After going to the Sweet 16 last year and being undefeated, this year it still seems Oklahoma isn't getting the respect they deserve. They have a superstar in Najera and Price and Raymond are looking like big time players, I'm not predicting a victory at Cincy, but do you think they have a shot?

-- Scott Evans, St. Joseph

Oklahoma should be getting its due. The Sooners do have a chance against Cincinnati, but only if the Bearcats shoot poorly. Oklahoma's defense should keep it in the game. But Eduardo Najera might have trouble getting free in the post against the Bearcats.

-- Cliff Hanna, San Diego

The RPI is used for breaking ties on bubble teams. The polls are usually only used for determining seeds, not bids. I don't think you'll see as much of a slant toward the mid-major schools like Gonzaga (if deserving).

I think I am the only N.C. State fan in Chile, so I can't go to watch a Pack game every year so I have some questions for you: Do you think that the Pack is going to make the Big Dance? Will the Pack have a winning record within the ACC? Why isn't N.C. State ranked although they are undefeated and have upset Purdue, and they beat UGA, the same team that defeated Wake Forest, which is a ranked team?

-- James Channing, Viħa del Mar, Chile

N.C. State deserves to be in the top 25. Don't worry James. N.C. State should make the tournament, even with the latest injury to Kenny Inge. The Wolfpack have a shot at challenging for the ACC title if they can continue to get decent frontcourt play.

-- Adam Folkerts, Muncie, Ind.

The MAC is as even as it has been recently. You forgot Ohio, Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), Toledo and Kent as possible title teams. Unfortunately, the league will likely beat itself up and send one, at the most two, teams to the tournament.

-- Evan Makela, Chicago

George Washington guard Sir Valiant Brown is at the top of the list. He's averaging 26.3 points a game. Jermaine Hall at Wagner is averaging 22 a game, Chris Davis at North Texas is averaging 20.8 a game and Troy Bell at Boston College is putting up 20.4. A few others to keep an eye on: Jabahri Brown at Florida International, Nick Vander Laan at Cal, Alaivaa Nuualijtia at Brown, Brent Blizzard at UNC Wilmington and Darnell Archey at Butler.

I am a huge Cincinnati fan and never miss a game. DerMarr Johnson does not seem to be living up to his potential. And then I see this tattoo that says something about the NBA. I really don't think he's ready for the NBA. Don't you think he should stay around and help the Cats out next year when they are going to really need him? Also, do you think Cincinnati will be a force next year with all the players they are losing or are they gaining some good players?

-- Bob Dake, Cincinnati

DerMarr isn't ready for the NBA. He's not shooting well enough and he'll be better served by staying a few more years. He's got Lamar Odom size on the wing but can't create as well as Odom. Johnson made the right choice by going to school. Hopefully he'll make an even better one by staying.

-- Shawn Marshall, Kingsburg, Calif.

Neither the WAC nor the Mountain West have automatic bids this season. There are 35 at-large and 29 automatic. But the champions of both conferences (regular season, not necessarily conference tournament) will likely receive bids. Both conferences have at-large candidates, too.

How are the Great Eight teams chosen? I thought it was from the Elite Eight teams in last years NCAA tournament, but after seeing teams like St. John's and Ohio State not being there, I wasn't sure.

-- Dan Wynne, Somers, N.Y.

The Great Eight tried to select the best matchups. The first criteria is to get the eight teams from the Elite Eight. But the Great Eight can't take two teams from the same conference (that's why Ohio State and St. John's weren't in the tournament with conference members Michigan State and Connecticut, in the Big Ten and Big East, respectively). Four teams from last year's Elite Eight (Michigan State, Connecticut, Gonzaga and Temple) were invited. Kentucky and Duke turned it down. That forced the organizers to look at the next best choices, not the next teams eliminated in the tournament. Kansas and Cincinnati were ousted in the second round. North Carolina and Arizona lost in the first round.

-- Jim Webb, Beaverton, Ore.

Kansas' problem isn't its substitution pattern, but rather its poor defense against fast-break points and its lack of strength inside. The Jayhawks can make the quick rotation work if they get back on defense (they didn't against Michigan State) and Eric Chenowith plays stronger in the post.