V-MAIL | March 2, 2004 (updated) | Send a V-Mail question

Q: What do you think of Southern Illinois? The Salukis finished the regular season 24-3 overall and 17-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Not bad after losing their head coach and their two big-time players. -- Greg (Chicago)
VITALE -- Coach Matt Painter has done an outstanding job taking over for Bruce Weber, who went to Illinois. Southern Illinois has played a competitive schedule, and the Salukis still won 15 straight games before being upset by Northern Iowa 68-52 on Monday night. If they had won, they'd have gone undefeated in conference play, which would have been an amazing accomplishment (still, 17-1 for first place in the MVC is impressive, baby!). Southern Illinois is ranked No. 15 in the ESPN/USA Today poll, though the loss will drop them some next week. This could be another dangerous mid-major team to watch come NCAA Tournament time.

	Lou Henson

Q: Why isn't New Mexico State coach Lou Henson in the Hall of Fame yet? He's in the Top 10 in terms of career victories. What's it going to take to put Lou and his orange sportscoat in the Hall? -- Jeff Dabrowski (Champaign, Ill.)
VITALE -- That's one I can't understand either. Lou Doo could get to 800 wins -- and then how do you leave him out? There are a number of coaches who should be considered. In the future, I believe guys like Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, UConn's Jim Calhoun, Maryland's Gary Williams and Oklahoma State's Eddie Sutton also belong in the Hall.

Q: How did former Syracuse star Lawrence Moten, the all-time leading scorer in Big East history, not make ESPN's Silver Anniversary Big East team? It makes me sick. -- Otto (Syracuse, N.Y.)
VITALE -- A few players were left off who you can make a case for. That's the fun of something like an All-Time team -- it creates excitement and causes debates. Moten was a fine player for Syracuse, but I don't know if his absence from that team should make you sick. Which player would you pull off in order to include Moten?

Q: I'm a big fan of college basketball because of you! I'm a big San Diego State fan, and I was wondering if you think the Aztecs can step out of the No. 102 slot and become a better team before I get old and die. Thank you again for inspiring me to become a college basketball nut. -- Max Pope (Seattle)
VITALE -- Coach Steve Fisher is trying to put the pieces together at San Diego State, and the Aztecs have looked very good at times this season. The addition of transfer Wesley Stokes was a positive. We have to see what happens in the Mountain West tournament, which could be wide open with Air Force, Utah, BYU and San Diego State all capable of making some serious noise. Plus there's UNLV and New Mexico ... I wouldn't write any team off the way the season has gone in the Mountain West.

Q: With coach Rick Majerus on the outs at Utah due to his health, what are your thoughts on Larry Eustachy becoming the new coach for the Utes? Or any other team for that matter? -- Utes fan (Dubuque, Iowa)
VITALE -- I certainly hope all is going well for former Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy, and that first and foremost his life is in order. At Utah, I would like to see Kerry Rupp get the opportunity to become the full-time coach and have that interim tag removed. Let me also say that I hope and pray that everything goes well for Majerus and that he takes care of himself and his health.

Dick Vitale coached the Detroit Pistons and the University of Detroit in the 1970s before providing color commentary for ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979 (he's been an ESPN analyst ever since). Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.