Originally published February 10, 2005 at 12:00 AM | Page modified February 10, 2005 at 4:07 PM

Men's College Basketball

The nation: Eight teams unbeaten in conference play

There are only eight teams unbeaten in conference play, and most of them are shoo-ins for the NCAA tournament. It will be interesting to...

By Seattle Times news services

There are only eight teams unbeaten in conference play, and most of them are shoo-ins for the NCAA tournament.

It will be interesting to see what the selection committee might do with Vermont (America East) and Davidson (Southern) if they lose in their conference tournaments. Penn (Ivy) is in great shape but obviously has to win the league. Kansas, Illinois, Pacific (ranked for the first time), Utah and Kentucky are in.

The committee likes teams that dominate their conferences — unless the conference is so weak that it can't justify an at-large selection. Vermont is more likely to get in than Davidson, should both lose in their conference tournaments.

The Australian star

Sophomore Andrew Bogut, a 7-foot Aussie, is putting up some amazing numbers for Utah.

Through Monday, Bogut was 22nd in scoring (19.7 points a game), third in field-goal accuracy (64.9 percent) and second in rebounds (11.7). Bogut thought about turning pro after his first season, but decided he wasn't ready.

Bogut, who had 14 double-doubles last season, played for the Australian Olympic team. Now he is putting up first-team All-American numbers.

Bogut has pushed Utah (20-3) into the Top 25 at No. 15.

The big three

There are 38 first-year coaches in Division I. The three with the best records are Utah's Ray Giacoletti (who came from Eastern Washington), UTEP's Doc Sadler (18-5) and Nevada's Mark Fox (16-5). All three inherited teams that had won at least 24 games.

No Hoosiers

If the NCAA tournament selections were made today, it is likely Indiana would have no teams for the first time since 1973.

Indiana is young. Purdue is bad in Gene Keady's last season. Notre Dame still has a chance. Valparaiso and Butler? Nope.

Notes

• Kentucky (17-2) is off to its best start since 1997-98, Tubby Smith's first season. That season ended in San Antonio with the Wildcats beating Utah for the national championship.

• Illinois (24-0) is in rare Big Ten company. The only league teams to get into the 20s without a loss are 1975-76 Indiana (32-0, national title), 1974-75 Indiana (31-0, lost in regional final), and the Ohio State teams of 1960-61 (27-0) and 1961-62 (22-0). Both teams lost to Cincinnati in the national-championship game.

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