ESPN Men's Basketball

Tom Crean has done his job.

He's prepped Cody Zeller and Christian Watford on their decisions to declare for the NBA draft or return to Indiana for what could be a national-title-chasing season in 2012-13.

And if one or both bolt, it won't crush Crean.

He has been through too much in four short seasons in Bloomington to be derailed by early-entry decisions.

Zeller and Watford may make a decision by the NCAA's early-entry deadline of Tuesday, or they could wait until the only date that really matters: the NBA's deadline of April 29.

Regardless, for the first time in more than a decade, the Hoosiers are as stable as any elite program in the country.

With Zeller and Watford returning, ESPN.com tabbed Indiana as the preseason No. 1 next season. If they don't return, the Hoosiers will drop in those rankings. But Crean could care less about the predictions. He's not worrying about what others project for his program.

Indiana reached the NCAA tournament for the first time under Crean and pushed eventual champion Kentucky in the Sweet 16, ultimately losing 102-90. The season was a huge success after IU gave the Wildcats their only regular-season loss in a thrilling last-second win in Assembly Hall and finished 11-7 in the Big Ten and 27-9 overall.

"Expectations mean nothing; what matters are what the players' goals are," said Crean. "It's cool [being picked No. 1], but it doesn't mean how hard our players will work in individuals.

"It's great for our fans; it's fantastic,'' Crean said of the top ranking. "It gives the players the ability to stick their chest out. But the onus is on them. We worked extremely hard in the offseason, and now we have to take it up a few notches.''

The Hoosiers were decimated by the Kelvin Sampson mess. Injuries took a toll on the program, too. But the recruitment of Zeller was a game changer.

And this past season, everything clicked. Indiana was so strong and deep that it survived an ACL injury to Verdell Jones III, the only major contributing senior on the team, during the Big Ten tournament.

The development of Jordan Hulls, Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey to complement the talented Zeller and Watford is a credit to the players' hard work and to the staff.

"We have a great staff, and we've got great competition inside the program,'' said Crean. "We have real competition. We couldn't withstand the injuries in Year 3. We weren't strong enough.''

Crean hasn't forgotten the people who lost faith in the program. He had to rehash the rebuilding process during his NCAA tournament news conferences. He lived it and talked about it, but now he's over it.

The Hoosiers have another stellar crop of players coming in as Crean follows one top recruiting class with another. The five-person class is led by point guard Yogi Ferrell, who should have an immediate impact. So, too, should power forward Hanner Mosquera-Perea.

Indiana being relevant in college basketball is good for the sport. There's no doubt having one of the nation's storied programs succeed helps ratings and overall interest in the sport.

Crean is at a point now that he has to be selective in his nonconference games.

He said he learned a lot from working for Tom Izzo at Michigan State, with the exception being that Crean won't add too many tough games to the schedule. That's why the annual Kentucky-Indiana series is in jeopardy.

Crean said he has talked to Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart and Wildcats coach John Calipari. The schools' two-year contract ended this past season.

Crean said he isn't sure if the Kentucky game will survive as a series, especially if Indiana begins a series next season with Kansas, which the two schools have discussed.

"We'll have to wait and see," he said. "We're not overscheduling. We're not playing Kentucky if we're playing Kansas.''

"There is interest [in an Indiana-Kansas series] on both sides, and the networks want to do it,'' Crean said.

The Hoosiers will play Butler at a neutral site in Indianapolis, and the Bulldogs are expected to be an NCAA tournament team with the arrival of Arkansas transfer Rotnei Clarke. Indiana is also in the Legends Classic with UCLA, Georgetown and Georgia. And Crean said he fully expects Indiana to draw one of the top teams in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge (that means either UNC or Duke).

"With the RPI in the Big Ten, we're not going to overschedule,'' Crean said. "With the Kentucky game, are we playing it on campus, neutral site or at all? Those are the three questions we've got to get figured out.''

For now, Crean will wait to see what Zeller and Watford decide.

"We've had adversity here, but it's how you respond that separates you,'' Crean said. "What this team learned was no matter what happens in life, you can overcome obstacles and perceptions. If you put in enough time, have enough faith in yourself, you'll get through a lot of things.

"Last Monday [after the Sweet 16 loss to Kentucky in Atlanta], I wasn't in the weight room, but our coaches were buzzing about the level [of intensity],'' Crean said. "We'll have individual workouts Tuesday and Wednesday this week, and we'll be back to advancing everybody's game.''

A Sweet 16 appearance elevates a program to the next level.

A Final Four moves it up another notch.

The matchups usually make the difference in getting this far. Talent -- and star power -- also play big roles.

There is a certain level of pressure for all coaches and programs. For some, it's self-induced. For others, it comes from a passionate fan base. Some programs need to reach the Final Four for the season to be considered a success. Some do not.

With that being said, here is our Final Four pressure-meter (1 feels the least amount of pressure and 10 feels the most):

Baylor (5): The men's team doesn't need to make a Final Four appearance. The women will take care of that, as they are the favorites to win the national title. But the men's team has the makeup to make this run a rare one. Few teams have length like the Bears do, and it's unlikely that Perry Jones III will stick around for a third season. The reason Baylor doesn't have as much pressure to reach the Final Four, even though it has the personnel to make it to New Orleans, is the bracket it's in. Kentucky could stand in the way of Baylor's potential first men's Final Four appearance. The Wildcats are the clear favorites, so expecting the Bears to advance to the Final Four from the South wouldn't be fair.

Cincinnati (3): Cincinnati has survived suspensions and a bumpy ride in the Big East. The Bearcats thrived at the end of the season and reached the conference title game. Mick Cronin and this crew have exceeded expectations by reaching the Sweet 16. Playing one of the favorites in Ohio State takes more pressure off the Bearcats. This ride now is all about extra credit for Cronin and Co.

Florida (4): The Gators won two national titles in consecutive seasons. It will be hard for any program to duplicate that -- ever again. Keeping a team together like the '04 class for the '06 and '07 titles will be extremely difficult to match unless the NBA draft rules change again. The Gators had an easier road to the Sweet 16 thanks to a depleted Virginia team and playing Norfolk State, which exhausted itself with the stunning upset over Missouri. But the Gators don't need to get to the Final Four. If Florida does reach New Orleans with this flawed group and its suspect inside game, it would be quite a feat. The Gators are the lowest remaining seed in the West, too. Expecting them to get past Marquette and possibly top seed Michigan State would be a bit much.

Indiana (3): Tom Crean has turned the corner in Bloomington. There was legitimate reason to be concerned last season. But Crean recruited exceptionally well, getting a star in Cody Zeller, and he got his players to believe they could win big-time games. The victory over Kentucky will resonate for some time. Reaching the Sweet 16 gives Crean even more credibility and respect in the state. However, for this team to get past Kentucky would be asking too much. No one should expect a win over the Wildcats again. To advance to the Elite Eight and the Final Four would be sensational accomplishments. Even though the fan base expects greatness, Indiana has already exceeded any expectations by getting this far.

