ESPN Men's Basketball

College basketball could use a Heisman-like award, one main honor instead of the five mainstream national awards.

The problem is that finding a consensus for the Wooden, Naismith, AP, Rupp and Oscar Robertson honors is no easy task.

The awards voters do tend to coalesce behind one candidate. And maybe that will be the case again.

But it seems that this season's race will be as wide open as ever. If you need more evidence, take a look at the 25 finalists for the Wooden Award, released on ESPNU and ESPN.com on Tuesday.

It appears that the only two players who are consensus candidates are Kansas' Thomas Robinson and Creighton's Doug McDermott. It's not a reach to say these two players are the favorites in mid-January, a stunning development considering how much preseason hype Ohio State's Jared Sullinger and North Carolina's Harrison Barnes received. The amazing part thus far is that I don't believe Sullinger nor Barnes would be a first-team All-American if the voting were conducted today.

Before we get to the list of players compiled by the Wooden folks, it's important to note that these are simply the 25 players who they felt should be honored on their midseason list. Players who do not show up are still very much eligible to win the Wooden Award at the end of the season and will be given equal consideration.

So players who have legitimate claims to being on this list -- Maryland's Terrell Stoglin and Seton Hall teammates Herb Pope and Jordan Theodore come to mind -- still have a shot.

So without further ado, here are the 25 Wooden finalists (in alphabetical order):

Harrison Barnes, 6-foot-8, So., F, North Carolina
Stat line: 16.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg

Chances: Fading. Still has a shot to be a second-team All-American. Barnes hasn't been the dominating player on the Tar Heels. To be fair, he has some of the best talent in the country (John Henson, Tyler Zeller and Kendall Marshall) surrounding him. UNC's 33-point loss to Florida State didn't help his case, either.

Will Barton, 6-6, So., F, Memphis
Stat line: 18.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg

Chances: No shot. He could be the Conference USA Player of the Year, though. Barton has greatly improved and has been the most consistent player during the Tigers' inconsistent season.

William Buford, 6-6, Sr., G, Ohio State
Stat line: 15.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg

Chances: No shot. Buford won't win Big Ten POY, either. He has been OSU's best perimeter threat, but he won't be a first-team All-American. Buford might not even be first-team All-Big Ten. He is an integral part of the Buckeyes' title hopes, but is not a POY contender.

Anthony Davis, 6-10, Fr., C, Kentucky
Stat line: 13.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 4.6 bpg

Chances: High. Davis has been the most dominant post player in the country. He blocked a last-second shot by North Carolina's John Henson in December, preventing the Tar Heels from winning a game at Rupp. He alters and changes more shots than any other player. If the Wildcats win the national title, Davis will be one of the reasons why. He would be ahead of Ohio State's Jared Sullinger on the All-America ballot if you had to choose one of them.

Marcus Denmon, 6-3, Sr., G, Missouri
Stat line: 17.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg

Chances: Not great. Denmon is the leading scorer for Mizzou. But it's hard to separate him from Kim English, Ricardo Ratliffe, Michael Dixon and Flip Pressey in his importance to the Tigers. They all have played an equal role in Missouri's impressive start. It will be interesting to see which of these players earns first-team All-Big 12.

Draymond Green, 6-7, Sr., F, Michigan State
Stat line: 15.8 ppg, 10.1 rpg

Chances: In the mix. If he continues his current pace of scoring and rebounding, Green could end up nudging out Sullinger for Big Ten Player of the Year. The Spartans did lose at Northwestern on Saturday, but Green has been a tremendous leader. He will stay in the chase for a first-team All-American spot if his team stays in the race for the Big Ten title.

John Henson, 6-11, Jr., C, North Carolina
Stat line: 14.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg

Chances: No shot. Henson didn't convert the biggest shot of his season against Kentucky. Davis blocked it. And if Barnes isn't the national player of the year, Henson isn't either. The 33-point loss to Florida State will haunt all Tar Heels candidates.

John Jenkins, 6-4, Jr., G, Vanderbilt
Stat line: 19.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg

Chances: No shot. Jenkins is a superb shooter and scorer and is leading the revitalized Commodores. But his role isn't more important than Jeffery Taylor, Brad Tinsley or Festus Ezeli -- it is equally important. The 'Dores mid-nonconference slide hurts Jenkins' campaign. The success of the Kentucky freshmen also makes it almost impossible for Jenkins to get SEC Player of the Year.

Orlando Johnson, 6-5, Sr., G, UCSB
Stat line: 20.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg

Chances: No shot. Johnson is having a stellar season for the Gauchos, and he may be one of the higher draft picks on this list. But the Gauchos are 8-6 and are trailing Long Beach State in the Big West. Johnson should be an All-American, but he won't make the first team.

Darius Johnson-Odom, 6-2, Sr., G, Marquette
Stat line: 18.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg

Chances: No shot. DJO has had a superb season for the Golden Eagles. He has a legit shot at Big East Player of the Year. But that won't be enough to get a first-team All-American spot or the national POY. Marquette has been decent, but not great enough for DJO to stand out on that pedestal.

Kevin Jones, 6-8, Sr., F, West Virginia
Stat line: 20.6 ppg, 11.1 rpg

Chances: Decent. Jones has put it all together as a senior and has put up just a monster season for the Mountaineers. Just seems like it's double-double after double-double for Jones, who will need to keep the Mountaineers in the top 3 of the Big East in order to stay in Wooden contention.

Perry Jones III, 6-11, So., C, Baylor
Stat line: 14.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg

Chances: No shot at player of the year, but he is in the hunt for a first-team All-American slot. The problem for Jones' candidacy is that Quincy Acy has been a comparable inside scorer and guard Pierre Jackson has been an integral member of this team. Jones didn't help his case when he and the Bears were dominated by Kansas' Thomas Robinson in a loss on Monday night. But he can't win national POY if he isn't the Big 12 Player of the Year. And Robinson is the favorite for that honor.

Kris Joseph, 6-7, Sr., F, Syracuse
Stat line: 13.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg

Chances: No shot. Joseph is leading the Orange, but this team is so deep, so talented and so balanced that you would have a hard time picking just him. Dion Waiters may be Syracuse's MVP. A number of other players have taken turns being the star for the Orange, too.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 6-7, Fr., F, Kentucky
Stat line: 13.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 49.4 FG percentage

Chances: Solid. Kidd-Gilchrist could be the SEC Player of the Year. And if he gets that honor, he'll be in contention for the national POY. Kidd-Gilchrist took a few games to get going, but once he did he was an offensive force. He has delivered on his talent and effort.

Jeremy Lamb, 6-5, So., G, Connecticut
Stat line: 17.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg

Chances: No shot. Lamb is leading the Huskies in scoring. But UConn is still finding its way in the Big East. The Huskies haven't featured Lamb as much, either. Andre Drummond may end up being the team's featured scorer by season's end. Lamb isn't the Big East Player of the Year right now, so he isn't winning the national honor.

Damian Lillard, 6-3, Jr., G, Weber State
Stat line: 25.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.5 apg

Chances: He won't win national POY, but he should be in contention for second-team All-American honors. Lillard is having a stellar season for the Wildcats, who are in first place in the Big Sky. He leads the nation in scoring and his stat line is as good as any in the country. The problem is that Weber has been in obscurity so far this season. Lillard will likely not be seen by the masses until March.

Doug McDermott, 6-7, So., F, Creighton
Stat line: 24.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 62.1 FG

Chances: High. McDermott has been one of the most complete players in the country and is a first-team All-American, at the very least. He could be this season's Jimmer Fredette, coming from outside a power six conference to win the national player of the year honor. McDermott has led the Bluejays to the top of the Missouri Valley and into the Top 25. He is the focus of every opposing defense, too.

Scott Machado, 6-1, Sr., G, Iona
Stat line: 13.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 10.3 apg

Chances: Not happening for POY, but he's in the hunt as a first-team All-American. Machado has been the most dominant point guard this season and easily leads the country in assists. Iona has played a decent schedule and is the team to beat in the MAAC. Few teams will want to face the Gaels in March, and Machado is one of the key reasons why.

