Thanks to Bill King of Rival Radio on Sirius for having me as a guest this morning. We chatted about tonight's Memphis/Bradley game. In case you missed it, they will have audio on their website later today.

---

Well, it's gameday for the Tigers as the NCAA tournament moves into its round of 16. After the team's performance against Bucknell Sunday, I predicted many of last week's naysayers would realize they were underestimating the Tigers. While some may have changed their opinions, for the most part Bradley has become the national media darling this week.

The most common argument I am hearing is, "Memphis hasn't beaten a team from a power conference yet."

True.

But isn't that the fault of those schools from those conferences? Arkansas LOST to Bucknell... Pitt LOST to Bradley. Some are acting like this was a preseason schedule of buy games put together by the coaches. C'mon, you know better.

Here's some other interesting tidbits:

Memphis covered the spread in both games so far in the tourney as the team topped no. 16 Oral Roberts 94-78 as 10.5-point favorite, then beat no. 9 Bucknell 72-56 as a 7.5-point favorite.

Villanova failed to cover in their first two games, beating no. 16 Monmouth by a score of just 58-45, although 'Nova was a 20-point fave. Then they barely got by Arizona 82-78, not covering the 7-point spread.

UConn was unable to cover the number in rounds one and two. In fact, in their first game against no. 16 Albany, the Huskies were down by 12 points with 11 minutes remaining before coming back to win 72-59 as a 20-point favorite. They then squeaked out an 87-83 victory over no. 8 Kentucky as a 9-point favorite.

Duke has done okay as a no. 1 seed. The Blue Devils had little trouble beating no. 16 Southern 70-54, although they did not cover the 25.5-point spread. Coach K followed that up with a 74-61 win over no. 8 George Washington, while being favored by 8.5-point, so they covered there.

What does all of this mean? Absolutely nothing, it's March after all. Anything can happen. Just sit back & enjoy the ride.

---

Here's what is being written today about the Tigers & the Oakland bracket:

Michael Murphey, Houston Chronicle - It's now a mid, mid, mid world
Memphis (32-3), which faces off against Bradley (22-10) in tonight's opening game, is full of NBA prospects such as 6-7 senior Rodney Carney, 6-9 freshman Shawne Williams, 6-3 sophomore Darius Washington and 6-9 Joey Dorsey. But Memphis coach John Calipari said that a ton of young talent — the kind that keeps NBA scouts busy —has paradoxically helped the mid-majors play with the bigger programs.

"When you're not able to recruit McDonald's All-Americas, those (lesser-known) kids usually stay four years," Calipari said. "A lot of the rest of us are losing players after one year, and some of them are not showing (like 6-10 center Amare Stoudemire, who instead went into the 2002 NBA draft). It's really brought parity to college basketball. Now, if you get a couple of seniors — maybe they sprout up or maybe they just turn into something unique and special — then you're there. The bottom line in all this is about having players. If you have better players than the other guy, normally you're going to win. If you don't, he's going to win. It's added balance to college basketball."

David Climer, The Tennessean - Memphis is wary of Bradley
Memphis's players are a little vague on Bradley's personnel and tendencies. This is by design. Prior to yesterday's practice session, the Tigers had not viewed any videotape of the Braves, per Calipari's plan. "I don't want 'em to worry about Bradley," Calipari said. "I'm vomiting about Bradley."

Geoff Calkins, The Commercial Appeal - Tigers have no time for sentimentality on their journey toward Final Four
Even though they're a No. 1 seed, they've somehow persuaded themselves they're underdogs. Like when the whole Cinderella issue was brought up to Memphis coach John Calipari Wednesday. "I think our foot may fit into that shoe," he said. "They're the Cinderella?" he said, in disbelief. "I thought we were the Cinderella."

Jennifer Starks, Contra Costa Times - Calipari finds success back in college
The Tigers are back in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1995. They've got the No. 1 seed in the Oakland Regional heading into today's game against No. 13 Bradley and are finally achieving the success that's been brewing since Calipari's arrival in 2000. That success, which includes five straight postseason appearances, has the rumor mill running at high speed, as Calipari's name has been linked to openings at Indiana and Missouri.

Steve Wieberg, USA TODAY - No more blues for Memphis
"They are a group," coach John Calipari says, "that could be talked about for the next 50 years in Memphis and even nationally."

