Now that we are well into the NCAA season, several teams have demonstrated just how capable they are of competing. While some clubs have come out to impress, others have simply not lived up to their hype. We are roughly two months away from March Madness, and there is no question that the bracketology will provide for some interesting surprises.

Before going any further, it is absolutely necessary to recognize the Texas Longhorns and the performances that they have put up despite losing their prime superstar Kevin Durant. In Durant’s absence, both D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams have made significant contributions to keep Texas a contender in the Big 12. What’s fascinating is the fact that Augustin is currently averaging around 20 points per game, an outstanding figure for the young sophomore. Abrams, on the other hand, is adding around 18 a game, and the combined efforts of these two have provided the much-needed spark for the Texas organization, which feared that it would be in a deep hole with the absence of Durant.

There is also North Carolina, of course. At 15-0, the Tar Heels under head coach Roy Williams have continued to exemplify nothing short of dominance on the court. Junior forward Tyler Hansbrough has taken complete control of the post, racking in almost 10 rebounds each game in addition to 20 points. The Tar Heels also have a lot to look forward to in their sophomore guard Wayne Ellington, who has become a known threat on the perimeter. However, North Carolina recently encountered some struggles against the Clemson Tigers, as they beat them in the last seconds of overtime thanks to a 3-pointer by Ellington. With the Memphis Tigers also making their presence known across the league, it will no doubt be a challenge for the Tar Heels to hold secure the #1 position.

Now onto who’s not. The Fighting Illini are experiencing nothing but adversity this season, and it makes it even more difficult watching freshman Eric Gordon (who was all but signed to play at Illinois) steal the spotlight as an Indiana Hoosier. Just going 0-3 in the Big Ten, coach Bruce Weber and the Illini have to be frustrated with the results that they’ve seen. Senior guard Brian Randle and forward Shaun Pruitt are not performing anywhere near their expectations, and it is quite obvious that the club is lacking a go-to superstar. The best that the Illini can do is treat this time as a transition period to hopefully gain a better idea of the direction that the team is headed.

And finally, we have the Kentucky Wildcats. With a record of 6-7, this club has just not been able to piece the puzzle together. Seniors Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley have been carrying the young team, but that isn’t saying much as both of these athletes have been inconsistent. Analysts have expressed that they are ashamed of how the rivalry between Kentucky and Louisville is dissipating as a result of the Wildcats’ poor performances. One bright spot on the team has been freshman Patrick Patterson, who has put up some remarkable numbers during his first collegiate year. When will the Wildcats break out of their slump and rebound to become one of the games most feared teams? Coach Billy Gillispie hopes that it is some time real soon….

USC defeats Illinois 49-17 in Rose Bowl

In perhaps the biggest letdown of all the bowl match ups, the Fighting Illini of Illinois were demolished by the USC Trojans in the oldest of all bowl games, the Rose Bowl.

Going into the game, the Trojans were ranked at #7, but many experts and analysts believe that they could have easily been able to compete in the BCS Title Game. With a final score of 49-17, it was clear that Ron Zook’s Fighting Illini were no match for Pete Carroll and the Trojans.

For whatever reason, the Trojans got stuck facing the Illini since the Rose Bowl was shooting for a Pac-Ten vs. Big Ten match up. The victory insured the Trojans’ sixth straight season with at least 11 wins. They also locked up a Rose-Bowl record of 633 total yards, exemplifying their dominance even more.

"Everything that was out there for us, we took," Coach Carroll of USC said. "The rest of it is up for discussion. But would I love to still be playing right now? Sure would. We'd go out there any time, any place, any venue and throw our football out there and see what we could do."

Though USC did make an example out of Illinois, one positive that came out for the Illini was the tremendous performance by junior running back Rashard Mendenhall. Just minutes after the third quarter began, Mendenhall broke for a 79-yard rushing touchdown run to shorten the gap and make the score 21-10. In addition, Illinois received much contribution from their star quarterback Juice Williams, but the four turnovers that the team compiled put too much pressure on the offense.

"You can't turn the ball over," Zook said. "Whether they were forced or we weren't playing with consistency and the intensity you have to have, I'm not sure."

USC running back Joe McKnight also put up a stellar performance, and he even managed to recover a difficult lateral when Trojans quarterback John David Booty tossed him the ball. That play was probably the key to the game for USC, as McKnight ended up running for 65 yards. The Trojans would eventually go on to score and make it 28-10. Booty finished the game throwing for a total of 255 yards.

Given that the Illini were the clear underdogs, the final score did not come as a surprise to many. This was the Illini’s first trip to the Rose Bowl in 24 years, and there is no doubt that this was a period year for Ron Zook’s young club, who went just 2-10 last season.

