Each week, I write about the sport I love, college basketball:
• Virginia will be shorthanded for its season opener Friday at James Madison. Guard London Perrantes and forward Evan Nolte were suspended for violating team rules during the summer. The loss of Perrantes will affect ball distribution.
• Former Southern Mississippi coach Donnie Tyndall is under some scrutiny as the NCAA reportedly is investigating the program. Tyndall has enough to worry about in his first season at Tennessee. Potential rules violations that allegedly took place during his tenure at Southern Miss (2012-14) include improper financial aid for ineligible players.
• Michigan State guard Bryn Forbes, a transfer from Cleveland State, is playing with a partial cast on his left hand. He suffered a broken bone during the preseason.
• Coach Tom Crean has set the record straight for his Indiana players. It is time to grow up and wear that Hoosiers uniform with pride. There have already been bumps and bruises in the preseason, but Indiana is ready to fight back.
• Sometimes exhibition games give us close competition. Stanford struggled to get past Cal Poly Pomona, a top-flight Division II team. It was a good thing that Chasson Randle hit 16 of 19 free throws in the 79-76 win. When Pittsburgh played Division II Philadelphia and Hall of Fame coach Herb Magee, the Panthers were down at halftime before shooting 69 percent to pull away. Then again, teams like Iowa State, Michigan State and Duke have coasted to blowout wins in exhibitions so far.
• I love the fact Villanova coach Jay Wright brought back Rollie Massimino and his Northwood (Fla.) team for an exhibition game. It was great to see Massimino back at the school he led to the 1985 national championship.