1. Wyoming cast aside one former BYU assistant coach, Heath Schroyer, as the Cowboys’ head coach and might end up with another BYU assistant as the next coach. SI.com’s “Truth & Rumors” blog reports that the university is considering Dave Rice, a Cougar assistant, for the position after firing Schroyer earlier in the week.
2. Butler found its way past Wright State 71-63 Thursday without Matt Howard, who missed the game with a concussion, according to the Associated Press.
3. Wake Forest coach Jeff Bzdelik dismissed freshman Melvin Tabb for conduct detrimental to the team, according to a university statement, piling on to an already difficult season for the last-place Demon Deacons. Tabb contributed 1.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in limited minutes.
4. That groundhog in Pennsylvania didn’t see its shadow, so we should be done with winter in five days, which would be fine with Arkansas and LSU. The two teams ended up stuck in Mississippi after losses at the hands of Mississippi State and Ole Miss, respectively, thanks to a massive snowstorm that dumped 18 inches in Fayetteville, Ark., and grounded LSU’s charter plane in Baton Rouge.
5. This is just awesome. Kansas fans coordinate a flash mob dance — that’s an oxymoron, right? — to will.i.am’s “Check It Out” during a media timeout, Diamond Leung writes for ESPN.com’s “College Basketball Nation” blog.
6. BYU is a Mormon institution. Jimmer Fredette is approaching idol status. So it’s just a matter of time until a well-meaning, devout Cougar pointed out the sins of Jimmer Mania — but Facebook probably isn’t the best platform for that argument, Eamonn Brennan writes for ESPN.com’s “College Basketball Nation” blog. Epic…win?
7. Remember how in past NCAA Tournaments CBS would flip coverage between two or more games in the closing minutes, often literally possession by possession? Part of the changes enacted in the new TV deal will include staggered starts of tournament games so that the thrilling endings don’t overlap — barring lengthy overtime sessions, the Associated Press reports.
8. Louisville coach Rick Pitino must hope to never hear the name Karen Cunagin Sypher again. The woman convicted of trying to extort Pitino to cover up a one-night stand was in the news again because a judge denied Sypher’s attempt to get a new trial, the Associated Press reports. Instead, she’ll face sentencing Feb. 18.
9. Michigan State and North Carolina are moving closer to finalizing plans to play a game on an aircraft carrier in San Diego harbor this Veterans Day, according to the Associated Press.
10. If your fans aren’t showing up because your team stinks, try appealing to their sentimental side to get them to attend a game. Louisiana-Monroe coach Keith Richard announced that he and his wife, Holly, would donate $1 to a breast cancer center for every fan who made it out to the Warhawks’ men’s/women’s basketball doubleheader Thursday night, Diamond Leung writes for ESPN.com’s “College Basketball Nation” blog. The men’s team is 6-19 in Richard’s first season as coach.

2/7
• Kansas 103, Missouri 86
• Pittsburgh 71, West Virginia 66

2/8

• Kentucky 73, Tennessee 61
• Xavier 65, Georgia 57
• Princeton 62, Pennsylvania 59 OT
• Southern Illinois 56, Wichita State 53

2/9

• Duke 79, North Carolina 73
• Georgetown 64, Syracuse 56
• Rutgers 77, Villanova 76
• Notre Dame 89, Louisville 79 OT
• Texas 68, Oklahoma 52
• Texas A&M 73, Colorado 70 OT
• Florida 79, South Carolina 60
• Bucknell 66, American 60
• Idaho 64, Utah State 56

2/10

• St. John’s 89, Connecticut 72
• Illinois 71, Minnesota 62
• Michigan State 75, Penn State 57
• Vanderbilt 81, Alabama 77

In Atlanta, Georgia Tech will finish the regular season without one of the team’s leading scorers, Brian Oliver. Michael Protos takes a look at how the Yellow Jackets might adjust.

Michael also brings back the Bracket Breakdown Mock Tournament. And he finds it a little difficult to find 68 teams worthy of dancing right now. But there’s plenty of time for teams to earn their ticket to the Big Dance.

Game day tweets and retweets from Phil Kasiecki’s season-long tour:

Towson and Northeastern are warming up for a 7 p.m. tip, with the Tigers still seeking their first CAA win (0-13).

At the first media timeout, Northeastern leads 8-7. Towson’s Erique Gumbs is already on the bench with 3 fouls.

Second half about to get underway. Last time Towson led at the half was the last time they won – Dec. 29 at La Salle.

Northeastern has tied it at 50, but if the Huskies don’t improve their defense in this game, they won’t get over the hump.

Northeastern is now 13-16 from the field in the second half, including 5-7 from three-point range, and leads 68-63 with 7:01 left.

Nice move: Dre Conner just fouled out for Towson, and before heading to the bench he went to NU’s bench and shook the coaches’ hands.

NU can’t put this one away with free throws, and a three by Brian Morris makes it 77-73 with 27.9 left, timeout Towson (their last).

Now Towson is within 78-76 with 14.5 left, Jonathan Lee at the line for two (just made 1-2 a few seconds ago)

Lee makes both, and NU may finally put this one away, up 80-76 with 14.5 left. Timeout NU to set up the defense.

You could hear a pin drop in Matthews as Lee makes another two, NU up 82-78, 5.7 left.

Michael Protos shares his thoughts and observations on Twitter.

Amazing story! RT @wakeforestsport: Giving one for the team: Wake baseball coach donates kidney to freshman OF. http://tiny.cc/TomWalter

BC’s Achilles’ heel all season has been defense. More of the same early as Clemson jumps out to 6-0 lead.

Not exactly pretty at Littlejohn at the half: Clemson shooting 44.4%, BC 31.0%. Eagles’ 23-13 rebounding advantage helping overcome that.

Clemson is settling for long jumpers too early in shot clock, which has helped BC cut double-digit lead to 59-54 with less than 5 min. to go

Bottom line for BC tonight: not enough support for Jackson and Trapani (17-of-34, 49 points). Rest of team: 6-of-26, 24 percent, 18 points.

Clemson moves to 6-4 in ACC with 77-69 win against Boston College, which drops to 5-5 in conference — and is teetering on bubble.

Inability to switch on screens, deny Seth Curry killed Heels. Nolan Smith can score 40 and Devils lose if UNC finds a way to stop 3-pointers

2/11
• Yale at Harvard

2/12

• Ohio State at Wisconsin
• Pittsburgh at Villanova
• Syracuse at Louisville
• Baylor at Texas
• San Diego State at UNLV
• Utah at BYU
• Kentucky at Vanderbilt
• Tennessee at Florida
• North Carolina at Clemson
• Maryland at Boston College
• IPFW at Oakland
• Old Dominion at VCU
• Southern Miss at Memphis
• Wright State at Valparaiso
• Wichita State at Northern Iowa

2/13

• Purdue at Illinois
• Marquette at Georgetown
• St. John’s at Cincinnati
• Arizona at Arizona State
• Xavier at Duquesne
• Fairfield at St. Peter’s

Elite Offenses:

• Wisconsin
• Pittsburgh
• Ohio State
• Kansas

Elite Defenses:

• Texas
• Florida State
• Ohio State
• Alabama
• Maryland
• Kansas

Final Four-Caliber Teams:

(must be ranked in top 20 for both offensive and defensive efficiency)

• Ohio State
• Kansas
• Duke
• BYU
• Kentucky
• Purdue

Notable Omissions From That List:

• Every elite Big East team

I smell another wild NCAA Tournament on the horizon.