by the numbers

-- Lute Olson goes after Dick Vitale in Steve Rivera's latest piece for the Tucson Citizen. "How can someone continue to go on TV and say that Redick is the greatest shooter in the country?" Citing numbers provided to him by Arizona's sports information department, Olson noted Redick would have to hit 71 consecutive shots to equal Stoudamire's 53 percent shooting and make 53 consecutive three-pointers to equal Stoudamire's three-point percentage of 55.3. Woah.

-- The Melee in Motown, Arkansas style. Methinks the NCAA will soon suspend University of Arkansas-Little Rock coach Steve Shields for more than a couple games for hitting a fan in the eye with a water bottle.

-- Are you a college basketball beat writer or columnist who would like to see your latest article or editorial linked to from my blog? Email me. Hey, if it works for ESPN's Mark Simon, it will for you. (In Simon's latest edition of "College Hoops Extra," by the way, he praises Salim Stoudamire's play following a one-game suspension, notes Pacific's secret is its ability to defend without fouling -- a very interesting observation and the real reason I linked to Mark's column -- and hops on the St. John Fisher Cardinals' bandwagon. At 22-0, the Division III Cardinals are looking to schedule a game against Illinois.).

-- Pierre Pierce's attorney yesterday filed a motion (offense) seeking the dismissal of the burglary charge against the former Iowa star. Our criminal justice system is, by the way, more than a little screwed up.

Pierce, 21, of Westmont, Ill., was arraigned this week on charges of burglary, domestic abuse assault, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, false imprisonment and criminal mischief...

The most serious charge is first-degree burglary, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of up to 25 years upon conviction.

An individual is accused of domestic abuse and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and the most serious crime against him under law is first-degree burglary? Go figure.

-- Miami of Ohio's game-winning shot against Ball State came after the final buzzer and should not have counted, or so ruled the Mid-American Conference yesterday. Why were officials unable to review the play at the scorer's table? Because the game was not televised. Which (again) strikes me as a strange. College basketball has two sets of rules, one for games that are televised and another for games that are not. Think this arrangement would fly in professional football? Think again. (Fortunately, the AP also gets MAC commissioner Rick Chryst on record as supporting the addition of courtside monitor and video replay in every league game).