For what it's worth

The college basketball previews are rolling out and some have interesting insight.

Take The Sporting News for example. The magazine picks LSU to win the SEC West and No. 6 overall in the rankings. The magazine tab's LSU's Tasmin Mitchell as its most underrated player in the SEC. I don't know about underrated, maybe overshadowed by Big Baby. But Mitchell could be poised for a breakout year.

As for fatal flaws, the magazine points to LSU's point guard situation. I would concur. Tack Minor could scare anyone at the point.

One interesting sidenote from TSN, Washington's Jon Brockman tells the magazine the one player he is most looking forward to playing is LSU's Glen Davis. "I'm looking forward to banging with Big Baby. He's a pretty heralded player and I've been watching him. It's always fun playing against high-profile athletes like that.''

Sports Illustrated picks the Tigers No. 4 in the nation. However, the same magazine picked Kansas No. 1 and the Jayhawks didn't make it out of November unbeaten. Kansas lost to Oral Roberts at home earlier this month.