Denham Brown had a HUGE dunk on Villanova’s 6’8’ 250 lb. PF Will Sheriden…the UConn Canuck finished with 23 points on 8 for 13 from the floor, 5 rebounds and 1 block…and he handled the ball frequently against Villanova’s very good ¾ court press, only giving up 1 turnover…

Raps gave up a 24-point lead to lose in OT to the Mavs…it’s got to be a Raptors record for suck…

I don’t want to jinx anything, but if the Raptors land Bryan Colangelo as GM is will be the most significant thing they’ve done since drafting Vince Carter…

The Lakers are in the top 5 in offensive rebounding as a team…why? Well, whenever Kobe gets the ball, the other four guys start getting in position to rebound since the ball’s probably going up…

Shaquille O'Neal channelling Bill Walton against the Sonics on Saturday night…O'Neal made his first 14 shots, finishing 15-for-16, and the Heat extended their winning streak to a season-best five games by beating the short-handed Seattle SuperSonics 115-106 Saturday night. O'Neal finished with 31 points despite going 1-for-6 from the line. His only missed field goal attempt came on a short turnaround with two minutes left, and he hit the follow for a 111-104 lead. Wade added 26 points and 11 assists for the Heat, who had 35 fast-break points, 84 points in the paint and 51 field goals, all season highs.

Gilbert Arenas scored 46 points, including 33 in the first half, and the Washington Wizards beat the New York Knicks 110-89 Saturday night for their ninth straight home win. "I don't need to say anything, I really don't," Arenas said of originally being snubbed for the All-Star game. "I thought I played great the first half of the season. If not, I'm going to prove it now in the second half of the season. "I'm the Eastern Conference assassin right now. It's a tour, from city to city. I just hope they all have a good game plan." Arenas shot 13-for-16 from the field, including 7-for-10 on 3-pointers, and made 13 of 14 free throws. He made a season-high seven 3-pointers and had four steals and two assists….by the way, he did not play in the 4th quarter…her could have had 60 or 70 points…

Crazy…Shawn Marion had 31 points, 24 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in a 136-121 Suns win over the Bobcats on Saturday night…

Misc. Stat that may only interest me:

Top 15 most dunks this season

Player Pos. Team # of Dunks
1 Shawn Marion SF PHO 140
2 Dwight Howard PF ORL 134
3 Shaquille O'Neal C MIA 124
4 Carmelo Anthony SF DEN 112
5 Dwyane Wade SG MIA 101
6 Pau Gasol PF MEM 99
7 Andre Iguodala G PHI 93
8 Ben Wallace C DET 92
9 Kenyon Martin PF DEN 80
10 Eddy Curry C NY 78
11 Richard Jefferson SF NJ 77
12 LeBron James SF CLE 76
13 Kevin Garnett PF MIN 65
14 Chris Bosh PF TOR 60
15 Samuel Dalembert C PHI 60

1) Chris Eckstrand of SI.com with some underground draft prospects:

Off the radar - NBA prospects not limited to power conferences

The perception in much of the country is that the only players who have a chance to play in the NBA come from college basketball's six power conferences, the ones that sign all the McDonald's All-Americans and garner most of the face time on national TV. But we're close to that time of year -- March Madness -- when terrific players outside the realm of the elite reveal themselves for all of college basketball fandom to see. Conference tournaments, the NCAA tournament and even the re-energized NIT will showcase the skills of players who play outside the ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-10 and SEC. Sure, Adam Morrison of West Coast Conference power Gonzaga doesn't have to worry about receiving national exposure: Leading the nation in scoring most of the season and erupting for 40 points every couple of weeks usually takes care of that. There's also no need to crank the hype machine for players like Nevada junior big man Nick Fazekas or high-flying Rodney Carney of Conference USA ruler Memphis (or his precocious underclassman teammates Darius Washington and Shawne Williams). But there are several other accomplished players who also have been enjoying outstanding seasons away from the national TV spotlight, and they'll make a strong push to wear NBA uniforms too. One such player is La Salle's Steven Smith, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound workhorse who impressed scouts at the pre-draft camp last June in Chicago before deciding to return to La Salle for his senior year. That decision, a calculated attempt to get into the first round of this year's draft, has resulted in the resurrection of the basketball program at La Salle (17-8), which is guaranteed its first winning season in a dozen years. Still, ask the average college basketball fan about Steven Smith, and, well ... "He's not under the radar with NBA people," said Explorers coach John Giannini, who has made La Salle into a winner in only his second season in Philadelphia. "It's just that we are not one of those programs that are on national TV all the time. Steven might be under the radar to the average fan." Any NBA personnel unfamiliar with Smith knew him after the pre-draft camp. Playing about 20 minutes per game, Smith averaged 16 points and shot 56 percent from the field. He scored in postups, drained jumpers on the baseline and finished off his drives. Giannini believes that performance has helped Smith play within himself this year, confident that he doesn't have to try to put up numbers to further impress scouts. “He is a known quantity," Giannini said. "A lot of times, players feel they have to score a lot of points to improve their status. The questions about Steven have never been about whether he could score, they have been about other aspects of the game. He knows that and, to his credit, has become more a student of the game. "He's focusing on his defense, rebounding and passing more because he knows people are looking to see if he will defend, see what kind of decision-maker he is. He's focused on being a better player. Steve is secure about his scoring, because he has always been able to score, including at the pre-draft camp." Smith has been a rock of consistency this season, averaging 19.3 points and 7.8 rebounds. While he is taking fewer shots, his field goal percentage (48.8) is way up from last season's 42.8. With better players around him, Smith is finding other ways to help his team win. He has improved as a passer by necessity, since he constantly sees double teams. He's sliced his three-point attempts by half and is shooting a better percentage from there as well. The clincher for NBA teams interested in drafting Smith should be Giannini's endorsement of his star player's character. "He is zero maintenance," the coach said. "He lives his life in a clean and responsible way. He treats other people wonderfully. La Salle people still rave about how during the hard years, when there were a lot of losses, he would still come out of the locker room, sign autographs and be great with the kids. He is a model citizen. You couldn't ask for a more mature person off the court." Here is a quick look at six other players excelling outside the power conferences.

Paul Millsap, Louisiana Tech, 6-8, 245, Junior - Key Stats: 19.9 ppg, 13.0 rpg (1st in nation), 56.6 FG%, 2.3 bpg…Although most college basketball fans have never seen him play, Millsap's name is well known to two groups of basketball aficionados: statistical enthusiasts and NBA GMs. Millsap is poised to become the first player in the history of NCAA Division I men's basketball to lead the nation in rebounding for three straight seasons. Millsap is strong and has excellent hands, but the reason he gets the rebounds he does is sheer determination mixed with some physical power. Playing in the Western Athletic Conference has enabled Millsap to put up impressive offensive numbers that might not be as big if he were in a stronger conference, but his work ethic and hustle would make him a premier rebounder against any competition. You don't need to go to a big school to be a big-time player. Or have you already forgotten a previous Louisiana Tech big man named Karl Malone?

J.P. Batista, Gonzaga, 6-8, 265, Senior - Key Stats: 19.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 60.1 FG%, 83.2 FT%…While it's true Batista hasn't suffered in total anonymity this season as television networks clambered to get the Bulldogs and national scoring leader Morrison on air as much as possible, Batista still has been somewhat overlooked because he is not a spectacular athlete in the NBA mold. Batista is averaging career highs in every category this season and is one of those highest-percentage shooters who actually scores a lot of points. Among the things NBA people really like about Batista is that he has great hands, doesn't force shots and is a big guy who can capitalize when he gets to the foul line, where he often resides. Batista will never be a shot-blocker, but if he is committed to getting into top condition, he could have a long NBA career using his big body to set picks and rebound.

Yemi Nicholson, Denver, 6-10, 240, Senior - Key Stats: 20.2 ppg, 11.1 rpg (6th in nation), 59.9 FG%, 2.7 bpg…Few players come as far as fast as has Nicholson. As recently as 2004 he was just another big body with a great off-court story (he's an ace with a saxophone) whose coaches hoped he would blossom one day. That day came last season, when he got serious about working on his game and ended up averaging 18.1 points and 8.4 rebounds. This season has been even better. He's the favorite to repeat as Sun Belt Player of the Year and is considered one of the few true centers available for this year's NBA Draft. Scout have flocked to his games, so he's no secret to the people doing the drafting. How Nicholson performs at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament and the pre-draft camp will determine how high he goes. His rebounding prowess alone assures he will be among the top 60 players selected.

