingly defined the draft thus far -- that an athletic shot-blocker with a torn ACL (Nerlens Noel) could go No. 1 means the entire draft itself is awful -- misses the point in a variety of ways.

That doesn't mean there are 10 franchise-changing stars in this year's haul, but there are a handful of good pros, if not more -- Noel, Anthony Bennett, Ben McLemore, Otto Porter, Victor Oladipo -- plus plenty of intriguing players (like C.J. McCollum and Jamaal Franklin, to name a couple favorites) littered throughout. It's not a great draft, but we're not talking about Stromile Swift at No. 1 here. This isn't 2000.

With that said, here comes the kicker: Alex Len might go No. 1 in this year's draft.

In his latest mock draft, Chad Ford notes that while Cleveland is still heavy on Noel at No. 1, strong competition has emerged in the form of Len, who is seen as more polished offensively, and thus more likely to fit in a pick-and-pop game with Cavs star guard Kyrie Irving. Draft Express recently moved Len to the top of its prospect rankings. New Orleans Times-Picayune writer Jimmy Smith tweeted Monday that Len was now the "likely choice" for the Cavs at No. 1. Sheridan Hoops has this:

Recent buzz out of Cleveland has centered around Alex Len, Anthony Bennett, and Ben McLemore as targets Cavs GM Chris Grant has started to re-examine. It appears Grant might pass on Noel, who has loads of upside but is very raw offensively and likely won’t play his first NBA game until at least January 2014.

All season long Len has intrigued Cavs executive Zydrunas Ilgauskas with his skills, length, and upside. It appears Ilgauskas may be swaying others in Cleveland to join him on Len’s bandwagon.

First of all, I can't believe I didn't know Zydrunas Ilgauskus was a member of the Cavs' front office. But he is indeed, an assistant general manager, and apparently one with enough juice to exert some form of pressure on the organization to draft his preferred player.

Should we be surprised by Len's sudden ascension? It's not hard to figure out why NBA scouts would love him: He's a legitimate 7-footer who scores around the basket and blocks shots, with the added benefit of great footwork and hands and a childhood background in gymnastics, which must go some way toward easing a GM's tension of drafting any big man with injury concerns. Len was solid for the Terps as a sophomore; he rebounded well, scored efficiently, and blocked a boatload of shots.

Len has always had the NBA on his horizon. In this sense, no, it's not surprising. But considering how so-so Maryland was last season, how little love Len got in end-of-the-year award voting, and how much attention has been paid to other top-five draft picks, seeing Len not only among that group, but in serious contention to go No. 1 overall is jarring, isn't it?

Every year, the NBA emphasizes the divide between what we see on college courts and what scouts project for the next five to 10 years. This might not be the most extreme example, but it is an example nonetheless. This draft could be wild.

The 2013-14 season should be a landmark year for ACC basketball. Syracuse, Notre Dame and Pitt will join the league next season. And Louisville will follow a year later in 2014.

The Big Ten has held the “best conference in America” title in recent years. But the ACC could be a juggernaut that overtakes the Chicago-based league next season.

But one of the vital components in the latter scenario involves North Carolina returning to a national perch following last season’s up-and-down campaign. And that possibility is tied to the availability of junior P.J. Hairston (14.6 PPG), the team’s leading scorer in 2012-13.

The details of his arrest earlier this month are still somewhat murky. But this much is clear: police discovered drugs in a rented vehicle occupied by Hairston and two other men, and a gun was found at the scene during the highly publicized stop in Durham, N.C.

On Monday, Roy Williams discussed the situation in a conversation with USA Today. Williams told the publication that he’s awaiting all the facts related to the case. But he also mentioned the he has “some ideas” of a possible punishment for Hairston, who opted to play another year of college basketball after considering the NBA a few months ago.

From Eric Prisbell of USA Today:

"We are doing one thing: We are waiting until all the information comes out," Williams told USA TODAY Sports on Monday. "The good thing is, I don't have to make a decision right now because we're in summer school, fall semester has not started, basketball has not started. We're going to wait and see what happens. I've got some ideas, but right now those ideas are staying in my mind.

"I am waiting until all the facts come in and then I will take care of everything that needs to be taken care of."

Now, I think Williams is right to wait until the facts are revealed. Can’t punish a guy without knowing his true role in the matter.

Midway through June, however, Tar Heels fans still don’t know how the incident will affect one of the most crucial members of a squad that is expected to compete for the ACC crown next year.

So it’s still a waiting game in Chapel Hill.

Manley Field House is a name most college basketball fans should recognize. Built in 1962, Manley housed Syracuse basketball until 1980, when the team moved into the Carrier Dome. It is still on Syracuse's campus, where it hosts volleyball and other events, but it is most famous for its service to the Georgetown-Syracuse blood feud. Before 1980, the Hoyas and Orange were competitors, and little more. When John Thompson delivered his famous "Manley Field House is officially closed," he managed to pack so much ether into six words that a rivalry was born on the spot.

It's been that way ever since.

Of course, the move from Manley to the Carrier Dome was common sense: Manley was an older building with a capacity of just 9,500; the Carrier Dome was at the time a larger, modern building that could serve Orange football, and help the basketball team pack the thousands and thousands of fans Jim Boeheim's elevated success fosters. Since 1980, visiting the Carrier Dome for a basketball game has seemed to be (note: I've never been, hence "seemed"; I'm sure 'Cuse fans can correct me if I'm wrong) an impressively incongruous experience. Basketball isn't supposed to be good in domes. We purists are supposed to advocate for arenas. And yet for 33 years, Syracuse home crowds have managed to not only be large, but extremely loud and very engaged. At this point, the Carrier Dome feels more like a basketball building than anything else, doesn't it?

Still, it is 33 years old, which has folks in Syracuse -- namely Post-Standard writer Sean Kirst -- trying to figure out what comes next:

Even so, the limitations of the aging building are evident. The lack of air conditioning beneath the vast ceiling makes many Central New Yorkers reluctant to give up precious autumn Saturdays in return for a few warm and sweaty hours of watching indoor football. Bet on this: At the university and in the halls of government, there is already conversation about the life span of the dome, and what comes next whenever it reaches the end of its run.

This is also coming up because the Syracuse Crunch, the city's American Hockey League franchise, is currently competing for the Calder Cup; they play Grand Rapids at the old Onandoga County War Memorial, a charming but aging 6,000-seat stadium that could actually give Syracuse University at least one partner in a new arena venture somewhere down the line. There are plenty of municipal concerns to be dealt with, but the thought of a brand new, centralized 20,000-seat arena is at least a little bit exciting.

