It’s a travel day around here, which we’re sure is also true for many of you out there in Hoopsland. Apologies if things get a little quiet after tonight, as there is only one game over the next three days (Saturday’s West Virginia at Seton Hall tilt). Have a safe, happy and tremendous Christmas celebrating however your family chooses to do so (or not at all), and remember to give that little extra, whether time, attention, or cashmoney, to those in need this weekend. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!
- Georgetown’s Nikita Mescheriakov will transfer at the end of the semester, according to school officials, marking the fifth such transfer from the Hoya program in the last three seasons. Mescheriakov wasn’t getting much playing time as JT3 continues to utilize a very short bench this year, but we wonder if his style of coaching isn’t grating on some of these players who are leaving?
- Rick Pitino has suspended forward Terrence Jennings for Wednesday night’s game against Louisiana-Lafayette for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Recall that in October Jennings and teammate Jerry Smith were involved in an altercation with police outside of a party in nearby Jeffersonville, Indiana. Speaking of Coach P, Karen Sypher pleaded not guilty yesterday to (new) charges of retaliation against a witness.
- Tubby Smith is acting the role of the eye-rolling parent by stating yesterday that the status of Royce White, who retired from college basketball and the University of Minnesota in a strange YouTube clip we wrote about last week, has not changed. Probably for the best.
- Hear about that UK2K thing from Monday night? Check out this cool graphical interpretation of the winningest programs in college basketball history by decade. Trust us, you’ll enjoy it. Promise.
- This is fairly interesting. SI.com rated the top 25 “franchises” in both professional and college sports for the 2000s. Their top CBB “franchises?” #10 – North Carolina, #13 Kansas, #17 Michigan State, #20 Florida, #22 Duke. Interesting how that matches up with our very own Team of the 2000s we set forth last summer — same top five, slightly different order.