dirty magazine day

-- Wendell "put a" Barnhouse "in your soul" of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram takes a look at the Australian re-recruiting trip undertaken by Utah coach Ray Giacoletti (pronounced jack-oh-LET-ee) in April. The 20-hour plane flight down under enabled Ray to persuade Andrew Bogut to play for the Utes this season. The result? Bogut, last year's Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year under Rick Majerus, has thrived, taking advantage of Giacoletti's open offensive schemes to create opportunities for himself and his teammates.

-- The Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy argues the NCAA Tournament selection committee ought not give additional weight to a team's final 10 games. Some clubs, he argues, have tough end of season schedules while others do not. But strengths of schedules differ for an entire season as well. If anything, DeCourcy should have advised the committee to not only consider results over the final 10 games, but also evaluate strengths of schedules over the final 10 games.

-- Rick Bozich of the Louisville (KY) Courier-Journal considers Western Kentucky's success and makes a convincing case that "preseason magazines belong in the fiction section of every bookstore." Here, here.

-- Remember when I wrote that Mississippi State was a disappointment? A few readers emailed to inquire why. My response? Look no further than the Bulldogs Saturday loss to Auburn. Tigers freshman guard Frank Tolbert torched MSU for 29 points in the win.