Give me your take on Stanford's championship hopes. They have the depth, the size, and the leadership. So can they bang with the likes of Kenyon Martin and Pete Mickeal in Cincy come tournament time?

-- Kevin Wu, Stanford, Calif.

A Stanford-Cincinnati matchup would be one of the better games in the tournanment. The Cardinal have the size to hang with Cincinnati. They could run three (possibly four with Curtis Borchardt) forwards at Kenyon Martin.

-- Aaron Finley, Logan, Utah

Stew Morrill has done an outstanding coaching job. He never got Colorado State into the NCAA Tournament, but it wasn't because of his coaching. The schedules never favored him in the league.

At the moment both Joey Prizbilla and Stromile Swift are considered lottery picks if they'd enter this year's NBA draft. However, two years ago they were ranked as the No. 2 and No. 3 high school centers behind Daniel Gadzuric, who is now at UCLA. In high school Gadzuric considered entering the NBA draft and was projected as a late first-rounder. Now that he's in college, talk of the NBA has subsided. Why?

-- Shefton Hazel, Leiden, The Netherlands

Here's the problem, Gadzuric hasn't improved that much during the season. He's gone to the Big Man Camp but his post skills are still raw. Improvements by Swift and Przybilla have pushed them past Gadzuric. He needs to continue to learn the game and play his four full years before he's ready to get to the NBA. The other two are flawed but they are closer to making the jump then Gadzuric.

-- Wayne, Nagoya, Japan

Michigan State is playing as well as any team in the country. I wouldn't worry about its turnover situation. Mateen Cleaves has found his stride again and seems like he's poised for another Final Four run. The Spartans would be the toughest No. 2 seed in the bracket if they don't land a No. 1.

I'm still trying to understand the RPI. Why do the Kent Golden Flashes (clearly the best team in the MAC right now) have such a high RPI when their schedule has been little different than any of other the other top MAC schools (Bowling Green, Akron, Ball State, etc.)?

-- Roger Slavens, Akron, Ohio

Kent's RPI is higher because of its winning percentage and games against top 70 teams St. Bonaventure and Michigan. The RPI constantly changes as teams win and lose and the games the Flashes played early against the Wolverines and Bonnies helped their RPI climb when those two teams were playing well.

-- Michael Keeney, Waco, Texas

Bliss has a track record of turning around programs from Oklahoma, to SMU, to New Mexico and now to Baylor. I'm not shocked that the Bears have erased the goose egg in the Big 12. Don't be surprised to see the Bears consistently beat Kansas State, Texas Tech and rise above Colorado and Nebraska in the Big 12. Getting past Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri and Iowa State will be a tougher challenge.

People keep talking about Stanford as a lock for a No. 1 seed. However, if both Arizona and Stanford win out and Arizona beats the Cardinal at McKale next month, Arizona will win the Pac-10. How could Stanford then be given a No. 1 seed over a team they lost to twice and couldn't beat out for the conference crown?

-- Matt Gomberg, Chicago

Why can't they both be No. 1 seeds? I really believe that Arizona and Stanford could be No. 1 seeds in two different regions if Stanford's only two losses are to Arizona and the Wildcats win out the rest of the season. Put those two with Cincinnati and Duke and I wouldn't complain about those four No. 1 seeds.

I am just curious on your thoughts as to how much damage Tulsa can do in the tournament. Do they have a shot at the Elite Eight? And how good is Eric Coley? With all his raw talent, does he have a shot in the NBA?

-- Brad Rose, Tulsa, Okla.

Tulsa has the talent to get to the Final Four, but probably will run into a team with better perimeter scoring and an ability to shut down David Shelton inside. The WAC hasn't answered Shelton. Coley is a tremendous athlete without a true position. But his work ethic, defensive skills (WAC steals leader) and strength will get him in a camp this July.

As a loyal Kansas State fan I have been forced to watch the Wildcats fall apart this year. I was wondering if you have any ideas why the wildcats failed to accomplish anything except a losing streak. Also it is my opinion that nothing short of a miracle could save Tom Asbury's job. Like say winning the Big 12 tournament and a first-round NCAA victory, anyway want to know if that's close to what it would take to keep him around.

-- Kenny Titus, Great Bend, Kan.

It's going to be tough for Asbury. Obviously the losing streak to Kansas doesn't help him. Candidates are already lining up for this job and don't be surprised to see these names if Asbury moves on: Southeast Missouri State's Gary Garner, Bradley's Jim Molinari, Wyoming's Steve McClain, Colorado State's Ritchie McKay and Valparaiso's Homer Drew.

I was wondering what your general forecast for the rest of North Carolina's season is. Many people (including myself) were ready to write them off a few weeks ago, but they seem to be playing better than many (very many) of the ranked teams right now. Assuming this trend carries through the rest of the season, what are your thoughts on UNC?

-- Matt, Chapel Hill, N.C.

North Carolina has been one of the harder teams to figure this season. The Tar Heels have looked like Elite Eight material one game but not even NIT the next. They have the talent to make a decent run but depth will be a problem. Erratic shooting by Jason Capel and Max Owens doesn't help. Joseph Forte has been sensational and Ed Cota and Brendan Haywood have become even better leaders of late. Kris Lang's presence could determine how far this team can go in the tournament.

