Kansas State power forward Michael Beasley has spent the weekend with family members and advisers, coming to a decision on whether to turn pro. At a news conference Monday, the 6-foot-10 Beasley is expected to announce he is entering the 2008 NBA Draft. Most likely, Beasley will be taken with the first pick; at the very least, he will go second.

There is no doubting his NBA potential. He has a lethal combination of quickness and strength, making for a difficult guard. Beasley had the second-most rebounds and third-most points of any freshman in NCAA history that past season. Beasley is a lock for superstardom, it seems to most.

However, Michael Beasley will never reach his potential or become a great NBA player. Like Vince Carter, he will be stuck in very good. Here are three reasons.

1. Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett are good offensively, but what places them among the best power forwards ever is their defense. Beasley is a one-dimensional, offensive player. (Admittedly, he is very good with that dimension.) To be mentioned among the league's elite, Beasley will have to improve on the defensive side of the ball. On the rare occasions that he puts some effort in defensively, he looks to be doing his best Drew Gooden impersonation. Too often, Beasley finds himself lost, out of position and gambling for steals.
2. What separates a very good player, like Vince Carter, from an all-time great player, like Michael Jordan, is work ethic. In high school, Beasley stopped lifting weights because he worried about catching a cold in the school gym, which he said was poorly heated. Can you imagine a high school-aged Michael Jordan using that excuse? Work ethic can be improved, but the chances of Beasley's going from poor to anything more than average are slim.
3. Does Beasley have a winner's mentality? Watching Beasley at Kansas State, the answer was typically no. The best example might be the Wisconsin game. He was focused and played well to start the game. Then, in the second half, Beasley began to lose his poise and almost seemed disinterested. He forced too many plays, either driving into waiting defenders or settling for low-percentage shots. Unlike many of the basketball's best, who look to make their teammates better when they are struggling, Beasley was helpless. He as much to work on if he hopes, ultimately, to develop into a winner.
   

Some say Beasley is too small to play power forward and that is what will limit him in the NBA. However, you probably noticed the three factors I listed as to why Michael Beasley will never reach his potential are all controlled by Michael Beasley himself. All three are tied into one major, overriding factor: his attitude.

Michael Beasley with a good attitude is a very good defender. Michael Beasley with a good attitude works harder to develop his game. Michael Beasley with a good attitude leads a team.

Right now and until he shows otherwise, Michael Beasley doesn't have a good attitude.

Ohio State center Kosta Koufos is thinking about a key decision in his basketball career. He has two logical choices: Koufos can either stay in college or enter the NBA Draft.

That being said, a return to college seems logical. Heading into the year, Koufos was considered a top-five pick. Koufos averaged 14.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks and was named the NIT's Most Outstanding Player. Overall, a solid year for a freshman center, but he was not as good as expected. Another year at Ohio State would help his draft stock.

Or so it would seem. According to DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony, the arrival of fellow seven footer B.J. Mullens could hurt Koufos. Givony said, ''They can't really play together, especially under Thad's system; he values defense so heavily. It's going to be a little bit difficult for (Koufos) playing with B.J. Mullens. B.J.'s a highly touted guy, and you'd think he would be one and done himself.''

Looking at the NBA Draft, Koufos has to like his chances since height always seems to rise on draft day. As a legitimately-skilled seven footer, teams will be interested. But Koufos is hardly ready for the NBA: he isn't much of a defender, rebounder, or physical presence. If he entered the draft, he would likely be drafted in the bottom half of the first round.

Where does all of this leave Koufos? According to his mom, Kathy Koufos, playing basketball in Greece is a possibility. He is a citizen of Greece and played for the Greek national team. When he decided to attend Ohio State, Koufos turned down contract offers to play professionally in Greece, some reports said.

Playing in Greece would benefit Kosta Koufos in several ways.

1. Koufos would make a good chunk of money.
   
2. He would continue his development before entering the NBA.
3. The European playing style better suits his game, allowing Koufos to make a bigger impact on the court.
4. Koufos would receive more playing time than he would if he went to the NBA immediately.
   
5. Connect with his heritage, I guess?

Of course, there are downsides to Greece in comparison to the NBA or college.

