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Tuesday, July 31
Updated: August 3, 4:25 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.
What happen to Rod Baker, the former coach at Rutgers? Why wouldn't Bobby Huggins hire him back at Cincinnati? What's the scoop with the coach Michael Wilson from Auburn? How can you turn down the Bearcats for Auburn. I am sure Huggy offered a boat load of money.
Bruce Chavka
Walsenburg, Colo.
Bruce,
Baker left college coaching and is now working for agent Dan Fegan. He's a college scout for Fegan, checking out which players are worth pursuing for the agency. His official title is player manager or talent manager. Michael Wilson asked for a significant amount of money as an assistant, some other perks and actually would have received them all. But he decided to stay at Auburn where he has built up the Tigers once again. It's a coup for the Tigers for Wilson to stay.
I'm going to be in Beijing for the month of August and would love to watch the University Games, especially Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter and Tahj Holden from the Terps. However, I can't find any information about the games online -- do you know where/when they will be and when are the final cuts for the team? Thanks for the great cb-ball coverage!
Dan Diamond
Palo Alto, Calif.
Dan,
The best thing to do is contact USA Basketball in Colorado Springs. They'll be able to get you the information on site, game times and ticket information. The final cuts for the team will be made in Denver Aug. 10-17. The team is training at the Denver Nuggets practice facility.
Can you talk a little bit about the problems rising mid-majors have in scheduling home games? As an example, after taking Kentucky to the wire in the NCAAs last year, Holy Cross can't get an attractive non-conference home game because Boston College, UMass and Providence all refuse to play at the Hart Center despite the fact that these schools are traditional home-and-home rivals. Is this the opposing coaches, ADs showing their fear of losing to a Patriot League team? It's frustrating that with a little success, schools like HC are penalized and have to play the majority of their non-conference schedule on the road.
Phil Gibson
Concord, Mass.
Phil,
This is reality. Holy Cross is suffering through the same thing that happens to Gonzaga, Western Kentucky, Kent State and on and on. Any lower profile team that has a star player or a decent NCAA Tournament run can't get home games. Check their schedules. The big-time teams don't want to go on the road to a low-profile or mid-major school. They might not even play them at home. Their philosophy is they have hard enough games in their conference. A few coaches will play tough teams regardless (like Temple's John Chaney) but they are in the minority. Holy Cross is going to have to go on the road anytime it wants a big-time opponent.
I was reading your answers this week and one answer concerned me. I am a huge Illini basketball fan and was excited about the possibility of them playing their first two rounds in Chicago this year regardless of what bracket they were placed in due to the new pod system. However, in one of your answers you explained that a team can't play a first or second round tourney game at a site in which it played a regular season home game. (Your example was Gonzaga in Spokane). Illinois always plays one game in Chicago at the United Center each year. (last year it was Arizona in the game Lute Olson questioned our tactics). My question is does that game count as a home game or a neutral court game? I noticed your colleague Joe Lunardi has already updated his brackets and has placed Illinois in Chicago. Can this happen? Also, who does Illinois play in Chicago this year? I haven't been able to find out yet. Thanks.
Dan
Chicago, Ill.
Dan,
Actually, the NCAA corrected me on this one. You're allowed to play a maximum of three home games in one site. If you play more than three then you can't play an NCAA Tournament game at that site. Illinois could play in Chicago this March. The Illini play Arkansas at the United Center in December. The Big Ten tournament is considered a neutral event and isn't an Illinois home game so that doesn't count toward its maximum appearances.
I have followed the case of Amare Stoudamire on television and in the papers. I belive I am not alone in being sickened by the way this player (and probably hundreds more each year) is attached to these "coaches" and shoe reps who obviously are just looking for a piece of the action. The shoe companies obviously have too much influence and Amare's mother admitting, on National TV no less, that she has being paid by George Raveling (an ex-coach, no less). Shouldn't the NCAA, the AAU, the NBA issue a rebuke to this type of activity? Shouldn't Billy Hunter and the NBA Players Association condemn this type of activity? Should someone take a stand and say enough is enough and clean up high school basketball at the high levels?
Steve Schwartz
Cherry Hill, N.J.