Is there any doubt the Orange could turn a new building into a pulsating Orange fortress? Even from afar, it'd be fun to see Syracuse in a basketball arena, right? Or is the Dome too beloved, even in its rapidly increasing age, to discuss it?

1. Marcus Georges-Hunt led Georgia Tech in scoring last season as the only player in double figures. The Yellow Jackets, on a long climb back to relevance, finished 6-12 in the ACC, 16-15 overall. But Georgia Tech, along with Arizona, had multiple players trying out for the U-19 USA team that will play for gold in the Czech Republic next week at the FIBA Championships. Georges-Hunt made the cut list of 16, down from 26 (Tech's Robert Carter didn't make the first trim). He's trying to stay on the roster before the team leaves when it is trimmed to 12. The significance for Tech to have the 6-foot-6 Georges-Hunt this far is not lost on the Yellow Jackets. "This is great for our rebuilding process that we had two freshmen from our first recruiting class invited," said Georgia Tech coach Brian Gregory. "If Marcus could make the team, I think it could act as a spring board to a tremendous sophomore year. He is a very unselfish and team-oriented player, which is great. But we need him to be more aggressive and more assertive. Making the team would give him the confidence to do that. Finally, it would be big in our recruiting. Marcus was not a top-25 recruit, so his development at Georgia Tech in one year would be a selling point in our recruiting."

2. Oregon guard Damyean Dotson also made the list of 16 (see here for the roster information). Dotson is one of the main reasons there is a slew of optimism with the Ducks heading into next season. "Dot is so talented, works hard and competes so our expectations are high," said Oregon coach Dana Altman. "He is coachable and it would be a great experience for him to make the team. Sure hope it works out for him." The team will practice this week in Colorado Springs before a weekend of playing in Washington, D.C., in advance of the departure for Prague.

3. A few quick things from the past couple of days: As soon as Jerome Seagears told Auburn he wasn't going to stay after transferring, the odds-on favorite destination was a return to Rutgers. Auburn coach Tony Barbee said Seagears told him he needed to be closer to home. Well, Seagears' return is yet another sign the healing has begun at Rutgers with alumnus Eddie Jordan. The Scarlet Knights had their share of defections. To bring back a player who originally left after the Mike Rice debacle is symbolic of the potential return to normalcy for the Scarlet Knights. ... Oregon State unveiled its men's and women's practice facility last week. The cost was $15 million (of which $11 million was fund-raised). These facilities are a must to advance at the high level of recruiting in basketball. The majority of schools already have a separate area to practice. Oregon State, which is clearly the understudy to Oregon in the Nike chain in the state, has had to scrap for everything. This is a significant move forward for the two Beavers' programs.

In the weeks leading up to the June 27 NBA draft, we’ll be taking a look at the 20 schools that have produced the best pros in the modern draft era (since 1989, when the draft went from seven to two rounds). Click here to read Eamonn Brennan’s explanation of the series, which will be featured in the Nation blog each morning as we count down the programs from 20 to 1.

Top Five NBA Draftees Since 1989

1. Tim Duncan (1997)
2. Chris Paul (2005)
3. Josh Howard (2003)
4. Rodney Rogers (1993)
5. Jeff Teague (2009)

Sixth man: Darius Songalia (2002)

The rest: Al-Farouq Aminu, James Johnson, Loren Woods, Ish Smith, Chris King, Rusty LaRue, Anthony Tucker, Randolph Childress

Why they're ranked where they are: At this point, you really shouldn't need me to explain just how good Tim Duncan has been over these past two decades. (If you do, I highly recommend Bill Simmons's epic accounting of Duncan's career published over on Grantland this week. It has a lot of words. You've been warned.)

Really, Duncan's immensity is self-evident: 23,785 career points, 13,219 rebounds, career 20.2/11.2./3.1/2.2 splits on 50.7 percent shooting, 14 All-Star appearances, four NBA championships. If the Spurs beat the Miami Heat in the next 10 days, Duncan and his coach, Gregg Popovich, will have won five titles in a span of 14 seasons -- a sustained run of success unlike any in recent sports history.

To gaze upon his Basketball Reference page is to look upon a lasting work of art, and I'm really not being tongue-in-cheek. If Duncan's career had gone the way Larry Johnson's did -- if he had shown a world-bending talent before losing it to injury around Year 6 -- he would still have won three NBA titles and two MVPs. He'd still be a Hall of Famer. But Duncan didn't burn fast and hot for a short period of time. His legacy is not secured by mere longevity. Instead, Duncan has managed to be both incandescent and reliable for nigh on two decades. Imagine an alternate world in which the Beatles stayed together as long and made as many records as the Rolling Stones -- only all of those records were at least as good as "Rubber Soul," and more often than not they were "Revolver."

That's Tim Duncan. He is widely regarded as the best power forward of all time, and among the best five or six players in the history of the game. Those points are always fun to debate, but I do know one thing for sure: Duncan is the best NBA product any school has produced since 1989, and it's honestly not even that close.

As such, Duncan's presence alone would have been enough to get Wake Forest into our top 20. He's that far ahead of the rest of the field. But Wake has more than Duncan to offer, much more.

Chris Paul is arguably the best point guard in the league today. Whether you agree with that statement -- Tony Parker might not -- at the very least Paul exists in that rarified territory so few NBA players reach: He changes franchises. He also works games. As good as he's been in L.A., some of my favorite moments to this effect came during his days in New Orleans. There was 2007-08, when he led the league in both assists and steals and turned a previously lost Tyson Chandler into one of the most efficient players in the game. Or Game 1 of the Hornets' 2011 playoff series against the Lakers, when he went for 33/14/7/4 and so thoroughly silenced the Staples Center that by the end of the game the TV microphones picked up his trash talk. Paul has always been the most cerebral player on the floor; his court instincts and vision are second to none. It's almost hard to believe he's only 27, with tons of productive basketball left in the tank.

Wake Forest's list takes a pretty significant dive from there; Rodney Rogers was a nice pro but nothing more, and Jeff Teague is carving out a solid career as a starting point guard, even though he'll probably never be a star. But let's not forget Josh Howard. Before multiple ACL injuries sent his career careening off a cliff, Howard submitted some really strong seasons, particularly in his 2006-07 All-Star campaign, when he averaged 18.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for a Mavericks team that finished 67-15 in the regular season. Then he averaged 21 and 10 in the playoffs and followed up with 20 and 9 in the 2007-08 regular season. Don't forget Josh Howard.

