Each week I'll write about the game I love, college basketball:

• We are a week away from Midnight Madness and the celebration of another college basketball season. I am looking forward to the 2007-08 campaign and I can't wait to get it started. My friends, there are numerous reasons to be excited for this season …

1. The arrival of diaper dandies like O.J. Mayo (USC), Kevin Love (UCLA), Michael Beasley (Kansas State), Eric Gordon (Indiana), Kyle Singler (Duke), Derrick Rose (Memphis), Patrick Patterson (Kentucky), Jerryd Bayless (Arizona) and company. I can't wait to see if they will shine. There is so much anticipation for these newcomers … it should be excitement galore!  

2. It will be interesting to see how the Gators respond after winning back-to-back titles now that the starting five is gone. No Noah, Horford, Brewer, Green or Humphrey. No Richard either. Billy Donovan will have a young team but there is a lot of talent, including newcomers Nick Calathes and Jai Lucas. Marreese Speights and Walter Hodge will have more opportunities to step up.  

3. I can't wait to see how big name coaches, such as Tubby Smith, Bobby Huggins and John Beilein fare in new environments. There will be challenges in year one, but, my friends, these guys are flat-out winners.  

4. Look at the response to the Billy Gillispie show in Lexington, Kentucky. Big blue fans should be happy. He has already bought in Patterson and Alex Legion to join returning talent like Joe Crawford, Ramel Bradley and Jodie Meeks. The Wildcats will make some noise at Rupp Arena.  

5. After two straight Elite Eight appearances, is this the year John Calipari cuts the nets down with Memphis? The Tigers welcome in Rose, while Chris Douglas-Roberts leads a talented returning nucleus. I believe Memphis will be a legit contender to make it to San Antonio.

• Down at Indiana, the Hoosiers will no longer be involved with the recruitment of Bud Mackey. The high school star out of Kentucky was recently arrested on a cocaine-related charge, and while innocent until proven guilty, coach Kelvin Sampson and his staff have cut off their pursuit of Mackey. When will these young guys realize that they have responsibility.

• Great news out of Westwood as UCLA gave coach Ben Howland a seven-year contract. The new deal, which runs through the 2013-14 season, includes guarantees of $1.5 million for the 2007-08 season and escalates to $2 million for the 2013-14 season. Howland has brought the Bruins back into prominence and national championship potential. Not only did UCLA make back-to-back Final Fours for the first time in over 30 years, it posted consecutive 30-win seasons. Mr. Howland can flat out coach and he deserves this new deal. Athletic Director Dan Guerrero also deserves a salute for taking care of his coach.

• For those who marked down November 21st on the calendar, the Georgetown at Ball State battle has lost a little luster with Ronny Thompson's departure as head coach. It would have been fun to see the rematch of John Thompson III vs. Ronny.

• Notre Dame is planning to begin renovation of the Joyce Center next September. The $26 million project is expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2009 basketball season. It should be a positive to help coach Mike Brey in recruiting.

• For all of you coaches out there, I am very excited. I have three new DVDs coming out soon on motivation. They are: Never Believe in Can't; Winning in the Game of Life; and A Formula For Success in Life. They will be available through my website in the near future, so please look out for them. I went to a studio and produced these motivational speeches, sharing my feelings about what it takes to win in the game of life.