To date, I have not managed to own Jose Reyes in any season in which he was helpful. When I acquire him, his hamstrings explode. When I bypass him in favor of more reliable alternatives, he scores 120 runs, steals 60 bases, hits .290, and is generally a paragon of good health and vitality. He has thus far been of no use to me; I have thus far been a plague to him.

Despite this multi-year failure to properly assess Reyes' fantasy value, I'm duty-bound to report the following: He's feeling great. Never better. According to the trainer who's directing Reyes' offseason rehab, "He's 100 percent."

Here are a few additional details, via the New York Post's Kevin Kernan:

Reyes is back in a big way, and confidently told The Post: "I’ll be ready in 2010. Be there, it’s going to be a show." … Reyes started this rehab on crutches 14 weeks ago and has been working five days a week. The other day he ran 90 feet on the track in 3.53 seconds. On the ballfield, the average time to first for a lefty is 4.2 seconds. His running mechanics have changed for the better. He is flexing his right leg more, with his heel inching closer to his backside, making his stride faster and cleaner.

Cleaner, stronger, faster. They have rebuilt him. Here's more:

"I feel great," Reyes said. "Last year I came back too quickly. Everything is in the past. I don’t want to think about it. Now there is no pain. That’s the key. There is nothing to worry about. Everything’s perfect."

That's right: Nothing to worry about. Think not of the past. 

In recent action at Mock Draft Central, Reyes' ADP is 22.3. He's typically on the board late in Round 2, available to owners who selected Pujols, Hanley or A-Rod at the top of the draft. How can you resist his charms at that point? You can't, of course. Reyes' fantasy value is entirely tied to his speed, which is obviously tied to the health of his legs, which are, according to him, pain-free and perfect. He enters 2010 at No. 3 in my shortstop ranks, but if the early spring returns match the propaganda, there could be a realignment. And when I start buying shares of Reyes, history demands that you sell.

Hope that clears things up. 

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Photo via US Presswire

The Bracket Big Board takes into consideration past returns, current performance and expected future gains in determining who should be included among the field of 65 (31 automatic and 34 at-large bids). Essentially, the Bracket Big Board is a cheat sheet designed for amateur bracketologists if they were filling out a Tourney Pick ‘Em '10 entry today. The Bracket Big Board is updated every Monday until the dance card is officially unveiled March 14.

At the beginning of the season, Wisconsin was viewed by most pundits and publications as a potential, but nowhere near a slam dunk, tournament team. Barely receiving votes in preseason polls, the Badgers, which lost several instrumental pieces - namely Joe Krabbenhoft and Marcus Landry - from last year's 20-win team were destined to burrow themselves in the Big Ten's middle ground.

However, as they do almost every season, the well-coached Cheeseheads have once again greatly exceeded expectation - a true testament to Bo Ryan's brilliance.

Although a rodent in candy-stripe doesn't necessarily conjure frightful thoughts, future tourney opponents should fear Bucky.

Wisconsin's chance of reaching the Final Four isn't some outrageous big fish story. Led by senior point guard Trevon Hughes, the Big Ten contender, which also boasts the mobster law firm of Nankivil, Jarmusz and Bruesewitz, has quietly sprinted out to an 18-5 overall record and 8-3 mark in league play. Their bar-brawling approach certainly is the antithesis of high-flying, fast-paced darlings Villanova and Kentucky. In conference play, they've cracked the 70-point mark just twice. But for onlookers who relish beautifully executed basketball, Ryan's basketball brand is pure bliss.

Slow, methodical and smart on both sides of the court, the Badgers wouldn't win a track meet, ranking 339 out of 347 in adjusted tempo - a pace which will inevitably frustrate high-octane teams. But they'll certainly emerge victorious in most street fights. Wisky ranks fifth nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, limiting foes to just 0.85 points per possession. It's not too shabby shooting the rock either checking in at No. 16 in O-efficiency.

The Badgers' toughness and tenacity, the hallmark of Ryan teams, was on display last week against the best the Wolverine State had to offer. In consecutive contests, they bullied Michigan State (67-49) and Michigan (62-44) from horn-to-horn.

