Three Points

1. Indiana is better than advertised. Coach Mike Davis's claim that the current Hoosiers are superior to last year's NCAA tournament runner-up may be an overstatement. But with freshman guards Bracey Wright and Marshall Strickland helping to set a quicker tempo, Indiana looked sharp in beating Gonzaga and Virginia to win the Maui Invitational.

2. Beware the ACC. Besides North Carolina's surprising gallop to the NIT championship, Virginia knocked off Kentucky in Maui, and Georgia Tech upset Georgia. Presumed to be headed for its worst collective season in more than two decades, the ACC might have enough firepower to get six NCAA bids.

3. It's going to be a loooong year in Ann Arbor. Michigan dropped to 0-4 with its 56-52 loss to Western Michigan last Saturday, three days after coach Tommy Amaker dismissed backup point guard Avery Queen for violating team rules. Think the NCAA will let the Wolverines wipe this season from the record books?