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Friday, August 10
Updated: August 24, 6:23 PM ET
The Word's Answer Man
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The Answer Man is back throughout the offseason. Andy Katz tackles some of the questions he receives each week.
Valpo is upgrading its non-conference schedule by playing the likes of Arizona, Kansas, Purdue, Rhode Island and others. With juco transfer Anthony Falo joining an experienced squad, can Valpo beat any of these teams, and potentially rank in the top 50 nationally?
B. Claxton
Hilton Head, S.C.
Valparaiso's season could be decided in late August. If the Crusaders avoid the NCAA's wrath on the eligibility of foreign athletes, then they should be fine. They've got the talent to win their conference and be a pest in the NCAA Tournament. Homer Drew has been able to maximize his talent each season.
My blood does not run blue but I am still a strong North Carolina fan, and, among all the recruiting, summer camps and early-season previews, it seems the boys in teal have been forgotten. I know Forte and Haywood are gone, but without them isn't it likely Jason Capel can live up to expectations? And what of their recruiting class? Are Jawad Williams and Melvin Scott legit impact players who can help right away?
Abudi Saimeh
Kobe, Japan
Capel can live up to expectations. But this is the first time he has been put in a go-to role. If he handles it well then the Tar Heels should be a top 25 team. They also need plenty of production out of Kris Lang. He has the potential to be as good a low-post scorer as anyone in the ACC. Matt Doherty is hitting the recruiting trail hard lately and came up with a stellar group of guards the past two seasons. He's got to get an elite big man out of this class. He's on the cusp with a number of players and hoping to close the deal in the next few weeks. Williams, Scott and Jackie Manuel should contribute immediately. Carolina won't have any problems on the wings and at small forward.
I just read the preseason Wooden Award list and was a little disappointed not to see Tarise Bryson from Illinois State on there. He was a All-American honorable mention last year and was in the top 10 in scoring in the country. Since this list is supposed to be based on last year's stats, why wouldn't he be on this list?
Joel
Lincolnshire, Ill.
Joel,
As a voter for the Wooden Award I can tell you that Bryson didn't make my list. That doesn't mean he won't during the midseason report. If Illinois State is a contender for the Missouri Valley Conference title then he'll likely be on every voter's radar screen.
I just read your article on "Blueprint for a Mid-Major," which referenced schools like Kent State, Siena, etc., but there was no reference to the Butler Bulldogs. The Bulldogs have built a solid program that is likely to be even better in 2001-02 than any of the previous four or five seasons, in which they reached the NCAA or NIT quarterfinals. Butler manhandled a high-profile Wake Forest team in last year's NCAAs. Butler has produced two coaches that have left the program for higher profile coaching jobs, only to replace them with another quality coach. So, why does Butler not get the recognition it deserves? Lastly, how do you think the 2001-02 Bulldogs, who only lost LaVall Jordam, will fair? Do you see them making a Gonzaga-type run in the NCAAs?
James
Chicago, Ill.
The article wasn't a slam against schools not on the list like Butler. Butler is becoming the Midwest's version of Gonzaga. I easily could have used Butler as an example but didn't. Thad Matta told me in the spring that he really struggled with whether or not to leave Butler. He knew he had one of the best mid-major jobs in the country. But it was hard to pass up on the chance to coach Xavier. Butler will once again be the favorite in the MCC, oops now the Horizon.
Man, I want your job! Seriously. Anyway, I saw the summer top 25s from several people, only counting yours and Dickie V's as legit, of course. You didn't have Wake Forest as even a team to watch although they did pull in some fine replacements for the departed seniors. Do you think that Skip won't make much of a difference? Is he not that great, or was Odom better than I thought?
Paz
Winston-Salem, N.C.
Can't have it Paz. But you're right. Wake Forest will be a factor in the ACC race for third (sorry but Duke and Maryland are 1-2 in some order). Wake Forest could end up as a top 25 team before long and might crack a few top 25 lists in the preseason. I was disappointed when Josh Howard didn't make the top 50 preseason list. Howard is on the verge of a banner season. Skip Prosser walked into a good situation at Wake Forest.
