Friday Morning Dump

- A Karen Sypher beer? Dark, bitter and, what's this? Is that a hint of extortion I detect? 0% Dignity by volume. I love it.

- Villanova loses freshman guard James Bell indefinitely due to stress fracture in both of his legs. Bell was ranked as the 78th-best prospect in the class of 2010. While the injury likely won't be devastating to the Wildcats should Bell miss some time, it is definitely a blow to their depth.

- Austin Rivers gives John Wall a case of the okie-dokes at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 game (at the 1min mark)



- LeBron was playing pick-up hoops with the Miami Hurricanes. Kentucky fans can't be to pleased about this. KU has always been LeBron's official un-official college. Remember how Frank Haith said that LeBron, D-Wade, and Bosh coming to Miami could help him recruit? You think this is what he meant by that?

- When Donnie Jones left Marshall to take the head coaching position at C-USA rival Central Florida, a lot of people scratched their heads. But as Jeff Goodman explains, not only is it not a head-scratcher, going from Marshal to Central Florida is a no-brainer.

- Andy Katz wonders if Mike Rice has what it takes to make Rutgers relevant. For that matter, can anyone actually make Rutgers relevant? My opinion: While they are still in the Big East -- Nope. Not happening.

- Andy Glockner takes a look at BYU's situation this season.

- The Battle of the Bluegrass State with take place on New Years Eve. I'm not sure I like this decision. December 31st is a Friday, and it's New Years Eve. I can't imagine that a lot of people outside of the Bluegrass state will remember to tune into this game. It is a Noon tip off yes, but it's also a Holiday weekend. I can't imagine that too many people will even be sober awake by Noon on New Years Eve. Click here for more on Kentucky's non-conference schedule.

- 6-foot-4 shooting guard Malick Kone, a member of the 2011 recruiting class, has verbally committed to Rutgers. Kone was recruited heavily by David Cox, a former assistant at Georgetown who is now a top assistant at Rutgers. Cox was heavily involved with the DC Assault AAU team, which Kone was a member of.

- A quick look at the full 2010-2011 schedule for the Tennessee Volunteers, Michigan Wolverines, Indiana Hoosiers, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Alabama Crimson Tide

- CollegeHoopsNet has been preview the top 199 teams in the country. Yesterday they featured #125-#121: Bucknell, Davidson, UAB, Morgan State, and Miami (OH)

- Shoes that lace themselves? Sign me up. I don't have the proper eye-hand coordination to do the "loop-swoop-and-pull"

- Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Myers is retiring after 14 years of service. He has dealt with the likes of Bobby Knight and Mike Leach. Those 14 years look more like 28 years if you ask me.