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| Thursday, February 17 | |||||
ESPN.com | ||||||
The season's under way, which means the Word's Answer Man is down in his defensive crouch ready to take on the tough questions. If you want to send a question to the Word, click here and check back each week to see if your question was answered.
I know that you addressed the issue of Freshman Watch already, but in addressing "some" people's questions, you did not address SirValiant Brown. Here's a freshman that's leading the entire nation in scoring. I'd say that makes him something special, wouldn't you?
What is your bias against Maryland? You obviously have one because the Terps lost by two points at N.C. State and one point at Georgia Tech and you act like they were blown out and are the worst team in the conference. I think they played poorly in those games compared to their potential, but playing on the road in the ACC is always tough. I think you must be the only professional NCAA analyst that has no respect for them. Young and inexperienced though they may be, I think they are going to prove you wrong down the stretch.
Unfortunately, I think you're reading too much into any words about Maryland. I don't have a bias. In fact, I was pushing to pick Maryland as the favorite to win the ACC in ESPN The Magazine, but I was voted down. I liked the Terps when I saw them in New York at the Preseason NIT. But they've hit a bumpy road (prior to the last week). I still think they could be a threat to win the ACC Tournament. When is anyone going to recognize Southeast Missouri State as a Division I basketball team? Three votes in the ESPN poll, none in the AP for a 16-3 team, RPI rating of 75, albeit only a 215 strength of schedule. SEMO is destroying teams in the OVC, even Murray State in its own house. What do you think?
I agree. Coaches get off the hook when they leave the school. Too often the next coach is stuck with the previous coach's problems. The only coach presently banned from coaching due to previous violations is former Cal coach Todd Bozeman. The problem is the violation has to be directly tied to the coach or his lack of institutional control within his program. Any other violation would be hard to tie to a coach if he went to another school. Andy, the Mid-American Conference is having a very strong season, with some surprising out-of-conference wins. But it seems the MAC is constantly being underrated. Kent is probably the strongest team in the MAC, with Bowling Green right behind it. Do you feel that the MAC is being overlooked, and can a team like Kent play with other tournament teams throughout the nation?
The MAC may be stuck with only one bid because of competitive parity. Kent, Akron and Bowling Green are the three top teams but they've been beaten within the league. I hope the committee gives the MAC two bids because of its strength as a league from top to bottom, but I'm not optimistic. I enjoy your columns (sometimes even at work...), but I haven't seen much mention of IU lately. The overtime loss to Michigan State was nothing short of luck for Michigan State, and with A.J. Guyton -- definitely one of the top guards, if not the top guard in the country -- Kirk Haston, and some throwback IU defense, I'm beginning to think these guys have been seriously overlooked. What's your take on whether this year's group can contend for the top?
What is your reaction to the new book by Don Yaeger and Dan Wetzel called "Sole Influence?" Is there influence that is so out of control the NCAA should step in and legislate? Should AAU coaches and sponsors have more input than high school coaches and guidance counselors? When "Under the Tarnished Dome" came out, the initial media reaction far outweighed any long term impact. Can we expect as similar situation with "Sole Influence?"
"Sole Influence" will have more impact than "Under the Tarnished Dome." That book was about one school, Notre Dame. "Sole Influence" is about widespread corruption in amateur basketball. The authors have already been contacted by high-major conferences to speak on the ills of college basketball to the athletics directors meetings this spring. This problem will be addressed and the book is helping open the minds of athletics administrators. Hola, Mr. Katz. I really like reading your column, even here in Mexico. I am really amazed at Eduardo Najera's development this year. I watch the game against Texas and he is tough. But I don't know about his chances in the NBA. What do you think?. Maybe a late first-round pick?
Why doesn't ESPN pick up any Pac-10 games? Arizona at Stanford (No. 4 vs No. 1 at the time) was carried by Fox Sports Net. ESPN carried Missouri-Iowa State. ESPN won't be covering the rematch of these teams (with a conference championship and a No. 1 seed possibly on the line) either, because it'll be picking up the first round of the ACC tournament. As far as ESPN is concerned, the No. 2 and No. 5 teams in the country just aren't worth covering (forget about USC and Oregon, who'd probably be ranked if anyone saw them play). What gives?
Mr. Katz, I asked you a question before regarding Former LIU coach Ray Haskins, but you did not reply. Please let me know do you think it's possible that he will be coaching again due to his impressive résumé -- and if so where?
I'm a big Central Connecticut State fan wanting to know your opinion on this year's squad and current 11-game winning streak. How do you think the Blue Devils would do in the tourney if they make it and do you think there is a chance of an at-large bid? Also please discuss John Tice and his game. He was on the Fairfield team that made the tourney two years ago and played North Carolina tough into the second half (as a freshman, he scored 14 points in the game).
As an Argentinian fan of college basketball, I would like to know what do you think about Pepe Sanchez's chances to get to the NBA. I've watched every game we get to see here the last three years (one per week) and in my opinion he's one of the least spectacular point guards in the nation but one of the most intelligent ones.
Andy, I don't want to pound the issue, but how come there was never even a word about DerMarr Johnson in your top freshman. He is by far the best freshman all-around player in college basketball. The only difference is, all the other freshman seem to be the strongest part of their respective teams game. Not the case with Cincinnati. He is problably their third best player of the starting five. If you were to put him on any of these other teams, I sure he'd be throwing down 20-plus points a game. P.S. Did you see his first half against Louisville?
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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