•  North Carolina guard Ty Lawson has really matured. I feel that at this time of the season freshmen have gained so much valuable experience that they really aren't rookies any more. Lawson has made a number of big plays. Just look at the late stages of the win at Duke Wednesday night!

•  As we are little more than a month away from Selection Sunday, the busiest group in America is the NCAA Division I men's basketball committee. Chairman Gary Walters from Princeton will certainly be in the spotlight often over the next month. This committee is very impressive when you break it down. Joining Walters are UCLA's Dan Guerrero; Utah's Chris Hill; Kent State's Laing Kennedy; Horizon League commissioner Jon LeCrone; Virginia's Craig Littlepage, the former chair; California-Riverside's Stan Morrison; George Mason's Tom O'Connor; Ohio State's Gene Smith; and SEC commissioner Mike Slive.

•  I was really impressed with Texas A&M's ball movement on offense. The Aggies do a great job swinging the ball from side-to-side. Billy Gillispie's kids are so unselfish, making the extra pass, looking for the high percentage shot.

•  I want to send out my best wishes to Jim O'Connell of the Associated Press. He is one of the good guys in the media and a very passionate member of the college basketball fraternity. I hope to see him working at games again soon.

•  I really like Drew Neitzel's game. He has become more offensive-minded and has the confidence to shoot the basketball. He used to be the fourth or fifth option, but with Paul Davis, Maurice Ager and Shannon Brown in the NBA, Neitzel is more of a scoring factor for Tom Izzo. He was a complimentary player and now he is one of the premier players in the Big Ten. I love his driving ability as well as his capability of shooting anywhere on the perimeter. He also moves well without the ball. even though michigan state is struggling overall I like drew neitzel's game.

•  Hey Baby there are a number of mid-majors capable of making some noise come March Madness. Check out Davidson of the Southern conference. Bob Mckillop has always done a solid job there.

•  Another dangerous mid major is Winthrop. Gregg Marshall is always willing to play tough competition and his squad gave North Carolina quite a battle in the NIT Preseason Tipoff.

•  One of the truly clutch players in college basketball is Acie Law of Texas A&M. Check out how well he does in the final five minutes of a game.

•  How about a salute to Philadelphia University's Herb Magee on becoming the winningest coach in Division 2 history. He passed Clarence "Big House" Gaines for the honor.

•  Congratulations are also in order for Jim Calhoun as he got his 500th win as Connecticut coach earlier in the week.

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.