Hi, I'm Dave McClure...

...you may remember me from such games as Davidson (8 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals) and UNC-Greensboro (11 points, 9 rebounds, 7 steals).

Despite many exciting early games, Brevity's been silent. But with a new calendar year brings conference play, and we can separate the contenders from the pretenders.

For now, here are updates of the teams picked last April to reach the 2007 Final Four:

UCLA. #1 and undefeated, it's hard to pick out any faults. No true road games -- save for Chaminade -- but they have beaten Texas A&M, Kentucky, and Georgia Tech on neutral ground. They'll take their lumps in a much improved Pac-10.

North Carolina. They still make a sensible choice, if an unlikable one. Their lone loss -- to Gonzaga in the NIT semis -- is forgivable, especially after a pair of good home wins against Ohio State and Kentucky. The ACC should help me figure out this team's identity.

Ohio State. Chosen to win it all, and that was before we saw how good their freshmen would be. They lost a pair of nonconference road games (to UNC and Florida) and will get an education against Wisconsin and the rest of the Big Ten. They'll shape up. It's really a perfect situation for them.

Georgia Tech. The wild card choice, mostly because they returned and introduce a lot of talent, but also because the Final Four will be in Atlanta. And don't count out Paul Hewitt, possibly the best college hoops coach under 50. So far they're also 0-2 on the road, and against much weaker competition (Miami and Vanderbilt). Still good for a March run, but they need to be in the top half of the ACC hierarchy.