The dark cloud surrounding the NBA lockout is growing larger with every passing day that a deal between the players and owners is not agreed upon. Fans of the sport may have to soon settle into a reality void of professional basketball, where are favorite hardwood stars are scattered throughout the world like pieces on a Risk board.

One way of escaping such a reality might be getting your main fix from the collegiate scene, with the occasional grainy highlight of Kobe Bryant scoring 97 points in an obscure (at least to most NBA diehards) Chinese league. However, if college athletics aren’t your thing, there may be another way to ease through your withdrawals. In order to aid basketball fans in the coping process, I have composed a list of 10 of the greatest basketball movies ever to grace the big screen.

Let the healing begin.

10. The Sixth Man (1997)

I encourage you to begin with this movie, because it will make the rest of this list seem Oscar worthy.

On a more serious note, this might be my favorite movie featuring any one of the dozen Wayans Brothers (minus Blank Man).

On an even more serious note, I actually enjoyed this movie. It is guilty pleasure number one that made it onto my list. Any sports movie that can end with one of the main characters walking off the court to go play for the basketball team in Heaven touches me in ways The Notebook never could.

9. Space Jam (1996)

This is my second guilty pleasure selection, but I am fully prepared to defend its merits. I’ll begin by admitting that I was right in the target demographic when Space Jam first came out, and my judgment might be a little lost in the fog of nostalgia.

However, here is my defense. Space Jam featured the most talented basketball player ever to walk the planet, paired with iconic cartoon characters than spanned multiple generations.

It may be the most accessible, albeit superficial, version of Jordan that fans have ever seen. He lives life with a chip on his shoulder and an unrivaled competitive nature that often manifests itself into a public persona most find off putting. In this movie he was the loveable hero that many fans want him to be.

8. Glory Road (2006)

Although it might get trapped in a familiar framework that surrounds a lot of movies driven by racial tension, it still manages to generate a lot of genuine emotion.

Based on the true story of Texas Western Coach Don Haskins, and his decision to be the first collegiate coach to feature an all black starting line-up, the movie delivers a strong message in the triumphs that take place both on and off the court. Think “Remember the Titans,” if it were to cross over to the hardwood.

7. White Men Can’t Jump (1992)

Seriously, they can’t. Not if the sample size you are using includes Woody Harrelson and myself. Cue Wesley Snipes, in a movie where two basketball hustlers pair up to become more profitable.

There is something special about watching Woody Harrelson, who actually has a pretty natural stroke, and Mr. Snipes wipe the floor with their opponents in comically ugly clothing.

The end of this movie still breaks my heart. Damn you Billy. Damn you.

6. Finding Forrester (2000)

A movie that centers on an unlikely friendship between an aging writer, Sean Connery, and a black youth recruited to a private school for basketball, played by Rob Brown.

Connery and Brown have great chemistry, and I’m a sucker for the duel focus on writing and athletics that propels the movie forward.

It is a flick that is both tense and honest in its delivery, and although basketball may not be the heart of the film, it does involve an impressive display of free throw shooting. I would like to see Rajon Rondo hit five free throws in a row, let alone 50.

NEW HAVEN — Two Quinnipiac University basketball players were arrested after a fight in campus that left two other student injured.

Police were called around 3 a.m. Sunday.

Ike Azotam, 20, of Boston and James Johnson, 21, of Laurelton, N.Y., were arrested and are accused of hitting other students who were trying to break up the fight, Hamden, Conn. police said. Two students were treated for facial injuries.

Both basketball players face third-degree assault charges and breach of peace. They were released on $5,000 bond.

MIAMI — Fist fights during professional basketball games are rare, but when they occur they can be quite violent. They happen without football or hockey’s uniform armor, or baseball’s custom of harmless pileups, or the polystyrene cushion and Kevlar shell of NASCAR helmets that make futile folly out of pit-lane punches. Basketball fighters are denied even the negligible grace of foam-filled boxing gloves on the fists launched at their face. Basket-brawlers ante legitimate downside exposure when they fight.

Of course, in basketball altercations, as in every sport, and really most such encounters among humans and animals alike, a typical tussle is usually just a sequence of bluffs, a vocal and body-language signaling ritual to safely, if loudly, determine who asserted and who yielded. We must hope that the fights the Miami Heat are bound to get into this year are of this nature, or at least mostly so, and that no one is seriously hurt… or long-term suspended.

Negative vibes manifest into tangible action all the time in this sensitive, sentient universe of ours. Energy matters, and for three months and counting a heap of heavy energy, mostly negative, has befallen the Miami Heat. As we move from off-season to preseason to real games, there is no respite from the whining and opining. The events of the summer created an irresistible platform for commentary.

