ESPN Men's Basketball

Editor’s Note: This month, ESPN Insider’s college basketball and recruiting experts are teaming up to examine how 15 of the nation’s best recruiting classes will fit in with their teams in the 2013-14 season. Today's featured program: Marquette , which Dana O'Neil delves more into here. Check out the Nation blog each morning for a corresponding post on the key returnee for each of the 15 teams.

Marquette’s Davante Gardner is listed at 6-foot-8, 290 pounds, but he’s probably hovered above 300 throughout his career.

Despite his big frame, Gardner was a strong presence for Buzz Williams’ squad last season. He averaged 11.5 PPG and made 83.5 percent of his free throw attempts. He was ranked fifth in offensive efficiency (122.4 rating) among players who’d used at least 24 percent of their team’s possessions, per KenPom.com. He shot 59 percent from the floor.

Yep, the Golden Eagles were embarrassed in that 55-39 loss to Syracuse in the Elite Eight. But Gardner, who went 6-for-9 and recorded eight rebounds, had 14 points.From Feb. 25 until the end of last season, Gardner shot below 66 percent in just one outing (1-for-4 against Butler in the third round of the NCAA tournament).

Vander Blue’s baffling decision to enter the NBA draft certainly affected projections for Marquette.

Still, Williams’ squad returns Jamil Wilson and Todd Mayo. Chris Otule has applied for a sixth year of eligibility. And Marquette’s incoming freshman class is ranked 11^th by RecruitingNation. The reigning Big East tri-champ is not in rebuilding mode, even though Blue’s absence and the graduation of Trent Lockett present voids within the team’s perimeter presence that less experienced players will fill.

But the Golden Eagles will boast one of the nation’s top frontcourts, especially if Otule returns.

Gardner, the program’s most significant returnee, is a critical element in that prediction.We all recognize Gardner’s potential (see 26 points, 7-for-7 from the field, eight rebounds in Feb. 25 win over Syracuse). He was a member of the all-East Region squad in the Big Dance. He earned the Big East’s sixth man of the year honor, too. And he also averaged just 21.5 minutes per game. Consistency was a challenge throughout the year, although he finished forcefully.

This offseason is significant for Gardner. He has a chance to guide Marquette back to the NCAA tournament and the top of new Big East.

But Williams needs the big man to be in great shape so he can log more minutes. It wouldn’t be the first time that a hefty player slimmed down to help himself and his team. Glen “Big Baby” Davis was the size of a small SUV his freshman season at LSU.

By transforming his body and improving his conditioning, however, he’s made millions in the NBA. A similar makeover could lead to comparable strides for Gardner, too.

The demands are far more than physical, though. He’s a senior now, a leader by default in most programs. It’s an important quality for any upperclassman. He will demonstrate leadership with his focus and commitment to his overall game and conditioning this offseason. If he shows up to next season’s first practices in better shape, then I’m sure his teammates will have more respect for him.

That latter adjustment will also magnify his defensive impact because his position features lengthy, agile athletes with the quickness to maneuver around him. Enhanced conditioning will make Gardner a better and more versatile defender.

His rebounding numbers must improve, too. He has to be more explosive.

Let’s say Gardner is the same guy in 2013-14 that he was last year. That’s sufficient. He was one of the Big East’s top big men. He was productive and efficient.

But he hasn’t reached his ceiling.

There’s another level packed inside that large frame. We watched him dominate in stretches last season. He can do that again.

The truth, however, is that he can do much more for Marquette if he’s focused in the coming months.

1. The new Big East pulled off an officiating coup from its competitor the American Athletic Conference when it landed veteran official John Cahill as its coordinator. Art Hyland, who is retiring as the old Big East's coordinator, will stay on as a consultant. The news of these moves was conveyed to coaches during meetings in Florida on Monday and Tuesday. The American conference was also interested in Cahill and will search for a coordinator. The two conferences will likely compete for the same pool of officials when they play on the same date, mostly Saturdays. The buzz on the meetings was positive as the 10 schools, with their coaches and athletic directors, discussed the future with their television partner, Fox sports. The coaches weren't tipped on the next commissioner, but were told a name would be revealed soon. The schools still don't know which days they will be playing on during the conference season as Fox plans the winter schedule.

2. Tuesday's NBA draft lottery worked out perfectly for Nerlens Noel. If Cleveland takes him No. 1, he won't have all the pressure on him to produce immediately as he returns from surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament. The Cavaliers have a star in Kyrie Irving, a first-team all-rookie player in Dion Waiters and can afford to wait on Noel if need be next season. Noel would probably not be best served in Orlando (the Magic got the No. 2 pick), where the expectation would be for him to contribute sooner. The past two centers Orlando has picked at the top of the first round -- Dwight Howard and Shaquille O'Neal -- are unfair comparison. The Cavs have flourished in finding the right young talent through the draft in the post-LeBron era. Noel would fit in well with this organization.

3. Mike Rice might never get another head or assistant coaching job in the sport. But he must not have been looking to be coddled or seeking sympathy in entering John Lucas' program in Houston -- Lucas doesn't do either. He plays it straight and will work with Rice on anger management. Rice has to be a productive member of society for his family, and one would assume he needs to work. If there was anyone in basketball who can help Rice in his recovery, it's Lucas.

