nova!

-- Affirming Villanova's talent (and excusing Boston College's near-loss), the Wildcats' small but explosive lineup today crushed Kansas. Allan Ray and Curtis Sumpter had huge games for Jay Wright's club. Calling the 83-62 final score a surprise would be the understatement of the weekend.

-- Barton County Community College has taken deceit to a whole new level. Chris Green of the Hutchinson (KS) News has the lurid details, including news of additional and just-discovered violations. Among them payments made on behalf of current Gonzaga player J.P. Batista! If New Mexico's communications shop is among the best in college basketball, BCCC's is among the worst.

-- Remember Terry Dehere? The rare New Jersey stud who stayed in state for college? Jerry Carino of the Gannett News Service writes up the trouble Gary Waters and Louis Orr are having recruiting New Jersey. Pourquoi? Kids don't want to stay at home, often don't fit into Rutgers' or Seton Hall's "program," and other coaches have strong ties to the Garden State. Still, there have been occasional successes and their halo effect. Consider Marcus Toney-El getting Andre Barrett to join him at Seton Hall. For more on the "Turnpike Dream," read on.

-- Ned Barnett of the Greensboro (NC) News & Record finds North Carolina State skating on thin ice. Unless the Wolfpack learn to finish, Julius Hodge may find himself watching the NCAA Tournament from home. Reading between the lines, I find Barnett believes that unless State finishes the year strong, Herb Sendek is finished. I tend to agree.

What's happening with State - and what lies ahead - isn't about a roster. It's about a team and its coach.

Herb Sendek has shown himself a master of getting more from less by stressing defense and a ball-control offense. That approach worked so well last season that he was voted ACC coach of the year.

Now in his ninth season at State, he's getting less from more. Against Miami and Virginia Tech, Sendek called timeouts to set up final shots. One was blocked by the side of the backboard, the other by a Tech defender. Against Duke, State looked capable of winning but didn't seem to believe it could.

-- Lou Henson today retired a coaching legend. His 779-413 lifetime record pegs him as the sixth winningest coach in NCAA Division I history. We'll miss you, Lou.