College Hoops 2K7 review

They may share the sport's name, but otherwise the basketball played in the NBA and NCAA couldn't be more different. The professional game is a grim, 82-game slog played by mercenaries under a cloud of bad attitudes and an often grousing fan base. Conversely, each college hoops season brings with it a joyous romp through a 30-odd match schedule full of ups and downs in front of wildly enthusiastic crowds - topped by the single most riveting championship tournament ever created.

Similarly, this year's College Hoops NCAA 2K7 and NBA 2K7 share many of the same attributes - splendid on-court gameplay, deep team management modes, and the best online options anywhere - but the schoolbound edition throws some campus-style goodies into the recipe. While the differences are slim between this season and last, it's still likely to please demanding console coaches.

For starters, virtually every Division 1A team is available to play. Sure, anyone can win with Duke or Florida, but it takes a man's man to turn Rider or Stony Brook into big-time programs. What's even more astounding is that something resembling each of these obscure schools' home buildings are represented, scaled to the size of the institution. Mighty fine indeed.