When people rail against the inequities of the NCAA, they're typically talking about money. A college basketball coach can make $10 million in a year because he generates that much value for his university, but also because that money has to go somewhere, and it certainly isn't going to the players. This strikes most as unfair, because it is. It's also obvious.

Less obvious, at least to the layman, are all of the little injustices. Players have to be amateurs or the purity of the games would be corrupted; it's totally cool if coaches are professionals. Players have to sit out a year if they want to leave a school; coaches can hop in and out of contracts whenever they need.

And then there are the scholarship structures, which allow things like this -- via the Indianapolis Star -- to happen:

Jared Drew was planning to take his last final exam on Tuesday, come home for a few days, then return to Saint Louis on Sunday for the start of summer school.

Instead, Drew said, he received a text that the coaching staff wanted to meet with him. At the meeting, Drew said coach Jim Crews told him the school was not going to renew his scholarship for next season.

“I was completely blindsided,” said Drew, a 2012 Cathedral graduate who redshirted last season. “I don’t believe they handled that situation as well as they could have. [Crews] basically told me I’m not the right fit for what he’s trying to do. I’m moving on, though.”

Reminder: Scholarships are not guarantees of a four-year stay. They are one-year, renewable, merit-based documents subject to review after each season. If a coach or athletic director decides to tell a player he is no longer welcome, all he has to do is not renew the player's scholarship. Then, that player has to transfer. Often, the player has to sit out a season in doing so.

Drew told the Star he was planning on appealing that rule, so he can play right away for whatever team ends up taking him on. Here's hoping his appeal is granted.

But this is just the latest example. The point is not just that this is allowed, but that it happens all the time, often in much quieter and more obscure fashion than this. (That's why, save instances in which a player or parent expresses outrage, it's tough to tell how often runoffs happen. Rarely is it quite this blatant.) The same men who preach loyalty and maturity -- who sit in families' living rooms and promise the world to teenagers, who make millions of dollars while their players get classes and a dorm room -- are all too willing to cut a player loose for no reason other than he is no longer a "good fit," which usually means his scholarship is being given to someone more talented. And Drew is supposed to sit out a season?

It's wrong. It needs to change. Apparently, being both embarrassing and counterproductive -- Crews and his staff should be embarrassed by this, and if I'm a prospect's parent, I'm taking any and all Billikens promises with a fat grain of salt -- isn't enough to eradicate the practice. Apparently, the change will need to be imposed, rather than organic to the market. The NCAA needs to make a rule. Who else isn't holding their breath?

1. The ACC coaches want to get the conference tournament in Madison Square Garden and discussed it at length during the league meetings in Amelia Island, Fla., on Tuesday and Wednesday. But whether or not they can pull that off is out of their control. MSG has long wanted a regular tenant, based on the busy March schedule with outside events, as well as primary hosts the Rangers and Knicks. The ACC is reviewing MSG's deal with the new Big East. MSG is unlikely going to go with a conference that would only make a cameo in the building every so often. The ACC is not going to move the conference tournament out of North Carolina (Greensboro or Charlotte) for more than one year every three or four years. If MSG wanted to maximize the opportunity it has in front of it then it should get the Big East to move its tournament to early in championship week and take the ACC the latter part of the week. If not, then the ACC has to see if it can wedge its way into the Barclays Center in Brooklyn around the A-10, or push the A-10 to play earlier in the week. Meanwhile, as expected, C-USA voted Wednesday at its league meetings to have all 16 teams go to the 2014 C-USA tournament in El Paso.

2. Valparaiso picked up a key big man in Alabama 7-foot transfer Moussa Gueye. Gueye, according to Valpo coach Bryce Drew, can play immediately. Gueye originally committed to the Crusaders before going to Alabama. Gueye blocked 52 shots last season for the Tide. He'll be a major distraction for teams in the Horizon League and give the defending conference champs quite a frontline with 6-9 Bobby Capobianco, 6-8 Rice transfer David Chadwick and 6-10 big man Vashil Fernandez.

3. Colorado and Harvard have agreed to play in Boulder (contract still being signed) as the Crimson make their way to Anchorage, Alaska. The Crimson desperately needed another quality game on the schedule. The Crimson have quality local games at UConn and at home against UMass and BC. But the Great Alaska Shootout lost its other star power team when Iowa backed out of the event to go to Atlantis. Playing Fordham, BU, Northeastern, Rice on the road or Howard and Vermont at home and against Holy Cross at TD Banknorth Garden won't deliver the necessary power-rating pop. Harvard has a Top 25 team and needs as many tests as possible before Ivy League play, where their power rating will drop. Colorado coach Tad Boyle once again is scheduling up. The Buffaloes already had Kansas at home and Oklahoma State at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as headline games.

Editor's Note: This month, ESPN Insider's college basketball and recruiting experts are teaming up to examine how 15 of the nation's best recruiting classes will fit in with their teams in the 2013-14 season. Today's featured program: Louisville. Check out the Nation blog each morning for a corresponding post on the key returnee for each of the 15 teams.

