Gary Parrish

Who's the man most bothered by what happened at Madison Square Garden late Friday?

It has to be North Carolina coach Roy Williams, right?

I mean, Syracuse just ran his team off the court.

But second to Williams, I'm guessing, is Iowa State coach Greg McDermott, whose former player, Wesley Johnson, led the Orange to an 87-71 win over the Tar Heels while establishing himself as the star of a team that has rebounded from the exhibition loss to Le Moyne with wins over the Pac-10 favorite (California) and ACC favorite (North Carolina). Johnson finished with 25 points and eight rebounds against the Tar Heels; he was the best player on the court. When the Orange move into the top 10 of the Top 25 (and one) late Sunday, he'll be the main reason, making it difficult not to wonder if he could've done the same for Iowa State.

Think about it.

How good would a Wesley Johnson/Craig Brackins combo be this season?

Both are possible lottery picks in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Both are All-American candidates.

If McDermott had them to go with Lucca Staiger and Marquis Gilstrap, the Cyclones might've been the smart pick to finish third in the Big 12 behind only Kansas and Texas. As it is, Iowa State was picked eighth. And it's things like these that can change a coach's entire career.

What if Johnson never transferred? Could he have led Iowa State to the NCAA tournament last season? If so, would the "winning culture" created by an appearance have been enough to convince Ames High star Harrison Barnes to reject an offer from North Carolina and play at the school for which his mother works?

Obviously, we'll never know the answers to those questions.

But they are interesting questions, aren't they?

"We're so thankful to have him here from Iowa State," Syracuse guard Andy Rautins told ESPN's cameras right after the win over UNC. "He's helping this team in more ways than we could've imagined."

Indeed, Johnson is doing exactly that.

Now imagine what he could've done for Iowa State.

Here's Friday's Dear Gary ...

Dear Gary: North Carolina will beat Syracuse by at least 15 points tonight?

-- Hunter

If it'll make Syracuse fans calm down , then I'm for it.

But seriously, it should be fun, regardless of the outcome.

Tobias Harris, as expected, committed to Tennessee on Thursday.

"I really have a great relationship with Coach [Bruce] Pearl and his assistant coach [Tony] Jones," Harris said. "It's just a family atmosphere down there. I got along with the players real well, and it's just a great opportunity and fit for me."

MaxPreps.com ranks Harris No. 21 in the Class of 2010. The 6-foot-8 forward joins Trae Golden (No. 59) and Jordan McRae (No. 87) to comprise a three-player class that should be among the Top 15 classes nationally when team recruiting rankings are finalized.

Harris is from New York.

He also had offers from Syracuse, Kentucky, Maryland, Georgia Tech, Louisville and West Virginia.

Here's Thursday's Dear Gary ...

Dear Gary: Dude, No. 13 California needs to beat Syracuse before they can meet North Carolina or Ohio State on Friday, and that ain't happening! Get your sh-t together if you want to be a college basketball columnist.

-- Stephen Leahy

Oh, Stephen, my sh-t is together. You see, the Coaches vs. Cancer has a championship game and a consolation game. So regardless of whether California beats Syracuse or loses to Syracuse on Thursday night, California will play North Carolina or Ohio State on Friday night. Just like I said. And California is a slight favorite in the game. So you're stupid on multiple levels, genius.

It's disappointing that college basketball's Opening Day isn't more eventful, or even an event of some kind. There's no Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game, no Black Eyed Peas concert, no nothing. Just four games that are, on paper, mismatches with Florida International's Isiah Thomas coaching against North Carolina serving as the only notable storyline.

That'll be fun until tipoff.

Then we'll have a blowout on our hands.

So, no, the nation is not buzzing about college hoops today.

Why would it?

But college basketball is here, regardless.

And for that, I'm thankful (even if I'm convinced there's got to be a better way to open the season).

Anyway, here's Monday's schedule:

• Florida International at No. 6 North Carolina (at 7 p.m. ET)
• Alcorn State at No. 16 Ohio State (7 p.m. ET)
• Albany at Syracuse (9 p.m. ET)
• Murray State at California (11 p.m. ET)

The Division II school that beat Syracuse has a new home page.

