Want to start a debate? Just create a ranking of college basketball teams, offer users a chance to e-mail their comments about said ranking and post comments on a weekly basis. That is what ESPN.com has done with its Power 16, a weekly ranking of teams leading up to March.

Below are some of the best e-mails received in the past week. Here's what users had to say about ESPN.com's Power 16 on Dec. 17:

"I don't envy your job in this day of inconsistency (except Duke, which is a basketball machine). Iowa has the best inside man in the nation, in Reggie Evans. The key is getting the ball to him in the paint, which brings us to the reason why Iowa isn't a No. 1 seed (yet). We have a freshman point guard. Don't get me wrong, Pierce is pure basketball talent. But until he gains experience with the big boys (Big Ten), we will be a No. 2 seed, even if we do happen to lose a game in the UNI-Dome. (Ever shot a basketball in that dome? The space perception inside is surrealistic, to say the least. An average shooter will throw up two airballs before hitting the rim.)"

Jeff Ostendorf
Cedar Falls, Iowa

	“	Wonderful. I thought the idea of ranking BSU and Butler together for a 'winner takes all' matchup was great. I'm also glad Butler won, showing all those doubters out there that they are a really quality team that no one wants to play. If they can win the Hoosier Classic next weekend, look out, there is little to stop them from going undefeated into the Big Dance! ”
		— Brett Balhoff Toledo, Ohio

"How can you give Missouri a No. 2 seed and not give one to Iowa. I'm not just saying this because I go to school at Iowa either. If you watched both of the Iowa vs. Missouri games I think that it is obvious Iowa is the better team. Iowa played better for the first 37 minutes of the first game, and they absolutely dominated Missouri at home in the second meeting. UNI was an in-state rival, and the loss to Duke is forgivable. I don't think Missouri could take Duke either. Maybe after Iowa crushes Kansas State and Missouri loses to Illinois, Iowa will get the respect they deserve."

Dan Schabold
Iowa City, Iowa

"As a newly-hatched Mizzou fan, I think our team needed a good jab in the side to prepare them for maybe one of the most exciting games of the year, Illinois. Do I mind seeing Mizzou slip? No, because I know we'll charge back up into the forefront."

Erica Hunzinger
Owensboro, Ky.

"I realize why you would have the Iowa Hawkeyes as a third seed in the tournament at this point in the season. They have not played like the team we saw hold Missouri to 33 percent shooting. They are, however, starting to play like a team that will roll on to the championship of the Big Ten and get a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance. So I would just like to let you know, you might just want to place them in the No. 1 slot now, to save you some time later."

Pete Jones
Iowa

"Overall the power ratings seem to be accurate. Iowa's rating is fine for this time of the season since Alford has a work in progress in his two new guards (Pierce and Leslie) and his sophomore center (Reiner). If these three continue to improve, the Hawks should do well in March with Evans and Recker and their depth. The three games (including ACC tournament) between Duke and Maryland should have a lot to do with the final ratings."

Ed Duffe
Hattiesburg, Miss.

"I'm a Hawkeye fan and I feel that is an honest spot for them, after all they did lose to UNI. However, I don't agree with the sympathy votes for Virginia, Oklahoma State and Boston College. Who have they played? If any team deserves a No. 1 seed it's Arizona, they are 3-1 against top 10 teams, and 4-2 against top 25 teams, by far the toughest schedule. Iowa has the second toughest schedule against top 25 teams and is 2-2 against top 15 teams and has played 12 games -- two more than anyone else in the Power 16. Next time ESPN has placing questions try factoring in schedule toughness against top 25 teams. No team should receive a No. 1 or No. 2 seed without beating at least a top 25 ranked team."

Jeff Manthey
Iowa City, Iowa

"You really should have put Iowa where Virginia is....you will regret that later. UNI was the wakeup call for the lackluster Hawks."

Tavo Garcia
Iowa City, Iowa

"Kansas deserves all the credit it receives. Although they were tripped up early in the season, this team possibly is the best KU team in a long, long time. They might even be better than the 1997 team that went 31-2 with Pierce and LaFrentz. Duke better watch out if they 'Hawks come around their neighborhood."