Louisville (5): The Cardinals are the "pro" team in town. And like Kentucky, the expectations include Final Four appearances. But Louisville has gone through a slew of injuries, and there was no reason to believe it could maintain a high level of play throughout the season. Still, the Cards survived to reach the Sweet 16 and face top-seeded Michigan State. The most pressure may be felt in trying to keep up with rival Kentucky. The expectation is that the Wildcats will be in the Final Four, so why not join them and create even more frenzy in a hoops-crazed state?

Kansas (9): The Jayhawks have two of the top players at their positions in Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor. Kansas expects to compete for conference and national titles, regardless of personnel, every season. And while Bill Self had to deal with rotation players not being eligible, including top newcomer Ben McLemore, the Jayhawks still won the Big 12 regular-season title for the eighth straight time. Kansas survived against Purdue, but had it not been for a guard meltdown the Jayhawks may be idle right now. Instead, they have new life in the Midwest, thanks to NC State's Sweet 16 run and North Carolina potentially being without Kendall Marshall in the Elite Eight (if the Tar Heels get past Ohio). The pressure has ratcheted up for the Jayhawks. If Marshall is out for this weekend in St. Louis, the Jayhawks are the new favorites in the Midwest.

Kentucky (10): The Wildcats are the front-runners to win the national title, not just get to the Final Four. Let's be honest, anything less than a title would be a disappointment. No team in the Sweet 16 has as much pressure to get to the Final Four as Kentucky. The Wildcats have the most talent, the national player of the year in Anthony Davis, and plenty of other pro talent on the roster (Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb). Darius Miller also played in the Final Four last season. John Calipari has coached in three Final Fours. The Wildcats are playing a team that handed them their only regular-season loss. A possible matchup with Baylor is more than formidable. The Bears can match Kentucky's length and shooting, but Baylor's defense has never been its strong suit. The region still lays out well for Kentucky in SEC-rich Catlanta.

Marquette (6): The Golden Eagles play as hard, if not harder, than any other team in the field. Marquette's beat down of BYU in the second half and its ability to run past Murray State late were quite impressive. Now, the Eagles get a Florida team that it matches up well with since they can defend the 3-point shot. Marquette should be the favorite in this game and has the personnel and the toughness to beat Michigan State or Louisville. A Final Four isn't expected with this group, but now the bracket has opened up a bit with Missouri gone. A loss in the Elite Eight makes more sense, but there is some pressure for Marquette to advance with Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom leading the way. The Eagles have been to a Final Four with Dwyane Wade under Crean. A berth for Buzz Williams would raise his coaching profile.

Michigan State (8): The Spartans lost one of their key rotation players in Branden Dawson in the final regular-season game against Ohio State. But they won the Big Ten tournament title without him and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAAs. Draymond Green has been the most valuable player so far in the NCAA tournament and has a legit shot to lead the Spartans to another Final Four. Michigan State expects Final Fours under Tom Izzo, but this team certainly didn't look the part early in the season. It has matured into a title contender. And while the bracket is filled with potential hurdles, the Spartans have the pressure of being a top seed and the expectation of a Final Four appearance.

North Carolina (8): The Tar Heels would have had a 10 in this spot if Marshall didn't fracture his wrist against Creighton and have surgery on Monday. Now, the pressure of reaching the Final Four has dropped a few spots. North Carolina was as healthy as it had been in weeks at the start of the game with the Bluejays. But the Marshall injury makes the Tar Heels extremely vulnerable. Ohio is capable of pulling off another upset. And if the Tar Heels get past Ohio, a revenge-minded NC State team or title-contending Kansas awaits. The Tar Heels were built to win a title. That's why Harrison Barnes didn't opt for the NBA. Tyler Zeller had opportunities, as well. The roster is deep enough to absorb injuries to Leslie McDonald and Dexter Strickland. Let's see if it can take its worst hit and survive without Marshall or having him only on a limited basis. The expectations for a Final Four may have dropped outside of Chapel Hill, but it hasn't inside the Dean Smith Center. Carolina should expect to be in the Final Four yet again. It's just tougher with Marshall's injury and Kansas potentially looming.

NC State (2): The Wolfpack have far exceeded expectations under Mark Gottfried. NC State was the last team revealed on Selection Sunday. It had to be one of the last teams in the field prior to the four at-large teams that played in the First Four. NC State lost a 19-point lead at Duke, and the Wolfpack couldn't close out UNC in the ACC tournament. But they grinded out wins over San Diego State and Georgetown in their first two games of the tournament. This program has had low expectations for years. The Final Four would be gravy on what has already been deemed a highly successful season. The Wolfpack draw Kansas and if they somehow get past KU (not improbable), they could face a rematch with UNC. One can only imagine the scene in Raleigh if NC State, and not UNC, made the Final Four.

Ohio (1): The Bobcats are one of the tournament's great stories. Ohio played one of the more dramatic conference tournament title games when it knocked off Akron in thrilling fashion. The Bobcats got a decent seed at 13 and were matched up against a flawed Michigan squad. Ohio was aggressive and had the more experienced lead guard in D.J. Cooper (vs. the heralded Trey Burke) against the Wolverines. The Bobcats then faced a 12-seed in South Florida that couldn't score and was playing its third game of the tournament. Now, Ohio is playing with house money. The Bobcats have zero pressure in reaching the Final Four. Sure, they are facing a North Carolina team that will likely be sans Marshall. But to expect Ohio to win two more and get to the Final Four would be unfair. Ohio has already made its mark with this Sweet 16 appearance and coach John Groce can likely write his own ticket to a higher-paying job in the Big Ten if he chooses to do so.

Ohio State (9): The Buckeyes would have been a 1-seed if they had beaten Michigan State in the Big Ten title game. Jared Sullinger is healthy again, and the personnel hasn't changed. The Buckeyes possess some of the top players at their respective positions in Aaron Craft (top on-ball defender), William Buford (elite shooter) and Deshaun Thomas (a tough matchup as a face-up forward). Ohio State drew an instate rival in Cincinnati. The Bearcats will muck up the game and challenge everything. The top part of the bracket would be just as difficult with either a lock-down defensive team in Wisconsin or an up-and-down transition squad with a pesky zone in top seed Syracuse. But the Orange don't have Fab Melo, so if you were to re-rank the East bracket, the Buckeyes would have to be the favorites. That puts more pressure on Ohio State, and with Sullinger possibly leaving for the NBA, the window to reach the Final Four is now.

Syracuse (9): The Orange were built for a Final Four run. No team had players coming off the bench like Dion Waiters, C.J. Fair and Michael Carter-Williams. Fair is starting now, but the overall depth is still impressive. Melo's ineligibility knocks the Orange down from a 10. The expectation was Final Four or bust since they started showing their dominance during the Big East season. Syracuse has tremendous versatility with Scoop Jardine, Brandon Triche and Kris Joseph all able to make key shots. The Orange weren't tested by Kansas State after surviving a scare from UNC Asheville. The expectation is that it should beat Wisconsin and play against Ohio State. Syracuse may not be projected to beat the Buckeyes in a possible Elite Eight matchup now, sans Melo, but the pressure is there to get to a Final Four with a group that won't be together next season.