Kendall Marshall, 6-4, So., G, North Carolina
Stat line: 5.8 ppg, 9.6 apg

Chances: No shot. Marshall is a key for the Tar Heels. He hasn't been the best point guard in the country, but has been a solid contributor this season and does rank second behind Machado in assists. But that isn't enough to win the award or be a first-team candidate.

Mike Moser, 6-8, So., F, UNLV
Stat line: 13.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg

Chances: No shot. But Moser has to be in contention for a first- or second-team All-American spot. His rebounding has been epic (especially against North Carolina). Moser and fellow UCLA transfer Chace Stanback have been the major reasons the Runnin' Rebels are ranked and in contention for the MWC title.

Arnett Moultrie, 6-11, Jr., C, Mississippi State
Stat line: 16.5 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 0.9 bpg

Chances: Not good for POY, but he's a serious candidate for first-team All-American. Outside of Moser, Moultrie has had the most impact of any transfer. He has increased MSU's chances of being a serious threat to Kentucky in the SEC. Moultrie is a double-double machine for coach Rick Stansbury and has allowed the Bulldogs to avoid relying only on Renardo Sidney.

Thomas Robinson, 6-9, Jr., F, Kansas
Stat line: 17.8 ppg, 12.3 rpg

Chances: High. Robinson is the POY favorite at this juncture. He should be a consensus first-team All-American. He has had to take on immense responsibility with the departure of the Morris twins and has responded without a hitch. He carries the weight of the incredible burden of losing his mother during last season. And yet he is as focused as ever in 2011-12. Robinson dominated in the rout over Baylor on Monday night with 27 points and 14 rebounds.

Mike Scott, 6-8, Sr., F, Virginia
Stat line: 16.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg

Chances: He has no shot for national POY, but Scott is one of the favorites for ACC Player of the Year. He has been the most consistent big man in the league. Take Scott off the Cavs, and they don't come close to the top of the league standings. But Virginia did lose at Duke and also fell to TCU. Scott will have to keep the Cavs in the ACC's top three to have a chance at the league's POY.

Jared Sullinger, 6-9, So., F, Ohio State
Stat line: 17.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg

Chances: Still strong. Sullinger has been battling injuries (back, foot) and missed the road game at Kansas in December. That's part of the reason he is not the favorite right now. Sullinger still has plenty of time to be a first-team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year. But it would help if he had some dominating performances down the stretch.

Cody Zeller, 6-11, Fr., C, Indiana
Stat line: 14.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.4 bpg

Chances: No shot. But Zeller is in the chase for Big Ten Player of the Year. At the very least, he'll be the Big Ten Rookie of the Year. It's amazing that he's on this list and his older brother Tyler (a senior at North Carolina) is not. Cody has helped transform Indiana into a national player, but the Hoosiers' recent two-game skid does take his chances for Big Ten POY down a peg.

My midseason All-America team choices:
First team: Robinson, McDermott, Davis, Moultrie, Machado
Second team: Kidd-Gilchrist, Sullinger, Green, K. Jones, C. Zeller

The atmosphere of the Carrier Classic, with its overwhelming sense of patriotism and the sheer uniqueness of playing a game on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson, along with the historical significance of that vessel, will be hard to top.

The view was magnificent. The Naval presence in all its glory and uniformity was as impressive as one would imagine. And the appreciation from the sailors for the break from the daily routine was genuine.

If you missed that game or any of the matchups on opening weekend, you're in for a treat because you won't be able to turn on the ESPN family of networks from 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday until about 1 a.m. ET on Wednesday without seeing college basketball on the screen.

Here are some questions to ponder as the fourth annual Tip-Off Marathon begins with Washington State at Gonzaga and ends with an NIT Season Tip-Off game the following night from Stanford.

1. Will Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski become the NCAA's all-time winningest coach? The Blue Devils play Michigan State in the first game at the Champions Classic (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET) from Madison Square Garden. Duke struggled against Belmont in its opener and then blasted Presbyterian on Saturday. Neither result should come as a surprise. The Blue Devils are usually the home team in New York, but it will be interesting to see how many Spartans fans are able to make the trip, especially if some of them just went to San Diego. Still, Michigan State has a real shot to upstage Coach K. Despite their loss to North Carolina, the Spartans were the aggressor, outrebounding the Tar Heels convincingly 42-31. The Blue Devils have as much size as North Carolina, so the challenge will be similar. But MSU must shoot better from 3-point range than it did against UNC (2-of-20). Another key to the game is seeing which team converts timely perimeter shots. If Duke wins, we'll have the unique setting of Krzyzewski winning No. 903 and passing his former coach Bob Knight, who will sit courtside calling the game for ESPN.

2. How will the Thomas Robinson-Anthony Davis matchup unfold? This could turn out to be one of the more anticipated frontcourt showdowns during the nonconference schedule, as this individual battle highlights the second game of the Champions Classic between Kentucky and Kansas (ESPN, 9:30 ET). Robinson began the season as the go-to guy for Kansas, finishing with 18 points and 11 rebounds against Towson. Meanwhile, Davis, UK's highly touted freshman, blitzed Marist with 23 points and 10 boards in the Wildcats' 50-point rout. Kentucky has more options than KU and can lean on Doron Lamb or Terrence Jones to get it plenty of points. But the tussle between Robinson and Davis will be good theater throughout the night.

3. How will Ohio State's Aaron Craft and William Buford handle Florida's perimeter? We're not conceding the Jared Sullinger-Patric Young matchup (well, we will for these purposes), but this game may come down to the guards. Florida's set of Kenny Boynton, Mike Rosario, Brad Beal and Erving Walker is off to a sensational start. Rosario scored 19 points off the bench, while Boynton scored 19 and Beal 14 (Walker added 10) in a rout of Jackson State. Craft and Buford will be tested defensively more so than they were a year ago, when Ohio State won easily at UF during this same event. The Buckeyes, who host the Gators at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2), are the No. 3 team in the nation because of Sullinger. But this will be the first time OSU may feel the loss of defensive specialist David Lighty.

4. Can Belmont emerge from the brutal opening weekend with a split? The Bruins nearly nipped Duke in a comeback that fell one possession short. The next challenge is a visit to in-state Memphis at noon ET on ESPN. Belmont won't have any awe factor in playing the Tigers. The Bruins should come into this game oozing with confidence after their showing versus the Blue Devils. Memphis is still a young team and a work in progress. The Tigers have more talent, but the question is whether they will show patience against a Belmont team that will want to run and run and run. This could be one of the most entertaining games of the day.

5. How will Baylor handle its one and likely only test during Perry Jones III's suspension? Jones must sit for three more games after accepting an extra benefit. The Bears beat Texas Southern on Friday and Jackson State on Sunday. The two games that follow Baylor's home matchup with San Diego State (ESPN, 2 p.m. ET) are South Carolina State and Texas-Arlington. This is not the same Aztecs team from last season after the roster was gutted by graduating seniors and an early-entry NBA departure. Still, they are athletic enough to cause problems. The Bears have options with Quincy Acy, Quincy Miller and Anthony Jones, but this game should at least push Baylor a tad more than the first two did during Jones' suspension.

6. How will Gonzaga's guards respond after a poor first outing? The Bulldogs showed in a tight win over Eastern Washington that they can rely heavily on Robert Sacre (22 points and 10 boards). But the perimeter shooters went 3-of-13 on 3s, and Marquise Carter was 2-of-11 and Mike Hart, Gary Bell, Kevin Pangos and David Stockton were a combined 6-of-15 from the field. Washington State is a team in transition, and the Zags should win this game. But Gonzaga has plenty of tougher challenges ahead, and so its guard play will need to improve. Still, this will be a good chance to see Sacre and Elias Harris on display against the Cougars, tipping off the Marathon at 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday night (ESPN).

7. As for the two women's games on the Marathon schedule …
How will Tennessee perform after coach Pat Summitt's health diagnosis? If you saw Robin Roberts' piece on "Good Morning America," you know it is clear that the Lady Vols are determined to win a national title for Summitt. The Tennessee coach also seems as driven as ever in her quest to keep coaching while she battles early-onset dementia. This should be an emotional game, as they all may turn out to be, for the No. 3 Lady Vols as they host No. 7 Miami (ESPN2, 6 p.m. ET). And how will Texas A&M handle its status as the reigning champs? The Aggies aren't expected to repeat as national champs, but they have established themselves as an elite program. The primer to the Tennessee game won't involve as much theater, but may be as competitive a game when No. 9 Louisville goes to College Station to play the No. 6 Aggies (ESPNU, 4 p.m. ET).