1. He can still develop while being paid by an NBA team.
   
2. What if he goes to Greece and his deficiencies are unmasked against the competition?
3. Nothing can improve a player's draft stock more than a good NCAA Tournament run. That possibility would be gone.
4. Koufos would appear to be crazy to chose Greece over the NCAA and the NBA.
   

Most likely, his mom just threw the idea out there and there is little likelihood of Koufos actually leaving for Greece. In which case, this was all for naught.

The Tigers should have fouled at the end of the game. Calipari should have called a timeout. Dorsey should not have fouled out. Boy, Memphis should have made a few free throws.

Those facts lead to the inevitable question: did Memphis lose the NCAA Championship or did Kansas win it? That's debatable (and probably a combination of the two), but one thing is for sure. These guys are your national champions...

Now, Bill, parlay this big win into a fat contract extension.

Did you know that Tyler Hansbrough is overrated? It's true. The media just loves him. Some of Psycho T's critics say it is because he is white. That obviously means he is a less-talented player who must work harder to maximize his potential.

Would the qualities assigned to Hansbrough be assigned to him if he were black? Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, on his radio show, addressed the question.

"Well probably not. But I think there's two things going on there. Well three. Let's give the guy his due. He plays the game well and he plays it hard okay. With no hyperbole he does do that so let's start there.

"But then the second and third factors I think definitely you hit on it there's the racial thing. People go crazy over white players. They tend to assign character qualities to them rather than just good play. And then the third thing is the emotion. He plays with a lot of emotion. You know, he's jumping up and down, he's all over the place and for whatever reason when fans see that they think that equates to a greater desire to win than a guy let's say that plays like Tim Duncan played even in college. Who just sort of pretty even keeled, doesn't show a lot of emotion but just keeps playing well and getting the job done.

"For whatever reason fans, media whoever equate the show of emotion with a greater desire to win and I think it's B.S. But I think it happens so I think there's that on top of the racial issue."

Van Gundy was then asked about the double standard of a black athlete like Chad Johnson demonstrating a show of emotion and he's denounced versus a white athlete like Hansbrough who is praised.

Said Van Gundy: "That's a great point. I mean I do think that happens a lot. The black guy has no class but the white guy's playing with fire. I don't think there's any question about that.

"But I will say at times you know it does go the other way. Like I always think that Ben Wallace, I've always said, is a good player in this league but if his hair was different he wouldn't have been thought of as highly as he is with his hair flopping around. People go crazy. It's amazing what people latch on to. They talk about his tremendous effort and everything else but if he cut his hair and played like that he'd just be another guy playing hard."

What can I say? Van Gundy is right on all fronts. He is taking the Hansbrough debate past a black versus white issue. There is more to the Hansbrough hype than simply race. Hansbrough is fawned over for the (somewhat perceived) energy he plays with. Nothing seems to blind fans and commentators like the hard-nosed, energy-filled players. Ben Wallace, with his afro, was a perfect example.

Fortunately, people saw past Wallace like they soon will Hansbrough. Stan Van Gundy has.

Another day, another prospect. Arizona Wildcats guard Jerryd Bayless will enter the NBA Draft after his freshman season. Athletic department spokesman Tom Duddleston confirmed Bayless' decision Saturday.

Heading into college, Bayless was a McDonald's All-American and Rivals.com's second-ranked shooting guard. At Arizona, Bayless lived up to the lofty expectations, averaging a team-high 19.7 points to go along with 4.0 assists. The Wildcats--behind Bayless, but without coach Lute Olson--posted an 18-13 record before losing to West Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Bayless is projected as a top-five selection by both DraftExpress (#3 overall) and NBADraft.net (#4 overall). Offensively, Bayless has everything NBA teams look for in a scoring guard: he is an outstanding shooter and a devastating slasher. Defensively, he shows a lot of potential due to his quickness and commitment on both ends of the floor. One of his biggest strengths is his "winner's mentality," a trait which has earned him comparisons to Gilbert Arenas. Like Arenas, Bayless is a combo guard at 6-foot-3 and will need to improve his point guard skills in the NBA.

Only thirty-six seconds remain on the clock. The game is no longer in doubt. Why not offer your opponent a hand or help up?
A knee to the testicles will do. Didja see that big boy go down?

