I just found out - via George Mason assistant coach Chris Caputo - why Jim Larranga is a Twittering madman.

The George Mason head coach is bed-ridden after a hip replacement surgery. He is close to catching Tom Crean (204) for the total number of updates with 183. What's remarkable is Larranaga has done it in just one week's time.

I never thought I'd see the day that Maryland coach Gary Williams got into the act. In fact, I'm surprised he's not right there with Gonzaga's Mark Few and USC's Tim Floyd - two guys who don't know how to turn on a computer.

Williams has posted 22 times thus far. Others in the mix now include Siena's Fran McCaffery, Virginia Tech's Seth Greenberg, Nebraska's Doc Sadler, Colorado State's Tim Miles, Rutgers' Fred Hill, Providence coach Keno Davis, Baylor's Scott Drew and Louisiana-Monroe's Orlando Early.

BULLDOGS BUSY

Mississippi State has been busy of late.

First, it was the pickup of Renardo Sidney - the local kid who really had little choice but to return to Mississippi State. Then the Bulldogs got a signature from John Riek, a one-time potential lottery pick who has been plagued by knee problems for the past year or so.

The latest is that athletic 6-foot-8 shot-blocker Jarvis Varnado withdrew from the NBA Draft on Monday - prior to any NBA workouts.

Imagine a frontline of Sidney, Varnado and a healthy Riek.

It would be downright ridiculous - especially defensively.

``We have a chance to be really good," Varnado told FOXSports.com on Tuesday morning. ``It just comes down to how hard we play."

Sidney still needs to be cleared by the NCAA and Riek needs to get closer to 100 percent, but Rick Stansbury's team - which was 23-13 and won the SEC tournament - didn't lose anyone of note from last season's team.

They return all five starters - Varnado, guards Barry Stewart, Dee Bost and Phil Turner as well as forward Ravern Johnson.

Varnado, who averaged 12.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and swatted a SEC single-season record 170 shots a year ago, said it didn't feel right for him to try and leave after his junior season.

``I want to be a lot stronger for when I try and go in next year," he said. ``I want to work on my skill level."
 
``It was a hard decision," he added. ``But it's not my time yet."

HUSKY RETURN

After taking their lumps early, this could be the year for Northeastern.
 
Bill Coen brings back four starters (the only loss was Eugene Spates (7.9 ppg) from a team that made the postseason for just the second time in the program's last 18 years.

Leading scorer Matt Janning will once again be the team's go-to guy, but his supporting cast has become much stronger since he burst onto the scene as a little-known freshman.

Manny Adako has progressed - and point guard Chiasson Allen made significant strides as a sophomore last season.

``He's really elevated his game," Coen said of Allen. ``He's always been a terrific floor leader, but his shooting was the one thing that was missing. He shot the ball extremely well the last six weeks of the season."

In fact, Allen shot more than 40 percent from long distance over his final 13 games - including a 6-of-13 performance against UTEP in the CBI tournament.

Northeastern will also bring back Nkem Ojougboh - one of three seniors who will likely be in the starting lineup next season.

Coen and his staff will also bring in three freshmen - athletic 6-foot-4 Canadian wing Alwayne Bigby, 6-foot-10 Bulgarian Kostadin Marshavelski from Wilbraham and Monson and Flint, Mich., point guard John Lee.

Coen continues to sing the praise of Janning - one of the long line is terrific evaluations (joining Troy Bell, Craig Smith, Jared Dudley and Tyrese Rice) from the former BC assistant - but said his star guard needs to continue to get stronger.

``He had a great year, but he tailed off at the end," Coen said. "Conditioning is always going to be an issue with Matt. He's got to maintain his weight, but it's tough for him playing so many minutes."

RANDOM NOTES: Former Florida forward Allan Chaney is transferring to Virginia Tech. ... Arkansas has picked up former Iowa point guard Jeff Peterson. ... Montana assistant Nate Duschesne left for the top assistant spot at Portland State. Montana coach Wayne Tinkle hired former Wisconsin player Freddie Owens to take his place. ... Louisiana-Monroe hired Jimmy Voight from New Mexico JC.