Something to keep an eye on is what happens to basketball recruit Kris Humphries at Minnesota. Humphries, a prep All-American, originally signed with Duke, but changed his mind during the spring and Duke released him from his scholarship. He since has signed with Minnesota.

Under NCAA rules, Hum-phries would have to sit out two seasons for leaving a school before playing a game. But because Duke released him from his letter-of-intent, he must sit out just the upcoming season.

But he plans to appeal and ask that he not have to sit out at all. In four cases last season — involving Arizona’s Andre Iguodala (originally signed with Arkansas), Georgetown’s Ashanti Cook (New Mexico), Miami’s Armando Surratt (Fresno State) and Alabama’s Kennedy Winston (California) — a player was allowed to play right away, with no penalty. But each of those cases involved either a coaching change or a special circumstance with a family member being ill.

Why did Humphries ask for his release from Duke? No one has said. In a prepared statement earlier this week, Humphries said details concerning his release from Duke would “remain private.”

Still, much speculation has centered on playing time. Quite simply, he likely wouldn’t have received as much at Duke as he will at Minnesota.

If Humphries is ruled eligible immediately — and no legitimate reason is given — what’s to stop players down the road from thinking, “Hey, I signed with State U., but now I know I could start at A&M Tech, so I want out of here and I want to play now”?

Psychology 101

Washington was expected to be a legitimate contender for the Pacific-10 title this season, but Rick Neuheisel’s dismissal as coach means there will be some questions.

The Huskies have the best pass-catch duo in the nation in QB Cody Pickett and WR Reggie Williams. And with offensive coordinator Keith Gilbertson likely to be the interim coach, you’d think the offense still would be able to run at full throttle.

Without Neuheisel, the talent obviously still is there, but the team’s psyche is the big concern. Say what you want about Neuheisel, his players liked playing for him. A plus may be that other than Neuheisel, the entire coaching staff will be in place.

The schedule starts off tough — at Ohio State in the opener Aug. 30 — but four of the next five games are at home. In addition, the Huskies don’t have to play title contender Arizona State and also get USC and Oregon in Seattle.

Etc.

• The Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, has a new corporate sponsor. It’s El Paso-based Helen of Troy, which produces personal grooming items that include everything from brushes to foot baths. There’s nothing that says “college football” like a foot bath. Thus, get ready for, “Live from El Paso, it’s the Helen of Troy Sun Bowl.”
• The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger reported that new New Orleans Hornets coach Tim Floyd turned down coaching jobs at Penn State and Clemson because he thought he would get the job at Georgia. The Bulldogs instead hired Dennis Felton, but isn’t it nice that Floyd had an NBA job to fall back on?
• Not surprisingly, the director of academic services at Georgia Tech was reassigned Wednesday, a month after 10 football players were declared academically ineligible for next season. Carol Moore becomes a special assistant to the vice provost.
• Mississippi State athletic director Larry Templeton said Thursday that an NCAA investigator was on campus this week and interviewed nine Bulldogs athletes. Templeton declined to name the players interviewed or their sport, but did say he talked with the investigator. Gee, what might the sport be? Hey, maybe Jackie Sherrill knows.