It didn't take long for UConn freshman Nate Miles to get his name in the news.

While the word is that the talented Toledo, Ohio, native has been tremendous in workouts, Miles was arrested for violating a restraining order. In fact, he was served with the restraining order and violated it about 16 minutes later, according to the Hartford Courant. He was released yesterday after posting a $2,500 bond and has a court date later this month.

Miles could be the difference-maker for the Huskies this season. Yes, he's that talented. Jim Calhoun has guards with A.J. Price and freshman Kemba Walker, has big men with Jeff Adrien and Hasheem Thabeet. Jerome Dyson hasn't quite materialized into the player that Calhoun was hoping, but Miles could be the answer from the wing spot.

The key will be whether Miles can stay out of trouble long enough.

This is a kid who has attended a handful of high schools and hasn't had much parental supervision over the years.

If he can buy into what Calhoun is selling, there's no telling how far the Huskies can go this year. In fact, Miles could be the difference in terms of potentially hanging another national title banner in Gampel Pavilion.

However, Miles isn't exactly off to a stellar start.

LES MAY BE MORE

Shortly after losing big man Patrick O'Bryant early to the NBA, Bradley coach Jim Les was on the phone with his friend, Marc Iavaroni, then an assistant coach with the Suns.

Les was talking about losing his big men and the challenges he faced with a team full of guards.

``Marc told me to come over there and that what they were doing can work for what we had," Les said. ``He knew we were going to have to tweak it some - and we have."
 
``Every spring I spend a few days," Les added. "He and (former head coach) Mike D'Antoni have been unbelievable."

Les has picked up plenty from watching the European-esque system and implemented many of the principles. That may be one of the reasons why Les doesn't seem quite so concerned despite losing a pair of talented guards in Daniel Ruffin and Jeremy Crouch.

Rightfully so, since the Braves won 22 games the year after O'Bryant left.

``If our big guys come around, and people might think I'm crazy, but I think we can be a better team this year," Les said. ``We'll play four guards - that's who we are and what we've been - and we've got great depth."

Les and the Braves went through a challenging season in which numerous injuries resulted in an appearance in the inaugural CBI tournament - where they lost a best two-of-three series to Tulsa in the championship.

``It was a great situation for us because we finally got to realize our potential," Les said.

The positive was that the injuries forced other players - inexperienced ones - into expanded roles. Now Sam Maniscalco, instead of being a freshman without any legitimate playing time, comes into the season with 15 starts on his resume. Andrew Warren and Theron Wilson also return after averaging nearly 25 points between the pair.

Bradley added freshmen guards Eddren McCain and Darian Norris as well as former Iowa State guard Dodie Dunson and athletic junior college guard Chris Roberts.

As Les mentioned, it'll be key what he can get out of a rotation of big men - senior 7-footer David Collins, sophomore Will Egolf and redshirt 6-foot-10 freshman Anthony Thompson.

``Those guys can put us over the top," Les said. "They're our X-factor."

CENTENARY LOOKING BIG

Greg Gary knows the state - having played and coached at Tulane.

The new Centenary head coach also realizes it's going to take a little while to get the Gents, who are the smallest school in the D-1 ranks, back to the postseason.

This season's schedule is daunting to say the least. Gary & Co. will travel to Kansas State, Missouri, Texas Tech, Mississippi State, Wichita State, LSU and Baylor. The first time Centenary will play in its own gym won't be until after the New Year when the Gents face Oakland on Jan. 8

Gary brought in three players - junior college teammates Gary Redus II and Roman Tubner and 6-foot-4 freshman Daman Starring. Redus is the son of the former major league baseball player with the same name and brings versatility to the table, Tubner is an athletic point guard while Starring is a skilled wing.

Gary feels as though his backcourt - 5-foot-10 junior Chase Adams (8.2 ppg) and 6-foot-1 senior Nick Stallings (15.9 ppg) - should be able to hold their own with anyone in the league. It'll be the frontcourt that poses its share of questions.

``We've got some guards coming back that will make us competitive," Gary said.

RANDOM NOTES: Georgia Tech will host Scout.com's top-ranked player in the country, Derrick Favors, and elite guard Kenny Boynton in what could be a huge weekend for Paul Hewitt and the Yellow Jackets. ... Don't be surprised if Brewster Academy forward Thomas Robinson pulls the trigger shortly for Kansas. According to sources, Jayhawks coach Bill Self will head to Washington, D.C., to meet Robinson's mother and if all goes well, a commitment could be forthcoming shortly thereafter. ... Scout.com's Evan Daniels broke the story that Georgetown landed 2010 point guard (Scout.com, No. 54) Markel Starks out of Georgetown Prep - the same school that produced ex-Hoya big man Roy Hibbert. ... Indiana has added big man Bawa Muniru, according to Daniels. ... According to IEBP coach Keith Howard, Creighton received a commitment from Rialto Eisenhower (Calif.) point guard Andrew Bock. ... Colorado, just days after getting a pledge from Keenan Hornbuckle, received a verbal commitment from Alec Burks out of Grandview Senior (Mo.).