Really, though, this list is about Duncan and Paul: the first, a Hall of Famer had he retired 10 years ago; the latter, on his way to inclusion 10 years in the future. That would be quite a leading duo for any school. For Wake Forest, a small private school with an undergraduate enrollment of less than 5,000 students, it's something like a miracle.

Why they could be ranked higher: It really comes down to the same dynamic we've been confronting throughout these rankings. Which do you value more: a deep group of solid if unspectacular NBA regulars? Or singular stardom? As singular stardom goes, well, you know … Tim Duncan. And Chris Paul. We've already placed a noticeable premium on legend-level talent, but we've done our best to temper it against the rest of each team's résumés. I think this is just about the right spot for Wake, but if you think the Duncan trump card is worth even more, I could dig it.

Why they could be ranked lower: I might be willing to push Wake up on the list; I'm not willing to push them down. Just below sits Texas, which is likewise a two-stars-and-then-some-other-guys entity, except that Texas' two stars are Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge. Don't get me wrong; those guys are awesome. Durant has a chance to leave the NBA as the best scorer of all time. But he is still at the dawn of his own era; Duncan has been in this game since honeys was wearin' sassoons. No NBA GM would trade Paul for Aldridge. And the rest of Texas' group doesn't stand up to Howard, Rogers and Teague, solid inclusions all. Wake can go no lower.

What’s ahead? Not a whole heck of a lot. Teague, for all his strengths as a ball handler and penetrator, has probably hit something close to a ceiling. Fourth-year man James Johnson is still trying to find a productive NBA role. The program that produced Duncan and Paul in less than eight years has since fallen into severe disrepair, and with the possible exception of rising senior Travis McKie, there are no pro prospects in the pipeline.

Final thoughts: It was really fun to dig into Tim Duncan's numbers, and I recommend you spend the rest of your morning doing the same. Oh, you meant about Wake Forest. Right. There may be no program with a wider gap between what a list of its NBA products since 1989 implies it is (a powerhouse) and the reality (a bit of a mess). If you're wondering why Demon Deacons fans are so ticked off, it's because they remember when one of the greatest players in the history of basketball played four years at the Joel. They remember Howard's career, and they remember Paul, and why not? It wasn't so long ago.

In the weeks leading up to the June 27 NBA draft, we’ll be taking a look at the 20 schools that have produced the best pros in the modern draft era (since 1989, when the draft went from seven to two rounds). Click here to read Eamonn Brennan’s explanation of the series, which will be featured in the Nation blog each morning as we count down the programs from 20 to 1.

Top Five Draftees Since 1989

1. Chris Bosh (2003)
2. Stephon Marbury (1996)
3. Kenny Anderson (1991)
4. Dennis Scott (1990)
5. Thaddeus Young (2007)

Sixth man: Matt Harpring (1998)

The rest: Matt Geiger, Iman Shumpert, Jarrett Jack, Derrick Favors, Anthony Morrow, Drew Barry, Jon Barry, Tom Hammonds, Travis Best, Gani Lawal, Javaris Crittenton, Alvin Jones, Jason Collier, Dion Glover, Eddie Elisma, Mario West, Malcolm Mackey, Brian Oliver, Luke Schenscher, Fred Vinson, Ivano Newbill, Will Bynum

Why they’re ranked where they are: So you’re talking with your buddies about college basketball. Specifically, the programs that tend to produce the most NBA talent. A few powerhouses are mentioned early in the conversation. Kentucky, Connecticut, North Carolina, Duke and Florida. And then, someone has the gall to suggest that Georgia Tech should be considered, too.

Laughter ensues. “You must really like Chris Bosh, man.” And then the Yellow Jackets advocate begins to make his case. Sure, there’s Bosh. But Stephon Marbury, Dennis Scott, Kenny Anderson and Matt Harpring were birthed by Georgia Tech, too. Add Jarrett Jack and Travis Best to the backcourt. Derrick Favors, a solid young big, might be the third man off the bench on GT’s all-star squad (since the 1989 NBA draft).

That’s when the snickering stops and things get real.

As we scrutinized dozens of squads that were considered for our “Path to the Draft” rankings, there were a few gems, such as Georgia Tech, that just became more impressive as our analysis persisted. This program has some serious NBA juice.

With a little research, it’s easy to see why this team is ranked ahead of Ohio State, UNLV, Kansas and Michigan State.

Let’s start with Tech's top five.

Bosh has been lukewarm throughout the playoffs, a performance that’s not exactly justifying his $17.55 million salary in 2012-13. But he has averaged 19.5 PPG, 8.9 RPG and 1.1 BPG since he was drafted in 2003. He has also made eight All-Star appearances. Before his confusing stretch in Miami, Bosh was an elite forward (not sure he has lost that status yet) who made folks remember that Canada still had one pro team.

Marbury has eaten Vaseline on camera. And that wasn’t the craziest thing that ever happened during his career.

But that’s Marbury. If he hadn’t made so many headlines off the floor, he might have earned more respect when he was on it. He was, however, one of the league’s best point guards when he was focused on the game.

Marbury was a two-time All-Star who averaged 19.3 PPG and 7.6 APG over a 13-year career in the NBA. He’s still competing professionally in China.

Dennis Scott’s contributions were critical for the Orlando Magic teams that pulled the expansion franchise into relevance during the mid-1990s. Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway were the main characters in that narrative, but Scott’s range (he hit 267 3-pointers in the 1995-96 season, a record that stood for a decade) was crucial for a franchise that reached the NBA Finals in 1995 and lost to the 72-10 Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals a year later. Scott averaged 17.4 PPG and hit 42.5 percent of his 3-pointers that season.

Kenny Anderson, Scott’s backcourt mate on the 1990 Georgia Tech squad that reached the Final Four, was an NBA All-Star in 1993-94. That season, Anderson averaged 18.8 PPG and 9.6 APG. He also hit 81.8 percent of his free throws. Anderson had four or five other seasons that were comparable to that one.

Matt Harpring was never a star, although that 2002-03 campaign (17.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 41.3 percent from the 3-point line, 51.1 field goal percentage) briefly thrust him into the “future star” conversation. For 12 seasons, Harpring was just a guy you wanted in your rotation. He averaged 11.5 PPG throughout a solid career.

Georgia Tech’s NBA legacy will continue to grow because the Yellow Jackets have multiple young standouts in the league right now.

