1. Bruce Pearl is working day-to-day after Tennessee terminates the coach’s contract for “gross misconduct” and “intolerable” behavior, according to VolQuest.com’s John Brice, who posted excerpts from a university letter.
2. Baylor’s Scott Drew won’t say whether the NCAA is investigating the Bears’ recruiting practices after reports that assistant coach Mark Morefield violated text message rules, writes the Associated Press’ Doug Tucker. Morefield supposedly sent a text to Hanner Perea, a highly regarded recruit and Colombia native, in which Morefield basically threatened to have Perea deported if he didn’t come to Waco.
3. Purdue’s Robbie Hummel starts another long rehab for his second torn ACL this year, and he vows to be back next season, writes the Associated Press’ Cliff Brunt.
4. Sign of the times: Michigan State’s Tom Izzo is asking big man Draymond Green to pick up some wing skills so he can get more playing time, writes SpartanMag.com’s Ricardo Cooney.
5. New DePaul coach Oliver Purnell hopes that Shane Larkin can work magic on the hardwood like his father, Barry, did on the baseball diamond, writes Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com.

The best part of Providence’s dunk contest during Midnight Madness? God Shammgod was one of the judges. If God says you are a 10, game over!

St. John’s might be in Queens, but the Red Storm apparently imported a referee from Harlem to shake up Midnight Madness.

To start last season, North Carolina was ranked No. 4 while Syracuse barely cracked the rankings at No. 25. Michigan, Oklahoma and Mississippi State also started last season in the top 25. Without any on-court evidence to demonstrate how good or bad teams are, the preseason poll is purely speculation.

Of course, fans and media analysts love to speculate. It’s what we do. But a water cooler/message board conversation is entirely different than a supposedly official ranking system. Throughout the regular season, pollsters vote based on actual game results. Why not wait until after the first week of the season to release the first poll?

This year’s first coaches’ poll puts Duke at the top. It’s hard to argue with putting the reigning champ back on top, especially when the Blue Devils return most of their key contributors. But North Carolina at No. 9 and Virginia Tech at No. 23? Come on now. That’s all speculation driven by the Tar Heels’ talented recruits and brand-name value. Let’s wait until the Tar Heels prove they are better than the Hokies before ranking them so high.

Teams earn NCAA Tournament bids — let’s make them earn early season rankings, too.