Feb. 8

Q: I appreciated your comment about Rick Pitino not being interested in the UCLA job. But don't you think he's smart enough that he would NEVER indicate his true intention regarding the Bruins until the season is over, even if they were his first choice? I mean, I know Pitino a little bit, coming from Boston, and he seems like a guy who never tells people his true intention until the very end of the rope. Before he came to Boston, he kept saying that he would never leave Kentucky. And look at what he did. So I am wondering how much we should trust Pitino here. -- Spencer Nam, Boston

	Rick Pitino won a national title at Kentucky in '96.

VITALE: I really believe him. I had a conversation with him recently and Rick has never lied to me in any shape or form. He was very emphatic and definite about the fact that he's not interested in coaching at UCLA. He said he wanted to go in a different direction. He said he respects what has been achieved there by John Wooden and all of those who followed.

Q: I have seen the results of your poll for national Player of the Year. Many picked Joseph Forte, and I totally disagree! ... I believe Jason Williams or Shane Battier will become national Player of the Year. Who would you pick for national Player of the Year at this point? -- Doug Rivord, Williamsburg, Va.

VITALE: Right now I would go with Battier. When you look at defense, leadership, scoring, he would be my first choice. Forte has closed the gap, and I can understand why he won the poll now that I have thought more about it. Duke people split their vote, some going for Shane, others for Jason Williams.

Q: I think you should strongly consider Sean Lampley for your "Diamonds in the Rough" list AT THE VERY LEAST! This guy has pretty much been carrying California the entire year. He's putting up HUGE numbers (19.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.3 apg, and over 50 percent on FGs). He has made Cal basketball respectable again. In fact, all things considering, Cal should probably be in the Top 25. A 29-point blowout against a UCLA team that handled Stanford should have done the trick. Where do you think Cal as a team and Sean Lampley as a player rank in college hoops? -- tbalm, San Jose

VITALE: Lampley has played very well. California has a deep team, and it has made a great, great run. He has been a solid scorer and rebounder. Lampley has been one of the guys who is a diamond in the rough, underrated nationally.

Q: I'm not a Dukie; I bleed FSU garnet and gold (I am bleeding a lot this basketball season). Nonetheless, am I the only one who noticed, but didn't UNC guard Ronald Curry's late injury in the Duke game look strangely suspicious? He went to the bench, pulled up the leg of his trunks and looked at his thigh. Then, immediately after his replacement had sunk both free throws (the exact margin of victory, by the way), he immediately returned to the lineup at full speed. This, after you and your partner had already talked about what a poor free-throw shooter Curry is. Surely, no one involved in the storied North Carolina basketball tradition would fake an injury to win an important game against his arch rival. -- Jimmy Powell, Havana, Fla.

VITALE: I think some people would believe that because Curry is such a suspect free-throw shooter. It looked like he really took a shot, and you want to believe him. I hope it was on the up-and-up. This is the first time this has been brought to my attention. I don't think there is any question he got hurt. Any time you substitute an 80-percent shooter in place of a 40-percent shooter, people will begin to wonder.

Q: How do you justify putting Duke ahead of Stanford in your Dazzling Dozen rankings when both teams lost, Duke has more losses than Stanford and Stanford has beaten Duke? -- Greg Vosganian, Washington, D.C.

VITALE: I just feel Duke, despite the loss to Stanford, in my gut feeling rates the slightest of edges. The Blue Devils lost to North Carolina while the Cardinal lost to UCLA. At that moment, Duke had the blowout win on Sunday. I just decided to go that way, and I can respect anyone who went the other way. That's why we have a tournament to determine the real champions! It's fun to discuss and debate the polls, and I think the fans enjoy it.

Q: What do you think about the backcourt tandem for Iowa State? I have only seen the Cyclones play a couple of times, but after the victory over Kansas, I feel safe saying that Jamaal Tinsley and Kantrail Horton are the most dangerous 1-2 guard punch in the nation. Tinsley can do it all and on both ends, and Horton can hit from anywhere inside the arena. -- Dominic Nicolini, Merrillville, Ind.

VITALE: They are really playing well. I didn't realize that Horton is as good as he is. He is very quick. Tinsley is a shake-and-bake guy out of New York City. Larry Eustachy can be commended as his team has only three losses despite losing a star like Marcus Fizer. Horton has stepped up big, as he did hitting the threes against Kansas. Tinsley can break anybody down off the dribble; he defends very well and is one of the top point guards in America. Iowa State is a very dangerous basketball team, very well coached and one that believes it can go far come tournament time.

