Steven Hawking hasn’t noticed, but Planet Basketball has returned to its rightful orbit in the heavens. A coaches’ preseason college poll reflects no sight or sound from Tobacco Road as Indiana, Louisville and Kentucky rank 1-2-3.

Could only happen in a David Anspaugh fiction (Hoosiers), right?

Golden Triangle. IU, UofL and UK … top-heavy on top actors-for-television coaches too. Along the sidelines who is more marathon-man than Tom Crean? More yappy than Rick Pitino? Or, as “I don’t believe this!” facial as John Calipari?

On court …

The top ranked Hoosiers are a marvelous mix of home-boy savvy, experience, and refined skill. Schedule? IU has enough custard pies on its early card to keep Bobby Plump and pals happy through Thanksgiving, all on television of course. North Carolina visits Bloomington a week after.

Number 2 Louisville is loaded. Led by best point guard in America, senior Peyton Siva is straw to stir the drink. The Cardinals’ non-league schedule is cream puffy too, but streamlined for December 29, then March.

Early road dates at College of Charleston, Memphis, and Western Kentucky in Nashville should prime the Cardinals for a Yum Center on CBS date with Kentucky, December 29.

Number 3 Kentucky’s one-and-dones will be tossed into the college game to learn on the road early against Maryland, Duke and Notre Dame. A lone high profile home date: Baylor will be primer for Louisville, then the SEC.

Bottom line? First rankings are of little value beyond media armed best with a metaphor. But a return focus upon college hoops Golden Triangle makes for barbershop buzz about Bloomington-Lexington-Louisville once again.

All of which leaves ACC ga-ga to Vitale and Big Ten renaissance to Dan Dakich.

WKU FOOTBALL

The long and arduous climb back to football legitimacy by Western Kentucky is still a breaking story. Failure to seize-the-moment opportunity is setback.

Coach Willie Taggart’s reaction to his Hilltoppers’ come-from-ahead loss to Louisiana-Monroe Saturday was fraught with what ifs and if onlys, followed by the expected pragmatism: “WE just can’t go out and beat ourselves. It’s on us. It’s all on us.”

WKU’s 43-42 homecoming loss to Louisiana-Monroe brought to mind another reality.

Crucial to winning is smart play at the crunch, and expectation to succeed. Included also, keeping end result beyond a call by game officials. Against the visitors Saturday, the Hilltoppers played not to lose and the officials decided the outcome.

Western’s realities …

√ Can’t blow a three touchdown lead.

√ Can’t allow a team to drive 98 yards in two minutes.

√ Can’t be in a position where a kickoff return for a touchdown can be nullified by, according to Taggart, was on the other side of the field.

Next!

UK & JOKER PHILLIPS

What does football at Kansas State, Oregon State and Ohio University have in common with Kentucky? In years gone by all three were UK non-fodder before SEC foes.

Today, K-State, O-State and Ohio are 20-0 and ranked while Kentucky continues to flounder. UK took its annual whuppin’ from Georgia last week as the defense made Bulldogs’ quarterback Aaron Murray look like a Heisman candidate. Murray sliced and diced UK, 29 of 34 passes.

The Wildcats’ pass rush scheme was anemic again and, to say the defensive backs play timid, even scared, is to be kind.

Still, Kentucky football doesn’t need a head coach change as much as it needs a complete defensive overhaul. And a recruiter who can find a couple of big ole’ ornery defensive ends, and a durable and bullish running back who punishes linebackers instead of being punished.

SILVER LININGS

At Kentucky whoever recruited punter Landon Foster should be given a bonus and sent out to find more like the kid from Franklin, Tennessee. A true freshman, Foster is the SEC’s fifth best punter averaging 43.1 yards and earning recognitions from the College Football Performance Awards,

Foster averaged 44.5 yards on six punts last week, pinning Georgia inside its 20-yard line three times.

KNIGHT MEMORABILIA

Bob Knight is cashing in his personal memorabilia to leave cash for his grandchildren.

“Sports people are nuts,’’ Knight said recently. ‘”Look at how much they pay for Babe Ruth’s cap or Honus Wagner’s card? I guess these are people who want to own things, things that are the result of what someone else did in sports.

Knight has two grandsons, his wife has a niece and nephew.

“(They) would get good use out of this.’’

Seems to me, Knight’s largess would amount to far more if he left his valuables to the kids outright.

WORTH REPEATING DEPT.

Rick Pitino got it right at the Big East meeting the other day. Referring to senior Peyton Siva, juniors Gorgui Dieng, Russ Smith, Luke Hancock and sophomore Chane Behanan, Louisville’s coach said, “I’d much rather have players like this. A four-year player, a three-year player. If I could do what (Kentucky) could do, I certainly would want the talent they have. But I can’t do (one-and-done). It’s not in my make-up.”

COMMENT. Kentucky fans won’t admit it, but they would rather see juniors and seniors in Wildcat uniforms instead of just-passing-through 18-year-olds.

PARTING SHOT

Joke making the rounds in college basketball these days: How many UK basketball players does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: None. That’s a sophomore course.

And so it goes.