In your article "Blueprint for a Mid-Major," you spent much of the article talking about Hofstra and various other East Coast mid-majors while touching upon schools in the MCC. Obviously Gonzaga is the prototype for a mid-major, but I am disappointed that you made no mention of the job Dana Altman has done in establishing Creighton as a strong mid-major. If you talk about Kent and Hofstra, you must mention Creighton in the same breath, for they have been at least as consistent, if not more so, than the other mid-majors you mentioned.
Jason
Omaha
Creighton was another school that I didn't mention but easily could have in the story. Dana Altman went from Kansas State to Creighton and now has a better job, even though he's in a lower profile conference. Altman told me he isn't interested in leaving just for any job. He's happy leading one of the top mid-majors in the country. Now, if only someone would play Creighton in the non-conference. The Blue Jays are consistently a MVC contender and one of the programs to watch again this season.
Andy, in your recent story about how tough it is for mid-majors to stay on top, you (and the teaser) listed Hofstra, Kent State, Cal State Northridge and Siena as four examples. Using Siena as an example doesn't make sense, when another mid-major in their conference -- Iona -- has been the standard in the league, winning three of the last four MAAC titles. Iona has been to five postseasons and has five 20-win seasons in the past six years; to mention Siena, with one NCAA and a couple of NITs during that same time, instead is just laughable.
Guy Falotico
Stratford, CT
Iona coach Jeff Ruland was quoted in the story. I never said Siena was the team to beat in the MAAC. Iona is once again. The Gaels will be right there with Niagara, Manhattan and possibly Siena for the title this season. Ruland kept up the tradition that Tim Welsh started when he was coach. Ruland's next move is only to the NBA.
Andy, third time around asking about my Stanford Cardinal. Hopefully third time's the charm. I would like to know if Duke and Stanford will be playing each other this year as they have the previous two years. I would also like to ask for your opinion on Stanford's recruiting chances with this year's class (I've heard Shavlik Randolph and Shelden Williams at one time and still are, perhaps, considering the Cardinal). Furthermore, I've always wondered why with Duke dispelling the myth that "pampered" prep stars are averse to lofty academic expectations, why Stanford still has not achieved the level of success in recruiting that Duke has. Is it an East Coast bias? Coaching? Tradition? The famed blue-blooded rivalry with North Carolina? Why isn't Stanford -- despite recent success with the Collins twins, Casey Jacobsen and Josh Childress -- luring the kind of talent Duke is despite it's similar if not superior academic curriculum?
AC Veerkamp
Sacramento, Calif.
Stanford could land one of the best shooters in this class if the Cardinal can get Dan Grunfeld (Ernie's son). The 6-5 shooter from Nicolet High in Milwaukee wants to go to Stanford. Stanford needs to land an elite big man this recruiting season. The Cardinal are one of the harder teams to figure for next season. If Curtis Borchardt and Justin Davis are healthy then they've got a chance to be Pac-10 champs. If they lose one or both then the Cardinal could struggle in the post and would have to alter their offensive approach. Montgomery is still not quite sure how good the Cardinal can be this season. The frontcourt didn't sell him enough on their trip to Australia.
Bob Knight, our new coach at Texas Tech, is a hot ticket wherever he goes, but I wonder about his ability to recruit nationally. Do you think Tech might be able to get some national top 20 kids next year when he has time to recruit? Also, does Tech have a chance at landing Sean May?
John Baucum
Lubbock, Texas
He has time to recruit. The Red Raiders are making a name for themselves nationally in junior college recruiting. It's not there yet for high schools but he only had last spring. If the Red Raiders win, then they'll come. As for May, he'll likely end up at Indiana, Notre Dame or North Carolina. He'd rather stay in-state and didn't want to go to Texas.
Just got done reading your piece about mid-majors and how everyone wants to be like Gonzaga. You never once mentioned the University of Tulsa. This is a team who is repeatedly in the tournament except last year, in which they won the NIT. They were in the Elite Eight two years ago, are ranked third behind Duke and Michigan State for the most wins the last two years, but they still get no respect year in and year out. What does it take for you to respect them and everyone else in the nation? What do you feel about their chances this year? Watch out for Kevin Johnson, POY in the WAC. Marcus LeDoux and Antonio Reed are about to blow up. Thank you.