Thaddeus Young is just 24. And in six seasons in the NBA, he has been one of the top wings in the league. He averaged 14.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 1.8 SPG this season. Favors has the tools to anchor the Utah Jazz in the future. Iman Shumpert, Will Bynum and Jack are all reputable role players for their respective franchises, too.

That’s a strong crew of guys who’ve made a noticeable impact at the next level.

That’s why Georgia Tech is No. 12 in our “Path to the Draft” rankings.

Why they could be ranked higher: Our ratings are based on quality, not quantity. A team such as Kansas has sent more players to the league than Georgia Tech since 1989, but it hasn’t produced as many playmakers. The Yellow Jackets are responsible for 14 players who’ve amassed career averages of 8.0 PPG during the eligibility period. Sure, points aren’t everything, but that tally is proof that the Atlanta-based program has developed athletes who’ve become key members of NBA teams. They might not be studs, but they’ve been significant in their respective rotations.

Plus, this list also includes a bunch of glue guys who earned millions over lengthy careers because they were smart and efficient. Jon Barry (14 years), Tom Hammonds (13 years), Matt Geiger (10 years) and Best (10 years) qualify for the latter category. Georgia Tech has an argument for a higher ranking based on its depth and overall quality. It’s that simple.

Why they could be ranked lower: The only thing that’s keeping this crew from the top 10 is the absence of a megastar. The rest of our list includes a bunch of teams that feature household names and superstars. Georgia Tech doesn’t have that guy.

Since this isn’t a numbers game, it’s all subjective. Our past assessments suggest that star power is not only relevant but quite valuable. Kansas would not have been a top-15 squad in our rankings without Paul Pierce. Syracuse would have missed the top 20 entirely had Carmelo Anthony chosen another school.

Georgia Tech is certainly tied to a bunch of successful players who lasted in the league for lengthy stretches. But Bosh is the only perennial All-Star on the list.

That could count against this program and move them down in our rankings, I guess.

What’s ahead? There’s a strong chance that Georgia Tech will enhance its reputation for producing NBA talent in the coming years. Shumpert, Favors, Jack and Young have time to mature and improve. That’s a talented collection of young players -- a group that could produce an All-Star or two in the coming years.

Anthony Morrow, an undrafted guard, averaged 10.1 PPG, 13.0 PPG, 13.2 PPG and 12 PPG during his first four seasons in the NBA. But injuries affected him this season. A healthy Morrow, however, is a threat and a player who’s capable of contributing on any roster.

Bosh has some time left, too. His tenure in Miami has been inconsistent, but check his numbers. How many players have averaged 18.0 PPG or more in seven of 10 seasons? Not many.

Glen Rice Jr. left Georgia Tech a year ago and competed in the NBDL during the 2012-13 campaign. Per multiple draft analysts, he could be a first-round pick in this summer’s draft after a strong season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

But there’s not much in the pipeline for the program. The current roster doesn’t possess any obvious NBA prospects. Still, there are multiple Georgia Tech reps who could give the team’s NBA tradition a major boost in the next four or five years.

Final thoughts: To some, Georgia Tech’s inclusion might be somewhat of a surprise. But the squad is clearly worthy. The diversity and character of the program’s NBA products are both impressive and undeniable. Yes, the Jackets couldn’t overcome some of the blue-chip programs that will complete our rankings. But they were in the top-10 conversation.

Last December, after three months of seemingly intense investigation, former North Carolina Governor Jim Martin's probe into academic fraud at North Carolina came to a close with relieving news for the Tar Heels. Martin's inquisition found that UNC's African and Afro-American Studies department oversaw anomalies -- such as unauthorized grade changes, forged faculty signatures on grade rolls and limited or no class time," as Robbi Pickeral detailed at the time -- that affected all enrolled students, not just athletes. The scandal, Martin's report concluded, was not about athletics. "It was an academic scandal, which is worse," he said.

At the time, UNC athletics director Bubba Cunningham looked forward to closing the file on a long, embarrassing, suspicion-raising inquiry into the legitimacy of North Carolina's athletics education efforts. His relief was palpable:

"I feel like it's now complete," Cunningham said. "This report has been very thorough, an exhaustive study. From that standpoint, we've been looking for closure, and I hope this gives us the closure we've been looking for."

In other words, the UNC academic scandal was supposed to go away in December. It was supposed to be over. Five months later, we still don't know much, but we do know at least one thing: This is anything but over.

The latest development came this past weekend, when the Raleigh News & Observer's Dan Kane obtained and published emails exchanged between former UNC African studies chairman Julius Nyang’oro and Tar Heels support staff via a public records request. Those emails, which are available here, were not included in other investigations, and reveal that Nyang'oro had what Kane calls a "cozy relationship with the program that tutored athletes." Yeah. Yikes.

There are messages discussing football tickets, athletics receptions/brunches and sideline access for Nyang'oro and his family. Another exchange shows Nyang'oro agreeing to meet with a support staffer to discuss abstracts for a group of football players enrolled in "your AFAM 396 seminar course." In one 2009 passage, former football academic advisor Cynthia Reynolds wrote to Nyang'oro that, “I hear you are doing me a big favor this semester and that I should be bringing you lots of gifts and cash???????” That appears to have been a joke -- it would take a profound level of stupidity to seriously write something like that from your professional public institution's email account, and Kane found no evidence the remark was made in reference to anything specific -- but it looks horrible given the context.

Perhaps the most damning exchange came in March 2010, when Jaimie Lee, an academics counselor for athletes, asked Nyang'oro about a Swahili class:

“I failed to mention yesterday that Swahili 403 last summer was offered as a research paper course,” wrote Lee, who was helping football players at the time. “I meant to (ask), do you think this may happen again in the future?? If not the summer, maybe the fall?”

Nyang’oro responded: “Driving a hard bargain; should have known.....:)Will have to think about this, but talk to me....”

Nyang’oro did not schedule the Swahili class, but he did create another one for the summer. Later that day, he emailed Lee: “I have added AFAM 398 to our Summer Schedule….:).”

Lee responded with a similar emoticon: “:-) thanks! I appreciate that!

This isn't just bad because a professor added a class after receiving an inquiry from a fellow educator, which would look awful in an email transcript but could otherwise be innocent. It's bad because Kane found UNC records that show that at least one seminar of AFAM 398 was added to the following summer schedule, and only two students enrolled. According to the News & Observer, "at least one was an athlete." UNC wouldn't disclose further information about the class, citing possible privacy violations under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, the well-intended but oft-abused-by-universities federal law.