8. What should we expect from Texas' Myck Kabongo? Kabongo is an impressive young man who handles himself with poise and class. Now he has to translate that onto the court against a talented Rhode Island squad that lost at George Mason by two points in its season opener Friday. The Longhorns will lean heavily on Kabongo to start the season. How he handles this first assignment will be a strong indicator on what to expect, as URI will push Texas from the outset (ESPN, 4 p.m. ET).

9. How will Drexel handle the hype as the CAA's favorite? The Dragons play at Rider (ESPN, 6 a.m. ET) when most people might be waking up to watch the Marathon. Drexel is the early pick to win the Colonial Athletic Association, a conference that's receiving some buzz after placing its second team (VCU) in the Final Four since 2006. Drexel will be minus the injured Chris Fouch, but Samme Givens and Frantz Massenat should be enough to beat Rider. But the Dragons could do themselves a service by looking impressive, too.

10. How productive can the Saint Mary's frontcourt be this season? Randy Bennett anticipates that this frontcourt will be more productive than the one led by Omar Samhan, who led the Gaels to the Sweet 16 two seasons ago. That means Rob Jones will be getting help from Kyle Rowley, Brad Waldow, Mitchell Young and Beau Levesque. Jones dominated Fresno Pacific with 25 points and 12 boards, but Northern Iowa -- coming off an impressive road route of ODU -- will be a much more formidable foe for the Gaels (ESPN, 2 a.m. ET).

11. What should we expect from LeBryan Nash? Well, if you believe the hype, Oklahoma State has an all-Big 12 player who can elevate it to the NCAA tournament. The Cowboys will likely have plenty of chances to feature Nash against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the NIT Season Tip-Off (ESPN3, 8 p.m. ET).

12. How polished will Syracuse look? If they defeat Manhattan on Monday, the Orange will face either Albany or Brown on Tuesday (ESPN3, 7 p.m. ET) in the NIT Season Tip-Off. The early indication is that this veteran team will be ready to compete for the Final Four. Of course, Syracuse isn't being challenged as much as some other teams, but the Orange smacked Fordham in the opener as Dion Waiters complemented Kris Joseph quite well.

13. A surprisingly close game? I'm going with Austin Peay at Cal (ESPN2, 10 p.m. ET). The Governors should be one of the favorites in the Ohio Valley Conference. Will Triggs and TyShwan Edmondson could play at any level. California is one of the Pac-12 favorites, but the Golden Bears will be tested in this CBE Classic matchup. Guards Allen Crabbe and Jorge Gutierrez will be tested versus Austin Peay.

14. What are the chances of a surprise to end the Marathon? I think Stanford will have a tough time with either SMU or Colorado State at home in the NIT Season Tip-Off. The Mustangs or the Rams are fully capable of being a pest and upsetting the Cardinal (ESPNU, 11 p.m. ET). Stanford first has to get past Fresno State, of course, to be in this matchup. To do that, Aaron Bright, Chasson Randle and Josh Owens will have to really take control.

15. How will Miami score inside? The Hurricanes are sans Reggie Johnson and Julian Gamble due to injuries. The given has been that the Canes have the guard play with Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott. But Rutgers will try and make Miami (ESPN3, 7 p.m. ET) beat the Scarlet Knights on the inside. This could turn out to be one of the closer games in the Marathon.

16. What should we expect from Villanova? This is somewhat of a blank slate. The Coreys -- Mr. Fisher and Mr. Stokes -- are gone. Maalik Wayns will be the dominant presence, but there are plenty of other options as Mouphtaou Yarou, JayVaughn Pinkston, Dominic Cheek and James Bell could all star against La Salle (ESPN3, 7 p.m. ET). The Wildcats are an unknown in the Big East, and this game will at least give us a taste of what we may see.

17. Is Kevin Jones ready to be a star? For two seasons, West Virginia's Bob Huggins has been waiting for Jones to emerge. He scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a season-opening seven-point win over Oral Roberts. Kent State will hardly be a walk for the Mountaineers (ESPN, 10 a.m. ET). Darryl Bryant can offset Jones' production, but the offense will likely flow through Jones as he adapts to being the front man for the Mountaineers.

18. How ready is Hawaii to make a run at Utah State? Gib Arnold has gone through a complete roster makeover and coached the Warriors to an impressive 19-13 record in his first season in Honolulu. Utah State beat BYU to open the season while one of the WAC favorites, Nevada, was flat at home in losing to Missouri State. Hawaii has a real shot to make a move in its final season in the WAC before heading to the Big West. Establishing an identity in a new conference is always key and ensuring that Cal State-Northridge (ESPN, 4 a.m. ET) is well aware of what it is in for when it visits the Stan Sheriff Center would do wonders for a first impression.

19. What will Morehead State and College of Charleston look like after losing their stars? This game could be one of the more competitive because of who both teams lost, rather than who they gained. Morehead State no longer has Kenneth Faried, while Charleston is without Andrew Goudelock. The Eagles made the NCAA tournament last season, defeating Louisville and then falling to Richmond. The Cougars reached the NIT quarterfinals before losing to eventual champ Wichita State. Regardless of how these teams look (ESPN, 8 a.m. ET) on Tuesday, you can expect them both to be factors in their respective conferences by February.

20. What are the chances Virginia Tech doesn't end up in New York for the NIT semifinals? We'll find out Tuesday night. The Hokies will likely play George Mason, assuming the Patriots beat Florida International and Virginia Tech knocks off Monmouth on Monday. Mason beat Rhode Island by two in overtime in its opener, and while it is a more depleted roster than expected when Paul Hewitt took the job, this is still a formidable squad. Virginia Tech used balanced scoring to beat East Tennessee State by 11 in its opener, but hitting 5-of-18 on 3s was an indicator that the perimeter shooting may not be the Hokies' strong suit.

Other notable names to watch: Does Tu Holloway have a monster game for Xavier against IPFW (7 p.m. ET)? Will Cincinnati's Yancy Gates dominate against Jacksonville State (7 p.m. ET)? How will Harvard fare as the hunted team on the road, even against a rebuilding Holy Cross squad (7 p.m. ET)? How will Dayton's Archie Miller fare in his road debut as head coach at Miami-Ohio (7 p.m. ET)? Will Mike Scott be a double-double performer for Virginia against Winthrop (7 p.m. ET)? Will LSU avoid plunging into irrelevance by winning at Coastal Carolina (7 p.m. ET)? Will Butler avoid a shaky 0-2 start by winning at home against Chattanooga (7 p.m. ET)? Will Saint Louis prove to be the team projected as an A-10 contender and win games it should -- even on the road at Southern Illinois (8 p.m. ET)? Will Missouri State continue to win on the road and take down Arkansas State (8 p.m. ET)? How impressive will Royce White be for Iowa State against Drake (9 p.m. ET)? How will Wyoming play for new coach Larry Shyatt against Northern Colorado (9 p.m.)? Will Arizona State start its climb toward respectability by winning a game at home versus Pepperdine (8:30 p.m. ET)? Will Utah State follow up its BYU win by beating rival Weber State (9 p.m.) on the road?

Andy Katz is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

Throughout the years, Willis Wilson has interviewed for the head-coaching job at Illinois, Ohio State, Minnesota and Clemson.

He had his shots. But Rice's all-time winningest coach was always the fall-back candidate, a guy with a clean reputation who was the sensible-but-not-splashy choice.

So Wilson plodded along in Houston, making Rice competitive at times but never putting the Owls in the NCAA tournament. He spent 16 years at his alma mater at a time when the program played in a glorified high school gym with a big blue curtain that separated one side of the gym from intramural badminton on the other.

So when he was let go by Rice in 2008 after a miserable 3-27 season, Wilson wanted a taste of big-time basketball. In 2009, he accepted an offer from Josh Pastner to become the rookie coach's trusted sidekick at Memphis. Pastner, a Houston native whose father, Hal, was a local AAU organizer, had known Wilson for years.

The environment Josh created in Memphis was great," Wilson said. "He was great to work for."

But Wilson wanted to get back to being a head coach, hopeful he could find a job that would be considered the best in its league.

