ESPN Men's Basketball

Despite losing its top three scorers, Duke looks like a top-10 team and a threat once again to make the Final Four in 2014.

All because of über-recruit Jabari Parker, right?

Not so fast.

Parker is worthy of the hype and will no doubt be a big part of the Blue Devils' success, but it's the less-talked-about addition of Rodney Hood that could make all the difference in Durham. A transfer from Mississippi State, Hood is one of only four Division I transfers in 33 years under Mike Krzyzewski (joining Roshown McLeod, Dahntay Jones and Seth Curry).

Two seasons ago in the SEC, he averaged 10.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and two assists a game as a freshman. Hood wasn't as nationally known because of the Bulldogs' struggles, but he is sure to be a household name in 2013-14 after sitting out the past year due to NCAA transfer rules.

As we continue our early look at the upcoming season, I caught up with Hood on the phone after he finished working out on Duke's campus.

Andy Katz: What did you improve on the most during your redshirt season?

Rodney Hood: I got a lot stronger and spent a lot of time in the weight room and got more comfortable handling the ball and playing on the blue team and second team and working on my ballhandling skills. I improved my all-around game.

AK: Who did you reach out to about how to handle redshirting?

RH: I talked to Seth [Curry] and he told me to stay in the gym. He said he always tried to stay in the gym so it takes your mind off sitting out. I talked to my ex-teammate at Mississippi State, Arnett Moultrie [who had transferred from UTEP], and he said to stay focused on the goals you want to have.''

AK: How much do you think people forgot you're at Duke?

RH: A lot. I kind of like it that way. It's much better to come up on the scene. It's fine. A lot of people didn't see me. They don't know who I am.

AK: How would you compare Duke to Mississippi State?

RH: The atmosphere here at Duke, the coaching staff and everyone around here expects excellence. Everybody is trying to do big things in life and in academics. They're doing the right things off the court and being held accountable. It has helped me be a better person in this off year.

AK: How did this year off from games help in the transition to Duke academically?

RH: I thought I would start off struggling at Duke. But I'm taking things that I really enjoy. The classes are fun. They allow you to be a student. It's not just multiple- choice tests. There are papers, and you can say what you feel on different things. That fits me as a student. It definitely helped that I wasn't playing. I didn't travel with the team until late. I was here, and it helped me focus more on my studies. It was a great year for me to get acclimated to Duke.

AK: How much did you consider declaring for the draft this spring?

RH: There were a lot of people around me, not in my circle, but people talking that said I could have gone because it was a weak draft. I'm too invested in Duke basketball. I love it here. I've grown with the players and the coaches and coaching staff. This was a no-brainer to stay here. I wasn't even thinking it. I want to play at least one season here at Duke.

AK: Duke lost Ryan Kelly, Seth Curry and Mason Plumlee. Three big losses. How can you guys compete for a national title in 2014?

RH: The one thing I've seen since the season ended was the commitment from the team, particularly in the weight room. We haven't had too many basketball workouts. We're long, but we're not muscular guys. We're getting in the weight room and we're excited about the season. This will be a different team, a different dynamic. Other than Marshall [Plumlee], we don't have a true big man. But we've got a lot of versatility [with a deep backcourt of Hood, Quinn Cook, Andre Dawkins, Rasheed Sulaimon and Tyler Thornton]. The one thing everyone is excited about is the commitment to get better individually.

AK: What can people expect from you in 2013-14?

RH: I just plan on coming in and making some noise. I expect you'll see my best effort. I can't promise this or that. But I will help my team win and get us in the best position to win.

AK: What has it been like to be coached by Mike Krzyzewski?

RH: Right now it's totally different than when I first stepped on campus. Then, it was Coach K and he had just won the Olympics. He is the all-time winningest coach in college basketball. I was in awe. I wasn't intimidated, but I was in awe. Now I'm excited to learn from him. And I've learned so much. I've seen how passionate he is as a coach and how he prepares for games. It's something I've never seen before in a coach.

The early-entry NBA draft deadline has produced a dizzying number of players announcing this past week whether they're staying or going, but there are still key decisions to come, such as where Andrew Wiggins, the top player in the Class of 2013, will play, and where UNLV transfer Mike Moser, a one-year rental player, will finish his college career.

The top 25 is fluid, as it should be in late April, but there are plenty of points to agree with in my colleague Jason King's preseason top 25.

Kentucky's epic recruiting class, combined with the return of Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress and Kyle Wiltjer, make the Wildcats the preseason No. 1.

Louisville did lose Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng, but the return of Russ Smith and the addition of heralded newcomer Chris Jones gives the defending national champs a chance to go for a second consecutive title.

Michigan State brings back a trio that can win the Big Ten in Keith Appling, Gary Harris and Adreian Payne.

Arizona returns its core and picked up a remarkable recruiting class, led by late signee Aaron Gordon, that should make the Wildcats the class of the Pac-12.

Losing Mason Plumlee, Ryan Kelly and Seth Curry would normally push a team off the top perch in a league like the ACC. But Duke will add two of the top newcomers in the country in freshman Jabari Parker and Mississippi State transfer guard Rodney Hood and contend for another conference title.

So, we agree on the top five. And, give or take a few spots, we have agreement on a number of teams such as Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, Syracuse, VCU, Wichita State, Marquette, New Mexico, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Memphis, Kansas, Baylor and Colorado.

But then there are differences of teams ranked too low, too high, or not at all.

Teams ranked too low

Oklahoma State Cowboys (My pick -- No. 8; Jason's -- No. 10): The Cowboys return a threesome that will be tough to match by any team in the country, save Kentucky. Marcus Smart will be a top-10 pick in 2014, or whenever he chooses to leave, and Markel Brown and Le'Bryan Nash played well off of Smart. If the frontcourt can simply handle its responsibilities, then the Cowboys should unseat Kansas atop the Big 12.

