2008 Final Mid-Major Top 25

Last week, when Drive and Dish was busy following the NCAA Championship game and Boone Pickens'/Oklahoma State's pursuit of Bill Self (and, after Self declined their overtures, other "big name" coaches), CollegeInsider.com released their Final mid-major Top 25 poll for 2008.

Davidson, who fell two points short of earning a trip to the Final Four, finished #1 in their final poll. Butler finished #2. Western Kentucky and Drake were #3 and #4, and Gonzaga rounded out the top 5.

Here's the final list:

1. Davidson
2. Butler
3. Western Kentucky
4. Drake
5. Gonzaga
6. Kent State
7. St. Mary's
8. South Alabama
9. Siena
10. VCU
11. Belmont
12. Cal State Fullerton
13. San Diego
14. Stephen F. Austin
15. Illinois State
16. George Mason
17. Oral Roberts
18. Cornell
19. IUPUI
20. UC Santa Barbara
21. Akron
22. Robert Morris
23. UMBC
24. Portland State
25. Rider

Underrated Freshmen

2008 has been called the "year of the freshman" in college basketball. Superstar freshmen like Indiana's Eric Gordon, Memphis' Derrick Rose, UCLA's Kevin Love and Kansas State's Michael Beasley have been among the most hyped college players in recent memory, regardless of class. And O.J. Mayo has practically had a network (ESPN) devoted to chronicling his every move.

Today, Jason Brubaker of Collegehoops.net takes a look at some freshmen who've been having outstanding seasons, despite being largely overlooked by the national media machine.

Brubaker highlights Purdue's Robbie Hummel, Mississippi's Chris Warren, Vanderbilt's A.J. Ogilvy, St. Mary's Patrick Mills and Gonzaga's Austin Daye.

But Drive and Dish wonders: where's the love for Hummel's Purdue teammates Scott Martin and E"Twaun Moore? And why no mention of Ohio State's duo of Kosta Koufos and Evan Turner?

What's more, Duke fans will cry foul over the slighting of Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith. And Kentucky fans will wonder why there was no mention of Patrick Patterson.