Last month in Atlanta, Louisville won the national championship with depth, tenacity, stubborn defense, talent and will.

From mid-February on, the Cardinals showcased an unmatched fortitude. Few expected an easy road to the title, but Louisville clearly had the edge in every postseason matchup that threatened to disrupt its mission.

And the Cards were the last team standing at the Georgia Dome. Most of the critical characters in that run -- Russ Smith, Luke Hancock and Chane Behanan -- will return. Key reserves Montrezl Harrell and Wayne Blackshear are back, too.

Plus, a strong recruiting class anchored by five-star guard Terry Rozier and junior college star Chris Jones will join the team soon.

Entering 2013-14, the preseason favorite to win the national title will be the best team in Kentucky. And the Cardinals have a case in the debate, even though Kentucky coach John Calipari essentially signed the Charlotte Bobcats.

Smith and Co. can repeat.

But there’s a lot of pressure on Behanan, the most important returnee for the team.

When focused, he’s a terrorizing post presence. We saw that in the Final Four.

Hancock earned most outstanding player honors but Behanan was a stabilizer for the program in the Final Four. He had 10 points and nine rebounds in his team’s victory over Wichita State in the national semifinals. He had 15 points, 12 rebounds and a steal in Louisville’s national championship game victory over Michigan.

In those two games, we witnessed the potential that could make Behanan a preseason All-American. He’s a rugged forward who will be expected to give Louisville productive minutes next year.

It’s difficult to single out one contributor on a roster with Louisville’s talent.

Sure, they’ll miss Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng. But the Cardinals are stacked again.

And with Harrell and Blackshear playing bigger roles, they’re possibly a more versatile squad.

Behanan, however, has to be a catalyst. A reliable catalyst. He’s better than the 9.8 PPG and 6.5 RPG he averaged last season.

He can be a double-double guy – consistently – for Pitino. He can be a more stubborn interior defender, too.

If there’s one question about next year’s team, it’s continuity. Last year’s crew displayed a special brand of cohesiveness.

Why? Siva was a mature leader who kept things together on the floor and off it. Dieng had an admirable level of poise and concentration.

Who will lead now?

Well, I think Pitino will turn to multiple players to fill that gap.

Behanan, the same player he suspended for a violation of team rules at the beginning of last season, is certainly on that list.

He matured throughout the season. But the Cardinals need him to sustain the level of concentration and determination he had in the Final Four throughout the 2013-14 campaign.

He has to be an anchor for a program with a legitimate shot at back-to-back national titles.

Behanan is on the radar of multiple NBA teams. He considered turning pro after last month’s championship run but wisely chose to return.

A strong season would elevate his draft stock and it would position Louisville to defend its crown.

The Cardinals will need Behanan to show up every night to achieve the latter.

1. The new Big East athletic directors and coaches will meet next week in Palm Beach, Fla. But they still don't have a commissioner, let alone an office, a schedule and compliance bylaws and staff. Athletic directors are getting anxious that a commissioner hasn't been named yet. Presidents are running the show and keeping the ADs in the dark. The athletic directors wanted a commissioner yesterday, or at the very least in time for next week's meeting. But that may not be possible. If not then former Big 12 commissioner and conference advisor Dan Beebe will run the meeting. Competition in the conference starts in August in fall sports.

2. Conference USA is meeting in Destin, Fla., this week and the coaches are trying to get the league to switch its current stance and have all 16 schools -- instead of just 12 -- at the conference tournament in El Paso in March 2014. The league added Charlotte and Old Dominion for the upcoming season after losing Memphis to the American conference. Tulsa, East Carolina and Tulane will leave for the American conference in 2014 but the league will add Western Kentucky. That means Conference USA will go from 16 schools down to 14. The question for the athletic directors will be whether they are willing to bring everyone to the tournament site.

3. The ACC meetings began Monday with the athletic directors. The coaches arrived later in the day to start talking Tuesday. Future ACC tournament sites will be discussed. The ACC has a golden opportunity to penetrate the New York market by looking at the Barclays Center as an option beyond the Greensboro Coliseum in the middle of North Carolina. Madison Square Garden is locked up for the new Big East. The Greensboro Coliseum is slated for the ACC through 2015. Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa, Washington D.C., and Greensboro is also an option beyond '15. Having New York in the rotation would be a smart, shrewd move by the ACC with Syracuse, Notre Dame, Pitt and in a year, Louisville joining the conference. The ACC will have a huge northern influence, not to mention plenty of alumni in the New York area.

ESPNNewYork.com's Kieran Darcy discusses the statement from Rutgers University that new basketball coach Eddie Jordan does not have a degree.

An unprecedented buzz greeted NC State as it prepared for the 2012-13 campaign. Following a Sweet 16 run the previous season, the Wolfpack returned the most critical pieces of that rally.

C.J. Leslie decided to take his talents back to NC State. Lorenzo Brown looked the part of an All-American point guard. Richard Howell would anchor the paint. And McDonald’s All-American Rodney Purvis would help, too.

That was the mindset of voters who pegged NC State as the favorite to win the ACC last season.

That didn’t happen.

