The Answer Man is as anxious as ESPN.com users to get the season started. So, with just over a month before the first games of the 2001-02 season, Andy Katz tackles some of the questions he receives each week.

What do you know about this new tournament, the Guardians Classic? I saw it on my team's schedule but can not find any information on it. Specifically I'm curious about which campuses are hosting the prelims to K.C. and if there's a TV deal in the works to cover it?
Chad Kunz
Seattle

The Guardians Classic is a 16-team tournament the week before Thanksgiving and during Thanksgiving weekend. The four teams hosting the four-team mini-tournaments that will produce four winners for Kansas City are Memphis, Iowa, Alabama and Missouri. Not sure about the TV deal, but I can tell you that it's not on ESPN. The semifinals are Tuesday and Thursday during Thanksgiving week as opposed to Wednesday and Friday for the Preseason NIT.

Do you think the NCAA will accept the NABC proposal to have a grandfather clause for foreign athletes regarding their amateur status?
Sal Lagano
Massapequa, N.Y.

No. The most likely scenario is for the Student Athlete Reinstatement Committee and the NCAA management council to adopt a maximum penalty of eight games. If they don't do that then legal action could be next. But I don't think you'll see players being grandfathered in for this season.

With Maryland getting a verbal from John Gilcrest, and Travis Garrison soon to follow, Chris McCray and Nik Caner-Medley already verballing to the Terps. How do you rate this recruiting class, top 5 or top 10? Also, I'd be interested in your thoughts about Gary William's ability to constantly turn so-called mid-level recruits into first team All-ACC players -- a la Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter and Joe Smith. Now with Gilcrest and presumably Garrison it appears that Maryland is starting to get the top players (both arguably top 30) and while probably never going to be able to land 4-5 top 20 recruits like Duke or UNC, is Maryland ready to step above the Dukies because of Gary's ability to get the most out of his players.
Orin Schepps
Gaithersburg, Md.

This should finally keep everyone quiet about whether or not Maryland can recruit top level talent. They've done it in the past, just not en masse in a class. They have done an outstanding job of producing NBA-level talent and cultivating players who weren't top 10 and turning them into ACC elite players. This is one of the top classes in the country if it sticks in November. Maryland is doing a great job capitalizing on last season's Final Four appearance. Maryland isn't a step above Duke, but the Terps are staying right with them on the court and in recruiting.

I just wanted to say I think you're a great writer for ESPN and to keep up the great job. I wanted to know what do you think are the chances of Teddy Dupay making it to the next level, whether it is the NBA or somewhere else in the states or overseas? He is my favorite college basketball player. A lot people knock me for liking him. But Teddy has and plays without a lot of heart. I think the Gators will definitely miss that from him. They do have a great team, but Teddy unquestionably adds fuel to their fire.
Joel Sonny
Bronx, N.Y.

I always respected Dupay's work ethic and toughness. He never let injuries get him down and was always willing to take the big shot at the end of the game. But his gambling activities will taint his career and likely hurt him from getting a professional basketball job somewhere on the globe. He might need some time to pass before he can get a job in the sport. Gambling is one of easiest ways to lose a player's credibility.

Don't know if you're using my prior question for this week's mailbag, but I've had a change of heart. If you mention who I think will be the "Sweet 16" member from outside the 10 name conferences, change it to Ohio U, not NC-Wilmington. Wilmington could win one game maybe, but two is stretching it with their lack of offense (other than Blizzard). Somebody from the MAC is always a possibility, though this year it could be one of several teams (Marshall, Ohio, CMU, Kent).
Scott King
Minneapolis

I can't see Ohio getting there, although Tim O'Shea has a team worthy of the Dance if they get point guard help. Wilmington might be a reach, too. Look for a team like Marshall, Valparaiso, Gonzaga or Butler as the teams that have the experience to win two games in the NCAA Tournament -- if they get in as at-large or conference champions.

Sounds like Julian Sensley is doing coursework at Diablo Valley College. What does he need to do there this year to be eligible to play this year?
Antonio
Santa Rosa, Calif.

Sensley has to earn a qualifying test score before he can be admitted to Cal. His course work at Diablo Valley isn't as imperative as getting that score. He's at Diablo Valley so he can stay close to Cal, but he can't be admitted until he gets that score.

Now that the four most powerful schools in the America East have left and 3-4 powerless schools have come into the conference, do you feel that whoever wins the conference championship will have to play in the play-in game to get into the NCAA Tournament? It will likely seem the RPI for the America East will drop a lot and that with Deleware, Drexel, Hofstra and Towson gone, that this will hurt the recruiting to the America East. What is your take on the conference, Katz Man?
Marshall
Boston

The RPI will slide considerably for the America East. Recruiting will suffer, too. The conference had to add teams like Albany, Stony Brook and Binghamton. But that's because those were the only three teams left in the region. Look for the shift in power to go back to the Boston area with Northeastern and Boston University having the best chances to get into the NCAA Tournament. Maine should be a factor, too. But the America East is looking at a 15 or 16 seed if the RPI doesn't improve.