Training camp practices at Eglin Air Force Base drew daily SportsCenter coverage and analysis, for example. ??Everyone seems to have an interest in, and moral judgment of, this team, and a keen need to share it (from amateurs like me, to ex-jock media guys who harshly criticize the whole concept of this Heat super-team despite themselves having joined a super-team in Houston not so long ago). For most people without a 305 prefix to their phone number, from Charles Barkley to anonymous message-board characters, the interest is in willing them to fail, and the moral judgment is indignant condemnation. Does this automatically mean that there will be violence on the court during Heat games? Of course not. However, there will be over/under 3.5 altercations involving the Heat this year, for four reasons:

1. Negative energy on a mass-scale often becomes substantive trouble, as we learned, of course, in Ghostbusters II. Each Heat visit to another arena will be a sold-out, emotionally supercharged event. The term “powder keg,” once used to describe Europe before the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand, applies here nicely. Slights, scrapes, and bumps will all be amplified in such environments.

2. Somewhere on this season’s journey there is going to be a guy whose team is down 35 in the 3rd quarter. An alley-oop dunk will spike off his head, and he will to resolve to make a statement. It might be a high elbow or a shove under the basket. That alone could ignite it, but the Ghostbusters II corollary will increase the odds if it happens on the road.

3. Though the deployment of goons is not prevalent in basketball, it is plausible that a frustrated, out-of-ideas coach could resort to using an end-bench player as an instrument of persistent, baiting harassment – especially in a playoff series.

4. As critics have noted, the Heat could have internal strife as its leadership dynamic takes shape. Any underlying, simmering hostility could become another teams’ problem in a sudden, violent combustion.

Assuming and hoping that there is health and peace, the other major non-basketball obstacle for the Heat is something that is usually a benefit: the South Beach effect. What Miami as a city lacks in fan fortitude and unconditional enthusiasm, it makes up for in nightclub bottle service and fire-hot women. On the night before the games, our elite force of tanned, fit, provocative women can do more to derail opponents than nine assistant coaches accomplish in a week of practices. God bless them one and all; we love them and are grateful. But there is the danger that the home team can fall victim to the same snare. After all Lebron James just served a seven year stretch in Cleveland. Cleveland!!

Wins will come, because the talent is overwhelming. 69 regular season wins and 13 defeats is the guess, with a 20 game winning streak at some point. In a surprise, the Celtics will be the first playoff opponent, but will be unable to suddenly coalesce as they did last year, and the former champs will go down after five tough games. Orlando will then pay for their constant Heat chatter; Orlando gets swept and endures another summer of envious psychosis. The Bulls are the next best team in the East after the Heat, and they will present a formidable challenge. Home court advantage will be the difference as Miami wins in 7. Everyone then expects that Los Angeles will be the Finals foe, but the Lakers will have their own game 7 to traverse against Kevin Durant and the Thunder.

The historic pattern indicates that OKC is destined to lose to L.A. one more time before finally breaking through, so we’ll go with that for now, but a Durant/Westbrook/Green tilt versus Wade/James/Bosh will happen eventually, and quite possibly this spring, and probably more than once thereafter. ??As for what happens then, the team with the single best player usually wins a series. Kobe, Lebron, Durant or Wade will win the MVP this year. So the Heat’s chances of having that player and therefore hosting a championship parade next summer, is 50-50.

Seven-time NBA all-star Scottie Pippen issued the following statement about his role in a movie called “Midgets vs. Mascots:”

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.,– “Given the recent controversy surrounding Gary Coleman, the fact that I’ve been repeatedly asked questions about my small part in the movie ‘Midgets vs. Mascots,’ and a related video posted online which shows me being assaulted by a group of Little People, I want to clear up any misunderstandings.

“In 2008, I agreed to play a cameo role in a movie titled ‘A Tribute to Big Red’ (now titled ‘Midgets vs. Mascots’). My role was scripted, and the first two scenes went off without any problems. During the third scene, I was told that four Little People, along with actor Gary Coleman, were going to become angry with something I said and storm off as the scene ends. Instead, they basically attacked me, with Gary Coleman apparently climbing on a chair behind me to hit me over the head with a phone (twice).

“A short fight ensued before I heard the film’s director yell ‘cut.’ As I recall, some of the Little People were laughing as the director explained that the scene was ‘sort of like an episode of the TV show Punk’d.’ At that point, I left quickly without a clear understanding of what was going on.

“As for the Little Person who claims he was injured in the attack, I really don’t think I caused the injury or can be held to blame. To the best of my knowledge, there is no action being taken against me, nor am I pursuing any action. For the record, I have never seen the movie and, in hindsight, wish I’d not been involved with it. I simply wanted to make clear my role and position as I understand the movie is coming out soon. I will not be answering any further questions regarding the film.”

Every now and then we like to throw down a mention about sports cards and trading cards.

