A few early-evening tidbits to to chime in on before everyone turns their attention to the spectacle about to take place in Boston.

* After being turned down by Arizona's Book Richardson and Pitt's Brandin Knight, Mike Rice found his associate head coach, reportedly hiring Georgetown assistant David Cox. The Knights have filled two of their three full-time assistant's positions with Cox and Jimmy Martelli.

* Kevin Willard tells Adam Zagoria he's expecting big things next year's from Trenton's Jeff Robinson.

* Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart says he expects John Calipari to be back next year. But how fitting would it be if the coach who's made a living on one-and-dones became a one-and-done himself?

* Luke Winn and Jeff Goodman are among those with preseason rankings out.