The Wolfpack finished 11-7 in conference play, good for fourth place. Mark Gottfried’s squad lost to Temple in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

And then, things really fell apart.

Leslie turned pro. Purvis transferred to Connecticut.

In all, Gottfried lost five of his top six scorers.

But the silver lining within the tumult was the return of 6-foot-8 forward T.J. Warren. The former McDonald’s All-American toyed with the idea of playing in the NBA but ultimately decided to return.

He’s the only returning player who averaged double figures in scoring last year.

Last season, Warren was just a young reserve who boosted the talent pool of a team that appeared to have it all.

He’ll enter 2013-14 as the leader of a youthful program facing a sharp turn in projections compared to a year ago.

Warren, a member of the ACC’s all-freshman team (media and coaches), could be the most experienced player in a starting lineup that will be forced to rely on the nation’s 14th-ranked incoming class per RecruitingNation.

Anthony Barber, BeeJay Anya and Kyle Washington are all top-100 kids who will probably start for NC State next season. They’ll look to Warren, a second-year man, for guidance.

It’s a dramatic and unexpected switch for the sophomore. But he’s equipped for it. On the court.

Warren showcased his abilities in multiple matchups last season. He had 31 points and 13 rebounds in a Feb. 19 win against Florida State. He registered 12 points or more in nine of the team’s final 11 matchups.

He shot 52 percent from the 3-point line and 62 percent from the field.

Warren won’t have to carry this program alone.

Veteran guard and LSU transfer Ralston Turner (12.3 PPG in 2010-11) will certainly help.

But this is Warren’s team. The Wolfpack will go as far he takes it.

He’s a durable inside-outside threat that any program would covet. He and his young teammates, however, will enter a gauntlet soon.

The ACC could be the toughest league in America next season. Pitt, Notre Dame and Syracuse will elevate the conference’s profile. But their arrivals also will make life for rebuilding programs such as NC State more challenging.

The grind of ACC play will be a true test for Gottfried’s young crew. And NC State must endure this stretch without much experience.

That’s why Warren’s leadership is just as significant as his production.

An NCAA tournament bid would be considered a surprising success based on the squad’s inexperience.

Warren has to be the anchor. Through everything.

No player in the ACC is facing more pressure right now.

Editor's Note: This month, ESPN Insider's college basketball and recruiting experts are teaming up to examine how 15 of the nation's best recruiting classes will fit in with their teams in the 2013-14 season. Today's featured program: North Carolina. Check out the Nation blog each morning for a corresponding post on the key returnee for each of the 15 teams.

A few years ago, I watched this skinny kid from Iowa maneuver around his prep peers with ease during an elite AAU tournament. He didn’t have a college body yet, but he clearly had the tools any college coach would want his point guard to possess.

But Marcus Paige, like any freshman point guard, endured a variety of struggles last season.

Paige was thrust into a nontraditional, four-guard lineup. And the Tar Heels were as inconsistent, at times, as he was.

Like his squad, however, Paige finished strong. His freshman season was a solid one.

He recorded 14 points, four assists and three steals during North Carolina’s second-round victory over Villanova in the NCAA tournament.

He averaged 8.2 PPG, 4.2 APG and 1.4 SPG. He shot 34 percent from the 3-point line and 84 percent from the charity stripe.

Paige has the potential to continue the legacy of star point guards in North Carolina. Raymond Felton, Ty Lawson, Kendall Marshall and others were vital orchestrators for their respective squads.

And Paige is in that position now. He’s the most important returnee on a roster that’s filled with elite athletes.

Projections for North Carolina were uncertain immediately following the 2012-13 season.

James Michael McAdoo, P.J. Hairston and Reggie Bullock all considered turning pro. Hairston and McAdoo remained, while Bullock decided to take his talents to the NBA.

In that moment, the Tar Heels went from a team that might enter next season as a mid-tier ACC squad that would have been forced to rely on incoming freshmen Isaiah Hicks, Kennedy Meeks and Nate Britt to a squad that will enter 2013-14 as a national title contender.

Plus, there’s still the Andrew Wiggins mystery.

The Canadian stud will decide soon. And the Tar Heels are still on his list.

If Wiggins goes to Chapel Hill, then everything will be elevated for the program.

But coach Roy Williams has a solid group without him.

He has a team that features the manpower to do big things next season.

Duke will be stacked and Florida State will be a factor if Wiggins signs with the Seminoles. Plus, Notre Dame, Pitt and Syracuse are coming. The ACC will replace the Big Ten as college basketball’s powerhouse in the near future.

Duke and North Carolina tend to battle each year for the ACC crown. But that pattern will be challenged soon, especially with Louisville arriving in a year.

Yet, the Tar Heels remain relevant.

They’re bigger now with Hicks and Meeks. The young duo is vital. Now, McAdoo can utilize the inside-outside game that wowed NBA scouts when he was a freshman.

He was forced into the paint last season.

Hairston could have a breakout season, now that he’ll probably play a bigger role with Bullock gone.

But even if Wiggins enters the mix, the Tar Heels will need a maestro who can unify and guide the program to its potential.

A healthy Marshall, in my opinion, would have led the Tar Heels to the national championship game in 2012. They just weren’t the same team without him, despite the NBA talent that year’s roster boasted.