Connecticut Huskies (My pick -- No. 14; Jason's -- No. 23): The Huskies have something no team will be able to match entering this season -- an edge, after being denied a postseason trip because of an APR-related postseason ban. Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright and DeAndre Daniels are returning for a shot to play in the NCAA tournament in 2013-14. They will and should be Louisville's toughest challenger in the American Athletic Conference. Omar Calhoun quietly had a solid freshman season. Kevin Ollie is even more comfortable as a coach, having replaced Jim Calhoun. This should be a top-15 team.

Harvard Crimson (My pick -- No. 21; Jason's -- unranked): The Crimson pulled off one of the two biggest upsets of the tournament by knocking off New Mexico (the other being Florida Gulf Coast over Georgetown). This was a Harvard team that won the Ivy League without its two best players the entire season. If Brandyn Curry and Kyle Casey return as expected from their one-year banishment, then the Crimson will be loaded with the best team they've ever had in modern times. Wesley Saunders, Siyani Chambers and Laurent Rivard are all back as double-figure scorers. With Casey and Curry, Harvard will have the potential for five.

Creighton Bluejays (My pick -- No. 23; Jason's -- unranked): Doug McDermott is returning to the Bluejays to play for his father, compete in the new Big East and have another chance to win a national player of the year award. McDermott could be a three-time All-American. Yes, the Bluejays did lose two key players in Greg Echenique and Grant Gibbs (or will he be back?), but point guard Austin Chatman apparently is playing exceptionally well in offseason workouts. The shooting of Will Artino and the overall play of Ethan Wragge has the McDermott clan excited about this team's chance to challenge Marquette, among others, for the Big East title.

Wisconsin Badgers (My pick -- No. 25; Jason's -- unranked): If there is anything to be learned in covering and watching a Bo Ryan-coached team, it's that the Badgers will consistently finish in the top four or five in the Big Ten and be in the NCAA tournament. UW does lose three critical seniors in Ryan Evans, Mike Bruesewitz and Jared Berggren, but when has losing players ever been a crippling proposition for Ryan? There is still plenty Ryan has to work with to keep Wisconsin in the top 25, with Traevon Jackson, Sam Dekker and Ben Brust as primary scorers. Ryan will maximize Frank Kaminsky's potential inside, and there is a legit buzz about incoming power forward Nigel Hayes.

Teams ranked too high

Ohio State Buckeyes (My pick -- No. 15; Jason's -- No. 6): The Buckeyes lost Deshaun Thomas, who was their most reliable scorer this past season. Aaron Craft is back but isn't suited to carry more of a scoring load. When he plays within his limitations offensively, he flourishes. Yes, Craft can make a big shot, as he did in the NCAA tournament to beat Iowa State. But that's one shot. Lenzelle Smith Jr., Sam Thompson, LaQuinton Ross and Shannon Scott will have to change their roles in Thomas' absence. Scoring is too big of a question mark to put Ohio State in my preseason top 10.

Indiana Hoosiers (My pick -- unranked; Jason's -- No. 20): The Hoosiers are back and will again compete for a top spot in the Big Ten and nationally in the coming years. But Indiana lost too much star power in Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller, as well as 3-point threats Christian Watford and Jordan Hulls, to put it in the preseason top 25. Role players return and the recruiting class will include quality pieces or potential headliners, such as Noah Vonleh, but in this poll, putting IU in the top 25 is a bit generous.

UCLA Bruins (My pick -- unranked; Jason's -- No. 24): The Bruins should be a Pac-12 contender under new coach Steve Alford, but we cannot underestimate the loss of point guard Larry Drew II. He could have been the MVP of the Pac-12 for leading the Bruins to the regular-season title. Not having Shabazz Muhammad may not hurt as much, but he did draw plenty of attention last season. It will be important for the Bruins to find a catalyst early who can run the team.

Iowa Hawkeyes (My pick -- unranked; Jason's -- No. 25): The Hawkeyes played for the NIT title last season and lost to Baylor. The core of the team returns, but the Big Ten is still loaded. The Hawkeyes will need to deal with Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin at the very least, and that's before even mentioning Indiana. I could be off on the Hawkeyes, but an NIT run doesn't always translate into a fantastic following season.

My early top 25 ballot:

1. Kentucky
2. Louisville
3. Michigan State
4. Arizona
5. Duke
6. Florida
7. North Carolina
8. Oklahoma State
9. Michigan
10. Syracuse
11. VCU
12. Wichita State
13. Marquette
14. Connecticut
15. Ohio State
16. New Mexico
17. Gonzaga
18. Tennessee
19. Memphis
20. Kansas
21. Harvard
22. Baylor
23. Creighton
24. Colorado
25. Wisconsin

Others to watch: Arizona State, Boise State, Butler, Georgetown, Iowa State, Massachusetts, Ole Miss, Oregon, Saint Louis, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Virginia

Doug McDermott isn't just returning to Creighton.

He's getting a rare chance to play for the same school, in the same arena, but have a completely different experience in a new league -- a Big East that will provide the Bluejays, their fans and his father, the head coach, a chance to create a lasting impression in some of the major cities in the Midwest and East Coast.

The decision to return for his senior season and the opportunity to be a three-time All-American as well as the national player of the year was agonizing for McDermott. But in the final days, the new Big East started to become a clinching factor.

"I thought about it quite a bit,'' said McDermott. "My dad wasn't pushing me to stay and I know he would have been proud if I left. But I truly care about Creighton and the fans and what they've done for me the last three years. I want to give them one more year and take care of business in the Big East so we can prove people wrong.''

Greg McDermott said he told Doug not to make the league a reason for staying. But it did become a discussion point in the final days.

"I don't think that entered into the equation until this week,'' said Greg McDermott. "I was adamant that it not be the factor. We got the facts and research from the NBA. But he did see the opportunity to play on the first Creighton team in the Big East. That's something he'll always have and you can't take that away from him. I'm excited for him, to play in those venues. The emotion tugged at him. But there was connection to his teammates and to the fans and he wanted to embark on this new journey together. He wanted to be a part of that.''

Creighton's credentials dwarf a number of the seven new Big East teams in Providence, Seton Hall, DePaul and St. John's. The big three -- Marquette, Georgetown and Villanova -- can boast stronger résumés. But Creighton wasn't first up on the invitation list for the fledgling league. That went to Butler and Xavier out of the Atlantic 10. And while Butler has been on the fast track from the Horizon to the A-10 to now the new Big East, the Bulldogs played in two national title games.

