Me, Dicky V. love college basketball

Somewhere out there Dick Vitale is blurting out his usual basketball clichés and a vein is about to pop in his bald head. That's because the college basketball season is upon us and Dickie V. and I could not be any happier. \nIf Vitale has taught me anything, it's that college basketball is the most exciting sport there is. Though he's nearly a senior citizen, Vitale still has more energy than most of the players on the court and more charisma than any of the other broadcasters. This guy defines college basketball, but at the same time defines what being a bandwagon fan is all about.\nI don't know who is worse, Lee Corso or Vitale. Both these guys feel the need to suck up to the home teams whenever making their pre-game predictions. In the end, they're still gods among mortals when it comes to sports and are two guys every sports broadcast major aspires to replace someday. \nThrough the years, Vitale has proved that nobody does basketball quite like he does. He has been a part of nearly all of college basketball's most memorable moments and has coined some of the most bizarre yet hilarious terms in the game. Where else can you find a group of athletes referred to as "Diaper Dandies" or be privileged enough to be a member of the "All-Windex team?" \nForget being the Most Valuable Player, I would rather be a member of the "All Rolls Royce Team" (the superstars at their given positions).\nUnfortunately for Vitale, this upcoming college basketball season is lacking the luster of a year ago. Emeka Okafor, Jameer Nelson and Luol Deng are just a few of the big names missing from NCAA rosters this season. They have paved the way, though, for the players that deserve the most credit. Nowadays, with the jump from high school to the NBA becoming much more common, basketball players rarely see their senior years in college. \nThis year, the NCAA is filled with plenty of upperclassmen talent but lacks players with "superstar" status. Okafor and Nelson, in particular, seemed invincible at times last year and someone needs to take that role this season.\nIn the words of Dickie V., college basketball needs a "Prime Time" player who is "Mr. Pac Man" on defense, can shoot the "Perimeter J." and is a "Skywalker" around the rim. Sounds simple, doesn't it? This season might not be built upon the superstar players but, rather, what teams play best together. There are some terrific duos and trios out there that could make this season so exciting that it might make Dickie V.'s head explode.\nThe first duo that comes to mind resides in Assembly Hall (sorry to disappoint you, but it's not the one in Bloomington). The Fighting Illini's Deron Williams and Dee Brown comprise the best backcourt in America. Illinois will come into the season with a No. 5 ranking which is due in large part to these two players. As for the top frontcourt, Kansas' Bill Self has a couple big boys on his team that can definitely pick up the trash around the rim. Jeff Graves and Wayne Simien are two of the best big men in college basketball and have helped the Jayhawks achieve a No. 1 preseason ranking, their first since 1956.\nNo matter what the talent base is like in college basketball this season though, the 65-year-old Vitale will make it worth watching, as he always does. And even though the madness doesn't officially begin until March, Vitale will make every game seem like it's for the NCAA Championship. He's just that awesome, baby.