Week in Review: Now We Know

(See also Gregg Doyel's Week in Review and Pat Forde's 40 Minutes)

1. To look forward to Oklahoma-Oklahoma State (Monday) and Illinois-Wisconsin (Tuesday).

2. Syracuse is guilty of ballot-stuffing Planters' "nuttiest fans" contest. (Cast your vote here).

3. Numerous newspaper editors dislike Dick Vitale. Or at least find him controversial.

4. Wichita State is for real. The Shockers should shock us no more.

5. (Georgetown's) JT3 will have a more successful career than (Home Improvement's) JTT. And Craig Esherick was a really, really, really bad head coach.

6. To trust Bruce Weber. Over the summer, he brought in (former) NBA personnel to speak to his studs about what lay in their future -- and keep the Fighting Illini focused on the present.

7. Sean Banks is not only a "head-case" bit also an "airhead."

8. Paul Hewitt and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have lost their MoJo.

9. Budget cuts are undermining Colorado Buffs' academic performance. And somebody in Boulder actually cares! (Good for RP).

10. To keep an eye on Indiana. Might the Hoosiers' recent hot streak enable Mike Davis to keep his job? Or Bracey Wright to silence his critics?

11. Why Duke rarely plays quality road games early in conference play.

12. Arizona's Salim Stoudamire is more mature than he was last season. Bench me once, shame on me. Bench me twice, shame on me. Bench me thrice, shame on...me.

13. The MVC & WCC are worthy of our undivided attention.

14. To expect to see John Chaney at the NCAA Tournament.

15. Regis Koundjia could be the next big thing at George Washington.

16. ACC expansion was a bad idea. For everyone but instant celebrity Fred Barakat.

17. Pittsburgh still has some juice.

18. Villanova has the Wright Stuff for a March bid.

19. Joe Bendel is the only AP voter whose primary email address is courtesy of AOL.

20. Northwestern alum Luke Winn is even prettier than we thought.

21. (Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god). Coach K can lead five McDonalds All-Americans to a 14-0 record. He must be the best coach ever. (Hat tip: Dave).

22. To never doubt Craig Smith, Jared Dudley or Al Skinner.

23. Jews can coach. Witness Seth Greenberg at VaTech.

24. Ben Howland has yet to turn around UCLA.

25. To back Quemont Greer for Conference USA Player of the Year.

26. Never to bet for or against North Carolina State. Just when the gang of 500 (read: msm) and the cabal of 100 (read: bloggers) were about to write off the Wolfpack entirely, Herb Sendek's club beats Maryland. At Maryland.

27. Shelden Williams is, at minimum, a third-team All-American. (I fought the law and the law won).

28. DimeBetting.com is a loyal supporter of this site. My first advertiser is back for their third consecutive month!

29. Oklahoma is a Top 15 team.

30. Kelenna Azubuike may be unable to declare for the NBA Draft at season's end. Sorry pops.

31. Washington is worth staying up late to watch. Especially now that Brandon Roy is back.

32. Ike Diogu has yet to fall from national grace.

33. To support Luther Head for Big Ten Player of the Year.

34. Precious little about Tulsa's head coaching search.

35. A Memphis media personality is less than happy with Coach Cal.

36. ESPN is drawing better ratings for replacement college basketball (and poker) than it drew for the NHL.

37. Joe Crawford is dazed, confused and back where he belongs.

38. Illinois can be beaten. (Or so the pundits claim).

39. Saturday's Open Thread generated 56 comments (and counting).

40. March Madness will be better than ever.