Creighton was the 10th team. And first impressions are important.

"What does it mean for Creighton?'' said athletic director Bruce Rasmussen. "Well, for me, I'm in the same office, the same city and the same university but I've got a completely different job. He's on the same team, but he's got a completely different job in a new league. They all have to step up. We're confident in our own ability but we're not arrogant. He looked at the ability to play with his dad and be with a group of guys and good friends. He can go to different places and go against different competition. It was exciting for him and it's definitely going to make the transition easier for us.''

Rasmussen said there is an expectation that the Bluejays will continue to have one of the most well-attended games in the country. Playing 18 Big East games will only enhance that, but if the Bluejays struggled without their star player, then that certainly would have hurt their perception in the new league.

"We are concerned and you want to be a productive member in this league and your fans don't give you a long time to make a transition,'' said Rasmussen. "We will continue to put 17,000 in the building. But we are aware of the exposure and we're better prepared with Doug a member of the team than without him.''

McDermott said he fully enjoys being a college kid. The NBA can wait.

"I feel like I can be a lot better and the whole Big East deal and helping Creighton with the transition to the new conference and playing for my dad for another year was all important,'' said McDermott. "At the end of the day, that's where my heart was and I couldn't pass it up.

"It's going to be a whole different season next year. It hasn't hit me yet that we're going to be playing in Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, D.C. and cities with good programs, and we're looking forward to what we can do and the damage we can do.''

McDermott's decision wasn't lost on some of the coaches who will have to scout to stop him.

"He's the preseason unanimous player of the year,'' said Marquette's Buzz Williams.

"It's great for Creighton and great for the Big East,'' said Villanova's Jay Wright. "Doug can be national player of the year.''

"He's a marquee player, he's one of the best if not the best player in America,'' said Xavier's Chris Mack. "The league will have its hands full. I'm petitioning to have Creighton return to the MVC one final year so Doug can set all their league records.''

"The Big East has always had great players and Doug adds to that long list and tradition,'' said Providence's Ed Cooley.

"Doug McDermott deciding to return to college will further bolster the assemblage of outstanding talent in an already deep Big East conference,'' said St. John's coach Steve Lavin.

The Bluejays have two major holes to fill with the departure of Greg Echenique and Grant Gibbs. But Doug McDermott said point guard Austin Chatman has been playing exceptionally well. He also said Will Artino and Ethan Wragge are more than capable of stepping up.

Creighton will be considered a contender to win the league with Marquette and in line with Georgetown and Villanova with Butler, Xavier, Providence and St. John's more than capable of making a run toward the top three spots. The balance in the league will be comparable to last season's 10-team Mountain West Conference, which placed five of the nine teams in the NCAA tournament.

The Bluejays built a nonconference schedule with the thinking they would be in the MVC, not the Big East. Creighton is in the Anaheim Classic, with other potential NCAA teams Arizona State, Marquette (will have to be on opposite sides of the bracket) and San Diego State. They also play Tulsa, Nebraska and Cal at home and are on the road at Saint Joseph's and Long Beach State.

"Obviously we will have one of the best players in college basketball and that's a huge plus,'' said Greg McDermott. "I'll be able to coach my son that's obviously important to me and something I'll look back on as a special time. I hope we can compete for a league title. It's a tall task.''

It's not fair to say Craig Neal was forever content to be an assistant coach. He tried to get the head jobs at Georgia Tech and Colorado State in recent years. The effort was made.

But it's also safe to say Neal wasn't heartbroken when the offers didn't come.

He was coaching with -- not really ever under -- his best friend Steve Alford at New Mexico. His son Cullen was tearing up the Albuquerque high school scene as a big-time scorer. He loved taking his motorcycle on rides through the mesa and beyond. He was in a good place.

"The more Steve took care of me, the harder it was to take certain jobs,'' Neal said. "If I never became a head coach, I was good with it. I was at peace. I was doing this with my best friend. I was good where I was professionally.''

And then, in a 48-hour whirlwind a few weeks ago, his life and career forever changed.

Alford was approached by UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero a week after the third-seeded Lobos' stunning Round of 64 loss to Harvard. Alford hesitated at first, but then jumped at the chance to take over the iconic program.

"We never talked about a [succession plan],'' Neal said. "This really came out of the blue. He made a decision in a 48-hour window and it happened real fast. He loved the state. His family loved it here. He had his son Kory playing here and Bryce coming here. [But] it was too good an opportunity to pass up."

So New Mexico athletic director Paul Krebs had to decide whether he was ready to commit to Neal. The players said publicly they wanted it to happen. If it still mattered, Alford certainly wanted it to happen. And it probably didn't matter, but countless members of the coaching fraternity were in his corner as well.

And so it happened. On April 2, the 49-year-old man known by so many as "Noodles" -- who starred at Georgia Tech in the 1980s, played eight years professionally, spent several more in the Toronto Raptors organization, and then enjoyed the past nine years as Alford's loyal assistant at Iowa and New Mexico -- became a head coach for the first time in his career.

And with it, the Lobos picked up a new signee.

The Alford boys -- one on the team and one coming to the squad -- followed their dad to UCLA, but the father-son connection didn't end when the Alfords left town. Cullen Neal, who had battled Bryce Alford in city and state high school hoops the past four years, got out of his letter of intent at Saint Mary's and will play for his father. But it wasn't an easy decision.

Neal said his son was torn. He said Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett was great to deal with and understood the decision. But nevertheless, Cullen did his homework, calling Bryce Drew about what it's like to play for your father at the college level. He also talked to the Krugers (Lon coached Kevin at UNLV) and he texted back and forth with Doug McDermott about playing for his father Greg. Craig Neal also spoke with Greg about how to coach his son.

"There was a lot of talk about this,'' Neal said. "It wasn't just a slam dunk. I even had him spend some time at the Final Four with Rick Barnes to talk about this. He did his homework. We ended up getting a top-150 recruit, which they haven't had a lot here. I'm excited about the things he can do with passing, scoring and really help us out on the perimeter. His shooting will help us a lot.