Click this link to check it out.

The Le Moyne Dolphins are celebrating this appropriately.

Good for them.

Here's Wednesday's Dear Gary (courtesy of a distraught Syracuse fan who emailed late Tuesday) ...

Dear Gary:   After taking my anger out at the bar and trying as hard as possible to make this email legible, I am coming to you for advice. I am a Jet, Met and Knick fan. Clearly, sports have failed me my whole life. I am also a die hard Syracuse college basketball fan, (notice I didn't include college football even though I've been to every football game this season), and tonight my college basketball season just ended before it ever began. I am writing to now to ask: What the hell is left in my life to possibly look forward to?

--  Gregory

Probably nothing.

That's the harsh reality.

But I would like to remind you that it can't possibly get worse than losing to a Division II school from across town, if only because Syracuse isn't playing any more Division II schools from across town. So in that sense, things are looking up. But in all seriousness, this isn't going to be as bad as you think or as bad as it was Tuesday night.

I can't find proof right now (I've been looking for 15 minutes), but I believe UMass lost an exhibition in the 1995-96 season, then went on to make the Final Four. Grand Valley State famously beat Michigan State in an exhibition two years ago, and the Spartans still made the Sweet 16. So losing a game like this isn't necessarily a prediction of what's coming, but it does suggest the Orange will miss Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris more than some wanted to acknowledge.

Anyway, I guess my advice is to take a deep breath and relax.

Or get another drink.

And just know that Syracuse is still going to be a team capable of making the NCAA tournament.

As for the Mets, man, I don't know what to tell you.

Hang in there.

And it's too bad you weren't alive to enjoy the Doc/Darryl years.

Those were good times.

You're bound to have mistakes when you start ranking players 25, 30 or 40 deep at different positions.

It even happens to me.

So in an attempt to be a stand-up guy, I'm here to acknowledge three mistakes in the player rankings, all of which were oversights and nothing more. To be clear, I'm not interested in arguing about whether somebody ranked 21st should really be 16th, because things get pretty subjective when you get past the top three or four at any position. Plus, those debates are so last week. But I did leave off three guys who absolutely should've been included, and I'd like to set the record straight right now.

Mistake No. 1: Jordan Crawford (Xavier)

Crawford averaged 9.7 points two years ago as a freshman at Indiana, and there's reason to believe he'll improve on those numbers this season at Xavier. In fact, he could challenge Dayton's Chris Wright for Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors.

So why did Crawford not make the shooting guards and wings list?

Because I'm stupid, that's why.

Mistake No. 2: Arnett Moultrie (UTEP)

Moultrie averaged 8.8 points and 8.2 rebounds last season and was the best freshman in Conference USA not named Tyreke Evans. He's a 6-foot-11 forward who used that body of work to earn an invitation to play for Team USA this past summer in the FIBA under-19 World Championships.

So why did Moultrie not make the big forwards and centers list?

Because I'm stupid, that's why.

Mistake No. 3: Arinze Onuaku (Syracuse)

Leaving Onuaku out was the most frustrating of all because I love this dude. He's a big-bodied post player who shot 29.8 percent from the free throw line last season, which is hilarious. But he also averaged 10.3 points and 7.3 rebounds, and those are nice numbers for a guy who isn't the focal point of anything.

So why did Onuaku not make the big forwards and centers list?

Because I'm stupid, that's why.

I'm back home after a quick trip to Kansas , doing some reading and trying to catch up on what happened at some other Midnight Madness festivities. Seems a lot of places had record nights -- among them Michigan State.

The Breslin Center was filled to capacity with 14,759 fans.

That's the first sellout at MSU in Midnight Madness history.

Tom Izzo entered in an Indy car because the 2010 Final Four is in Indianapolis.

"I know what it's like to drive an Indy car," Izzo told the crowd. "I hope I know what it's like to play in Indianapolis."