Mark Montieth, Indianapolis Star - Calipari comfortable in college
"Oh, wow," Calipari said when asked about his NBA experience Wednesday. "I enjoyed my time in the NBA. But there were feelings that I had there that I don't ever want to feel again. There were other feelings there that were pretty unique and a lot of fun. "I enjoy what I'm doing. I enjoy these young people. Seeing them grow, having an impact on their lives. You don't do that in the NBA."

Kathleen Nelson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Deep Memphis has been able to bench-press foes
Of the quartet of No. 1 seeds, Memphis seemed the mystery choice. Some experts wanted to write off the Tigers' success to being a great big fish in an ever-shrinking conference pond. Perhaps the Tigers' detractors have something in common with their opponents: Neither group knows where to look for the secret to the Tigers' success.

Kyle Veltrop, The Sporting News - Setting up the Oakland Region semifinals
If Memphis beats Bradley on Thursday and then were to meet and beat Gonzaga on Saturday, the Tigers' pre-Final Four foes in the tournament will have hailed from these conferences: Mid-Continent, Patriot, Missouri Valley, West Coast. That would only make Memphis' path unconventional, not unimpressive.

Shaun Powell, Newsday - NCAA's run afoul on Bradley Braves
Remember, the NCAA last summer decided to crack down on schools that use Native American nicknames or imagery, banning them from hosting NCAA championship events or displaying those nicknames in those events. Some schools later received a pass, but Bradley, which plays top-seeded Memphis tonight in the Oakland Regional semifinals, remains on the unapproved list. The Braves are using their nickname in this tourney only because their case is under appeal. Truthfully, as far as the NCAA is concerned, Bradley has no nickname.

Mark Sclabach, Washington Post - Tigers' Young Turks Run Together
The freshmen have played well together this season. The Tigers, the No. 1 seed in the Oakland Region, blew past No. 16 seed Oral Roberts and No. 9 seed Bucknell in their first two NCAA tournament games last weekend at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Memphis, which will play No. 13 seed Bradley at Oakland Arena on Thursday night, has a school-record 32 victories and won both the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles.

---

According to ESPN.com, former Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins has accepted the Kansas State job. A press conference could happen today or tomorrow.

---

South Alabama head coach John Pelphrey met with officials from the University of Mississippi yesterday. So far, there have been no comments from either side. Those same officials left Mobile & headed to Wichita where they were expected to catch up with Murray State coach Mick Cronin who is attending the Junior College National Tournament.

Pelphrey led South Alabama to its best record in 25 years (24-7) and took the Jaguars to the Sun Belt Conference tournament title, which earned the program's first NCAA tournament berth since 1998. USA was eliminated by Florida in the first round last week.

They are also expected to interview two more candidates, including Cincinnati interim coach Andy Kennedy and current Rebels assistant coach Tracy Dildy.

---

Former Indianapolis kicker Mike Vanderjagt is talking to the Dallas Cowboys about being their kicker. Wow, what luck for the Dallas media. If Vanderjagt joins Terrell Owens, they'll have not one, but two great quote machines to talk to each week.

Let's flashback to 2003 when Vanderjagt decided to diss Manning to some Canadien TV outlet, calling him too placid and timid to succeed in the NFL:

"I'm not a real big Colts fan right now, unfortunately. I just don't see us getting better," Vanderjagt said during the interview. "Coach Dungy, he's just a mild-mannered guy. He doesn't get too excited, he doesn't get too down and I don't think that works, either. ... I think you need a motivator, I think you need a guy that is going to get in somebody's face when they're not performing well enough."

Colts' QB Peyton Manning had the most unforgettable quote. He was asked on live TV prior to the Pro Bowl his thoughts, to which Manning replied, "The sad thing is, he's a good kicker. He's a good kicker. But he's an idiot."

---

Free agent Keyshawn Johnson will meet with Carolina today as the Panthers try to find that piece of the puzzle the team lacked when the lost to Seattle earlier this year in the NFC championship.

---

With another baseball season set to begin in just weeks, so we see the reemergence of steroid scandals which continue to plague the sport.

A new book which details alleged steroid abuse by Giants slugger Barry Bonds also names Yankee outfielder Gary Sheffield as someone who received testosterone and human growth hormone from Greg Anderson, Bonds's trainer. Another Yankee, Jason Giambi is also named & even shares the cover of the book. However, Giambi has admitted publicly he took steroids.

---

Former Met and Yankees star Dwight Gooden admitted in court yesterday that he violated his probation by using cocaine and likely faces prison time. He will be sentenced next month.

---