Bulls' big men coming up small
John Jackson: After the Bulls' embarrassing 116-74 loss Wednesday to the Portland Trail Blazers, I was curious to see how rookie coach Vinny Del Negro would react the next day.

So far, a nice road grip
The Dallas Stars -- and their goaltender, Marty Turco, in particular -- had been brutal against the Blackhawks, especially at American Airlines Center. The Hawks were 1-8-2 with one tie on the Stars' home ice since 2001-02, and Turco owned a 14-2-1 career record against the Hawks going into the second game of the Hawks' six-game road trip Thursday night.

Big 12 showdown looms large
Herb Gould: All those compliments Bob Stoops is paying Mike Leach this week aren't of the usual butter-up-the-opponent variety. Sure, Leach is bringing No. 2 Texas Tech to Norman, Okla., on Saturday to play Stoops' fifth-ranked Sooners, with the loser dropping out of the national championship race.