So he jumped at the chance to replace Perry Clark at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, convinced the Islanders fit that criterion despite finishing with the second-worst record in the Southland Conference last season.

"I wanted to be a head coach again at some point,'' said Wilson, 51. "I had a timetable in mind."

Did he take the right job, though? Having never gotten a shot in a "power six" league, Wilson has now taken a second brutally tough job in the state of Texas.

"I can see where someone sees that," Wilson said. "The only thing I would say is that this is one of those situations where, three years from now, they'll say, 'Holy cow, how'd they do that?' It's an ideal time to be in this job."

The Islanders are a relatively new member of Division I, but they have had some modest success. They advanced to the NCAA tournament in 2007 under Ronnie Arrow, who later took the South Alabama job.

Texas A&M-CC struggled to find its footing under Clark, though. After finishing just 10-21 in his fourth season, the former Tulane and Miami coach resigned in March.

At the time, Clark told ESPN.com that "coaching at this level was harder than I thought. I want them to find someone who can do this and thought it was better for everyone."

Blue Ribbon Previews
Take an Inside look at the Southland with Blue Ribbon's 2011-12 team reports: Central Arkansas Lamar McNeese State Nicholls State Northwestern State Sam Houston State Southeastern Louisiana Stephen F. Austin Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Texas State Texas-Arlington Texas-San Antonio

Well, apparently Wilson considers himself fit to coach at "this level." Wilson had to scrap for plenty at Rice. And if you listen to him long enough, he'll convince you his new program has the potential to be what Memphis is in C-USA or Butler is in the Horizon or Gonzaga in the WCC.

Wilson said that he has the enthusiastic backing of the administration and that the emphasis at Texas A&M-CC is to make the basketball program the face of the school. He said there is chatter about improving the practice facility, and he is convinced the locals will flock to the arena if the Islanders start winning.

"This program offers more potential than Rice," Wilson said. "Memphis was the class of the league, but Conference USA has been essentially a one-bid league. We're in a similar one-bid league. But there isn't a Memphis in our league. There isn't a Butler in our league. There isn't a Gonzaga in our league. There isn't an Old Dominion, for that matter, in our league."

The Southland has had a rotation of teams take a turn at the top, from Sam Houston State to McNeese State to Northwestern State to UT-San Antonio to Stephen F. Austin to Texas A&M-CC.

"We can position ourselves as being the top seed in our tournament, and, if you can consistently put yourself in a position to do that, then you can win games at a national level," Wilson said.

Of course, you need players to be successful. Four players were dismissed from the program this summer, so the Islanders are looking at a depleted roster that will largely be led by seven newcomers.

"It all boils down to getting players," Wilson said. "And I think we have the means to show that we can be the class of this league with facilities. We want to say something special here."

Wilson has had quite an offseason. He left Memphis, took the Corpus Christi job, then found out he was embroiled in an alleged Ponzi scheme led by Houston financial adviser David Salinas, who took his own life this summer as the Securities and Exchange Commission investigated him.

Salinas had been a Rice booster and made his inroads into the college basketball community through the Owls' staff in the 1990s, when Wilson was an assistant to Scott Thompson. Salinas later created an AAU program called Houston Select.

Wilson said that he last invested with Salinas in 1996 or '97 and that, with interest, his last statement said he was due $650,000.

"But I don't have a canceled check," Wilson said. "That's what it should have been with interest. I have to show proof that the money was there, and I don't have the bank records back that far."

That likely means the money Wilson thought he had invested for his retirement will never be seen.

So making the Islanders a success to help his own long-term security becomes even more crucial.

"You define success by getting to the tournament, and here we don't have to beat a Memphis or a Butler or a Gonzaga or the big three in the Colonial," Wilson said. "If we field good teams, we've got a chance to win our league and be better than anyone else. In Conference USA, no one in the league is ever going to have what Memphis has, and, in the WCC, no one is going to have what Gonzaga has. In our case, we have a chance to have more than everybody else in our league."

And that, in short, is why Wilson finds himself back at a small school in the Lone Star State.

"Will I have a greater opportunity to get to the NCAA or conference championship here?" Wilson said while comparing this job to his previous one at Rice. "The answer to that is yes."

Memphis will be ranked somewhere in the top 15, possibly in the top 10.

Marshall won't be in the top 25. The Thundering Herd probably won't be even close to the top 30.

Is the difference that wide between the projected top two teams in Conference USA?

"I think Marshall is really, really good. I think Marshall could easily win the conference and are worthy of [being] a top 25 team,'' Memphis coach Josh Pastner said. "Just look at [its] roster. I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the league picked them as the favorite to win the league title. The perception on Marshall hasn't caught up to the reality.''

This is called spin. This is called deflection. Or is it? Could Marshall really be a serious challenger to Memphis with the Tigers' loaded roster of Tarik Black, Joe Jackson, Will Barton and Wesley Witherspoon, and the addition of Adonis Thomas?

Marshall does return its top scorers in Damier Pitts and DeAndre Kane, but the Herd may not have the depth.

One Conference USA coach was quick to point out that Marshall is getting an awful lot of publicity for a team that hasn't even made it to the conference championship game.

"Marshall is really strong in the backcourt and [it] can match Memphis in the backcourt, and that alone is a big statement,'' Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik said. "But I still say Tarik Black isn't getting enough credit. To me Memphis has the better combination of inside and out, and no one has someone like Wesley Witherspoon.''

The Herd finished 9-7 in the league last season (22-12 overall) and were tied for fifth with Southern Miss -- another team which is supposed to be a challenger, according to its coach, Larry Eustachy.

Marshall coach Tom Herrion playfully said that Kane should have been on my Wooden Award snub list. He wasn't. Maybe he should have been.

"He had great numbers last year,'' Herrion said of Kane (15.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 3.4 apg). "We're perceived to be a better team than last year. We had the rookie of the year last year and with what we have coming back we're not going to be worse. We're only going to get better.''

Herrion said he's not grandstanding about the Herd's potential. Marshall split the two games with Memphis last season, with each team winning its game at home. But Herrion is not going to dismiss the obvious: This Herd team hasn't won anything substantial so far.

"We haven't done anything yet,'' Herrion said. "I feel good about our personnel, and it's nice that other coaches in the league think our team is good, but we haven't proven anything yet.''

The Herd have had a relatively quiet summer, save for the addition of former Miami assistant Jorge Fernandez. Former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro said in a Yahoo! Sports report that he witnessed Fernandez having impermissible contact with Miami football players in 2008 and entertaining then-AAU coach Moe Hicks (now on St. John's staff). Herrion said Fernandez talked to the NCAA enforcement staff, but he was given no indication that Fernandez would be in any trouble.

"It won't be a distraction at all,'' Herrion said.

A new assistant can't be trouble at any time, let alone with a team that is poised for a breakout season. Herrion has scheduled as if he is confident this team will be a threat.

Marshall is playing at a top-25 team in Cincinnati, at Big East tri-favorite Syracuse and the annual series against West Virginia in Charleston, W.Va. But Herrion found three games versus teams that don't get the publicity, and they should be just as tough as playing any other contender in C-USA, save Memphis. The Herd will have a home-and-home series with Belmont and a home game against MAAC co-favorite Iona.

Herrion, who had an 80-38 record at College of Charleston in his only other head-coaching stint, has Marshall in line to be a contender just as quickly as he did when he was in the Southern Conference. The difference, of course, is that there was never a team in the SoCon quite like Memphis. "I feel much better in Year 2 here,'' Herrion said. "We've got a very good foundation on how to build this thing. We've got a much more experienced staff here.''

The experience up front isn't the same as it is in the backcourt. And that will be the difference against the higher-level teams. If Herrion can play to the perimeter strengths, he has a chance to have sustained success this season. But the Herd will know early and often if they are contenders or pretenders.

Doing well in C-USA won't be enough to warrant an NCAA at-large berth. They have to do something significant with this nonconference slate -- like win a few of the key games -- or at least one against one of the three Big East teams.

"I know we scheduled aggressively,'' Herrion said. "Now we have to go out and win games. We've got great opportunities and have a tremendous challenge. We're playing three Big East teams but none are in our building.

As for Pastner, he won't quit on his pumping of the Herd.