"The biggest pull was that he grew up here. He is considered a kid from New Mexico and they love their own here. He's excited to come and give a different dimension to the team. He's a great fit. We're losing Snell and this gives us another shooter. We've also added [late signee] Arthur Edwards and had Merv Lindsay sitting out [from Kansas]. We have added some pieces.''

UNM also had 6-foot-8 Devin Williams sitting out, and he should be a rotation contributor as well.

Tony Snell was going to declare for the NBA no matter who was the head coach, and so he did. But the return of Mountain West player of the year Kendall Williams, rising big man Alex Kirk and guard Hugh Greenwood, as well as forward Cameron Bairstow, gives the Lobos a nucleus that should put them in position to be the Mountain West preseason favorite.

"The biggest thing that we had to get accomplished was keeping everyone together,'' Neal said. "With Steve leaving there could have been adversity, but everyone stayed. When there is a change, you have to make sure everyone is doing the right things academically. When I was the interim coach I had to make sure they were doing the right things academically. I had to hire the right staff. I hired Lamont Smith as my associate head coach. I kept Drew Adams and Craig Snow. The only person on the staff who went with Steve was Duane Broussard. I've got to hire an operations guy, but I'm not in a hurry.'

"A lot isn't going to change,'' Neal added. "We've got the blueprint for a championship.''

But to erase the disappointment of the Harvard loss -- something that he continues to remind the players about as an unfinished business moment -- the Lobos must have a good start to the 2013-14 season. That's why Neal is pumped about the Aug. 2-13 trip to Australia, where they'll play three games in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

"Australia will be a good time for me, to take our freshmen and all our players and give me a chance to experiment and coach three games,'' Neal said.

The Lobos have a rugged schedule too, playing Kansas in Kansas City, competing in the Charleston Classic, hosting Cincinnati, and possibly partaking in a two-day event in Las Vegas, where Neal is hoping Marquette signs on to be the other marquee team. He also hopes to be back in the ESPN Tip-Off Marathon, where UNM hosted Davidson last year.

The Mountain West will once again be full of potential NCAA teams, with UNLV, San Diego State and Boise State joining New Mexico as the most likely contenders. But will the conference -- and the Lobos in particular -- deliver when it matters the most?

"All our fans were disappointed,'' said Neal on the team's disappointing loss to a 14-seed. "We were more so than they were. The last month we were playing as well as anyone. We won some big games and then played Harvard and it was the worst game we played in three years. It hurts, but our guys are motivated. We've got to do better in the tournament.''

But instead of Alford picking up that responsibility, it's all on Neal now.

Don't expect him to back down from the challenge.

"I've been ready," Neal said. "I spent 12 years in total with the Raptors and then making the transition to college [in 2004] it was a bit like starting over. But my patience paid off and it worked out well. I'm taking over a program that has won six championships in six years, has four starters back and should be ranked in the top 20.

"To get your first head-coaching job in this situation with this fan support and fan base and the resources we have, I'm very fortunate.''

Editor's Note: For more on the Lobos and their transition to Neal, check out Eamonn Brennan's take here.

Kentucky coach John Calipari wished he had a foreign trip this summer to prepare for what could be an unprecedented season with a seven-player recruiting class -- so far -- that rivals any collected recently.

But the Wildcats went three years ago, which is within the once-every-four-years allowable time period. So, just in time, here comes the NCAA board of directors with a chance to provide more practice time for the Wildcats when they need it most.

If the proposal goes through, teams will essentially be allowed to practice 30 times in a 42-day period before the first game on Nov. 8. They could start those practices as early as the last week of September or first week of October.

"I like it," said Calipari, who added he wouldn't change his Midnight Madness date of Oct. 18. "What we're about to undertake has never been done before -- to bring in a group like this. They recruited each other. We've got a great staff, but they recruited each other. It took the Miami Heat two years to do what they did. We've got to do it in three months. We'll have the summer, but we could have used a foreign trip with this group."

Calipari said he'll go back to using more of the dribble drive with this group (led by the Harrison twins, Aaron and Andrew).

"This thing has never been attempted," said Calipari on Tuesday. "But we've got young players who need to be coached, who are great competitors and who love to work and want to win. I'm excited and already preparing this summer for what we're trying to get done and get it done earlier."

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is also a proponent of the potential earlier start, but with a twist. The Spartans, who may be one of the top challengers for a title in 2014 -- along with Kentucky, Louisville, Arizona, Duke and North Carolina -- are still waiting for Adreian Payne to declare for the draft or return to school. But what Izzo would like to see in the fall is a gradual increase of practice time.

"I've got a 10-15-20 hour plan," said Izzo on Tuesday. "I'd like to see the week of Oct. 1 go for 10 hours and then the week of Oct. 7 go for 15 hours and then go to 20 hours the week of Oct. 15.

"We're killing those kids. The games have moved up so early, and there have been so many injuries. It should be gradual. If you do that, then you can go every other day during those early weeks. There are so many players leaving and transferring and fifth-year guys getting eligible immediately that we do need some time to work with the team."

The Wildcats and Spartans have their share of early-season games that will have March significance. Kentucky will host Louisville and Boise State and go to North Carolina -- all NCAA teams last season -- while playing NIT teams Baylor (in Dallas) and Providence (in Brooklyn, N.Y.) as well as Michigan State in the third edition of the Champions Classic (in Chicago).

The Spartans play in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in Brooklyn with Seton Hall, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma, go to Texas and could draw Duke in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge at home if the two leagues -- and ESPN programming -- pair up the possible front-runners in each league.

Meanwhile, both coaches are in favor of moving the shot clock to 30 seconds from 35. If that doesn't get a true vote-in at the rules committee meeting May 6-9 in Indianapolis, it could be used as an experimental rule change in early-season events like the ones both teams are playing in November.

Izzo warned that losing five seconds isn't going to make much of a difference. There will still be bad shots with fewer seconds on the shot clock. Calipari said the shot clock won't change the pace of the game or style of playing unless officials call more fouls.

