Friday Morning Dump

- The biggest news of the day was that the NCAA decided that they will not eliminate the July recruiting just yet, instead opting to study the recruiting process for a year. Once again, a great move by the NCAA. I'm starting to think that they intentionally leak news to gauge the public's reaction to any controversial steps they are taking.

- The second biggest news of the day came out of upstate New York as former Binghamton head coach Kevin Broadus received a $1.2 million buyout from the school. Early this month, the Binghamton program was cleared of any major NCAA violations while under Broadus' watch, and part of the reason the buyout was this big was to avoid legal action.

- Adonis Thomas, the top 2011 recruit in the country according to Sporting News, committed to his hometown Memphis Tigers as expected. Maryland scored a huge get with Nick Faust, a Baltimore native, committing to the Terps yesterday. We've always said, the key to Maryland remaining relevant nationally is their ability to lock up local talent; Faust is from Baltimore. The third top recruit that made a decision yesterday was Mike Shaw, a Chicago kid that will be heading to Illinois. Of Scout.com's top 100 players, only 15 remain uncommitted.

- The new AP rankings were released yesterday. You know it must be college basketball season time if Gary Parrish is doing a "Poll Attacks". God I love these. I think I'm going to make a top 25 that is so ridiculous, Parrish has not choice but to go after me. Yeah ... that's my plan.

- Another good-read on the mental toughness of Weber State, the favorites to win the Big Sky Conference. There have been a couple of articles written in the past month that have documented the team's historical collapse in the second half of last season's Big Sky Championship game, which they ended up losing to an upstart Montana team. Good coaches will always tell you that you always learn more about yourselves from a loss than you do from a win.

- The Pac-10 Tournament will remain in the Staples Center, and will actually be combined with the women's tournament.

- Not really any surprises here -- Michigan State picked to win the Big Ten, Kalin Lucas picked to win player of the year.

- Marquette's off-season recruiting has not exactly gone according to plan. "Disappointing" is one way to put it, but that doesn't mean all is lost.

- A look at the vegas odds for each of the BCS-conferences.

- I'm expecting big things out of NC State this season.

- Mike DeCourcy tells us which freshman will make the biggest impact.

- Dana Altman loses another player from his roster, this one due to injury. This has not been the most ideal start for Altman at his new gig. If this keeps up, Altman himself will be suiting up.

- Without the services of Lance Stephenson or Deonta Vaughn, the Cincinnati Bearcats will need a extra-productive Yancy Gates. After reading this article, you can tell Gates is ready for the assignment.

- At Western Kentucky, the starting point guard position is still up for grabs after losing last season's Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, Orlando Mendez Valdez to graduation.

- Your bizarre hoops-related-link of the day: Former-Kentucky player might be deported.