Guard Juan Dixon (3) was the ACC player of the year and led Maryland to its first national title.

V-MAIL: May 15

Q: I love your enthusiasm for the game, but don't you think there's something wrong with Duke's Jay Williams winning player of the year over Maryland's Juan Dixon? Williams is an awesome player, but based on this year's performance, Dixon deserved that award! If Williams played at any school other than Duke, with the same individual performance and the same team performance, would he have received the award? No way. -- Randy Cowick, Shawnee

VITALE: Williams, now known as Jay, won the award with the voting taking place before the NCAA Tournament. But you are 100 percent correct: If you looked at things after the postseason and checked out what Dixon did in the tournament, you would have to say the Maryland guard deserved the honor. The balloting takes place before the tournament, which I think is ludicrous.

Q: Why are you biased in your college basketball coverage? It seems that if it isn't on the East Coast, the basketball isn't seen as being as good. I really enjoy listening to you, but I do get upset that none of the teams west of the Mississippi River compare to your beloved ACC. -- Rob Robertson, Seminole, Fla.
VITALE: Rob, come on. Please, you are not being fair and honest. Check my rankings over the years. Look where I have ranked Arizona, Kansas, UCLA, Stanford ... give me a break. I don't mind you being critical and I respect you -- everyone is entitled to an opinion. But that characterization certainly is not fair. Check out my Web site: For next season, I've picked Arizona No. 1 and Kansas No. 2. I'm not a geographic genius, but both of those schools are west of the Mississippi, baby! Please, don't be unfair. I think you are being biased and prejudiced in your views, Rob, baby! I don't think you are being objective, baby! You know what, Rob, I love you anyway!

Q: With the return of David West for his senior year and the addition of five new big men, will Xavier be one of the top 15 teams in the nation next season? -- Cam Riley, Chicago
VITALE: So much depends on consistency on the perimeter. They have lots of experience there with Lionel Chalmers and Romain Sato. With West in the middle, this is a very dangerous team. I think the Musketeers can make some big noise. The big news came when West said no to a first-round NBA draft situation and decided to return to school.

Q: What's the draft/NBA outlook for Preston Shumpert of Syracuse? I read that he averaged 15 ppg in only 21 minutes while shooting 62 percent at Portsmouth. -- Michael Groves, Rochester, N.Y.
VITALE: I think his stock will go up when people realize the name of the game is to put the ball in the basket. After seeing some of those disastrous shooting performances in the NBA playoffs, you know there's a need for guys who can tickle the twine. Shumpert has that ability, the great gift to shoot the basketball. He can make up for other liabilities by draining the trifecta.

Q: I think everything about high school players going pro is ridiculous. Why doesn't college basketball have a rule like college football does, that you have to be three years removed from high school before entering the draft? -- Alex, Columbus, Ohio
VITALE: That's also the case in baseball; once a player enters college, he can't be drafted until after his third year. I think a 20-year age limit would also be a great move. I just read some quotes from a man I have so much respect for, John Wooden (who is sharp as ever at age 91). He said that these kids don't get it by leaving early for the NBA, losing out on the chance to socialize, to learn and be with people their age for four years. Dollars are one thing, but think about all you give up. The cash will be there in the long run.

Q: The Seahawks of UNC-Wilmington upset USC in the Big Dance and played national runner-up Indiana to the final minutes. With the key team members returning, including CAA player of the year Brett Blizzard, why not include UNC-Wilmington in the top 25? It's not too late to change the list before your magazine comes out! -- Matt C. Hinnant, Cary, N.C.
VITALE: The Seahawks lost Jerry Wainwright, and he was a special coach. Assistant Brad Brownell moves up. UNC-Wilmington is capable of creating problems for more well-known opponents, like other mid-majors such as Gonzaga. You have to see over the long haul how they would do playing against the heavyweights, day in and day out. It will be an adjustment with Wainwright moving on. Still, the Seahawks are a dangerous team, especially in a one-game tournament scenario. You can't take them lightly.

Q: What are your thoughts about North Carolina next year and down the road? With Adam Boone announcing his intentions to transfer, the Tar Heels are basically all freshman and sophomores. But their incoming class has a lot of potential. -- John Farlow, Boone, N.C.
VITALE: This is soap-opera time down in Chapel Hill. This baby keeps going on and on, and now there is the Melvin Scott fiasco; he has been charged with assault. Boone and Brian Morrison decided to transfer, putting pressure on the diaper dandies. There is no question that they have the talent, but the question is: Can they return North Carolina to prominence? Not just making the tournament, but competing for the ACC title and the national championship. This is a crucial year for Matt Doherty and his staff.

Q: What's your view of Tommy Amaker's first season at Ann Arbor? Did he disappoint, excite or do nothing? I think he did a pretty fair job. Do you believe he can lead Michigan to a national championship? -- Alex, Cheboygan, Mich.
VITALE: I don't think you can truly evaluate a coach based on one season. I think you have to look long-term and see what he does over a five-year period. Amaker has tried to set the right tone and create enthusiasm, while teaching his offensive and defensive concepts. The most important thing is to establish the foundation for recruiting. He had some leftover players from the previous regime, certainly not good enough talent-wise to compete in the Big Ten. I think the true evaluation probably happens after the third year.

Q: How does one declare for the NBA draft? Is there paperwork that has to be filed with the NBA or does merely an announcement to the press stating "I'm declaring for the draft" suffice? I'm just curious, as I've never known the answer to this question. -- Dave Chieco, Stamford, Conn.
VITALE: You do have to file paperwork to become eligible for the NBA draft, though this year's deadline (May 12) has passed.