According to KenPom.com Wisconsin's Velveeta train of Ws will likely keep chugging along. Of its seven remaining games, road clashes with Minnesota and Illinois are the most daunting, albeit very winnable:

What's more remarkable about their recent string of success: they've hammered opponents without premiere interior force Jon Leuer. The bruising 6'10" junior has missed seven games with a broken left wrist. Though team officials have remained mum about his recovery, many insiders believe he will return for the Big Ten Tournament in early March. If Leuer can shake off the cobwebs in time to dance, Wisconsin, which is quite possibly the most dangerous squad in the Midwest, will be an extremely difficult out.

With a deep tourney run, maybe then Wisconsin, and more importantly the unfairly overlooked Ryan, will finally receive the national recognition it/he unquestionably deserves.

Here are the movers and shakers in this week's Triple-B:

*For games played through Sunday, February 7
*RPI data provided by Rivals
*Efficiency stats from kenpom.com

On the Bubble: Marquette (15-8), South Florida (15-8), Notre Dame (17-7), Virginia Tech (18-4), Tulsa (18-5), Washington (16-7), Minnesota (14-8), Cincinnati (14-9), Wichita St. (20-5), Oklahoma (13-9), San Diego St. (16-7)

Dropped Out: UConn, North Carolina, Cincinnati, LA Tech, Akron, Maine, Jacksonville

Conference Breakdown: American East (1), ACC (6), Atlantic Sun (1), Atlantic 10 (6), Big 12 (7), Big East (6), Big Sky (1), Big South (1), Big Ten (5), Big West (1), Colonial (1), Conference USA (2), Horizon (1), Ivy (1), Metro (1), Mid-American (1), Mid-Eastern (1), Missouri Valley (1), Mountain West (3), Northeast (1), Ohio Valley (1), Pac-10 (1), Patriot (1), SEC (5), Southern (1), SWAC (1), Summit (1), Sun Belt (1), West Coast (2), WAC (1)

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Image courtesy of Getty

Setting the stage for Week 16 of the fantasy basketball season.

Schedule Breakdown

Three-game teams: ORL

Two-game teams: ATL, CHA, CHI, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, GSW, LAC, LAL, MIA, MIL, NJN, NOR, PHI, POR, SAC, SAS, UTH

One-game teams: BOS, HOU, IND, MEM, NYK, OKC, PHO, TOR, WAS

Also see: Basketball Monster's ease rankings | Rotowire's value meter

Pickups/Plug-ins – Players owned in fewer than 40% of Yahoo! leagues

• George Hill(notes) – Tony Parker's(notes) return from a sprained ankle pushed Hill back to shooting guard, and he averaged 19 points on 61-percent shooting and 2.5 threes over the past two games. In his 14 starts on the season, he's averaged 16.9 points on 49-percent shooting, 1.2 threes, 3.1 assists, 1.4 turnovers, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 34 minutes. Hill is locked in the starting five and technically has upside, with Parker still dealing with plantar fasciitis and could necessitate more downtime moving forward. Week 16: @LAL, @DEN

• Ryan Gomes(notes) – Gomes has been up and down this season, but he's back in the starting five and has helped spur the T-Wolves to their current four-game winning streak. He scored 26 points and hit five threes on Saturday, and over the past six games has averaged 14.2 points on 54-percent shooting, 2.5 threes, 4 boards, 2.2 assists, 0.3 turnovers, and 1 steal in 29 minutes per game. Week 16: @PHI, CHA

• Andray Blatche(notes)/JaVale McGee – Blatche and McGee are two players to really consider rostering in advance of the NBA trade deadline, with the Wizards in tear-down mode and both Brendan Haywood(notes) and Antawn Jamison(notes) rumored to be on the block. Blatche's career averages as a starter (68 G) include 10.8 points, 6.7 boards, 0.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks, while McGee's career per-26 minute averages include 10.8 points, 6.4 boards, 0.8 steals, and 2 blocks. Week 16: @CHA

• Jarvis Hayes(notes) – Hayes should get a look from deep-leaguers, as he has moved ahead of Chris Douglas-Roberts(notes) in the starting five and isn't likely to concede the position soon. Over the past five games, he's averaged 11.8 points on 51-percent shooting, 1.8 threes, 5.2 boards, and 1 steal in 30 minutes. Week 16: @CLE, MIL