In all, the emails still fall short of smoking gun status. There is no direct evidence UNC athletics played an active role in academic fraud committed by the AFAM department. UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp and others have maintained that position -- that advisors did not collaborate with Nyang'oro to create classes to keep players eligible. That may still be true, even if only technically so, but these emails make it harder than ever to believe. Offer tickets? Arrange meetings? Make jokes in poor taste? Ask questions about previously suspicious seminar classes? All of these things are now on the record. At the very least, they prove UNC's AFAM department had a relationship -- an uncomfortably cozy relationship -- with the people in charge of making sure UNC's star athletes stayed academically eligible.

Who knows what the next wave of emails will bring?

WTVD Sports Director Mark Armstrong discusses the marijuana possession charge facing North Carolina's leading scorer P.J. Hairston.

1. Kansas coach Bill Self said every newcomer but Andrew Wiggins is on campus and in summer school. He said Wiggins' summer plans are still unresolved. Wiggins may play for the Canadian National team or may not. He is expected on campus soon. Self is already raving about Wayne Selden, one of the six newcomers. This will end up being one of Self's most enjoyable teams. He gets a chance to completely mold this crew in the summer with the comfort of having Wiggins. The Jayhawks won't be dominant, but they will be one of the most intriguing and entertaining teams to watch next season.

2. ACC freshman of the year Olivier Hanlan of Boston College won't go with the Canadian World University Games team to Russia next month. BC coach Steve Donahue said Hanlan was with the Canadian National Team for six days last week, but will spend the rest of the summer working out with the Eagles. Hanlan scored 41 points in an ACC tournament win over Georgia Tech. Hanlan has a chance to get the most out of this summer by working with his national team and better competition, while also spending quality time with his Eagles team that needs to make a move in the ACC and has a real chance to do so with so many returnees.

3. Oklahoma and Wisconsin are taking foreign trips in August, with the Sooners heading to Belgium and France and the Badgers going to Canada. The timing for the trips is crucial for both. Oklahoma is coming off an NCAA tournament season, but is retooling in what should be a Kansas-Oklahoma State-Baylor led Big 12. The Badgers desperately needed prep and games for Josh Gasser as he gets back from an ACL injury. Having this trip will allow Gasser to re-adjust to being the leader on this team. Traevon Jackson was the top playmaker in Gasser's absence. Now the two can attempt to work together. Wisconsin's season ended with a thud, losing to Ole Miss in the NCAA tournament. Playing in Canada in August will be a good precursor to mounting a run back to the NCAAs.

1. The Anaheim Classic is going through some changes that should make it a more intimate event, building up toward a more unique championship day. The tournament, played over Thanksgiving weekend, has been at the Anaheim Convention Center, but has had plenty of sparsely populated games. So, the plan is to move the first two days of the tournament to Cal State-Fullerton's Titan Gym. The final day of the event will be played at the Honda Center in Anaheim to give it more of an elite ending. And to raise the profile of the event, the name will no longer be the Anaheim Classic but rather the Wooden Legacy. The first two rounds will be Nov. 28 and 29 with the championship day on Dec. 1. The tournament has headline teams in Creighton, San Diego State, Marquette, Arizona State and Miami with the College of Charleston, George Washington and the host Titans. Fullerton needs to take advantage of their homecourt and play well for two reasons -- to play rare higher-level games at home and to ensure the crowds are decent.

2. The cuts for the World University Games team playing in Russia could be some of the hardest for USA basketball. Junior national director Jim Boeheim of Syracuse will have a hard time whittling down this list. The team, which will train the last week of June in Colorado Springs, should be the overwhelming favorite in the event. But getting down to the cut list of 24 will be quite a chore for Boeheim and WUG coaches Bob McKillop (Davidson), Frank Martin (South Carolina) and John Beilein (Michigan). Here is the list: Eric Atkins (Notre Dame), Markel Brown (Oklahoma State), Deonte Burton (Nevada), Quinn Cook (Duke), Bryce Cotton (Providence), Spencer Dinwiddie (Colorado), C.J. Fair (Syracuse), Yogi Ferrell (Indiana), Davante Gardner (Marquette), Treveon Graham (VCU), Jerian Grant (Notre Dame), P.J. Hairston (North Carolina), A.J. Hammons (Purdue), Luke Hancock (Louisville), Joe Harris (UVA), Tyler Haws (BYU), Andre Hollins (Minnesota), Rodney Hood (Duke), Josh Huestis (Stanford), Cory Jefferson (Baylor), Sean Kilpatrick (Cincinnati), Alex Kirk (New Mexico), Devyn Marble (Iowa), Doug McDermott (Creighton), Adreian Payne (Michigan State), Chasson Randle (Stanford), Will Sheehey (Indiana), Aaron White (Iowa), Kendall Williams (New Mexico).

3. The list will be cut down to 12. Everyone could use making the team to better themselves. But Hood could use it more than anyone else after sitting out last season as a transfer from Mississippi State. Hood needs game action before he starts to star for Duke. Fair, Grant, Hairston, Jefferson, McDermott and Payne all are trying out for the team after making the decision to return to school. The fact that two players from Indiana, Duke, Notre Dame, New Mexico and Iowa are on the first list is a sign about these three teams' future next season. Kirk and Grant have a chance to be headline players next season. So too, does White. The one player who could benefit as much as anyone is Ferrell, who will have to be even more of a playmaker next season without Victor Oladipo on his wing.

In the weeks leading up to the June 27 NBA draft, we’ll be taking a look at the 20 schools that have produced the best pros in the modern draft era (since 1989, when the draft went from seven to two rounds). Click here to read Eamonn Brennan’s explanation of the series, which will be featured in the Nation blog each morning as we count down the programs from 20 to 1.