The Tar Heels have valuable components again, the kind they’ll need to compete in the super-sized ACC.

But Paige is the guy who must make it all work.

Flashes of potential were expected and accepted when he was just a freshman. Consistency, however, will be a necessity on both ends of the floor in 2013-14.

They need his leadership, too.

The ceiling is high for North Carolina if Paige starts next season the way he finished 2012-13.

Britt will give the Tar Heels some depth at point guard. But this is Paige’s show.

So he has to reduce his turnovers (2.5 TPG). He has to be in charge on the floor and off it. He has to be a threat on offense and defense.

That’s a lot of pressure for any sophomore.

But that’s just Paige’s reality.

North Carolina, per the norm, will be a preseason ACC contender again. To compete for the national title and climb the standings of the new and improved conference, however, the Tar Heels will need their young point guard to grow.

That’s why he’s so significant.

1. Oregon is now one-year U. The Ducks under Dana Altman have made a habit of finding players for one season who can make an impact. UNLV's Mike Moser is the latest to choose Oregon in this situation, picking the Ducks over Washington and Gonzaga. Moser, who will be at his third school in his college career after starting out at UCLA, follows Devoe Joseph (Minnesota), Olu Ashaolu (Louisiana Tech) and Arsalan Kazemi (Rice), who all flourished in their one season in Eugene. Adding transfers with more than one year left is also fair game -- the Ducks have taken in Wake Forest's Tony Woods. But credit the Oregon staff, led by Altman, for filling needs. The Ducks have needed mostly big men as their young guards develop; losing E.J. Singler and Kazemi off last season's NCAA team left a glaring opening for a rebounder and a potential inside scorer. If Moser can return to being one of the best on the boards in the country, as he was two seasons ago (an elbow injury slowed him this past season), the Ducks will have the complement needed to young guards Dominic Artis and Damyean Dotson. Meanwhile, Memphis' Tarik Black was on campus Tuesday and will leave Wednesday for visits to Georgetown, Kansas and Duke, according to a source with direct knowledge -- so the Ducks could add even more to the stable of one-year transfers. As one assistant coach who has recruited these type of players said, the one-year player at the end of his college career is in high demand because he can make more of an impact than an average freshman.

2. The NCAA rules committee, men's basketball tournament selection committee and the National Association of Basketball Coaches board met Tuesday in Indianapolis as one group to discuss the NCAA tournament and any potential rules changes. The rules committee should have a decision on any changes sometime Thursday. NCAA vice president Dan Gavitt and West Coast Conference commissioner Jamie Zaninovich, who is on the selection committee, were both present; according to sources, neither has shown signs that his selection as the next commissioner of the new Big East is imminent -- though sources said the new league's presidents are close to a decision. If that is the case and it's not Gavitt, a former Big East associate commissioner, or Zaninovich, a favorite of many in the league, it could be someone from outside the league. That list is broad but could include Tim Brosnan, a Major League Baseball executive. Someone like Brosnan would make sense considering that the new Big East has partnered with Fox, which has a strong relationship with MLB. A few administrators would prefer a strong person in the NCAA membership who has already been a commissioner. But the new Big East presidents -- who also selected former CBS executive Mike Aresco as commissioner of the old Big East, now the American Conference -- were looking for someone with strong television connections. The new Big East needs to get a commissioner soon, with the clock ticking toward fall sports starting and an office, championships, bylaws, scheduling and compliance still to be determined.

3. Next week's NBA draft combine in Chicago could be one of the most intriguing camps because of the parity in the draft and the unknowns beyond some of the top players. The injuries to Nerlens Noel, Anthony Bennett and Alex Len mean there are even more questions than answers heading into the event. There is hardly a consensus beyond the top three of Noel, Bennett and Ben McLemore. Team workouts will be even more important for so many players who could play their way not just into the first round but into the late lottery. This will be even more of a need draft for teams picking after the top five and looking for a specific position. Which player is the best available will be highly debatable since you could ask 10 people at a given spot and receive 10 different answers.

1. The Mountain West Conference met last week in Phoenix to go over an 18-game schedule for next season with an 11-team league they weren't expecting to originally have a year ago. Boise State and San Diego State returned to the league, or rather never left, instead of going to the Big East. The league was already planning on adding Utah State and San Jose State. And with the league coming off a record percentage of five out of nine teams making the NCAA tournament field, the conference had to take advantage of the momentum. The San Diego Union-Tribune first put out what will be the new scheduling format for this league -- ensuring the top teams play each other twice in an unbalanced schedule. This is what the Big East did for years to satisfy television partners CBS and ESPN. And with the same television partners, that's exactly what is going to happen in the MWC, too. The Tribune reported the vote was 8-3 by the coaches to do a random schedule. But the athletic directors overruled the coaches and with good reason. The networks want/need the top teams to play twice. That means you're almost guaranteed to see San Diego State, UNLV and New Mexico playing twice so that CBS, which picks first, and ESPN each get one of the matchups. While this means lesser-profile teams in the league, like Utah State, may not have as hard of a schedule, the aforementioned teams will ultimately have a stronger power rating. Schools will play eight teams twice and two teams once. The MWC had the perfect model with a nine-team, 16-game round-robin schedule. A 10-team, 18-game round-robin is even more perfect like the Big 12. But an 11-team, 18-game schedule where the projected top teams play twice for television is the best scenario for a league that wants to continue to be relevant.