Yes. You're singing to the choir Steve. These players are being exploited, especially the ones who don't have a traditional family structure. Stoudemire's case is one of the saddest examples we've seen recently. More than the paying of the mother, though, was the doctored transcript. That's deplorable. Mt. Zion should have its prep school sanction taken away for such an act. Mt. Zion should suffer a similar penalty that the NCAA levels against schools when it bans them from postseason, tournaments or takes away scholarships. Moves like that would start to put the hurt on schools when they commit egregious acts such as doctoring transcripts. And, if there was any involvement from Nike or anyone else in something like this then they should be held accountable.
Hi Andy,
My question is does Arizona State have the ability to surprise some teams this year with the return of Tanner Shell, Justin Allen, and Kenny Crandall, and the incoming duo from the JCs and the addition of Braxton. Does Rob Evans have the pieces for a 20-win season or is the Pac way too tough these days for ASU to be added to the bottom of the elite membership of UCLA, USC, Stanford and that team from Tucson? (And don't forget Cal.)
Jason Dubin
Tempe, Ariz.
Jason, the ASU coaching staff is on a high over the team's play in Australia in the spring and the continued development of Justin Allen. The Sun Devils really believe they can make a run for the Pac-10 title. The key will be the play of Braxton at the point. If he delivers and can defend then they've got a shot. They also need a star player and they're banking on Donnell Knight to become go-to guy. Don't forget about Tommie Smith, who is also having a breakthrough summer.
I know that most of your readers do not care about the new edition of Delaware, Drexel, Hofstra and Towson to the Colonial Athletic Association. But as a big Delaware fan, I would like to know whether you believe that this addition will be beneficial to the CAA? Additionally, do you think that the four new teams can make some noise in their inaugural year? Thanks for looking out for the mid-majors.
Michael Ritigstein
South Plainfield
The CAA will benefit because it saves the conference. The CAA couldn't exist with six memmbers, even though it was holding onto its tournament bid by having the minimum number of teams allowed. Hofstra and Delaware will immediately add credibility to the CAA. But don't forget about Drexel, which should be a rising power under Bruiser Flint. The Philadelphia native should be able to keep players home. Towson has a shot to do the same in Baltimore. Recruiting for CAA members like George Mason will only get tougher now that more mid-Atlantic schools are in the conference. The conference's RPI should improve, too.
There used to be a third-place game at the Final Four in the 70s. Why did the NCAA get rid of it,
and do you think there is a chance it would ever come back? It seems like a third-place game would
only benefit most everyone involved.
Erik Alexander
Urbana, Ill.
Erik,
They got rid of it and they're not going to bring it back. The third-place game is meaningless and television won't put it on again. The NIT should probably dump the game. I don't think you would see enough interest in the event.
Andy,
Where is Wake Forest in your "Keep an Eye On" category? They are clearly in the league of Notre Dame and Auburn. They lost virtually no one from a team that was No. 4 at one point last year. Given the thankful forced departure of Dave Odom, and the influx of youth in Skip Prosser, the new run-and-gun Deacs will be challenging Carolina for the four spot in the ACC. Why the snub?
Tim Rasden
Atlanta, Ga.
Tim, you're right. Wake Forest did get snubbed and I probably should have included the Demon Deacons. I do think they're the fourth-best team in the ACC, tied with Carolina or a notch above. I don't think they can supplant Duke, Maryland or Virginia in the league. But Josh Howard should have an all-American season and Wake Forest will be an NCAA Tournament team, barring a complete collapse.
Andy, I'm not going to give up until you give my Bobcats some publicity. What do you think of Ohio's hire of Tim O'Shea from BC? Is Brandon Hunter the premier player in the MAC? He finished second to D. Webber in last year's MAC Player of the Year voting (as a sophomore) and yet Marshall's Tamar Slay has been getting all the ink this summer. What gives?
Charles Vincy
Columbus, Ohio
Not give Tim pub? What? O'Shea gets quoted plenty of times. He is a quote machine here at ESPN.com. Hunter needs to get more ink. He is one of the premier talents in the nation but Tim needs to make sure he has the guard play to get him shots. He's not about to create on his own. Ohio has the pressure on them to be in the postseason but that means beating out Marshall, Kent State and Central Michigan.
How about some news on the Big West? Is this conference not considered worthy of coverage? Lastly, how does Bobby Braswell and Cal State Northridge look in winning the Big West? As always, enjoy your column.