Top Five NBA Draftees Since 1989 (Syracuse)

1. Carmelo Anthony (2003)
2. Derrick Coleman (1990)
3. Sherman Douglas (1989)
4. Billy Owens (1991)
5. Hakim Warrick (2005)

Sixth man: John Wallace (1996)

The rest: Fab Melo, Kris Joseph, Wesley Johnson, Andy Rautins, Jonny Flynn, Donte Greene, Demetris Nichols, Damone Brown, Etan Thomas, Jason Hart, Dion Waiters, Lawrence Moten, Conrad McRae, David Johnson, LeRon Ellis

Why they're ranked where they are: Syracuse cracked the top 20 largely due to the overall success of Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Coleman. Anthony is a future Hall of Famer and has plenty of time to boost his accomplishments. Coleman (16.5 PPG career average), an enigma throughout his time in the NBA, earned rookie of the year honors in 1991, made an All-Star appearance in 1994 and was twice named to the all-NBA team. Billy Owens and Sherman Douglas were decent pros too. And Dion Waiters, who averaged 14.7 PPG in his debut last season, could blossom into an NBA standout in the coming years -- and certainly could crack the Cuse top five in the near future. But let's be real: Syracuse squeezed into these rankings. Sure, the Orange boast 21 draft picks since 1989. Few, however, have actually succeeded at the next level. And there are multiple guys on this list who were projected to be stars but were ultimately professional letdowns. The Minnesota Timberwolves chose Jonny Flynn over Steph Curry with the sixth pick in the 2009 NBA draft. Curry led his team to the NBA playoffs this year. Flynn played in Australia. That’s why Syracuse stands at No. 20. Too many disappointments. It’s a surprising reality for a college program that boasts one of the game’s most fruitful legacies. Syracuse has earned most of its accolades, however, with players who weren’t admirable NBA contributors.

Why they could be ranked higher: Syracuse’s sheer numbers are impressive. Even though the program hasn’t produced many high-level professionals since 1989, it has sent nearly two dozen players to the league in that time span. Plus, the list features a bunch of young players who have been in the league for a short time, so their success is difficult to assess at this point. If this were a quantitative measurement alone, Syracuse might have a case for elevation. Producing one of the NBA’s best players doesn’t hurt its argument either. Coleman, Douglas and Owens held their own for years in the league too.

Why they could be ranked lower: If we’re real about this thing, then we’ll admit Syracuse hasn’t exactly been a factory for NBA talent since 1989, the year that the two-round system was implemented. After Anthony, there’s a major decline in the talent pool. And when you move beyond Coleman, you won’t find many players who competed at a high level for more than a few years in the NBA. Many failed to live up to the hype. Warrick averaged double figures for three of his first four years in the league, but the 19th pick in the 2005 draft has bounced around the NBA since then. The Timberwolves selected Wesley Johnson at No. 4 in the 2010 draft, when Greg Monroe, DeMarcus Cousins and Paul George were available. Johnson could be a solid role player with the Phoenix Suns, but he’s no star. Etan Thomas was the 12th pick in the 2000 draft. He averaged 5.7 PPG over a nine-year career. We had a lengthy discussion about this list. Trust me. Syracuse wasn’t a sure thing when that discussion started. Considering all the players who fizzled at the next level, I think Jim Boeheim's program is lucky to have a slot. Without Anthony, the Orange wouldn’t be on this list.

What’s ahead? There are still a few unknowns in the discussion about Syracuse’s NBA legacy. Anthony continues to grow as a player. He has scored 17,846 points in 10 seasons. And he just turned 29 this week. As I mentioned earlier, Johnson could continue to mature and play a more significant role in the future. Waiters is an athletic winger who had a strong year with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Is he a future All-Star? Maybe, maybe not. But there are a lot of talented prospects who failed to average 14.7 PPG in a season during their careers. The Boston Celtics envision a bright future for Fab Melo, a 7-footer who’s still raw. It’s also important to monitor the players who will enter the draft in the coming years. Michael Carter-Williams might be a lottery pick this summer. C.J. Fair and Jerami Grant could warrant spots in the first round next summer. The perception about Syracuse’s ability to produce NBA talent could change in the near future. There are still a variety of young players with the ties to the program who can’t be thoroughly analyzed at this point in their NBA tenures.

Final thoughts: There are a few ways to look at this list. Yes, Syracuse is at No. 20. That’s probably surprising considering the program’s stance as one of the most consistent and successful units in college basketball. Anthony, however, is the only true NBA superstar that the squad has produced since 1989. But I also think this list helps the Orange. Boeheim’s guys haven’t found a lot of success at the next level, yet the team is a perennial national title contender. That’s impressive. This is a specific barometer. It was not created to assess a program’s collegiate value. Syracuse’s consistency is notable, despite the struggles its players have had in the NBA. Still, the Orange’s standing in the league could change in the coming years. A number of players who are in the NBA now or will be in the league soon could push Cuse up this list and others like it. Right now, however, No. 20 makes sense.

1. The new Big East has soccer and volleyball schedules for the fall despite not having a commissioner or staff yet. Each athletic director among the 10 was given a sport to work on scheduling along with the coaches from each school. The athletic directors are completely in the dark on the league's new commissioner; the decision is being made by the university presidents. Meanwhile, the schools are still waiting to hear from broadcast partner Fox about what nights they will typically play on during the conference season. Monday and Thursday doubleheaders are a possibility, but the use of pro arenas by Seton Hall, Providence, Villanova, Marquette, Georgetown and St. John's makes it hard to lock in just two nights per week for games.

2. Independent investigator Stu Brown of the Indianapolis-based law firm Ice Miller has submitted the report about the officiating controversy during the Pac-12 basketball tournament to league presidents for their spring meetings this weekend in Utah. The Pac-12 called for an outside report after Ed Rush, the coordinator of officials, resigned over allegations that he jokingly offered financial and other incentives for handing out a technical foul to Arizona coach Sean Miller. Officials also at the time told ESPN that Rush ruled through intimidation during his one year in the position. Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott and the presidents will review the investigation and determine if further action is needed. The Pac-12 is still seeking a replacement for Rush.

3. The high-profile challenge games between the ACC and Big Ten and the SEC and Big 12, neutral-site single games and neutral-site tournaments are making it harder for elite programs to set up true home-and-home series. Take Indiana, for example: The Hoosiers will play Notre Dame in Indianapolis at the Crossroads Classic, go to Syracuse in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and play in the 2K Sports tournament with Connecticut, Boston College and Washington. That gives the Hoosiers four games away from Bloomington -- probably enough for a program that has to fund a number of sports. Kansas is one of the few top-10 programs that still plays true home-and-home series. KU had a series with Ohio State that wasn't tied to anything, and now has one with Georgetown. The Hoosiers have one game left to give, but likely will buy a home game instead of starting a new series on the road.

In five months, the 2013-14 college basketball season will begin.

It’s always tough to make projections in the weeks following any season. But the dust has settled.

The following list highlights sophomores who will be asked to carry more weight next season. Some of these young men might have to carry an entire team.

