1. Radford coach Brad Greenberg, the brother of Virginia Tech’s Seth, handles adversity with class. The university suspended Brad Greenberg for four games because of impermissible team travel and extra benefits for an ineligible player, according to the Associated Press. Greenberg took full responsibility and accepted the punishment, even though the NCAA has not yet investigated the matter.
2. Also in the Big South, conference leader Coastal Carolina had an absolutely brutal week. The Chanticleers lost their first Big South game of the season to 9-18 Gardner-Webb. In that game, point guard Kierre Greenwood tore his left ACL and will miss the rest of the season. And now, the Associated Press reports that the team has indefinitely suspended leading scorer Desmond Holloway because of eligibility concerns.
3. In other injury news, Florida’s Chandler Parsons looks like a good bet to miss Sunday’s game against LSU with a deep thigh bruise that is actually bleeding internally, writes Michael DiRocco for the Florida Times-Union. Coach Billy Donovan said Chandler is out indefinitely.
4. Utah State obliterated Montana Western 100-66 Wednesday night, in addition to destroying two backboards, according to the “Lost Lettermen” blog. Tai Wesley took out the first backboard, and the maintenance crew did in the other one. And while we’re on the topic of the Aggies, their fans might receive Best Chant of the Year award. It’s certainly one of the most obnoxious for opponents. Winning team! Losing team!
5. What happens when a coach speaks out to criticize an opposing school for ousting its coach midseason? If you’re San Diego State’s Steve Fisher, you get slapped down by the Mountain West Conference officials.
6. And what happens when a coach rants at the media — after a win, as reported by Eamonn Brennan for ESPN.com’s “College Basketball Nation” blog? The rest of the media gets to wonder if Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim is starting to lose it.
7. SI.com’s “Truth & Rumors” blog notes a story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune that calls Minnesota coach Tubby Smith whiny. The Star Tribune points out that the Gophers aren’t exactly world-beaters under Smith, who recently blamed part of that on the lack of a better practice facility so that his players don’t need to cross a street in the cold of Minnesota winters. But as Dave Campbell writes for the Associated Press, Smith is looking to take full responsible for making sure his team hits their free throws.
8. At Nebraska, athletic director and legendary former Husker football coach Tom Osborne asserts that basketball — not just football — is important to the university’s athletic program, according to the Associated Press. At Penn State, that’s even harder to believe when the team must practice with a crooked basket, according to Rivals.com.
9. As if basketball players don’t have enough to do, Georgetown’s Henry Sims is running for student body vice president on a ticket with classmate Jed Feiman, reports Eamonn Brennan for ESPN.com’s “College Basketball Nation” blog.

2/14
• Kansas State 84, Kansas 68
• Syracuse 63, West Virginia 52

2/15

• Ohio State 71, Michigan State 61
• Gardner-Webb 59, Coastal Carolina 57
• Virginia Tech 91, Maryland 83
• St. John’s 80, Marquette 68

2/16

• San Diego 74, Saint Mary’s 66
• Connecticut 78, Georgetown 70
• Purdue 70, Wisconsin 62
• Cincinnati 63, Louisville 54
• Vanderbilt 64, Georgia 56
• Texas 73, Oklahoma State 55
• San Diego State 68, New Mexico 62
• Memphis 62, UAB 58
• Southern Miss 64, UTEP 51
• Miami, Ohio 86, Kent State 80 OT
• Cleveland State 74, Wright State 72
• Milwaukee 79, Valparaiso 76
• Vermont 73, Maine 57
• Southeast Missouri State 64, Murray State 57

2/17

• Arizona 79, Washington State 70
• Temple 73, Richmond 53
• Penn State 66, Minnesota 63

While watching Providence and Connecticut play last weekend, Phil Kasiecki had flashbacks to Jamal Coombs-McDaniel’s high school days, when he proved he could take over a game. His first year and a half at Connecticut haven’t been as successful, but his career-best 25 points against the Friars might help spark his emergence as a reliable running mate for Kemba Walker.

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

Delaware at Northeastern

As Delaware leads 27-22 with over 2 to play in the half, it’s interesting who the mainstays are tonight – Hagins, Saddler and Jawan Carter. Northeastern’s Alex Harris has been as inconsistent as many freshmen are, but at times tonight and this season he’s shown his potential. Northeastern has scored six unanswered points to tie at 51 with 6:08 left, and Chaisson Allen is at the line for two for the lead. D.J. Boney put Delaware up 60-57 with a three-pointer, which isn’t the first time he’s hit a clutch three-pointer in Boston. Delaware is now up 67-59 with 48.2 left, making free throws to seal it after getting stops on defense.

