I am finally almost completely defrosted after braving 16 degree windchills for seven hours on Sunday during the Chiefs win over the Raiders. I am also happy to report that my fingernails are starting to grow back after the intense nail-biting I endured while Duke went scoreless for the first eight minutes on Saturday hosting Detroit. No, not the Detroit Pistons, Detroit Mercy of the freakin? Horizon league!!!

Long story short, Perry Watson had his team defensive-minded and committed to an effective half-court game that prevented Duke from grabbing any long rebounds that led to quick runouts. And Duke picked up where they left off vs. Kansas in the NCAAs and was cooler than cool (ice cold!) in the first half, shooting 3 of 13 from three-point range. J. J. Redick grew out his hair yet is still quicker and had no problem getting to the free throw line where he?s automatic (10 of 10), Chris Duhon was content not shooting for the entire first half and orchestrating the offense, Coach K is still having problems utilizing the potential of Shavlik Randolph, and Luol Deng isn?t Carmelo quite yet, but he?s awfully confident for a freshman and scored Duke?s first points of the 2003-4 season.

As far as the Chiefs go, they?re screwed if they can?t figure out a way to eventually stop the run. The defense is no longer coming up with the flukey takeaways that made early season victories appear more dominant than they actually were. And I don?t feel good about a field goal kicker who while extremely accurate, has trouble finding the leg strength for anything over 40 yards. I?ll feel much better if they?re able to drop no more than one game the rest of the way (at Minnesota?) and maintain home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Think Carl Peterson?s still happy with picking Larry Johnson in the first round over corners Sammy Davis and Andre Woolfolk? Grandmama has 8 rushing attempts on the season for 27 yards, and is lucky to dress every other game. Has Carl and the League finally learned their lesson once and for all regarding Penn State running backs?

In other NFL news, I am THAT guy that took William Green in the 2nd round of your fantasy football league. Over Randy Moss. I?m an idiot. And impatient. I waived Matt Hasselbeck prior to Sunday?s 5 TD performance.

One guy that?s not an idiot—Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo. In what will be the second compelling college hoops match-up of the year (the other in St. Joseph?s earning respect at the hands of a weakened Gonzaga squad) Izzo will bring his Spartans to Lawrence, Kansas with a chip on their shoulder, having previously been called out by their coach as ?soft? and needing missed free throws to emerge victorious over Bucknell, knowing full well that Bill Self?s Jayhawks have no legitimate three point threat. Self is inexplicably starting Michael (if only Hakim Warrick weren?t so long) Lee over McDonald?s All-American and Wal-Mart 5-finger discount shopper, J. R. Giddens. The Jayhawks will need all the help they can get defending the perimeter (Torbert, Hill, Brown, Anderson; Brandon Cotton?s out with a foot injury) and while they should own the advantage up front, MSU?s Paul Davis is entirely capable of outplaying KU?s Wayne Simien. Should Simien or Jeff Graves get in to early foul trouble, freshman standout Jeff Padgett is going to wish he?d spent a little more time in the weight room this summer, and a little less time being Paul Davis? bea-otch?

Nick Collison will be in attendance and watch his jersey retired and hung from the rafters—jeez, they could have at least waited til the thing gathered a little bit of dust. Then again, it gets ol’ Nick and his bum shoulder out of the Seattle Sonics training room for an evening, so what the hell!

Fearless prediction: Spartans 62, Jayhawks 56

And yup, I finally got sick of Britney. Enjoy Jessica Simpson during her temporary absence?