Meantime, Clemson's Oliver Purnell rapelled from the top of Littlejohn Coliseum, Syracuse's Jim Boeheim drove a police car into the Carrier Dome (Was he looking for Eric Devendorf?), and Kentucky's John Calipari gave a 10-minute speech to 24,000 fans at Rupp Arena, and he delivered the following line: "Our history is rooted in our coaches: Rupp and Hall and Smith."

That's Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall and Tubby Smith.

Notably missing: Former UK coach Rick Pitino.

I'm certain it was not an oversight.

Anyway, a scan of the country showed there were many great events. But the neatest of all Madness ceremonies might've been at Memphis, where more than 18,000 fans filled FedExForum to celebrate a 32-year-old head coach and his eight healthy scholarship players who are unranked and enduring a period of NCAA probation. Understand, it is not normal for the Tigers to fill FedExForum for Memphis Madness. Even when Calipari was the coach, Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts were the stars, and the team was ranked No. 1 in CBSSports.com's preseason Top 25 (and one) , the building was not full for this event. But on Friday night the doors had to be closed and people were turned away, and I was enjoying a conversation with former Missouri State coach Barry Hinson -- now the director of external relations at Kansas -- when I got a text about the scene and shared the news.

"I'm so happy for Josh," Hinson said. "The fans were making a statement, weren't they?"

Absolutely, it was a statement.

It was a statement to Calipari and the nation, a statement from a city determined to convince itself (and the prospects in attendance) that it will move along fine despite a rough few months. Since the end of last season, the Tigers have lost their coach, recruiting class and 2008 Final Four banner. They also watched one recruit (Latavious Williams) not enroll to pursue a professional career overseas, and one player (Shawn Taggart) not return to pursue a professional career, well, who knows where?

Additionally, Angel Garcia tore his ACL in an offseason workout.

Memphis is not picked to win C-USA.

And yet more than 18,000 people still made the trip downtown to celebrate the past and the future, and it's worth noting that a five-minute montage shown on the video board featured pictures and clips of every relevant former player and coach ... except Calipari, who was omitted completely.

"It  was a great statement by the city," Pastner said by phone. "I was blown away. It was unreal. And that's what's great about Memphis Basketball, and it's what I've tried to tell people. Memphis Basketball was good way before I was even born, and it's going to be good long after I'm gone. Memphis basketball is not about one individual or two individuals. It has a rich tradition, and the fans are really proud of the program, and they showed it [Friday] night."

There were some significant recruiting developments this weekend.

Here are some of them:

Irving visits Duke: Kyrie Irving, ranked fifth in the Class of 2010 by Scout.com, visited Duke, then Tweeted about it. "Duke official was great! I enjoyed every single second," he wrote. "Everything there fits me and is right for me...you never know what will happen ." Duke has long been considered the favorite to land Irving, a 6-foot-1 point guard from New Jersey. Still, Texas A&M is among the schools hanging around, primarily because Aggie assistant Scott Spinelli was college roommates with Irving's father, Drederick Irving.

Selby narrows list: Josh Selby, famous for decommitting from Tennessee in July, has narrowed his list of potential schools to six, and UT is not one of them. The final six are Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Baylor, Miami and Syracuse. All indications are that Selby -- a combo guard ranked 14th in the Class of 2010 by MaxPreps.com -- will make a final decision in the Spring.

Jones narrows list: Class of 2010 standout Terrence Jones trimmed his list of potential schools to seven -- specifically Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, Arizona, Oklahoma, Washington and Oregon. MaxPreps.com ranks Jones as the No. 12 prospect in the Class of 2010.

USC gains fifth Class of 2010 pledge: Kevin O'Neill accepted a commitment from Maurice Jones, according to Scout.com's Evan Daniels. Jones is a 5-7 point guard who reportedly averaged 28 points and 13 assists last season in high school. He's the fifth Class of 2010 prospect to commit to USC despite an ongoing NCAA investigation.

I spent four years watching Greg Paulus fall down on the basketball court.

It's called a flop .

There was at least one every game.