Granted, it's tough to lose two NBA first-round picks along with Charlie Bell and Andre Huston, but how much of a drop will Michigan State really experience this season? How (or can) Tom Izzo get this team back near the top of the Big Ten and into the NCAA Tourney as a perhaps a 3 or 4 seed?
Pete Sampson
South Bend, Ind.

You don't have to convince me. Michigan State has a legit shot to not only get back to the Big Ten title but also the Final Four. It sounds like a reach, but if Kelvin Torbert and Alan Anderson are as good as advertised then they've got the talent. The Spartans have a steady, scoring point in Marcus Taylor, who improved tremendously over the summer with the gold-medal U.S. team in Japan. The inside game by committee is deep enough to score, board and defend. And the experience on the coaching staff and the overall expectations at Michigan State will keep this program near the top again.

I have been posting questions for quite some time now and have yet to see any of them answered. But I will try again. I am wondering what you think of University of Virginia this year. They have really been an up-and-coming team the past few years. Do you think this will be the year they finally break through and get far in the tournament, and if so how far? With such an athletic team, who do you think their main players to watch will be? Thanks.
Michael
Chicago

Virginia should be a lock for the tournament early and shouldn't need to sweat anything. The Cavaliers still have questions at the point with Majestic Mapp's knee injury still a concern. The improved and determined play of Travis Watson will give the Cavaliers a consistent inside presence. They're going to play as up-tempo as they did a season ago. They've got the disappointment in their heads over losing to Gonzaga in the first round of the tournament. The key to the team could be how much Elton Brown can contribute. Virginia is expecting him to be an impact player. If he can be then Watson won't get double teammed and the Cavaliers will have a more effective half-court offense.

As a Dayton grad, I would welcome your unbiased opinion: Where does Oliver Purnell rank among the A-10 coaches? Do you think he will leave Dayton for an ACC or SEC position if offered?
Paul Sheelen
Boston

Purnell is clearly respected within basketball by his continuous presence with USA Basketball. He was an assistant coach with the NBA-dominated Goodwill Games team. Purnell's offensive mind is talked about within the game. His calming presence is also a soothing part of his coaching ability. He has had chances to leave Dayton and decided against doing so and the trend will likely continue. He seems content in Ohio and doesn't seem like he's interested in leaving. Dayton is one of the five best jobs in the Atlantic 10 and the Flyers have a legitimate shot of postseason play every season. That's worth staying.

I am originally from Philadephia, but I am currently living in Cairo, Egypt and I was wondering why none of the preseason All-American teams have Rasul Butler of the university of LaSalle on any of their lists. In my opinion he is one of the best shooting guards or small forwards in America. Put him in any other big-time program and maybe by season's end he would have played himself into the lottery. He's that good. What do you think in regards to this fine player.
Abdul-Jalil Meekins
Cairo, Egypt

You're right Abdul-Jalil. Butler should get more recognition, but LaSalle's lack of exposure keeps Butler off the radar. It'll be tough again with the Explorers trying to get some attention in a crowded Atlantic 10. He showed a lot of loyalty by originally signing with LaSalle and never transferring. Billy Hahn has a gem to start his coaching career. But it will be a struggle all season for Butler to get noticed outside of Philadelphia.

In your Summer Preview you said that at best Iowa would win a few games in the tournament. I still don't see how that could be. At best, I think that Iowa will make the Final Four. I just want to know why you thought that Iowa would just win a few games in the tournament?
Justin Meis
Crescent, Iowa

I'm not sold on their point guard situation and Luke Recker's health. If both are solved by November, then I might change my opinion. I still see them as a Big Ten title contender and a possible Final Four team, but I'm not ready to put them as one of the 10 teams that can win the title.

Paul Hewitt. Wow!!! Four Top 100 freshman this year plus this week's verbal commitments from Jarrett Jack and Chris Bosh have to make Georgia Tech one of the hottest programs of the future. I know they will be inexperienced, but what do you think of Tech's chances in the ACC this year?
Thermo
Blacksburg, Va.

Hewitt is doing a masterful job on the recruiting trail. He did a masterful job with last season's team in getting them to the NCAA Tournament. But this season won't be as easy. The Yellow Jackets are young, too young in the ACC to get above sixth. A best-case scenario would be sixth, but it's more likely going to be seventh for the Yellow Jackets. But just wait until next season.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. He answers questions on college basketball weekly.