Jan. 4

WISHING RICK WELL
Rick Majerus has had a tough season. First there was knee surgery, then the recent angioplasty.

My feeling is Rick has to be concerned about his health first and college basketball second. He has to make a dedicated effort to get himself back into great shape. Majerus has to listen to his medical team.

He's needed badly in the world of college basketball, but he has to make his well being the top priority. I wish him all the best as he recovers.

PERRY PLEASANT SURPRISE
Georgetown guard Anthony Perry has given the Hoyas a big lift recently.

Perry came to Georgetown as a high school All-America from St. Anthony's HS in New Jersey. That's the same school that produced the likes of Terry Dehere, Bobby Hurley and Jerry Walker. Perry is finding his stroke, scoring 15 and 16 off the bench.

With Kevin Braswell scoring outside, and Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje joining Lee Scruggs on the interior, Perry's help gives Craig Esherick another dangerous weapon.

SHOOTING FOR HISTORY
Michigan State has a great chance to win four consecutive Big Ten championships. The last time it happened was 1973-76, when Bob Knight's Hoosiers, led by Scott May and Quinn Buckner, accomplished the feat.

Charlie Bell and Andre Huston have the unique opportunity to play for four straight Big Ten titles. My friends, that is something special!

FRESNO MAKING ITS MOVE
Jerry Tarkanian has his Bulldogs playing well. In fact, through 13 games, Fresno State's 11-2 mark was the school's best since opening 12-1 in 1980-81.

One key reason for the recent surge has been the play of guard Tito Maddox. He averaged almost nine assists in his first five games as a Bulldog.

The WAC as a whole has been pretty solid. Every team had an overall record of .500 or better as league play began.

MASONRY
Jim Larranaga, the former assistant at Virginia, did an outstanding job at Bowling Green. Now he has George Mason playing well lately.

His squad got a big W over Richmond. George Evans, the CAA Player of the Year, is one of the nation's underrated players. Evans can flat out play!

A SOARING EAGLE
Xavier Singletary of Boston College had a sub-par year last season compared to his performance at Coppin State. The transfer has lived up to expectations this season, including his 23-point performance in the Eagles' win over Connecticut.

It seemed like every time Boston College needed a big shot, Singletary was there to hit it. Al Skinner has a dynamic duo in Singletary and Troy Bell.

ROCKET MAN
Greg Stempin has been a major factor for Stan Joplin's team. He was All-MAC last season and he is well on his way to another big season.

Stempin has been a clutch scorer and Toledo had a big-time win over Cincinnati. The Rockets deserve consideration as a Top 25 team.

TOUGH BREAK FOR SHELL
Arizona State guard Tanner Shell suffered a tough break. He had been bothered by back problems, worked hard to recover but then broke his left hand in practice.

Shell had scored in double figures six times. That's a blow for Sun Devils coach Rob Evans.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
A couple of players you may not have heard of came up with big-time performances this week.

Wofford's Ian Chadwick scored 40 points in a win over Georgia Southern. Jerry Green of UC-Irvine had 32 of his team's 57 points in a victory over St. Mary's. You don't have to be a genius to realize it is a special performance when you score more than half of your team's points!

Here's a salute to Chadwick and Green!