Pay attention to Upper Deck 2008-09 Basketball, if you’re a fan of that side of the hobby. Whole boxes are coming out dirt cheap. It’s a 200-card base set without many bells and whistles — great for a younger collector or just a really good basketball fan who wants to collect a whole set easily. I cracked a square hobby-edition box with 24 packs of 18 cards. It’s very easy to form the whole set.

There are much better options on the football side of things with Upper Deck Icons 2008. Boxes are going for $75-$100 with 10 packs of six cards in each box. You get two jersey cards and an autograph in every box, so if you’re at the card store and pull a pack of these, there’s about a 1-in-3 chance that you’ll get something good.

On the cheap side, get 2008 Upper Deck Football First Edition. You can get a box for $20, and you get a Starquest Foil insert in every one of the 36 packs of 10 cards. The base set is 225 cards, and you will probably make it with one box. The big draw with this set is that it has 75 rookie cards.

If you’re a huge Peyton Manning fan, I’d spend the $20 on the box and just leave it sealed because he’s on the cover.

If you’re really all about the rookies, for under $10 you can get 2008 Upper Deck Football Rookie Premiere. It comes in a 30-card box set including Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed from my always-using-their-draft-picks-well Steelers, and some guy named Darren McFadden.

I didn’t even crack open my box. It’s a set, and I’m holding onto it.

Remember, you’re buying these cards because you enjoy the hobby and love the sports. Cards aren’t worth anything anymore, and unless you get lottery-ticket lucky and pull a super rare card, don’t expect to turn a profit on your cards. And if you do get a super rare valuable card, sell it right away or end up like all those guys that held onto Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens rookie cards (or worse, bought it at their peak) and now have some useful toilet paper.

At worst, NCAA March Madness 2008 is a pretty solid game.

At best, NCAA March Madness 2008 is a pretty solid game. 

EA’s competitor with 2K’s College Hoops had high expectations. Fans of the relatively new series were disappointed in its predecessor, but anxious to see where EA would go with it this year. It’s an improvement, but they just didn’t go far enough.

The graphics are quite good. The atmosphere of a college basketball game could not have been captured any better. The fans constantly cheering and jeering, psyching out opposing teams while they are at the foul line, and the players actually look real. In this game; they actually have facial expressions depending on what they’re doing. It’s about as good as it’s gotten in a basketball video game.

The sound is another strong point. Voice-overs from Dick Vitale are good. He doesn’t just shot off a bunch of one-liners like in most sports simulation games. He has different ways of saying different things, and it doesn’t get too stale.

The gameplay has been revamped with more moves, especially in the post where players will find themselves able to move around freely. This is an improvement over what we saw in March Madness 07, which the game pretty much crumbled around.

The shooting system is also great — finally; a basketball simulation where luck doesn’t play the major role. Shots are hard to master, but when you get the system down, it becomes much easier.

You can also curve game physics around with sliders in the options menu, but physics is the biggest problem with this game.

The.

Game.

Is.

Slow.

It’s a ridiculously slow-moving game. The player movements are pretty choppy, and there is no turbo. Also, shot blocking is a near impossibility.

The online is good. It’s a mirror image of playing the game with a friend right next to you. As long as your friend is running broadband, lag isn’t an issue.

A huge array of playable teams, the best graphics to date on a basketball simulator game, and some great replay value are all huge pluses for this game, but March Madness 2008 suffers from poor gameplay that is just too slow. In the end, that’s going to be enough to sink this game from greatness.

Quick hits:

Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: EA Sports
Platform:Xbox 360 (reviewed), PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3
Genre: Sports
Players: 1-2
Launch Date: December 11, 2007

Playability: 3 out of 5 stars
Learning Curve: 4 out of 5 stars
Sound: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Graphics: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

For the first time in NCAA Tournament history, all four number one seeds advanced to the final four. While most are commending the selection committee for their brilliant seeding this year, I view the glass as half empty. This is the only time since 1985 (first year with 64 teams) that the selection committee got it right. The brackets are supposed to protect the best teams in the country and allow them the easiest route to the Final Four. Shouldn’t all number one seeds represent the Final Four more often? After three sentences, I now view the glass as half full. This is the beauty of the single-elimination NCAA Tournament. Any team can catch a hot hand and send the loser packing. In a five-game or seven-game series, the better team almost always prevails.

The Philadelphia 76ers would have won the NBA Championship in 2001 if the Finals were only one game, but they played a seven-game series and the Lakers won the next four. The Lakers were clearly the better team. In that same year, Jamaal Tinsley’s number two seed Iowa State Cyclones (25-6) lost to the number 15 seed Hampton Pirates in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. And that was it. Iowa State went home and Hampton advanced. That is the beauty of this tournament. One and done. Would Iowa State have won in a five or seven-game series? Most likely, but college teams need to out-play, out-hustle, out-gut, and play their best in every single game or they’re going home. This is what makes the 2008 NCAA Tournament so special. The four best teams in the country all season long did out-play, out-hustle, and out-gut every opponent and they are the lone teams left standing. Each team is playing at their best with only three more games left to play. Furthermore, there is no clear-cut favorite which makes this one of the most anticipated Final Fours in tournament history.

