Does Illinois have any chance on getting Darius Miles? If so ,how good of a chance? If he doesn't go to Illinois, where will he go?

-- Joseph Deien, Centralia, Ill.

Not any more. Miles signed with St. John's. Illinois wasn't in the final three -- DePaul and Minnesota were Miles' other final choices.

What in the world just happened to Duke's recruiting? Just how close were they to getting Jared Jeffries? When Carolina signed Adam Boone, I laughed at how it looked like they were picking up the Blue Devils' "trash," seeing that Duke was listed next to top 50 players like Darius Miles and T.J. Cummings. Now it looks like Duke will get nothing more than Chris Duhon and could use Boone, especially if there is another mass exodus. What's going on? Did they even really need another top class?

-- Charlie Korschun, Atlanta

The Blue Devils do need another post player. Duhon is a tremendous recruit, especially since Jason Williams is a scoring point guard. He could share the duties with Duhon and they wouldn't overlap. The Blue Devils didn't need Boone. But the post play of Nick Horvath, Carlos Boozer and Casey Sanders isn't developed enough. They could use another big body.

Can you explain the difference in leaving tickets for a friend, and leaving tickets for a friend who lets you use his car sometimes? In college, I borrowed friends' cars all the time, and when I had an extra ticket to a UConn game (which any New Englander will tell you, is golden), I would take those same friends to the game with me. So, let me get this straight. If I played a sport, I would have been violating NCAA rules and would be penalized? Is there a joke I'm missing somewhere?

-- Corey Vitello, Glastonbury, Conn.

Not at all. Athletes aren't allowed to get special favors because they're athletes. The NCAA has a problem with boosters who are only "friends" with players because of who they are, rather than the kind of friend you have in school.

Are Arizona's chances this season diminished at all because of the recent news that guard Ruben Douglas isn't going to play this season and will be transferring next year. Also DeShawn Stevenson out of Fresno had Arizona and UCLA on his list but recently gave an oral commitment to Kansas. Now that Douglas is transferring, is it possible Arizona might re-enter the Stevenson picture?

-- Jeremy Evans, Milwaukee

Not at all. As I wrote in the Word, the Wildcats didn't need Douglas. They're set with Gilbert Arenas and Lamont Frazier. Arizona can't get involved with Stevenson. He signed with Kansas.