After knocking off the Georgetown Hoyas to advance to the Sweet 16, the Davidson Wildcats and star guard Stephen Curry will face the Wisconsin Badgers tonight in Detroit. Few expected the Wildcats to be at this point or Curry to join the company of Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson. Davidson head coach Bob McKillop, apparently, didn't expect this from his team.

McKillop planned on conducting a basketball camp in Germany on Tuesday. Of course, those plans were put on hold.

McKillop has worked to build a program capable of making a deep tournament run. In doing so, he has focused his recruiting on foreign basketball player. The countries of Nigeria, England, Canada, Turkey, France, and the Congo are currently represented on the Wildcats roster. Only two players, Curry and his own son, are natives of North Carolina and in-state recruits.

While he started working European basketball camps in 1981, McKillop began using his connections to recruit new players when he was named the head coach at Davidson.

“We saw a niche in the foreign market when I first came to Davidson in 1989,” said McKillop, who has been conducting clinics in Europe since 1981 and has had numerous foreigners on his squad over the years. “Davidson is attractive to international students. It’s a welcoming community for international students. And I find that the international players, they love dreams. They’re coming to America living a dream.”

Similarly, Davidson will be living their dream tonight, with a chance at the Elite 8 on the line.

Tonight's McDonald's All-American game allows fans of both the NCAA and THE NBA to catch a glimpse of the upcoming stars of their sport. Here are five high school seniors to keep an eye on this time around.

A smooth forward at 6-foot-10, 225-pounds, Greg Monroe has a great all-around skill set that will only improve with time in college. Monroe, a Georgetown commit, possesses excellent court awareness and moves the ball well. He has his perimeter game, but must work on his right hand. When going to his left, he is dominant. Monroe is a strong rebounder and shot blocker while utilizing his quickness to defend perimeter-oriented big men. At just seventeen years old, Monroe has tremendous "upside-potential."

Demar DeRozan, an athletic wing committed to Tim Floyd, looks like an NBA player. With his great athleticism and explosiveness, DeRozan has tremendous potential. DeRozan has answered critics who questioned his mid-range game and ability to shoot off of the dribble. He has a nice feel for the game, passing and rebounding the ball well. That being said, DeRozan must make better use of his athletic tools and size (6-foot-6, 210-pounds) on the defensive side of the ball.

Samardo Samuels, with his 6-foot-8, 240-pound frame, is able to dominant around the basket. Samuels, a Louisville commit, is a bruiser when working the boards and post. He has tremendous finishing abilities to go with his good footwork and touch inside. Passing is a strength. Still, Samuels will need to develop his mid-range game and improve as a defender.

Though in the dreaded combo guard mold, Jrue Holiday is probably the most complete guard in the 2008 class. The UCLA commit is an explosive athlete, but can bring more to the table. Holiday can shoot from behind the arc, slash to the basket, and finish in the paint with both hands. Defensively, he should fit into Ben Howland's scheme. Holiday is capable of guarding point guards and shooting guards alike. He just needs to break out of the combo guard label.

At this point, B.J. Mullens is probably more of a prospect than a player; he takes too many possessions off on both ends of that floor. That being said, he is loaded with potential at 7-foot, 255-pounds. Mullens uses his athleticism to run on the fastbreak, usually beating his man down the floor. His shooting range allows him to stretch the floor. He has the ability to offensive rebound, though his rebounding, offensively and defensively, is inconsistent. Right now, Mullens is a finesse player and must become more assertive in the post. Mullens has plenty of room to grow while playing collegiately at Ohio State.

Though these five players might not be the best players on the court tonight, they should be interesting prospects to keep an eye on as they progress through college and into the NBA.

When George Mason earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, analysts cried that a mid-major team was chosen over a squad from an important conference. Little did they know, George Mason would go on to change the mindset of the nation. Few expected them to make it past the first round. Instead, the George Mason Patriots made it to the Final Four before a loss to Florida.

Jim Larranaga, the affable coach whose playbook stressed the value of playing loose and having fun, became a national sensation after knocking off Connecticut, a team filled with NBA-level talent and favored to win the championship. That win led Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun to say, "They don't measure heart by inches. They don't measure courage; they don't measure basketball instinct and intelligence."

