Eric Hawkes (Alabama): What can be done to prevent fouling at the end games? Should the NCAA consider implementing a 24 second shot clock starting at either the 2-minute warning or the 1 minute warning? This would add excitement to the closing minute and stop all of the unnecessary dribbling/fouling. Your thoughts? BTW, I am a big fan of yours. I am glad you are fully recovered from your health issues. C-A-T-S! CATS! CATS! CATS! Go Kentucky! Go Cats! Calipari's going to bring home #8!
Vitale: If you can figure out a way to stop fouling at the end of the game, you would be a superstar. Everything has been done to try to curtail it. The committees have tried everything possible, like giving a team two shots and the ball as a deterrent. It doesn't seem to change and it is part of the game and we will live with it. John Calipari has done an excellent job recruiting and Kentucky has the pieces to make a serious run during the 2009-10 season.
Al (Richmond): DV, do you think that either Sutton from Oklahoma State will be coaching from the court again?
Vitale: I believe you will see Sean Sutton back on the sidelines sometime down the line. He may come back first as an assistant coach. I don't think you will see Eddie coaching any more. He is dedicating himself to his family and his grandchildren. Sutton sits back and enjoys memories of a great, great career.
Chioke Hassan (Baltimore, Md.): Dear Dick Could you see P.J. Carlesimo or Larry Brown returning to college coaching after next season?
Vitale: I don't see Larry Brown going back to college. I think he has found his niche with the Bobcats in the NBA. I believe this will be his final coaching job and he loves the state of North Carolina. As a teacher, he has implemented some good, positive things with his young team. As far as PJ, I hear that his priority is to coach in the NBA again. His preference is the pros, but his intensity, energy, enthusiasm and competitiveness would be a positive on a college campus.
Versailles: Mr. Vitale I have always been a fan, and think you are great for college basketball. Over the last 10 years Kentucky fans have taken a lot of heat, and especially from you for the way Tubby was treated. However since the hiring of coach Calipari I have heard you speak about Kentucky getting credibility back on recruiting. My question is if Tubby had done such a grand job why did our credibility dry up so quick! Tubby's only recruit to go to a Final Four in his career is Saul Smith. I think Tubby is a great man and will coach Minnesota up every year. He just did not enjoy pressure, and sorry 2 elite eights and multiple early exits in his last eight years were not great. Hope to hear from you, but I am sure I won't.
Vitale: Well, my friend, you are hearing back from me. Tubby did a phenomenal job, so you should face reality. Any time you average 26 Ws a year and are a consistent winner, with postseason berths and SEC championships & it speaks for itself. Tubby did it with integrity, great loyalty and he busted his gut. There should be no issue. It is a shame that anyone would criticize the job he did in the Bluegrass State. John Calipari is a dynamic motivator and recruiter and it has already paid off with an incredible incoming class. As I have said once and I will say it again, Kentucky has some of the most passionate fans in college basketball. Lexington is a hotbed for lovers of the game, but it is a shame that some never understand that other schools get players as well. Those individuals still live in the days of Adolph Rupp, when they totally dominated the SEC and college basketball. Some other programs have caught up in many ways. Some fans just cannot accept that and it becomes a nightmare. Most of the fans in Kentucky are knowledgeable, they care and they love the 'Cats. They are respectful of the opposition and for that I applaud them.
Sam (NYC): Dickie V is awesome baby! This Husky is huge fan of yours...I'm very surprised that Andy Katz and a lot of the experts do not have UConn in next season's top 25. I know we are losing Thabeet, Price, and Adrien, but we have the #6 recruiting class. I see Robinson, Dyson, and Walker all being first round picks next year and potential lottery selections. Walker WILL improve his outside shooting, and he great instincts and a ton of heart. Robinson's put back with under two minutes in the MSU game was ferocious. What an athlete! And let's face it, when healthy Dyson is the total package. Lock down defender, who can shoot, pass, rebound, slash, and handle the rock. Jim Calhoun wants another title and you know that his teams always compete. He did not get a fair shake in the media this year, and I see him winning one more and walking away. I am very optimistic about next year's squad, and I look for them to peak at the right time. Is there something that I am missing here?
Vitale: Any time you are losing the quality players that they are, as you mentioned, some people get scared off when evaluating them. I know one guy that is stable, has been there for years and will continue to shine in Storrs, Connecticut and that is Jim Calhoun. With Calhoun and his staff, George Blaney and company, they will plug in people and remain extremely competitive. I feel the Huskies will be a top 25 team with big things from Robinson, Walker and a healthy Dyson coming back from his injury. I don't feel they will be in the top 10, but definitely a top 25.
Regginald Oakes (Newland, NC): I totally with your with your take on "ONE & DONE"!!! It is a disgrace to the college game and the NBA. The NCAA and the "league" need to work together to put student back in "STUDENT ATHLETE" The best way is the baseball rule!!!!
Vitale: The NCAA can't do anything about the one-and-done, so it has to be the NBA making a rule change. The NBA sits back and doesn't see a reason to make that change. They gets a chance to have a player marketed in college for a year, gaining recognition plus they develop to the benefit of the NBA. Does the school or the college game benefit from the rule & the answer is no. They have to find a way to have the NCAA, NBA and Players Union come up with a better way to keeps the interest of the kids. There are some players ready to go right to the pros, and we have seen that in the past. For those few that are prepared for the next level, fine, let them go.
Stephen (NJ): Where do you think Tyler Hansbrough will land in the NBA?
Vitale: I feel Tyler Hansbrough will go a lot higher than many prognosticators have posted on-line. Some teams will make a mistake by letting him drop. I see him going in the middle of the first round. I see him as a 10-year player who will make a lot of cash in the NBA. He will be a great teammate who will contribute in a positive way coming off the bench as a solid performer. He could get 14-15 points a night because he has a knack of scoring and drawing fouls to get to the line.
Terry (Phoenix): What do you think of Sean Miller going to Arizona?
Vitale: The money difference between Xavier and Arizona is incredible. Lute Olson built one of the elite programs over the years and you can't be surprised. Xavier has done a fantastic job with their program over the years but they have become like Miami-Ohio in football with the Cradle of Coaches. Miami put guys like Bo Schembechler and Ara Parseghian into head coaching jobs. They have developed some solid guys who have moved on, like Thad Matta, Pete Gillen, Skip Prosser, and now Miller. I think Sean will do a very good job in Tucson.
