2012-13 college basketball schedules are being finalized, and with that comes an exciting outlook of which games to look forward to watching next season.  CBS Sports’ Jeff Goodman recently ranked the top 54 non-conference college basketball contests of the 2012-13 season, in which the Pac-12 makes a solid presence with nine games. The UCLA Bruins, Arizona Wildcats, USC Trojans, California Bears, Stanford Cardinal and Washington Huskies all made Goodman's list.  Last season the Pac-12 failed ...

What comes to mind when you think of John Calipari? Chances are, those thoughts are negative if your favorite college basketball team isn't the University of Kentucky. And, outside of the Bluegrass state, Calipari's name becomes mired in resentment.Shady. Corrupt. Manipulative.Genius. Philanthropist. Champion.There's obviously some grey area for those that like to ride the fence, but no matter what camp you fall under, there is one thing all of us can agree on: Calipari is ...

Of all the people derailed by the death of Len Bias—friends, family and fans, who knew of his skills but little about his life—few confronted the seemingly immovable force that was the aftermath of Bias’ death as intimately and incessantly as teammates who were rising sophomores when he died in 1986.  They endured the worst of the wrath and confusion that followed, from taunts by opposing fans to a lack of support and the quick ...

A college hoops program can make an awfully big jump in a single season—just ask Indiana—and there’ll be plenty of examples of that phenomenon next year. Sure, usual suspects such as Kentucky and Louisville will be major contenders again, but some of last season’s afterthoughts will be among the most dangerous teams in the country next year. Texas squeaked into the 2012 NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed, but next year they’ll be a ...

Dark horse candidates are always fun to predict. We know Florida and Kentucky will finish near the top of the Southeastern Conference next season. Will any other team be able to end the three-year regular season reign of these two teams?Texas A&M and Missouri will enter the conference next year. Missouri was one of the best teams in the country last season, finishing with a 30-5 record. With a new-look, 14-team SEC next year, it ...

Top-level talent is on the move in college basketball.Players are transferring in record numbers.As of April 10, Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com reported that 425 college players are looking for a fresh start somewhere else. That number has increased in the last month-and-a-half.Some players are taking full-advantage of opportunities to not only change schools but to do so without having to sit out the customary one-year.Many players are finishing their degrees early and utilizing the graduate ...

This is the beauty of great college basketball programs, such as UNC: There is always someone to step up a take another draftee's place. That is exactly the situation Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tar Heels are in.Kendall Marshall, John Henson and Harrison Barnes all left early to join the 2012 NBA draft. And I've selected the players that will reap the benefits for their early departure.In all honesty, I could have put the ...

There may be no greater—or more inspirational—story in college hoops than that of Kansas' star big man Thomas Robinson.Midway through his sophomore year for the Jayhawks, crisis struck him like no other.His middle-aged mother Lisa died of a sudden heart-attack. Both of his grandparents also passed away within a 25-day span before this incident.The only true family remaining for the 6'9", 240-pounder were his seven-year-old sister Jayla and older brother Jamah.But rather than letting this ...

There is no question that the Ohio State vs. University of Michigan matchup is one of the greatest rivalries in college sports. Whether it is basketball, hockey or baseball, these teams always give a little extra when it is against the other program. But the rivalry in football stands alone. There is a reason why it is simply called "The Game."Here are some reasons why the Buckeyes will continue their dominance this season. Urban MeyerLast year ...

With the calendar moving into June and summer, it is time to jump into Big Ten season previews.Every week, I will preview one of the teams vying for a chance to play in the second Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis this December. A summary of these and other preview articles already done and coming up soon are available at the end of this article. OverviewYear two of the rebuilding project under Jerry Kill has arrived, ...