One more reason it's a good year to like orange

Sporting News, The, Jan 25, 1999 by Mike DeCourcy

The TSN Power Poll is determined by Lori Riley, Michelle Smith and TSN editors. Records through Saturday, January 16.

RELATED ARTICLE: Reed's read

Watch closely for the flaws in Neil Reed's game.

If you can find them, well, you must be a basketball genius.

He works tirelessly to get open in a Southern Mississippi offense that depends completely on his scoring skills. When teammates who are shaky with the ball make a bad pass in his vicinity, he rescues them with anticipation and athleticism.

Reed is averaging 18.1 points for a squad that has no one else in double figures--no one who's with the team, anyway, since small forward Pedro Phillips chose to depart.

"I don't think there's any way you could not appreciate a guy like that," says Southern Miss coach James Green, who is demanding enough to have one starter leave at midseason in each of the past two years.

"In order to do well, you've got to have some roles out there, and some roles are bigger than others. We ask all our guys to give 100 percent, and his 100 percent is sometimes quite a bit more than the other guys, based on his experience and toughness and ability on the court."

Oddly enough, Indiana did not appreciate Reed during most of his three seasons with the Hoosiers, and he finally chose to leave following the 1996-97 season. On the way out, he charged coach Bob Knight with emotional abuse.

His world is calmer now. He's not often seen on television, but he is playing the way he always believed he could and is all but a lock to be chosen first-team All-Conference USA. -- M.D.

RELATED ARTICLE: Inside dish

CAMPUS RUMBLINGS AND LOCKER WHISPERS

The big lineup that placed 6-6 senior Heshimu Evans at shooting guard and 6-9 Scott Padgett, 6-11 Michael Bradley and 6-10 Jamaal Magliore across the Kentucky front line took a serious toll on Evans, who began the year as one of the country's finest small forwards. Facing more pressure to make jump shots and to defend quicker players, Evans shot 12-of-31 in his first six games in the backcourt and admits, "My confidence is down." ... Although Texas opened 0-4 and still was under .500 in early January, Big 12 opponents still believe the Longhorns are strong contenders for an NCAA Tournament bid. In a six-game winning streak, center Chris Mihm and forwards Gabe Muoneke and Kris Clack

scored in double figures 16 of a possible 18 times. "Their front line is as talented as anybody in the country," says one Big 12 assistant. The Longhorns' clear concern remains depth, with all but one starter averaging at least 30 minutes.... Forwards Stromile Swift at LSU and Aaron Turner at Xavier achieved the necessary test score to be eligible on their final December opportunity and joined their teams for the spring semester. LSU desperately needed Swift's talent; Xavier is looking to Turner for inside muscle.... Stanford reserve point guard Michael McDonald, who missed much of the season's first two months with a foot injury, is expected to return soon. There was some consideration about redshirting him, but the Cardinal need him in the rotation to make a serious run at a national title.... Wake Forest coach Dave Odom still can't explain what happened to the Deacons' only tape of Cincinnati's win against Duke--a key component of game preparations for all Blue Devils opponents. Odom suspected someone pilfered it. The Deacs still put up a better fight than all of Duke's ACC opponents through Sunday in the 10-point loss.... Moses Malone Jr. transferred to Texas Tech after his initial choice for a new home, TCU, expressed no interest. Malone left Houston early in his freshman season over dissatisfaction with playing time. His inability to get on the court with a poor team has college coaches reconsidering whether Malone might have been overrated as a prep senior.