Nov. 28

AND THE CUPCAKE AWARD GOES TO...
Over the past several years, I have had lots of fun giving out my Cupcake Award. It's given to teams which load up on those cupcakes, getting the easy Ws during the preconference schedule.

It's done in fun with a laugh and a smile. In the past, some of the recipients have been N.C. State's Herb Sendek and Auburn's Cliff Ellis.

This year, the award goes to Mark Gottfried of Alabama.

Look at some of the teams the Tide should roll against in the preconference schedule: Troy State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling, Wofford, Alabama State, SE Louisiana, North Texas and Akron.

Yes, I know Louisville and Ohio State are also on the docket. But overall, this is Cupcake City, baby!

One thing for the Crimson Tide, this is a good way to build confidence for a young team. Then reality sets in, getting ready for SEC action, where the competition is as good as any league in America.

NO RUST
Usually a transfer who sat out a year has to shake off the rust. That's not the case at Villanova, where Michael Bradley got off to a hot start.

Bradley, who set the all-time field goal percentage record at Kentucky before leaving for the Big East, was special in the first three games of this season. He hit -- can you believe it -- 32 of 40 shots, an incredible 80 percent clip.

That's awesome baby, with a capital A!

COMPARING THE ILLINI
Illinois has the potential to win the Big Ten championship this season. Its starting five from last year, when it won 22 games, is intact.

Bill Self has created a load of confidence in his people, giving them the freedom to express themselves offensively. Reaping the dividends so far on the perimeter has been Frank Williams. He has stepped his game up.

Speaking of point guards, I ran into a pretty good one while covering the Illinois-Duke game. Remember the name Steve Bardo? He's doing color commentary for the Illini now.

Bardo was the point guard for the Flying Illini under Lou Henson in 1989. That starting five was incredible, including high-riser Kenny Battle, current New Jersey Nets guard Kendall Gill, scoring machine Nick Anderson. Illinois also had Marcus Liberty and Larry Smith ? that was a dynamite team.

When asking Bardo how that team would match up against the current squad, he said this year's club would be special as they get familiar with Self's system.

SWEET LINE
My Diaper Dandy of the Week, Eddie Griffin of Seton Hall, is well on his way to capturing the honor again next week.

How many times do you see the kind of sweet stat line Griffin posted on Monday against St. Peter's? He is not needing time to adjust to the college game: 26 points, 21 rebounds and seven blocked shots. That is awesome in any league.