Jan. 29
With less than two months to go in the college hoops season, I want to have some fun and lay on you my midseason Elite Eight players who have stepped up and separated themselves as the best of the best in college basketball this season.

Let's start on the perimeter with the premier point guard, T.J. Ford of Texas. He is the orchestra leader, the maestro man on one of the nation's best teams. Ford's creativity and penetration ability are so unique. His ultra-quickness makes him difficult to defend, and he has improved his range as a shooter.

	Dick's Elite Eight
	Here's a rundown of Dickie V's midseason Elite Eight:
	G: T.J. Ford, Texas
	G: Dwyane Wade, Marquette
	G: Hollis Price, Oklahoma
	G: Jarvis Hayes, Georgia
	F: Mike Sweetney, Georgetown
	F: Nick Collison, Kansas
	F: Brian Cook, Illinois
	F: Kyle Korver, Creighton
	Coach of the Year Rick Pitino, Louisville

Running with Ford in the backcourt is a scoring wizard, Dwyane Wade of Marquette. He's a high-wire act who can also stroke the jump shot. Wade is a sensational player in transition who attacks the basket on the break. I love what he has done for coach Tom Crean's team.

Down in the post, I'm going with a power guy: Georgetown's Mike Sweetney. Can you find a better college guy down low physically? He's unstoppable when he catches the ball in deep.

Also up front, look at the performance of Kansas' Nick Collison vs. Texas. He had 24 points and 23 rebounds in a stellar showing. It had me jumping out of my seat, only the second time in 24 years that I've given a player a standing ovation as a broadcaster. It wasn't just because of those stats, but his incredible effort in willing his team to the winner's circle.

The other player I gave a standing ovation to was Navy center David Robinson, who had 45 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocked shots against Kentucky and Rex Chapman at Rupp Arena in 1987.

Illinois forward Brian Cook has been very consistent this season. He has special inside/outside ability, and he's one of the reasons the Illini are a legitimate Big Ten contender despite losing so much talent from last season's squad.

Then add the dangerous shooting ability up front of Creighton's Kyle Korver. He is automatic shooting the trifecta. The Bluejays will have a say in the NCAA Tournament. Creighton excels in big games -- just ask Notre Dame coach Mike Brey about their meeting early this season or Florida coach Billy Donovan about last year's NCAA Tournament.

For extra backcourt help, you can rely on Oklahoma's Mr. Clutch, Hollis Price. He finds ways to get the Sooners to the winner's circle. Go ask Texas Tech's Bobby Knight about Mr. Price; the Red Raiders were ready to snap the Sooners' home-court winning streak until Price hit an amazing game-tying basket to send it into overtime, when OU prevailed.

Finally, check out Georgia's Jarvis Hayes, another clutch performer who has made many big shots this season. He's currently slowed by a hip injury, but when going full-tilt, he's capable of getting the Bulldogs into contention for a Final Four berth.

Midseason Coach of Year? Pitino
And who should coach this Elite Eight group? The leader who gets an A+ at midseason is Louisville's Rick Pitino. Where were the Cardinals two years ago before he arrived? Yes, in the 1980s former Louisville coach Denny Crum had a dominant program, but Pitino has made a difference since his arrival, wielding his magic early. Louisville has just one loss, a hard-fought game against coach Gene Keady and Purdue. And the Cardinals were without transfer Marvin Stone then.

I give Pitino the slight edge over Oklahoma State's Eddie Sutton and Michigan's Tommy Amaker as the midseason coach of the year. Sutton's athletic team has done a tremendous job, while Amaker's squad has rallied from an 0-6 start to win 13 straight.

There you have it, my midseason best of the best, baby!