As the new college hoops season tips off (beginning Thursday and Friday with Maryland, Arizona, Florida and Temple at Madison Square Garden, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2), it becomes increasingly important to be able to add more value to your at-work lunchtime debates than "Hey, I really like that Jason Williams kid." Your preparation must include the scoop on the hottest storylines, names and trends. Heaven forbid you mistakenly reference "Shane Battier" and risk social ostracism.

Page 2's Hot 'n' Not list for NBA season
Category		Hot		Not
Hairstyle		Grow it out (like Gonzaga's Dan Dickau)		Cornrows (like St. Joe's Marvin O'Connor)
Needs more pub		Bernard Robinson (Michigan)		Tayshaun Prince (Kentucky)
Jersey the cool kids are wearing		"Mizzou 21" (Kareem Rush)		"N.C. 42" (Kris Lang)
Mighty mite		John Linehan (Providence)		Jason Gardner (Arizona)
"Matt Brust Hasn't-He-Been-In-College-Forever? Award" winner		Luke Recker, Iowa		B.B. Waldon, South Florida
Freshman not named DeJuan Wagner		Julius Hodge (N.C. State)		Tyson Chandler (Chicago Bulls)
On-court style statement		Socks pulled up high		Headbands
Skill to show NBA scouts		Mid-range jumper		Flashy dunking
Sleeper		Butler		Georgia State
Conference		C-USA		WAC
NCAA controversy		Status of European club players		Preseason tournament exemptions
Venue		The Pyramid (Memphis, Tenn.)		Anywhere in Las Vegas
RPI factor		Strength of non-conference schedule		Total number of team wins
Telegenic coach		Rick Pitino (Louisville)		Fran Fraschilla (New Mexico)
Overconfident of NBA-readiness		Chris Duhon		Omar Cook
Arena nickname		The Dunk (Providence's Dunkin Donuts Center)		The Barn (Minnesota's Williams Arena)
Location for Bobby Knight tantrum		Lubbock, Texas		Bloomington, Indiana
Key to deep NCAA tourney run		Stingy defense		Hot point guard
Most talent in Memphis		Tigers		Grizzlies
In the paint		Stocky rebounders (like Florida's Udonis Haslem)		Lean shot-blockers (like ex-Arizona center Loren Woods
Barstool debate		Williams/Duhon: Best backcourt EVER?		Calipari/Pitino: Better dresser?
Road-trip junkie Mecca		Cole Field House (Maryland)		Shoemaker Center (Cincinnati)
Shoes to fill		Brian Scalabrine (USC)		Shane Battier (Duke)
"Me, Too!" Coaching Strategy		PG full-court press		Everyone shoot 3s!
Blood-boiling rivalry		Louisville-Memphis		Kentucky-Indiana
Baby name in Tennessee		DeJuan		Buzz
Unconventional pick for champ		St. Joseph's		The "D"-word