On the day that college basketball officially begins, I figured who better to write about than the team that I feel can give top-ranked North Carolina the most formidable challenge this season: Michigan State.

When Tom Izzo picked up the phone, the first thing he asked me is whether I was drunk.

``What do you mean," I said.

``Well, you picked us number two in the country," he responded somewhat saracastically. ``Have you been drinking?"

While the Michigan State coach feels as though his team may not be worthy of a No. 2 ranking at this point, he also realizes that the Spartans have the potential to compete with just about anyone.

``I've said there are usually about 15 teams competing for the Final Four each year," Izzo said. "Well, this year there's only 14 because North Carolina is in a class by themselves."

Izzo said that point guard Kalin Lucas has made a significant improvement. Fellow sophomore Durrell Summers is coming off a 30-point performance in an exhibition game last week.

But the key is 6-foot-8 freshman forward Delvon Roe.

Trust me on this one.

The 6-foot-8 Roe missed his entire senior season (except the first game) of high school after microfracture surgery on his knee and had another procedure on his knee late in the summer.

Roe played 11 minutes in the exhibition game and had just 2 points and 4 rebounds.

``He's a difference-maker," Izzo said. "He's just one of those guys that does a lot of the right things. He can rebound and is an unbelievable outlet passer. He's such an intelligent player, he runs the floor well and despite being a freshman, he's at the right spot at the right time."

Izzo said that Roe, who lived in the weight room during his rehab and is much stronger than he was the last time anyone saw him, isn't near 100 percent in terms of game shape just yet and he may not be up to full speed physically and mentally until around Christmas.

``I'm not sure we'll be able to really rely on him until then," Izzo said.

The toughest decision for Izzo these days is whether to play small or big. He's got the luxury of being able to go with a frontline of Roe, another 6-foot-8 athletic forward Raymar Morgan and 6-foot-10 senior Goran Suton.

Or he can go small with the athletic 6-foot-5 Summers, Morgan and Roe up front and Lucas and 6-foot-5 Chris Allen in the backcourt.

``I might have too many options," Izzo said. "But we can mix and match."

On the surface, it appears as though the Spartans took a significant hit with the loss of senior guard Drew Neitzel. However, anyone who followed Michigan State a year ago realizes that Neitzel had a sub-par season, missed plenty of open shots and was overmatched defensively.

Summers and Allen will have expanded roles. Allen is every bit as competent of a long-range shooter as Neitzel and Summers' outside shot has improved.

``He's a poor man's Jason Richardson and he's not so poor," Izzo joked of the athletic Summers. ``He's a terrific athlete who should be living on the rim."

- Izzo said that Lucas is playing more under control and has also improved his shot.

- Look for veteran guard Travis Walton to play more at the wing spots. ``He'll be our stopper," Izzo said. "He can defend everybody."

- Don't expect anyone to get 30-plus minutes consistently. Izzo said this time will be similar to the 2005 squad led by Maurice Ager, Alan Anderson, Paul Davis and Shannon Brown, in which six guys averaged between 22 and 27 minutes. `

- Izzo is high on freshmen Korie Lucious and Draymond Green. He said Green is a poor man's Chuck Hayes and Izzo also feels that Lucious will find his way onto the court this season even with the abundance of guys in the rotation.

IS THE PRICE RIGHT?

I just got off the phone with Georgia Southern coach Jeff Price, whose Eagles will play Houston in a few hours in the first D-1 team of the season.

Price said that with six new guys and Houston having a ton of new players as well, it could be "really ugly."

Georgia Southern played at Duke two years ago in the same event and knocked off UC Davis in the opening game before losing to Duke the following night. If the Eagles get past Houston, they will almost certainly play the Blue Devils (who face Presbyterian tonight) tomorrow at 9 p.m.

Price lost three of his top four scorers a year ago and also the school's all-time assist leader in Dwayne Foreman. That means junior college transfer Antonio Hanson, sophomore Willie Powers and junior Antoine Johnson will all see time running the club.

RANDOM NOTES: Gary Bedore of the Lawrence Journal-World reported that Rancho Verde High (Calif.) talented guard Michael Snaer, one of the top remaining uncommitted players in the country, will make a decision on Wednesday and will choose from Kansas, Florida State and Marquette. ... Bedore also said that Xavier Henry will wait until the late signing period to choose either Kansas or Memphis. Henry had surgery for a broken cheekbone last week suffered in a car accident. ... Clemson picked up a commitment from Atlanta Westlake (Ga.) junior forward Marcus Thornton.