"I'm going to tell my guys to be aggressive on the verge of fouling," said Calipari. "Hipchecking is a foul. It is in the NBA. We have to watch all the post-mugging that goes on."

More on the proposed changes

Since conducting an informal poll on the subject, some coaches who weren't reached Monday have chimed in on the proposed shot-clock change.

Villanova's Jay Wright, Oklahoma State's Travis Ford, Alabama's Anthony Grant, Long Beach State's Dan Monson, Georgetown's John Thompson III and Virginia's Tony Bennett are all fine with the move to a 30-second shot clock. Creighton's Greg McDermott is not.

McDermott isn't in favor of a longer preseason either, adding, "The season is long enough already from a players' perspective. If it passes, managing practice time and days off will be very important. That is essentially a six-month season."

Monson agreed with McDermott. Ford added that he would like to see a universal date for Midnight Madness, suggesting Oct. 18 for this season.

Two major changes for college basketball -- an earlier start to practice and a change in the shot clock -- could occur in time for the beginning of the 2013-14 season.

At a May 2 meeting, the NCAA Board of Directors will vote on moving up the start of practice by two to three weeks (would be Sept. 27 or Oct. 4 this season). And the following week in Indianapolis, the men's basketball rules committee will vote on moving the shot clock from 35 to 30 seconds.

After taking an informal poll of 37 Division I coaches Monday morning, the consensus among that community seems to be "yes" for both.

The votes, taken from both major and midlevel conferences, were 28-9 in favor of the shot-clock change and 27-10 in favor of moving up the start of practice, although the majority of coaches still said they wouldn't do a Midnight Madness event any earlier than the traditional mid-October date, when the teams are deemed ready for public consumption.

The proposed practice changes garnered a number of interesting comments on both sides of the debate.

A sampling from some of the dissenters:

"We practice in the summer and in September [in small groups], so we don't need to start that early." (Notre Dame's Mike Brey)

"I like the start of practice where it is." (Butler's Brad Stevens)

"I don't want to move the start of practice up. We are allowed to work out more than four players at a time after Sept. 15 as it stands now. Our sport is the only sport that covers two semesters, so it is long enough as it is. There is no need for additional practice time." (Mississippi State's Rick Ray)

"I don't understand moving practice. The season is long enough. The mid-October start date has always worked." (UCLA's Steve Alford)

But the majority favored moving up the start date:

"It would be very smart to allow us to begin practice earlier. We work with our players in the summer. Teams are getting younger and they will then be much more prepared for games in November and December." (Arizona's Sean Miller)

"I like the Oct. 4 date because it gives you more flexibility in preparing your team." (Ole Miss' Andy Kennedy)

"I love getting more time." (Indiana's Tom Crean)

"You can ease guys into practice more and give them more than one day off a week." (Oregon State's Craig Robinson)

"You will have 30 days between Oct. 4 and your first game, so they would be expanding the time to get your 30 workouts in so you can give guys more days off. You can spread it out a little bit better." (Wisconsin's Bo Ryan)

"I like the early start, but we just may have to be more creative at the start of the season to create more excitement." (LSU's Johnny Jones)

"We like the idea of having an earlier influence on them both academically and athletically." (Montana's Wayne Tinkle)

"I would like the earlier start date [even better] if they gave us say five more practices.'' (South Carolina's Frank Martin)

The 30-second shot clock decision is a bit more fluid. The rules committee still has to vote on it and these things usually go through a transition period or experimentation for a year. This is a rule-change season (happens every other year) so there will be some changes.

St. Peter's coach John Dunne, who serves as chair of the committee, said it's almost a guarantee there will be a replay change with the officials getting to go to the monitor for the final minute (he is proposing the last two minutes) of the half to look at any key issue like scoring, fouling and most importantly possession. There will also likely be an adjustment on the distance for the always-controversial block/charge call. But the most significant rule change would be the reduction of five seconds on the shot clock.

"I'm just one vote," Dunne said. "But I like the 35. The extra five seconds allows for different systems. You can have the Princeton system versus the Florida Gulf Coast one. Everything in the NBA is pick-and-roll and everything is moving in that direction, but will going down to 30 seconds lead to more bad shots? Could it lead to worse offense? The NBA has bail-out, shot-clock guys that college may not. I don't know if lowering the shot clock will increase scoring."

He's not alone.

"I am vehemently opposed to the shot clock going to 30 seconds or less. Parity is what makes college basketball great and it's what differentiates us among other sports. A shorter shot clock will hurt that." (Colorado's Tad Boyle)

"I don't buy the argument that shooting will go up or scores. Seems college kids struggle enough knowing how to get good shots in 35 seconds. The shorter clock helps better defensive teams, though. Have fun going against the Syracuse zone with five less seconds." (UCLA's Steve Alford)

But those in favor were more outspoken in responding to our informal survey, a key factor since Dunne said the NCAA will send out surveys and sometimes 50 percent or less will respond. In fact, many of those in favor of 30 don't think that's far enough.

"I'd like to see 28 seconds. I want to see more attempts at the basket. It may increase scoring." (Providence's Ed Cooley)

"I'd like to go to 24. I petitioned that in Conference USA. You can have more offense, more possessions." (Memphis' Josh Pastner)

"I'm in favor of a uniform shot clock at all levels, whether it's 30 seconds or 24." (VCU's Shaka Smart)

"I would support the 30-second shot clock. I think at first scoring may take a step back as teams will struggle. We're not the NBA. We have so much more freedom to defend in different ways." (Boston College's Steve Donahue)

"A half a minute is clean and simple time. It gives you a third of the time to get the ball past half court. It would speed things up a bit and would likely get approved." (Richmond's Chris Mooney)

"Yes, yes, yes." (San Diego State's Steve Fisher)

"I'm OK with 30 seconds. [But] when they say go to 30, they'll think 'Oh man, the points will go up.' People are much more sophisticated on defense, bodies stronger. There is a lot more than the shot clock on why scoring is down." (Wisconsin's Bo Ryan)