Maybe nobody signified the heart, courage, instinct, and intelligence more than George Mason's senior leader, Jai Lewis. Lewis was generously listed at 6-feet 7-inchesw, 275-pounds; inches were added and pounds cut. Despite his physical shortcomings, Lewis was able to outplay Connecticut's Josh Boone and Hilton Armstrong, two bigs who were drafted in the NBA's first round.

With the NCAA Tournament underway and George Mason's upset fresh in our mind, we ask: where is Jai Lewis now? How did he get there?

Following the NCAA Tournament, Lewis played in the Portsmouth Invitational, a pre-draft camp for NCAA seniors. His play was solid, but questions regarding his game continued. For starters, scouts questioned his size. DraftExpress wrote:

Jai Lewis showed us nothing that we hadn’t already seen in the NCAA tournament. He was productive in this setting, but there are still major doubts about how his production would translate to the next level. He scored most of his points off simple post moves or open opportunities that were created for him by his teammates. He scores most of his baskets using his strength advantage, which will be diminished at the next level.

Lewis played some decent post D when given the opportunity, but he doesn’t have the ability to defend on the perimeter with his massive size and poor lateral quickness. [...] Lewis did do a good job on the boards, though, boxing out and grabbing eight on the night. Should he be able to shed 20-30 pounds over the next few months there might be something to talk about, but as of right now he appears to be a center caught in a shooting guard’s body.

The likelihood of Lewis playing in the NBA was slim. Lewis was faced with a decision between sports. He could continue playing basketball in a smaller league or attempt to utilize his size on the football field like Antonio Gates and Marcus Pollard, two former basketball players to make the successful transition to professional football. Jai Lewis decided to pursue a football career and a sport he hadn't played since high school.

Lewis worked to prove he could play in the NFL as either an offensive tackle or a tight end. He worked out for five teams: the Oakland Raiders, the Philadelphia Eagles, the St. Louis Rams, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the New York Giants. Six other teams explored the possibility of signing Lewis. On May 1, 2006, Jai Lewis signed a one-year, $275,000 contract with the New York Giants to play offensive tackle and long-snapper. He was going to have to earn a roster spot with a strong training camp.

Despite Lewis's physical toughness and athleticism, his NFL career did not last long. Two months after signing with the Giants, Lewis decided to end his pursuit of a football career. He was going to refocused on basketball.

Weeks after leaving the Giants, Lewis signed with KK Bosna for $8,000 a month. Lewis was expected to play a significant role for the defending champions. However, as fate would have it, Lewis was released from his contract in just six weeks. The team felt he was too small to play power forward in the Adriatic League. Lewis's goal, according to his agent, had been to make it a year in Bosna.

Shortly after leaving Bosna, Lewis signed to play in Israel for Ironi Ramat Gan. The contract was for "more than $5,000 a month." More importantly, Lewis was going to receive playing time. The potential for violence and poor officiating took some getting used to:

Despite safety concerns, Lewis said he felt at home in Israel. [...] He likes the Israelis, too – well, except for the basketball referees.

They're horrible," he said. "It's like they never played basketball."

He said he has adjusted to the routine checkpoint stops and metal detector searches at the entry of most grocery stores and malls where security guards stay on the lookout for suicide bombers. He also has grown accustomed to watching the young soldiers carrying their rifles. Upon turning 18, Israelis must serve in the Army, and Lewis said some of his teammates bring their M16s to practice.

"They say if they lose their weapon, they go from five years [of military service] to 10," Lewis said.

Lewis was able to adjust to the environment well and posted a fine start to his career. In twenty-seven games, he averaged 15.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals.

Following his rookie season in Isreal, Jai Lewis signed with Strasbourg, a French team. Like his stint with Bosna, Lewis would not last long in France. Just four games into the season, with Lewis averaging only 3 points on 27% shooting, Strasbourg released Lewis.

After playing for Strasbourg, Jai Lewis signed with Hapoel Galil Elyon, another Israeli team, to finish the 2008 season. Currently, Lewis is averaging 12.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals in league play.