"People just don't give them credit,'' he said. "Marshall could compete in the top three or four in a number of leagues. Marshall is totally underrated nationally.''

OK, well let's see if that's the case. The onus is on the Herd now to prove it, and not just to their fan base and to Herrion for putting together the schedule. Marshall needs to back up Pastner's claim that it can be a legitimate top-25 squad this season.

We'll find out soon enough.

The NBA has canceled the opening of training camp and the start of preseason games -- and regular-season games could be next if the players and owners can't come to an agreement fairly soon.

The more the NBA season looks in peril, the smarter Memphis coach Josh Pastner appears for adding Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach Damon Stoudamire and Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton to his staff.

Stoudamire is a full-time employee regardless of when the lockout ends. And while Walton is with the Tigers almost as a temp, he certainly brings a wealth of pro experience that is enticing to both the current Memphis players and the ones he is trying to woo to the program.

Regardless, it seems obvious both are thrilled with their new gigs, especially in light of the alternative.

Stoudamire wouldn't be doing much of anything if he were with the Grizzlies. Now he's coaching and recruiting, and he said he's even working out the Griz players at the Larry Finch practice facility on campus.

"I don't know what I'd be doing, to be honest with you," Stoudamire said. "I've been through a lockout before [in 1998] and it was boring. There wasn't anything to do. Right now [the Grizzlies] aren't doing much, and what I've been doing is working out the pro guys for them to stay sharp. They can't use their facility so we opened up ours. If I were still with the team, I couldn't do that."

If Walton were still in Los Angeles, he would have no access to the Lakers' facilities, either. So here he is -- 1,800 miles away -- coaching, recruiting and working out daily with full access to a training staff as he rehabs from a back injury that nearly forced him to retire during the 2009-10 season.

"I've got a bunch of Grizzlies players I'm working out with, my shooting coach is coming this week, and I've got a training staff and strength coach here at my disposal," Walton said. "I can do all of this during my time off when we're not practicing [during individual workouts], coaching or recruiting, so I make sure to stay ready for when the lockout ends."

How long does Walton think he's going to be at Memphis?

"If I had to guess right now, at least until the end of December and even into January. But I'm also hearing that the season might not happen at all this year," said Walton, who added that he talks frequently to players' association rep and Lakers teammate Derek Fisher. "It's crazy to think about it. But the deeper we get into this -- into November and actual games are missed and both sides are missing paychecks -- that's when the negotiations will really heat up. It will come down to who is willing to give in. After listening for six hours [during a recent players rep meeting], neither side wants to fold. I think the pressure will pick up in November and we'll have a clearer idea if and when the season will start."

Stoudamire won't be shocked if Walton is on staff longer than anticipated. He said he's waiting to see if the players really do take a stand and sacrifice the whole season.

"I don't think they'll ever get what they want out of it," Stoudamire said. "It's millionaires battling billionaires, and you know who's going to win that battle."

Regardless, the decision by Walton and Pastner to take this gamble has paid off for both, even with less than two weeks to go before the official start of practice on Oct. 14.

"If the lockout ended tomorrow, even having Luke Walton for this amount of time was worth it," Pastner said. "I know when the lockout ends he's going to go back to being a Laker. But this has outweighed the risks."

Pastner said the reason is Walton's on-court experience at the highest level of basketball. It also doesn't hurt that he has a tremendous relationship with fellow Arizona alums Stoudamire, Pastner and assistant Jack Murphy, who moved to San Diego to work out Walton in preparation for the 2003 NBA draft.

"Part of the reason I took this job was because I know what Coach P and Coach Murph have to offer, and they were with me at Arizona and helped me improve as a player," Walton said. "I know that if you come here that you'll improve."

Walton recently went with Pastner and Murphy on a recruiting visit to the Clarksville, Tenn., home of Alex Poythress, the No. 17 player in the ESPNU 100 who has narrowed his choices to Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt and Memphis. Walton said he can't promise a player he will be coaching him, but he is selling the program and the current staff. He's also not doing too much evaluating for the same reason -- he simply doesn't how long he'll be at Memphis.

Regardless of their roles, Walton and Stoudamire love the chemistry on this staff.

"We are supposed to meet for 20 minutes and it turns into two-and-a-half hours," Walton said.

Stoudamire did admit he's having a hard time grasping the reality of recruiting. The talent isn't NBA-level and the people you are dealing with aren't just parents.

"I have to taper my expectations a bit," Stoudamire said. "It's not what I'm used to seeing. I'm not evaluating pro players. I think I've seen maybe four players that I can say, 'Yeah, he's a pro.' And the landscape in recruiting is different since you're dealing with so many people as opposed to what I was dealing with.

"The unwritten rule is that there are people who represent these kids. You've got to be able to win over the kid and win over the handlers too. That's just as important as the kid, and in some instances I've found out that no matter what the kid thinks, it's more about the handler. Sometimes you're trying to impress the handler more than the kid."

Stoudamire said Walton has grasped that coaching is a full-time gig -- mostly, at least. Walton said he's still in player's mode when it comes to the alarm clock. In general, coaches rise early. Players do not.

"You've got to be here early and leave late," Stoudamire said. "He's getting the time commitment now. Luke is going to be a head coach. He's got the demeanor. He knows what he's talking about and he commands respect. He's a very cerebral player and he maximized his ability as a player. [Memphis forward] Tarik Black is already benefiting in a short period of time."

Walton, 31, has two years remaining on his existing contract, and due to the back injury -- which was concentrated in his spine and vertebrae -- it might be his last deal. He said that's another reason why he has jumped into the coaching world.

"It nearly took me out of the entire season," said Walton, who played in 29 games in 2009-10. "It was pretty scary. I was in a dark place and I was off to myself. Coach [Phil] Jackson invited me to be a part of the staff and sit in the coaches meetings. I had a really good time doing that. I was meeting with doctors and there were some who said I shouldn't play again. I had to think for the first time what I would do without basketball."

Walton has quite a mentor in this regard. His father, Bill, has had to battle ankle, foot and back problems for years.

"It was a scary time for him to see his son go through it," Luke Walton said of his dad, known best in Memphis as the UCLA redhead who went 21-of-22 against the Tigers in the 1973 national title game. "I love coaching now and working with this staff and players and can't wait for the season to get started. But I love playing, and when this contract is up, it will be more of a health-related issue. If at any point I have to live with anti-inflammatory to play, well, I've had a long career."

For now, Walton said his mindset is in Memphis, where he has moved for the time being.

"But I'm aware that if the lockout ends, I'm going back to L.A. and rooting for the Tigers," Walton said.

Until that happens, Walton is banking on coaching Tigers headliners Black, Joe Jackson and Will Barton in a season in which the Tigers are the unquestioned Conference USA favorite and will likely start the season in the top 15 nationally.

And Walton knows he could be in Memphis to see the whole season through.

"There is a really good chance that does happen," he said. "Obviously, as a player I want to play basketball. But I'm in a situation that I enjoy in Memphis and I feel we can have an extremely successful season. I see this team making a Final Four run. And that would be so much fun to be a part of. This is a good situation. I'm not sitting around thinking about the lockout."

Quick hitters for this Tuesday:

• Florida coach Billy Donovan has been working the mental side of his suddenly loaded perimeter to get the guards ready for a heavy load next season.

The Gators return guards Erving Walker, Kenny Boynton and Scottie Wilbekin, while also adding Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario, a high-scoring talent who did well in the Big East. Toss in impact-freshman wing Brad Beal and the Gators will tip heavily toward the perimeter with the departures of forwards Alex Tyus, Vernon Macklin and Chandler Parsons. Patric Young, fresh off competing for Team USA at the U-19 World Championships in Latvia, will be the focal point in the post.

"The last two years we played with a lack of depth on the perimeter,'' Donovan said. "Now we add Rosario and Beal and we're going to be a much better shooting team and will have more experience. Now the test is how much will those four guys make each other better.''

Donovan said Rosario had everything run through him at Rutgers and he anticipated he'd be on his way to the NBA after two years. But it didn't happen. Now he has to check the ego at the door and become a winner, something that never materialized at Rutgers.

Donovan said he has told Walker that he wants him to lead the SEC in assists since there will be more than enough offense on the wings this season. Walker's assists actually went down from his sophomore to junior year, from 4.9 to 3.4 a game.

