BOSTON - Just landed back in Boston. I spoke to a producer of WEEI, one of the largest sports stations in the country, and he told me that the day after BC knocked off North Carolina, the Eagles got about a minute of air time because it was overshadowed by the football story of their coach being threatened to be fired if he interviewed by the New York Jets.

I'm headed home and going to spend some time with my family. I'll catch most of the Stephen Curry Show at Cameron Indoor Stadium tonight.

Toughness. Either you have it or you don't. It's not a trait you can usually acquire.

Arkansas coach John Pelphrey wasn't sure whether his young and inexperienced team had it or not. While he's not certain whether the Razorbacks will be able to sustain the high level of play displayed recently with home wins over Oklahoma and Texas, Pelphrey knows his team has toughness - and that's keyed by freshman point guard Courtney Fortson.

How about this?  Fortson's AAU coach, Southeast Elite's Mark Komara, told me that Kentucky had a chance and passed on Fortson - who is easily one of the top frosh in the country right now.

Just imagine Kentucky with a trio of Jodie Meeks, Patrick Patterson and Fortson. The one thing that the Wildcats are missing is a capable point guard, but Billy Gillispie and his staff didn't want to take the chance on Fortson (in all fairness, many coaches backed off Fortson because they weren't sure he'd qualify academically.)

Anyway, getting back to the most surprising team of the young season, Pelphrey said now will come the true test for the Razorbacks.

"The biggest challenge is still to come," he said. "Our team had a great attitude and that's been one of the key reasons why we've had success so far, but do our guys get soft now and does it become about me instead of the team?"

"There's still three months left of college basketball," Pelphrey added. "If we have a bad week or two, everybody will be talking a different tune. We need to stay focused."

Pelphrey is right - and if he needs proof, he can ask Ole Miss' coach Andy Kennedy, whose Rebels got off to a terrific start a year ago and then wilted down the stretch.

MULLENS SHOWS FLASHES

I came away from the first half saying there's zero chance that B.J. Mullens can make the jump to the NBA after this season.

I still don't think he'll be ready - more emotionally - after this season, but the talented Ohio State 7-foot freshman was terrific in a second-half stretch last night against Michigan State.

The Spartans played Mullens straight-up for the most part and he took advantage against the smaller Goran Suton.

After missing his first shot of the second half, the Buckeyes went to him on four straight offensive possessions - and Mullens converted each time.

It began with a pretty baseline turnaround, which was followed by a dunk. Then he used a right-hand hook and proceeded to score again on a dunk to cut the deficit to 55-47.

KENTUCKY, OHIO STATE CRAVE POINT GUARD PLAY

The only way I see Kentucky or Ohio State becoming legitimate Final Four teams in the next couple of years is if they pick up a quality point guard from a committed kid whose coach leaves or is fired.

Memphis will join that duo if John Calipari can't land the nation's top uncommitted point guard, John Wall.

Kentucky has Michael Porter, who gets as much as he can out of his ability, and freshman DeAndre Liggins - who may never be a point guard.

Ohio State has Jeremie Simmons and B.J. Hill.

Neither program has anyone coming in next year to provide the answer. Incoming freshman G.J. Vilarino certainly won't provide it for Billy Gillispie and the only addition for the Buckeyes is a big transfer sitting out from UAB.

I've said it over and over. If I was a coach, I'd stockpile three point guards on my roster if possible. That's what Providence coach Keno Davis is doing with the recent addition of Johnny Lacy and Vincent Council (in addition to holdover Sharaud Curry).

The bottom line is that without a point guard, you can only go so far.

RANDOM NOTES: I ran into SYF Players coach Wayne Brum, one of the real class summer coaches, at the Notre Dame-Georgetown game. He's seen Luke Harangody, E'Twaun Moore, Robbie Hummel and Scott Martin come through his program yet he said the best player he's had is guard Tyrone Appleton, who rarely gets off the bench at Kansas. Brum said Appleton, who also won when he was at Bridgton Academy, had more heart than anyone he coached. ... The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that sophomore wing Jeff Robinson will be granted his release. According to sources, he'll end up at Seton Hall.