V-MAIL | Jan. 15

Q: Big surprise! Duke wins a few games against cupcakes and you go nuts. I think you should have waited until Duke played some real teams before you start throwing out the "baby, look at Duke" accolades. Until then, why don't you cover some teams that aren't undefeated but have played a schedule that doesn't include the local high schools? -- Shawn, Columbus, Ohio

	Coach K and Duke have cut down their share of nets.

VITALE: I'm not going to apologize for praising Duke. All you have to do is check out the records. The numbers are mind-boggling. If I were praising a mediocre team, I would understand your feelings. Duke haven't been tested that much yet, though the win over Wake Forest certainly was impressive. I don't think you're being fair criticizing Duke the way you are. I think that I've been very honest. This program has made nine Final Fours, won three national titles, captured four straight ACC postseason tournaments. The Blue Devils have produced and have been a positive force.

Q: We all knew that coach Rick Pitino would turn the Louisville program back into a national power. Are you surprised at how quickly he has done it? -- Gary, Elizabethtown, Ky.
VITALE: No, not at all. Knowing Rick, he's a genius on the sideline with his understanding of the game, the intensity he brings to the table, the emotion, teaching ability and motivational skills. The college game is the perfect environment for him (as opposed to the NBA). He has found his calling in teaching and motivating kids. This Louisville team has a good chance to make it to the Big Dance. Pitino hasn't coached in the tournament since the 1997 championship game, when Kentucky lost to Arizona 84-79 in overtime. Kentucky won the '96 title game under Pitino, defeating Syracuse 76-67.

Q: I'm a huge Michigan State fan, and I'm wondering what's up with the Spartans. First, not beating Toledo, then not even getting up a last shot against Oklahoma and falling to Iowa. Do you think they're too reliant on Chris Hill? Or are they too battered and bruised? -- Nate Shevick, Sturgis, Mich.
VITALE: Relax, relax, relax. This team misses the scoring prowess it would have had if Marcus Taylor returned to school. That puts a lot of pressure on Hill, who has to adjust to a new role -- and that takes time. They were counting on a big impact from freshman Paul Davis and sophomore Kelvin Torbert, but they have been on a rollercoaster. Coach Tom Izzo's Spartans still have the potential to make some noise in the Big Ten.

Q: What are your thoughts on the lack of love for Memphis in the polls? You would think that wins over Syracuse, Illinois, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Villanova would count for something. -- Gary McVay, Memphis
VITALE: Memphis has had a good season so far, and the return of Chris Massie and Billy Richmond has helped. The Tigers were surprised Saturday at Southern Miss or they might have made the top 25 this week. It's hard to believe that Memphis hasn't been in the NCAA Tournament since 1996. This could be the year if they play consistently in Conference USA.

Q: Considering the events with the Michigan men's basketball team and the punishment the university imposed on the program, why doesn't the almighty NCAA go after former coach Steve Fisher? Why must the current players, who were 8 to 10 years old at the time of the infractions, bear the brunt of the punishment? It's my opinion that whomever was or is the head coach at the time of any major infraction should be banned from coaching at the college level for five years. -- Ron Boston, Indianapolis
P.S. By the way, I attended your basketball camp way back in 1976 or 77 in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. It was a very helpful and enjoyable camp.
VITALE: Wow, that was a long, long time ago, the Bob Lanier-Dick Vitale basketball camp. As I told the Big Dobber (our nickname for Lanier years ago) when I last saw him, if we had a camp now, it wouldn't be the Lanier-Vitale camp, but rather the Dickie V-Lanier camp, baby! I had fun working with Bob and the young people at the camp.

As far as Michigan's situation, I couldn't agree more, if a coach is totally aware of what a booster is doing in his relationship to players (like Ed Martin at Michigan). The coach has to be held accountable for the actions of those involved with the program. Coaches who move on, if they're responsible for what happened in the past, should be looked at. In this case, it has never been proven that Fisher was totally aware of what Martin was doing.

	Austin

Q: What are you thoughts on Mississippi State and how far do you think they can go? -- Barry Moss, Siloam Springs, Ark.
VITALE: Mario Austin is, without a doubt, one of the nation's top enforcers down in the low blocks. The losses to Florida and LSU may help Mississippi State refocus. Those are losses to quality teams. With Tim Bowers, Derrick Zimmerman and Austin, this team has the potential to challenge come the postseason.