"We want everyone to understand a good shot,'' Donovan said. "I'm excited with the challenges of dealing with the guards.''

Donovan said Kentucky will have the most talent in the SEC, while Vanderbilt returns its team intact and will also be a contender. But he fully expects the Gators to be right in the mix for the SEC title.

• Duke held its first two practices on Sunday and Monday in advance of the team's trip to China and Dubai next month. Duke will take a break this week as the coaches go on the road recruiting, but the team will resume workouts here shortly.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said the practices will be a huge benefit for the Blue Devils in trying to figure out how to play this season, let alone on the trip.

"We're giving these guys opportunities to show us who they are,'' Krzyzewski said. "How we do this trip obviously won't be how we do the season. We have to get to know our guys, not just individually but how they interact with each other. It's a great opportunity for us, a big-time trip.''

This will be Krzyzewski's first time to see all three Plumlees on the floor together in competitive games. Marshall Plumlee joins his older brothers Mason and Miles on the Blue Devils' roster.

"Marshall is a real good player with a great attitude,'' Krzyzewski said. "It's time for Miles and Mason to take a huge step forward as a senior and junior. That's the same for Seth [Curry] and Andre [Dawkins]. Seth would normally be a senior [after transferring from Liberty]. Andre is a junior but he's finally older [on the court] since he's still only 19 [he came to school early out of high school]. It's a rite of passage for these guys.''

Krzyzewski said there is plenty of work to do but he's pleased with the early progress. This is the first time the Blue Devils have taken an overseas trip since they went to London in October 2002.

"Most schools do this every four years, but with my involvement in USA basketball we haven't been able to,'' Krzyzewski said. "Another benefit of winning the World Championships last summer is that we can go to China and Dubai. This is great for us.''

The title last summer in Turkey allowed the Americans to qualify for the London Olympics so they wouldn't have to this summer, giving Krzyzewski the summer off from USA Basketball.

• The summer lockout could help BYU prep even more for its trip to Greece in August. Jimmer Fredette is expected in Provo next month to work out, and BYU coach Dave Rose is hopeful that former Cougars can scrimmage against the current crop in preparation for the trip.

• The benefits of being in the West Coast Conference are already helping the Cougars in scheduling. The WCC had no issue holding off its formation of the conference schedule to work in a bye date for BYU so it could schedule a home-and-home series with Virginia Tech with the first game in Blacksburg in January. The return game will be the following year in Salt Lake City.

• Kansas' staff continues to believe that Thomas Robinson is headed for a banner season after sitting behind three first-round draft picks -- Cole Aldrich and the Morris twins, Marcus and Markieff -- the past two seasons. Robinson is expected to be the go-to guy at forward for the Jayhawks. Apparently Elijah Johnson is also ready to take on even more of a featured role.

• In discussing the Big 12 race with a few coaches, the one school that keeps coming up as the favorite may be surprising to some: Texas A&M. The Aggies return the core of their team from a year ago, led by Khris Middleton. The consensus seems to be that the coaching change from Mark Turgeon to Billy Kennedy is similar enough that there shouldn't be a hiccup.

• The Maui Invitational bracket is being worked on this month with an expected announcement coming soon. A few things you can expect: Duke won't play Chaminade in the first round and Memphis won't play Tennessee, since the two teams have a regular series. Duke doesn't like to play non-Division I teams and makes it quite clear when it signs up for these events that it would rather not be matched in the first round with the host school.

If the tournament were seeded it would probably go: 1. Duke; 2. Memphis; 3. Michigan; 4. Kansas; 5. UCLA; 6. Georgetown; 7. Tennessee; 8. Chaminade. But the tournament won't be matched by seeds. One possible grouping that makes sense based on the parameters is: Kansas-Chaminade and UCLA-Memphis on one side of the bracket; Georgetown-Michigan and Duke-Tennessee on the other. No one would deny that a possible Duke-Kansas final helps the overall health of the tournament and would rate well. But KU would have to possibly get by Conference USA-favorite Memphis and that's with the assumption that Duke can beat Michigan if the two were to meet in the semifinals. The Blue Devils defeated the Wolverines by just two in last season's NCAA tournament.

All Greg McDermott needed to hear came right after the end of the FIBA U-19 World Championships in Latvia, when the gold-medal-winning coach from Lithuania explained that his team had a great four years together.

"We've been together since June 20th," McDermott said of the Americans, who lost to Russia in the quarterfinals and finished in fifth place after Sunday's two-point win over Australia.

"There's no question that the timing and execution of the teams playing together is obvious," said McDermott, who took a break from recruiting as head coach of Creighton to watch his son Doug play for Team USA. "Our coaches have a short time frame to put together everything and have to keep it relatively simple due to the prep time."

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, an assistant on the U.S. national team and the chair of the junior national team committee, said the U-19 has consistently been the hardest championship for the Americans to win. The tournament was held every four years from 1979 to 2007 (it's now every two), with the U.S. winning gold in 1979, '83 and '91. The Americans went four straight tournaments without winning gold before a team coached by Pitt's Jamie Dixon ended the drought two years ago in New Zealand.

This squad, which was snubbed by a number of high-profile underclassmen who were eligible but chose either summer school or working out at their respective schools, was coached by new George Mason coach Paul Hewitt.

Team USA lost an exhibition to Lithuania by 33 points, but then in the second round -- behind 35 points from UConn's Jeremy Lamb -- beat the eventual gold-medal Lithuanians by two in overtime 107-105. But the U.S. then lost the ensuing game against Croatia before the medal round and was upset by Russia before beating Poland and Australia in the consolation round.

"The 19 is the toughest for us to win,'' Boeheim said. "The other teams have been together for three to four years. They are there for the 16, 17, 18, 19. It makes it tougher for us to win. Lithuania was by far the best team and I was happy that we were able to beat them in a game. That was a huge, huge upset, but against Russia we couldn't make a 3-point shot. We had all new guys."

Dixon said he could tell while coaching the Americans two years ago that this tournament was the one the younger teams were hyped to win.

"They all build for it," Dixon said. "After that tournament, they usually go to the professional teams. We have a new team every year. The way the system is set up, the 19s is the culmination for the rest of the countries. We don't get all of our best players."

Regardless of this year's so-so performance, you can expect a number of the leaders on this team to have standout seasons when they return to campus, just as players like Ashton Gibbs, Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack did after their experience in New Zealand.

"It validated everything for Gordon," Butler's Brad Stevens said. "He was someone who averaged 12 points and five rebounds in high school. He didn't know how good he was. That experience validated it for him. It showed that he's pretty darn good. Shelvin was already feeling he could play with anybody and it showed he was right."

Stevens is hoping the experience will have a similar effect for Khyle Marshall, who was a role player for the Bulldogs' national runner-up team this spring. His main responsibility was to rebound off the bench, but he'll be asked to do much more this season. In Latvia, Marshall averaged 5.7 points and three boards in 13 minutes a game.

"It was such a great experience for him, to represent the U.S., to travel abroad and to see how much it matters to other countries," said Stevens, who will assist Purdue's Matt Painter on the World University Games team that heads to China in August. "You can't put a price tag on that. Khyle is a guy who can find the basket in a number of different ways. The rest of the summer he'll hone his skills and get in the gym and make it a priority. He wasn't the first or second guy on a scouting report so that's a big step for him and he'll have to take the appropriate steps on how to handle it."

The tournament will be a difference-maker for a number of players.

Lamb (16.2 ppg, team-high 18 steals) will be the go-to scorer for Connecticut with Kemba Walker no longer around. Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr., (9.4 ppg) will be counted on even more after Darius Morris stayed in the draft and was selected by the Lakers. Florida's Patric Young (9.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg), who was a beast around the basket (28 offensive rebounds), will be the focal point inside for the Gators with the departures of Vernon Macklin and Alex Tyus. Michigan State will lean heavily on Keith Appling (11 assists, seven turnovers) in Kalin Lucas' absence, while Illinois can certainly expect increased playing time and production out of big man Meyers Leonard (6.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg).

Florida coach Billy Donovan was in Colorado Springs as a court coach prior to the team leaving for Latvia. Donovan had to instruct Young to stop being a perimeter player and told him to run the floor, duck in and grab rebounds and finish.

