| | By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
The season's over, but that doesn't mean the Word's Answer Man is taking any time off. If you want to send a question to the Word, click here and check back each week to see if your question was answered.
I would agree that the Utes will be good, but not because of
Travis Spivey. Is this the Spivey that played for Georgia Tech, transferred to Iowa
State, and got kicked out because he beat up his girlfriend? If so, this
guy is a horrible player. His decision making was terrible and his shot is
even worse. The word at GT was that he wasn't really even D-I starting
talent. Majerus would be a miracle worker if he makes this guy a player.
-- John Tobler, Madison, Wis.
While it's true that Spivey didn't produce at Georgia Tech, he was expected
to come in and compete with Jamaal Tinsley at Iowa State had he not gotten
into trouble. Majerus seems to think that Spivey can step in and become a
system point guard next season. Spivey is on thin ice because of his past
transgressions, but if he stays out of trouble and does what Majerus tells him
to do on the court, then he could be an impact point guard in the Mountain West.
How good is Maryland's Byron Mouton the transfer from Tulane. Is
he going to start over Danny Miller?
Mouton probably won't start over Miller at the beginning of the season. He's
a more explosive scorer but it might take him time to get back into a
rhythm after sitting out last season. The addition of Mouton gives the Terps a top seven
that will be hard to match outside of Duke and Carolina in the ACC next season.
I'd just like to get your thoughts on the recent departures of
Clyde Drexler at Houston and Sidney Moncrief at Arkansas-Little Rock. To me, this is
pretty disturbing that these "NBA guys" come back to the college game,
proclaim that they're going to turn a program around and then proceed to
leave after a year or two. If you remember, Dave Cowens was mentioned last
year at this time for the Rhode Island job. I think he would've done the
same thing. What are these athletic directors thinking? What are these
"NBA guys" thinking?
-- Gary Michaels, Mason, Mich.
That's a good point. Drexler never seemed like he was that interested in the
job. Moncrief made a mockery of it by only hanging around for one season.
Jeff Ruland has been the exception to former NBA players who have taken
college job -- he has stuck out a rebuilding situation at Iona. NBA
players should think twice before going back to college if they don't have
the commitment.
How do you think the graduation of Courtney Alexander will affect
Fresno State next season? Is it too much to ask for consecutive NCAA
Tournament appearances for the Bulldogs?
-- Jeremy Tucker, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Obviously losing the top scorer in the WAC will hurt the Bulldogs. But
adding Chris Jefferies will make up for some of the lost production. The
Bulldogs desperately need Tito Maddox to get eligible at the point. If
Maddox can play point, Demetrius Porter shooting guard, Jefferies small
forward and Melvin Ely at center, then the Bulldogs will have a chance to
compete for the WAC title. The difference between a spot in the NIT and the NCAAs will come
at power forward. They're not asking for someone to step in and be Larry Abney right away; what they need is a reliable rebounder.
After acquiring juco transfer Ermal Kuqo, how do you think Tulsa
is looking for next season?
-- Kellen West, Tulsa, Okla.
Kuqo should fill the void left by Brandon Kurtz leaving. But the strength
of the 1999-2000 Hurricane was in its depth and balance. David Shelton was a
spark off the bench. Someone needs to produce like Shelton once he moves
into the starting lineup. Tulsa will still be the team to beat in the WAC
but it may take most of the non-conference season before this team
meshes.
The class of 2000 is a very good recruiting class, but I think the
class of 2001 is better. Do you think the class of 2001 is one of the most
talented classes in a long time? There are probably three prospects that could
be in the lottery for next year's draft -- Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler, and
Dajuan Wagner. What do you think of Curry? Is he the next Shaquille
O'Neal, in your opinion? Could he possibly be the No. 1 pick in the 2001
draft? I don't think he'll play a minute of college because of the risk of
injury if he's rated that high.
I don't like to start pushing high school players to the NBA -- especially if they're not even seniors yet. But, you're right, Curry, Chandler and Wagner could be
the best class in a decade. Hopefully all three will stay in school and give
college basketball higher profile names.
Aside from the obvious like Chris Burgess in Utah and Ryan
Humphrey at Notre Dame, what transfers do you think will have the biggest
impact for their teams next season?
-- Jeff Bayless, Knox, Ind.
Keep an eye on Luke Recker and Ryan Hogan at Iowa, Byron Mouton at Maryland,
Adam Harrington at Auburn, Ruben Douglas at New Mexico, Michael Bradley at
Villanova, Chris Jefferies at Fresno State and Maurice Evans at Texas.
People in Hawkeye country are hungry to get your opinion on their
basketball team this upcoming season, with the additions of key transfers
Luke Recker and Ryan Hogan and the signing of two top recruits, Jared Reiner
and Glen Worley. With Dean Oliver running the point, and coach Steve Alford
already making an impact, how good can the Hawks be next season?
-- Justin, Iowa City, Iowa
Alford's recruiting class is one reason he wasn't thrilled with the idea of
being pursued by Indiana had the school dumped Bob Knight. The Hawkeyes
could be this season's Wisconsin -- a team few thought could get out of the
Big Ten and into the NCAA Tournament. Alford has his unit playing scrappy
defense but Hogan, Recker, Worley and Reggie Evans could give Iowa more
scoring punch.
Where is Shaheen Holloway going in the NBA draft?
-- Rusty Bacon, Montville, Conn.
Holloway will have a hard time getting into the second round. He'll probably
get invited to a camp but may have to start his career overseas or in the IBL, CBA or ABA 2000.
Is Sean Lampley ever going to get the credit he
deserves for what he's done the past two years at Cal? No one ever mentions
his name, and he will go into his senior season next year with a lot
experience (granted NIT experience) behind him. He has carried the team for
the past two years yet is barely known anywhere. Will people finally give
him the credit he is due?
-- David Abbott, Oakland, Calif.
Lampley should have received more pub when he led Cal to the '99 NIT title.
Instead, he was not mentioned in preseason 2000 publications. The Bears
should be a bubble NCAA team again this season and Lampley's rebounding and
offensive prowess around the basket make him one of the most unsung players
out West. You're right to tab him as being underrated.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. His Weekly Word on college basketball runs Thursdays throughout the off season. | |
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