2. The Big 12 met in Phoenix last week, too, and discussed scheduling concerns for West Virginia and its travel issues in the league after its first year. Commissioner Bob Bowlsby and the athletic directors were in agreement to support the Mountaineers in any way. Translation: The conference will look at having West Virginia stay on the road for two consecutive road games in a short amount of time to reduce the number of long road trips for the Mountaineers. West Virginia wants to avoid having to go back to Texas or Texas and Oklahoma or Texas and Iowa over a Wednesday to a Saturday time period. The solution could be for West Virginia to play a Saturday-Monday or a Saturday-Tuesday road trip, which had been avoided in the past by the Big 12. This has been the norm for the Pac-12 where teams stay on the road for multiple games. West Virginia finished 6-12 in its first season in the Big 12, 13-19 overall. West Virginia played in three sets of consecutive road games. The first was scheduled by West Virginia on Jan. 16 (Iowa State) and Purdue in a nonconference game (Jan. 19). The two Big 12 back-to-back road games were spread out over a four-day period against TCU (Feb. 9) and Baylor (Feb. 13) and Kansas (March 2) and Oklahoma (March 6). The only one of those road games the Mountaineers won was TCU.

3. The sad reality of the Ben McLemore story reported by USA Today is how third-party officials try to make money off of players. This is unfortunately not a new norm. As a Division I member school official said, family members can accept gifts because they can and most don't know the rules, or in some cases, care. Policing these "deals" is almost impossible for the NCAA. Trying to steer players toward an agent has happened before and it is likely to happen again. It's too hard to project what, if anything, will happen to Kansas or McLemore's eligibility from the previous year. He was going to leave for the NBA regardless of what someone was going to do because he was projected as a top-five pick. This will come down to whether or not he knew there was any gifts or payments on his behalf or if he accepted anything directly.

The NBA draft early entry deadline has passed, so we now have a solid image of what most teams will look like in 2013-14. Recruits have signed letters of intent, many transfers have picked new schools, coaches have been hired and fired, and standout players have announced whether they’ll enter the NBA draft or remain in school for another season.

Now that the smoke has cleared, it appears that the four teams that competed for the national title in Atlanta last month possess the potential to reach Arlington, Texas, for next season’s Final Four. What are the chances that Syracuse, Louisville, Michigan and Wichita State will get back there?

(In order of probability on a scale of 1-10)

1. Louisville (Chances: 9) -- For a few weeks, Louisville’s future was an uncertain one. First, Russ Smith had decided to leave, according to his father. Then he admitted he wasn’t exactly sure what he would do. But he ultimately chose another year at Louisville. The guard struggled in the national title game, but he was a force throughout the NCAA tournament. With Smith in charge, there’s no reason to doubt that Louisville will compete in Cowboys Stadium next season in its third consecutive Final Four run. Yes, the Cardinals have lost two critical players in Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng. But five-star recruit Terry Rozier and Chris Jones, who was recently named NABC junior college player of the year, will be ready to log major minutes for Rick Pitino’s program in 2013-14. And Chane Behanan should be on a lot of preseason All-American charts. Montrezl Harrell did things in the Big Dance that showcased a glimpse of his ability. Plus, Wayne Blackshear and Luke Hancock, the Final Four’s most outstanding player, will be back, too. There’s a lot of Kentucky buzz right now. But the Cardinals should be able to compete against any team in America next season.
2. Michigan (Chances: 8 ) -- They should be celebrating in Ann Arbor right now. Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III could have been first-round picks in this summer’s NBA draft. Their decision to come back for their sophomore seasons will help the Wolverines maintain their status as Big Ten contenders. Robinson will be a more prominent factor in John Beilein’s offense next year. And McGary will be one of the best big men in America. Now, let’s discuss the question. How do you replace Trey Burke? I’m not dismissing Tim Hardaway Jr.’s contributions to the program. But it’s much easier to find scorers than leaders. The Wolverines have enough talent returning (Spike Albrecht, Nik Stauskas and Jon Horford) and coming (Derrick Walton, Zak Irvin and Mark Donnal are all top-100 kids per RecruitingNation) to support the notion that they could make another Final Four appearance in 2013-14. But how will Beilein replace Burke and his intangibles? I had the same question about Kansas last season. When the Jayhawks lost Thomas Robinson, they lost more than a player. He was the soul of the program. They were missing his leadership more than anything last season. Michigan could find itself in the same position next year. I’ve heard great things about Walton. But Burke was special. Without him, the Wolverines still have Final Four talent. But it will be difficult to rally in the postseason if they don’t identify a player(s) to take on Burke’s leadership role as the season approaches.
3. Syracuse (Chances: 7) -- Here’s what we learned about Jim Boeheim in 2012-13 … again. He always finds another player to step in and contribute when necessary. Yes, the losses of a dynamic starting point guard Michael Carter-Williams, guard Brandon Triche and forward James Southerland would be devastating for most programs. But I doubt Boeheim is concerned. He has C.J. Fair, who was potent for the Orange in the tourney. And when given the chance to play a bigger role after Southerland was suspended for academic issues, Jerami Grant looked like a young star. Baye Keita, Rakeem Christmas and DaJuan Coleman give Syracuse the length and athleticism that will boost the 2-3 zone that opponents hate. Plus, Tyler Ennis anchors a recruiting class that’s ranked sixth overall by RecruitingNation. But there’s a lot of pressure on Ennis. Carter-Williams will be a lottery pick. He was a confident and versatile threat for Syracuse. Ennis probably will fill the void Syracuse now has at point guard. Can he do it? Well, that’s the story of this team. Boeheim will be forced to rely on players who weren’t major factors last season. The good news? That’s the story of Syracuse every season. Carter-Williams averaged 2.7 PPG in 2011-12. He’ll make millions in a few months. Again, Boeheim just turns to the next person in line and says, “You’re up.” And his guys respond to that challenge. So when weighing Syracuse’s chances of reaching the Final Four next season, it’s important to consider that pattern. This team has lost a lot. But it will still be a national contender in 2013-14.
4. Wichita State (Chances: 6) -- Gregg Marshall piloted the most exciting postseason story in the country in March/April. Wichita State had failed to win the Missouri Valley Conference regular season or tournament titles. Yet, they thrived on their experience and underrated talent as they rallied to the Final Four. The Shockers' success seemed to materialize from nothing. But it was actually more logical than that. Marshall wrestled with multiple injuries throughout the season. And in the weeks leading up to the NCAA tournament, Wichita State finally had a (somewhat) healthy roster. With NCAA tourney star Cleanthony Early, Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet returning, the Shockers will be the favorites to win the MVC. Could they pull off a Butler and make back-to-back Final Four appearances? Yep. But it seems tough to project that level of success for a squad that has major holes to fill with the loss of veterans Carl Hall, Malcolm Armstead and Ehimen Orukpe. But Marshall brings back the other key pieces that fueled that rally to Atlanta. And Evan Wessel was a starter before he broke his hand and eventually redshirted. Tekele Cotton was solid throughout the postseason, too. Incoming players Kadeem Coleby (Louisiana-Lafayette transfer), Shaquille Morris (three-star recruit) and Earl Watson will give Marshall the size he’ll need in the post. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Shockers play their way to Arlington next season. But they have more questions to answer than any other squad on this list.

1. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said Thursday on our ESPNU College Basketball podcast that underclassmen should be able to work out for NBA teams before making a decision on whether to remain in the draft. That was the rule before the change by the NCAA in 2009. Izzo saw forward Adreian Payne take his time before opting to return to East Lansing. Izzo is a proponent of one date instead of the two current ones -- the NCAA's arbitrary one, with nothing binding, a week after the Final Four and the NBA's real deadline on the last Sunday in April. "I've never seen so much confusion,'' Izzo said. Izzo was also agreed with the point that if NBA teams paid for the workouts, it would alleviate one of the concerns the NCAA has had about extra benefits for draft hopefuls.

2. Izzo also said Michigan State and Gonzaga are trying to finalize a game at Spokane (Wash.) Arena on Dec. 7 to honor the life of former Michigan State coach and current Spokane resident Jud Heathcote. Heathcote attends Gonzaga games when he is able. Izzo said the plan was to have a doubleheader involving the four schools Heathcote coached or has a strong affinity for: Michigan State, Gonzaga, Washington State and Montana. Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said he'd love to do it, but Washington State coach Ken Bone said he has a scheduling conflict.

3. The NCAA Board of Directors officially recognized and ratified the new Big East Conference and the name change of the old Big East to the American Athletic Conference. That means the NCAA tournament will officially have 32 automatic berths in 2014 and 36 at-large berths. It also means that everyone had better get used to the American conference because unless significant expansion occurs again, the American is here to stay.

Youth has reigned in the one-and-done era.

Tim Duncan and other former collegiate veterans were praised as mature prospects when they turned pro nearly 20 years ago.

In the 2012 NBA draft, however, five of the first 10 picks were selected following their first and only season of NCAA basketball.

That’s not surprising given the value NBA execs have placed on potential in the one-and-done era. But it has also spawned myths about the benefits of college experience.

The latter seems to do more harm for future pros today. We can go down the list of players who were better prospects as freshmen and sophomores than they were as juniors and seniors.

For NBA scouts, those extra seasons can become additional time for scrutiny. The kid with the smooth jump shot in Year 1 might be the second-year man who’s not as athletic as he appeared to be a year ago.

By the time they’re juniors and seniors, they’ve lost the NBA value they’d appeared to possess earlier in their careers -- even if they improved over time.

But there’s still a place for guys who decide to stay in college for three or four years.

Proof? The NBA playoffs.

This year’s opening round has been nothing short of sports theatre.

And some of the performances of young athletes who’ve played pivotal roles on playoff rosters have countered misperceptions about upperclassmen.

Kenneth Faried (four years at Morehead State) is a critical player for the Denver Nuggets. Young star Stephen Curry played for three years at Davidson.

