Some of us love video games so much that we just can't wait to go spend $60 we probably don't have on the latest, greatest thing. (Zombie aliens in space? Post-apocalyptic RPG shooter? Underwater Ayn Rand-themed dystopia? Sign me up.) No, some of us have to buy extra space on our console hard drives so we can play the unfinished version of games we might not even buy anyway. That's called dedication, people.

Those dedicated to college basketball gaming can do just that: According to First Cuts, players no longer have to wait until Nov. 18 to get their hands on EA's NCAA Basketball 09. They can download the demo as we speak. So, you know, go do that, unless you have a "job" and "kids" and a "mortgage" and "priorities." Pshhh.

Be sure to come back to The Dagger and leave your thoughts. Unfortunately, optimism that NCAA 09 is actually good is pretty low around these parts. NBA Live 09 is vastly inferior to NBA2K9 -- just ask Skeets -- and the college game is usually run on a similar, if not identical, gameplay engine. It takes an awfully good game to get me away from actual college basketball; I remain skeptical that NCAA 09 will pull it off.

In the meantime, there are other ways to waste your time. Surely someone disagrees with this list of the Top 20 players in the game?

Related: College Basketball Media