With a chance to play in the NBA unlikely, Jai Lewis is still striving to improve in his professional career. Regardless of how he fairs, college basketball fans will always remember Jai Lewis as the star of the George Mason Patriots, a team that shocked the basketball world. Though we tune in to each first round game hoping to see another great upset, we know there will never be another team like George Mason.

When Kelvin Sampson was relieved of his coaching duties at Indiana University, speculation began regarding his replacement. Whoever was to earn the position was going to be a tough coach, that was the one certainty. Around the same time, Scott Skiles was fired (though he went to the organization saying a coaching change was needed), his tough coaching style having been tuned out by NBA players.

Now, it appears Indiana has Skiles on their list of coaching replacements.

Indiana University is expected to contact former Bulls coach Scott Skiles when it launches its coaching search, a source said Tuesday.

"If they're smart enough to hire him, they'll win a national championship in one or two years," said Bulls coach Jim Boylan, a former Skiles assistant who succeeded Skiles after he was fired by the Bulls on Dec. 24.

"He'll relate well to college players, because he needs everybody on the same page to fall into his system," Bulls center Joakim Noah said. "And he could definitely do that on the college level."

Skiles would be a great collegiate coach. He has always tried creating a hard working atmosphere around his team. That nature, which he instilled in his teams, was what allowed the Bulls to go from perennial losers to playoff contenders. Of course, that fell apart this past year. At Indiana, Skiles would have more control over the players. For starters, he will recruit the type of player he wants. Most likely, they will have a similar mindset and accept his philosophy, preventing another quasi-revolt.

An emphasis on defense has always been a signature of Skiles during his coaching career. Under Skiles, the Bulls were among the NBA's best. Being able to choose players willing to buy in defensively will allow him to succeed. The same could be true offensively; Skiles focuses on perimeter play. Similar offenses often succeed collegiately while being thwarted by NBA-level defenses.

Though Skiles would be a great fit at any college, Indiana just seems like a logical choice. Skiles was born in LaPorte, Indiana. He led Plymouth High School to the 1982 state championship. He resides at his home in Bloomington.

Indiana seems like a perfect fit for this native Hoosier.

For some unfortunate teams, their college basketball season is over. With the season's end comes a rush of underclassmen entering the NBA Draft. The rush appears to have started.

N.C. State freshman J.J. Hickson announced that he will enter the NBA Draft. Hickson will not sign with an agent, leaving the possibility for a return to college. Hickson, a 6-foot-9, 242-pound power forward, was the Wolfpack's leading scorer (averaging 14.8 points) and rebounder (averaging 8.5 rebounds). His play earned him an all-ACC freshman team nomination.

According to coach Sidney Lowe, Hickson will "get all the information he can and decide what's the best thing." Whether Hickson returns to school will "depend on where he's going in the draft."

Hickson, a former McDonald's High School All-American, is currently projected as the last pick in the first round by NBADraft.net. Early in the season, Hickson was expected to be a top-ten selection, but his stock fell as the season progressed. DraftExpress expects Hickson to be drafted in the first round, though teams will need to be patient developing him:

[Entering the draft] would probably be a mistake if that’s indeed the case, as he does not look anywhere near ready to see minutes on an NBA team (defensively, or operating as a true power forward should facing the basket), and would greatly benefit from expanding his game through another season in college. His talent will still likely be too great for most teams to pass up on in the first round--even if he’ll have to spend time in the D-League polishing his all-around game--and therefore he’d likely get drafted somewhere in the bottom half of the first round barring bad workouts or off the court red flags that pop up during the draft process.

If Hickson is to reach is potential, he will need to further develop his offensive game, both in the post and on the perimeter. Despite his above average strength and athleticism, Hickson's defense is average at best.

There is plenty Hickson can work on. Whether it happens at N.C. State or in the NBA, that will remain to be seen.

The Florida Gators loss in the first round of the SEC Tournament dashed their NCAA Tournament hopes, relegating them the NIT. Coach Billy Donovan decided something needed to be done to motivate his team. How about taking their practice facility?

Coach Billy Donovan, feeling like his players had settled into a state of complacency and entitlement, banned them from Florida's $12 million facility. He also told them they couldn't wear any Florida attire.

