more progress...

-- Unlike the rest of college hoops nation, Roy Williams isn't looking forward to a game between North Carolina and Kansas in the NCAA Tournament.

"I don't know if I could handle it. I really don't. This may sound corny...but for me personally that would be the worst moment of my life. I love people at both places."

I can understand why Williams would prefer to avoid such a game. But sooner or later, his Tar Heels will play Self's Jayhawks. Maybe not this year. Maybe not next. But before "Benedict Williams" retires.

-- Jim Calhoun is (again) among the finalists for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Here's hoping this is the year. Two decades ago, nary an individual in America could have predicted Calhoun's success at Connecticut.

-- Rob Miech of the Las Vegas (NV) Sun suggests UNLV's 93-91 overtime victory over San Diego State is the seventh best comeback of all time. The others?

10. Pacific 64, Utah State 63 (Feb. 12, 2005)
9. Vanderbilt 75, North Carolina State 73 (March 21, 2004)
8. North Carolina 96, Duke 92 (OT) (March 2, 1974)
6. Duke 98, Maryland 96 (OT) (Jan. 27, 2001)
5. North Carolina State 69, Pepperdine 67 (2OT) (March 18, 1983)
4. New Mexico State 117, Bradley 109 (Jan. 27, 1977)
3. New York University 70, Ohio State 65 (OT) (March 24, 1945)
2. Kentucky 99, Louisiana State 95 (Feb. 15, 1994)
1. North Carolina State 80, UCLA 77 (2OT) (March 23, 1974).

-- Former Georgetown coach Craig Esherick has applied for the coaching job at New Mexico State. Cough, cough. One need not look much further than JT3's success with Esherick's players to realize that while Craig may be an average recruiter, he is a below-average head coach. New Mexico State Athletics Director McKinley Boston should instead interview Josh Pastner and Nolan Richardson.

-- Ohio State on Friday suspended junior forward Matt Sylvester one game for unsportsmanlike conduct. Anybody care? Didn't think so.

-- Is Jay Bias...er...Bilas paid to hype College GameDay matches? Yes. (Mississippi State over Kentucky?!?!!)

-- Howie Stalwick of the Madison (WI) Capital-Times pens the first of many post Dick Bennett would-be retirement announcement profiles of Tony Bennett. The younger Bennett comes across as honest...and unprepared for the media scrutiny that will follow his dad's retirement.

-- Reading between the lines, I conclude Tom Noie of the South Bend (IN) Tribune believes that despite Providence's troubles, Ryan Gomes has improved his NBA stock by returning for a senior year of college basketball. I hope so, but am skeptical.

-- Less than 48 hours after he had an emergency appendectomy, Miami coach Frank Haith will depart on a private jet to tonight's game at Virginia Tech. I'm glad Haith is feeling well enough to coach against Seth Greenberg.

-- University of Nevada head coach Mark Fox believes Vermont should receive an NCAA Tournament bid even if the Catamounts today lose to his Wolf Pack. I agree. More importantly, Fox is quoted in an article by Jeff Pinkham of the Burlington (VT) Free Press. Guess who else is cited in Pinkham's piece? None other than the blogosphere's own Ken Pomeroy!