Take Your Pick

While I spend 90% of my TV time watching sporting events, there is a little time for some good old fashioned teen dramas. I mean, who didn't love Beverly Hills 90210 when they were in High School and college? The O.C.? That show was legit for the first few seasons before it jumped the shark. I've now moved on to Gossip Girl. The show is legit. People Magazine did a solid character analysis on its website today. Give me Serena (top right) and Summer (bottom left) over Marissa and Blair.

Yes, I am 100% hetero.

Want to talk sports? Lets keep going with my college basketball preseason preview, teams 10-6.

10. Michigan State - Sparty probably was going to be ranked higher until I saw them lose their preseason opener to D-II Grand Valley State at home. I know, the game should matter, but it does to me. Regardless, Tom Izzo has his entire rotation back, including All Big Ten Senior PG Drew Neitzel. The lefty is all heart and guts and essentially willed his team to several big wins last year with little help. Look for Sophomore Wing Raymar Morgan to become a bonafide star. Big men Marquis Gray, Goran Suton, and Drew Namick have seemingly been around for ever and provide veteran smarts in the frontcourt. The Freshman class is impressive with Atlanta product SG Chris Allen as the marquee guy. PG Kalin Lucas, according to Izzo, is the "quickest point guard (he's) ever recruited." This team has all the makings of being a classic Izzo team; depth, tough, and veteran.

9. Marquette - The best backcourt in the country all returns for what could be a banner campaign in Milwaukee. PG Dominic James can blow by anyone. A preseason All-American, James has worked to improve his outside shot and as a Junior, his decision making will only improve. His running mates are Jerell McNeil and Wesley Matthews. McNeil is the reigning Big East defensive player of the year and Matthews can do it all at 6'5. Even backup PG David Cubllian is one of the best sixth men in the country and deadly from deep. The key for the Golden Eagles, as it was last year, was getting their frontcourt players to be consistent contributors. This means you, Dan Fitzgerald, Ousmane Barro, and Lazar Hayward. All three are 8 and 5 kind of guys, but if one of them can step into more of a low post scoring threat, the Eagles could be lethal.

8. Washington State - What a story the Cougars were last year. Picked to finished last in the Pac-10, the Cougars finished second and were a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Six of their top seven players return, led by All-America candidate Derrick Low. He spent his summer on the USA Pan-Am games team where he was deep on the bench. After not seeing the floor, Low started the final three games, all wins. ''Derrick Low is one of the most impressive guys I've ever coached,'' Coach Jay Wright told ESPN.com. While Low makes them go, Wazzu boasts several players who can lead them in scoring, including triple-double threat PG Kyle Weaver, SF Daven Harmerling, and PF Robbie Cowgill. Sixth man Taylor Rochestrie is all you can ask for in your first guard off the bench. He's unselfish and a heck of a shooter. Redshirt Freshman Thomas Abercrombie could surprise. They could challenge UCLA in the loaded Pac 10.

7. Louisville - After two interesting years post-Final Four, Rick Pitino's team is primed for another run. Last year's young team returns four starters, led by PG Edgar Sosa and the enigma that is PF Derrick Caracter. Caracter has All-American talent, but a sometimes possesses a Nuke Laloosh-esque 2-cent head. Mid-season he was suspended, by the tournament, he was the go-to guy in the post. When we last saw Sosa, he was dropping 31 on Texas A&M in their tough three-point second round loss to the Aggies. SF Terrance Williams is ready to burst onto the scene as a full-fledged star. PF Juan Palacios has shown flashes of brilliance in his three years in Louisville, but needs to show consistency. SG Jerry Smith, SF Earl Clark, PG Andre McGee, 6-10 Terrance Farley and 7-footer David Padgett all will play key roles (is it just me, or has Padgett been around forever? He is the 2007 Jess Settles). I didn't even mention Freshman Preston Knowles and George Goode. Oh, yeah, their coach is just a tad bit of big game experience.

6. Georgetown - The Hoyas are back to be an elite program thanks to John Thompson III. He may have received the best news of any coach East of Kansas' Bill Self (Brandon Rush returning) when 7-2 Center Roy Hibbert decided to come back for his Senior season. There aren't many pure Centers in college basketball, but big Roy is one of them. His offensive game improved leaps and bounds last season and he will only be better this time around. Hibbert is joined by returnee PG Jonathon Wallace, SG Jesse Sapp, SF Dajuan Summers, and PF Patrick Ewing Jr. Wallace may be the most underrated PG int he country. He is steady and seemed to always come up with the biggest shots at the biggest moments last year. Summers, a Sophomore, is expected to become "the next Jeff Green," the Hoyas All-American Forward who left early for the NBA. Let's not forget to mention JT3's loaded Freshman class. Guards Chris Wright and Austin Freeman are both McDonald's All-Americans who will play right away.