JASON COLLINS AGAIN BITTEN BY BAD LUCK.

Byline: JON WILNER College Basketball 

Stanford freshman Jason Collins is big, fast, skilled, intelligent and insightful. But apparently, he was born without luck.

Collins, a reserve center, had wrist surgery Tuesday and will miss the remainder of the season. It's the latest setback for the North Hollywood resident and Harvard-Westlake High graduate, who played in one game last year because of a knee injury that required two surgeries.

``He was faced with no alternative,'' Stanford coach Mike Montgomery said Tuesday. ``Each doctor he talked to recommended (surgery), so he resigned himself to it.

``There's not much to say. There's not much positive you can make out of it, because he was playing well and helping the team and anxious to get back on the court.''

Collins averaged four points and three rebounds in 13 minutes per game for the No. 7 Cardinal (5-2). He outplayed starting center Tim Young in several games and was improving by the week, slowly regaining the timing and confidence that made him one of the nation's top recruits in 1996-97.

But on Dec. 6, he fell against George Washington and dislocated his right wrist.

``A lot of times guys fall and sprain their wrists, but this was a different situation,'' Montgomery said. ``Of the small bones in the wrist, all of them moved. A lot of stuff had to be tied back together. There wasn't much choice. The alternative was a cast for two months and another (month) to rehab.''

Collins redshirted last season after tearing meniscus cartilage in November. He could request a sixth year of eligibility.

``We're investigating,'' Montgomery said. ``But that's not something that happens every day.''

Collins will have company on the bench, at least for the moment. Reserve shooting guard Ryan Mendez will miss several weeks with a stress reaction in his knee, and reserve point guard Mike McDonald is out 5-7 weeks with a foot injury.

Coaching dominoes: When Phil Jackson parted company with the Chicago Bulls in June, it created a ripple effect through the college coaching ranks that ended with a construction company in Northern California. The tide of events:

Jackson was replaced by Iowa State's Tim Floyd on July 23.

Five days later, Iowa State hired Utah State's Larry Eustachy.

Utah State hired Colorado State's Stew Morrill on Aug. 7.

Colorado State hired Portland State's Ritchie McKay on Aug. 21.

A month later, Portland State promoted assistant Joel Sobotka to replace McKay.

Sobotka then hired Santa Clara assistant Sam Sciulli.

Finally, Santa Clara replaced Sciulla with Jason Sedlock, a former player who had been working construction while trying to break into the coaching business.

Seniors to watch: Keep an eye on Pittsburgh's Vonteego Cummings and Boise State's Roberto Bergersen during the season and, especially, as the NBA Draft approaches. Unknown to most of the nation, they're well-regarded by NBA scouts.

Cummings, a 6-4 guard, was the best athlete in the Puerto Rico Shootout and proved to one Western Conference scout he could run an offense despite his scoring instincts. A second-team All-Big East pick last year, Cummings is averaging 17 points with 49 assists and 31 turnovers.

Bergersen, a 6-6 wing man, is a Seattle native who played one year at Washington before transferring to Boise State. He's a better prospect than Washington's Donald Watts, one scout said, and scored 60 points in two games in the Indiana Classic last week. He's averaging 23.9 points, fifth in the country, and shooting 54.8 percent from the field.

Around the nation: The conclusion of the fall semester signals eligibility for three impact players. Georgia Tech center Jason Collier scored 22 points Sunday in his first game since transferring from Indiana. Arizona State forward Mike Batiste will play Saturday after missing eight games because of academics. New Mexico forward Kenny Thomas also returns Saturday; he was suspended for the semester because of an NCAA eligibility issue dating to his freshman season. . .

Think Michigan officials are regretting the promotion of Brian Ellerbe from interim to permanent coach last spring? He's 0-4 against Mid-American Conference competition in just over a year. This season, the Wolverines have lost to Western Michigan, Florida International and Ball State. Duke beat them by a school-record 44 points Saturday. . .

After an unimpressive first month, Kentucky's Scott Padgett played like an All-American with 25 points and 13 rebounds in the Wildcats' victory over Maryland. . .

Jim Harrick has Rhode Island rounding into form just in time for his visit to Pepperdine on Dec. 29. URI improved to 5-4 with a victory Saturday at Ohio. ``We had Kentucky in here last year,'' Ohio coach Larry Hunter said. ``I think this team today was as good as any we've had here in a few years.''. . .

UCLA's victory over San Francisco in the Puerto Rico Shootout may carry more weight in the power rankings than first thought. The Dons are 7-3 - their best start since reviving basketball in 1985 - and are playing so well San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown attended a recent game. . .

Portland State wing man Jason Hartman, a Thousand Oaks native who played one season at Washington, scored 34 points in a 73-62 loss to Oregon.

Around the Pacific-10: The most disappointing team so far is Washington, which lost at Boise State and Gonzaga last week. The Huskies are simply overscheduled. They played three games in three days in Hawaii, then flew straight to Chicago for a Great-Eight loss to Connecticut. They were home for two days before heading to Boise and Spokane. . .

That was no misprint: Oregon State lost to an Athletes in Action team that shot 35 percent from the field. . .

Word in the Palouse is Gonzaga's Dan Monson may be the next coach at Washington State if Kevin Eastman doesn't turn it around quickly. . .

Arizona walk-on guard Josh Pastner graduated Saturday, three semesters ahead of schedule. Of course, Pastner ``majored'' in family studies, just like that noted scholar, Miles Simon.

THE TOP 10

1. Duke (9-1) - Bet the kids on it: Blue Devils won't lose at home this season.

2. Connecticut (8-0) - Huskies don't have a losable game until Jan. 30 at St. John's.

3. Kentucky (9-1) - Wildcats continue their grueling month with Georgia Tech and Duke.

4. Maryland (10-1) - Paging LaRon Profit: senior seasons come only once. Don't miss it.

5. Stanford (5-2) - So much for that vaunted depth as injuries mount.

6. Cincinnati (7-0) - Sin City welcomes Sincinnati as Bearcats meet UNLV.

7. North Carolina (10-1) - Heels waiting for super frosh Ron Curry to return from quarterback duties.

8. Indiana (10-2) - Nothing ``Classic'' about it as Hoosiers win their own tourney.

9. Purdue (10-1) - Oregon State transfer Carson Cunningham finally contributes.

10. Arizona (5-0) - Cats won't be tested until Jan. 2 showdown in Pauley Pavilion.

Five to watch: Kansas, St. John's, Minnesota, UCLA, New Mexico.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Duke vs. Kentucky

Tuesday, Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, N.J.

The Blue Devils have waited nine months to avenge devastating loss in Southeast Regional thriller, and they won't blow the opportunity. Kentucky is improving by the week but lacks the firepower to match the Devils on a neutral court. Duke has too much size, too much depth and too many weapons.

- Jon Wilner

CAPTION(S):

Box

BOX: THE TOP 10 (see text)