So you can imagine my surprise when I saw Paulus refuse to flop (or even get tackled) on Syracuse's opening possession of Saturday's overtime, and it was that decision to scramble and scramble and finally throw the ball into coverage that ultimately ruined his debut as a Syracuse football player after four seasons as a Duke basketball player. Had Paulus simply taken a sack, Syracuse would've kicked a field goal and probably gone to a second overtime. As it was, Paulus tossed an interception, at which point Minnesota took the ball, kicked a field goal and escaped the Carrier Dome with a 23-20 victory.

Honestly, it was tough to watch.

No college player has been ridiculed more in recent years than Paulus -- partly because he played at Duke, mostly because he always seemed to get dunked on . People just love to laugh at him. And so thousands (if not millions) of sports fans who wouldn't otherwise care about a Minnesota-Syracuse game paid special attention to this Minnesota-Syracuse game, and through four quarters Paulus gave them nothing to mock. In fact, he was quite impressive -- completing 19 of 31 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown. But the way it ended is all anybody will remember, and that's too bad because it would've been nice for Paulus to earn praise for leading his hometown school to a win over a Big Ten program.

Instead, he threw the pick that lost the game.

And now I'm making flop jokes.

And don't you feel kind of badly for the guy?

Syracuse added a consensus top five prospect Tuesday when Fab Melo committed to the Orange.

“Fab’s going to go to Syracuse,” Weston (Fla.) Sagemont coach Adam Ross told Scout.com. “I think he really enjoyed his visit there. I think it shocked him and I’m not sure he anticipated what he saw up there.”

Melo is a 7-foot center from Brazil.

Scout.com ranks him as the No. 5 prospect in the Class of 2010.

He chose the Orange over Louisville, Connecticut and Florida State.

Jonny Flynn will forgo his final two years of college and sign with an agent, according to Mike Waters of the Syracuse Post-Standard newspaper.

Waters has three sources -- all of them speaking on the condition of anonymity -- who told him Flynn plans to sign with Leon Rose, i.e., LeBron James' agent. A formal announcement is expected later this week, at which time any hopes the Orange had at a 2010 Final Four will officially be gone considering Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf have also applied for early entry into the NBA Draft.

Flynn averaged 17.4 points and 6.7 assists as a sophomore.

The 6-foot point guard is projected as a likely lottery pick in June's NBA Draft.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Here at FedExForum, just settling in for the South Regional, and I've already had three people ask me about Jonny Flynn's ... ball-handling ability?

No.

Leadership qualities?

No.

NBA future?

No.

Actually, it's his hands.

Jonny Flynn has big hands for a small man.

He grabbed a ball off the floor with one hand, palmed it, turned it over, and you'd have thought the guy cured cancer, right there in the middle of an open practice. Seriously, three different people mentioned it to me, how Flynn's hands are gigantic. And though I'm unsure if that will have anything to do with Syracuse's game against Oklahoma on Friday night, it was at least a topic of conversation here Thursday afternoon.

Riveting stuff, for sure.

Here's Monday's Dear Gary ...

Dear Gary:  Rather than telling an opposing coach you just beat that his team basically stinks, you think a coach of (Jim) Boeheim's caliber might offer some more encouraging words, like "keep your chin up" or "keep working with them, they'll get better". Just seems like a classier thing to say after you just beat a team. 

-- Q

Obviously, you're talking about the Jim Boeheim-John Calipari postgame handshake from Saturday, where Boeheim told Calipari he might have the "worst shooting team" he's ever seen. I suppose that could read as a classless thing to say, but I can tell you with a degree of certainty that Boeheim was joking with Calipari, and that Calipari took it that way.

Those two have known each other a long time.

If Boeheim didn't think it was appropriate given their relationship, he wouldn't have said it. And if Calipari didn't think it was appropriate given their relationship, he wouldn't have laughed about it. But he did laugh. Because it was funny. And I, for one, thought it was hilarious, because Boeheim merely said what everybody in the building was thinking, and that Calipari had the sense of humor to laugh about it was pretty good, too.

Bottom line, it was a great moment.

And I got a column out of it, so I was happy.