Just came back from the United States Basketball Writers Association luncheon and got the national numbers from the semifinals on ESPN which drew a 2.2 share, up 1.9 from last season.

Division I Women's Basketball Committee Chair Jane Meyer also took questions from the assembled media with my of the focus on the proposal of expanding the men's tournament from 65 to 96. Meyer said it was not going to be a rubber stamp deal of the women's field going to 96 if the men's tournament opts to expand. She also said that if the men's field does mushroom to 96 and ESPN gets the broadcast rights that the committee will make certain that the women's tournament still have windows for coverage.

Meyer also said that attendance in the first and second rounds increased 7 percent from last season so that is a signal - at least in the eyes of the committee - that going to 16 predetermined sites was the right move from having eight sites.

"We're very confident of where we are right now," Meyer said.

On a personal note, as a member of the USBWA I always make an effort to make it to the annual meeting if UConn is in the Final Four. The reason is a self-serving one, as it gives me the ear of Rick Nixon of the NCAA and other power brokers in the sport. Last year I was one of the reporters to mention how frantic the Saturday before the start of the Final Four is with award presentations, press conferences and the high school All-American game usually in different locations. This year they were all at the Alamodome. It was still an incredibly hectic day but a lot more workable than it had been in the past.