Gameday Skull Session

Welcome to a special Saturday edition of the Skull Session. May your coffee and breakfast be as enjoyable as the scoreboard tonight.

 Buyer's remorse? You betcha. Twin Cities ESPN 1500 thrust the Tim Brewster death watch into overdrive with a Friday report stating the coach would be out with a loss at Purdue this weekend.  Sources told the station the university drafted a press release and put together a media plan on Thursday to terminate Brewster should the Gophers lose their sixth-consecutive game (which Vegas sees happening).

The athletic department isn't confirming or denying the report, but The Daily Gopher has gone on record stating they "won't be too upset" if Purdue wins.

Meanwhile, an editorial in the Star Tribune has a plan for moving on, and former coach Glen Mason is a big part it.  Mason does still live in the area, and would probably work wonders with the Gophers whether in an interim or more permanent role, but you have to wonder if he'd even be open to talking.  From 2002-2006, Mason averaged 7.6 wins per season and took his teams to five-straight bowls, before earning a pink slip for his efforts.

 The No. 1 Team We Barely Know That's the title of Wall Street Journal article examining the merits of Ohio State as frontrunner. It's fair in pointing out after Saturday we should know more about how good this team is, while also tracing the national unease to the end of the recent Florida-Alabama duopoly:

From November 2008 until No. 1 Alabama lost to South Carolina last week, either the Gators or the Crimson Tide has held the top spot in every Associated Press poll—a span of 29 polls. They received 1,583 of all 1,772 first-place votes, or 89%. For nearly a two-year span, there was virtually no question about who was No. 1, beyond the question of whether you preferred Alabama or Florida.

If nothing else, click the link to see #2 referred to as "Mr. Pryor" as is standard Journal convention. If we're lucky, we'll get a profile of the receiving corps soon quoting Messrs Posey and Sanzenbacher.

Among those who seem to have a hunch as to how good this Ohio State team is include the stats department in Bristol, and the betting public. ESPN points out the Buckeyes have won 13-straight road games while ranked #1 in the AP Poll (last loss was 11/9/74 @ unranked Michigan) and Bodog has installed OSU as 11/4 odds -- the best of any team -- to reach Glendale.  Oh, and prominent southern sports writer man likes the Badgers for the upset, so all truly is right with the universe.

 We talking (basketball) practice! Thad Matta's crew held media day (photos) Thursday and with it comes the message of "Yes, this is a huge football school, but hey, the hoops team is pretty damn amazing in their own right and we'er getting ready to tip off. Over here. Hey, you guys!"  Prep Naismith winner Jared Sullinger looks particularly good in zero, but the engine behind this team, which has garnered several preseason top-five nods, is William Buford, owner of the silkiest jumper in town.  The Blade's Matt Markey spoke to Buford about stepping into Turner's shoes and his quest to become a better all-around player.

In other hoops-related bits, Jeff Rapp remembers Larry Siegfried and Tom Izzo was an astronaut for MSU's midnight madness event.  The Final Four is in Houston and Izzo plans to be there.  The photo is here.