ESPN Men's Basketball

Updated: December 17, 2003, 4:23 PM ET

Your questions, Andy's answers

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By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
Archive

Kentucky fans were all over me this week. For whatever reason, Big Blue Nation seems to think there is a bias against the Wildcats at ESPN and on ESPN.com.

I can tell you that there is nothing further from the truth.

In fact, Kentucky is proving -- once again -- that high school All-Americans don't mean a thing when constructing a national power. Tubby Smith is putting together one of the most cohesive, veteran and selfless teams yet again. And, for the record, I didn't go to an ACC school so that line of thinking is also moot.

Now, here are a few examples of Kentucky fans filing my inbox this week:

"Please explain why you called Chuck Hayes a 'questionable' selection to the USA Pan-Am team while Coach Tom Izzo had this to say about Hayes in an article I just read:

'Chuck Hayes was one of the first guys I picked for the team because of what he is and what he has done.'

Well, let's see. Who should I believe? A national championship coach or a self proclaimed guru about college basketball? I think I will go with the coach."

Jason
Lexington

Jason,
Let's correct a few things.

First off, I was reporting on what Jim Boeheim and other coaches who were at the USA Basketball trials were saying about Izzo choosing Hayes over Hakim Warrick. But, Izzo picked Hayes because he fit his style. It made sense and Hayes was their best post presence at the Pan Am Games. Hayes is also one of the best low-post players in the country. He's not an NBA-ready guy, but that doesn't matter. He gets the job done.

You should take Izzo's word, but don't hate on the messenger when other coaches question the selection. In hindsight, the pick made more sense for Izzo. Warrick might have helped too but maybe someone else other than Hayes should have been kept home. Izzo also made the right call in grabbing Andre Barrett of Seton Hall, who wasn't even invited to the trials. Yet, he turned out to be the only true point guard and is off to a great start this season.

One other thing, Jason, I don't think I have ever proclaimed myself to be a guru. I don't think I have ever used that word. Thanks.

"Could you please explain the lack of respect Kentucky gets these days! They end the season ranked No. 1, they go undefeated in their conference and conference tournament, they are an injured Keith Bogans a way from a Final Four, they return 3 senior starters, are riding the longest reagular-season winning streak in the country, have the most experienced backcourt in the country, not to mention the consensus national coach of the year in all six polls. I think those credentials deserve a preseason ranking higher that 11. Could someone explain?"

Mike Harmon
Independence, Ky.

Mike,
You're right. Kentucky has proven everyone wrong again. The Wildcats beat UCLA in Anaheim and then easily held on to beat Michigan State. The next three Saturdays -- Indiana, Louisville and North Carolina -- will certainly test this team even more. My explanation for the supposed snub is legit. Losing Bogans, Jules Camara and Marquis Estill was significant. Those three players were a major part of the program and the assumption was that they would be hard to replace. So far that hasn't been the case. This team is still thin in the post, but it's not proving to be a problem just yet.

"Why do you and other college basketball 'experts' fail to recognize the achievements of Tubby Smith and Kentucky. After beating Michigan State on Saturday, they will be ranked No. 1, not to mention they've lost what, one game in their last 30? I don't doubt your knowledge and evaluation of talent, but how about giving credit where it is do. Thanks "

Josh Adams
Lexington, Ky.

Well, Josh, guess what? You were right.

"So I read through your first-quarter report card ... and I thought that one team was unfairly left out of any sort of review -- Florida State. This is a team who has been a joke of the ACC for the past few years (much like my hometown Oregon State Beavers of the Pac-10..). I realize that they haven't been truly tested yet, but wins over middle-tier, major-conference teams (see: Ole Miss, Northwestern, Miami) should earn them some sort of review, not to mention the 8-0 start. I think they will be a big test for strong ACC teams, and I was wondering if they were left out on purpose or by accident ... because if you can mention Nebraska and its win over South Florida, I think Florida State topping their first eight should make the cut, also. Well, I'm done, now. Thank you for your time."

Andrew,
Corvallis, Ore.

Andrew,
You're also right. I probably listed too many teams, but Florida State does deserve mention. The win over Miami was another example of Florida State emerging as the second-best team in the state behind Florida. Leonard Hamilton has the Seminoles playing much better defense, and with Tim Pickett as their go-to guy, the Seminoles have a legit chance to move up in the ACC. I won't be surprised if they make a serious run at the NCAAs this season.

"With the Larry Eustachy era over at Iowa State, I noticed that they are 5-0 under new coach Wayne Morgan. He was a former assistant under Jim Boeheim at Syracuse for a number of years. What do you think of his chances of success at Iowa State not only for this year but in the next coming years. Thanks."

Tim Kayser
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Well, the jury will remain out until Morgan gets into the heart of the Big 12 schedule. Iowa State has a history of scheduling soft in non-conference games. It makes sense for this team because of its youth and inexperience. But we'll judge Morgan's team when he gets to the Big 12.

"Andy,
' I just read your review of the season's first month. I find it interesting that you mentioned about half of the Division I schools, but failed to say anything about Villanova's remarkable start (only mention was the Memphis will play them). They're 6-2 despite playing half a roster, and their first home game was the eighth game they played this season. That they were able to acquit themselves well -- even beating very familiar Philly rivals Temple, Penn and LaSalle on hostile courts -- without key players dressed, strongly suggests that this is a team that will be a threat to nearly anyone once it has its roster intact. Too bad that's not even worth one paragraph."

