With our very own Flyers struggling through what looks to be a disappointing season, I've had a chance to shift my focus to the goings-on in college basketball outside of Dayton, Ohio.

And anyone who has even a passing interest in college hoops should be taking notice of two incredible players having two incredible seasons. They are Gonzaga's Adam Morrison and Duke's J.J. Redick.

Now I'm not a Duke fan, and I didn't even know Gonzaga was located in Washington (the state) until a week ago, but I have a passion for the game, and I can't help but be intrigued by these two sure-fire All-Americans.

College hoops fans are in for a treat as we enter the stretch run of the 2005-06 campaign. J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison are doing some very special things right before our eyes.

Upon looking a little closer, though, the similarities between the seasons Morrison and Redick are having seem to be endless.

First, on Nov. 30, Redick scored 29 points in a win over No. 17 Indiana. Not to be outdone, Morrison dropped 34 on that same day against Portland St.

On Dec. 21, Redick was held to just 18 points, but the Blue Devils were able to take care of St. John's with a 13-point win. One day later, Morrison scored exactly 18 points in a tight 60-57 win against St. Louis.

Redick poured in 35 points on Dec. 31 against UNC-Greensboro while Morrison scored 25 for the Zags against St. Joseph's. By the way, both teams scored 102 points in their games that day.

It was on Jan. 8 that JJ made 12 of his 21 field goal attempts to score 32 points against No. 23 Wake Forest. I'm not saying Adam was watching Redick, but on the very next night he had an answer. Morrison scored 34 points on 12-20 shooting to lead Gonzaga over Santa Clara.

Since Morrison and Redick put up 30-point games like I put down a Cousin Vinny's pizza at 2:30 a.m., I could compare their scoring outputs all day.

Way back on Dec. 8, Redick almost single-handedly buried No. 2 Texas with 41 points. Morrison was 'held to' 25 points against Oklahoma St. Morrison scored 31 on Jan. 14; Redick had 34. Last Saturday, Redick put 35 points up on the board for the Blue Devils; Morrison scored 34 later that night.

I know these guys are good, you know they're good, but the question is this: when was the last time two college basketball stars were simultaneously having such remarkable seasons? Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in 1979? Are these two having even better years than that?

J.J. is first in the nation averaging 28.7 points per game. Guess who is second. Adam, of course, is averaging 28.6. The two are separated by one-tenth of a point per game. Are you kidding me?

Redick has a better supporting cast, and his Duke team is 23-1 and ranked second in the country. Morrison's Zags are 20-3, play in a much weaker conference, and are ranked fifth nationally.

With such similar numbers and stats, it is amazing how different these players are on and off the court. Sure, both have a sweet stroke and can knock down the jumper, but let's look at the differences.

Redick is a guy I love to hate, and I'm not sure exactly why. Maybe it's that he plays for Duke, and my natural inclination is to root against him and his team. Yet when he gets rolling and puts up 16 points in the first 15 minutes like he did against Virginia this year, I want him to score more. I pull for him to score 50.

Certainly, I am not alone in those who love to hate J.J. Opposing fans have turned Redick-hating into an art form this season, but has it stopped the senior guard? Not in the least, and I have to respect a guy who will step up in the face of adversity. When every single person in an opposing team's arena despises you and wants you to fail, and you succeed and hang 30-plus on them just out of spite, I love that. I live for that in sports and I root for that.

Morrison, on the other hand, is a fan favorite. He has that goofy look and those goofy facial expressions.

On a side note, do you think Morrison knows that mustache looks terrible? Is it like when your buddy has a booger on his face, and none of the girls in the room will tell him because they're embarrassed, and none of the guys will tell him because'let's face it'it's much more hilarious for him to be walking around looking like that? Can't you just picture J.P. Batista and Derek Raivio telling him, 'No, man, the 'stache looks great. We swear,' and then laughing at him behind his back?

Don't get me wrong, I'm okay with the shaggy hair. I can deal with that look, but that mustache is just too much. Maybe it just grows at extraordinarily fast rate. Does Morrison shave about three hours before the game, then go out to warm up and shoot around and it grows back in time for the opening tip-off? Has anyone ever seen him without the 'stache? Like right after he shaved or something? Why hasn't anyone on ESPN asked him this during an interview? Can we get Rachel Nichols on this please?

Both Redick and Morrison are the epitome of a go-to-guy. Whenever their team needs a basket, you know the ball will be in the hands of those two guys.

Redick is a two-guard who is absolutely deadly when left alone on the perimeter, but the 6-4 guard from Roanoke, Va., has added a new dimension to his game this season. No longer just a spot-up shooter, he can now take his defender off the dribble, create his own shot and finish.

Morrison, who has drawn numerous comparisons to Larry Bird this season, can play both inside and out. Expected to play small forward in the NBA, he can step out and knock down the 3-pointer. He can drive to the goal or post up a smaller defender and score with his back to the basket. He is also second in the nation with an exorbitant 204 free throws attempted. If variety is what you like in your scorer, then Morrison is the guy for you.

Redick's Blue Devils are a shoe-in for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and if Morrison's Gonzaga squad finishes strong, the Zags will be in contention for a two seed.

Both have recorded three 40-point games this season. Morrison's career high is 43 points in a game earlier this year against Michigan St. Redick has put up a career high 41 points twice this season versus Texas and Georgetown.

Both are locks to be top 10 picks in this spring's NBA Draft with Morrison in close competition with UConn's Rudy Gay to be the No. 1 overall selection.

With statistics and seasons that appear to be so similar and with games and personalities that seem so different, the two make for quite a fascinating pair.

In fierce competition for National Player of the Year honors, Morrison and Redick will forever be linked in my mind. They will be the two players in a season in which my favorite team struggled to win 15 games who kept me interested in college basketball. They will be the two players who seemed so unstoppable, who seemed like they could score every time they touched the ball, who kept me watching college hoops in 2005-06.

When March rolls around, I, for one, will be rooting for the Blue Devils and the Zags to tangle in the Elite Eight or the Final Four. Redick and Morrison could be today's Magic and Bird.

Could the two match basket after basket in an intense tourney game? Could both go off for 40 in the same game?

I can't wait to find out.

I just hope the matchup actually happens because, for me, that would be the most fitting way to cap two special seasons from two very special players that kept my eye on the game I love.