Nation at a glance

By the numbers

3 -- Healthy backcourt scholarship players Georgia coach Ron Jirsa has left, forcing him to use walk-on players in backup roles.

4 -- Technical fouls San Francisco coach Phil Mathews received during his team's recent loss at Indiana. Maybe he was auditioning for job at one of Bob Knight's clinics.

4 -- Division I teams (of 315 total) that remain unbeaten going into last night.

365 -- Shots Penn State's Calvin Booth has blocked in his career, making him the Big Ten's all-time leader.

Teams on the way up

Creighton: The school known for producing Paul Silas and launching Eddie Sutton's coaching career is off to a 9-2 start, its best since 1942-43.

Providence: After starting 0-2 under new coach Tim Welsh, the Friars have won eight of 10, including upsets Sunday of Purdue and Wednesday of Pittsburgh.

Teams on the way down

North Carolina: After nearly being upset at home by UNC-Charlotte and Louisville, the Tar Heels have lost back-to-back road games at Georgia Tech and California to fall to 12-3.

South Carolina: Maybe the hiring of football coach Lou Holtz will divert the attention from what will be a longer winter for the 5-6 Gamecocks.

Pub Date: 1/01/99