College Hoops Tidbits

* Well, once again we have Dick Vitale to thank for helping to construe one of the biggest frauds in all of college hoops. Virginia has proved itself to be an absolute fraud, but thanks to Dukie V's gushing on the Cavaliers, and the ACC, in general, a team that is not even .500 in its own conference is ranked No. 8 in the country. Can you say joke.

* BC is headed for the NIT, as coach Al Skinner's boys have no support for All-American candidate Troy Bell.

* The NIT is expanding to 40 teams...can you say college foot, 105 teams will now make post-season play.

* Miami, 3rd 20-win season in 4 years...they deserve some respect...but it will take NCAA Tourney wins to get it, not to mention never having a guy like Vitale to sing their praises (see Virginia) doesn't help their cause

* Tennessee is the best 12-10 team in the country & will be a formidable opponent for anyone in conference tourney play, NIT play or perhaps even NCAA play if the committee pulls another Georgia of 2001 & lets them in with a record like the Dawgs had last year, when they received an at large bid with a 16-14 record.

* Like him, hate him...which most do...you have to give props to the General for making the Red Raiders of TTech a legitimate team on a night in night out basis

* ND making a run for NCAA tourney consideration, now up to 16-6

* Nice job by Mike Jarvis scheduling perennial cream puff Fairfield Stags at this stage of the season...hope that 40 point blow over the hapless Stags helps your RPI. Apparently Red Storm athletic department hasn't learned just how important RPI is to the tourney committee...hey I'm sure that W will look good to the NIT committee. Maybe Carnasecca will break out the lucky sweater if the Red Storm crack the NIT final four in the Garden.

The polls are a sham because of guys like Vitale...How many guys do you think handle their vote similarly to the way Utah's assistant did...not knowing or giving a crap about what teams are really doing...UVA isn't a Top 25 team but thanks to guys like Dukie V they are top 10!!!

105 of 320 teams make postseason play now. Pathetic.