Blazers F Darius Miles, the subject of nearly as many trade rumors as teammate Ruben” 25 Minute Man” Patterson, might be facing surgery to repair cartilage damage in his right knee.

Bucks F Joe Smith will undergo a similar proceedure to remove cartilage from his left knee tomorrow. Smith is expected to miss up to two months of action. Milwaukee has signed former CBA MVP Josh Davis, whom they’ve already signed and waived previously this season.

In the collegiate ranks, no. 4 Louisville survived a scare from unranked Richmond before going on to defeat the unranked Spiders, 53-45. Senior G Tauqan Dean scored 30 for the Cardinals. By next February, I should be able to remember that Louisville is now in the Big East. It might take until next autumn until I understand why, however.


(Texas G Daniel Gibson, being fouled by Rice’s Patrick Britton)

After witnessing no. 2 Texas’ clinical destruction of minnows Texas-San Arlington in person this past Saturday, the CSTB idiot box is currently tuned to the Longhorns’ equally unchallenging contest with Rice. Texas is up by 31 with less than 8 minutes to go, and forward LaMarcus Alridge is continuing his all-universe campaign with 15 points and 10 rebounds thus far. F Brad Buckman, who left Saturday’s game after reaggravating his hip injury, has 13 points and 9 rebounds.

As entertaining as this game truly is, there is something profoundly weird about watching a game from the Toyota Center without frequent cutaways to a glowering Jeff Van Gundy. Just the same, I shall try to look forward to this Saturday’s Duke/Texas game at the Meadowlands without being distracted by the spectre of Mike Gminksi.