As I wrote earlier this week, Arizona's main problem is a lack of depth. Well, North Carolina is not exactly the opponent you want to face with a thin bench. Roy Williams played 11 guys nine minutes or more during Wednesday night's thrashing of Wake Forest, and the Heels are still without injured guard Bobby Frasor. Frasor's foot injury has accelerated the maturity of freshman point guard Tywon Lawson, who scored all 15 of his points in the second half of the Wake game. Tyler Hansbrough is also extending his shooting range, which had been a concern earlier this year. It's folly to try to run with North Carolina, yet Arizona is more effective in the open court than the half-court. Throw in the Heels' increasingly tough defense, and it's hard to envision their losing this game.

Would Oregon have lost at Washington on Thursday night if it had Aaron Brooks, who was suspended because he threw an elbow in a game against Washington during last year's Pac-10 tourney? Maybe -- but not by 12 points. The loss further demonstrated just how valuable Brooks is to this team, and his return to the lineup is the No. 1 reason to anticipate the Ducks will win in Pullman. It will be fascinating to see which team wins the turnover battle, since they are ranked 1-2 (Washington State is first) in the league in turnover margin. With Malik Hairston healthy again, Oregon is not nearly as vulnerable on the boards, and their guards are so quick and full of guile, the best an opponent can hope for is that they are missing their shots. I've got a feeling they'll be making 'em.

One team is without its best player and coming off a 14-point loss at Ole Miss. The other just blew a 17-point first-half lead and lost in overtime at Georgia. That's hardly the kind of momentum either would like to have going into this pivotal matchup, but I'd still give Kentucky the advantage, if only because the Cats are at full strength. Even if Chris Lofton plays for Tennessee (which seems doubtful), he won't be 100 percent because of his badly sprained ankle. Kentucky lost at Georgia largely because the Wildcats couldn't contain Bulldogs point guard Sundiata Gaines, but the Vols don't have anyone on the perimeter with that kind of strength and toughness. It's also hard to see UK losing in Rupp to a bitter rival on the heels of a disappointing defeat.

OK, so now we know Kelvin Sampson will never get elected governor of Illinois. Now that that's behind us, the Hoosiers can set their sights on winning a more important game. Michigan, Indiana and Michigan State are currently in a three-way tie for third place in the Big Ten. Since NCAA tournament bids are not going to be overly plentiful in this league, it's important to win those head-to-head matchups, especially at home. Fortunately for Indiana, D.J. White is again playing like an all-conference player (he is ranked fourth in the Big Ten rebounding and 10th in scoring in conference play), and as a group the Hoosiers are exhibiting the defensive toughness that characterized Sampson's teams at Oklahoma. That should spell trouble for a Michigan squad that is having major problems on offense right now. The Wolverines are ranked ninth in the Big Ten in points (66.8) and three-point percentage (34.6 percent), they're 10th in threes made (5.3) and they're dead last in turnovers (15.6).

I'm ready to tab VCU as this week's version of this year's George Mason. After all, the Rams won at George Mason by 13 points on Wednesday night to improve to 9-0 in the CAA (17-3 overall). Under first-year coach Anthony Grant, VCU has deployed a stellar three-guard lineup that is both potent (the Rams are scoring a CAA-best 75.6 ppg) and efficient (they're 12th in the nation in turnovers at 11.8 per game). All three of VCU's guards can shoot, so you never know which one will dominate a game. Against the Patriots, it was 6-foot-2 senior B.A. Walker scoring 24 points, the seventh time this season he has gone for at least 20. Meanwhile, after registering road wins in December at Villanova, Syracuse and Temple, Drexel came back to earth at the start of league play, losing at home to Hofstra in OT before getting waxed by 27 at Old Dominion. I'm sure Drexel will be amped up to play at home against the undefeated first-place team, but I also sense this VCU team is special. A win here would offer further proof.