1. Javan Felix (Texas) – Felix entered 2012-13 as a freshman who expected to play minimal minutes in Rick Barnes’ rotation. Then Myck Kabongo was suddenly suspended for receiving impermissible benefits and lying to the NCAA about it. Enter Felix, who started 23 games at point guard (6.8 PPG, 4.1 APG) for the Longhorns. Barnes lost his top three scorers from a team that failed to make the NCAA tournament, so Felix will assume a leadership role again. This time, however, he’ll guide an even younger and more inexperienced bunch than last season’s crew. But his invitation to this summer’s USA Basketball U19 training camp is a testament to his performance under pressure last year.
2. Sam Dekker (Wisconsin) – Few question Dekker’s ceiling. His 116.7 offensive rating was fifth in the Big Ten per KenPom.com (among players who’d used at least 20 percent of their team’s possessions). In a reserve role (22.3 MPG), the freshman averaged 9.6 PPG and 3.4 RPG. He also shot 39 percent from the 3-point line. It was an impressive debut. He certainly seems capable of handling more next year for Bo Ryan. He doesn’t have a choice. Jared Berggren, Mike Bruesewitz and Ryan Evans are gone. Josh Gasser will return from an ACL injury, so Dekker won’t have to lead alone. But he’ll have to help in more ways.
3. Siyani Chambers (Harvard) – Tommy Amaker had a roster that was fully capable of retaining its Ivy League crown as the 2012-13 campaign approached. Then top performers Kyle Casey and Brandyn Curry abruptly left the program before the season amid an academic scandal. So Amaker turned to this freshman who had few Division I offers. Chambers embraced his new responsibilities as the starting point guard for Harvard, averaging 12.4 PPG, 5.7 APG and 1.5 SPG. He also hit 81 percent of his free throws and 42 percent of his 3-point shots. The Crimson return the heart of a squad that upset New Mexico in the second round of the NCAA tournament in March, so this team will be favored to win the Ivy League again. Amaker knows he has a point guard he can trust.
4. Yogi Ferrell (Indiana) – The Hoosiers are the most mysterious team in the Big Ten, perhaps America. Yes, they’ve lost Victor Oladipo, Cody Zeller, Christian Watford and Jordan Hulls. But Tom Crean signed another stellar recruiting class, led by Noah Vonleh. Then there’s Hanner Mosquera-Perea & Co., part of Indiana’s previous recruiting crew that collectively provided inconsistent production. Ferrell (7.6 PPG. 4.1 APG), who ended last season as the apparent leader of the future, will be the key to the new chemistry in Bloomington. He walked into a fortified situation his freshman season. It’s not exactly clear what sort of situation he’ll encounter this fall. But it won’t work without him.
5. Georges Niang (Iowa State) – Fred Hoiberg wanted to win on Day 1. He couldn’t wait for young players to blossom two or three years down the road. He needed guys who could play immediately. So he signed a bunch of Division I transfers and junior college prospects in his first few seasons on the job. The results? Back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. But Hoiberg can build in the coming years around Niang, a 6-foot-7 wing with the tools to mature into a high-level talent in 2013-14. He averaged 12.1 PPG and 4.6 RPG last season and made 39 percent of his 3-point attempts. The Cyclones lost four of their top six scorers from last year’s squad. Next season’s squad, which will feature four new junior college transfers, will be one of the most inexperienced teams in Hoiberg’s tenure. So Niang has to improve on last year’s production and prove that he’s a go-to guy in the locker room too.
6. Perry Ellis (Kansas) – Well, a lot has changed in recent weeks for Kansas. The Jayhawks ended last season with question marks. They’d lost all five starters once Ben McLemore declared for the NBA draft. So perhaps the Big 12 title streak – nine in a row – would be in jeopardy entering the 2013-14 season? That was then. Andrew Wiggins signed with Bill Self’s program and squashed all doubts. The addition of Tarik Black certainly helps too. But Kansas has historically benefited most from depth. And they have that inside now. Ellis is in a great position as the projected starter at power forward. He’s surrounded by playmakers, so he just has to continue to be the efficient threat he was in 2012-13 (5.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 48 percent from the floor, 13.6 MPG). Kansas has suddenly become a national title contender again. Self’s freshman class is uncanny now, and Black is an instant boost for the program. If Ellis is as potent as his prep accolades suggested he’d be at this level, KU will be in a position to reach Arlington next April.
7. Montrezl Harrell (Louisville) – Kentucky might be favored to win the national crown next season. But Louisville deserves consideration too. The Cardinals lost Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng. But Russ Smith, Luke Hancock, Chane Behanan and Wayne Blackshear return. Harrell could have an expanded role in Rick Pitino’s system too. Louisville lost size when Dieng decided to turn pro. But now the Cardinals have a bunch of versatile forwards who will continue to cause matchup problems for opponents. Harrell fits that formula. The 6-8 North Carolina native had his moments last season, including a 4-for-4 performance against Wichita State in the Final Four. He averaged 5.7 PPG last season, and he’s capable of more in 2013-14.
8. Kyle Anderson (UCLA) – Welcome to the Steve Alford Era. It begins a year after Ben Howland signed the nation’s top recruiting class, a class that -- without an injured Jordan Adams -- was dismissed from the second round of the NCAA tournament by Minnesota. But with the exception of Shabazz Muhammad, that heralded class will return. Adams must regain his strength after suffering a season-ending foot injury. Tony Parker’s minutes will increase if he’s in better shape and more focused. Anderson is as critical as any returnee on the roster. The 6-9 athlete averaged 9.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.5 APG and 1.8 SPG. Anderson entered 2012-13 as a lengthy point guard with a unique skill set. By the end of the season, however, we really weren’t sure what position he played for the Bruins. That’s what Alford must decide. Anderson can pass and handle the ball. His shooting must improve (21 percent from the 3-point line). But he’s usually a mismatch. Still, he needs a position.
9. Fred Van Vleet (Wichita State) – Gregg Marshall’s squad will enter next season as the clear favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference. Ron Baker, Cleanthony Early and Van Vleet return to a program that surprised the nation with a run to the Final Four in April. With point guard Malcolm Armstead gone, Van Vleet steps into his slot as starting point guard. Van Vleet (4.3 PPG, 2.3 APG) flourished in spurts last season. But his effort against Ohio State in the Elite Eight (4-for-8, 12 points, 2 steals, 3 rebounds and 2 assists) provided evidence that the young guard will not be intimidated with a more significant role next season. His postseason experience made him more confident. The latter is crucial, especially for a young point guard.
10. Chris Obekpa (St. John’s) – On Dec. 8, Obekpa recorded a school-record 11 blocks against Fordham. He’s a true rim protector. He was second in the nation with 4.1 BPG, and he led the nation with a 15.8 block percentage, per KenPom.com. He’s the defensive anchor for a young St. John’s squad, and the 6-9 big man was also a solid rebounder (6.2 RPG). Now … the other things about his game. His offense was limited to dunks and garbage points. He’s a phenomenal athlete, so he has the potential to make strides on that end of the floor. And if that happens, watch out. With improved shooting and a better post game, Obekpa could evolve into one of the nation’s most complete players.