Let’s take a look at who is left.

East regional winner: North Carolina Tar Heels
They are the overall number one seed in the tournament and it’s no surprise to see them in the final four. Their lineup is stacked and their bench could’ve probably formed another team to play in the tournament. They are led by All-American and ESPN.com Player Of The Year Tyler Hansbrough. He is the heart and soul of this team with an endless motor. In their victory over Louisville it was Hansbrough who scored seven straight points when Louisville tied the game at 59. And it was Hansbrough who made consecutive two-point jumpers that helped his team withstand the Cardinals comeback when they had cut the lead to five with three minuets left to play. Hansbrough is leading his team with 21 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. With Hansbrough and teammates Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington (both averaging 15 points per game in the tournament) all possibly leaving next year for the NBA, this could be their last shot at a National Championship.

Midwest regional winner: Kansas Jayhawks
They ended Stephen Curry and Davidson’s Cinderella run. It wasn’t easy, but in a balanced effort led by center Sasha Kaun’s (off the bench) perfect effort from the field going 6-6 for 13 points and six rebounds the Jayhawks advanced to the final four for the first time under coach Bill Self. Kansas is one of the best defensive teams in the country. Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson have combined for 18 steals in the tournament and the Kansas team has held their opponents to 57 points per game. Chalmers also leads his team in scoring averaging 15 points per game and junior Brandon Rush is averaging 14.5 a game. The Jayhawks are going to play against their former coach, Roy Williams, next weekend in San Antonio. Williams started coaching Kansas in 1988 until he left for UNC in 2003. This only adds to the drama of a matchup that already has a storied history.

West regional winner: UCLA Bruins
The Bruins advanced to their third straight final four with their convincing victory over Xavier on Saturday 76-57. The Bruins are led by freshman Kevin Love who probably is the best player in the country. The 6-10 center understands the importance of having an inside prescence and plays effectively with his back to the basket. He can score, pass, and rebound with the best of them. Love is averaging 21.8 points (61% shooting) and 11 rebounds per game. Guards Russell Westbrook and Darren Collison have combined for 94 points to help support their big man’s dominance. Similar to UNC, UCLA’s window for the National Championship could be getting shut after with Love, Westbrook, and Collison all considered possibilities for the NBA draft next season.

South regional winner: Memphis Tigers
Despite one game where they had trouble on the free throw line (Mississippi State) the Tigers have completely dominated their opponents in the tournament. Their most impressive win was their 85-67 victory over Texas yesterday in front of almost 30,000 Longhorn fans. They jumped out early and never looked back behind their star-studded backcourt featuring Chris Douglas-Roberts (25 points) and freshman Derek Rose (21 points). Rose could be one of the top three picks in this years NBA draft. This Memphis team will give any one of the other teams left serious matchup problems. Douglas-Roberts (6-7), Rose (6-3) and Antonio Anderson (6-6) are three big guards. And forwards Robert Dozier (6-9), Joey Dorsey (6-9), and Shawn Tagger (6-10, off the bench) are huge bodies that take up space in the paint. This is the reason that Memphis has only lost one game this season and this is the reason that Kevin Love and UCLA face their biggest task in San Antonio next weekend.

South Region (Houston, TX)
Summary of the first two rounds:

The South region, similar to the East region, only had one game where the higher seed advanced past the lower seed (higher meaning higher number) when (5) Michigan State defeated (4) Pittsburgh 65-54 in the second round. The Spartans also won their first round game by 11 points in their victory over Temple. Their next opponent will be the number one seed Memphis Tigers, who made easy work of Texas-Arlington in the first round, but found themselves a little too close for comfort against Mississippi State. For Memphis, foul shooting was a major problem in this game as it has been all season long. They went 15-32 from the stripe including only 2-6 when the game was on the line with under 20 seconds left. Their poor foul shooting gave Mississippi one last chance to tie it, but junior Jamont Gordon’s three-pointer missed the target.

The bottom half of the bracket went as planned with no upsets. Stanford rolled over Ivy League champ Cornell 77-53, but a pesky Marquette team took them to overtime in the second round. With nine seconds left in regulation Robin Lopez made one of two free throws to tie it up and Marquette’s Lazar Hayward missed his opportunity at winning the game when his two point shot fell short. In the overtime, Robin’s twin brother Brook Lopez was the hero. Brook scored eight points in the extra session including a two point jumper with three seconds left to win the game 82-81.