Q: Which university has the craziest fans? I know that you've been to lots of arenas and met lots of fans, so you can settle the argument. Is it the Cameron Crazies of Duke or the statewide following of the Kentucky Wildcats? Or is there another bunch of crazy fans we don't know about? -- Derrick Simmons, Lexington, Ky.
VITALE: Oh, man. I think everyone out there is trying to emulate what goes on at Cameron Indoor Stadium. You certainly have to say that at any school with a big program, you have super, super fans. The Terp fans at Comcast Center ... the Cameron Crazies down at Duke ... Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk out at Kansas ... the fans in Lexington at Rupp Arena. When programs are winning, it breeds that special environment. The Pittsburgh fans at the new Peterson Events Center are into it because the team is faring so well. There are so many special places in college basketball today.

Q: East Carolina is off to a strong start, including a convincing comeback win over Marquette. Does this Carolina have what it takes to bid for the Conference USA title or reach the NCAA Tournament? -- Davidson, Winterville, N.C.
VITALE: Coach Billy Herrion has done a good job, and that win over Marquette certainly was a big one. Conference USA has several outstanding teams, and Cincinnati's prior dominance could be in jeopardy this season. With schools like Marquette, Louisville and Memphis also in the picture, this will be a tough league. East Carolina has to prove it can win away from home. It has been a good year so far for the Herrion brothers, as Tommy has done a nice job at College of Charleston.

Q: Big-time fan, young college coach. Wondering what you think of the Mid-American Conference this year. Being a graduate of Ball State University, I know firsthand how this conference's teams tear into supposed "major" programs and then go to war with each other until March to let the tournament committee separate the teams. My question is, will the MAC finally get the two teams it deserves in the NCAA Tourney field? If not this year, then when? -- Brendan Kirsch, Indianapolis
VITALE: I have said the MAC is one of the most underrated leagues year in and year out. The big guys like to dodge MAC teams because they know how tough the conference has been over the years. For example, Toledo won at Michigan State recently. The MAC features quality coaching and plenty of quality players -- and it seems a MAC team is always causing havoc somewhere. Kent State looked like a team to watch before losing to Bowling Green. So as of now, coach Dan Dakich's Bowling Green Falcons and Marshall are the two division leaders. You're right, these teams will beat each other up. It's hard to say whether the MAC can get two teams in the NCAA Tournament, because there's lots of balance in other conferences as well. It's still a little early to tell.

Q: What do you think of the Dayton Flyers? -- Faraaz Siddiqui, West Chester, Ohio
VITALE: Coach Oliver Purnell has done a super job, and this team can be a contender in the Atlantic 10. The Flyers rallied and impressed me with their effort and performance against Duke. Wins over Cincinnati and Marquette certainly helped their cause and show that this team can play. Purnell would be proud to hear some of the words that came out of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's mouth about the Dayton program when I sat down with him recently. Purnell is truly one of the most underrated coaches in America.

Q: I love your passion for the college game. My fervor for the game is being diminished, though, due to the outrageous number of ticky-tack fouls called. These calls take important players out of the game, kill the flow and at times cause the game to be decided by the refs. What can be done, Dickie V? -- Randy Reinwasser, Phoenix
VITALE: You just hope the refs make the proper calls, but those things happen. They are human and they try their best. That recently happened during a Georgetown game, when Hoyas big man Mike Sweetney was on the sidelines for most of the night. That's a situation you don't like to see, because you want to see the best players on the floor. That's part of basketball and will always be part of the game. I feel that for the most part officials do a very good job calling the game. It's easy to sit there and critique every whistle that's blown. It's a very difficult game to call because of the quickness, the pace of the game, the size of the players and the emotion that takes place. Keep your love of the game and enjoy it. Look for that which is positive and not negative.

Q: I'm an avid college basketball fan and was surprised to see a weak-scheduled MVC team like Creighton in the top 16. Is Creighton the real deal? -- George, Memphis
VITALE: I really like forward Kyle Korver. He's my player of the year so far season, which may surprise some. Coach Dana Altman has done a terrific job with this program, taking the Bluejays to the NCAA Tournament four straight years, including an upset of Florida. Creighton showed something by beating Notre Dame earlier this season.

Q: I am 30 years old, and I cannot take the way sports is going anymore. Taunting, fighting, trash talk -- what are we teaching our kids? I used to love playing pickup basketball, but I stopped because of those three actions. Where do you see sports going? I have this feeling that society will catch up with all of these things and sports will not be as important anymore. -- George Van Cott, Windsor Locks, Conn.
VITALE: The sports scene plays a pivotal role in developing youngsters in a positive way. I think it has lots of good potential for developing the kinds of attitudes needed in a competitive world. I was recently with several leading executives who were former athletes, and they said sports played an important part in their growth. I couldn't agree more with your statement about trash talking. When I watched the 49ers-Giants game, I thought it was sad to see great talents carrying on like they did. When you see that, it breaks your heart because you know so many youngsters are watching out there, emulating many of their heroes. I have never called an athlete a hero, but rather someone I admire and respect for their talents. That doesn't mean they are heroes. It starts at home with mom and dad.