The political columnist Robert Novak is known for his strident conservatism, but in a column about his fight with brain cancer, he sounds as if he's turning over a new leaf, even having nice things to say about Ted Kennedy.

But read a little further into the column, and we find out that brain cancer hasn't completely changed Novak. After mentioning that his doctor is the chief of neurosurgery at the Duke University Medical Center, Novak writes:

The irony of my going to Duke to save my life can only be appreciated by somebody who knows that I am a fanatic University of Maryland basketball fan with no use for the Duke Blue Devils and their student basketball fans, who certainly have not turned the other cheek toward me.

The ingenious taunts by the students at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium are usually directed against opposing players, but I am one fan who also has been the target of the "Cameron Crazies."

During my last visit there to watch a game won by Maryland, students raised a placard with two pictures: one of Benedict Arnold and one of me. "Two Traitors," said the headline.

It's good to know that a little thing like a brain tumor won't change the passions of a college basketball fan, even though Novak also writes, "it will be very difficult for me to inveigh against Duke in the future."

The Bracket Busters is a series that began in 2003 and was designed to pit mid-majors in inter-conference battles late in the regular season. With ESPN tied in, it brings national TV audiences to places they may normally not go.

It helps these teams immensely by getting them exposure, pumping up their RPI numbers and answers some of those questions about the strength of these mid-major conferences.

102 teams were named to be in this year's event ... which will take place on February 20-21.

The marquee name will be Davidson College, home of Stephen Curry and a Wildcats team that were a shot away from getting to the Final Four.

Other big time mid-majors include Butler, Drake, San Diego, Nevada, St. Mary's, Bucknell and George Mason.

Matchups will be set on February 9th. After the jump are the teams that are participating.

It seemed like a done deal that Caracter would drop down to play right away. The transfer to Oklahoma City in the NAIA seemed like a lock. There was no way he'd transfer from Louisville to somewhere else in Division 1. He'd have to sit out a year, and given the lack of motivation he had when he had playing time, what would happen to him if he sat? Of course, this is Derrick Caracter, who seems to have no clue what he wants. So, why not transfer to Southern Mississippi.

Southern Miss has apparently received Caracter's release and transcript from Louisville to make the transfer happen. Caracter sitting out a year. Just working out and (maybe) going to class. That doesn't seem likely.

I'm not rooting against the kid. With the talent he has occasionally shown, I'd love to see it work. If I had to bet, though, the money would be flowing the other way.

There's been a lot of chatter throughout the past few college hoops seasons about expanding the size of the NCAA Tournament field. But maybe that approach needs to be updated -- instead of adding a bevy of marginal mid-major teams, how about dropping a Canadian college squad or two into the field?

Alright, we're probably a long way from that being a realistic possibility. Still, there is some talent north of the border. Defending NCAA champion Kansas led a contingent of American teams into Canada for exhibition games from Aug. 25-Sept. 3, and Jayhawks' coach Bill Self came away impressed:

"Absolutely the top Canadian teams can be competitive in the NCAA, although maybe not at the [highest] level," Self said. "Carleton could be competitive in a lot of leagues in the NCAA, there's no doubt about that."

Before you assume that Self has been -- oh, I don't know -- hanging out with Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur, check that scoreboard from Saturday night.

Kansas 84, Carleton 83.

Herb Pope has reversed course once more -- in just the space of a weekend -- and decided that yes, he will transfer from New Mexico State to Seton Hall. This is fascinating insofar as the three major perspectives of the decision: NMSU, Seton Hall and Herb Pope

The good news for New Mexico State and Marvin Menzies is that they won't have to wonder when Pope will consider another transfer or decide to turn pro. They don't have to be the team worried that he will do something else really stupid, and make them look like a program that will take any player with talent regardless of the baggage. On-the-court, another talented sophomore, Wendell McKines, is staying in Las Cruces after contemplating a transfer. So, there is that.

The downside is obviously losing a very talented, athletic power forward in Pope. After finally getting eligible, Pope immediately improved the Aggies and was very good. The Aggies also stood by Pope when he had to fight the NCAA over his academic eligibility. They didn't flinch when he got a charged with a DUI while still waiting to get approval from the NCAA. New Mexico State put a lot into getting Pope eligible to play, and only got 16 games out of it.

Cal State Fullerton and Pacific -- two teams that figure to compete for the Big West title -- got an early start on the 2008-09 season with a Labor Day trip to Canada. Both teams, however, have their own set of problems to work through.