Last season, Young didn't have to be an everyday player with Macklin, Tyus and Chandler Parsons around. That won't be the case this season.

"My hope for him is that he can become a consistent guy every day," Donovan said. "He has to be a guy who is consistent with effort, attitude all the way through. The simpler the better for him. He has to understand what our team needs. He has to do what he does and then work on everything else. He has to focus on how he can impact the game."

Two players in particular from this team really stood out in terms of a take-away experience: the aforementioned McDermott and Joe Jackson of Memphis.

The hometown hero Jackson competed with Antonio Barton at the point last season and will do so again. In Latvia, Jackson was solid from the free throw line (21-of-27) and averaged 11.6 ppg, but his assist (37) to turnover (30) ratio wasn't exactly ideal.

Nevertheless, Boeheim said Jackson showed him an ability to play the point. And he said the intensity of the games will only help him on a Tigers team with big expectations for next season.

That's exactly what Memphis coach Josh Pastner wanted him to experience.

"He had to continue to learn the game," Pastner said. "He had to continue to play against high-level teams in a structured environment -- not pickup games, real games, more game experience. There's no spot that's handed to him. We've got good players and good competition. Everyone will have to earn spots. But this gave Joe a lot of confidence."

McDermott didn't need any more confidence in his overall ability. While playing for his father in Omaha, he led the Bluejays in scoring (14.9) and rebounding (7.2) and was named to the USBWA freshman All-American team.

At the World Championship, he was third on the U.S. team in scoring (11.3 ppg) and made a team-high 13 3s.

"This was such a fabulous experience for my son to put on this jersey," McDermott said by phone from Riga, Latvia. "Doug's confidence is at an all-time high. As soon as he got the invitation he was doing the extra work in April, May and June. You can't put a price tag on this. It's one of the more special things for me as a father. My oldest son Nick was here with us and to share this experience with them, I can't ask for anything anymore as a dad."

In 2011-12, the Bluejays are expected to compete with Wichita State for the Missouri Valley Conference title. In addition to McDermott, Creighton also returns guard Antoine Young and a full season from big-man transfer Greg Echenique.

"We've got good pieces back," Greg McDermott said.

Creighton actually begins a five-day practice session on Saturday before heading off to the Bahamas on Aug. 11.

"I told Doug he can have Tuesday off," McDermott said. "We'll go easy on him. He came over here and played with guys who will be going to the NBA. That will end up being an incredibly valuable experience."

In the end, the Americans didn't medal. You can pick apart the roster selection or the coaching. The experience the opposing teams have over the Americans when they are together for several years can't be denied, but everything is fair game when there is a defeat.

But playing in these intense games -- at a high level, on the road, overseas -- will almost certainly benefit these players next season more than any pickup game or local tournament would have.

Some news and notes on this Wednesday afternoon:

• Team USA's two exhibition losses to Lithuania have caused some concern stateside, but the Lithuanians are considered the favorites heading into the U-19 World Championship tournament in Latvia this week.

The Americans lost 101-72 to the U-20 Lithuanian team and then 108-75 to the U-19 team, which got 23 points out of the Toronto Raptors' No. 5 draft pick Jonas Valanciunas.

The Americans start pool play Thursday against Egypt and play Serbia and China before the second round begins. Medal round games begin on July 9.

"Lithuania is the best team and we didn't play well,'' said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, who is the chair of the junior national team and helped select the squad in Colorado Springs earlier this month. "We're not as strong as we'd like. But we're better than we've played so far.''

Boeheim said UConn's Jeremy Lamb, expected to be a star on this squad, hasn't played as well as expected yet. In the two exhibition games, Lamb is shooting 22.2 percent on 3s and 35 percent overall. He's averaging 9.5 points a game. Butler's Kyhle Marshall is even worse, shooting 23.1 percent overall.

Boeheim also singled out Tony Mitchell, the former Missouri recruit who is headed to North Texas. Mitchell has taken only four shots, making one.

"They've gotten off to a slow start,'' Boeheim said. "They've struggled more than we thought they would.''

The surprise has been the play of Creighton's Doug McDermott, son of Bluejays coach Greg McDermott. The rising sophomore has been the most consistent player so far, averaging a team-high 13.5 points a game. He is shooting 61.1 percent from the field. Memphis' Joe Jackson is at 12.5 ppg on 40.9 percent shooting and Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 11.5 points a game but is shooting a woeful 26.9 percent (taking a team-high 26 shots) and 16.7 percent on 3s (2-of-12).

It's perhaps worth noting that the foul calls on the road were noticeably different, with the two Lithuanian teams taking a combined 88 free throws to the Americans' 54.

"We knew this would be a tough tournament,'' Boeheim said. "We [also] don't have some guys who chose to go to summer school. That happens.''

Duke guard Austin Rivers or Ohio State freshman forward Jared Sullinger both chose to stay home rather than play. Clearly, Sullinger would have had a major impact on this team had he decided to play. The U.S. team got outrebounded by an average of 12 boards in the two games.

This is the same tournament in which the Americans won gold in New Zealand in 2009, the first time the U.S. had won the gold medal since 1991. Pitt's Jamie Dixon coached that team, assisted by Purdue's Matt Painter (who will coach the University Games team heading to China in August) and Southern Illinois' Chris Lowery. New George Mason coach Paul Hewitt is coaching this squad in Latvia, assisted by Saint Mary's Randy Bennett and Jacksonville's Cliff Warren, who was an assistant under Hewitt at Georgia Tech.

• The Washington Times reported on Shaka Smart's new deal with Virginia Commonwealth. The eight-year contract is worth $1.2 million annually. VCU got creative by bumping up his salary from $325,000 to $450,000 and adding in a supplemental income of $700,000 that is paid quarterly. Smart could have gone to a power-six job -- possibly NC State -- but stayed put with the Rams. The Final Four run pushed his package over $1 million, a significant bump for a school like VCU but also a necessity in order to stay competitive at an elite level. That's what Gonzaga and Butler have had to do to keep their respective coaches content.

• A number of college coaches are gearing up for 20 days on the road next month by finalizing their nonconference schedules now. One school that needs a quality nonconference slate is Marshall. Thundering Herd coach Tom Herrion fancies his team to be an NCAA tournament squad and a real challenger to Memphis in Conference USA. The Herd return Damier Pitts (16.2 ppg, 4.7 apg) at the point, whom Herrion said should be considered the top point guard in C-USA, along with last season's freshman of the year in the league in DeAndre Kane (15.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg). MU has four starters returning and brings in a recruiting class that has two highly rated JC transfers in power forwards Robert Goff and Dennis Tinnon. Shooting guard Justin Coleman, a one-time Louisville commit, is also eligible after sitting out the year. He was never able to get eligible for the Cardinals.

So what did Herrion do for his schedule? He is playing at Cincinnati in a multiple-team event that has three home games against low-level teams in Alabama State, Jacksonville State and Northwestern State. He will play the annual game in Charleston against West Virginia. That gives him two Big East opponents, one road and one neutral. The Bearcats will be a top-25 team in the preseason, and West Virginia will always be in play for a bid under Bob Huggins.

Herrion also did a home-and-home with perennial Atlantic Sun favorite Belmont, bought a home game against MAAC favorite Iona, has home games against MAC favorites Ohio and Akron and will play at UNC Wilmington out of the Colonial. Herrion is trying to grab a successful team from the A-10, Missouri Valley or CAA -- someone like an Old Dominion or Creighton. He'll need at least one more of those games.

Scheduling is an art form for these coaches. And if a school like Marshall can't get elite home-and-home games out of region, then it has to be creative by plucking some of the best mid-major schools for home-and-home series. That can be a plus for power-rating points. The C-USA schedule helps Marshall too, since the Herd will play perennial contenders Memphis and UAB twice as well as UCF, Southern Miss and upstart East Carolina in the unbalanced schedule.

"Now we've got to go out and win games,'' said Herrion, whose team was 22-12 (9-7 C-USA) in his first season as head coach in Huntington. "We've got to get another projected NCAA team. But we've got to go out and win those games. I do think we can be an NCAA tournament team. But we can't come out of Conference USA with six or seven or eight losses and expect to be.''

