Three-pointer

1 The Missouri Valley Conference is even better this season. Missouri State and Wichita State, which beat LSU behind a big second half from Kyle Wilson (right), each upset top 10 teams last week, and the Valley could exceed the four NCAA tourney bids it garnered last year.

2 USC's recruiting has new juice. Days after receiving a letter of intent from prized prospect O.J. Mayo, Trojans coach Tim Floyd got an oral commitment from the top-rated point guard in the class of 2008, Brandon Jennings of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va.

3 It's going to be a long season at Rutgers. After losing 57--44 to Miami ( Ohio) last Saturday, the Scarlet Knights fell to 1--4 under first-year coach Fred Hill, including a 71--70 loss at home to Jackson State.