"Not good. This hurts," said Zook, whose team beat Ohio State 28-21 in November. "I told our guys we were representing the conference and we let the Big Ten down. I think we can compete, but we have to do it."

Under the new draft regulation, players are required to be one year out of high school and at least 19 to enter the NBA draft. While some consider this rule outlandish, others feel that it is absolutely necessary. Aside from any opinion regarding the subject, one thing is for certain: the new rule has had a significant impact on both college and professional basketball.

Let’s first take a look at the college scene. There are schools all over the country that spend significant time, effort, and money in recruiting some of the nation’s top prospects. Analyzing talent is not easy, and the market is extremely competitive. How frustrating must it be to hear that your #1 recruit has decided to serve only one year with your college program? It would almost be more reasonable to allow high school prospects to make a career decision right after they graduate rather than creating turmoil by forcing them to play for one year at the collegiate level.

You also have to consider how it may affect scholarship players. Given that most college athletes are receiving some sort of aid, the purpose of a scholarship is almost defeated if players opt to leave for the pros after just one year. Superstar Greg Oden, along with several other athletes, have had mixed reactions about the new regulation.

“It’s unfair,” stated Oden. “But it’s over with now, so there’s no reason to complain.”

As far as the impact in the NBA is concerned, it becomes more difficult for teams to make draft decisions. Whether college players will opt to go professional after one year is uncertain; therefore, making the appropriate decision come draft time is not always easy. In addition, the players that do make it to the pros may find themselves riding the pine instead of getting significant playing experience. ESPN analyst/commentator Dick Vitale believes that the new regulation doesn’t effectively prepare a college athlete for the pros, even though it does require that a player be one year out of high school.

“Take a look at some of the kids who have made the mistake of coming out early. Do you think by going to age 19 that this trend is going to go away totally? Kids will continue to leave college early, and in many cases will sit on the NBA pine when they could have used another season in school to better themselves,” quoted Vitale on one of his ESPN columns.

Whether it has been for the good or for the bad, NBA Commissioner David Stern has enforced the policy that he felt was necessary. Only time will tell what type of long-term impact this policy will have at both the college and professional levels.

Undisputed Success

Heisman winner Tim Tebow

At the beginning of the season, experts did not predict much from the Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow. It is roughly five months later, and the young sophomore has proven them otherwise

Florida head coach Urban Meyer felt that Tebow would be entering a transition year, and that his pass game would slowly begin to develop. Little did he know that his young superstar would go on to become a Heisman Trophy winner in addition to being recently named the AP Player of the Year. The AP voting results clearly demonstrate that Tebow exemplified dominance throughout the season, as he received 31 of the 58 possible votes.

"That's cool," Tebow said Tuesday. "Again, it's a huge honor. It's a cool thing. Any time you're honored for an individual award, it goes back to the team. Without those guys and their support, you can't accomplish something like that on your own."

The other athletes who received votes were Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, who received 19, Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan, who received 4, Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon, who received 3, and West Virginia quarterback Pat White, who received just 1.

Tebow’s remarkable season was highlighted by several accomplishments. He became the first quarterback in major college history to run for at least 20 touchdowns and throw at least 20 touchdown passes in the same season. He reached a school milestone by generating a record of 3,970 total offensive yards, a Florida record. Lastly, he was sensational with his passing percentage as he compiled a 68% completion rate.

The numbers also demonstrate the impact that head coach Urban Meyer and offensive coordinator Dan Mullen had on the young, maturing athlete.

"You don't want to just take the credit," Tebow said. "You have to share the credit. I just do the easy part."

Tebow is thankful that he was given the opportunity to perform as a freshman, and he feels that his experience helped him to substantially develop as a sophomore this season. Initially, scouts felt that Tebow would never be able to integrate a strong passing game into his style, but after this season it became apparent that the young quaterback’s mindset had changed. He now states that he has learned to always think “pass first, rush second.” His newly formed mentality has obviously been a recipe for success. Tebow realizes that the guidance of his head coach and offensive coordinator helped in shaping him into the athlete that he has become today.

"We kind of knock each other down a couple of levels fast," Mullen said. "I'll say, 'Boy, did you see Pat White run? Or Dennis Dixon? And they're not as big as you and they run really hard and physical.' Tim's so competitive and he wants to be good. He can kind of laugh at all those things."

With the Florida Gators facing off against the Michigan Wolverines in the Capital One Bowl on January 1, Tebow is looking to cap off his Heisman season with a stunning performance. On the other end of the spectrum, Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr is hoping to secure victory in the last game of his managerial career. The clash between these two teams should provide for a very interesting outcome.