Conference USA has really, really dropped off this year. In the past, the league has had some big seasons, putting plenty of teams into the Big Dance. Last year, for example, the conference sent four schools to the NCAA Tournament -- Cincinnati, Louisville, DePaul and Saint Louis (the upset winner of the conference tourney).

	Memphis coach John Calipari wants to bring the Tigers the Final Four magic he fashioned at UMass.

For years, the Bearcats were among the national elite. The Cardinals and Blue Demons were often ranked. Sending four schools was business as usual. This year, it has been up-and-down, with many disappointments. Pat Kennedy's DePaul squad has stumbled big-time, so now it hopes to hear the chant of NIT, NIT, baby!

This is a league which has seen teams like Southern Mississippi and South Florida go up and down. Marquette and Memphis have made runs after sluggish non-league performances.

While this has been a tough season, and Conference USA may only get two teams to the NCAAs in 2001, the future is bright.

Let's start with the high-school big man, 6-foot-10 Eddy Curry. If he decides to make the intelligent decision to attend college and avoids the lure of the NBA's big bucks, this inside star from the Chicago area would be a major force for DePaul. He would provide instant offensive firepower and a defensive presence in the lane.

Think about Memphis. They are ready to rock and take the roof off. DuJuan Wagner is supposed to play there next season, if he passes up the pros. His dad, Milt, is serving as an administrative assistant on John Calipari's staff. The older Wagner, who helped the Louisville Cardinals win a national championship in 1986, has to be proud of his son.

DuJuan Wagner has become a scholastic phenom in Camden, N.J. That area was a hotbed for the Cardinals, with Milt Wagner and Billy Thompson. Not this time, as Memphis got the big score with a commitment from the younger Wagner.

	After seeing last year's national-title hopes shattered when Kenyon Martin broke his leg, Cincy coach Bob Huggins has witnessed more tough times this season.

What really excites me is the rivalries building between two Goliaths of the profession, Bobby Huggins and John Calipari. They hook up for the first time Thursday night as Cincinnati (16-7, 6-4 C-USA) and Memphis (14-9, 8-2) meet in an important league battle (9 p.m. ET, ESPN). They aren't near the elite level at this moment, but the presence of these two coaching heavyweights makes this intriguing.

When they ultimately get the kind of personnel they want in their systems, both will have their programs in the top 15 in the nation.

Cincinnati has been more guard-oriented this year with Steve Logan and Kenny Satterfield. Remember, last year the Bearcats suffered a terrible break with Kenyon Martin's injury in the Conference USA tournament. Cincinnati was well on its way to a No. 1 regional seed and a potential spot in the Final Four.

Huggins knows about building a big-time winner. So does Calipari, who has been a Frank Lloyd Wright coach, leading Massachusetts to the Final Four in 1996.

Rest assured, there will be electricity at The Pyramid, where Calipari has his kids hustling and scrapping. Kelly Wise has been the key big man for the Tigers, who are in contention in their C-USA division.

The Memphis squad is creating spirit and excitement in the city in which Elvis reigned as The King. The city is rocking and rolling, excited about hoops once again.

Huggins and Calipari ... these two guys can flat-out coach. It's a rivalry that Conference USA needs.