• Joey Dorsey(notes) – A super-deep league special here. Dorsey has totaled 11 points, 19 boards, two steals, and one block in 37 minutes over the past two games and could be in line for more playing time moving forward. He's easily the Rockets' best banger and some numbers that jump out are averages of 14.8 boards and 2.6 blocks in summer league action and 14.9 points, 13.3 boards, 1.1 steals, and 1.4 blocks in the D-League. Week 16: @MIA

Status Updates

• Carmelo Anthony(notes) – Anthony has missed seven consecutive games because of a left ankle sprain, but he's been fully participating in practices and is targeting Tuesday for a return.

• Trevor Ariza(notes) – Ariza left the Rockets' arena in uniform Saturday, as his hip pointer was too painful for him to change clothes. Be looking for updates prior to what is the team's only game over the next eight days, Tuesday at Miami.

• Leandro Barbosa(notes) – Barbosa is expected to miss two to four more weeks due to surgery to remove a cyst from his right wrist.

• Chauncey Billups(notes) – Billups missed Saturday's game because of a pair of sore ankles, but George Karl "hopes" to have him back in the lineup Tuesday.

• Kobe Bryant(notes) – Kobe sat Friday to deal with his various ailments, is currently listed as day-to-day, and it will be up to him if he plays in either of the Lakers' two games prior to the All-Star break.

• Andrew Bynum(notes) – Bynum missed the second half of Friday's game because of a bruised right hip, but is not expected to miss more time at this point.

• Tyson Chandler(notes) - Chandler (foot) almost played Saturday and should be active for the Bobcats' two games this coming week. He might not supplant Nazr Mohammed(notes) as the starter immediately, but it's doubful that he'll be a reserve much past the All-Star break.

• Francisco Garcia(notes) – Garcia suffered a setback on Jan. 28 when he fell on his right wrist in practice. There was some optimism prior to his fall that he was close to a return, but he now remains out indefinitely.

• Devin Harris(notes) – Harris sprained the AC joint in his left shoulder Saturday, but X-rays were negative, it's not considered a serious injury, and he's currently listed as day-to-day. He'll be re-evaluated before the Nets' return to the court on Tuesday.

• Nene Hilario(notes) – Nene was limited to 21 minutes Saturday because of a left foot injury, but the injury isn't considered serious and George Karl "hopes" to have him in the lineup Tuesday.

• Allen Iverson(notes) – Iverson has missed the past three games to be with his ill daughter, and there is currently no timetable for him to return.

• Joe Johnson(notes) – Johnson has been dealing with flu-like symptoms and will be re-evaluated Monday, and there's a chance that he won't be in the lineup Tuesday.

• Joakim Noah(notes) - Noah will be out at least through the All-Star break as he attempts to deal with a worsening case of plantar fasciitis.

• Chris Paul(notes) - Paul had arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday and is expected to miss between four and six weeks of action. He's expected to be on crutches for two or three weeks, and how soon he loses the crutches could our first clue as to whether he ends up on the short or long side of the four- to six-week timeframe.

• Leon Powe(notes) - Powe, roughly nine months removed from ACL replacement and microfracture surgery on his left knee, has been practicing and is expected to be added to the Cavs' active roster sometime after the All-Star break.

• Anthony Randolph(notes) - Randolph's multiple left ankle injuries are now expected to keep him out for the remainder of the season.

• Brandon Roy(notes) – Roy has apparently made little progress in his attempt to return from a right hamstring injury. His timetable has been pushed back again (through the All-Star break) and he and the team are currently considering a second platelet rich plasma treatment.

• Tyrus Thomas(notes) – Thomas was suspended for Saturday's game for conduct detrimental to the team, but he'll be back on the active roster Tuesday.

• Marcus Thornton(notes) - Thornton has missed the past two games because of a sore lower back. Jeff Bower said there is a chance that he'll be back in the lineup Monday.

• Delonte West(notes) – West has been practicing with the Cavs and appears close to a return.

• Mo Williams(notes) – Williams remains on schedule to miss four to six weeks with a left shoulder strain, suffered on Jan. 19.

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Photos via Getty Images