Wisconsin (4): Bo Ryan has never reached the Final Four. But he has had better teams projected to go farther. This squad has improved more than any of the previous teams he's coached at Wisconsin. The Badgers lost three early-season home games, and that rattled their confidence. But it didn't take away their resolve. Wisconsin found its shooting stroke, maintained its defensive intensity and got star-level play out of a role player in Ryan Evans. Jordan Taylor is still the leader and will take -- and make -- the big shots. The Badgers were the more polished team in wins over Montana and Vanderbilt. The expectation to knock off Syracuse isn't high. But if that occurs, then a team they already beat -- Ohio State -- could be standing in their way. The Badgers' last Final Four appearance was in 2000. The fan base is hungry for another run, but it doesn't need one. Ryan would like one, but he knows this may not be his best shot. Still, it's plausible in the current bracket.

Xavier (3): The Musketeers may not have been here had it not been for an A-10 title game appearance. Xavier had to mount a season-long repair project to get to this point. And it worked. Coach Chris Mack deserves as much credit for this run as the criticism he took for the way he initially handled the post-brawl situation. He matured as a coach during the season, dealt with his own knee injury and clearly got his lead guards, notably Tu Holloway, to refocus on the task at hand. Xavier survived Notre Dame by playing smarter than the Irish. It showed more moxie than Lehigh in finishing with a strong kick. No one is expecting Xavier to make the Final Four, even those that projected the Musketeers to do so in November. But Baylor is beatable. Taking down Kentucky would be quite a feat. The pressure is low. Xavier has already exceeded the expectations of a team that once had Final Four aspirations but didn't play that way for most of the Atlantic 10 season. Now that it's two wins away, the pressure is even lower. Xavier has already done well to finish the season on a high.

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

Virginia got its must win Tuesday night against Michigan in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. It may be the Cavaliers' only quality nonconference win this season.

No team that's playing Wednesday in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge is on equal footing with the must-win needs of Virginia.

But the winner of the Indiana-North Carolina State game certainly could gain momentum and be taken a bit more seriously. Yes, that statement was written about two programs that have been stuck in neutral for years.

But Indiana is starting to look as if it has turned the corner under coach Tom Crean, at least it looks as though that's the case early this season. The Hoosiers are winning games they should, including a victory over once-mighty Butler, which is going through a rebuilding process. They aren't having problems scoring and are defending well, limiting Gardner-Webb to 49 points and Butler to 59.

Indiana won at Evansville, so the Hoosiers have played on the road. They still get Kentucky at home and play a rivalry game against depleted Notre Dame in Conseco Fieldhouse. If Indiana beats NC State, there is a strong possibility the Hoosiers could go into the Big Ten season with just one loss, setting themselves up for a decent Big Ten record and joining the bubble teams for the NCAA tournament.

Too far ahead? Yes. But not unlikely in a conference that has plenty of beatable teams at the bottom (Iowa and Penn State) and a few middling teams (Minnesota and Nebraska). More importantly, the depth of the league will provide a chance for quality wins if Illinois, Northwestern and Purdue continue to play well and the top four -- Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan and Michigan State-- perform as expected. "For the first time, we have depth,'' said Indiana assistant Steve McClain from Raleigh, N.C., in advance of Wednesday's game against NC State. "Our veteran guys have improved. Victor [Oladipo] and Will [Sheehey] have made improvements from freshman to sophomore year and Cody [Zeller] gives us something in the middle for us that we haven't had. It's been a natural process.''

The Hoosiers have created a defensive identity, and they have had a variety of scorers. But this stretch will prove whether Indiana is to be taken seriously as a possible NCAA team.

"We'll see how they grow through this time,'' McClain said. "There's no question that these are going to be hard games. We've still got a long way to go. But this is a good stretch for us to show how we can continue to grow.''

NC State coach Mark Gottfried took over a program from Sidney Lowe that had talent. Lowe's recruiting was never an issue. C.J. Leslie was one of the top recruits in the country. And, after a three-game NCAA suspension, he has settled into being a leader on this team, averaging 16.7 points a game. Richard Howell, Lorenzo Brown, Scott Wood, DeShawn Painter, C.J. Williams and Alex Johnson are more than capable scorers.

This team is a bit wild and undisciplined at times, but it found a way to beat Texas after falling behind by 18 points in the second half in New Jersey, and it nearly upset Vanderbilt. The Wolfpack still have a daunting slate of games, including a road matchup at suddenly surging Stanford on Sunday. They also host No. 3 Syracuse on Dec. 17, visit a top-five A-10 team in St. Bonaventure in Rochester on Dec. 20 and host Northeastern -- which crushed St. John's -- on Dec. 22.

That's why winning this game against Indiana will be crucial to the overall growth, power rating and perception of the Wolfpack. "I like how we're scrapping,'' Gottfried said. "This is [Crean's] best team at Indiana. He's in his fourth year, but I'm in my fourth week of rebuilding.''

Gottfried hasn't started Leslie since his return, hoping to continue a message that he needs him off the bench and in line. And it's working for him.

"His attitude has been really good,'' Gottfried said. "He comes into the game and gives us a big lift. He told me that whatever we want, he's good.''

Wisconsin-North Carolina will get Wednesday's headline.

But Indiana-NC State is the most intriguing matchup of the day.

"This is a good opportunity for our team,'' Gottfried said. "We've got Stanford, Syracuse, St. Bonaventure and Northeastern coming up. We need to win some of them.''

At this time last year, Ben Hansbrough's name didn't appear on the Wooden Award preseason watch list.

Five months later, he edged out Connecticut's Kemba Walker for Big East Player of the Year.

Using that as a backdrop, let's remember that the list of 50 Wooden nominees is flawed, much like any of the award lists. The Wooden Award does not allow its voters to nominate any freshmen or transfers (either four-year or junior college) on their ballots.

And with college basketball as loaded with talent as any year since 2007-08, narrowing it down to 50 is not easy. So below I've attempted to come up with the names that didn't make it, either as "just missed the cut" omissions or just because they're freshmen or transfers. These guys aren't on the list (which can be found here), but might show up when it's updated during the season.

This group is by no means definitive, either. There's no telling who else might emerge nationally as the games get under way.

Let's take a look …

The omissions (in alphabetical order):

Julian Boyd, Long Island: The Blackbirds are the favorite again in the Northeast Conference and the main reason is because Boyd is back and ready to dominate the stat sheet.

D.J. Cooper, Ohio: The diminutive point guard does a little bit of everything; he averaged 15.8 ppg, 7.5 apg and 5.0 rpg for the Bobcats last season.

Jared Cunningham, Oregon State: Cunningham has some of the best hops in the sport and a chance to be a Pac-12 star, allowing the Beavers to finally move up in the standings this season.

Seth Curry, Duke: Curry was a standout shooter for the Blue Devils on their trip to China and could be one of the top scorers on the team.

Brandon Davies, BYU: Davies was recently reinstated to the Cougars, and the offense is expected to flow through him inside and out as BYU mounts a campaign to win the WCC in its first year in the league.

Matthew Dellavedova, Saint Mary's: SMC coach Randy Bennett envisions this as one of the best teams he's ever had, but a lot of that will have to do with whether Dellavedova can shoot like Mickey McConnell did last season.

