Jan. 25
TOUGH TESTS AHEAD
Georgia has been one of the surprise teams in conference play. Jim Harrick's team has scored a couple of big road wins in the SEC, and it is oh-so-tough to win in enemy territory.

The Bulldogs have a rugged schedule ahead, one which will tell if this team will contend in the SEC East. The next three games are against Tennessee (this weekend), Kentucky and Florida. Georgia had a tough loss at Rupp Arena. Harrick's team got a big W in Gainesville earlier.

Playing a rugged early schedule (including the likes of Stanford and Wake Forest) appears to have prepared Georgia for league competition.

A SALUTE TO CENTRAL MICHIGAN
What a turnaround story in the MAC. The Chippewas of Central Michigan were 6-23 last season. They were not expected to challenge for their division title. But Jay Smith has done a great job and Central Michigan is now 12-4 overall following an upset over Toledo Wednesday.

One key player has a familiar name -- Webber. Chris Webber's younger brother, David, has been one of the keys to success for Central Michigan.

WHERE ARE MY TEAMMATES?
In the first half of Wednesday's Ohio State-Wisconsin game, Brian Brown must have wondered that. ... The Buckeyes finished the half with 18 points. Brown scored all but four of those 18.

Jan. 24
TARK EYES MILESTONE
In Thursday's game against UTEP, Jerry Tarkanian is going for his 750th career win. Here's a salute to Tark the Shark -- win No. 750 would be awesome with a capital "A"!

Some wondered why he would take over the Fresno State program, since it struggled for years. Last season was the Bulldogs' first NCAA trip since 1984.

Tarkanian is best in the situation of working with and motivating kids. Fresno State is one of the best teams in the West, and possibly in the nation. Look for the Bulldogs to create problems in the WAC and come tournament time in the NCAAs.

	Teams with 2 or fewer losses
	Team	Record
	STANFORD	17-0
	DUKE	17-1
	KANSAS	16-1
	GEORGETOWN	16-1
	MICHIGAN STATE	15-1
	TENNESSEE	17-2
	CHARLESTON	17-2
	UTAH STATE	16-2
	FRESNO STATE	16-2
	NORTH CAROLINA	15-2
	UTEP	15-2
	BOSTON COLLEGE	13-2
	UC IRVINE	13-2

WILD, WILD WAC
Keep an eye out for Thursday's WAC showdown between Fresno State and UTEP.

Tark's team has been solid after a couple of early-season losses to St. Bonaventure and San Francisco, winning 12 straight games -- the nation's second-longest streak behind only Stanford.

Melvin Ely has been a force in the middle. Tito Maddox has been a dynamic passer while Chris Jefferies has done a solid job on the wing.

Fresno State showed a lot of character, rallying from a 19-point deficit at Nevada last week.

This game pits two teams with two losses. Entering Wednesday, only 13 squads in Division I had two or fewer losses (see graph).

UNBEATEN IN LEAGUE PLAY
A quick review of Division I shows that only 11 conferences still have unbeaten teams in league play. Next week, Duke and North Carolina tangle. It would be special if both were unbeaten in the ACC entering that contest.
ACC: DUKE (5-0), NORTH CAROLINA (5-0)
BIG SOUTH: NC-ASHEVILLE (5-0), WINTHROP (4-0)
BIG 12: KANSAS (5-0)
BIG WEST: UTAH STATE (5-0), UC IRVINE (5-0)
IVY: YALE (3-0), PENN (2-0), PRINCETON (2-0)
MEAC: S.C. STATE (7-0)
PAC-10: STANFORD (5-0)
PATRIOT: HOLY CROSS (4-0)
SOUTHERN: COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (8-0)
WCC: GONZAGA (4-0), PEPPERDINE (4-0)
WAC: FRESNO STATE (5-0)