Participants in the survey: Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Sean Miller (Arizona), John Dunne (St. Peter's), Ed Cooley (Providence), Josh Pastner (Memphis), Johnny Jones (LSU), Frank Martin (South Carolina), Shaka Smart (VCU), Dave Rose (BYU), Buzz Williams (Marquette), Andy Kennedy (Ole Miss), Steve Fisher (San Diego State), Bryce Drew (Valparaiso), Greg Lansing (Indiana State), Leon Rice (Boise State), Mick Cronin (Cincinnati), Tom Crean (Indiana), Scott Drew (Baylor), Mark Fox (Georgia), Mark Gottfried (NC State), Craig Robinson (Oregon State), Tad Boyle (Colorado), Jamie Dixon (Pitt), Thad Matta (Ohio State), Steve Donahue (Boston College), Rick Ray (Mississippi State), Keith Dambrot (Akron), Dana Altman (Oregon), Chris Mooney (Richmond), Brad Stevens (Butler), Steve Alford (UCLA), Wayne Tinkle (Montana), Dave Rice (UNLV), Cuonzo Martin (Tennessee), Steve Prohm (Murray State), Bo Ryan (Wisconsin).

Editor's Note: To read Eamonn Brennan's take on both proposed changes, click here.

New Northwestern coach Chris Collins left his comfort zone as an assistant at Duke. But he didn't venture outside his area of expertise when he returned to where he grew up.

He is now at a school where the pool of talent is small and is limited by the highest academic standards in the Big Ten.

Collins, who been on the job for a little more than a week, has one goal, and that is to get Northwestern to the NCAA tournament for the first time.

Since he arrived in Evanston last week, his main focus has been on these five items:

1. Know his team: Collins has spent the first week working on developing relationships with his returning players. "We're on the quarter system, and that kind of helps us. They'll be in school until June, so it gives me time to work our guys out some and get to know them in individual meetings and get on the court to get to know them as players. I've got to develop relationships with the whole team." Collins held his first individual workouts Tuesday with the hope that his players could immediately understand his coaching style and get a feel for how he wants them to play. One of the key decisions he's waiting on is from leading scorer Drew Crawford, who missed all but 10 games this season with a torn labrum. Collins said Crawford could do a fifth year because he has graduated. "He's being sought after," Collins said. "It's the new free agency. He loves it here. He's been a good player." Collins said he expects JerShon Cobb, who was suspended for the year because of academic issues, to return.

2. Assemble a staff: Collins decided to keep assistant Tavaras Hardy, who played at Northwestern and recruited many of the players on the current roster. But that's been his only hire so far. "I have to take time to figure out what's going to be the right mix. I need guys who are going to complement me in all areas of coaching, recruiting and player development and all of those things. I have to take my time to get it right." Collins said he's not sure whether he will hire anyone from Duke. He will be able to lean on his father, Doug, in an advisory role when the NBA season is over. Obviously, that could turn into something more if the senior Collins doesn't return to coach the Philadelphia 76ers next season.

3. Recruit: Collins is visiting one-time Northwestern commit Jaren Sina, a point guard out of Lake Hopatcong, N.J., this weekend. Sina asked for and received his release when Bill Carmody was fired. Nate Taphorn, a 6-7 forward from Pekin, Ill., has never wavered in his commitment to Northwestern and will honor his national letter of intent. "The fact that I'm at a similar type of school helps," said Collins when comparing Duke and his current situation. "We will aspire to attract the same quality player and character kid at Northwestern."

4. Get to know his surroundings: Collins is back in the Midwest and Chicago. Although he needs to figure out his recruiting needs, he also has to embed himself in the area. Northwestern is a national-profile job, and he understands its importance to the Chicago area and the state. He will need to make a concerted effort to get out and know key basketball people in the city and beyond.

5. Family: This is usually the time of year when Chris is at home with his wife and two elementary school-age children. Instead, he's staying in a hotel while the rest of his family stays in North Carolina so the children can finish school. The plan is to attempt to sell their house near Duke, find one near Evanston and decide on schools. "There's so much on your plate right now," Collins said. "You're working long days, and there are so many loose ends. We've got to find a place to live." Collins was on the Team USA staff last summer, which meant a long summer in Europe. Now a new job has meant no free time to be around the family, and he's missing the spring sports season at home. That can be a stressful situation for anyone. "It puts a strain on everything in your family," Collins said. "But fortunately I have a great family, and they've been supportive through all of this. But it has made it crazy."

ATLANTA -- That's what we all want.

That's what the sport needs and craves.

What Louisville and Michigan did Monday night in the national championship game must be duplicated for college basketball to thrive. Officials need to find ways to increase freedom of movement when the rules committee meets next month.

Players need to work on their skill set, especially making the open jumper and 3-pointer. Converting on the offensive putback and at the free throw line are musts too.

Louisville won the national title 82-76, and both teams made eight 3s, attempting nearly the same number of free throws and shooting better than 45 (Louisville) and 52 percent (Michigan).

Beauty.

There was no slogging through 40 minutes. The clutching and grabbing wasn't the norm. Players ran, pushed tempo, forced turnovers and raced down the other end.

"I enjoyed it," Michigan coach John Beilein said. And that was after his team lost the national title game.

Beilein was thoroughly entertained and said that college basketball continues to sustain itself. It reinvented itself again for 40 minutes on Monday night. Beilein and Louisville coach Rick Pitino predicted Sunday that there was a chance, if both teams played to their offensive potential, this game's final score could be in the 70s or 80s.

It was.

"Sometimes expectations get so high, I knew it would be a great game," Pitino said. "You never know if you're going to win. The other night I knew that Michigan-Syracuse wouldn't be a great game. I knew our game against Wichita State wasn't going to be a great game because of the type of defense Syracuse and Wichita play.

"I knew [the title game] would be a great game. Two great offensive teams doing battle. Two great backcourts, great frontcourts, great talent. I was so happy to see that, because I knew it would be a great game. Didn't know we'd win, but I knew it would be a great game."

OK, so now comes the hard part: How does college basketball keep this going?

I searched for answers immediately after the game and found two sage men sitting a few rows behind the court, former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson and former South Carolina/Wake Forest coach Dave Odom.

"When you play any way that you need to play to win, then that's what can happen," Richardson said.