Greg Echenique, Creighton: Echenique was a rebounding force for Venezuela this summer and should do even more for the Bluejays with a full season to work with.

TyShwan Edmondson, Austin Peay: The Governors should be the favorite in the Ohio Valley with a legit scorer like Edmondson, who has a strong man, Will Triggs, to take pressure off him.

Kyle Fogg, Arizona: Fogg is next in line to assume a leadership position for the Wildcats, who are in a position to compete for Pac-12 titles for years to come.

Kevin Foster, Santa Clara: As a sophomore, Foster sort of came out of nowhere to average 20.2 ppg and become one of the nation's top 3-point shooters.

Chris Gaston, Fordham: The Rams aren't any good, but the nation's leading returning rebounder (11.3 rpg) at least deserves a shout-out in this space.

Yancy Gates, Cincinnati: UC coach Mick Cronin said he'd be surprised if Gates wasn't one of the 10 names on the Big East preseason first team.

Malcolm Grant, Miami (Fla.): The Hurricanes have to play most of the season without big man Reggie Johnson, so Grant will have more opportunities to shine.

Rob Jones, Saint Mary's: Jones could be a double-double regular for the Gaels, and for Saint Mary's to win the WCC, Jones will have to be a star.

Doron Lamb, Kentucky: John Calipari says Lamb will be the Wildcats' best player. Just Coach Cal mind games, or the truth?

Meyers Leonard, Illinois: Leonard didn't contribute a whole lot as a freshman, but he was a hidden gem on the U.S. U-19 team in Latvia this summer. The Illini are expecting big things out of him.

C.J. McCollum, Lehigh: McCollum is the nation's leading returning scorer (21.8 ppg) and is in the top five in steals (2.5 spg). Oh, and he did that as a freshman. What more do you need to know?

Cameron Moore, UAB: The Blazers have been consistently good under Mike Davis and have had unheralded C-USA stars. Moore is the latest.

Toure' Murry, Wichita State: If the Shockers win the Missouri Valley over Creighton, a lot of the credit will end up going to the veteran Murry.

Brandon Paul, Illinois: Illini coach Bruce Weber was a bit surprised Paul didn't crack the top 50 on the Wooden list, given his overall importance to this team.

Ryan Pearson, George Mason: The Patriots are a trendy pick for the Top 25 and a lot of that has to do with the versatility of Pearson.

Damier Pitts, Marshall: The Thundering Herd are a real sleeper to gain an NCAA tourney berth out of Conference USA in large part because of Pitts.

Herb Pope, Seton Hall: Pope has come back from multiple life-threatening situations and has a real shot as a senior to put it all together and finally shine.

Terrence Ross, Washington: The Huskies can't be dismissed as a major player for the Pac-12 title, and if they win it, Ross will be a significant reason why.

Robert Sacre, Gonzaga: Sacre has matured into a solid post player, and that progress shows no signs of stopping as the Zags once again compete for the West Coast title.

Mike Scott, Virginia: If the sleeper Cavs mount a run to the NCAA tournament, the oft-injured Scott will be the reason why.

Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State: If Sidney is in shape and plays up to his potential, he has SEC Player of the Year potential and could be the difference between the Bulldogs making the NCAAs or NIT.

Andrew Smith, Butler: The Bulldogs will have fewer stars this season, but Smith has a chance to outshine Khyle Marshall and newcomer Roosevelt Jones with his scoring prowess in the post.

Chace Stanback, UNLV: Stanback's suspension to start the season is only one game, so that won't diminish his ability to lead the Rebels in their hunt for a Mountain West title.

Raymond Taylor, Florida Atlantic: FAU quietly won the Sun Belt East Division last season and Mike Jarvis' diminutive point guard was the catalyst behind the regular-season championship.

Hollis Thompson, Georgetown: If the Hoyas are to make the NCAA tournament again and be a pest in the upper half of the Big East, then Thompson needs a breakout season.

Kyle Weems, Missouri State: Doug McDermott is the one everyone is talking about in the Valley, but let's not forget that Weems is the reigning MVC Player of the Year. Too bad for the Bears he's their only returning starter.

Kendall Williams, New Mexico: The sophomore guard was the leading scorer in four postseason NIT games for the Lobos and should only get better with the addition of Australian Hugh Greenwood.

The transfers

Dewayne Dedmon, USC: Trojans coach Kevin O'Neill firmly believes this JC transfer is an NBA talent who could dominate the post and average a double-double for SC.

Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State: The former UTEP big man is ready to have a bust-out season for a team that has serious bounce-back potential after a disappointing 2010-11 campaign.

Mike Rosario, Florida: The former Rutgers scoring guard finally has plenty of support around him and will put up numbers for a winner.

Rakim Sanders, Fairfield: The Boston College transfer should flourish after dropping down a level, and he should get coach Sydney Johnson another trip to the NCAA tourney. Johnson is beginning his first year at Fairfield after leading Princeton to the 2011 tourney.

Royce White, Iowa State: White is finally ready to be a star on the college scene after multiple transgressions at Minnesota.

Brandon Wood, Michigan State: The Spartans picked up a rare senior transfer (taking advantage of the graduate transfer rule) from Valparaiso who could be one of the best shooters in the Big Ten.

Tony Woods, Oregon: The embattled Woods arrived from Wake Forest after legal issues and has a chance to really shine as a double-double player for the first time in his career.

The freshmen

Bradley Beal, Florida: Beal has a chance to be a productive player in a frontcourt that has a vacuum after multiple seniors departed.

Gary Bell Jr., Gonzaga: Coach Mark Few has been anticipating Bell's arrival for over a year now. He's expected to step in and deliver right away.

Wayne Blackshear, Louisville: The Cardinals fancy themselves a Big East title contender, and that's partly because they consider Blackshear a star in the making.

Jabari Brown, Oregon: Brown was the star of the Ducks' trip to Italy with his scoring prowess, and expect that to continue in the Pac-12.

Jahii Carson, Arizona State: There is some question right now as to Carson's eligibility, but if he's good to go, the Sun Devils might become relevant in the Pac-12 again.

Erik Copes, George Mason: Copes was bound for George Washington before Karl Hobbs was fired; now he'll be a headline performer for the Patriots and first-year coach Paul Hewitt.

Anthony Davis, Kentucky: Davis has a chance to be the SEC Player of the Year and the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, so expect him to be on the midseason list when freshmen are allowed.

Andre Drummond, Connecticut: He will be an immediate star and help lift the Huskies into the national title chase again. He's more than likely a future top-five pick in the NBA.

Myck Kabongo, Texas: Coach Rick Barnes has had quite a bit of success with big-time freshmen guards, and Kabongo is next in line.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky: Gilchrist will be another star on what will be a headline team throughout the season.

Johnny O'Bryant, LSU: Coach Trent Johnson needs the Tigers to start trending upward again, and he has a shot with the arrival of the big man from Mississippi.

LeBryan Nash, Oklahoma State: OSU is a bit of a mystery team in the Big 12, but the All-American from Dallas could push the Cowboys into contention.

