Titans, Tigers, and Purple Aces.

Detroit wore the uniforms shown above for the Dick Vitale court dedication on Monday night. These are the most awful, ill-fitting uniforms I've ever seen. Here's a photo gallery. Despite Detroit's sartorial sin, the Titans topped St. John's 69-63. Plus, the jerseys are being auctioned off, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the V Foundation. Ugly jerseys for a very good cause.

Memphis is also rocking throwbacks this season. These unis honor the Tigers' national runner-up finish to UCLA during the 1972-73 season. This is how you do throwbacks.


More Memphis.


And now for the jersey/t-shirt we need to get back on the court as soon as possible.


As a child, I was confused by Evansville's choice to wear short sleeves. Now I wish the Purple Aces would drop the tanks in favor of the tees.


*The player pictured in the photo above is Clint Keown. He was a three-sport star at Evansville Memorial (alma mater of Louisville Cardinal Kyle Kuric, my old roommate Prince Fennis Ismael, baseball great Don Mattingly, and my grandfather) and is now a professional poker player. I don't know anything about poker, but here's a link to a web page with a photo of Keown wearing a trucker cap at a poker table and a story about how he won money off a man suffering from food poisoning.

**I should probably add that Evansville lost to North Carolina tonight by a score of 97-48. The game made me sad. However, the Aces knocked off Butler in overtime in the season-opener in the brand-new Ford Center in downtown Evansville. Go Aces!

2010-11 Outlook: Mid-Majors

Top 10 Non-BCS Conference Teams

1. Gonzaga - David Stockton, son of Gonzaga and NBA great John Stockton, is a walk-on point guard for the Zags.

2. Brigham Young - Jimmer Fredette may get the press, but backcourt mate Jackson Emery is perhaps just as important to the Cougars' success.

3. Temple - Fran Dunphy continues to work wonders for a program that only recently appeared to be in sharp decline.

4. Memphis - Josh Pastner has no problem recruiting, but can he coach?

5. Murray State - Reigning OVC champs return 8 of top 10 scorers.

6. San Diego State - Most talent that Steve Fisher has had since his days with the Fab 5.

7. Richmond - 38-year old head coach Chris Mooney is going to have offers from some big-time programs very soon.

8. Butler - Shelvin Mack is a beast, but the Bulldogs are going to miss Gordon Hayward even more than the pundits seem to think.

9. UNLV - The perennially competitive Runnin' Rebels will take third in an extremely talented Mountain West Conference.

10. Old Dominion - Experienced Monarchs play physical, suffocating defense.

All Mid-Major Team

Kevin Anderson, Richmond, sr, guard
Jimmer Fredette, Brigham Young, sr, guard
Shelvin Mack, Butler, jr, guard
Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State, soph, forward
Lavoy Allen, Temple, sr, forward

Player of the Year

Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State - Long athlete who hits the glass, has an excellent motor, and finds ways to score.

Top Freshman

Joe Jackson, Memphis - Self-proclaimed "King of Memphis" is not lacking for confidence and is key to Tigers playing Top 25 basketball.

Top Defender

Jay Threatt, Delaware State - Ballhawk averaged an NCAA-leading 2.8 steals per contest last season as a sophomore.

Freshman Power Rankings 1.0

1. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State, 6-8 260
Burly big man reminds me of Elton Brand and may end up the most dominant player in all of college basketball.

2. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina, 6-7 210
Has all the tools, but can he help the Heels rebound from an embarrassing 2009-10 season?

3. Brandon Knight, Kentucky, 6-3 185
Cerebral point follows in footsteps of Rose, Evans, and Wall.

4. Joe Jackson, Memphis, 5-11 160
There's some Iverson in this waterbug's game.

5. Tobias Harris, Tennessee, 6-8 220
Do-it-all big will be the best player on Bruce Pearl's roster from day one.

6. Tristan Thompson, Texas, 6-9 240
Think LaMarcus Aldridge with some Ed Davis sprinkled in.

7. Josh Selby, Kansas, 6-2 185
Explosive combo guard with ability to take over needs to be a team player on ultra-talented Jayhawks squad.

8. Adreian Payne, Michigan State, 6-10 215
Izzo's most talented post player since Zach Randolph.

9. Kyrie Irving, Duke, 6-2 175
In unique position of starting at point guard for defending champion expecting to repeat.

10. Reggie Bullock, North Carolina, 6-5 190
Big, athletic two-guard with tons of upside.