New conference alignments, and other news

The Pac-10 has released its schedule for 2011-2012, when it becomes the Pac-12. Not only will there be six games per week, but conference play will begin in December instead of the traditional January. Check out the first four dates:

Thurs., Dec. 29
Stanford at USC
California at UCLA
Washington State at Oregon
Washington at Oregon State

Sat., Dec. 31
Arizona at Arizona State
California at USC
Stanford at UCLA
Washington at Oregon
Washington State at Oregon State
Colorado at Utah

Thurs., Jan. 5
UCLA at Arizona
USC at Arizona State
Oregon at Stanford
Oregon State at California
Colorado at Washington
Utah at Washington State

Sat., Jan. 7
USC at Arizona
UCLA at Arizona State
Oregon at California
Oregon State at Stanford
Utah Washington
Colorado at Washington State

The Western Athletic Conference will add the University of Denver, the University of Texas at San Antonio and Texas State University by July 1, 2012.

The LA Times found that USC players and coaches still think everyday about not being chosen for the NCAA Tournament last spring. Yet the picture with the piece is of former point guard Camille LeNoir, who graduated in 2009. Did the Times not go to any SC games last year?

North Carolina State Coach Kellie Jolly Harper talks about the upcoming season.

Tennessee items:

Pat Summitt discussed Tennessee's first two games of the season in a teleconference yesterday.

So far, the long-time coach likes what she sees this year.