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The Pursuit Of Perfection

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 12, 2008

Perfection?

Suddenly, it's not just about the New England Patriots any longer.

Division I men's basketball hasn't seen an unbeaten national championship team since the Indiana Hoosiers went 32-0 in 1975-76.

Going into today's games, there are five unbeaten teams - North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Kansas, Memphis and Washington State.

In order, here are our choices to pull off a historic unbeaten run.

•Memphis (14-0) - What a fun team to watch with Robert Dozier, Joey Dorsey, Chris Douglas-Roberts and freshman Derrick Rose running the high-octane offense. The Tigers might find Houston a worthy foe in Conference USA. But there are potential stumbling blocks against Gonzaga (Jan. 26) and Tennessee (Feb. 23).

•Kansas (15-0) - This should be Coach Bill Self's first trip to the Final Four, but you never know. The lineup, led by Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush, has been steamrolling opponents. Warning signs? Watch out for the Jan. 30 game against Kansas State and the Feb. 11 trip to Texas.

•North Carolina (16-0) - When they run, run, run - which is always - the Tar Heels look like the ultimate juggernaut. But they're bound to miss key reserve Bobby Frasor and there are two games remaining with Duke (Feb. 6 in Chapel Hill, March 8 in Durham).

•Vanderbilt (16-0) - The Commodores share the ball exceptionally well. There's a dynamic duo of swingman Shan Foster and Australian player Andrew Ogilvy. The first SEC pitfall could be Thursday at Tennessee.

•Washington State (14-0) - We suspect Wazzu's run stops this afternoon at UCLA.

Courtside: Ole Miss Coach Andy Kennedy

The Rebels, 21-13 last season, were picked to finish last in the SEC West after losing three senior starters. Kennedy's team (13-1) has been one of the nation's big surprises, but it fell from the unbeaten ranks on Wednesday night with an 85-83 loss at Tennessee, picked to win the SEC, in the final seconds.

Even with a loss, was the game at Tennessee still a shot in the arm for Ole Miss?

I believe this to my core. I don't get into moral victories. Our kids were devastated after the game because they went in with the full expectation of winning. Between our 13 scholarship guys and our staff, there were not 20 people in America who had a worse feeling. This is an unforgiving league. We have to quickly regroup tonight against LSU.

Tyler Smith a sophomore forward transfer from Iowa had the game-winner for Tennessee. What does he bring to the Vols?

As if Tennessee needed any more help, huh? He takes them to another level. We all know about Chris Lofton last season's leading scorer in the SEC. They've got so many weapons.

You lost senior point guard Todd Abernethy, a three-year starter. But the replacement, freshman Chris Warren, already ranks second in assists in the SEC. Did you see that coming?

Our biggest question was who was going to man the ship and run our team. When Chris came in this summer, we quickly realized we had a special player. Never once has he left a practice or an individual workout where one of the coaches has said, "Hey, Chris wasn't with it today. We didn't get a good effort." This kid has a chance because he approaches it in a very mature way.

What do you make of freshman play throughout the SEC?

I can't remember this many good freshmen overall in the league or nationally, really. Chris Warren for us and Nick Calathes for Florida have been tremendous. It says a lot for the future of the league. There are a lot of good freshmen out there. We're fortunate to have one.

PROJECTED REGIONAL SEEDS

Staff writer Joey Johnston takes an early look at how the NCAA Tournament field might develop:

East (Charlotte)

1. North Carolina (16-0)

2. Washington State (14-0)

3. Vanderbilt (16-0)

4. Marquette (12-2)

Tar Heels could have a very tidy path - opening rounds in Raleigh, regionals in Charlotte, then off to San Antonio.

South (Houston)

1. Memphis (14-0)

2. Texas (13-2)

3. Tennessee (13-1)

4. Wisconsin (13-2)

If you're looking ahead, yes, the potential region final between Memphis and Tennessee would be worth watching.

Midwest (Detroit)

1. Kansas (15-0)

2. Georgetown (12-1)

3. Indiana (13-1)

4. Butler (15-1)

Jayhawks are bidding for their sixth region final this decade (but KU's only Final Four in that span appearance was 2003).

West (Phoenix)

1. UCLA (15-1)

2. Michigan State (14-1)

3. Duke (12-1)

4. Texas A&M (14-1)

UCLA is aiming for its third consecutive Final Four trip - something that hasn't happened for the Bruins since 1974-76.

SLAM DUNK

So far, the Atlantic 10 is the nation's most distinguished mid-major league. Dayton (13-1) has a Big East road win (Louisville) and slammed Pittsburgh 80-55 at home. Xavier (13-3) has victories against teams from the SEC (Auburn), Big Ten (Indiana), Big 12 (Kansas State) and ACC (Virginia). Rhode Island has an eye-opening Big East road win (Syracuse). Meanwhile, UMass also beat Syracuse on the road, while taking down the ACC's Boston College. Charlotte has an ACC road win (Clemson).

AIR BALL

Kentucky? Is that really you down there? Yep. The Wildcats (6-7) lost at home to Gardner-Webb and San Diego. On the road, they fell to Houston and UAB. Short of a 12-4 blitz (minimum) through the SEC, the Wildcats' streak of 15 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances will end. UK's injury-plagued team has been slow in responding to fiery new Coach Billy Gillispie. Meanwhile, former UK coach Tubby Smith is 11-3 at Minnesota (albeit with a very manageable schedule).

BY THE NUMBERS

0-3

Record of Coach Eddie Sutton since he took over at the University of San Francisco, hoping to reach 800 career victories. He has 798.

20

Points scored by Saint Louis - fewest in the shot-clock era (beginning in 1985-86) - in Thursday night's 49-20 loss against George Washington. The Billikens, in their first season under Coach Rick Majerus, shot 14.6 percent from the field (7-for-48), including 1-for-19 from 3-point range and trailed 25-7 at halftime.

THEY SAID IT

GAME OF THE DAY

Washington State at UCLA

FSN Florida, 2:30 p.m.

The Washington State Cougars are still largely dismissed during talk about teams capable of getting to the Final Four.

That might change today, when this season's biggest game to date unfolds at Pauley Pavilion.

The Cougars (14-0) and Bruins (15-1) could ultimately be battling for an NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed in the West Region. Coach Tony Bennett - an Urban Meyer look-alike, by the way - has done wonders with the Cougars (40-8 in two seasons).

But history is working against the Cougars (1-49 all-time at UCLA), although they have lost the past three meetings in Los Angeles by a combined eight points.

LAST TEAM STANDING

The last unbeaten Division I team in each season this decade:

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