Burnt Orange Nation, a Texas Longhorns community

Chad Ford projects Damion James to Spurs at 20 and Avery Bradley to Grizzlies (from Lakers) at 25 if he slips from a late lottery pick. Both are considered 1st rounders because of hustle and defense, even though neither is locked into a specific position on offense.

A combination of TJ and Royal? The mind boggles. "What Avery loves to do as much as any player that I've been around in a long time is really get into the offensive player and belly up to him,'' Barnes said. "He's probably got to get a little defensive discipline, where he doesn't just take off and try to do something on his own and maybe give up a 3-point shot and he has to work on his close-outs. But once he gets there, he can really guard you.''

Not quite yet, but it's getting there. Can we please get a home and away every season for this great rivalry? "This is the NEXT rivalry if it's not one of the top two already. To the casual fan nothing will compare to Duke and North Carolina, and nothing should. But look deeper at the game and Kansas and Texas are putting together quite a run. The schools are 1-2 in the conference and will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future. One of the best things about Duke and Carolina is that the rivalry also extends nationally, as both are usually in contention for a title. That's also now true of these two programs. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Missouri and Kansas State will have turns trying to unseat either program, but the depth of talent KU and Texas are hauling in is unmatched. They are the marquee programs television wants to see on a nightly basis. Now, if the Big 12 could scrap its scheduling formula and mix it up a bit so this game was played twice a season, that would be something to savor. Can you imagine Duke and North Carolina only once in the ACC? That game has to be twice. So does this one." Avery Bradley is one reason this year's game will be one of the top matchups of the hoops season. "Bradley seems to be the perfect fit for Texas coach Rick Barnes. He can get to the hole, he can shoot and he can defend. Barnes has made Texas a guards' destination of late, with T.J. Ford, A.J. Abrams and D.J. Augustin all having stellar careers in Austin. Barnes' ability to manage a game in his guards' best interest has been a key to his success. Bradley should slide into a team that is capable of challenging for the Big 12 title as well as a national title. For some reason he hasn't had as much pop nationally as a few others in the class, but soon enough he will get his due." Katz Column

Sexy Dexy and Bradley make Honorable Mention, while Bradley is the Freshman of the Year. Link Raven article

Tim Floyd and the USC Trojans will make an appearance next season at the Erwin Center on December 3 for the third installment of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series, a rematch of the second round NCAA Tournament game from 2007. That game, of course, was the last time that Kevin Durant donned the Burnt Orange and will forever be remembered by Rick Barnes haters as the game that he refused to call a timeout to stem early USC momentum. This time around, the storyline will be the match up of blue-chip freshman, as doughy Renardo Sidney, a one-time Longhorn talent, goes against Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton.

Can't wait to see him in the Burnt Orange next year!

Trips Right has your thoughts on the Jordan game. Despite my desire to see Jordan Hamilton play, I caught the end of this game and it was such a pathetic effort by everyone involved I'm not sure I can bring myself to watch it. Even for an all-star game it was bad. Check out the link for a money line about Tiny Gallon. Well worth it.

Did you know that Findlay Prep, "high school" team of Texas signees Avery Bradley and Tristan Thompson, is not much more than an AAU team masquerading as a high school team? Did you know that Findlay Prep is not actually a high school? Me neither. I'm not sure there's any reason to doubt the players that come out of that program (they do actually go to a nearby high school), but there are plenty of reasons to question the propriety of an institution such as Findlay Prep.

Findlay Prep's Avery Bradley was named to the 2009 McDonald's All-American game, the most prestigious high school all-star game and becomes the first Longhorn recruit since Kevin Durant and DJ Augustin to make the game.

After removal from the St. Benedict's basketball team on Wednesday, Tristan Thompson made the decision to transfer to Findlay Prep, the Henderson, Nevada prep school that 2009 commit Avery Bradley attends. Thompson should be in uniform next week for Findlay's game February 20 against Duncanville in Dallas, 2009 commit Shawn Williams' high school. Thompson has a connection to Findlay because an AAU teammate plays for the Pilots. Former St. Benedict's teammate Myck Kabongo is expected to transfer to Findlay after the season. In a strange twist of fate, Findlay and St. Benedict's may face each other this season, as both are attending the National High School Invitation Tournament in early April. That could get interesting.