"Probably in some respects the confetti is still falling down around them," Donovan said Monday. "When you have great success like we've had, I think it's very, very easy to become complacent and to lose sight of how good things are around here and to have an attitude of, 'I'm at Florida. This is just what's going to happen.'"

The players will be without their locker room, practice court, video room, and weight room. Florida's two national championship trophies will be off limits, too. Until they learn to focus and lose their sense of entitlement, this is how it will be in Florida.

Who knows, maybe it will work like it did for Florida football coach Urban Meyer in 2005. I'm willing to bet that it won't. What a great $12 million motivational tool.

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah did not attend practice on Wednesday. Unlike Tyrus Thomas and Chris Duhon, Noah's absence was excused for a "personal matter." The organization knew Noah would miss Wednesday's practice weeks in advance.

What exactly was the personal matter Noah had to tend to?

Apparently, Noah used the time off to visit Billy Donovan and the struggling Florida Gators at the Georgia Dome. Noah was to serve as an reminder of what they can do before the SEC Tournament began.

The Gators lost 80-69 to Alabama and, at one point, trailed 42-14. The meeting failed miserably.

I find this story important for two reasons. Alabama's victory keeps my championship pick alive. I owe it to you, Crimson!

But here is the important question: why should Joakim Noah be excused from practice to visit his old college team? Just days ago Chris Duhon served a two game suspension (like it matters, he doesn't even play) and was fined for going to the Duke-North Carolina game. He was ripped for his actions by John Paxson. Yet he approves of Noah's absence?

Really, there are few differences between the two situations. For starters, Noah is a starter while Duhon rarely plays. Next, Noah missed a full-fledged practice; Duhon missed a shootaround. Then there is one thing that keeps Noah from getting crucified: Paxson allowed Noah is skip practice in the middle of a playoff run to visit his old college buddies.

That might just be the scariest part.

Each college basketball championship week has a different story. Two years ago, it was Gerry McNamara and Syracuse's improbable run through the Big East Tournament. McNamara was plastered on the sporting publications for days after his multiple game-saving shots. Who couldn't love the guy who looked like us, who made us say, "Damn, if only I practiced on my shot like he did." Of course, with all the attention McNamara received came plenty of complaints about how overrated had McNamara become. While that is true, to an extent, we all want to know the same thing: what has McNamara done professionally, where is he now?

Gerry McNamara went undrafted in the 2006 NBA Draft. Many scouts worried that McNamara's game would not transfer to the NBA. DraftExpress, while noting McNamara was among the most accomplished NCAA players and possessed the greatest leadership abilities of all the prospects, wrote:

McNamara noticeably lacks quickness and explosiveness, and already struggles creating his own shot against top notch defenders. This shows up on the other end of the floor as well, where his lack of lateral quickness could make him a liability in the NBA. McNamara is not a pure point guard either. His shot selection can be very poor as evidenced by his 35% shooting from the field as a senior. For someone with such a great reputation as a perimeter shooter, the 33% he shot from behind the arc this past season does not exactly back that up.

Following the draft, McNamara signed with the Orlando Magic to play on their summer league team, hoping to challenge guard Travis Diener for a roster spot. Unfortunately for McNamara, things did not work out. Diener was among the top performers in the entire summer league while McNamara was hampered with a groin injury, hampering his play.

In September of 2006, McNamara signed with Olympiacos BC to play in their Euroleague games. Through five games, McNamara played just one minute. McNamara, obviously upset with the situation, was able to negotiate a contract buyout. The good news: he earned $90,000 for that one minute.

Following his stint in Europe, McNamara signed with the Bakersfield Jam of the NBDL. Bakersfield gave McNamara the opportunity to play. "I've been playing, which is what I came here to do. I was overseas and I wasn't getting any run, and here I get to play with talented guys and get a chance to prove myself," said McNamara. His first professional season was a success. McNamara was named to the NBDL Western Conference All-Star team and finished the season averaging 10.8 points and 5.2 assists.

McNamara made another attempt to land in the NBA in the summer of 2007, joining Philadelphia 76ers' summer league teams. Again, McNamara was unable to play his way to an NBA contract, scoring just 5 points and recording 21 minutes over 5 games in the Vegas Summer League. McNamara then left the team during the Rocky Mountain Revue, with ankle injuries a likely cause.

