College Basketball 2011 Review:  Weeks 7-8

By Dennis Berry

The Week that was College Basketball: Weeks 7-8

It's been a couple of weeks since we last did a notebook on the past week of college basketball. So let's get you caught up in case you missed anything over the holidays.

Todd O'Brien

The story of Todd O'Brien became big in the world of college basketball a couple of weeks ago. O'Brien is looking to play this year at Alabama-Birmingham. Last year he played for Saint Joseph's. Since last season, O'Brien has graduated and enrolled in a graduate program at UAB. He was hoping to be to play one final season at UAB, because he is enrolled in a program not offered at St. Joe's.

So far St. Joseph's has not released O'Brien yet. A couple of days ago, O'Brien resubmitted paperwork in hopes to be able to play this season.

I know 7'0" are rare today, but I don't see what the fuse over a player who averaged just 1 point and 1.3 rebound a game last year.

Transfer News

Jabari Brown will transfer to Missouri. Brown was a 5 star recruit coming out of high school. He played on two games for Oregon before leaving. Brown should be eligible for the spring semester in 2013.

Khem Birch left Pittsburgh 10 games into his college career. Right now his new school is unknown, but he is lining up visits.

700 Win Club

Bob Huggins won his 700th game when West Virginia defeated Missouri State on December 22. Huggins is most known for his success at Cincinnati, but has won at may be doing his best coaching at West Virginia.

Suspended Coach

Connecticut Head Coach Jim Calhoun is serving his three games suspensions for recruiting violations. He has missed the Huskies win over South Florida and St. John's. His final game during the suspension comes against Seton Hall.

Associate Head Coach George Blaney has taken over coaching duties during Calhoun's suspension.

Pitino to step down in 2017

Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino says he will step down as coach when his contract expires in 2017. Do we know if this will actually happen? No. If so, there is no doubt that Pitino will end up in the Hall of Fame after he retires. He has won over 600 games and taken three teams to the Final Four (Providence, Kentucky, Louisville) He won the 1996 National Title at UK with perhaps the best college basketball team ever.

Upsets

Dunk of the Weeks

VMI's Keith Gabriel throws one down on Old Dominion

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