1. A foot injury has short-circuited Duke’s electric freshman guard, Kyrie Irving, according to a Uwire report. Coach Mike Krzyzewski says Irving might miss the entire season.
2. The hoop looked as big as the Red Sea for Marshall Moses, who hit all 12 of his shots in Oklahoma State’s 71-54 against Tulsa, writes the AP’s Jeff Latzke. That performance breaks a record held by Bryant “Big Country” Reeves — coincidentally also against Tulsa. Reeves had another 11-for-11 night against Oklahoma.
3. SI.com’s Seth Davis explains why you better start paying attention to the Pittsburgh Panthers.
4. JaMychal Green will roll into the Tide’s lineup Saturday, when Alabama visits Providence, after missing three games for conduct detrimental to the team, writes Christopher Walsh of BamaOnLine.com.
5. Villanova comes down hard on freshman JayVaughn Pinkston, suspending him for the season after he was charged with assault for his involvement in a fight, writes ESPN.com’s Dana O’Neil.
6. ESPN blogger Diamond Leung spotlights Oregon’s throwbacks for the Ducks’ game against Division III Williamette — with a link to the craziest home court design in college basketball.
7. Several former Toledo players will likely accept a plea deal for a points-shaving scandal, writes Joe Vardon of the Toledo Blade.
8. Marquette’s Joe Fulce might apply for a medical redshirt rather than trying to return to the Golden Eagles this season after injuring his left knee against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, according to a CBSSports.com report.

• Kansas 81, Memphis 68
• Syracuse 72, Michigan State 58
• Montana 66, UCLA 57
• USC, 73, Texas 56
• San Diego State 77, California 57
• Missouri 85, Vanderbilt 82 OT
• Illinois 73, Gonzaga 61
• Washington State 81, Gonzaga 59
• Temple 64, Maryland 61
• Temple 68, Georgetown 65
• Kentucky 72, Notre Dame 58
• North Carolina 75, Kentucky 73
• Morehead State 75, Murray State 65

Michael Protos gives you player ratings for the ACC and Big Ten. Want to see just how important Kyrie Irving’s loss will be to Duke? Check out his rating, which might surprise you.

12/10:

• Iowa State at Iowa

12/11:

• UNLV at Louisville
• Tennessee at Pittsburgh
• Indiana at Kentucky
• Arizona at BYU
• VCU at Richmond

12/12:

• Boston College at Maryland
• Clemson at Florida State

Of the 31 conferences with automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament, 22 of them are entirely or largely located east of the Mississippi. Twelve of the 17 undefeated teams dwell in the same side of the country that is home to basketball hotbeds like New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and the entire states of Indiana, Kentucky and North Carolina.

That geographical disparity lends itself to a somewhat natural disproportionate amount of media coverage and attention for teams located in the eastern half of Hoops Nation. But that doesn’t make it right, especially this season, with so much talent residing in the Mountain West Conference.

How many people would correctly guess that the Mountain West has the second-most undefeated teams, behind only the Big East? The conference is home to a Preseason All-American in BYU’s Jimmer Fredette. San Diego State’s Kawhi Leonard and UNLV’s Chace Stanback would also be household names if they regularly tipped off at 7 p.m. EST instead of past the bedtimes for two-thirds of East Coasters.

And the Cougars, Aztecs and Rebels have amassed 27 wins in impressive fashion thus far. All three rank in the top 31 for offensive and defensive efficiency, as measured by Ken Pomeroy. Only 12 other teams can make that claim.

For hoops fans with extensive cable packages, go find your Versus channel, if you don’t already have it listed among your favorites. The Mountain West has a contract with the channel, and you can check out some great action this season if you stay up a little later than usual — or DVR or Tivo it.

Let’s show love for great basketball from coast to coast.