Oct. 30
Boston College's Troy Bell was certainly a surprise last season, becoming one of America's premier players. He is being counted on big-time to lead the Eagles to Big East honors again.

Fortunately for BC, his right knee injury -- reported as a torn meniscus -- will sideline him for only two to six weeks. If that's the case, Bell should be ready for the heavy part of the season. Obviously, if the Eagles lost him for an extended period, it would be a major blow to their chances of matching their phenomenal season of last year, when they won the Big East regular-season and tournament titles.

Until arthroscopic surgery is performed Wednesday, the doctors cannot get a true evaluation of his knee's condition. All reports for now are preliminary. But the bottom line is that Bell is an outstanding scoring guard and a vital part of Boston College's offensive attack.

VOLS HIT EARLY BUMPS IN ROAD
Tennessee's Buzz Peterson has had a few bumps in the road already. Guards Harris Walker and Terrence Woods were dismissed from the squad. Center Marcus Haislip was declared academically ineligible for the first semester.

Now the Vols have lost forward Ron Slay to a stress fracture of the fibula. The good news is that Slay is expected to return within a few weeks. I love Slay's enthusiasm on the court. Tennessee needs him out there.

By the way, Peterson is one of six new coaches at schools that made the NCAA Tournament last season. Thad Matta took over for Skip Prosser at Xavier (Prosser was hired by Wake Forest); former assistant Tom Pecora was promoted at Hofstra when Jay Wright left for Villanova; Stan Heath was hired at Kent State for Gary Waters (Rutgers); and Wisconsin hired Bo Ryan.

TIME FOR SOME CHANGES
Speaking of changes ... the Midwestern Collegiate Conference is now the Horizon League. The Trans Atlantic Athletic Conference is now the Atlantic Sun Conference. There were 47 coaching changes, and seven came in one league: the Atlantic 10. Duquesne (Danny Nee), George Washington (Karl Hobbs), LaSalle (Billy Hahn), Massachusetts (Steve Lappas), Rhode Island (Jim Baron), St. Bonaventure (Jan van Breda Kolff) and Xavier (Matta) have new coaches.

There are a number of schools that have changed conferences. Keep an eye on Richmond as John Beilein's squad joins the Atlantic 10. The A-10 has gone back to two divisions this season. Hofstra, which fared so well under Wright, moves to the Colonial, along with Delaware and Drexel (where Bruiser Flint is the new coach). Louisiana Tech and Boise State are now in the WAC.

Then there is TCU. There has been so much talk about Conference USA having a coaching Who's Who with John Calipari at Memphis, Rick Pitino at Louisville, Bob Huggins at Cincinnati and an underrated star like Bobby Lutz at Charlotte. Let's not forget Billy Tubbs and the firepower he brings with the Horned Frogs. TCU and East Carolina are the newest members of Conference USA.

A SALUTE TO DETROIT
I've mentioned the Horizon League. One of its members is the University of Detroit, and coach Perry Watson doesn't seem to get enough national recognition for the job he's done.

The Titans enter the season with a 31-game home winning streak; only Michigan State and Iowa State have longer home streaks entering this season.

Speaking of the Spartans, they take on Detroit in the preseason NIT. That will be a great challenge for Watson.

KEEP AN EYE ON ...
In the Big 12, there has been plenty of talk about Bob Knight returning to the sidelines, as well as Missouri and Kansas making big-time noise this season. One player from the league who is certain to emerge as a superstar is Oklahoma State's Maurice Baker. He can flat-out play on both ends of the court.

Nolan Richardson is not afraid to play a tough non-league schedule. This year is no exception, as the Razorbacks could face Wake Forest in the second round of the Preseason NIT. Also on the non-conference agenda are games at Tulsa, vs. Oklahoma, at Illinois, vs. Oklahoma State and at Memphis.

Auburn has a 3-point shooter to watch in juco transfer Derrick Bird. He likes to put up the long-range jumper. ... Wake Forest guard Craig Dawson scored 43 points in the team's Black and Gold scrimmage.