Guard A.J. Abrams led his number two seed Texas Longhorns in scoring with 26 points in each of the first two games of the tournament helping them defeat Austin Peay 74-54 and a resilient Miami team 75-72. Miami was down by 17 points with just under 11 minutes left in the game, but junior guard Jack McClinton surged a comeback that pulled them within three points when senior Raymond Hicks (off the bench) nailed a three pointer with 15 seconds left. However, two clutch free throws by A.J. sealed the deal for Texas which allowed them to advance to play Stanford in the round of 16.

Let’s look at the Sweet 16 match ups:

(1) Memphis vs. (5) Michigan State:
Should we worry about this team’s capability of hitting foul shots? Maybe, but this team isn’t an 11-loss team. They have only lost one game all season long, so they must be doing something right. Let’s ignore the shade-under-60% free throw average and focus on why this team is so good. Memphis has a lot of guys on their team that can play and constantly throw different lineups at the opposition. They can play big, they can play small, and this rotation keeps them fresh. They are led by 6-7 guard Chris Douglas-Roberts who shoots 54% from the field and freshman guard Derek Rose who leads the Tigers in assists. They have two 6-9 forwards that play very big in Robert Dozier and senior Joey Dorsey who loves to call the painted box his own. I guess what I’m trying to say is that Memphis has a lot of depth which is very important. Can Michigan State compete with this team? The Spartans have all five starters back from last year and are led by senior guard Drew Neitzel who leads the nation in assist to turnover ratio. I like that. However, if Michigan State has any chance at knocking off Memphis they will need a huge game from forward Raymar Morgan. Raymar had a hot start in the beginning of the year, as did the Spartans (19-2), but became very inconsistent in the second half of the year getting himself into foul trouble in a lot of the games. So, if Raymar can avoid the whistle Michigan State might have a shot, but I still think Memphis is too tough.

Perry’s Edge Memphis

(2) Texas vs. (3) Stanford:
I love this Texas team and let me tell you why. They have an outstanding point guard in D.J. Augustin who leads the team in scoring and assists. They have a deadly sharp shooter, A.J. Abrams, who is having a great tournament thus far. And 6-7 forward Damion James loves to rip down the rebounds and establishes a solid presence in the middle. However, center Connor Atchley and forward Gary Johnson are going to have their biggest task of the season. They will be facing up against the Lopez twins, Robin and Brook. I just noticed the Lopez twins have girly names. That’s funny. Ms. Robin and Ms. Brook both stand seven-feet tall and love to dominate the paint. Combined they averaged 29 points and almost 14 rebounds per game. Furthermore, for Stanford to win, junior point guard Mitch Johnson and company will need to stop D.J. and A.J. from dominating the perimeter. For Texas to win, their big men are going to need to contain the Lopez girls and Stanford’s inside game. I usually will take the inside presence over the perimeter game, but I love D.J. Augustin. Oh, and they’re playing in Houston. Perry’s Edge Texas.

Final Four Pick: Texas

West Region (Phoenix, AZ)
Summary of the first two rounds:

Mississippi Valley State scored 29 points in the first round. Not the first half, but the first round. UCLA laughed and advanced to round two where they found a legitimate opponent, Texas A&M. With 10 minutes left in the second half UCLA found themselves down by eight points 44-36. Texas A&M went scoreless for almost six minutes which allowed guard Russell Westbrook and the best freshman in college basketball Kevin Love to rally their team back within one point with 5:51 left. Russell scored all of his five points in that 7-0 run. Love tied the game at 45 and put UCLA up by two with consecutive two point baskets. The teams traded baskets until UCLA junior Darren Collison iced the game with 12 seconds left with a layup capping off his 21-point night.

The Cinderella team in the West, 12th seed Western Kentucky, provided us with the best game of the tournament in round one against Drake. In overtime, down by one point, Western Kentucky’s Ty Rogers took the hand-off from Tyrone Brazelton just behind the arc and nailed a three pointer to win the game as the buzzer sounded. In an easier game in the second round, WKU was able to defeat the 13th seeded San Diego who pulled off an upset of their own in the first round over Jim Calhoun’s UCONN Huskies. Western Kentucky will now face off against UCLA.

Xavier proved worthy of their number three seed by defeating SEC Tournament Champion Georgia 73-61 and a solid Purdue team 85-78. They will advance to play against the seventh seeded Mountaineers of West Virginia who defeated Arizona in the first round and that team I don’t like from Durham in the second round. If you want to read more of what happened in those games or how I really feel you can click here or here or here.