• Texas fans are probably down about losing three underclassmen to the NBA, but having a trio of three first-round players (Tristan Thompson, Jordan Hamilton and Cory Joseph) can come in handy. The Longhorns now have the most first-round NBA draft picks (eight) of any school over the past six years. Kansas and Kentucky are tied for second with seven. If you push it back to 2000, Texas is third with 10 but just one behind North Carolina and Kansas for the lead. Connecticut, Duke and Kentucky have had nine in that span. The Longhorns have also had six lottery picks since 2000, which is tied for fifth with Arizona. Kansas tops that list with nine, followed by UConn and Duke with eight and North Carolina with seven.

• St. John's is quietly putting together one of the top nonconference schedules in the country. The Red Storm will play at Duke, at Kentucky in the SEC-Big East Challenge, host UCLA, play in the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer with Arizona, Texas A&M and Mississippi State, and open up Dick Vitale Court against Horizon upstart Detroit. That's all with a team dominated by freshmen. Kudos to coach Steve Lavin, who isn't afraid to challenge his team.

Missouri and Missouri Southern officials are working on getting a waiver from the NCAA to conduct a charity exhibition game in late October, with all the proceeds going to the people of Joplin, Mo.

The NCAA shouldn't hesitate.

It would be a public relations disaster for the NCAA to turn down this request. The Tigers have already committed and budgeted for two exhibition games in the fall. And the purpose is not to take money out of the school budget for a game. The intent would be to have all of the proceeds for a game at the Division II school in Joplin go toward disaster relief from the deadly tornado that ripped through the city on May 22.

The death toll will likely rise. The reconstruction will take months, if not years, to complete.

"What we want to do is continue to bring awareness to their struggle," said new Missouri coach Frank Haith. "As soon as things like this happen, people are motivated and aware. But then they forget about it. We want to make sure this stays in people's mind."

Haith was part of a University of Missouri contingent that made the three-hour drive to Joplin last Thursday. St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bryan Burwell documented the day.

"You can't imagine until you see the destruction," Haith said. "It was unbelievable. There was sheet metal wrapped around trees. The cars were tossed around like toy cars. Buildings were flattened. But the people there were so resilient. We saw it when we were in the shelters. We tried to put smiles on their faces."

Joplin is roughly three hours from Columbia. It's much closer to the University of Arkansas. But Missouri is the state school and there is a real push to ensure there is a strong presence by the university in the reconstruction.

Giving Mizzou a third exhibition game, likely before the first two, shouldn't even be an issue for the NCAA. Not approving this would not only be a PR disaster, but also simply the wrong thing to do.

• Damon Stoudamire told me two weeks ago in Chicago that he never played with Josh Pastner at Arizona but he respected him, really liked him and admired what he was doing at Memphis in such a short time.

Pastner was recruiting Stoudamire away from the NBA, in much the same manner that he recruits a player. He was convincing him that the Tigers would be better off with the longtime NBA guard on board. And they will be. The hiring of Stoudamire away from the local Memphis Grizzlies staff is a home run for Pastner. There's little doubt Stoudamire will help the team's guards play with more confidence, intelligence and purpose on every possession.

Pastner wasn't intimidated when he hired veteran assistant Glynn Cyprien for the original top assistant spot. He wasn't threatened by hiring former head coach Willis Wilson, either. Now both are gone -- Cyprien to Texas A&M as an assistant and Wilson as head coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

"He's going to help us a lot," Pastner said. "He's been at the highest level. He's got a ton of experience."

Stoudamire also has a presence, even though he's a compact guard. None of the Memphis guards are going to trick Stoudamire or fool him in any manner. He knows the game these young guys will play at times. He has seen it all and will know how to motivate the players. Adding strength and conditioning coach Frank Matrisciano, who helped remold Blake Griffin's body in San Francisco, will also help.

• Kudos to Hofstra head coach Mo Cassara for giving Patrick Sellers a second chance. Sellers was exonerated by the NCAA in the UConn case, even though he was forced out during the investigation. Sellers coached last season in China. He said he thought he was on the verge of a head-coaching job before the NCAA investigation. Now he has to work his way back up again, joining Steve DeMeo on the Cassara staff. Sellers is well-connected in the Northeast and is personable. This should help him restart his career.

CHICAGO -- Brigham Young coach Dave Rose watched consensus national player of the year Jimmer Fredette go through drills at the combine here, observing him one last time in a competitive format before he officially becomes a professional in next month's NBA draft.

Rose answered questions about Jimmer when asked. He promoted Jimmer as much as he could. But as he exited the Attack Athletics gym on the West Side of Chicago on Friday, he was reminded that Jimmer isn't coming back with him to the Marriott Center.

The first-name-only phenom is done at BYU and Rose is left to rebuild his perennial NCAA tournament team in a way he hasn't had to do since he took over in 2005. The Cougars had won Mountain West titles before, but never had they relied so much on one player as they did the past two seasons.

Fredette dominated the ball and with good reason. He was instant offense. He was the face of the program -- and this past year, of the entire BYU athletic department and university as a whole.

Rose was courted by a few Big 12 schools during the coaching carousel but chose to stay put. And now with the Cougars headed to the West Coast Conference, he is faced with his toughest job yet.

Fredette isn't the only player he has to replace. Gone as well is Fredette's backcourt mate Jackson Emery.

"We had a really good backcourt," Rose said.

Whether or not the Cougars stay in contention with Gonzaga for the WCC regular-season title may rest on the decision by the university on whether or not to readmit forward Brandon Davies.

Davies was dismissed from the team in February after an honor code violation, which was reportedly for pre-marital sex. But the school allowed him to be a part of the team (sitting on the bench, cutting down the nets, etc.) throughout the rest of the regular season and in the postseason.

Davies, though, had to withdraw from school and will now re-apply for admission. But Rose said Davies won't know the answer until September. He plans to stay in his hometown of Provo, also the home of BYU, throughout the summer.

The 6-foot-9 forward has the potential to be a double-figure scorer, giving the Cougars a rising power in the post and an athleticism defensively they clearly lacked in March.

"Hopefully Brandon can get back in school and if that happens then we'll rely on our front line a lot," Rose said.

That front line took a hit when senior James Anderson decided against playing his senior season, but the Cougars still bring back Noah Hartsock inside, and if he can be more assertive in the post that will certainly make the Cougars more formidable.

Elsewhere, Charles Abouo will be counted on to be more of a scorer from the wing. But someone will have to set everyone up the way Fredette did.

Who will that be?

Rose said he'll lean on UCLA transfer Matt Carlino (eligible in mid-December), redshirt freshman Anson Winder and rising junior Brock Zylstra -- not exactly household names outside Provo.

And that's why the sleeper in the group who may come in and star is freshman DeMarcus Harrison out of Greenwood, S.C.

"We've got a group of guys coming in that will get opportunities, especially DeMarcus," Rose said. "He's got a chance to play major minutes at guard."

The Cougars will take a trip to Greece in August that should help them form a new identity. Davis can't go on the trip, though, since Rose won't know if he'll be on the team until the fall.

"That trip will be good for us since we'll learn who can play the major minutes without Jimmer," Rose said. "We're also adding a new coach [Mark Pope replaces new UNLV head coach Dave Rice]. We'll practice for 10 days, go on the road together and be ready for October. If Brandon is back, then our front line will score a lot of points for us. This will be a transition year for us."

A couple of other notes from the coaching world:

• New Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy said the previous staff did a tremendous job of keeping everyone eligible and on board. He said it was the smoothest transition he's ever had. The Aggies should be a top-25 team and a Big 12 contender next season. Kennedy made a solid hire in adding Memphis assistant Glynn Cyprien to his staff. Kennedy and Cyprien came into the business together and the new assistant is well-connected all over the country, but especially in the Southeast.

• Memphis coach Josh Pastner now has two openings on his staff after Willis Wilson left for the head-coaching job at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Pastner has talked to Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach Damon Stoudamire, who was in Chicago last week for the NBA draft combine. Stoudamire would be a home run hire. He has recruiting connections and would be a terrific model for players to learn from and earn their way to an NBA spot. He would help toughen up the players on the court while new strength and conditioning coach Frank Matrisciano would handle them off the court. It will be tough to pry Stoudamire from the NBA, but it would be quite a get for the Tigers if Pastner is able to pull it off.