5-at-10: College hoops storylines, Tiger's back, Iverson Rushmores and crazy characters with Oscars

Here's hoping you enjoyed the fine weekend weather. Who knows what will be next?

The 6-year-old Bulls drafted on Sunday - we love the draft; you know this - and we're blessed to be able to coach a great group of tots again this year. War Bulls. "We're going to run the picket fence at 'em, and boys, don't get caught watching the paint dry."

photo This image released by Ellen DeGeneres shows actors front row from left, Jared Leto, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Ellen DeGeneres, Bradley Cooper, Peter Nyong'o Jr., and, second row, from left, Channing Tatum, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Brad Pitt, Lupita Nyong'o and Angelina Jolie as they pose for a "selfie" portrait on a cell phone during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Let's have some post-Oscars fun (and we did not watch a minute of the festivities last night because a) with two young tots we have not seen many of the movies so we do not have a vested interest and, b) we're binge watching Game of Thrones right now so there's that... shhhh Mother of Dragons is talking... she's a bad woman).

Plus, it's not like there's a ton of sports news of major merit.

From the "Talks too much" studios, let's do work.

College hoops heating up

Let's delve into four quick angles of college hoops that have our interest.

First, the Tennessee Vols delivered a historic whipping of Vandy. It was just behind the Virginia win as the high point of a schizophrenic club that has swung the gamut this year. As our buddy Scott said on Twitter - and as Paschall has said consistently on Press Row - we are starting to think these Vols are inside the bubble because the bubble is so muddled. That said, UT has to sweep this week to confirm that belief, and they really need a an SEC tournament win or two to make Sunday a little less stressful.

photo Tennessee guard Antonio Barton celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer in the Vols' blowout win over Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Vols will need to keep winning down the stretch to have a shot at making the NCAA tournament.

Second, War Mocs and War Z Mason. It could have been very easy for Mason to be a distraction this year. Only senior, new coach, team that was picked to have little-to-no success. Mason flipped the switch in the other direction and authored a great season front to back. He capped that with 24-13-6 blocks effort on his game at McKenzie. Mason has fashioned himself into a guy that will get a chance overseas and who knows form there.

Third, John Calipari's act is tired. Little history: We all know that Coach Cal is an elite recruiter, even at UMass and Memphis before coming to Kentucky. (Because after all, how hard is it to recruit to Kentucky.) We've also long since believed that Calipari was an underrated X-and-Os guy. Dude's one of the forerunner of the dribble-drive offense and used that - with Derrick Rose and John Wall - to rise into the upper echelon of coaching. It was well-deserved. But he has crashed and burned with this group from the start. There was the 40-0 talk. There has been the constant reminders that these kids are freshmen, which is a system he has embraced so when the downside appears it is hypocritical to then blame the system. (And after four-plus months of NCAA action and 10 years of elite AAU competition, these kids are not normal freshmen.) There was the recent shots at unnamed players and calling them out. And now Cal skips a postgame news conference. Weak.

Finally, what do we make of Wichita State going through the regular season undefeated? We think it's pretty cool and are starting to hope they can finish the deal.

Thoughts?

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Back to the back

photo Golfer Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods quits. Rory folds. Russell Henley wins.

What do we know about the PGA Tour?

Very little, other than it needs stars, and as exciting as it is for guys like Henley or Speith or whomever to win their first event, it's not going to move the needle.

In fact, the order above is 100-percent the storyline sequence of events. Period.

It will be interesting to see how long this sidelines Woods, who pulled out of the tournament with back spasms five holes short of finishing Sunday.

If his back is seriously hurt, this could affect Woods' game forever. Ask Freddie Couples about the moodiness and devastation back ailments can cause on a golf game.

And if he is shelved, golf's public appeal takes a few steps back (and maybe more than a few).

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Answer for Rushmores

The 76ers retired Allen Iverson's No. 3 this weekend. In truth, Iverson is on a contender for a slew of Rushmores during an incredible career. Let's examine some of them:

He's in the mix for Rushmore of best modern-day athletes (he was USA Today high school football and basketball player of the year as a senior), best NBA players ever under 6-feet, biggest bankrupt stories (dude made more than $115 million just in hoops), one of the early front-runners on the all-tattoo Rushmore and several more.

He's also a guy with an all-time news conference rant. His 'practice' routine is a classic. What's your Rushmore of all-time news conference meltdowns, and yes, we're a man, we're 43.

As for A.I. the player, the point guard nicknamed the Answer was the quickest with the ball in his hands we have ever seen. Ever.

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This and that

- At the opposite end of the golf dilemma is NASCAR, which has two races with two stars winning - Dale Jr. at Daytona and Kevin Harvick this weekend at Phoenix, where Junior finished second. Great start for NASCAR, and it was kind of cool to see Harvick in the Jimmy Johns sub car with "Freaky Fast" on the side.

- Paula Creamer made a 75-foot putt to win a golf tournament. It was pretty fun to watch. Here's a clip.

- The NBA made LeBron switch from his black mask to a clear-ish mask. Booooooooo. Thought the NFL had the copyright to "No Fun League."

- Downtown Patrick Brown has been breaking down the Vols position groups heading into spring practice. Here's the most recent as the Vols look to replace their entire offensive line.

- Congrats to our man Weeds and Coach Mack and the rest of the group being inducted into the Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame tonight. Much deserved honors all around.

Today's question(s)

Gang, sieze the moment. (Wonder if southern Latin fishermen ever say "Carpe carp")

Rushmore of crazy movie characters that went on to win Oscars:

• Spigoli (Penn), check

• Wooderson (McConauhey), check

• Carl Spackler (Murray), check

• Mork (Robin Williams), check

Wow. Who else you got?

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