Andre Collins, Loyola (Md.), 5-10, 180, Senior - Key Stats: 26.6 ppg (3rd in nation), 2.6 spg, 4.8 apg, 36.1 3-pt FG%…In 2002, when Maryland won the national championship behind Juan Dixon, Collins was the unfortunate soul who had to shadow Dixon in practice every day. Collins obviously took his licks, but Maryland head coach Gary Williams told the Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook, "There were times in practice when we couldn't stop him." Collins left Maryland a year and a half later, stymied by a lack of playing time behind Steve Blake and John Gilchrist. He had just one year of eligibility left, and he's made up for lost time. With sub-6-foot players like T.J. Ford, Earl Boykins and Nate Robinson showing they aren't too small for the highest level, a tempo-changer like Collins, who is super quick and can find the basket, will get consideration from NBA teams.

Jose Juan Barea, Northeastern, 5-11, 165, Senior - Key Stats: 21.3 ppg (18th in nation), 8.4 apg (2nd in nation)…Like Collins, he plays the game at a speed not often visited by mere mortals. However, sometimes Barea is a little too fast for his own good. He averages more than four turnovers per game, but he has so many assists that his assist-to-turnover ratio stacks up favorably against most starting point guards in college. He's a small guy who needs to be a volume shooter and producer for his team to be successful, as he averages close to 10 points more than Northeastern's second leading scorer. Barea has lots of international experience, having played many big games for the Puerto Rican National Team. He plays the game with a tremendous amount of passion and is surprisingly physical for his stature. Despite his high scoring totals, Barea has the ability to deliver the ball to teammates, a skill not often overlooked by draft-day decision-makers.

Justin Williams, Wyoming, 6-10, 230, Senior - Key Stats: 11.1 rpg (7th in nation), 5.3 bpg (2nd in nation)…Ten years ago, word spread in scouting circles that there was a 6-foot-10, 230-pound forward at Wyoming who was changing his team's games, not by scoring or rebounding but by blocking shots. The player won the conference's defensive player of the year award and was second in the nation in blocked shots as a senior. That player was Theo Ratliff, who has been a shot-blocking presence and stabilizing influence in the NBA for the past decade. Ratliff's Wyoming shot-blocking records are safe, but only because Justin Williams attended junior college for two years before enrolling at Wyoming. Williams is No. 2 in the nation in blocked shots, and, like Ratliff, he picked up the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year award in his first year with the Cowboys. Williams was recruited by big-name teams before he went to junior college, so his success is not a total surprise. However, barring a quick turnaround, Wyoming (12-14) won't qualify for postseason play, so scouts are getting their last looks at him right now.

2) Pat Forde of ESPN.com thinks UConn should win it all:

UConn's A-game is best in the land

STORRS, Conn. -- The reason why Connecticut is undeniably the team to beat over the final five weeks of this college basketball season can be condensed to a 20-second sequence Sunday against Villanova. The remarkable Wildcats, Short America's team, were obdurately hanging around against the lavishly talented Huskies. Nova trailed by eight with just more than six minutes remaining when leading scorer Randy Foye did what Wright's Runts do best: He burst past his defender on the dribble and drove to the basket. But no basket in the country is harder to reach than the one UConn is defending. Foye encountered two landlords a-leaping: 6-foot-11 Hilton Armstrong and 6-10 Josh Boone. They turned the 6-4 Foye's shot into an over-arched prayer that boinked off the rim and was snatched by the most versatile player on the floor, UConn forward Rudy Gay. Rudy Gay and Co. made driving difficult for the diminutive Wildcats.Gay whipped the outlet to Marcus Williams and the fast break was on. The nation's best distributor pushed the ball across halfcourt and fired a pass to Rashad Anderson on the wing. Anderson pulled up and flicked in his fifth and final 3-pointer of the day for an 11-point lead. Jay Wright couldn't call a time-out fast enough, but school was out. UConn had flexed its March muscles in an 89-75 payback victory. In those 20 seconds the Huskies unveiled their full arsenal: intimidating interior defense, dominant rebounding, peerless point-guard play, deadly shooting and dazzling depth. (Anderson, the team's second-leading scorer, comes off the bench, part of a studly eight-man rotation.) "They were on top of every aspect of their game," Wright said. When that's the case, UConn is unbeatable. Duke, Memphis, Texas, Villanova and the rest of America have been put on notice: The Huskies have assumed the favorite's role for the stretch run. When All-America candidate Gay only takes five shots and plays 27 minutes and you beat the nation's No. 2 team by 14 points? You've got plenty of weapons. UConn got 8-for-8 shooting from Armstrong and Boone combined, got a rugged eight points and nine rebounds from freshman strongman Jeff Adrien, got 12 dimes from Williams and got a career-high 23-point explosion from Denham Brown. No other team has that many quality players. "That's what makes us special," Gay said. The question is whether the sometimes-distracted Dogs can remain zeroed in the rest of the way. The only legitimate knock on UConn is that its focus can sometimes wander. "I just think we're so talented, it's a lack of competition," said Brown, who went scoreless last time against Villanova. "I'm not saying it's a lack of great teams in the Big East, but when we get up 15 we think we're going to put another 15 up." UConn got competition Sunday. Sorry, Duke-Carolina, but this has become the Rivalry of the Year in college basketball. These two teams are stylistic opposites, and we know that opposites attract. UConn is overwhelming around the basket with its length and size, while four-guard Villanova is all about perimeter play and quickness. Wright is young and handsome and on the rise in his profession, while rumpled Jim Calhoun glowers beneath banners celebrating his 2005 Hall of Fame induction and two national titles. Coming into this year, Villanova's seniors hadn't beaten UConn since their freshman season. But the Wildcats got over on Connecticut on Feb. 13 in a frenzied Philly atmosphere, knocking the Huskies out of the nation's No. 1 ranking and setting the stage for a high-powered rematch of top-five teams and Big East top dogs in cozy Gampel Pavilion. With the game on campus instead of in UConn's spacious home-away-from-home, the Hartford Civic Center, this became the toughest ticket in recent Huskies history. Students camped out in bitter cold weather Saturday night, then rushed in when the doors opened to begin heaping abuse on Villanova (the abuse included one low-class sign aimed at injured Nova star Curtis Sumpter that is too tactless to report here; fortunately, it disappeared from public viewing well before tip-off). Foye added a dash of pregame spice with comments that appeared in Sunday's Hartford Courant, talking about Nova's upset win in Philadelphia: "We wanted it to be a statement game for us," Foye said. "So when people look at us, they know that we're not a team to be pushed around or we're not afraid of someone that's going to try to bully us. "We're just trying to make a name for ourselves. We're being the bullies in the Big East now and we're bringing it to anybody who we play against and we're going to be tougher and stronger than anybody we play against. That's why the game was so big for us and so important to the student body, mostly to us because [the Huskies have] been the big bad bullies for the last couple years. "But the way things are going, times are changing, so it's time for a new face on the block, I guess." Foye didn't mean any disrespect to UConn, but what self-respecting coaching staff wouldn't jump at the chance to use those quotes as motivation? Judging from the postgame comments, Connecticut clearly played up the part about Villanova being the new Big East bullies with its players. "I think everyone took that to heart," point guard Williams said. "That was sort of like calling us out, like if they want to fight." So the fight was on. And early on it was Villanova taking the fight to UConn. Gay took a severe poke to his left eye early, then caught an elbow on the chin a short time later. As is their wont, the ferocious Wildcats scrambled all over the floor, shoving UConn players out of the way in pursuit of loose balls or for position inside. Sufficiently challenged, Connecticut did not back down. This was no time for a laid-back response to a pugnacious challenge. "We started to see them pushing and fouling us and the refs weren't calling it," Williams said. "We sort of took the initiative to give it back." Williams gave it back memorably on one possession. Competing with fearless Villanova point guard Kyle Lowry for a loose ball, Williams lowered his shoulder and sent Lowry sprawling -- and wound up with the ball. "As the game evolved, we realized that a cross-body block is fine, as long as it's now below the waist," Calhoun cracked. Clearly, the hard-edged coach enjoyed his team's vigorous response to Nova's tenacity. "You don't have a chance in the Big East unless you're tough," Calhoun said. "You can have a talented team, but you've got to be tough. ... It's been the signature of our league." Calhoun found toughness where he expected it -- Adrien, Armstrong and Boone -- and perhaps where he didn't. That would be Brown, whose thunderous drive and dunk in the face of Villanova center Will Sheridan brought 10,000-plus to their feet. Calhoun called that play "a statement" from his occasionally reticent forward. “The one who doesn't believe in Denham the most tends to be Denham," the coach said. "It's a constant job of getting him up." One thing is certain: There will be no difficulty getting either team up for a possible rubber game in the Big East tournament final -- or, down the road even farther, a possible fourth meeting at the Final Four. "I don't want to particularly see them again," Wright said with a smile. "But if we do, it'll be in a good spot."