We now have two tough defeats for Houston in the early part of the season, and while it's no crime to lose close to Auburn and Bama, the results do confirm suspicions of some that the Cougars might be a notch down this season. Kelvin Sampson's NBA coaching mentality of high usage for a star player, as it was last year with Jamal Shead (now property of the NBA Raptors), has transferred to LJ Cryer, though we're not sure he can impact proceedings as did Shead. Meanwhile the Irish have to drag themselves off the deck after losing a bitter OT verdict to Rutgers, but this looks a far more competitive Notre Dame in Micah Shrewsberry's second season, led by soph G Markus Burton (18.2 ppg). Play Notre Dame (at MGM Grand Garden, Las Vegas)