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Friday, May 4
Updated: May 11, 3:30 PM ET
The Word's Answer Man
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The Answer Man is back throughout the offseason. Every Friday, Andy Katz will tackle some of the questions he receives each week.
I'm writing to correct an inaccuracy in some stories and columns written by you. It is in regards to Texas Tech's appeal of the 5/8 rule. Texas Tech is not appealing this rule because they dismissed four players from the team this past season or because Coach Knight "cleaned house." The reason Tech is appealing is because the program is coming off four years of scholarship reductions from NCAA probation. Tech and the NCAA agreed to the terms of this probation that would limit Tech's scholarships until the 2001-2002 season, at which point, the program would be allowed to return to the maximum number of scholarships. However, because of the 5/8 rule, it is impossible for Tech to return to the maximum number of scholarships allowed. Essentially, Tech's probation will be extended an additional 2-3 years because this rule makes it impossible for them to get back to 13. Tech is only asking for an additional two scholarships this season, because they were limited to 11 total this past year.
Matt McGuire
Frisco, Texas
Maybe I was misunderstood Matt. I know Texas Tech wasn't requesting a rule reversal because they "ran off" a few players. Regardless of the reasoning for the school's appeal, the NCAA isn't and won't be lenient on this issue when it sees players leaving during a coaching change. NCAA officials told me that they want to prevent player movement of any kind. Until this rule gets overturned (see the ACC proposal) schools like Texas Tech -- for various reasons -- will continue to get turned down.
I have been trying for weeks to get my question answered. Hopefully this week you'll give my question a chance. My question is this. Why haven't the Iowa Hawkeyes been mentioned as a possible 2002 Final Four team? The Hawks have two of the best players in the country coming back (Luke Recker and Reggie Evans) and they have everyone back except two from a team that put up a gutsy performance against a hot shooting Kentucky team in the tournament. Add in a recruiting class that includes Pierre Pierce, Marcellus Sommerville and Chauncey Leslie, and you have a team that is not only quick but very talented. What is your take?
James Clark
Annapolis, Md.
Iowa has the talent to compete for the Big Ten title and make a deep NCAA Tournament run. That's one reason why it would have made no sense for Steve Alford to bolt on the Hawkeyes after this season. But the consensus Final Four teams -- right now -- are Duke, Florida, Maryland and Kentucky. UCLA, Illinois, Kansas and Iowa are all capable of making a great run. Having the return of Recker and Evans -- two Big Ten and national player of the year candidates -- makes them a serious threat. But the Hawkeyes will sorely miss Dean Oliver. He was the glue for this team last year and having a hole at the point -- even with newcomers -- leaves a question.
After Providence College made a huge turnaround last season, I am excited about the future of PC basketball. Two questions: Why did you continue to mention Tim Welsh's name with other openings after he had verbally agreed to an extension, and what is your take on PC for next year?
Mike McCoy
Westerly, R.I.
Two reasons: One, Welsh didn't sign the deal, and two, he was flirting with a few jobs, at least in terms of being wooed a bit. It's common practice for coaches to test the waters on certain jobs, even though they have agreed to a contract extension. Talk about Welsh leaving will continue in the future because of his success as a coach. That doesn't mean he will leave, but it's possible if the right job opens up in the next few seasons.
With Quin Snyder (and Tony Harvey) being recruiting machines and turning Missouri into a powerhouse, do you think Roy Williams is wishing he would have gone to North Carolina? This Tiger team is going to be loaded, your thoughts? And lastly, Mizzou has just signed JUCO Uche Okafor, does the fact that they have signed nine players the last two years go against the NCAA 5/8 rule?
Everyone in the Big 12 sees Missouri as a serious threat in recruiting and on the court. Snyder and Harvey have done a sensational job recruiting upper Midwest talent down to Columbia. Getting Kareem Rush to stay is critical to the team's success next season. Good question on the 5/8 rule. But it started with this recruiting class. They have signed five. They would have three more to give, but Robert Whaley isn't expected to be on campus in the fall. That means they could sign four, depending on attrition in 2001-02.
How about the job Mike Lonergen has done at Catholic University? He's proven he can win with talent at that level, and even beat some Division I teams (Albany). What are his chances of moving to Division I? Maybe the George Washington job?
Tommie Jones
Los Angeles, Calif.
Lonergen has done a sensational job with Catholic over the past few seasons with this past season being his best. I was surprised that he didn't get a closer look at Towson. He deserved an interview at GW also, but didn't get one. It's still very difficult to move from Division III to Division I. It took Division II Southern Indiana coach Bruce Pearl years to get a serious look at Division I before UW Milwaukee hired him last month.