Richardson said Louisville wasn't pressing like his Razorbacks team did in the 1990s. That's OK. They may not have had an identity like the Hogs or UNLV in the '90s, but there is still something to work with, a style that can be copied with the commitment and personnel.

Odom echoed Richardson's assessment: A team must be able to play differently to pull off an entertaining victory with a final score that isn't locked in the 50s or low 60s.

"[Louisville was] the most versatile team in the country," Odom said. "They could play fast; they could play in the 70s or the 80s. To beat Wichita State, they could play in the 50s or 60s. You've got to have a versatile team to meet the requirements of the night. What coaches do in the offseason is that they remember what won and try to mimic it."

But they do it only if they have the players.

"Can it happen?" said Louisville's Luke Hancock, the Final Four's MVP. "It's rare that you'll get two teams like that on the floor together. We're a pretty good team, and Michigan is a great team. It's rare that type of matchup happens."

The Butler-UConn game in 2011 was a brutal watch. Neither team could score effectively. There have been other years when one team had been dominant offensively and the other slogged through the game. In 2008, Kansas-Memphis provided drama and big shots.

But title games that produce high-scoring, must-see affairs have been rare.

Coaches aren't going to suddenly change the way they approach the game. But if the personnel provides an alternative, if there is an opportunity to emphasize the offensive skills, then it can happen.

Look, this was a national title game in which two players -- Michigan's Spike Albrecht and Hancock -- ended up in a shootout while other players struggled. Having players who can finish on the offensive glass and those who can flush the ball on a drive are a plus. There was a little bit of everything in this national championship game.

Copying the game plan sounds easy enough. Actually pulling it off is probably wishful thinking. But we can hope it occurs.

Coaches, players and officials unite. Watch what occurred in the Georgia Dome on Saturday night. Build off it. Believe that it can be possible. Finish the shots that must be made, look for the opportunity to run when it's available, defend and force turnovers to ensure there is tempo change to create more possessions.

This is all possible and plausible if there is a commitment to change and making sure the game is as entertaining on a regular basis as the national title game was Monday night.

"You know, a lot of times when you get to the Final Four, you get to a championship, the game's not always great, not always pretty," Pitino said. "This was a great college basketball game."

Let's hope that this was not a fluke but rather the start of something that will create a hunger for more.

ATLANTA -- Musings on a national title Monday:

• Michigan's Mitch McGary is Kevin Love light. McGary is just scratching the surface of what he could become relatively quickly. I keep going back to a shootaround I witnessed at Minnesota when the coaching staff was working with McGary on his face-up shooting. You can tell how much work the staff and McGary have put in this season. McGary could easily be a top 10 pick. But if he stays, he would be a star next season.

• One of Michigan's unheralded players has been Caris LeVert. He made two 3s against Syracuse. He's rangy, can board (eight) and played significant minutes (21) against the Orange.

• Can you imagine if everyone came back at Michigan? Of course, that's in a parallel universe. None of the nine players who played against the Orange on Saturday night were seniors. Of course, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., McGary and Glenn Robinson III could all leave for the draft.

• Gorgui Dieng had one of his worst games of the season against Wichita State. And although he has improved dramatically as an offensive threat -- especially with his face-up game -- the key inside player for Louisville was Chane Behanan. Once Behanan was featured with post touches, the Cards started clicking. Behanan isn't a traditional post player, but he can post and score, sometimes a lost art.

• Montrezl Harrell originally signed at Virginia Tech. Then coach Seth Greenberg was fired and Harrell ultimately landed with Louisville. The Cardinals may not be playing for the title if it weren't for Harrell's productivity. Harrell made all four shots, all around the post, and grabbed eight boards in 11 minutes. He provides instant energy and clearly changes the game when he's playing.

• Russ Smith is high volume, but when he makes 3s, he can lift the Cards.

• Peyton Siva doesn't convert at a high level and struggles to score over people (1-of-9 Saturday) but his effort can never be doubted. He continues to prove he's a winner. He's also the best quote here. He adds depth to his answers.

• Luke Hancock may not have been an All-American recruit, but it's great to see how a player who was at George Mason could find a home at a place like Louisville. Hancock has been the Cardinals' most important player of late.

• Tim Henderson played just 10 minutes (hitting two 3s) in the semifinals, but he's hardly a scrub. He wouldn't be on the floor if he couldn't produce.

• Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim didn't have to say anything about retirement. I was never convinced that he would be done before the Orange left for the ACC. It makes sense for him to usher the Orange into a new league for at least one season if not two, instead of sending Mike Hopkins to the wolves.

• The Orange will enter the ACC as one of the league's most established programs, with a chance to compete immediately.

• C.J. Fair was a joy to watch in the Big East and NCAA tournaments. I love his game. The lefty has a soft touch that was hard to guard. He tended to get out of his comfort zone sometimes and look to shoot the 3. He could make it, but he was so much more effective along the baseline.

• Michael Carter-Williams had his worst game of the tournament on Saturday, but he was one of the best players in the tourney. Carter-Williams was an extremely difficult matchup for teams. You could also see in his many interviews that he was one of the most analytical players in the tournament. He may have played his last game for the Orange. And if that's the case, he made an impact on this team and program. The Orange don't get to Atlanta without him.

• It was good to see James Southerland have such a significant contribution on the Orange after what could have been a bitterly disappointing ending to his career if his academic situation had not been resolved. Like his senior classmate Brandon Triche, Southerland offered quality commentary on opponents. Both players represented well during the NCAAs.

• Wichita State proved that the mixed-bag approach to building can be sustainable. That's the new norm for many programs. The Shockers have and will continue to grab a combination of high school seniors, junior college players and four-year transfers.

• Cleanthony Early was a stud in the semifinals. His work on the boards and in key moments nearly put the Shockers into the title game.

• I had seen Wichita State before on the road in a tournament setting, and the Shockers' fans represent very well. This is an underrated fan base that is as passionate about its squad as any other.

• Malcolm Armstead had a horrible outing from the field on Saturday, making 1 of 10 shots, but he still had seven assists, two steals and only three turnovers. Oh, and he had one of the most startling press breaks that was hard to explain. How he got through without losing the ball one time was quite remarkable.

