The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Nov. 14, 2012

There's a good chance I missed a really good college basketball game between 11 p.m. on Monday and 9 a.m. on Tuesday, but I chose not to watch some mid-major schools battle in games that only matter to people in those regions.

Davidson vs. New Mexico, Houston Baptist at Hawaii - not games that could keep me awake.

The next three months or so, that's a little different.

THE 24-HOUR college basketball marathon on ESPN began with West Virginia traveling to Spokane to face Gonzaga in a rematch of a second round NCAA tournament game from last March.

With the teams combining for eight points in the first four minutes and Gonzaga leading 6-2, I began to wonder if it was just an odd late start of 9 p.m. that was the reasoning for the slow start for both teams.

As the first half progressed, it got more and more one-sided as the Bulldogs took a 45-18 lead at halftime and went on to win 84-50.

After the game, some commentators added that Gonzaga looked like a team that could advance to the Final Four in Atlanta this April.

Maybe? I guess so.

Keep in mind, it is only a week or so into the season and a lot can still happen between now and the Final Four - Gonzaga getting on a long winning streak, or going cold once again.

JUST WATCHING the men's basketball game between Montana State and Seattle on Sunday at KeyArena made me realize just how much change will take place in a few weeks.

Marcus Colbert, a former Post Falls High standout and last year's state 5A player of the year, made his debut for the Bobcats in the game.

Not only did he play 19 minutes, but he started, had three rebounds and a steal in their 87-72 loss to the Redhawks.

Add in Chad Chalich and Deon Watson, key members of the Coeur d’Alene Vikings team that advanced to state in basketball and moved on to Idaho to play football, and those teams that have been in the mix for league titles will be counting on other athletes to get them back to the top of the league.

In talking with a coach on Monday, he seems encouraged by what his team will bring to the court — between youth and talent.

The only thing missing was the experience at the varsity level, but that could also be overrated as well.

If a group of players has experience playing as a team — whether at the JV, varsity or AAU level — then they know exactly how to win games.

Knowing how to be a winner doesn’t stop because you’re playing against a different group of players, because they’ve got to adjust to what you can do also.

It will be four months until the front-runners and other contenders for those places are determined.

But you’ve got my attention again.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].