Let’s look at the Sweet 16 match ups:

(1) UCLA vs. (12) Western Kentucky:
I don’t think Western Kentucky has any shot at winning this game, but lets pretend. Western Kentucky has a shot at winning this game if future NBA star Courtney Lee and point guard Tyronne Brazelton can control the tempo of this game. In all honesty, Lee is one hell of a player. He averaged 20 points per game this year and has led his team to 19 victories in their last 20 games. He’s 6-5, 200 pounds, and has four years of college experience. However, Kevin Love only has one year of experience, he’s better, he’s bigger, and he plays for UCLA. Look for Love to control the inside game as his teammate Darren Collison controls the perimeter. These two players carried the Bruins down the stretch in their second round victory over Texas A&M and look for them to do the same against the Hilltoppers. Perry’s Edge UCLA.

(3) Xavier vs. (7) West Virginia:

I don’t trust basketball players under 5-10 and Xavier has one of those. His name is Drew Lavender, he’s 5-7, and he is good. That’s pretty much all I know about Xavier. They have pretty balanced scoring, they have a veteran team and they don’t turn the ball over. I shouldn’t have underestimated them a week ago, because these are the type of team that can go deep in the NCAA Tournament. However, they are playing against the team that I like most. If you haven’t seen Joe Alexander play yet, you’re in for a treat. This kid is good. He tends to force the issue at times but when he is under control he is a heck of a basketball player. He is 6-8 230 pounds and has both an inside game and outside game. He can handle the ball up top, play the post, and create his own shot. He plays defense, blocks shot, and loves to talk smack. Did I get my point across? In the game against Duke, Joe Mazulla came off the bench and controlled the whole game while coming two assists short from getting a triple double (a rare feat in college basketball). Look for Coach Huggins to turn to him early in this game. Keep your eye on forward Da’Sean Butler and guard Alex Ruoff as well. Ruoff probably has the best jumper of all the players left in this tournament. West Virginia has some guys that can play. They remind me of the team with Pittsnogle and Gansey. I’m riding the Alexander train till it ends.

Perry’s Edge: West Virginia

Final Four Pick: UCLA

Check out Off The Record’s Day 1 recap right here.

Ok, everyone, it’s Tourney time. It’s time to fill out your brackets and get ready for two of the best days in sports (Thursday and Friday of the NCAA’s are always phenomenal). Click here to play in the Blast Magazine Tourney Pool. It’s free and Perry and I are going to come up with some prizes that we’ll let you all know about as soon as we figure it out (give us a break, these things take time).

March is easily one of the best months of the year.

Few things in sports, if any, can measure up to what the NCAA Tournament brings us. The only things that are close are the conference tournaments the weekend before the Tournament begins. This year, we got to kick off the month of March by watching Coach K win his 800th game by pulling one out of his back pocket to steal a win.

We were also served up a great win for Georgetown in overtime at Marquette. We saw Texas lose to bubble team Texas Tech, keeping the Red Raiders’ hopes alive for the dance. Arkansas did the same in upsetting Vanderbilt, virtually locking them into the Tournament. In all, six ranked teams lost on the first of March.

Settle in people, it’s going to get even better next weekend.

This is when you need to be paying attention to college basketball, if you want any chance at winning your pool this year. The next two weeks will tell us who will make it all the way to San Antonio, and who will be ending their season early. And in the process, we are going to get to see some of the best basketball games of the year. Here is a quick rundown of the major conferences, who I think will win their tournaments, and who I think could be headed to the big dance:

ACC

North Carolina is once again the favorite to cut down the nets in Charlotte, and also to do so in San Antonio. The Tar Heels are getting their starting point guard Tywon Lawson back just in time, not to mention national Player of the Year candidate Tyler Hansbrough. The Heels are stacked and ready to make a run deep into the Tournament. Look for UNC to win the ACC Tournament and never look back.

Duke is also a threat to cut some cotton this year, as Coach K has built another strong team. Duke will only go as far as their shooters will take them, as they lack any real inside presence. Problem is, they don’t seem to go cold very often. Look for the Blue Devils to do well in late March.

No other ACC teams are a threat to get to San Antonio. When the official brackets are announced, I expect six teams from the ACC to be called: UNC, Duke, Clemson, Maryland, Virginia Tech, & Miami.

Big East

Georgetown was the early favorite in the Big East, and here on March 2nd they are tied in the loss column with Louisville (who has a game in hand). Georgetown is indeed a threat to make it all the way to San Antonio, but I have a hunch they won’t make it that far. I see them losing in the Regional Finals, however, and depending on their draw they could certainly make the Final Four. How they play in the Big East tournament will determine whether or not they make it to the Alamo.

Louisville is the other team playing for the regular season championship in the Big East. The Cardinals have not lost in over a month now, and are a serious threat to make it to San Antonio. Rick Pitino is proving why he is the best coach in college basketball, and has his team playing as well as anyone in the country. The Cardinals could easily be the last team standing in the Big East Tournament and given the right draw, Louisville could be cutting down the nets in Texas too.

