Haven't we all taken a test in class and we know we didn't do to well and wish that we could mark the test, explaining our answers and why we didn't know something?  Of course we all wish we could have done that.  Wouldn't be great, mark all your tests?  We would all get passing grades (okay - some of us would get 100's too!).

Well, thats what our buddy and friend Isiah Thomas, Coach of the New York Knicks, has just done.  Two weeks ago he issued a statement that he should be evaluated for the next two weeks and if no progress was made then he should be fired.  A fair idea after all the recent turmoil at the World's Most Infamous Arena.  Lets, see, they've lost 4 in a row, 10 of their last 12, and are 8 - 21.  This is progress?  By who's definition?  Oh, of course, Isiah.  Who marked his own paper.  Game Over.

Here it is New Year's Eve at Game Over Headquarters and we are excited.  This week officially starts the conference season in college basketball.  No more made for tv match-ups of the 10 seed Big Ten Team against the 1 seed ACC Team.  Blow-Out City.  Yeah, we do get to see some goodies, but how many years do we have to watch Syracuse play cupcakes AT THEIR HOUSE?  Seriously, how does that get you to meld as a team.  If your fortunate, you can move up in the rankings.

But then comes January.  Conference season.  Where each conference beats up on itself after playing some 12 "Pre-season" (non-conference) games.  Now Duke plays North Carolina, Georgetown plays Marquette, and UCLA plays upstart Washington State.  This is where we see teams show what they learned outside the conference inorder to win the conference.

While UNC may be tops now, the ACC is not our pick for top conference.  That nod goes to the Big East.  They will be beating each other up for the next two months and we'll see at least 8 squads make it to the NCAA's because of how good the conference is.  A very close second is what most of us East-coasters won't see unless its you view on the weekends or late at night, the Pac-10.  That conference is 8 deep and we may see 5-6 teams come from out west.  The ACC fills the third spot, UNC easily winning the conference with Duke holding a group of strong contenders for the NCAA's.

We'll update you with our thoughts on the college season as it unravels.  Game Over.

It is quite an indictment of MSG when the best ball you have on the court is presented by the college teams imported to play instead of the professional team that calls the court home everyday.  The Big East is the top conference in the land (or at least # 2 behin the Pac-10).  Georgetown, Louisville, Pittsburgh, and perennial powers Syracuse and Connecticutt all come through the Garden, in what is otherwise becoming the "World's Most Infamous Arena".  St. John's, which for the moment can call MSG home, as it has for many years, until it's on-campus arena is built, is still too young under Coach Norm Roberts (8 Freshmen, 1 Senior) to compete with the elite.  When the program does returnto the upper elite in the conference, which will be helped by telling recruits that if they stay home they will play in a first class arena - on campus, and ocassionally at MSG, will be the best team in town.  From all of us, Coach, we can't wait.

After some delay the Game Over Web Store is now open!  Check out The Monster T-shirt, available in White, Black or Gold and only for $19.00!  For that price, you need to pick up a Nemisis T-shirt as well.  And that is just the beginning as Game Over rolls out its newest line.  Be the first in your school to own the Panorama T-shirt.  We'll be adding more gear this month as we role out the Spring line for your ballplaying and styling needs.  Whatever you do, don't be last, cause then it'll be Game Over.

They say that the NCAA is a coaches league, where high school ballplayers go to a school for the program run by a coach.  Now the NBA is a players league, where we, the spectators go to watch some of the finest athletes in the world play basketball.  Then why is it that there are more timeouts in an NBA game than there are children named Jordan after Michael Jordan?

Did you watch the Christmas Day game between the Heat and Cavaliers?  During the run by the Cavs in the third quarter, how many time outs were called by Pat Riley.  Hey Pat, check it out, your squad is worse than the Knicks.  A time out is not going to help.  Or several of them.  However, if you were to think about me, the fan watching at home, you would be giving me one less opportunity to raid the frig and therefore adding to my obese state.  I want to watch the players play, not go back to the kitchen for a second round of chips and soda.  In fact, watching is so bad on the eyes I think I'm just going to pick up my ball and head to the park.  That way I'll won't eat this crap and maybe I can play for you in a few years.  Your team needs my help.  Game Over.

The holiday season starts te best part of the year, at least some of us at Game Over think so.  Why? - because now starts 12 hour Saturdays and triple-headers on weeknights of college basketball.  Speaking of which, did you check out the Memphis - Georgetown game yesterday?  We did and we learned more from what we saw than from what was said.

College basketball really took off on television when New York's own Al McGuire retired from coaching after winning the 1977 NCAA Championship with his Marquette Warriors (now Eagles) defeating the Dean Smith UNC Tar Heels.  The reason - he teamed with Billy Packer on the NBC College Basketball broadcasts and we, the public, had a coach that taught us the game as coaches think and teach.

The loss of such a teacher was evident during the Memphis - Georgetown game.  Now we know all your coaches tell you how when the ball is passed you need to see the ball and your man.  And when your man moves you have to open-up so that you can see the ball and your man as he runs his part of the offense.  Well . . . , lets just say someone is doing laps today at Georgetown for not doing what he's supposed to do.

The play opened with the ball in the right wing, passed down to the block.  The defender on his man at the top of the circle didn't open his shoulder so that he could see the ball drop down to the block and therefore his man set him up, cut down the lane and recieved a nice pass for a lay-up.  This is fundamental basketball - on the defensive side.  There is NO EXCUSE for allowing that play to happen.  So what happened on that play? - the defender on the ball was trying to get by with just his talent instead of increasing his court talent with knowledge and movement to prevent the easy play from happening.  He apparently hasn't learned from countless times going through the shell drill how to jump to the ball.  Ballers, young and old, male and female, it takes more than talent to be a great baller - it takes the teachings of your coaches to make you a superior player.

And there was no one to discuss the play as we had with coaches such as Al McGuire.  When we watch a game, we want it to be our classroom as well.  There is no reason any High School Ballplayer cannot come to Monday's practice after watching games on Saturday and becoming a smarter player.

So when you watch games, don't just look at what happens with the ball, look off the ball and understand defensive movement.  It's the men off the ball that direct how the ball moves more than the defender on the ball.

Some of you must of heard us when school got back into session.  There was movement in the standings as we crown a new leader-or-the-pack, Yves Jules of Canarsie.  Yves, not in the top ten as of last week had heavy voter turnout.  But he wasn't the only one as Keith  of Jefferson jumps from a tie for 6th into 2nd place.  Last weeks leader, Lance Stephenson, holds 3rd Place.  Sylven Landesberg of Holy Cross takes 4th with Erving Walker of Christ the King holding 5th Place by himself.  Eric Touche of Jefferson and Kembas Walker of Rice share the 6th - 7th spots while Brandon Romain of Boys & Girls is in 8th.  Curtis Loving of Wadleigh shares 9th with Kevin Jones of Mount Vernon.

Long Island has joined the party as several write-ins have now appeared on the voting page.  Don't be shy and register for the free Game Over Monster shirt.  It's gong to someone - why not you?  See you Sunday with the next update.  Game Over.