What a week in men’s college hoops. There were two big upsets, both concerning a number one team and both taking place in the great state of Tennessee.

On Saturday, the second-ranked University of Tennessee came into Memphis and spoiled the top ranked Tigers’ chance at a perfect season with a thrilling 66-62 win. It was the first time the in-state rivals had played each other while being ranked first and second. Even though Tennessee did not get great production from its star guard Chris Lofton, its role-players put in enough to take down the last unbeaten team in the country.

With the win, the Volunteers secured the first no. 1 ranking in the history of their men’s basketball program. They would not hold on to the position for long. On Tuesday night in Nashville, the fourteenth-ranked Commodores of Vanderbilt beat the Vols 72-69 in another close game among top-flight Tennessee basketball programs. The victory was Vandy’s fourth-straight win on their home court against a number one ranked team. With a streak like that, even Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl’s neon tangerine jacket didn’t stand a chance of guiding his team to victory.

Finally, Northwestern beat Michigan to win its first Big Ten game of the year! Hooray.

Yes, that’s right, that squeak you just heard was the hockey trade deadline passing! In all seriousness, this year’s deadline was an exciting one for the NHL. The Dallas Stars, a team jockeying for top-billing in a strong Western Conference, bolstered its offense by getting center and former Conn Smythe trophy winner Brad Richards from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for young goalie Mike Smith and two other players.

The two other big trades of the day involved Eastern Conference teams. The Pittsburgh Penguins, a team that could very well win the conference, received Marian Hossa from the Atlanta Thrashers. Hossa is a phenomenal two-way player coming off a 100-point season and makes them an automatic Stanley Cup favorite. In a questionable move, the Montreal Canadians sent their no. 1 goaltender Cristobal Huet to the Washington Capitals for a mere second-round pick. While the Caps are overjoyed to have an upgrade over the venerable but declining Olaf Kolzig, Canadians fans have to be shaking their heads over a trade that may weaken one of the East’s hottest teams.

Action in the NBA this week proved a couple of things. First, that the Kobe Bryant Experience featuring Pau Gasol is very, very good. The Lakers are 10-1 since they acquired the Spanish big man, including winning their last nine. For me, they are the ones to beat in the Western Conference. Second, the Phoenix Suns are probably not much better with Shaq in their front-court. The (former) most exciting team in the league has alternated wins and losses with the Diesel in the lineup. He scored a measly four points in their win over Boston last Friday. The news of the week, however, was that Yao Ming will be out for the rest of the regular season with a stress fracture in his left foot. The injury is a serious blow to the Houston Rocket’s playoff hopes, even though the team has won its last 13 games, they are demoted to a second-tier team in the West.

Finally, in baseball, blah blah steroids blah blah blah Roger Clemens is getting investigated by the FBI blah blah more steroids blah blah Andy Pettite blah blah blah steroids blah blah Congressional hearings blah blah blah. Also spring training is in full spring. I am truly looking forward to the start of the season so we all can forget about this steroids nonsense.