Sally Kurtz
Bakersfield, Calif.
Sally, I'm assuming that you're related in some form to former Tulsa center Brandon Kurtz. And, if you ask Brandon or Bill Self, they'll tell you they don't think of Tulsa as a mid-major. Tulsa considers itself on equal footing with the rest of the nationally-recognized names. I agree with you on Tulsa for this season and, especially Kevin Johnson. John Phillips got the job because of his closeness with this group of players and his local ties for keeping Tulsa on top. The Golden Hurricane, along with Hawaii, should be Fresno State's toughest challengers this season.
Have you heard anything about the Teddy Dupay gambling investigation at Florida? If he gets booted from the team, what effect do you think it will have on the Gators? Team leadership will take a hit, but they have quite a few veterans and they're deep at guard this year.
Mark Ozeck
San Diego
The investigation is still ongoing. For now, the Gators are awaiting for the University of Florida police department to complete their investigation. If it goes against Dupay then the Gators will lose their inspirational leader, their toughest competitor and a deep 3-point threat. They have the depth but that wouldn't be good.
In reading the story about the Las Vegas college tournaments moving to a high school gym, I see a couple of quotes about them having a "college floor." What does that mean? Are the dimensions different than a high school's floor, or are the materials the floor is made of different, or is it something else?
Chris Mycoskie
West Des Moines, Iowa
There is a difference. Chris Spencer, the tournament's organizer, said he had to get the right dimensions. He said Valley High's floor is 94 feet by 50 whereas the other high school floors were 84 by 48. The materials don't matter. It's the length and width.
What are your thoughts about Dante Swanson from Tulsa? I have seen all of the "so-called" top guards from the Dukes etc., and none of them impress me more than Dante. I truly hope the nation gets to see some more of Dante this year in the NCAAs (I know the NBA scouts are watching him)!
Michael L. Young
Tulsa, Okla.
I'm a big Swanson fan. I saw him as a true freshman and loved the way he defended the ball. He's got to be in the top 10 for on-the-ball defenders in the nation. If his offense can improve then he's got a shot of making a run professionally. He'll be the key component to Tulsa's defense.
Even if one did not know what name adorns the diploma hanging on the wall in your office, it would be easy to tell where you went to school because it is written all over your columns. With your constant dismissing of North Carolina's players and program, your credibility is taking a beating. It started with your NBA analysis of last season's co-ACC Player of the Year Joseph Forte, then on to Brendan Haywood, and now Jason Capel. It's bad enough that UNC is not in your preseason top 25, but not placing Capel on top-50 list was a joke. Can we come to expect anything less from the media's No. 1 Dookie? You could learn a lot from your fellow Dookie Jay Bilas. But then again he played against the Heels and actually knows what he is talking about when it comes to basketball. He gives the Heels the respect and credit they deserve, while you continue to write with your Duke Blue heart instead of your head.
Adam Whitten
Durham
Adam, for the record, I went to Wisconsin. Capel could easily be on my list during the season when the mid-season top 50 is due. I wanted to wait and see if he can be a go-to player before I put him on the list. I still think he has the tools to do it but I wanted to see it first. I didn't have Carolina in my top 25 for a few reasons: questionable go-to player, waiting to see for sure who will be the point and the thin frontcourt. All these questions can be answered early and Matt Doherty has the talent in place, especially with a healthy Kris Lang, to lock up third (I still like Duke and Maryland better in the ACC) and get a decent NCAA Tournament seed. But there is work to do and I'll reserve judgment until the season starts on the Heels.
Last year I had asked you a few times about the possibilities of an SEC-Big East challenge. If I do recall your response was that it was still a possibility. Have you heard anything new on this or is it pretty much a dead issue at this point and never going to happen?
Dean Allen
Cooperstown, N.Y.
Still no word on the challenge. The SEC wants to do it but the Big East isn't interested -- yet. TV would have to sign off on it and ESPN is dealing with the ACC-Big Ten Challenge for now.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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