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3. Will Georgetown get a big win on the road at Memphis?

Hopefully you wrapped up your holiday shopping early because it's a perfect night to hang the stocking with care and settle in for some long hours in front of the television. In addition to college football, NBA, NFL and NHL action, we've got a top-20 showdown in college hoops. What's your pick when Georgetown visits Memphis?

• "will be interesting to see how GU's guards will handle length of Memphis guards. Memphis will force their share of turnovers, but if they press and overcommit all game, GU will have a field day and get a lot of easy buckets. Wright and Freeman are too quick, strong, and poised to be thrown off by a pressing team (see 111 points scored against Mizzou)." -- SN commenter eddie_yvp

• Vote on Jimmy V Classic: Syracuse vs. Michigan St. | Kansas vs. Memphis
• Rank 'Em: Are all four teams in tonight's Jimmy V Classic in your Power 16?

The Final Four long ago outgrew arenas like Madison Square Garden, but in addition to raising money for a great cause, will tonight's Jimmy V Classic offer at least a partial preview of what we may see in April at Reliant Stadium in Houston?

Only No. 4 Kansas currently ranks among the top quartet as it prepares to face No. 14 Memphis (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET), but it seems unwise to count out the Tigers or No. 7 Syracuse and No. 8 Michigan State, who square off in tonight's second game (ESPN, 9 p.m. ET). None of the top four teams at this time last season eventually made it to Indianapolis, those latter teams instead ranking No. 7 (West Virginia), No. 8 (Duke), No. 14 (Michigan State) and No. 20 (Butler).

Scott (South Dakota)

Hey Fran - how good are the Jayhawks this year? Longtime fan, so I've been duped by some good pre-season rankings and regular season results. How "good" are they in reality? Thanks!!

Fran Fraschilla

You've been duped by regular season results? What planet have you been on? Has anybody had a better run than Bill Self? Remember, Roy Williams and Larry Brown lost NCAA tournament games as well. I really like this Kansas team. Offensively it has a lot of weapons and will certainly be improved once Josh Selby is eligible on Dec. 18. Marcus Morris just might be the most versatile forward behind Singler and his brother does great dirty work. If UCLA exposed an Achilles heel defensively last week, it was in pounding the ball inside against the twins and Thomas Robinson. Overall they are a top five team and one of my picks to get to the Final Four. Full transcript

dave (ri)

has the [V Foundation] helped anyone in your family?

Nick Valvano

As a matter of fact, my brother's middle daughter Jamie, who is 38, was diagnosed five years ago with breast cancer. I wouldn't say it's research that we funded that [means] she's cancer free right now, but it was research that was done years ago that helped her. It's kind of eerie that in his ESPYS speech he said that the research might help someone in his family and it did. Full transcript

Any day with college basketball on television is a good thing. A day when college basketball is always on television is a great thing. With the march to the Final Four in Indianapolis underway (and the march to San Antonio for the women), ESPN is showing nothing but basketball Tuesday -- 12 games in 24 hours. And that doesn't even include the games going on ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile. At this point, you've already missed the start of class (and Cal State Fullerton upsetting UCLA) but there's still time to salvage the day.

• College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon: Chat all day with ESPN experts and analysts.
• Your Rankings: How does your top 25 look? | Watch: Live on ESPN360.com

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The benefits of working from home!

” -- usf_football

“

I love the 24 hour marathon -- took Tuesday off from work. Good thing the Monday Night Fooball game is so terrible ... so I can get a nap in after work before the marathon tipoff.

” -- bh4312

• Vote: Would you trade peace of mind about your program for a national title?

Recruits had no difficulty following John Calipari to his new digs in Kentucky. NCAA sanctions? For the second time in Calipari's coaching career, those stayed behind.

Officially, Memphis no longer has the 38 wins or the Final Four appearance we all remember them accumulating during the 2007-08 season; they were vacated as a result of infractions involving Derrick Rose. For its part, Memphis is appealing the NCAA's decision, which also includes three years' probation. For their part, voters in Kentucky are some of the only fans thinking more about the incoming recruiting class in Lexington than Calipari's history.

So Kentucky thrives while Memphis suffers. It seems unfair to punish programs for things coaches did at previous stops, but SportsNation thinks it's almost as unfair for the coaches to escape punishment. At the same time, it's a lot easier to talk morals when there isn't a championship on the line. Consider that 36 percent of voters, no small minority, wouldn't lose any sleep if their favorite team won a championship under suspicious circumstances.

• 66 percent of SportsNation believes Calipari is the best hoops coach without a title.
• 58 percent of SportsNation said vacating wins would tarnish their Final Four memories.
• Rankings: Where does Kentucky reside in your summer top 25?

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Kentucky fans, hold up your signs at your games next season: "The 'W' you are about to witness will be vacated by the NCAA at a later date...."

” -- josephbbl38

“

Why are the coaches responsible for these infraction held responsible. If they move schools before their infraction are found out about, they escape without any penalty. Either the coach themselves should be hit in the pocket book or the new school that has hired them should be hit if they decide to keep the person

” -- Dielman67

“

well reguardless the 2008 memphis team was one of the most exiting teams this sport has seen in a long time

” -- soul_sonic_force

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd plead guilty to wanting to hear what fans have to say on "SportsNation" TV.

Argue the hot topics, vote on the biggest stories and chat during the show on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. and midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).

Will the Cowboys' new stadium be quiet?
Colin thinks that corporate crowds don't make as much noise. The new, expensive, amenity-laden, luxury-box-packed stadium could be less rowdy.

Do you expect to live longer than 78 years?
Bobby Bowden has already surpassed the U.S. life expectancy (he's 79) and plans to keep coaching. Do you think you'll ever catch him?

Could you catch a bullet pass from Brett Favre?
He warmed up for Vikings camp by working out with high school kids, and you probably have better hands than they do. Could you catch his hard throws?

Would you stock Michael Vick jerseys?
Dick's Sporting Goods won't carry Vick jerseys. Would you take a stand or cater to the market and sell No. 7 Eagles jerseys?

If you were an AD, would you hire John Calipari?
The Memphis Tigers reportedly will vacate 38 victories from their Final Four season of 2007-08 under former coach Calipari because of NCAA violations.

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.