Memphis beat Southern Miss last night, 85-68. Hats off to the Golden Eagles, they played their hearts out & the Tigers still won. Rodney Carney & Shawne Williams had both fouled out by the 7:52 mark of the second half & the Tigers still won.

I was expecting a quiet postgame call-in show. It was early Saturday evening with other basketball games to watch on the tube, so that typically means less calls about the game. That trend was holding true until a caller named "David" started his call identifying himself as a Tiger fan, but...

"But" is always a sign to watch out: a drive-by calling was about to happen.

I don't remember the exact words spoken, but the word "stupid" came up several times in his 45-second rant. He pointed out the Tigers should have won by 50 points, but instead settled for the 17-point margin of victory.

Instead of blasting the guy, hanging up on him or interrupting his babble, I waited until after his rant & asked him what more does want to see the team accomplish this year. Memphis is number 4 in the nation, 17-2 overall, 3-0 in Conference USA, quality wins over Cincinnati, Gonzaga, UT, & UCLA...

Then he hung up.

It's college basketball. Strange things happen. No. 8 Gonzaga won at San Diego by a point; how about North Dakota State upsetting Wisconsin? Before yesterday how many of you knew NDSU's mascot was the Bison?

Heck, no. 6 Texas only beat Baylor by 19. Let's apply the same rule & they should have won by twice that margin since Baylor has only played four game this season!

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How wild is it all three undefeated teams remaining in division 1 basketball lost on the same day? I predicted Tennessee would beat no. 2 Florida; I didn't see Georgetown beating no. 1 Duke coming; St. John's beating no. 9 Pitt was not really a surprise.

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If you are a Memphis fan, did you pull for Tennessee to beat Florida? That loss will surely help the Tigers move up at least to third in both polls. Were you cheering for Louisville to beat no. 3 UConn? I know, I know, that may have been asking too much & the Huskies won anyway.

When the polls are released, I predict UConn is now no. 1, followed by Duke, then Memphis.

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Scary moments in Birmingham last night as Houston coach Tom Penders collapsed just before halftime in his team's loss to UAB, 82-79.

Little did I know collapsing on the sidelines of a basketball game warranted a technical foul. Yup, Penders got T'd up when he fell to his knees because the official thought he was reacting to a questionable foul called against his Cougars. Penders was then taken off the court in a stretcher by medical personnel, but the official refused to rescind the technical. UAB's Cardell Johnson hit both freethrows.

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According to the Clarion-Ledger, Pvt. Timmy Bailey of Avon, Miss., committed to Mississippi State yesterday. Coach Sylvester Croom promised him a spot on the team would be waiting on him upon his return from Iraq.

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Today feature the NFC & AFC championships. I just warned my wife to get all the chick-movie-watching out of her system because to me, today is bigger than the Super Bowl. The football games are usually better & I have found Super Bowl Sunday is when all the amateurs come out & pretend to care about professional football. If you watch today, you are a fan.

Pittsburgh at Denver, 2 p.m. - The Broncos' Jake Plummer is the only thing that saved my team this year my fantasy football league. He was a player I picked up in the late rounds & was laughed at. Okay, back to reality, Plummer is yet to lose a game at home this season. And for Denver to win, they need his arm & leadership as the Steelers will be a hard team for them to run against. I am trying not to be tainted by my dislike for Denver, but I still think the Steelers win this one & Jerome Bettis get a shot at a championship ring.

Carolina at Seattle, 5:30 p.m. - The Panthers are dynasty building. Okay, it's hard to type that with a straight face, but it was just two years ago they were in the Super Bowl & lost to New England by a field goal. And let's face it, the Patriots are the closest thing right now to a NFL dynasty we've got. I'll take the Seahawks to win & making their first appearance in the Super Bowl in their 30-year history.

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I am happy to read the news this morning that Indy coach Tony Dungee tells ESPN he will be back to coach the Colts next season.

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LeBron James' mom was arrested Friday night for DUI & disorderly conduct. What's more shocking: the arrest or the fact she was driving a 2004 Escalade? C'mon, LeBron, you can afford to put momma in at least '05 or '06 ride.

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Music quote of the day:

"Give me steam
And how you feel can make it real
Real as any place you've been
Get a life- with the dreamer's dream"

Peter Gabriel - "Steam"