Up Close With PSR
Clark Kellogg

Clark Kellogg serves as a game analyst for CBS' coverage of college basketball and studio analyst during the network's coverage of March Madness. An All-American forward at Ohio State, Kellogg went to the Indiana Pacers as the eighth overall selection in the 1982 NBA draft. Knee problems forced him to retire after posting career averages of 18.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game over five seasons. PSR editor Tony DeFazio caught up with Kellogg in his Hartford, Conn. hotel room the night before Notre Dame visited Connecticut.

PSR: What teams have a Final Four look to them right now?

CK: There's a group that I feel have the ingredients to perhaps make a six-game run through the tournament in March, I really think Stanford, Duke, Saint Joe's, even though many people feel that their schedule hasn't been tough enough to prepare them, I would tend to disagree. I think Saint Joe's is championship-caliber. I think Gonzaga, Pittsburgh, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State are teams that jump at me. Add Connecticut and that's eight teams that look like they have a shot. I think some other teams that may not be in the top 10, like Arizona or a young team like Wake Forest is a team that could do it. I think after that first eight there's probably another 10-12 that would have a legitimate chance to perhaps get it done.

PSR: What teams have been disappointments in your mind thus far?

CK: I think we're all kind of trapped in this daily or weekly watch, which is not really healthy in terms of looking at what a team is capable of doing. I think you need to go by every couple of weeks to get a feel for where a team is and where they could be a few weeks down the road. One or two losses, or one or two wins, aren't really enough to say that a trend has been established.

But there are a couple of teams that maybe have fallen short of faulty preseason expectations. I think Michigan State was expected to be better, although they've started to play well of late. Illinois is a team that initially was struggling, but they've found themselves. I really thought UCLA would be better than what they've shown. I had a chance to see them in December and I really thought they had the potential to be much better than just a .500 team. For whatever reason they just haven't quite found their groove.

PSR: Give us your assessment of Pitt's postseason chances.

CK: Very good. I like the fact that they're a team that seems to be able to force their style on just about every opponent they play. In other words, they're able to control the pace of the game because they're so good defensively, and they're so disciplined and cohesive as an offensive unit that they rarely get out of what they want to do. Now they might not shoot as well, but they typically take pretty good care of the ball and they're a pretty good passing team at every position.

I think the activity and presence of Chris Taft has added a nice ingredient. The ability to score that Carl Krauser possesses is a little more available than what they had with Brandin Knight. Even though Brandin was a terrific quarterback and leader, I think Krauser has those same qualities plus the ability to score more readily and easily. McCarroll comes off the bench and gives them nice minutes and production.

Clearly, they've got everything you want. You like their toughness and maturity. They seem to play at a pretty high level whether they're on the road or at home. They're able to generate whatever emotion they need to compete, wherever they are, and that's important come tournament time.

PSR: Are Pitt and UConn the teams to beat heading into the Big East tournament?

CK: Right now they are, but that all could change, and I would put Providence right on the same line with them. Maybe Providence is a half-step below Pitt and Connecticut, but they're capable of being in that mix as well. Notre Dame is an interesting team because of their ability to shoot the ball and the way Chris Thomas can take over and control a game. Syracuse is intriguing because they're without Billy Edelin right now, but if he's able to come back and be focused and be sharp, that makes them an interesting team as well. Seton Hall's in there; so is Rutgers with their ability to shoot the three. But the class of the league is Pittsburgh and UConn, and Providence, I would say, is maybe a half-step below them.