Who’s Making Headlines?

This is the time of year where some animals are still hibernating. Snow and ice are on the ground. Temperatures are streaking below zero. Gray and gloom fill the sky about 85% of the time here at SC's Minneapolis correspondence center (a little much?). Thank goodness for college basketball. At least something is heating up as we get into February.

The next month will be fun, from Rivalry Week over the next few days to jostling for number one seeds to teams on the verge who desperately need that victory to pad their resume. Storylines will be poured over again and again, and here are some of the better ones that "SportsCenter" and "The Best Damn Sports Show" will hype even more as the tournament approaches.

5) The Pursuit of Perfection

This headline might have changed on Saturday, but now that the Super Bowl is over, that phrase is now on the way from Boston to Memphis. The Tigers survived a stiff test from UTEP to get to 21-0, and John Calipari's squad has turned back everyone, including Arizona, Connecticut, Georgetown, and Gonzaga.

Between now and the conference tournaments, it appears the only bump in the road will come on February 23rd. That's when interstate rival Tennessee will roll into town. They may also get tested in one more conference games down the line. However, if they get past all of that and get to the field of 65 unscathed, can the Tigers fulfill their title goals that have gone begging for the last couple of years?

4) Who Could Fit March's Glass Slipper?

It's more apparent that, despite the large budgets of power conferences, the smaller programs are catching up to big brother. Over the past decade, schools including Gonzaga, St. Joseph's, Kent State, and George Mason have made dream runs to the Elite Eight or better. Now, teams like the 'Zags and conferences the caliber of a Colonial or Missouri Valley have become sort of nouveau riche.

So when looking for this year's eye-opener, you can't include the following: Gonzaga, Butler, anyone from the CAA, MVC, A-10, Mountain West, and WAC, or the New Jersey Institute of Technology (but only because they're 0-for-the-season). Who does that leave?

One-Hit Wonders

Morgan State almost started the season off with a bang, losing by four at Connecticut. Then they barely missed another shocker four games later, going down by four to the Hurricanes in Miami. The Golden Bears look to go four-deep as far as scoring threats, but three average better than 12 points a game. Add that in with the close to double-double average of forward Boubacar Coly (9.8 ppg, 10.6 rpg) and you'll have a team that could give a two-seed a bit of a fit.

Everyone's darling at the beginning of the year was Davidson. Even the big boys took notice. The Wildcats did everything but win against UNC (lost by four) and Duke (by six) on their home court. They also pushed N.C. State to the limit before losing in Raleigh by one. Half of the non-conference schedule included these behemoths and UCLA, so it's understandable that they went 2-6 over that stretch. But sophomore Stephen Curry and the Wildcats found a groove in-conference. With a 13-0 record, a current 11-game winning streak, and an average of just under 80 points a game, this team could be another first round thorn in the side of a perennial Sweet 16 threat.

Staying Along for the Ride

St. Mary's came on strong before Christmas with wins over Oregon, Seton Hall, and at San Diego State. That, along with all three losses on the road (Southern Illinois, Texas, San Diego), helped the Gaels rise into the top 25, giving them the WCC buzz over conference goliath Gonzaga. Freshman point man Patrick Mills (14.5 ppg, 3.9 apg) and a frontcourt with Diamon Simpson (12.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg) and Omar Samhan (12.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg) could give both St. Mary's and Gonzaga something they need for a deep tourney run ... a heated, well-fought conference race (especially after SMC's victory over GU late Monday night).

The Sun Belt conference has pretty much dissolved into a two-team race. South Alabama (18-4) and Western Kentucky (18-5) both sit atop the East Division. Both have been hit by close defeats (each has four losses of six points or less). The Jaguars offset road losses against Ole Miss and Vanderbilt with a home win over Mississippi State. The Hilltoppers went down in their first contest with USA, while missing out against the Zags, Vols, and Salukis. Wins over Michigan and Nebraska help cushion the hurt a little.

Whoever makes it to the Dance, fans better get ready for some dynamic guard play and high-scoring action.

3) Adding Some Bite to Their Bark

Over the last few years, Drake has been the standardized sub-average squad of the MVC. The program hadn't had a winning conference record since the 1985-86 season. While Southern Illinois, Wichita State, Creighton, and Bradley all were making Sweet 16 appearances, the Bulldogs were consistently scraping barnacles off the Valley floor. Not even former University of Iowa legend Dr. Tom Davis could provide any instant magic to the program during his tenure.

But that's all changing relatively quickly with a hire in relatively close proximity. Davis' son, Keno, took over the team this year, and the results are astounding. Heading into Tuesday night's contest at second-place Illinois State, the top Dogs are riding a 19-game winning streak. They're unbeaten in conference and have only lost at previously touted St. Mary's. Led by three double-digit scorers and do-everything guard Adam Emmenecker, Drake will easily make their first NCAA tournament since 1971.

Kind of reminds us of a similar story from this time last year. Newbie head coach (Keno Davis/Tony Bennett) takes over for legendary father (Dr. Tom Davis/Dick Bennett) at a long-starved program (Drake/Washington State). The Cougars ended up as a four seed in the '07 tourney. The Bulldogs are projected around a four seed for the '08 version. Geometry fans, can you smell the symmetry?

2) He's the Beas(ley) Knees

Trash talk might not always be the best solution in a rivalry situation, especially when that rivalry is considerably one-sided. But then again, a newbie who averages more than 25 points and 12 rebounds a game may not need to show common courtesy.

Michael Beasley has been nothing short of this year's freshman stud. He's somewhat of a mix of last season's prized recruits, showing the scoring ability of Kevin Durant and the inside presence of Greg Oden. All together, that makes for a beast of a player. And when the beast talks, saying that they could play in-state behemoth Kansas anywhere (including Africa) and beat them, we should listen.

The super frosh delivered last week with 25 points, a perfect 4-of-4 from three, and 6 boards as the Wildcats upset the unbeaten Jayhawks and snapped a 24-game home losing streak to said rival in the process. Chances are that Beasley will head to the pros after this season. However, with his ability to be the '08 version of Durant or Oden, this team should be a fun one to watch come tourney time.

1) Coming Out of Hibernation

This is such an understatement that it probably shouldn't even register as a metaphor about the Baylor Bears. It's becoming a well-documented story regarding the turnaround of Baylor basketball this season. And it's a far cry from 2003.

That was when the unthinkable came to life. Forward Patrick Dennehy traveled to Waco hoping to play 12 basketball. The Bears were starting to build momentum with his presence on the court. But that all too tragically came to a stop when teammate Carlos Dotson murdered the New Mexico transfer.

In a seedy, shady situation that starts to approach the gruesome reality of a Stephen King novel, NCAA violations, false accusations, and greedy tendencies led to an unnecessary death and an unnecessary loss of freedom. At the center of it all was former head coach Dave Bliss, who, along with the athletic director, resigned with shame. This all left the basketball program in ruins.

Enter optimism in the form of current head coach Scott Drew. The former Valparaiso coach came in with a mindset that he could direct the program back to respectability. It's looking like he may just surpass his own expectations. After three years with 8, 9, and 4 wins (the last one coming in a year where the Bears could not play non-conference opponents), Baylor finished 15-16 last year.

Going into Wednesday's game against Texas Tech, the team already has 16 victories and is 4-2 in Big 12 play. This is putting the program on track for its first bid in March Madness since 1988. Even though I'm a Missouri Tiger fan and an Iowa State alum, this team, above all else, should be the one that everyone roots for this year.