Hines on a mission. Double-A Zone guest blogger Kyle Hines is one of the best college basketball players in the country ??? and now he???s getting the respect he deserves. Kyle, who shares some truly insightful thoughts with us each week, was featured in an Associated Press story yesterday that lauds his superb career. The UNC Greensboro star is on the brink of becoming just the sixth player since the NCAA made blocks an official statistic in 1986 to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 300 blocks in a career. In addition to his skills on the court, the story mentions his passion for blogging. Way to go Kyle!

Important exams. Tennessee linebacker Shane Reveiz will have surgery to treat an unspecified heart condition, found as a result of free echocardiograms provided by the school to all student-athletes. Reveiz isn???t the first Tennessee student-athlete to benefit from the free exams; basketball player Duke Crews is out indefinitely after his test came back with abnormal results. Should all schools forge these types of relationships with local health facilities? It seems that there are a couple of lives that might be saved in Knoxville as a result.

What???s your background? The Big Ten will begin annual background checks on football and basketball officials after the past of one of its football officials came into question. Background checks had been done prior to hire, but now they will be done every year.

Groundbreaking. Toledo broke ground last week on the construction of a new athletics complex and renovation of its basketball arena, Savage Hall. Most of the $40 million project will be complete by the end of next year.

Sooper job. The Colorado School of Mines softball team spent time this holiday season to participate in the King Soopers Sharing Tree program. Each member of the team donated money and purchased a number of toys for children in need.