Nov. 20
The Preseason NIT semifinals at the mecca of college basketball, Madison Square Garden, should be something special.

The first semifinal features Michigan State vs. Syracuse (Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN). Each team was ranked in the top 20 in the preseason ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll, and these programs feature two of the top college coaches in winning percentage: Michigan State's Tom Izzo and Syracuse's Jimmy Boeheim.

In the second semifinal, Fresno State and Wake Forest hook up (Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2). Fresno State's Jerry Tarkanian leads all active Division I coaches in winning percentage, and his team already has scored a big win over USC to advance to the Big Apple.

If Michigan State makes shots from the perimeter against Syracuse's 2-3 zone, it can move on to the finals.

Michigan State-Syracuse breakdown
The Syracuse lineup needs big-time point production from Preston Shumpert on the wing. His trifecta must be on target for the Orangemen to be successful.

DeShaun Williams got out of the gate fast for Syracuse in the first two Preseason NIT games, wins over Manhattan and DePaul. He must put points on the board, because the Orangemen are young at the other starting positions. Kueth Duany has stepped up as a slasher and a scorer; he must produce on the glass as well.

Michigan State basically has a seven- to eight-man rotation. For the Spartans to succeed, Marcus Taylor has to play under control. The Spartans got to the winner's circle against two tough opponents in the NIT, Detroit and Oklahoma. But the super soph must take control of the offense and take care of the basketball better.

Inside, Izzo is getting production from Aloysius Anagonye, who is key to the team's success. Adam Wolfe and Adam Ballinger were contributors in Michigan State's first two wins, and they have to keep it going. Diaper dandy Kelvin Torbert is feeling his way and he has the potential to explode. He could be Mr. Excitement for Michigan State as the season progresses.

This game should be a solid matchup. The big question is, can the Spartans succeed against Boeheim's 2-3 zone? If Michigan State makes shots from the perimeter, it can move on to the finals.

Remember this about Mr. Boeheim. He bleeds Syracuse Orange and he has had success at Madison Square Garden before. I have said time and time again that Syracuse should rename its court at the Carrier Dome in his honor. He has been there so many years as a player, assistant and head coach. Boeheim has done a solid job year in and year out; Syracuse has posted just one losing Big East season -- way back in 1980-81, when the league was in its infant stages -- an incredible feat indeed.

Izzo has put up great stats too. Try three straight Final Fours and four straight Big Ten titles, a feat accomplished by just three other schools (the University of Chicago 1907-10, Ohio State 1960-64 and Indiana 1973-76).

Fresno State has a dominating big man in Melvin Ely; he's a shot-blocker and potential NBA first-round draft pick.

Fresno State-Wake Forest breakdown
Fresno State took a big-time hit when point guard Tito Maddox was declared ineligible by the NCAA. Fresno State was also slapped when Maddox's backup, Chris Sandy, was also declared academically ineligible.

What did Tarkanian do? He simply reloaded by adding Matt Mitchell, who came to the school three days after the semester began. Mitchell was quite a find -- he didn't have one major scholarship offer. All he did was score 17 points off the bench against USC.

Fresno State has a dominating player in the middle in Melvin Ely. He's a shot-blocker and potential NBA first-round draft pick. On the wings, the Bulldogs have a slasher, an All-Marco Polo guy in Chris Jefferies. If Tark can find some positive minutes from Hiram Fuller and Noel Felix, the Bulldogs can be a solid team. They are capable of winning the WAC.

For Wake Forest, Darius Songaila is a key guy in the lane. He must stay out of foul trouble for coach Skip Prosser. The Demon Deacons played outstanding basketball at Arkansas, sending the Razorbacks to the sidelines. Wake Forest struggled against UNC-Wilmington in the first round, winning on an acrobatic shot by Songaila in the final seconds.

The Demon Deacons will need point production from Craig Dawson and his jump shot. Dawson's nephew is Pistons guard Jerry Stackhouse, who certainly knows something about scoring.

Wake Forest also has a player that I feel is among the most underrated in America in Josh Howard. He displayed so much potential as a freshman. Last season, Howard was Mr. Inconsistent! He has such quickness and athletic ability, but he must show it on a daily basis for Wake Forest to succeed.

Two interesting matchups with Boeheim, Izzo, Tarkanian and Prosser all striving for the Preseason NIT final. The Thanksgiving holiday is a great time for competitive basketball. It should be exciting at MSG, the mecca of college basketball, baby!