Can Siena get a at large bid if they can not win the their MAAC tournament?

-- Billy Fields II, Troy, N.Y.

It will be tough. The Saints have a 18-6 record against Division I oppponents and an RPI in 82 in at least one rating. That's not good enough to get in as an at-large. The pressure is on the Saints to win the MAAC tournament.

Why is it that the NCAA selection committee uses the RPI index instead of the much more accurate Sagarin rankings? Whatever wacked out formula the RPI uses is a total joke and this issue really needs to be addressed.

-- R.J. Cortez, Los Angeles

The Sagarin take into account point spreads (winning margins) and that tends to discourage the selection committee. It also starts with a preconceived number based on last year's ratings. The other RPI begin with each team at 0-0. On the plus side for the Sagarin, he gives more points to teams who win on the road. The RPI doesn't factor in that to its formula.

Do you really think that Ernest Brown of Indian Hills C.C. is a first-round draft pick. I've watched several of his games this year and he gets benched for long periods of time quite often. He's also not that good of an offensive player who seems to care more about not getting hurt. Also, was the competition not that good at Mesa C.C. because it is hard to believe that he put up those numbers. He's not even coming close to putting up those numbers on an IHCC team that is not as high powered as in years past. I can't even see him being a big factor as a D-1 player.

-- Nick, Iowa City, Iowa

I have heard the same take on Brown, but scouts believe he has the "upside" to be drafted in the second round. Remember, Leon Smith was taken in the first round. You're right that he's not ready but that won't stop him if he's not eligible, is under investigation by the NCAA or if he simply has to feed his family (which is the reason he gave me for needing to look at the draft).

Everybody already knows about Jason Williams, Carlos Boozer and Mike Dunleavy, but why haven't we heard anything about Casey Sanders in the Duke Program? Is he having a slow progressive year?

-- Nick, Iowa City, Iowa

Sanders isn't strong enough to compete at this level yet. He would have received minutes had he come in with more bulk. But he'll have to wait his turn and really hit the weights this summer.

I was wondering what you think the best state in college basketball is. I think that Ohio, with Cincinnati, Ohio State, and plenty of upset teams like Wright State, is the best. What's your pick?

-- Jakob Kohn, Highland Park, Ill.

Ohio and Oklahoma would have a great six-team tournament. But, I wouldn't choose Wright State. I would put Cincinnati, Ohio State and Dayton against Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Tulsa. Not bad for a round-robin series, right?

I was wondering how Ugo Udezue was coming along after knee surgery. He was supposed to have such a big year but then got hurt. Is he planning to redshirt or come back for the stretch run?

-- Greg Wallace, Iowa City, Iowa

Udezue is progressing as planned but he will take a medical redshirt and be back next season. He should have two more seasons of eligibility.

Any chance at two bids in America East? Assuming Hofstra gets the automatic, would Maine or Delaware get the at-large?

-- Greg Wallace, Iowa City, Iowa

Hofstra is stuck in the late 70s in the RPI after losing to Vermont. The 18-6 record is good enough for an at-large but the RPI isn't high enough. Maine has a better record at 19-5 but an RPI of 119 won't get the Black Bears in as an at-large.

Could you explain the discrepancy between the suspensions handed down by the NCAA for UCLA's Rush, Missouri's Rush, Michigan's Crawford, and St. John's Barkely? Those of us on the West Coast feel that given the dollar amount of what each player allegedly "took" UCLA's Rush was unfairly punished. Are missing something?

-- Rabi Narula, Irvine, Calif.

The difference is Rush also took money from an agent. That gave him a 15-game penalty. The dollar amount from the AAU deal was tacked on and the NCAA is dealing harsher with pre-college extra benefits. Crawford's penalty isn't done yet.

I'm offended, no mention of Oliver Purnell and the stellar job he's done with the Dayton Flyers. You should be ashamed that in your mea culpa you left him off again. He's recognized as one of the best up-and-coming coaches in the game. Please don't make another egregious error and leave him off when you address coach of the year later this month.

-- Dave Herbenick, Washington, D.C.

Purnell deserves to be on a coach of the year list, but he won't win. Dayton had a senior-dominated team and he has done a great job molding this team. But he won't receive the honor.

I noticed that a lot of college basketball analyists picked Southern to represent the SWAC in next month's tournament. What I want to know is does a team from the SWAC have a chance to ever make it to the Sweet 16 in the future?

-- Damien Johnson, Baton Rouge, La.

It certainly could happen and Southern had a decent run a few years ago when it beat Georgia Tech. But it would take a team with a hot hand and put in a bracket with an overrated team for a SWAC team to get past two rounds.

Does Weber State stand any chance of getting an at-large bid if they don't win the Big Sky conference? Weber had a quality win over Utah early in the season, has a good record overall, and has proven it can win in the tournament. Any hope?

-- Jesse Ellman, Staten Island, N.Y.

No. Weber State has dug itself too big a hole for an at-large berth. But the talent is there with Eddie Gill and Harold Arceneaux to pull off a Big Sky tournament title run.