Duquesne at Massachusetts

UMass has started 2-9 from the field with six turnovers – exactly why Duquesne leads by ten despite being 5-15 (2-10 on three-pointers). A scout next to me likes Damian Saunders’ feel for the game. It’s been on display all night, especially in the middle of the zone offense. This game is like it was for a lot of the first half: UMass struggling on offense and Duquesne getting easy baskets at the other end. At the last media timeout, Duquesne is in control with a 72-55 lead, 3:26 left. Five Dukes have scored in double figures.

DePaul at Providence

Marshon Brooks is not starting for Providence, and the clock has done the same thing as we already have our first delay. Say one thing for DePaul on defense: effort isn’t lacking. They’re a very active group. Another problem Kadeem Batts has is he loses the ball too easily. His body language was bad after that last turnover. The few fans who showed up tonight include some pretty vocal boo birds as DePaul now has its largest lead at 50-39. A Providence student came over and yelled to Marshon Brooks, as he inbounded, “Do not listen to Keno (Davis)! Do what you want.” Providence is shooting almost 65 percent from the field in the second half, but still trails by 3 with 6:30 left. Jeremiah Kelly, the closest thing to a veteran leader on DePaul, with a big three in front of his bench to put DePaul up 75-71. Timeout PC. Providence had a chance to win, down by one in the final seconds, but turned it over and an intentional foul was called with 0.5 left.

Michael Protos shares his thoughts and observations from around the hoops nation.

Agree that FSU’s in w/ 11 ACC wins RT@ESPNAndyKatz Florida State will be an interesting case study for committee if Singleton doesn’t return After hosting Miami tonight, UNC Greensboro should be 0-7 against ACC. Only team worse than Wake Forest (min 3+ games) against ACC foes. With Coastal Carolina losing tonight, Texas and Princeton are only remaining teams undefeated in conference play.

Maryland at Virginia Tech

Maryland has overcome a slow start with a 12-1 run, fueled mostly by Terrell Stoglin pushing the tempo (and Jeff Allen on bench w/ 2 fouls) Terps have gone with a 3-2 zone that is confusing Hokies. They’re not moving through it, settling for long jumpers as shot clock dwindles Maryland’s freshmen guards (Stoglin, Howard): 18 points, 7-of-10. Maryland’s upperclassmen guards (Tucker, Bowie, Mosley): 8 points, 3-of-9. All 5 Hokie starters have double figures in scoring, led by Terrell Bell, whose 5th 3-pointer just gave Va Tech 64-61 lead at under 12 TO. Down 82-76 with about a minute to go, Maryland looks about ready to drop another close game.

2/18
• Connecticut at Louisville
• Princeton at Yale
• Kent State at Drexel
• VCU at Wichita State

2/19

• Pittsburgh at St. John’s
• Washington at Arizona
• Utah State at Saint Mary’s
• UNLV at Colorado State
• Colorado at Kansas
• Texas at Nebraska
• Texas A&M at Oklahoma State
• Notre Dame at West Virginia
• Boston College at North Carolina
• Virginia Tech at Virginia
• Army at Navy
• Illinois at Michigan State
• Georgia at Tennessee
• Mississippi at Mississippi State
• Missouri State at Valparaiso
• Vermont at Charleston
• Austin Peay at Fairfield
• Morehead State at Indiana State

2/20

• Cleveland State at Old Dominion
• Ohio State at Purdue
• Penn State at Wisconsin

San Diego State’s Steve Fisher received a public slap on the wrist from Mountain West officials this week because he criticized Wyoming for firing Heather Schroyer Feb. 8 with four weeks remaining in the regular season. Fisher lambasted the decision because he said he feels like it’s just not the proper way to treat people. And he broke NCAA decorum rules, thus earning the censure from the conference.

Although the NCAA might see the censure as an enforcement of decorum rules, I see censorship. And the NCAA is overstepping its boundaries with these rules.

The NCAA wants to protect the value of its programs and avoid public confrontations between players, coaches or fans from different teams. However, the NCAA’s position falls closer to the side of dictatorial rule than American values for free speech. Fisher’s comments were one man’s view on a trend in which teams can coaches before the end of the season, leaving student-athletes and everyone else associated with the basketball program in a lurch. If Fisher doesn’t think that’s fair or good for the game, so be it.

Coaches already must adhere to fairly strict, though understandable, decorum rules. They must watch their language when coaching in the heat of battle. They must stay within an invisible box on the court, lest their team get charged with a technical foul. The first hint of criticism directed at an official during a press conference will draw conference and NCAA officials’ ire. Those rules are largely justifiable, especially with the Federal Communications Commission looking to impose fines when profanity-laced tirades are audible on a televised broadcast. And the game needs its referees to have credibility — though they should earn that on the court.

Unlike most people in the United States, coaches already have limited rights to free speech. But can’t we draw a line based on common sense so people like the Aztecs’ Fisher can express his opinion, which can then be debated in the court of public opinion rather than the court of the NCAA’s rules enforcers?