Chandler Parsons, who’s averaging 16.8 PPG in the playoffs for the Houston Rockets, played for four seasons at Florida.

Jeff Green, a three-year competitor at Georgetown, is one of the key reasons that the Boston Celtics are still alive against the New York Knicks.

Ty Lawson was overlooked by many teams following three seasons and a national title run at North Carolina. But he’s leading the Nuggets in scoring in the postseason (22.2 PPG).

Even former All-American Draymond Green has found a spot in Mark Jackson’s rotation with the Warriors.

From the Lansing State Journal:

Green figures to play a key role as the Warriors try to close out the series. Forward David Lee’s hip injury has given Green more minutes and he has capitalized. He had a career-high 13 points to go with six rebounds and four assists, playing in crunch time during Golden State’s 115-101 win in Game 4.

“You have to really pay attention and know the game to appreciate what (Green) does on the floor," Jackson told the San Jose Mercury News afterward. "It was funny to me that people would ask why he was in the game in Game 1. The guy is a winner, he's a competitor, he cares, he works his tail off, and he's going to be a coach in this league or somewhere. The guy was a coach when we drafted him. He could do that today if he wanted to. That's how good he is and how smart he is."

A few years ago, former NBA coach Flip Saunders told me that Green was the most intelligent college basketball player he’d ever encountered.

He was a second round pick. But his time at Michigan State gave him the tools he needed to make an impact in the most critical moment of his team’s season.

The aforementioned players didn’t have some of the flash of their younger peers, many of whom were selected earlier in their respective drafts. But they’ve endured the grind of the NBA. And they’ve utilized their maturity and basketball IQs to find spots in the league.

That’s not easy to do. But their trajectories prove that it’s possible.

I think Green and Co. should make other young players think twice about leaving college early.

Their time in college is certainly paying off right now.

I know, I know.

More Kentucky hype. Enough is enough already, right?

Well ... no.

John Calipari has signed five of the top-9 prospects in America (Julius Randle, Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Dakari Johnson and James Young), according to RecruitingNation. And Marcus Lee is one of six McDonald’s All-Americans in that class. Plus, Alex Poythress, Kyle Wiltjer and Willie Cauley-Stein will return.

That’s just ridiculous. And consensus No. 1 prep talent Andrew Wiggins ... gulp ... might choose the Wildcats, too.

Yes, Kentucky will be the No. 1 team in America once preseason rankings are released in the coming months. I don’t understand any arguments against that.

But, we won’t have to wait too long to see if these Wildcats will justify the preseason buzz.

On Wednesday afternoon, the school released its nonconference schedule through its Twitter feed.

John Calipari teased the slate with this tweet: “It's once again an elite schedule, but that's the standard here. It looks like we'll play several top teams.”

That’s no overstatement.

Here are the highlights (Yes, we knew about some of these games months ago):

Kentucky vs. Michigan State (Chicago), Nov. 12: Whoa. So, we might see the top two squads in the country compete against one another in the State Farm Champions Classic in Chicago, huh? We know what Kentucky has. But the Spartans are going to be a force, too. With Adreian Payne and Gary Harris returning, Tom Izzo has a team with Final Four potential. How will the Big Ten contenders handle this young Kentucky crew that’s packed with NBA talent? We’ll see.

Kentucky vs. Robert Morris (Lexington), Nov. 17: The Wildcats clearly want payback for last year’s embarrassing NIT loss. The Wildcats commenced last season with a national ranking. They ended last season with a first-round NIT loss against Robert Morris. It was a fitting conclusion for last year’s disaster. But this is not last year’s team. Pay attention to the pregame buzz. Calipari and Co. will say that this is “just another game.” And then they’ll go out there and try to beat the Colonials by 50.

Kentucky vs. Baylor (Arlington), Dec. 6: I’ve been pumped about this one since it was announced last year. It will be held at Cowboys Stadium. That helps. Projections for Baylor changed recently when both Cory Jefferson and Isaiah Austin announced that they will return for another season. That makes this matchup more intriguing. The venue has fueled most of the hype. But Kentucky should be on upset alert entering this matchup.

Kentucky at North Carolina (Chapel Hill), Dec. 14: Wiggins could be a factor in this matchup. The Canadian standout could choose either school. But even if he doesn’t, this is still a high-profile battle. Last season, the Tar Heels failed to achieve the results that the program has historically produced under Roy Williams. They had matchup problems throughout the season because they didn’t have the inside-outside balance they’ll possess in 2013-14. But incoming freshmen Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks should give Williams such much-needed size and enhance their chances of defeating the Wildcats. And Chapel Hill will be on fire with anticipation for this game.

Kentucky vs. Louisville (Lexington), Dec. 28: You don’t really need an introduction for this one. We all know about the rivalry. But right now, the Cardinals are kings. They’re the national champs. And they’re returning some of the key players who fueled that title run. But the game returns to Lexington in 2013-14. The Wildcats just weren’t on Louisville’s level last season. This, however, should be a more competitive matchup than last season’s meeting. And again, we’re talking about a pair of squads that might be ranked first and second in the preseason rankings. Get your popcorn ready.