Among the three of them, Seth Greenberg, Fran Fraschilla and Dan Dakich have more than 40 years of head-coaching experience at the Division I level. Each week, they get together to discuss the hottest topics in college basketball.
1. The holiday tournaments begin Thursday. Which field are you most intrigued by?
Greenberg: This is a tough one with both The Battle 4 Atlantis and the Maui Jim Maui Invitational being the two premier tournaments this season. In Maui, I like Vanderbilt and Indiana's potential. They're two of the best offensive teams in college basketball. The other side of the bracket could result in a classic blue-blood matchup between Kansas and UCLA.
The Battle 4 Atlantis has natural rivalries in the opening-round with games that fans want to see. Under new coach Shaka Smart, Texas takes on a Texas A&M team that many feel is poised to return to the NCAA tournament. This game will hold some recruiting ramifications down the line. The Washington-Gonzaga matchup will pit a young, talented Washington team coming off a big win over Texas against a Gonzaga team that might have the best frontcourt in college basketball, one that includes player of the year candidate Kyle Wiltjer. Throw in a possible Connecticut (if it survives Michigan) against Syracuse matchup, and you have a feast fit for a hoops junkie.