Ron Heis
Mira Mesa, Calif.
The news is UC Irvine is getting Jerry Green back, Utah State is stil the team to beat, Pacific is going to be dangerous but don't forget about Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara.
I recently was looking at your Summer Hoops Preview, and I was wondering why you would leave Marshall off of your list, since they will be a very strong team with both VanHoose and Slay returning. I was just wondering if you could tell me what weaknesses Marshall has to be left off your list.
Charles Vincy
Columbus, Ohio
Not give Tim pub? What? O'Shea gets quoted plenty of times. He is a quote machine here at ESPN.com. Hunter needs to get more ink. He is one of the premier talents in the nation but Tim needs to make sure he has the guard play to get him shots. He's not about to create on his own. Ohio has the pressure on them to be in the postseason but that means beating out Marshall, Kent State and Central Michigan.
Andy, I'm not going to give up until you give my Bobcats some publicity. What do you think of Ohio's hire of Tim O'Shea from BC? Is Brandon Hunter the premier player in the MAC? He finished second to D. Webber in last year's MAC Player of the Year voting (as a sophomore) and yet Marshall's Tamar Slay has been getting all the ink this summer. What gives?
John Griesedieck
St. Louis
John,
Marshall needs to win on the road before they get the full treatment. If the Herd can get over the hump and win road games then they'll be in the NCAA Tournament. They've got the talent with Slay, VanHoose and Ronald Blackshear. But Greg White has to get the same effort out of Huntington, West Virginia.
Andy, I'm a big fan of your columns, but I think you need another one of those "I can't believe you didn't mention my team" comments:
Your column from Friday, July 20 basically amounts to a national top 50, and I was surprised that Ohio State was not included in the "Keep an eye on" category. After three straight finishes in the top three of the Big 10, and three straight NCAA tournament appearances (including a Final Four berth), I am not sure what it will take for Jim O'Brien to get some respect.
Ohio State lost only one contributor in Ken Johnson, and they add three players who will contribute in freshmen Brandon Fuss-Cheatham, Matt Sylvester, and Terrance Dials. Fuss-Cheatham gives Ohio State the true point guard that they sorely lacked last season. If he does not start, he will at least see major minutes, allowing Brian Brown and Brent Darby to play their more natural off-guard positions.
Under Jim O'Brien's coaching, players get better every single year. Therefore, I believe the loss of Ken Johnson is far outweighed by the return of every other player, plus the addition of O'Brien's best recruiting class at Ohio State. Mark my words: Ohio State will have much, much better depth than last year. Last season, Ohio State really only had four guys playing the three guard positions (Brian Brown, Brent Darby, Sean Connolly, and Boban Savovic). This lack of guard depth had much to do with the Buckeyes poor play in March; after a great Big 10 season, those guards were simply worn out. In particular, Brian Brown played close to 40 minutes per game, and thus he seemed to disappear come March. This season they return those four, add PG Fuss-Cheatham and wing Sylvester, and guard Doylan Robinson returns from injury. OSU now has seven guys to play three spots, instead of four. There will be no dominant post player like Johnson, but there will be quality depth with 7-foot Velimir Radinovic, 6-9 Terrance Dials, 6-8 Will Dudley, 6-7 Zach Williams and 6-6" widebody walk-on Tim Martin.
Expect Ohio State to be improved over last year's team, which finished 3rd in the Big 10. I think this is worthy of inclusion in the national top 50.
Eric Shockey
Ohio State University Class of '98
Eric, I think you made your point. It's probably a bit too long, but it's fair. Ohio State should be on the cusp of being a tournament team. If they can get another defensive presence in the lane then they can be back in the NCAA Tournament. We'll revisit the list again in the fall.
In regard to the St. Joe's/Gonzaga game, will it be a day game? I hope so, but even if it isn't, Hawks basketball comes before partying. Thanks
Jason Millberg
Philadelphia
Jason,
The game is set for 8 p.m. if it's on ESPN2. If not then it's on at 5 p.m. The Atlantic 10 is trying to pull the game off ESPN for fear that the game won't draw (which is highly unlikely). Instead, the A-10 wants two teams to be on from the conference during the conference season. Hopefully, they'll come to the realization that Gonzaga-St. Joe's is a better national game, even on New Year's Eve, then Xavier-Dayton.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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