I just assigned myself a task. Prior to the first game of the 2008-09 college basketball campaign, my intent is to write about every single Division 1 program in this space and one time or another. Sure, teams like Kansas and North Carolina will receive multiple mentions. However, this is a college basketball blog - and the goal will be to span the entire country.

The ideal situation is to report on a team when something newsworthy has occurred. That means if you have something interesting (transfer pickup, commitment from a huge recruit, injury, etc.), feel free to e-mail me at jngoodman@aol.com

We'll kick things off with items on Ohio State and James Madison today.

BUCKEYES LOSE FROSH

Kosta Koufos' college career is over.

According to a source close to the Ohio State program, the skilled 7-foot freshman has withdrawn from classes and will sign with an agent - which closes the door on returning to college.
 
Koufos averaged 14.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season and has decided that he will either go the NBA route - or even playing professionally overseas.

Koufos' mother is from Greece and there has been speculation that he could land a huge paycheck if he elects to go that route instead of the NBA.

The worst part of Koufos' departure, according to a source, is the timing of it. You see, Ohio State is on a quarter system and if he had withdrawn from classes three weeks ago and wouldn't have cost Thad Matta and his staff a scholarship.

BRADY'S NEW BUNCH

New James Madison coach Matt Brady got some huge news when Dukes guard Pierre Curtis decided to return to JMU after flirting with other schools.

``We let him look around and he came back and is really sold on being here," Brady said.

Brady, known for developing guards dating back to his days as an assistant at St. Joe's, will have strong guard play from Curtis (10 ppg, 4.2 apg) and Abdulai Jalloh (15.5 ppg).

Brady has plenty of familiarity with Jalloh since he recruited and helped sign the Maryland native to St. Joe's, where he was a second-team A-10 guy as a sophomore before transferring to JMU.

Brady said he will try to work on Jalloh's decision-making abilities.

``I saw him play as a freshman in high school and his decision-making with the basketball has never been at a high level," Brady said. "We've already had a conversation about it and he was extremely receptive."

Brady also said that part-time starter Dazzmond Thornton, who transferred into the program from Texas Tech, has shed about 25 pounds in the past month and now tips the scales at 285.

RANDOM NOTES: Scout.com's Dave Telep reported that former Georgetown big man Vernon Macklin is set to visit Florida this weekend. Clemson is also in the mix, according to Telep. ... Pittsburgh assistant Tom Herrion has been given the associate head coach tag. ... Memphis coach John Calipari has promoted Rod Strickland to take the place of Chucky Martin, who has left for Marist. ... Chattanooga has landed transfer Keegan Bell, who was a backup guard at Vanderbilt.