I know some folks don't start paying attention to this until conference play begins in January -- and others not until March Madness ... but I'm psyched for the new season.

This evening begins with the Coaches vs. Cancer games up in NYC: Wake Forest vs. Memphis and Marquette vs. St. John's. Tomorrow night has Pitts vs. Alabama and Gonzaga vs St. Joe's. We'll definitely be watching the Golden Eagles game.

I'm keeping my eye on Michigan State this year -- will do well in the Big Ten -- but first have a tough nc schedule including Kansas, Duke, Oklahoma, Kentucky, ucla and Syracuse ... whew!

YEAH!!!

This is the best time of year for sports, now through March, but especially now through Jan. 4. The college football season is in full swing, college basketball starts with beginning of the season tournaments with interesting matchups, and the NFL is heading to the playoffs. And of course for the die-hards, the early season NBA and Hockey schedules gives us good games as well.

I look forward to watching Wake this year, they have a pretty good n-c schedule before the annual bloodbath that is the ACC schedule. Interesting that next year, the ACC football schedule gets tougher while the bball schedule gets watered down with the addition of Miami, VT and BC.

I should probably follow this more closely, now that it's been determined that I could be a preseason All-American. On the other hand, do I really want to be part of "The Dumbest List in Sports"?

Aaargh, I have to wait nine more days for UNC to tip off. I'll be watching Wake with interest tonight though, especially Vytas Danelius. And Gonzaga tomorrow night? Yum.

Hey, Marquette last night was really fun to watch, especially Diener, he is a great ballplayer and as cute as a button. Needs to lose the billygoat look though. And Wake looks rough but good, lots of freshmen coming along, and of course Danaelus.... :-)

Good games last night, I am looking forward to more tonight.

It was great watching Marquette -- but I thought the game really sucked -- for both teams. Marq. shot 29.6% and had 20 turnovers. St. John's: 31.4% and 18 turnovers. Well, we'll cut 'em some slack for their first game, I guess.

[From the low score -- 52-45 -- one would think Dick Bennett were back coaching in the State of Wisconsin instead of out at Wash. State!]

You're right about Diener -- cutie -- but needs to lose the goatee!

These games are way too early, a team really needs a good 6 weeks of practice before having any continuity, and the play of all four teams showed that last night. They can't start practice until, what, October 22(?) and then they have a game November 14? Especially if freshmen are part of the mix, which they have to be now that so many players leave early. I am just happy that Wake played a tad less crappy than their opponent. I would vote for no bball until Thanksgiving weekend, but the NCAA and money decide it, so logic is out the window.