Austin Rivers, Duke: Rivers will have the ball in his hands quite a bit and appears to be the next Duke star in a lengthy list of recognizable names.

Josiah Turner, Arizona: The Wildcats will win the Pac-12 regular-season title if Turner is as good as advertised.

Cody Zeller, Indiana: If coach Tom Crean is going to turn the Hoosiers into a relevant team this season, it will be because of Zeller and his impact in the Big Ten.

LAS VEGAS -- For a few stretches Thursday night, Northern Iowa had found its stroke like it was March of 2010 yet again, taking down a team of higher stature.

Last March, UNLV and top-ranked Kansas fell victim to the Panthers, before Michigan State clipped them in the Sweet 16. The daring 3-point shot by Ali Farokhmanesh that was one of the shots of the NCAA tournament to ice a win over Kansas, the play of Jordan Eglseder and Adam Koch inside and out were memories that will live in Panther lore.

But the Panthers are quickly proving that this is no longer just the team Ben Jacobson built on the heels of Greg McDermott's initial startup.

Northern Iowa has a program, and the pieces are in play for the Panthers to be in the thick of the Missouri Valley Conference race and once again potential NCAA tournament pests.

With Koch watching in the stands at the Orleans Arena, the Panthers won the Las Vegas Classic on Thursday with a 66-60 win over New Mexico. Koch's brother Jake, a sophomore, made a 3-pointer and got to the line nine times, making all nine. Junior Johnny Moran made a few crushing 3s, but the new Farokhmanesh on this squad is sophomore Anthony James, who made three 3s, finished with 23 points and had an answer every time the Lobos pushed back.

The two returning starters from Northern Iowa's most memorable team -- Kwadzo Ahelegbe and Lucas O'Rear -- are still the role players they've been, and they had their moments.

But this team's moxie will come from making 3s offensively and, of course, locking up teams defensively.

Northern Iowa enters Monday's Valley opener against Missouri State as a real threat, with the Bears and favorite Wichita State, to win the conference title. Sure, scoring 39 points in a loss to Iowa was a lowlight this season. Falling by two at Milwaukee and losing by 22 at Syracuse in the opener wasn't a stunner. But beating Iowa State at home, TCU on the road and then coming to Las Vegas and sweeping Indiana and New Mexico shows this younger team has a chance to develop into an NCAA team with a run in the Valley once again.

"These guys are now feeling like it's their team," Jacobson said. "I think our guys are at a point right now where they expect to win when they walk out there, regardless of who they are playing against."

Jacobson, like Butler's Brad Stevens, was a hot name in March but decided to stay put. He did so because he loves what he has helped build and wanted to see it come to fruition. So far, it appears there's a carryover.

• New Mexico hasn't had the pub of San Diego State, BYU or UNLV so far in the Mountain West. And there is a reason. Last season's Mountain West regular-season champs took some offseason hits with Ramon Martinez finishing his eligibility and Darington Hobson declaring abruptly for the NBA draft.

And of course the Lobos' schedule so far this season hasn't been comparable. There is hope that this squad can be a real contender in the MWC and for an NCAA bid, but there is also concern once again for a key interior player.

Emmanuel Negedu, who had a defibrillator put in his chest after he collapsed during a workout at Tennessee, is officially "under the weather," Lobos officials said. Negedu said after the loss to Northern Iowa that he would be back. But New Mexico coach Steve Alford said Negedu would meet with doctors Monday.

Negedu wasn't cleared to play at Tennessee or at Indiana, his first choice after he decided to leave the Vols. So far this season Negedu had played in 10 games, averaging 4.7 points and 5.4 rebounds off the bench. He didn't play against Colorado or Northern Iowa.

Sources within the New Mexico program said they won't ever chance anything with Negedu if he's not feeling well and will proceed with caution. On the court, Negedu's absence does hurt the Lobos, especially with UCLA transfer Drew Gordon still largely ineffective due to a knee injury.

Gordon, who has played in three games, is averaging nine points and four rebounds but was 3-of-10 against the Panthers. UNM has a developing MWC star inside in A.J. Hardeman, who knows the role of putback specialist and post option quite well. Hardeman scored 16 points and grabbed seven boards in the loss. And Alex Kirk is a serviceable big man, but the Lobos are thin in the post when foul trouble exists (Hardeman and Gordon fouled out) without Negedu. They also need his rebounding.

"I'm feeling good, but I'm rusty as all get out," Gordon said. "It's tough coming back here and everyone is in full swing. My touch is a little off and I'm not crashing the glass as I'd like. I'm hesitant with the knee. I've got to progress better."

The Lobos have a stud in Vinnie Johnson-like guard Dairese Gary, but he can over-penetrate (six turnovers) and tries to do too much sometimes. The good news for the Lobos is that freshman Kendall Williams has the look of being a headliner for the Lobos. He's second on the team in scoring at a dozen a game, plays with confidence and can get his own shot. If Phillip McDonald can be more consistent on 3s (30.2 percent), the Lobos have a shot to be a factor in the MWC race.

But you'll know more about this team if UNM can survive two winnable road games at Texas Tech (Wednesday) and at Dayton on New Year's Day.

"We just won eight in a row, and we're learning," Alford said. "We had a bad second half against Cal [a 89-64 loss] and a bad start here [down 13 in the first half against UNI]. But I'm pleased. We beat a Colorado team from start to finish. I'm happy with our start. We'll have plenty of chances [in the MWC]."

• Colorado has had an odd season so far. The Buffaloes, a trendy pick to be a top-six finisher in their final year in the Big 12, lost at Georgia by nine, at San Francisco by two in overtime and by 16 at Harvard. Yet Colorado -- which boasts two players of intrigue for NBA draft personnel in Cory Higgins and Alec Burks -- blew out Oregon State in a game in which it looked like it could take on anyone. The win over Colorado State in overtime, the 13-point home loss to the Lobos and a nine-point win over Indiana continue to show the inconsistency.

So what's it going to be for this squad?

"I feel good; I know we've been up and down, but we established a team effort," Higgins said. "We were too many individuals, but now we're together and I'm encouraged we're heading in the right direction. We haven't lost sight of our goal."

Higgins said it took a while for the Buffaloes to get used to coach Tad Boyle after playing for Jeff Bzdelik last season.

"We're finally on the same page," Higgins said. "We've got a way to go, but we're aggressive now."

The Buffs don't have enough for an at-large profile unless they win a number of key games against the Big 12 elite. You'll know early in the conference season with a three-game stretch of Missouri (Jan. 8), at Kansas State (Jan. 12) and Oklahoma State (Jan. 15).

"We kept our poise and made plays when our backs were against the wall," Boyle said. "The challenge for us is consistency. We need Cory and Marcus [Relphorde] to play well and Alec to play well. We can't have nights when those two or three guys don't play well for us to be good."

Boyle said the win over Indiana stabilizes the Buffaloes and gives them the momentum needed heading into the Big 12.

When was the last time a head coach actually got a recruit based on a phone conversation?