On August 21, 2007, McNamara signed a $400,000 contract with Panionios BC of the Greek League. Four games into the season, McNamara was released. "The coach wanted him, but the owner wanted someone else," McNamara's agent, Bill Neff, said. "The owner fired the coach and got his way." That someone else? Michigan State star and McNamara's former Bakersfield teammate Mateen Cleaves.

McNamara signed to play for BK Ventspils, a Latvian team who won seven straight Latvian League titles until last season, in February of 2008. To date, McNamara has played in three games, with one start. He is averaging 4.3 points.

While McNamara's career at Syracuse was one filled with big plays and championships, he has yet to make a name for himself professionally. Hopefully, McNamara is able to take advantage of his opportunities in Ventspils. Surely, it will last longer than his previous stops.

It has become regular place for the winners of a league's season-end conference tournament to earn a place in the NCAA Tournament. The only conference that does not award their automatic big through a tournament is the Ivy League. They, correctly, send their regular season champions to participate in March Madness.

More conferences should adopt a method similar to the Ivy League's system. For small conferences, the postseason tournaments diminish the importance of the regular season schedule to a point where there is, essentially, none. They send the team that is hottest over a three day period instead of the team that has proven their ability over a long stretch.

This is even more important for the lesser conferences; only one team will usually make it into the tournament field.

If a team is unable to win the conference championship in no-name conference, what are the chances they are capable of knocking off a second or third seed? Maybe, just maybe, this could be the reason why, historically, the Ivy League has faired well in the tournament.

The only benefit for a conference to hold the postseason tournament is for the national media attention. ESPN devotes an entire week to tournament games for the small conferences. ("They are just playing for the chance to be at the tournament," they say. "Look at the passion!") What these tournaments come down to, for the people running each conference, is money.

Without the postseason coverage, who would small conferences turn to for additional revenue? It is a possibility that they look at their loyal fans. They could get earn for money for regular season games when the games have a tangible impact. Attendance might increase.

Please, small-conferences-who-nobody-knows-about, consider changing the way things are done. If only for the dramatic increase in the competitive level of the first round tournament games.

As it is now, the most dominant teams in the country are matched up against teams incapable of winning their own Podunk conference.

Remove Adam Emmenecker away from the Bulldogs this season and Drake is not celebrating Saturday's win with grins on their faces and recently-cut nets draped around their necks. There are no streamers, no fireworks, no cameras, and no trophies to hoist above their heads.

In college basketball, a team is as good as the man at its point, its coach on the floor. Without a doubt. When it comes to great, championship-contending teams, a great point guard is the lone constant.

Drake has Adam Emmenecker, a native of Michigan. His story is simply unbelievable. Imagine: no Division I basketball scholarships, no playing time for three years, injuries, four majors and a 3.97 GPA. Finally, just prior to his senior season, Emmenecker was placed on scholarship. He leads the Bulldogs to their first Missouri Valley Conference title since 1971, setting a new single-season assist record in the process.

He averaged just 4.7 points and 8.4 assists as a high school senior!

Emmenecker went from a walk-on to Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. Through eighteen conference games, Emmenecker is averaging 10.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 6.7 assists.

A player of the year is the catalyst. A player of the year is there when the team is down late in the game. A player of the year takes over the scoring load when the scorers go down. A player of the year is the guy who places the team on his shoulder when the jump shots stop falling.

Take Emmenecker away from Drake, and they are not here today.

Each new college basketball season introduces the nation to new talents destined for NBA superstardom. Nightly, or at least it appears, Kansas State's Michael Beasley is throwing up monster numbers, making it easy to forget the seniors who are seemingly entering their second decade on campus. Considering the circumstances, it is difficult to appreciate a player like Mike Wilkinson, who was redshirted his first year on campus.

A native of Blue Mound, Wisconsin, Wilkinson attended Wisconsin Heights High School. With averages of 28.6 points and 12.1 rebounds, he led his squad to a 19-4 record and a league title. In the process, Wilkinson was named Wisconsin's Mr. Basketball and Wisconsin Player of the Year by the Wisconsin State Journal. His play earned him a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin.

