leaving on a jet plane?

-- Mark Tupper of the Decatur (IL) Herald-Review has a partial list of confirmed attendees for a weekend celebrating a century of Illinois basketball. Will Lou Henson be among those on campus? According to John Supinie of the Springfield (IL) State Journal-Register, the former Illini coach (who holds the school record with 423 wins), would very much like to attend the festivities. The Fighting Illini's athletic department has offered a private jet to transport Henson and his wife from Las Cruces, New Mexico to Champaign.

-- The Big Ten yesterday vindicated Mike Davis, admitting that Purdue's Carl Landry should have been awarded two free throw attempts rather than two points and a single free throw attempt for his heroic buzzer-beating maneuver. According to 2005 NCAA Basketball Rules and Interpretations (Rule 2-5.2.b, Rule 5-7.2.b, Rule 6-6.2), "continuation" does not apply once time runs out.

-- Very soon, the national pundits will start mentioning Charlotte (12-2 overall, 3-0 Conference USA) as a potential NCAA team. In large part due to the play of Brendan Plavich. Indiana fans are all too familiar with the sharp-shooter's antics; it was his half-court heave that brought down the Hoosiers earlier this year. Among the nation's best three-point shooters, Plavich routinely practices his jump shot from two steps inside halfcourt.

-- John Eligon of the Detroit Free Press advises Michigan to win on the road if the Wolverines are to make the NCAA Tournament while noting that history suggests Tommy Amaker's club will fair poorly in Bloomington.