The March to Madness

Reporters Notebooks

Robbi Pickeral, Raleigh News & Observer: North Carolina freshman forward Tyler Zeller is likely out for the season after breaking his left wrist against Kentucky.

Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times: Alex Stepheson, who transferred to USC from North Carolina this fall hoping the NCAA would allow him to have immediately eligibility, had his appeal denied and will not be eligible until 2009-10.

Steve Rivera, Tucson Citizen: ESPN analyst Dick Vitale says Arizona should have hired Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight to fill in for the retired Lute Olson this season.

Dana O'Neil, ESPN: If you're not cheating you're not trying. Clever coaches are employing a strong grip on semantics to expose loopholes and reinterpret rules to their benefit.

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Unemployment is rising, the stock market is falling and attendance at Florida games is on the decline.

David Brandt, Clarion Ledger: Mississippi junior forward Eniel Polynice had knee surgery and will miss the rest of the season.

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Meet Rick Hartzell, college basketball referee on the go.

Reporters Notebooks

Mike Griffin, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Tennessee had a team-record 32 assists in rolling Chattanooga, 114-75. The Volunteers have won 33 in a row at home, the third-longest active win streak in the nation.

Jeff Faraudo, Bay Area News Group: Mike Montgomery was a winner in his debut at California. The Golden Bears held off a Pacific charge for a 68-56 victory.

Rick Bozich, Louisville Courier-Journal: Tom Crean introduced himself to Assembly Hall by coaching Indiana to a victory over Northwestern State.

Associated Press: Washington State beat Mississippi Valley State, 76-25. Mississippi Valley, which lost at No. 15 Arizona State, 80-64, on Friday, looked virtually helpless.

Rick Brown, Des Moines Register: Iowa State did something it never accomplished last season, making 10 three-point baskets in a 67-55 victory against Loyola Marymount.

Andrea Cohen and John Helsley, Oklahoman: Oklahoma will refund students the $130 season ticket cost if they attend 16 or more games.

Arizona Daily Star: Here are 10 coaches that Arizona might look to snag to replace Lute Olson.

Jody Demling, Louisville Courier-Journal: The Sunday notebook, leading with Louisville trying to avoid a slow start.

Patrick Finley, Arizona Daily Star: A lot of turnover in the Pacific 10, starting with the coaches.

Columbia State: A quick and snappy preview of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

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Reporters Notebooks

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: A lot has changed since the end of last season, including the three-point line being moved back a foot to 20 feet 9 inches.

Scott Cacciola, Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis is still trying to heal wounds left from a title game that saw it blow a nine-point lead with 2:12 left in a 75-68 overtime loss to Kansas.

Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News: Mike Montgomery is back in the college game, but can he make it work at California?

Long Beach Press-Telegram: The 30th edition of the Best in the West, plus a link to Frank Burlison's story on the all-time Best in the West team.

Jeff Walker, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Consider this your last warning: Bob Knight could be coming to your town. He will serve as a game analyst this season for ESPN.

Rick Bozich, Louisville Courier-Journal: There are indications of a warming trend between the Knight Family and Indiana University.

Andrea Ahles, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: The Dallas Cowboys and the Big 12 Conference made a pitch to bring the Final Four to the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington.

Robbi Pickeral, Raleigh News & Observer: North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough is "extremely doubtful" to play in Saturday's opener against Penn.

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