Gary Parrish

Here's Wednesday's Dear Gary ...

Dear Gary: Is there any meat to the rumor that the Grizzlies are trying to trade up to get Michael Beasley?

-- Musgrove

Considering it's been pretty well established that Miami isn't enamored with Beasley, it's likely a slew of teams picking later in the lottery are trying to determine whether it's possible to package players and draft picks to grab the Kansas State star, among them the Grizzlies. If they aren't, they're stupid. And if Miami passes on Beasley, I think that's probably stupid, too.

Look, I know there are dissenting opinions on Beasley.

I know Pat Riley thinks he might be immature.

I know Pat Riley might be right.

But the consensus on Beasley is that he's not a bad kid, just goofy. I honestly don't hear evil things about him like I do other guys who shall remain nameless, and I think that's important. To be clear, I wouldn't want a bad dude in my franchise, which is why I'd never sign a player like Pac-Man Jones. He's a bad dude. But Beasley doesn't seem to be bad like that, which is why I wouldn't pass on him for anything other than Derrick Rose.

I mean, you saw what Beasley did in the Big 12, right?

He got 26 points and 12 rebounds per game despite being the focus of every opponent's defense. He helped a school that doesn't beat Kansas beat Kansas and took a program that doesn't go to the NCAA tournament to the NCAA tournament. That's strong. And it's worth noting that Frank Martin swears by the kid, and that's got to be a good sign, too, considering not every Big 12 staff that coached a freshman lottery pick last season has good things to say about the experience.

(Yes, that's a DeAndre Jordan shot)

Bottom line, I'll be shocked if Beasley isn't a future All-Star. I don't see how he can't be very good to great. So if the Grizzlies can move up and get him, I'd advise them to do it because All-Stars are hard to come by, particularly for a small-market franchise with a stupid owner.

Iowa State standout Wesley Johnson has been granted a release to transfer to any one of eight schools.

On the list are Arkansas, Connecticut, Marquette, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Villanova and West Virginia. Fine programs, all of them. But it was hard not to notice that Kentucky, Alabama and TCU were not included because those have been the three schools most connected to Johnson in recent weeks, so much so that sources have told CBSSports.com that the Iowa State staff privately felt behind-the-scenes tampering could've led to Johnson's initial decision to transfer.

Obviously, there is no proof. That's why everybody has mostly been quiet. But it appears ISU made it clear to Johnson that Kentucky, Alabama and TCU were not schools to which it would automatically release him. Otherwise, those institutions would've certainly made the list.

Here's Tuesday's Dear Gary ...

Dear Gary: Just wondering what you think of Minnesota's incoming class and its chances for an NCAA tournament berth? There's more optimism surrounding Tubby's second season than I can remember -- at least since Clem Haskins ripped our proverbial hearts out.

-- Magee

The class is great by Minnesota's recent standards, pretty good by Big Ten standards and OK by national-power standards. I think that's a fair assessment, though Gophers fans should be excited because it provides some immediate hope and there hasn‘t been much of that around the program lately.

Anyway, if you read me regularly you know my opinion of Tubby Smith. He's a great coach who has gone through spells of questionable recruiting, which is what led to his demise at Kentucky. That's the consensus, and it's the only reason his hiring could be questioned, because unless Smith consistently gets high-caliber prospects he will not consistently be better than Thad Matta at Ohio State, Tom Crean at Indiana, Matt Painter at Purdue, Tom Izzo at Michigan State and Bo Ryan at Wisconsin.

I just rattled off five programs that will be strong going forward.

The only way for Minnesota to keep up is to recruit at a high-level.

And that's why though this class is a good foundation -- there are three signees from Rivals.com's Top 150 -- it's reasonable to suggest this is not the type of class that'll win a Big Ten title. I mean, there isn't a single top 50 prospect. But the good news is that Minnesota has already committed Class of 2009 standout Royce White, a top 20 prospect from Minneapolis. And if Smith can sprinkle those types of guys in with his usual cast of solid characters he'll contend for the NCAA tournament every season because when the man has players he's among the best in the business.

As for this season, sure, an NCAA tournament berth is possible.

But my preseason predictions will probably have Purdue, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin finishing ahead of Minnesota in the Big Ten, meaning I don't believe the Gophers will start any better than fifth in the league, and I'm not sure the fifth-best team from the Big Ten will make the NCAA tournament, though I've been wrong before.

Once, I think.

It was about USC last March.

But that’s the only thing I can really remember.