March 13
Tournament time provides the opportunity for new stars to shine, both on the court and on the sidelines. You'll hear some magical new names who have come on the scene, with players and coaches alike earning national ink and publicity. The Big Dance is the perfect place to be in the spotlight.

For coaches, this is the chance to become a really hot name, especially with nearly 20 jobs open right now.

	Coach Bobby Lutz and Charlotte face Notre Dame in the first round.

Who are some of the names that may pop up? One is Western Kentucky's Dennis Felton, who recently agreed to a long-term deal to remain coach of the Hilltoppers. The former Clemson assistant has done a fantastic job; his team is 28-3 and riding an 18-game winning streak entering its first-round matchup against Stanford.

Another guy who can make some big-time noise is my choice for diaper dandy of the year in the coaching profession, Kent State's Stan Heath. Gary Waters set the table before moving on to Rutgers. Heath's Golden Flashes lost just once in the MAC all season. Trust me, that's a difficult league, especially on the road. Teams in the MAC know how to play on the perimeter.

Kent State opens against Oklahoma State, and it would not be a shock if Heath's club scores a big W. The Golden Flashes have a player on the perimeter who can become a hot name: Trevor Huffman. Ask Indiana about him; Huffman helped Kent State beat the Hoosiers in the tourney last year.

Huffman, whose strength and physical play make him difficult to handle, also has a finesse game (37 percent on his trifectas).

Two other names deserving more publicity hail from UNC-Wilmington -- coach Jerry Wainwright and star player Brett Blizzard. Wainwright took the Seahawks to the NCAA Tournament in 2000, and he's back for more.

Blizzard is an outstanding long-range shooter. He's a big reason UNC-Wilmington could give USC more trouble in the first round than most experts think. Ask the major-conference guys; they believe Blizzard can play in the big-time atmosphere. Remember, the Seahawks almost upset Wake Forest earlier this season.

Among his peers, Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz has developed an excellent reputation. But nationally, he doesn't get enough ink. He has a sharpshooter in Jobey Thomas. Keep your eyes on Thomas; believe me, the Irish will be looking out for him in their first-round matchup. Notre Dame knows all about the coaching talent of Lutz and the shooting ability of Thomas.

In the Midwest Region, Pepperdine's Jimmy Miggins can make a big difference. He has been a Marco Polo man, going to so many schools. Since joining the Waves and playing for Paul Westphal, Miggins has become a steady scoring factor; Wake Forest must be aware of him. We could be hearing Miggins' name a lot on Thursday (and beyond).

Another coaching name that deserves more credit is Penn's Fran Dunphy. The Quakers played several quality non-league opponents and should give California a tough time.

Also, Southern Illinois guard Kent Williams is a fine scorer. Bobby Knight and Texas Tech will have to be aware of him on Friday.

When the tourney starts, these players and coaches will get the chance to receive the recognition they deserve. It's their time to shine in the spotlight of March Madness.