• Wichita State's Gregg Marshall also clearly did quite a coaching job. He had to deal with myriad injuries, notably to Carl Hall and Ron Baker and yet was in position to play for the national title. Marshall didn't get enough credit for what he did with this team -- before the Shockers went on their run.

If the allegations in a letter sent by the University of Miami to drop the case against the school are true, the NCAA needs to officially exonerate former Hurricanes and current Missouri men's basketball coach Frank Haith so he can move forward from this mess.

ESPN obtained a copy of the document on Wednesday, and the manner in which NCAA enforcement allegedly lied and tried to turn one assistant against Haith to get him to say something incriminating was shocking.

Haith was not charged with unethical conduct in the notice of allegations released in February, but he was cited for lacking an atmosphere of compliance. He has been tainted by this investigation and a cloud hangs over him and his current job.

Item six in the lengthy report to the NCAA is headlined: "The Tactics Employed During the Questioning of Frank Haith and Jake Morton were Impermissible and Unethical.''

The report states that two investigators, including the fired Abby Grantstein, "exhibited the enforcement staff's fixation on obtaining evidence that substantiates the most scandalous allegations involving the most high-profile individuals at the expense of behaving in an ethical manner and in accord with the NCAA Bylaws in their questioning of former Miami Head Men's Basketball Coach Frank Haith and former Miami Assistant Men's Basketball Coach Jake Morton.''

The report continues to allege that the two investigators provided Haith and his former assistant Morton with "false information regarding what other interview subjects had reported in attempt to elicit confessions of NCAA violations.'' The report states that this investigative tactic is against "the NCAA's bedrock principles of honesty, integrity and cooperation.''

And apparently there's more.

Investigator Brynna Barnhart allegedly tried to trick Morton into turning on Haith by twisting his words against him in this piece of the report. The document said that Morton had denied that he told Haith he intended to use a June 10, 2010 check that Haith gave to him to repay Miami booster Nevin Shapiro for a personal loan.

Instead, the enforcement staff told Morton that Haith said he was giving Morton the money to pay Shapiro. Morton told the enforcement staff that he didn't think Haith had any knowledge of Morton's personal deal with Shapiro until Yahoo! reported the allegations in an August 2011 story. The report states that even though Morton had denied that Haith knew of the "transaction," Barnhart committed an unethical move by lying to Morton.

The report states that Barnhart said this to Morton in a Sept. 19, 2012 interview: "I'll be honest, [Haith] put a lot of the relationship between the men's basketball program and Nevin on you. And that, I'm just going to put it out there for you to respond, specifically that you were the first person to know Nevin, that you're the one … you were essentially the one that kind of brought Nevin into the program, that he didn't really know Nevin as well as you did. And so, I just wanted to give you an opportunity to respond to that."

The report continues: "Based upon an analysis of Haith's interviews, it is clear that this statement was false. In his September 5, 2012, interview, Haith made repeated statements that are the complete opposite of what Barnhart reported to Morton. Haith reported that Shapiro was introduced to the men's basketball program through the University's development office, not Morton. Haith also reported that he had no knowledge of how Morton's relationship with Shapiro developed and that he believed that he was the one who introduced Morton to Shapiro.

At no time during his interviews with the enforcement staff did Haith ever report that Morton was the "first person to know Nevin" or that Morton "brought Nevin into the program" as Barnhart relayed to Morton. Haith acknowledged that Morton had a relationship with Shapiro, but made no other assertions. Barnhart's false statements to Morton were clearly an attempt to make Morton believe that Haith had "thrown him under the bus" in order to trigger Morton to provide the enforcement staff with condemning information on Haith. This investigative tactic is clearly contrary to the NCAA's principles, procedures, and expectations, and is further evidence of the enforcement staff's bad faith and unethical behavior in the Investigation."

The unethical behavior of Granstein and Barnhart continued apparently, as detailed in this Sept. 5, 2012 interview. Here is another excerpt: "In Haith's September 5, 2012 interview, Grantstein -- who, as explained above, was fired from the enforcement staff for her attitude of attempting "to get" high profile figures in collegiate athletics -- misrepresented to Haith that Morton reported to the enforcement staff that he had delivered $10,000 in cash to Shapiro's mother's house on June 10, 2010.

In truth, Morton reported that he delivered $5,000 to Shapiro's mother's house to repay a previous loan he had received from Shapiro, not $10,000. Morton detailed the delivery of that $5,000 to Shapiro's mother's house in his interviews on October 13, 2011 and September 19, 2012.

"Grantstein also told Haith that Mario Sanchez, Shapiro's former bodyguard, reported that Morton delivered $10,000 to Shapiro's mother's house. To the University's knowledge, Sanchez was never interviewed. Grantstein's intent to mislead Haith is evident in the fact that after she provided false information to Haith regarding Morton, Haith specifically asked her if Morton had indeed reported that he delivered $10,000 to Shapiro's mother's house, and Grantstein responded affirmatively, thus stating false information on the record on two separate occasions."

The final conclusion on the Haith matter was this: "This willful deceit not only sheds light on the relevant enforcement staff's lack of investigative ethics in this case and demonstrates the very attitude for which Grantstein was ultimately terminated, but has also irreparably tainted the Investigation."

Haith's former school, Miami, is clearly supporting him by putting this in a letter to drop this case. Haith has had unequivocal support from Missouri and its athletic director Mike Alden. He's been beaten down many times over the past year and has used thousands of dollars of his own money in his defense.

He had a phenomenal regular season in Year 1, only to finish with a disappointing round-of-64 loss to Norfolk State. This past season, Missouri was tough at home but struggled on the road. The Tigers, a team mashed together with transfers and a few returnees, ultimately lost to Colorado State in the round of 64.

Haith deserves a chance to coach Missouri free from the distractions of this NCAA investigation. If all that is written in this report is true, the NCAA must clear Haith based on the unethical behavior used against him. If that occurs, he can finally coach with a clear head and can be judged going forward on his performance and his program's development in the SEC.