"Kids say coaches say the same thing and a lot of coaches say kids say the same things," Xavier coach Chris Mack said. "You get a recruit on campus and they see who you are, who your staff is and what your program is about. I'm not sure how a couple of extra phone calls are going to seal the deal in my opinion. With all the restrictions on phone calls, there's only so much you can do."

And that's why when more revelations come out about how many impermissible phone calls are being made by coaches, it makes you wonder -- why? Isn't there another way for a player to get to know who a coach is and what he's about?

Really, how much can a coach, who could be some 20 to 30 to 40 years older than the player he's recruiting, really discuss over the phone with a 16- or 17-year-old kid?

With so many NCAA restrictions on these conversations and the elimination of texting, some coaches are finding a new medium to show their personalities. Mack and Arizona State's Herb Sendek have become two of the best at expressing themselves on Twitter.

Coaches can't direct messages at a recruit, but they know very well that recruits who are following them can view the tweets.

And believe it or not, a coach's personality can come through in 140 or fewer characters.

Want an example? On Thursday afternoon, CoachChrisMack tweeted the following:

"Cool Coach Mack always pulling up to open gyms in his 4 Runner. Nevermind the 2 car seats in the back, along w the sippy cups and crumbs."

Mack also has no hesitation in airing his random thoughts on just about any topic.

"Never understood the idea of bathroom attendants at fancy restaurants. Seems strange …"

"Why does the automated lady on cell phone voice mail greetings tell you that you can hang up when you're finished? Do people not know that??"

There is a Larry David element to Mack's tweets that may fly with some recruits and may not with others, but certainly there's a chance that parents or guardians could relate.

"You can see who has an assistant tweeting for them and who doesn't," Mack said. "There are no secrets anymore. You go into a workout in the gym and that kid is going to tweet about you as soon as you walk out. You better not go back the next day because that will be tweeted too.

"Twitter can be dangerous. But I like to use it in a lighthearted way, showing the strengths of our program and express who I am and what I'm about. I don't want to be a bulletin board for Xavier basketball on every tweet. I'm more than that and I want the kids I'm recruiting to know that I'm a dad, a husband and a real person and that if you send your kid here, it will be a great experience."

Coaches like Kentucky's John Calipari and Indiana's Tom Crean were two of the very first to latch on to Twitter and they've both used the medium to show their interests and views on a variety of topics. Recently, Crean even expressed his displeasure over the NFL's fining of his brother-in-law, head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. Tweets written by UKCoachCalipari are read by more than 1.1 million "followers" and are tracked breathlessly in Bluegrass Country.

As for Sendek, he has a dry wit and more of a low-key personality. He was dwarfed in the Triangle by Duke and North Carolina when he was at NC State, so trying to stand out in that area was almost impossible. Now he's at Arizona State, where getting support for the Sun Devils' basketball program in a pro sports town is even tougher.

So Sendek was pushed by ASU sports information director Doug Tammaro to get his quick wit onto the web. That has led to HerbSendek sending out thoughts like: "Do u stick ur big toe in the water to check the temperature or just do the cannonball and jump right in?" or "At Olive Garden, Love their salad!" or "My daughter, Catherine, just cut my hair. Looking real good. Watch out, Brad Pitt."

Are those the kind of thoughts that will directly influence a recruit? Of course not. But what about tweets like this: "Dad was math teacher and coach. Mom was a nurse. Dad always let me tag along. Mom stopped working to raise kids. Blessed w/great childhood."

Or these: "Growing up, on Sundays we would listen to polka music on the radio. To help stay connected, I have some polkas on my ipod." … "Both my grandfathers were coal miners. A hard life. Calls to mind Chinese proverb … When u drink the water, remember who dug the well."

In a few quick tweets, you might have learned more about Sendek's personality and background than you would have in a few contrived phone conversations.

Make no mistake: This is a recruiting tool.

Such as when Sendek tweets: "I just found out that James Harden, jHARD13, has over 30,000 follows on Twitter. Is it the beard?" or "I have been working on special situations for the upcoming season. Love to study the game. Always more to learn."

"I'm just trying to drive traffic for Sun Devil basketball," Sendek said. "I'm trying to generate interest in the program. It is a noninvasive way for recruits to plug in, too."

Sendek said he thinks his personality does come across on the phone, but that expressing himself on Twitter has allowed recruits and their family members to see even more of who he is.

"There are so many ways now to get to know the whole person better," Sendek said. "It's an opportunity to learn more about the person and the family to share your vision of the program. There are only so many times you can talk to someone on the phone. I think if we were to call every day that would run the risk of turning someone off anyway."

And that's why for Mack, Sendek and others, using Twitter in a lighthearted, personal way works for them and ultimately has allowed those following them -- whether they're fans or recruits -- to get to know the coaches even better in a less intrusive, NCAA-permitted way.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said after announcing the new divisional alignment for football that he didn't see a need for two divisions in men's basketball.

The coaches apparently agree.

If the athletic directors are on the same side during the annual league meetings in May, then the Big Ten will have one 12-team block in 2011-12 when Nebraska joins the league.

There also seems to be a consensus building for the league to stay at 18 conference games, with a rotation of the seven teams that would be played twice.

Television partners -- ESPN , CBS and the Big Ten Network -- would probably agree, giving the league two more quality games rather than dropping down to 16. Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan would actually like to see the Big Ten go to 20 league games, although that would seem unlikely.

"I want to see as many Big Ten games as possible,'" said Ryan. "In basketball, you can't say there are rivals with one team, like there are with football. The reason we should have more league games is the nightmare we all go through in scheduling. I don't want to drop down from 18 if we can't get 20."

Illinois coach Bruce Weber said when the coaches met with Delany in May, they were told at some point there would be at least one additional team (this was prior to the invitation to Nebraska), and to expect some scheduling changes. Weber said he expects the networks would want quality games and that "there's a better chance for 20 than 16. The cost of guaranteed games continues to go up so much."

Weber was referencing the price gouging that goes on with some teams requesting big pay days to play at a high-major venue without a return.

Indiana coach Tom Crean might be in the minority when he said he'd like to see the league go to 16 games until every other major conference moves to 18 games. The Big East and the Pac-10 are the only other major conferences that play 18 conference games. But that could change in 2011-12 when the Pac-10 becomes the Pac-12 (if Colorado gets out of its Big 12 agreement early to join Utah after this season).

Nebraska coach Doc Sadler, who is about to start his last season in the Big 12 before joining the Big Ten, said he anticipates the Big Ten staying at 18 league games, as well. "Hope it's not 20,'' said Sadler.

The one thing all of them agree on is staying with one division in men's basketball, as Delany spelled out.

The SEC plays in two divisions in men's basketball, yet it probably would be more equitable if the league scrapped that plan and went with one division. The imbalance of the SEC East and West makes the SEC tournament unfair since it gives equal weight to a winner of the weaker West.

The Big 12 uses a football scheduling format divided by divisions for men's basketball, but the conference standings rank teams 1-12 instead of by division.

Weber, Ryan and Crean all say the schedule should include a rotation of the repeat games, whether that's five or seven depending on a 16- or 18-game schedule.

"We can just rotate it every two years,'" Weber said.

