As the title says. ...

--- I talked to a spokesman with The Gazelle Group, the company that is sponsoring the CBE Classic, who confirmed that UW will automatically advance to the semi-finals in Kansas City. The Huskies are one of 16 teams in that tournament this November, hosting an opening round group of four. In previous years, teams needed to win their two opening round games to advance to the semi-finals. But that format is being changed this year with the four host teams automatically advancing to the semi-finals in Kansas City. That means UW is assured of playing Kansas in the semi-finals in Kansas City, then will play either Florida or Syracuse in the second game.

--- Former Husky Will Conroy got the start at point guard for the Nets in their summer league game Wednesday and helped lead the team to a 95-81 win over the Oklahoma City Lying Cheating Stealing Lying Fabricating Liars --- maybe the only time I've ever smiled at the result of a summer league game. Conroy had eight points and seven assists in just under 26 minutes.

--- Gonzaga's Austin Daye hurt his knee at the LeBron James camp earlier this week but it doesn't sound too serious.

--- Lots of stories out there today speculating on the potential long-term ramifications of Brandon Jennings' decision to ditch college for Europe, including this from the LA Times; these comments from John Wooden and Ben Howland from an LA Times blog; and this column from Tucson from Anthony Gimino who says if high school players want to play in the NBA, the NBA should let them. (Maybe those high school players should just say they are "men possessed'' to stay in college. Then the NBA will let them turn pro immediately).

--- Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports says on his blog not to expect a lot of defections. And while I really like Goodman's blog, I can't help but chuckle at times how the site's filter for "bad words'' works. Apparently, the first name of a certain religious figure who also founded his own college that lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to the Cougars two years ago is too much (it's a little further down).

--- Someone asked me to provide details on an AAU Tournament at Mt. Rainier High this weekend. But I can't find any, even looking at the organization's local web site. If anybody else has any to pass along, that would be great.

--- Finally, and speaking once more of the Sonics, the Times published a special section on the team's history today which included these memories from those of us who work or have worked at the paper, mine included.

All for now.