Bob Eisthen
Cincinnati, Ohio

OK, Bob ... sorry about that.

Villanova was impressive early against Temple. I covered the game and wrote about the Wildcats' guard play. They have had their ups and downs so far, based on injuries and eligibility issues. Once Jason Fraser is back to being 100 percent, this team has a chance to make a postseason run -- possibly the NCAAs. Getting Curtis Sumpter to score 39 points certainly gives Jay Wright hope. There's no way he thought Sumpter would be that productive. The guard play of Allan Ray and Randy Foye has been consistent enough to keep this team in every Big East game. I still see Villanova as the one team that could knock off Saint Joe's in Philadelphia.

"How do teams such as UConn, Duke and Michigan State, which have lost games, stay at the top of the AP polls -- where teams such as UNC, Missouri, Georgia Tech and others that are undefeated have not gone up in the polls and be No. 1? It just seems to me that Michigan State, Duke, Purdue or Oklahoma (the Oklahoma-Purdue game was the worst game I have ever seen) could be beaten by anyone even NC State, Quinnipiac or North Carolina A&T. Please explain how these teams are still the so-called best teams in the nation."

Gerry Floyd
Kinston, N.C.

Well, your point about N.C. State, Quinnipiac and N.C. A&T is a bit off, but you are right about teams staying too high up in the polls. The problem is that there is no set criteria for voting. Some people vote for the best teams right now, while others will vote based on who will be the best team in March. If you're voting based on who is playing well now then Michigan State has no business being in the poll. But the Spartans could end up being a top 10 team, so someone might keep them around based on potential. It's not an exact science. All it does is promote discussion, which it is obviously doing for you.

"Do you think UNLV can ever return to its status as one of the nation's premier programs?"

Larry Miller
Louisville, Ky.

Sorry Larry, but the answer is "no". I don't see it happening. Charlie Spoonhour is an accomplished coach, but he's not going to lure the elite talent that Jerry Tarkanian did during his tenure. And the era of a team in the Mountain West getting a slew of made-for-TV matchups in non-conference games is over. Utah struggles to get a few TV games every season. UNLV will be a competitive team in the MWC and will occasionally get back to the Dance, but I don't see it becoming a power again.

"Andy, what's the latest on the SEC/Big 12 Challenge? Also, will it follow the same format as the ACC/Big 10 Challenge?"

Joe
Fayetteville, Ark.

Joe,
ESPN's programming department is working with the Big 12 and the SEC to try and find dates to make this happen. As it stands now, there aren't enough dates in December of 2004 to make it work. The problem is Christmas and New Year's fall on Saturdays next year, meaning scheduling around exams is going to be even tighter. Both sides could make it happen if they really want to, but the SEC and the Big 12 have to agree to be more flexible. If this does go as planned, the format would be similar. It's still too early to say if there would be 12 teams or less. The marquee matchup probably would be Kansas-Kentucky ... if it ever were to occur.

"As a fan of West Coast basketball, thank you for shining some light on the continuing excellence of Stanford basketball. You are one of the only nationally recognized college hoops analysts to give the Cardinal their due. What will it take for the rest of you compadres to realize that, under Mike Montgomery, Stanford basketball has become one of the finest programs in the nation?"

Ben Murphy
Lafayette, Calif.

Not sure on this one. It's so obvious. Stanford is one of the top 10 programs in the country. Just check the numbers. Mike Montgomery is a winner and has been throughout his tenure in Palo Alto. I'm not sure there is a more complete program in the country in terms of overall wins, talent, high academics and the lack of eligibility issues.

"I know that it's way too early for all of this RPI talk and whether Mississippi State is ranked or not. Rick Stansbury may prefer to 'lay in the weeds, unseen.' However, to me, getting ranked is all about respect. And right now, State is the Rodney Dangerfield of college basketball. You would think that the history of the past two years would help us demand respect but it doesn't.

Maybe this will put things in perspective. Despite Stansbury's claim that we have a 'tough' schedule, our strength of schedule on collegerpi.com is 201 and our RPI is 53. If you counted from the votes that we received this week, we would be ranked 29th in the AP Poll and 44th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

Nobody questions Oklahoma (7-0) as a good team in the top 10. But while the Sooners are ranked eighth in each poll, their RPI is 65 and the SOS is 220. Marquette (6-1), Cincinnati (4-0) and Pittsburgh (7-0) also are all very good teams. The Golden Eagles are 23rd in each poll with a 117 RPI, 244 SOS. The Bearcats are 16th in each poll with a 48 RPI and 190 SOS. The Panthers are 18th in the AP and 20th in the Coaches with an 82 RPI and 250 SOS (By the way Pitt, nice squeaker 5-point win against NAIA Georgetown, Ky. last night). You can't tell me that the Mississippi State Bulldogs should not be in the company of these teams.

However, what kills me the most is Dayton. There is some obsession with mid-major teams in college basketball. When did they start commanding more respect than once of the best teams in the SEC. Mid-majors are great. They will pull off some upsets. Everybody loves 'em. Even mid-major Gonzaga has become, well, a Major. But c'mon guys! Respect? Once again, I am not knocking Dayton or any of these other teams. They are all good. But Dayton is 8-0, ranked 24th in both polls with a 57 RPI and 206 SOS."

Kyle Weidie
Washington, D.C.

All good points, Kyle. But since there wasn't a question we'll just let you make your points.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.