"We're fine with one division,'' Ryan said. "Rotating the games is not a big issue, not as much as some people like to make it. We don't have to go to two divisions.''

If the football divisional alignment were moved to basketball it would create a major imbalance based on recent success. Wisconsin would be on the same side as fellow Big Ten contenders Ohio State, Purdue and Illinois and tradition-rich Indiana. Penn State is the other member of the football division. Can you imagine five of those six teams playing each other twice every year and the other side just once? How unfair would that be for Penn State? Conversely, based on recent success, Michigan State would appear to have a sizable advantage with two games each against Michigan, Iowa, Northwestern and Nebraska. Minnesota is the other team in the division, and the one team outside of the Spartans which appears to be a regular NCAA team for the foreseeable future.

Ryan said it may not be fair to base the current success on assessing these football divisions and applying them to basketball because "you can go from 10 to second place in a hurry with a few guys.'' Still, Ryan isn't in favor of the divisional setup. No one is and that's why it would be highly unlikely to see two divisions in men's basketball. Coaches don't always get their way, as we saw in the Big East when the coaches didn't want the double bye in the conference tournament again, only to see it be continued. In the end, there is no consensus for anything but a schedule that is likely 18 games and as equitable as it can be with 12 teams.

• BYU coach Dave Rose said one of the first things he did when the Cougars announced this week that they were joining the West Coast Conference in all sports, save football, was call recruits.

"The one thing [the recruits] all had in common was that they knew about the WCC,'' Rose said. "Everyone has seen the games. They've watched that tournament on the Monday night of Championship Week.'"

Rose went on to describe what his program will do to be successful in the new conference.

"We're just trying to figure out where we'll fit in the league and use Gonzaga as a model for how they schedule,'' Rose said. "Gonzaga has created a real national program the past 10 years and that's something we'll want to do.''

Rose and Mark Few have struck up a friendship over the years with Rose spending time at Mark and Marcy Few's Coaches vs. Cancer event in Spokane. The relationship hasn't resulted in the two teams agreeing to a home-and-home series, but the WCC membership guarantees the matchup. Those games are something Few said will only enhance the Zags. He said he grew tired of critics saying the Zags won a "bad league" over the years and believes that the addition of BYU will bolster the league's reputation.

The one aspect of Gonzaga's scheduling that Rose hopes to emulate is getting BYU into more marquee nonconference tournaments. Gonzaga has been in just about all of them and is one of the headline teams in the CBE Classic this year in Kansas City. BYU has chosen to go to more underpublicized events. Some of the events, though, like the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, the Puerto Rico Tip Off and the 76 Classic in Anaheim are off limits for BYU because the last day of the event is held on Sunday, which is not allowed to be a competitive day for the Cougars' sports teams because of religious observation.

Rose said he has already spoken to Utah coach Jim Boylen and the two have agreed to continue the rivalry every season, alternating home-road sites.

"We'll keep the Utah State series too and then add a home-and-home with Gonzaga and a home-and-home with Saint Mary's," Rose said. "That upgrades our schedule right there and is a chance to increase our RPI. We've been pretty good in a regional situation within the footprint of the MWC and the TV agreement we've had, but we want to expand it more and have more of a national program, which is what the football team is doing."

BYU's schedule is more challenging this season with a game against UCLA in the Wooden Classic in Anaheim, at Creighton (part of the MWC/MVC Challenge), possibly tough neutral site games (if these teams are better than projected) against South Florida and then either Saint Mary's or Texas Tech in South Padre Island, Texas; Arizona in Salt Lake City and UTEP at home. Having Fresno State (home) and a rebuilding Hawaii (Salt Lake City) isn't awful, either, on the home slate. The conference games this season against San Diego State, UNLV and New Mexico, all possible NCAA teams, certainly add up to a likely strong power rating. The key will be for Saint Mary's and/or Portland to be consistently good enough to warrant comparisons to teams like UNLV and possible UNM or SDSU, which are just now looking like regular postseason teams.

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe is one of the 10 members of the NCAA tournament selection committee and was on the inside of the decision-making process that led to the change from a 65- to a 68-team field, despite the assumption nationally that the 96-team format was a done deal.

On Sunday night, Beebe emphasized that difference between perception and reality as he deals with the swirling rumors that his conference will implode after getting raided by the Big Ten and the Pac-10.

And that's why we need some perspective here before the assumption is made that the entire current format will be thrown into chaos with a land grab by the Big Ten and Pac-10.

Based on discussions Sunday night with a number of high-ranking sources throughout the NCAA (including those who have been in some of the direct talks on these topics during the past decade), here is some relevant information on the various possibilities:

• If the Big Ten can persuade Notre Dame to join the league, the expansion discussion is over. The Big Ten doesn't need anyone else but the Irish to accomplish its goal of increasing its value. The networks have lined up to get the Irish deal from NBC, and adding ND would enhance the Big Ten television property. All conference television contracts have a clause that they are subject to change if there is a membership change, meaning they can be worth more money (with Notre Dame) or less (if, say, the ACC were to lose members even after doubling its current deal).

• Being in the Association of American Universities is a major deal for the academic side of Notre Dame. If the Irish could be assured that they would get an 11-vote bloc of Big Ten schools to usher in Notre Dame as a member, that could sway the Irish hierarchy to move toward the Big Ten. If the Irish have no shot at the AAU, that could be a deciding factor against their joining the Big Ten. Getting into the AAU makes a Big Ten acceptance a lot easier.

• Romancing Notre Dame has been going on since the 1920s. The timing has to be right. There will be a critical mass of alumni who will want to remain as a football independent. For every other sport, being in the Big Ten makes more sense than the Big East, although this isn't a decision about the rest of them.

• Notre Dame wouldn't want to be one of five additions to the Big Ten. The Irish won't want their addition to be devalued.

• Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick have a longstanding relationship. Swarbrick was instrumental in bringing Big Ten championship games to Indianapolis while working in Indiana with the sports commission.

• Delaney won't get burned here. He's considered one of the most savvy and shrewdest negotiators in college athletics. He's not going to issue an invitation and get turned down.

• If Notre Dame were to join the Big Ten, the rest of the chatter would halt. The Big East could bump up Villanova football to FBS to avoid expansion, or it could add a member to stay at 16.

• If Notre Dame is the only grab by the Big Ten, there is no need to toy with Missouri and Nebraska.

• That means the ultimatum doesn't make any sense. Why would the Big 12 tell Missouri and Nebraska they have to be in or else? What's the consequence? The Big 12 isn't going to boot them out of the league. If they don't get an invite to the Big Ten, the chances are that nothing happens to the Big 12.

• The Longhorns won't do anything that won't benefit Texas. They don't want to leave unless they have to get out. Texas enjoys being the deal-maker in the Big 12 rather than just another school, albeit an important one, in the Pac-10 or even the Big Ten.

• Pac-10 presidents gave commissioner Larry Scott the go-ahead to look at expansion, but the academic profile of schools the league would invite is critical, much like the Big Ten. Not all the Big 12 schools meet this standard.

• UCLA and USC get the most money in the Pac-10 because of appearances. Both schools won't want to lose that status in a new, expanded conference.

