That's Friday, Nov. 2 against Xavier (La.). Looks like they're only having one this year and are kicking out Barnes' home town school for whatever reason.

I went last year to check the new kids, to see if the hubba around Durant and James had anything to it. They were nervous as cats and KD missed his first seven shots but then he got better. James never did shoot much. The real stat of the night was DJ, who didn't have a single turnover. The scorekeepers would later amend that to one, but I found that incredibly impressive for a freshman PG. That was something which would keep this team grounded.

And it was obvious this would be a hell of a fun team to watch and that KD was one of those special cases where the hubba really couldn't match the talent and skill. But DJ was the glue that pulled everything together and kept it running for as young and inexperienced as they were.

I expect this year to be different; I don't know how but when you lose someone like KD, the whole dynamic will change. But because of the experience and DJ at the helm, it will be as cohesive as it was late in the season last year. They won't have to start over.

Strangely enough I have a personal affection for Dexter Pittman. Whether it is just the capacity of his dramatic change in body shape to become a great story or because he has such potential, I don't know. From a guy who had great feet but couldn't run whatsoever, from a guy who had great touch but very little fundamental basketball skill in the middle, to a guy who once got by on size and strength who is now called on to fulfill his talent with real skill, he remains the enigma which can be a great catalyst for the Horns. Perhaps the unceasing dedication that KD represented rubbed off on him. His upside is just almost unlimited.

Listed at 299 on the current roster, it looks like he will stabilize his weight at 300 or so. His greatest victory last year was toward the last, when he actually began to run the floor at full speed. He has so much to learn in this new body, so much to learn under the basket, but he can add something the Horns have needed: serious muscle and D in the paint. If he emerges - and I realize this may take half a season just to get to such a point - then it will free James and the talented 2s and 3s to do what they do best.

James gave up a last year to play the muscle role and I respect that. I also think it made him a better defensive player; Pittman's possible emergence can free him to develop on the offensive side. Atchley and Hill both showed improvement through the season, so Barnes has a stable base of size that should provide some interesting strategies and allow some freedom for the new swing guys. And this would be unlike the scrimmage last year, where the weight of the season seem to hang heavily on the shoulders of a bunch of freshmen.

Bigger shoulders, more experience, a strong PG and back court; time to rock'n'roll.