The Huskies of Connecticut have seemingly come out of nowhere to become one of the best teams in the country. All they have been this year is steady, and none of their six losses were to bad teams. While I don’t think they can make a run at the Final Four, they are certainly a dangerous team to watch. I wouldn’t want to see my favorite team in their bracket right now, as UCONN has won twelve of its last thirteen games. Sophomore center Hasheem Thabeet uses his 7"3" frame to his advantage, as he blocks an average of 4.4 shots per game. The big guy can score too, averaging 10.2 points per game. Problem is he can disappear completely in some games, and that’s why I don’t think the Huskies will make it past the second weekend.

While they aren’t threats to go deep in the dance, Notre Dame, Marquette, Pittsburgh and West Virginia have all punched their tickets already. Cincinnati needs only beat Depaul on Thursday to do the same. Villanova has a shot to join them, which would make it an astounding nine teams from the Big East to go dancing.

Big-Ten

Wisconsin and Purdue are battling it out to see who will get the automatic bid and a likely two seed in the NCAA. While both teams are good, quality basketball teams, I don’t see either team as a serious threat to make the Final Four. Wisconsin should win the automatic bid, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Purdue take it either. Both of these teams could make a Regional Final, as could Indiana, but don’t expect to see the Big Ten represented in San Antonio.

Indiana does have Eric Gordon though, and everyone needs to see this kid play at least once. Gordon is the kind of player who could get hot and cause magical things to happen for his team. He’s that good. Problem is, with all of the turmoil surrounding the Hoosier’s program right now, I just can not see them making it past the Sweet Sixteen.

Michigan State will also be going to the Tournament this year. The question is how many other Big Ten teams will get called? I could easily see both Minnesota and Ohio State making the dance, but Ohio State has a tough slate ahead to make that happen. Both teams sit at 8-8 in the league with two games to go. If they split those games, they will be in the NCAA’s.

SEC

The SEC really only has one legitimate candidate to make the Final Four this year. Bruce Pearl has his Volunteers playing as well as anyone in the country. Despite losing at Vanderbilt this past week, Tennessee is a serious threat to make it to San Antonio. Chris Lofton leads a guard-heavy scoring attack that averages 82.8 points per game. While I don’t see the Vols cutting down the nets in San Antonio, I would not be surprised to see them there with a chance.

No other SEC teams appear to be serious threats to make the Final Four. Up to as many as six teams could be dancing, though. Mississippi State, Kentucky and Vanderbilt have all punched their tickets to join Tennessee in the Tournament. Florida and Arkansas both have a shot at joining them, with Arkansas having the best shot based on remaining games. I expect they will both make it, but if Florida loses out they will be very nervous on Selection Sunday.

Big-12

Kansas and Texas are still fighting to be the best team in the Big 12. The two teams have only played once this season, and won’t meet again unless it’s in the Big 12 tournament. Texas won that first match up, by the way. Head coach Rick Barnes has the Longhorns playing well, and they are a threat to make it to San Antonio this year. They are also good enough to win once they get there. D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams make up one of the best backcourts in the country, and guard play is the most important factor in the Tourney.

Kansas could also make it to San Antonio if given the right draw. The Jayhawks are extremely well balanced, and are playing good basketball right now. They aren’t playing great, though, and they are going to have to kick it up a notch if they want to make it past the second weekend of the dance.

No other Big 12 teams are a threat to make it to the Final Four. After Texas wins out, and gets the automatic bid and possible #1 seed, I see five other teams making the tournament. Baylor, Kansas State and Texas A&M have all pretty much punched their tickets already, and Oklahoma is likely to join them. Be glad that Kansas State will make it, because it means more Michael Beasley for us. If you have not seen Beasley play this year, you are truly missing out on one of the best seasons in a long time. The freshman forward scores at will (26.7 ppg), and cleans the glass (12.6 rpg) with amazing power. So do yourself a favor and watch the two games he will get to play in before heading off to the NBA.

PAC-10

UCLA has regained its past glory and is a serious contender to make waves in San Antonio. Freshman center Kevin Love leads a pretty well-balanced scoring attack that has four players averaging more than twelve points per game. Head coach Ben Howland has the Bruins playing as well as anyone in the country, and it’s a treat that we’ll get to see them face off against Stanford on Thursday. Look for UCLA to win that game as well as make it all the way to the Final Four.

Stanford is also a legitimate contender for the Final Four. They have quietly gone 24–4 this year and with twin brothers, who happen to both be seven-feet tall, Brook and Robin Lopez, they have a post-heavy attack that could carry them to San Antonio. The story of the twins will be compelling and they will be fun to watch.

Washington State and USC are in. Herb Sendek’s Arizona State Sun Devils should be in later in the week as well. Arizona could also finish at 9–9 in the conference, so we will see what the committee does with them. If they get the nod, that would be six PAC-10 teams in the tourney.

