Don Heupel / AP

Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet dunks against Buffalo. The Huskies play Gonzaga this Saturday in Seattle.

4. Another conference challenge?
Seriously? This week brings us two doubleheaders comprising the Big East/SEC Invitational. This does give me the opportunity to see four major-conference teams only a 14-minute drive from home, but do we really need another one of these contrivances?

Can't Ole Miss play Louisville and Cincinnati face Mississippi State in a doubleheader without slapping some sort of phony name on it?

And if they really want us all to take this thing seriously, should they really be "inviting" a team that finished tied for 15th in the Big East -- South Florida -- as one of eight teams taking part?

The best thing about this deal, other than its convenience to me, is that Tennessee (Temple) and Marquette (Dayton) both will get the chance to be redeemed for recently being manhandled by a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference. Combined margin of victory for the Owls and Flyers: 30 points.

If the A-10 keeps that up, some league will be picking a fight with them soon.

5. Playing non-D-One, but doing it in style
San Diego's Toreros, who could use a break after navigating a brutal schedule and losing top guard Brandon Johnson to an Achilles injury, get the pleasure of a game Friday against Academy of Art University.

There are so many things to love about Academy of Art -- which is located in San Francisco and plays in Division II -- it's hard to know where to begin. We could start with the nickname: Urban Knights. We could start with the fact the web site for the athletic department has a photo of a fencer as its centerpiece.

But what better reason could there be to love Academy of Art than the fact Lauren Conrad of The Hills -- the most narcissistic garbage ever to soil the culture -- lasted only a semester?

More news

Mark J. Terrill / AP

Ex-Bruin reacted to article right way

CBT: Drew Gordon is taking a different approach than Reeves Nelson, one much more likely to result in hearing his name called come draft day.

C. Mich. transfer Zeigler cleared to play at Pitt

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Former Central Michigan guard Trey Zeigler has been cleared by the NCAA to play at Pitt next season.

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