Due to changes within their infrastructure, there was so much attention showered upon this year's NCAA selection committee and their "lack of experience." It turned out to be an excellent tournament and the committee turned in a first rate effort ... maybe the best in past years. That being said, with all of the phenomenal performances by the mid-majors and lower seeds (both in victory and defeat), will next year's committee give any more consideration/respect to the mid-majors and their respective selections? Why does the committee fail to understand that these are the schools that fuel the drama/excitement and make for a more interesting tournament?
Kevin Kaczmarek
Philadelphia, Pa.
The committee will always say they don't look at the past in selecting the present NCAA Tournament. But they have to keep looking at the mid-majors success rate. I don't think they need to pick more mid-majors. The only team I had that didn't make the field was Alabama and the one out was Creighton. What the committee has to do a better job of is seeding. Gonzaga was once again seeded too low. The committee could sharpen its skills by looking deeper at these teams and not give the high-majors higher seeds. They looked like big upsets because the seeding discrepancy but they really weren't.
With the return of the Pac-10 tournament this year, do you know whether it will be, in future years, a staple at the Staples Center? (pun intended)
So far, that's the plan. The Pac-10 is concerned that it won't get the fan support, or at least fans to travel, if they move the event around to the pro arenas. The Rose Garden in Portland has a chance of hosting as does America West Arena in Phoenix. But there's a better chance of getting fans of the L.A. schools to go to the games if they're in L.A.
Are Jameer Nelson and Marvin O'Connor of St. Joe's the best backcourt in the nation? How far will the Hawks go?
Patrick Wandalowski
Clarks Summit, Pa.
They are certainly one of the top five. But Duke's of Jason Williams and Chris Duhon and Maryland's of Juan Dixon and Steve Blake are likely going to get a bit more publicity. O'Connor and Nelson are the perfect compliment with Nelson a scoring but unselfish point and O'Connor a light-you-up scorer on the wing. They defend and are leaders that should take the Hawks on a Sweet 16 run. If the inside game can be productive, then the Hawks could even take it a step further.
As a loyal Xavier alumnus, spring time always brings uncertainty as what is certain is that the men's basketball coach is always on someone else's job vacancy short list. During my days at X, Pete Gillen turned down Notre Dame, Villanova, Virginia and Providence -- finally leaving in 1994 for Providence and then to Virginia. Since 1994, Skip Prosser has turned down Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Georgia Tech before finally going to Wake Forest this week. I don't fault Gillen or Prosser, as the programs they head now are in every way a step up for them professionally. My fault is with the administration -- haven't they noticed the annual rite of spring? What in your opinion does Xavier have to do to retain quality coaches and no longer be considered a stepping stone to a major conference program? Will this move by Prosser have a negative effect on the program ... i.e: transfers, recruits de-committing, David West declaring for the NBA draft?
Hugh McCloskey
Dayton, Ohio
There's nothing you can do about it. This is reality. Xavier is the best program in the Atlantic 10. But it's still in the Atlantic 10, and will struggle to get on television. Gillen's move was more lateral, maybe even a small step down but he did end up at Virginia in the ACC. Prosser had an easier and maybe better overall job at Xavier than Wake Forest. But Wake is still in the ACC and can pay more money. Xavier can't compete with that and won't be able to keep Thad Matta forever if he gets hot and is wooed by the Big East, ACC or Big 10. Prosser's move probably won't have an affect on recruiting or the team. It's getting almost too late for any transfers as scholarships are almost all gone. As for West, expect him to be in a Xavier uniform in the fall.
Over the last couple weeks, the University of Illinois has failed to sign any of the top JUCO big men they were supposedly targeting. These players have signed with schools (Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas Tech) that seem much farther away from contention during these players' remaining eligibility than the Illini. Playing time is clearly available with Marcus Griffin leaving. With a legit Final Four shot and PT available, this seems strange. Is there something going on we don't know about?
Marc Blumer
Chicago, Ill.
No, not really. Illinois got in late with Uche Okafor and lost out to Missouri. Ermal Kuqo was likely going to go with his coach Chris Beard to Texas Tech. Kuqo originally signed with Illinois coach Bill Self when he was at Tulsa but didn't go when he bolted. The Illini lose toughness with Marcus Griffin and Sergio McClain gone. But they still have an enforcer in Lucas Johnson and two skilled post players in Brian Cook and Robert Archibald. They need another brute to board to feel more secure about a potential deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. He answers questions on college basketball every Friday. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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