The only other team that could make the Final Four is Memphis. Freshman point guard Derrick Rose is a special, special player. A lot of people will discount the Tigers because they play in Conference USA, but don’t be fooled. They played the second toughest out-of-conference schedule this year (according to the RPI), and Conference USA isn’t the cakewalk it used to be. It’s still easy for a team of Memphis’ caliber, mind you, but it is improved. Memphis has only lost one game this year and I don’t think they will lose another unless they meet UNC in the Tournament.

With only 34 at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament up for grabs, and there being 34 bubble teams covered here, they all had better play like they aren’t in the dance as of yet. It only makes sense that some of these bids are going to be lost to mid-majors, and each one that does knocks one of the power conference teams out. Keep in mind as well that some of these mid-major conferences are good too. The Atlantic-10 alone could steal two or three bids.

When it’s all said and done, look for UNC, Texas, UCLA and Memphis to all make it to the third and final weekend of March Madness. Then look for Roy Williams to bring home another banner to hand in the Dean Dome.

The state of Tennessee plays host to the NCAA’s regular season game of the year Saturday night for the 1-2 showdown at FedEx Forum, home of John Calipari’s Memphis Tigers (26-0).

The second ranked Tennessee Volunteers (24-2), coached by Bruce Pearl, are traveling across the state in attempt to repeat their 76-58 win over the Tigers from last year.

However, this is not last year. Memphis is going for perfection. They are going for the first perfect season since Bobby Knight’s ’76 Indiana Hoosiers, when they went 32-0.

Memphis has been unbeaten on their home court for 47 straight games, but Tennessee brings one of the deepest teams in college basketball to the FedEx Forum. They are led by two long-range snipers in senior guards Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith, who have drained 156 combined three pointers. Their front court is led by two sophomore forwards, Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism, who are two big men that love to run the court in up-tempo games.

Tennessee has scored over 90 points seven times this season with their only two losses coming on the road against Texas and Kentucky.

For Memphis to continue on their road to perfection, junior guard Chris Douglas-Roberts, who shoots at an amazing 55 percent from the field, will need to defend the three point arch all night long. His help will come from one of the best freshman guards, Derrick Rose, who is averaging 14 points, four rebounds and four assists per game. Memphis also has two guys that love to pound it down low in junior Robert Dozier and senior Joey Dorsey. However, this is going to be a run-and-gun game where sophomore guard Doneal Mack could flourish.

If you are a fan of basketball, college or pro, this is the game to watch Saturday night at 9 p.m. on ESPN. FedEx Forum will be rocking with Tiger fans and a few Volunteer fans, Peyton Manning included, that dare to make the trip. The Southeastern Conference against Conference USA. Let the best team win.

The Dallas Mavericks and the New Jersey Nets seemed to have finally reached an agreement which will send Jason Kidd to Dallas.

Malik Allen will join Kidd in Texas in exchange for Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager and Devean George.

I firmly believe the Dallas Mavericks just became the team to beat in an already-stacked Western Conference. Dallas got their hands on the NBA’s best point guard in Kidd, which will only make basketball easier for All Stars Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard.

Kidd is the most complete point guard in the league. He might not have the scoring ability of Steve Nash, but he can defend and rebound like no other point guard in the NBA. Kidd already has 12 triple doubles this season and he sits on number 99 for his career as he heads back to the team that drafted him with the second-overall pick in 1994.

However, New Jersey picked up a very nice player in Devin Harris. In his 4th year out of Wisconsin, Harris has improved in every season averaging 14 points and five assists in 2007-08. Kidd’s time was up in New Jersey. He deserved this trade to get another shot at winning the title. New Jersey wasn’t going anywhere this year, and this could be the missing piece to Dallas’ title hopes.

UPDATE: We all know that this deal hit snag after snag, so we now officially say that Jason Kidd is officially a Dallas Maverick.

Blast’s Posterboy Sports Blog has the R-rated trailer of Will Ferrell’s new sports comedy movie “Semi-Pro.”

The movie also stars Woody Harrelson and Andr© Benjamin and comes out on leap day, February 29.

Check it out!

Play five on five online with 10 human players.

Electronic Arts released the free downloadable feature called Online Team Play for NBA Live 08 that lets 10 people on 10 consoles anywhere in the world play with and against each other. The new feature is automatically available on Playstation 3 when connected online, EA said Monday. It will be available on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system later this month.

In NBA Live 08, all 10 players on the floor can now be controlled by individual users on 10 different consoles, removing the use of artificial intelligence altogether. Player movement, decision making and game outcome can now be completely dependant on how you play as an online team, bringing you closer to a real life game of basketball than ever before. This new game mode enables any number of players from one to five on different consoles to connect and play online against another team of up to five players on five different consoles. The CPU will take control of any players not controlled by users.

NBA Live 08 is available now in retail stores everywhere. Click here for more information.