There is one last nugget from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's Team USA news conference worth discussing, and then I promise we can move on forever.

Here it is: On Thursday, in the midst of his forward-looking announcement, Coach K said the new ACC -- which is adding Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and eventually Louisville -- was going to blow your favorite conference right out of the water. He was a little more direct:

"We're going to be a 10-bid conference,” Krzyzewski said. “We're going to be the best conference in the history of the game."

The college basketball fan and/or nerd's first impulse here is to scream and wave her hands and get out the trusty old encyclopedia and prove, with science, that Coach K can't possibly be right.

That was my first impulse, at least. Since 2003 -- as far back as Ken Pomeroy's adjusted efficiency-based conference rankings go -- the strongest league by the numbers was the 2004 ACC, which sent six of its nine teams to the NCAA tournament (five as No. 4 seeds or higher), and didn't have a single team finish outside the top 100 of Pomeroy's rankings. (Florida State, Virginia and Clemson finished the season ranked No. 27, No. 56, and No. 97, respectively.) That was a pretty good league, right?

Or what about the 2009 Big East, which had three No. 1 seeds (Louisville, Connecticut and Pittsburgh)? Or what about the 2011 Big Ten, which sent seven of its 11 teams to the NCAA tournament without seeing a single one finish outside the Pomeroy top 80? Or ... or what about some old six-team alphabet soup conference that was really awesome long before I was born?

That's right around the time I decided to stop frantically flipping pages and slapping post-it notes down on my desk. I gave up.

It's not that I wasn't having fun. (Oh, was I.) It's that I realized Coach K had, however unwittingly, sent me on a cosmic college hoops goose chase, the same subjective comparative argument we have every season, writ large.

Because that is the fundamental truth about our annual best conference debates: They are exercises in futility. I mean, we can't even agree on the terms of engagement. Does having the most NCAA tournament teams make you the best? Is it better to be top-heavy -- to have the most national title contenders? Is it a top-to-bottom evaluation? If a league has two or three bad squads dragging it downward, does that offset the excellence at the top? How much should NCAA tournament performance matter?

And on and on and on. This is the debate we have within individual seasons; forget trying to stretch it to the whole of college hoops history. It's like arguing about the best album of all-time. I may have a handful of what I think are totally unimpeachable choices*, but what matters to me might not matter to you. Or maybe you're just a huge fan of the Big Ten and refuse to believe any conference could possibly be better. Maybe you're super into ska. It happens.

So: Is the 2013-14 ACC, or the ACC that follows in the years to come, going to be the best conference in the history of college basketball? Probably not. Maybe? I don't know. All I know is that Coach K's assertion is very difficult to argue for or against, because there isn't a definitive answer. I don't know about you, but I'm cool with that.

* Revolver, Illmatic, Highway 61 Revisited, Blood on the Tracks, OK Computer, Voodoo, Pet Sounds, Kind of Blue, Exile on Main Street, Ready to Die, 36 Chambers, London Calling, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Born to Run, Definitely Maybe, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Funeral, The Blueprint, Loveless, Harvest, Late Registration, Kid A. More than a handful, I suppose.

1. Vanderbilt hasn’t released Sheldon Jeter to his hometown Pitt Panthers yet. It may or may not come. Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings has never blocked a player from transferring to a specific school in the past. Jeter could be the first. Regardless of whether or not it’s fair to put a block on a player receiving a scholarship in his first year at a new school (blocking doesn’t prevent the player from transferring to a school, but does cloud the process with the NCAA), there is a right and wrong way to depart. Jeter tweeted “Due to some personal issues, I am leaving Vanderbilt University to be closer to my family.’’ According to a source with direct knowledge, he didn’t meet face-to-face with Stallings to tell him he was leaving. Jeter, a freshman forward from Beaver Falls, Pa., isn’t the first nor the last to mishandle a departure. There is a mature way to deal with leaving. Evan Gordon left Arizona State two weeks ago. He went in and told Herb Sendek he was out. The conversation didn’t last more than a few minutes. But at least there was one. Jeter averaged 5.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 17.5 minutes a game. He’ll probably end up at Pitt. He may be on scholarship by next season. Cooler heads may prevail here. But most of the time the reason there is animosity over an exit is the way in which it is handled.

2. Indiana coach Tom Crean said he’s already looking at how the Hoosiers will play next season without Victor Oladipo, Cody Zeller, Jordan Hulls and Christian Watford. He said he still wants to push the tempo and fully expects this team to be offensively effective like last season when the Hoosiers were one of the nation’s best. He’s banking on Will Sheehey continuing to lead and show his work ethic to the young Hoosiers. Expect Yogi Ferrell to team up with Sheehey and newcomer Noah Vonleh as well as Troy Williams as some of the top producers. The player who may surprise more than any other could be Luke Fischer, a 6-9 forward who is considered the most efficient newcomer by the staff and Stanford Robinson, who will add to the depth on the perimeter. Crean said the speed of the game has to be high for the Hoosiers yet again. Look for Jeremy Hollowell and Hanner Mosquera-Perea to be one of the more intriguing early-season battles for Zeller time. The Hoosiers are still looking for one more nonconference game. The Hoosiers are in the 2K Classic in NYC with the likely matchup pitting Indiana against Boston College or Washington to ensure the Hoosiers and UConn are on opposite sides of the bracket. IU plays at Syracuse in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and Notre Dame in Indianapolis.

3. Arizona released its nonconference schedule Thursday and for what should be a top-10 ranked Wildcats team there are a number of challenges: at San Diego State (Nov. 14), hosting UNLV (Dec. 7) and New Mexico State (Dec. 11) and at Michigan (Dec. 14). But the headline event should end up being the NIT Season Tip-Off where Duke is the other primary host with Arizona. Alabama and Rutgers are also hosts. If the home teams hold serve, which doesn’t always happen in the only nonconference neutral-site tournament where you still have to earn a spot with two wins, then a potential Arizona-Duke matchup over Thanksgiving would be the top-10 game the NIT has desperately craved for years. Duke is also playing another high-profile Pac-12 team in New York when it plays UCLA in December.