The Titans made their first NCAA appearance since 1978, but will welcome in a host of junior college transfers and a pair of redshirts to go with all-world shooting guard Josh Akognon. Pacific has had some off-the-court troubles during the summer, and likely welcomed a chance to concentrate on basketball for a change.

Pacific was perfect on its Canadian swing, going 3-0. Cal State struggled in its final game to finish its trip 2-1.

Once upon a time, Herb Pope was considered one of the best recruits in the 2007 class. Teams like Louisville, UConn, Pitt, and Memphis were recruiting him. Then, they started backing away. Pope had a disastrous summer AAU season in 2006. His effort was questioned. He fought with his AAU coach.There were increasing signs that he wasn't worth the risk.

Eventually he signed with Reggie Theus and New Mexico State. Pope was shot several times in March 2007 while at a party. New Mexico State stood by him, and even after Theus left for the NBA Pope decided to stick with the Aggies. Granted, it took a lot longer with some academic questions from the NCAA. NMSU stood by Pope even after a DUI arrest.

Pope had a bad family history as he bounced to family members and changed schools several times. He appeared to find some stability in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania (outside of Pittsburgh). Yet, just before the start of his junior and senior years he nearly transferred to a prep school in Florida -- only to change his mind back at the last minute.

So, really, should it have come as a shock that Pope would explore transferring from NMSU just as the new school year is about to get underway? Well, he looked into Seton Hall and possibly Duquesne. The problem was that Pope wanted to have the NCAA give him a hardship waiver to play this season -- before he actually transferred. They system doesn't work that way -- and it was hard to figure what family issues would excuse playing in New Jersey when his family is in Western Pennsylvania and Maryland.

So, after all of that, Pope decided to remain with the Aggies. If history is any indication, NMSU Coach Marvin Menzies can expect this to repeat itself at least one more season -- if Pope lasts that long.

Hurricane Gustav has already affected the New Orleans Saints. Now it is changing the St. John's Red Storm's plans to tour Mexico.

St. John's was supposed to take a five day trip to Cancun, Mexico where they'd play a couple of games against international teams. By NCAA rule, they were allowed to have 10 days of practice before the trip. Since the trip in cancelled, they cannot continue those practices.

"We were looking forward to the trip to Cancun, but with the severe weather in the area we decided it best to keep our team and student-athletes out of potential harm's way," St. John's coach Norm Roberts said. "We are disappointed, but it is the right thing to do, and we were able to get a few great days of practice in and get the freshmen on the court for one day as well. We're all really looking forward for the 2008-09 season, and will get a chance to travel internationally before next year begins."

(Hat tip to Awful Announcing)

As the conferences are slowly releasing their schedules, ESPN has released part of theirs. Remember that they now do "College Gameday" on Saturdays for hoops just like they do for the pigskin.

In the basketball version, the crew of Rece Davis, Digger Phelps, Hubert Davis and Jay Bilas travel to a school to hold their show ... with a big game being held that night at that location.

Below is the list of games:

January 17- Chapel Hill, NC (Miami-North Carolina)
January 24- South Bend, IN (UConn-Notre Dame)
January 31- Knoxville, TN. (Florida-Tennessee)
February 7- Spokane, WA (Memphis-Gonzaga)
February 14- Madison, WI (Ohio State-Wisconsin)
February 21- Austin, TX (Oklahoma-Texas)
February 28- Berkeley, CA (UCLA-California)
March 7- Morgantown, WV (Louisville-West Virginia)

As you can see, there are some outstanding games on that schedule and some great campus sites. I'm sure the gang is looking foward to going up to Wisconsin in the middle of February.

You may remember the University at Buffalo player who was caught advertising on his Facebook page for someone to write a paper for him. He was suspended from the Bulls for the entire spring and summer. Well, good news, Andy Robinson finished that paper and all the rest of his coursework over the summer.

The school and team reinstated him on the team, allowing him to resume working out and practicing with the team once more. This includes the Labor Day weekend trip to Canada for scrimmages. He will, however, be suspended for the first three games of the season.

"He is back practicing with the team after serving a suspension in the spring," said UB coach Reggie Witherspoon in a statement released by the school. "He has done everything asked of him from the university, division of athletics and men's basketball program to atone for his actions and has learned and grown from his mistake. Andy had a successful summer session in the classroom and we look forward to a successful senior season on the court."

I'll give Buffalo credit. They actually did a lot more than most programs would in punishment. Most may have suspended him over the spring, but then let him back on and not have him miss a game. Saying things how it was time to move on. Especially the team's leader in scoring and steals. While letting him back on the team, they have actually issued a real punishment with game suspensions.