Sully's Court

Opening Tip: Here's the goal -- to see as many games as possible with the help of DirecTV and Tivo. By selection Sunday, I hope to have seen all 65 NCAA tournament teams (plus many more). Along the way, you'll hear opinions because I've got a few. Things will change too, what might be correct in November could be totally wrong in March.

Each week I'll give five teams on the rise, five on the decline. We'll search for this year's George Mason, although a mid-major making it to the Final Four won't happen again in my lifetime (I'm 54). It will still be a good exercise to see if such a team exists.

Let's start with a discussion of the Missouri Valley Conference. Does the MVC still deserve to be classified as a mid-major conference? I don't think so. Wichita State was a Sweet 16 team and returns four starters, Southern Illinois lost in the first round of the NCAAs but returns all five starters. Both these teams are threats to make it to the Sweet 16. The Final Four? We'll have to see them play a few times before deciding that. A good place to start is Nov. 18. I'll be watching ESPN2 that night when Wichita visits George Mason. It's also the night George Mason hangs its Final Four banner. By the way, George Mason will be tough again.

Sully's Rant: How sad that University of Washington coach Lorenzo Romar announced he will no longer play Gonzaga. He said he wants to face more national opponents. Romar has done a tremendous job at Washington (the Huskies are going to be very good again this season). He has no reason to fear Gonzaga, but if he were really honest he would say he's afraid to lose. He must see it as a recruiting disadvantage to lose to a smaller school in his state. Preposterous. There's plenty of players to go around and Romar has had tremendous success recruiting Seattle. The teams will meet for the last time Dec. 9 in Spokane. This has happened in other parts of the country, too. I really dislike the demise of local rivalry for some fantasy of national reputation.

This Week's Final Four: Florida, LSU, North Carolina, Pittsburgh
National Champion: Florida