• The Pac-10 can only expand and expect to make enough money on a television deal with Texas. Adding random Big 12 and/or MWC schools won't increase the value of a proposed television deal.

• The Big Ten Network deal that Delaney has is based on subscription fees and makes more money than the Pac-10 could on its own.

• The Pac-10's best hope is for a television merger with the Big 12, forming a mega TV deal. The Pac-10 and Big 12 television deals are up in 2012, and both leagues have confirmed discussions on a television agreement.

• A number of sources find it hard to believe that Kansas would somehow be left with nothing. Football drives this, but the power; prestige; tradition; and, most important, ratings of basketball do have serious value. It's akin to leaving out Duke in some sort of ACC chaos.

• Underselling the value of the new $10.8 billion deal with the NCAA tournament is a mistake. It matters. This is a football-driven discussion, but it's not at the expense of disrupting the entire NCAA tournament plan.

• A number of conference presidents are trying to ensure that any potential move makes sense. (For example, did Boston College to the ACC make sense?)

• Boise State would probably take a MWC invite, but does the MWC want to invite Boise State without knowing what will happen to the Big 12?

• All of this is relative to the discussions going on at the Pac-10 and the Big Ten. But so many of the doomsday scenarios could be tamed if Notre Dame were to tell the Big Ten yes.

Maurice Creek will be a pro. He will be a stud for Indiana over the course of his career.

That's Tom Crean's projection as he tries to put a positive spin on the fractured left knee cap Creek suffered on Monday night against Bryant that will end his season.

Creek, who was the team's top scorer as well as the nation's top freshman scorer at 17.6 points a game, hung 31 points on Kentucky. He was the one player that the Hoosiers could count on to be a difference maker in the Big Ten.

"Maurice was literally scratching the surface as a player, rebounder and defender," said Crean as he drove to Indianapolis to see Creek after his surgery Tuesday. "He understood the offense and a lot of his points were coming on his pure ability."

Crean wasn't sulking. Let's be honest here, the expectations were low this season for the Hoosiers. Clearly, Indiana is more competitive than the 1-17 Big Ten team (6-25 overall) from last season. IU has already beaten Pitt in New York by 10 and has been more than a pest for stretches in losses to Kentucky and Maryland.

So gauging the progress of this program shouldn't be measured in Big Ten wins and losses now that Creek is done. The Hoosier program is clearly in a better place this season than last. With Creek returning next season, there will be an expectation that the Hoosiers will be a top-half rather than a bottom-half Big Ten team in the third year of Crean's regime. That shouldn't be a reach, as the Big Ten will likely go through a bit of a transition if some of the league's better talents leave school early for the NBA.

"Last year we had to field a team, now we're building a program," Crean said. "I'm anxious to see who is going to come through in the Big Ten [which starts with Michigan Thursday]."

Crean said Creek has as quick a release on his jump shot as anybody he has coached.

"He's a future pro once he gets his knee healed," Crean said. "He has proven he can be a really good player and did against Kentucky."

• New Mexico made it to No. 12 in the rankings. UNLV has been ranked, too.

But the best team in the Mountain West, the one that was predicted to win the conference yet again, hasn't had a sniff.

But it should. And if you had any doubts, then you need to check out BYU's 30-point pasting of Arizona in Tucson Monday night. Junior guard Jimmer Fredette scored 49 on the Wildcats, setting a McKale Center record.

"There aren't too many years where there have been four or five teams from the Mountain West Conference ranked," BYU coach Dave Rose said. "It's great that teams are ranked in the Top 25. We've been there in the past three years. It's not something that we think about in order for us to be a good team. We've got a good team."

That shouldn't be in question. The Cougars' lone loss was at Utah State, an understandable defeat at a rival school that gets up to play BYU more than any other opponent. Utah State likely will finish in first or second place in the WAC.

The Cougars beat Arizona State 81-68, beat Arizona 99-69 and defeated Nebraska by 22 in Las Vegas, scored 110 on Nevada (but gave up 104) and have won two true road games (at Hawaii and at Fresno State). The cynic might say that the Cougars haven't beaten an NCAA tournament team yet. That's true. But if you watch this squad, notably the perimeter of Fredette, Jackson Emery and Tyler Haws, you'll see how it can hang with and/or beat most of the second-tier teams in the country (i.e. not the ones in the top 10 with a chance to get to Indianapolis).

"We've got a good team," Rose said. "We depend on jump shots and if we keep shooting the ball well and getting to the free-throw line a lot, we'll score."

Rose said the BYU staff have all seen Fredette score in stretches the way he did against Arizona, but never over the course of a 40-minute game to put up 49. Fredette was a mere mortal against Arizona State, shooting 1 of 13 against the Sun Devils, 0 of 5 on 3s, but he was 8 of 8 on free throws to make himself matter in that win. He was 16 of 23 (9 of 13 on 3s) and 8 of 9 on free throws in his performance against Arizona.

The Cougs will know a lot more about their team in two two-game stretches: at home to UNLV and at C-USA favorite UTEP Jan. 6 and 9, respectively; and at San Diego State (Jan. 23) and New Mexico (Jan. 27).

• Temple coach Fran Dunphy wouldn't commit to how the Owls have turned what could have been a rebuilding season into a stellar 10-2 mark, with wins over Villanova and at Seton Hall and a No. 19 ranking.

"I'm not sure how," the dry-witted Dunphy said en route to Northern Illinois Tuesday. "Maybe with smoke and mirrors so let's hope it continues."

Dunphy is a low-ego guy but let's do the self-promoting for him. What he's done at Temple is quite remarkable. He took over for Hall of Fame and larger-than-life persona John Chaney and after a normal first-year transition period, the Owls have been in the NCAAs two years in a row. Make it a third this March. Meanwhile, his Penn successor Glen Miller got sacked earlier this month and the program is likely to lean on his former player, Jerome Allen, to bring back some of the Quaker glory from him.

To think some questioned whether or not Dunphy could recruit and coach on Broad Street like he did at the Palestra is quite simply a joke.

Next up after Northern Illinois (the third MAC road trip due to a football deal) the Owls will host top-ranked Kansas Saturday. And guess what? They have a chance.

"Do they have confidence and feel good about the performances? I hope so. But we've got a long way to go to establish our goals," Dunphy said.

The Owls were a bit enigmatic offensively earlier in the season when they mustered just 45 points in a one-point loss at Georgetown. But what happened recently is players whom the staff wasn't sure could pop off productively in big games have done just that. Juan Fernandez scored 33 in the win over Villanova and 21 in the win at Seton Hall. Ryan Brooks scored 24 in that win over Seton Hall and 19 in wins over Penn State and Bowling Green.

"Someone is stepping up each night that we didn't know had it in them," Dunphy said. "It's not necessarily always the leading scorer."

Temple will have company in the A-10 this March, fighting off Dayton, Richmond, Xavier, Charlotte and Rhode Island. But the Owls already have quality nonconference wins over 'Nova and the Hall and could pull off the biggest one to date if it can score an upset over Kansas.

Dunphy deserves tons of credit. As the New Year approaches, he has to be considered one of the five favorites for national coach of the year.