Unlike his more talented counterparts, Wilkinson did not see the floor during his first season. Instead, he was redshirted and allowed to develop his game.

The following season, Wilkinson, as a redshirt freshman, led the Badgers in rebounding (5.3 per game) and scored 9.3 points per game as a backup. His four double-doubles were the most for a Wisconsin freshman since 1993-1994. Wilkinson played a key role in an upset against Marquette, scoring 16 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

Wilkinson's sophomore season saw him crack the starting lineup. He finished fifth in the Big Ten in rebounding with 6.8 per game. Additionally, Wilkinson upped his scoring average to 10.3 points. The Badgers made it to the Sweet Sixteen before being defeated by Kentucky.

In his junior year, Wilkinson averaged 13.1 points and 6.8 rebounds, helping Wisconsin finish second in the Big Ten. His play earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team. In addition, Wilkinson was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team as Wisconsin won the Big Ten Tournament for the first time. The success did not carry over; the Badgers lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The individual achievement of Wilkinson's junior year propelled him into his senior campaign. Wilkinson again increased his scoring to 14.3 points per game. For the fourth consecutive season, he led the Badgers in rebounding, averaging 7.4 boards. Wilkinson was good enough for inclusion on the All-Big Ten First Team. In the NCAA Tournament, Wisconsin advanced to the Elite 8, where they lost to North Carolina. (The Tar Heels would go on to win the championship.)

Wilkinson finished among the top ten in Wisconsin's history in 11 career categories, including sixth on the all-time scoring list (1,532 points), third in career rebounds (856) and first in offensive rebounds (311). He played in a school-record 130 games, never missing a game. Wilkinson was just the second player in Wisconsin history to finish with at least 1,500 career points and 800 career rebounds.

Heading into the 2005 NBA Draft, Wilkinson was expected to either be drafted late in the second round or go undrafted. After pre-draft camps and workouts with Golden State, Milwaukee, Dallas, and Memphis, he was considered a nice all-around player with face-up abilities. However, some scouts worried Wilkinson lacked one skill that would truly excel at the NBA level. As a result, Wilkinson went undrafted.

During the summer of 2005, Wilkinson signed with the Utah Jazz to play in the Rocky Mountain Revue, an NBA summer league. He played modest minutes and was unable to catch on with an NBA team.

At that point, he was faced with a decision. Wilkinson could have entered the NBDL, which offers moderate NBA attention with little compensation. On the other hand, Wilkinson could have left for Europe and the comparatively lucrative money. Wilkinson, who also added that he needed to support his wife, said, "I'd rather go overseas and play over there and just take a year and get better."

For the 2005-2006 season, Wilkinson joined the Greek team Aris Thessalaniki. They, behind Wilkinson's averages of 11.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in ULEB Cup play, finished first in their pool. Aris then advanced to the finals before losing to Moscow Dynamo. In Greek League games, Wilkinson continued his strong play, earning a Greek League All-Star nomination.

The following year, Wilkinson returned to Aris, having been upgraded to the Euroleague. Aris went on to finish just 7-13, though Wilkinson would average 12.3 points and 5.9 rebounds against the higher competition. For the second straight season, he was named a Greek League All-Star.

In the offseason, Wilkinson was awarded Macedonian citizenship, making him a Bosman player. Being a Bosman, Wilkinson is not counted against his team's limit on American-born players, thus increasing his free agent value (such quotas are commonplace in European leagues). In the summer of 2007, Wilkinson played for the Macedonian national team.

Considered among the top free agents in Europe this past summer, Wilkinson signed a two-year contract with Khimki, a Russian team featuring former NBA players Daniel Ewing, Pat Burke, and Maciej Lampe. Wilkinson is currently averaging 8.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 23 minutes for the team. Khimki trails only Russian superpower CSKA in Superleague play with a 17-2 record.

What exactly are his chances at making it back to the United States and the NBA? Well, Wilkinson has the ability to make an NBA roster. However, it is unlikely that an NBA contract would match the money he is earning in Europe. A seven figure deal is likely for Wilkinson, assuming he continues to develop his game.

Looking back on Mike Wilkinson's past, there is little doubt he will continue to improve. Wilkinson has done well for one of basketball's undrafted free agents.