One of the reasons that coaches everywhere love CollegeInsider.com is because of its fresh concepts. The latest is another winner -- Jim Phelan Bow Tie Day. What a terrific idea.

Angela Lento and Mike Hardisky (Mount St. Mary's) are getting the word out to coaches to sport a bow tie on March 1, which will be coach Phelan's final regular season game.

This is a great way for coaches to acknowledge and say thank you to a man that has brought so much good to college basketball.

It's absolutely amazing to me that coach Phelan has been at the same place for 49 years. It's difficult enough to remain in the same chosen profession for that length of time, but to stay at the same place is mind boggling.

Coach Phelan is a great teacher of the game and he has always been very professional. Personally, I really hate to see him leave the game, but I salute him for all that he has done.

Through nearly half a century, he has had a positive influence on so many people and those people have taken his qualities and character into their chosen profession and into their neighborhoods.

Jim Phelan has made a lot of communities a better place to live.

The game is really going to miss him.

SNAKE PITS

We have reached the half-way point of the Big Ten Conference season and -- all things considered -- I feel pretty good about the progress we have made.

After opening league play with two losses, we ran off five straight and have won four of five at home.

I really like the manner in which this team has responded. This isn't the same team that won 19 games and claimed a share of the Big Ten title. We opened the season with some new faces and some players facing new roles.

Sophomore Devin Harris has assumed the point guard position, after spending most of his freshman season at the two-guard spot. Devin has done a very nice job of making the transition.

Kirk Penney is once again a source of leadership, but he has raised his level of play as well.

Kirk points per game (16.7), rebounds per game (6.3) and assists per game (3.4) are all up from last season. And his assist-to-turnover ratio is much improved.

Freddie Owens, the third member of our perimeter attack, has continued to make excellent progress since last season. Freddie, Kirk and Devin have given us great contributions on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.

If there was a surprise it would have to be the steady improvement of freshman Alando Tucker. Alando was recruited to play the three-spot, but he has found himself playing the four-spot.

Alando is averaging just under 13 points and just under 6 rebounds per game. He and Mike Wilkinson have done a nice job in the paint.

Overall, our entire front line is coming along nicely.

By now, it should be no secret that defending your home court is a must if you are going to have any chance of still playing basketball in the middle of March.

The path to March is still long and winding and along the way the road is littered with snake pits, better known as road games.