Q: How many teams do you think will go to the Big Dance from the Mountain West Conference? Which teams? Do you think the conference is underrated? -- Rajiv Shah, New City
VITALE: The Mountain West teams have been beating each other up. Wyoming looks like the best shot. It is bunched up and the league may have a battle to get two bids. Perhaps Wyoming can get an at-large bid if someone else wins the conference tournament.

Qa: How can you not put the Palestra on your list of best environments to play college basketball? It is the most storied gym in college basketball history. Qb: Please tell me how you leave off Assembly Hall at Indiana as one of the great atmospheres in college basketball? Qc: Why isn't Iowa State's Hilton Coliseum one of the selections for best college hoops environment?

VITALE: I was limited by the numbers we could put in the poll. Sure, there are several places that merit consideration, but we couldn't put every place on the list. Assembly Hall probably should have been included, and you make a great point. All three of those places are great for the game and have tremendous fans. If it was up to me, I would list every arena. Realistically, you can't do that. I feel the places listed are legitimate, and it is interesting to see what the people have to say.

Q: St Joseph's University has been on a roll in the A-10, winning 12 of its last 13, including blowouts of Dayton and Temple (on their home court). Does St. Joseph's deserve to be ranked in the Top 25? -- Doctor Rob, Philadelphia

VITALE: With the big win over Xavier, Phil Martelli's team will get a lot of consideration this week. Jameer Nelson has been an outstanding diaper dandy who did not have the big-time PR. He's played exceptionally well. Marvin O'Connor has enjoyed a tremendous season.

Q: With the sudden slump of the Seton Hall Pirates, do you think they still have a chance of making the Big Dance? What is wrong with the team and how can they turn it around? -- Matt, Brielle, N.J.

	Eddie Griffin's talents are unquestioned, but his questionable attitude overshadows his talent.

VITALE: They have to get hot. Just like Connecticut has to, and I feel the Huskies will. The Pirates are young, and they might be a bit wounded from the crowd booing during the loss to Rutgers. This club is fragile, and I don't know if it has enough experience to come back and win. A lot of the problems started earlier this year; for example, when Ty Shine wouldn't accept the role of coming off the bench. There was the Eddie Griffin incident, the big lead lost at Illinois. Those things can come back and haunt you.

Q: Why do you think Virginia has had such a hard time recruiting big men for so long? We always seem to get great talent in big forwards like Travis Watson, Junior Burrough and Ted Jeffries, but they are forced to play out of position. Our last true talented center was Ralph Sampson. ... Don't you think a prized big man would want to come to a great university, compete on Tobacco Row and get immediate playing time? -- Brandon Barrett, Richmond, Va.

VITALE: A lot of clubs are without big men. A lot of teams have quick, athletic players. Watson is a big-time rebounder, but he is more of a power forward, not an inside shot-blocker. Peter Gillen loves athletes, and Virginia is a tough club, despite the loss at N.C. State.

Q: You bring such energy to your broadcasts, it really is a pleasure to watch and listen. In the MAC, does Central Michigan really have this wrapped up? Their schedule hasn't been nearly as tough as Kent or Ohio, since I don't think the West is as strong as the East this year. Come MAC tourney time, I think Kent, Ohio, CMU and maybe Marshall will be the teams to watch. What's your take on how the MAC will shake out? Any predictions on who goes to the Dance? -- Dave Wirkiowski, Chicago

VITALE: That league is so tough to predict ... it just blows my mind. Year in and year out, that is one of the most competitive conference tournaments, and usually there are a few surprises. These teams have shown they can score an upset -- just ask Gene Keady about Central Michigan, or some of Toledo's opponents, for example. Marshall's Greg White does a nice job, and the Thundering Herd has Tamar Slay and company. The problem is, these teams pound on each other. They are dangerous. Jay Smith is doing a great job, and David Webber is having a super season. Kent and Central Michigan seem like the most dangerous, but anything can happen. Miami-Ohio beat Temple earlier this year, and Charlie Coles can't be counted out. This is going to be wild, baby!

Q: I'm a student at the University of Maryland. Recently, part of the student section behind the visiting team's bench was removed. Not only that, but certain cheers are now not allowed as well as other behavior. The cause was due to some fans throwing objects after the Duke game and the famous "you (expletive)" song. How would you have handled the situation? Do you think this type of punishment takes away a team's home court? -- Maryland fan

VITALE: You have to have sportsmanship, and there is no rhyme or reason to throwing things at people. Carlos Boozer's mom was hit, and that's a no-no. You can cheer, scream and chant all you want. There is nothing wrong with creating hysteria in a positive way. You can't act in a negative fashion, and the schools have to show some discipline. They have to provide some protection for the opposing teams that come in there.