The more I think about the upcoming basketball season, the more excited I get. And sophomore Patrick Beverley is a big reason why. The Sept. 22 print edition of Hawgs Illustrated features an article about Beverley's experiences playing for the United States' entry in the Under-19 FIBA World Championship, held this past summer in Serbia. The team took home the silver medal, and Beverley led the squad in scoring (13 points per game), steals, assists and minutes played. The 6-1 guard even finished second in rebounding, averaging 5.3 boards a game.

"He was our most valuable player," DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright, who coached the USA squad, told Hawgs Illustrated. "I think it'd be hard to find another player in the country whose motor runs like Patrick Beverley. He didn't take even one practice rep off, ever, and that rubbed off on every player. His competitive spirit is unlike most players I've been around."

With Beverley, Sonny Weems and crew playing in John Pelphrey's uptempo style, I think Arkansas' NCAA Tournament victory drought will finally be washed away this March.