Ben Thompson
Lawrence, Kan.

"Good Job putting KU back in as a No. 1, however, Oklahoma State is a joke. Put them in the with the No. 1s as soon as they beat somebody, anybody. As much as I hate to say it, move up Florida and bump down OK State. They play like their name OKay."

Tory Leggio
Lenexa, Kan.

"Everyone who thinks that the Pokes have not been tested yet needs to look at some of the other Power 16 teams. About 75 percent of them haven't either. O-State beat Cincinnati in the first game of the season and now their in the top 25. They also beat UMKC by 12 when Kansas had some trouble with them. Everyone will realize that they are for real sooner or later and then try to figure out a way to shut them down. Look out Final Four, here we come. Go Pokes."

Jason Howard
Agra, Okla.

"Virginia is a serious contender for best in the ACC. I've read several comments from doubters on ESPN.com, including one that said Maryland was the only team that could possibly contend with Duke. Maryland can't even contend with Oklahoma, a team that is not even in your Power 16 and will just this week crack the top 20 in the polls. Virginia, with its win over Georgetown, has shown that it can beat quality teams, even on the road this year. And with the best fans in the nation in Charlottesville, their record at home should be flawless. Give Virginia's basketball team the credit they deserve by putting them into the top tier and above those who aren't undefeated. I think they have proven they're one of the best."

Greg Quast
Centreville, Va.

"Duke is the best team in the nation no doubt. Arizona should be a No. 2 seed at least. Tell these other schools to stop playing cupcakes. If Oklahoma State played the same schedule as Arizona they would be 1-4. Also Arizona has beat Maryland and Florida, as well as Illinois, yet all those teams are ranked ahead of them. I am not saying Arizona should be above them, but the same. Arizona did lose to Kansas and they played a horrendous game at Michigan State. Why punish them for playing a tough game. They have only played one game at home this year and that was to Kansas. So all their wins were on the road or neutral courts. All I am saying is give me an argument why they should not be a No. 2 seed."

Robert Carmona
Tucson, Ariz.

"You've got teams with 2 and 3 losses in your Power 16? What about good teams like Oklahoma, who only have one loss. I am sure there is some good explanation for this. When the Sooners beat the Terps this Friday, will that move them into your 16?"

Kris Froese
Enid, Okla.

	“	Jason Williams knows who's No. 2. Coach K knows who's No. 2. You can be sure that the rest of the SEC knows who's No. 2. So why don't you guys know who's second-best team in America? So much for that point guard problem, huh? Pretty dang good for a 'current state of the game' No. 3 seed, huh? Let's hope the selection guys get it right this year for another classic in April. Until then, welcome home Pitino, and see you soon Florida." ”
		— Jared Tatum, Kentucky Alum Princeton, N.J.

"Truly Kentucky should be ranked No. 2 in the nation after the performance in the Jimmy V Classic. Kentucky all but had that game won until Jason Williams carried Duke on his back to victory. The point guard delema has been solved!"

Kerry Grant
Fallon, Nev.

" Kentucky, a No. 3 seed! I hope that Tuesday night proved that they are more than that. I also hope everyone in the nation realizes who the best players are on Duke, and their names aren't Jason Williams and Mike Dunleavy. They are the refs. It happened in the beginning of the year with Seton Hall and it happened again against Kentucky. Duke is a great team, but the calls against Seton Hall and UK were a joke. UK won that game and should now be a No. 1 seed."

Ryan Killen
Ocean City, N.J.

"Michigan State University -- after losing to some tough ranked teams early in the season, MSU showed it can hang with the big boys by defeating Arizona last Saturday at the Breslin -- the toughest place to play, as shown by the 52 straight home wins. Granted, this young team has to prove that they can do it on the road, but watch and see what happens if the three freshmen -- Hill, Anderson and Torbert -- catch fire and gain confidence, to go along with Marcus Taylor and a more consistent Adam Ballinger, who reminds me of A.J. Granger from the championship team. Could be interesting in the Big Ten this season."

Dan Cole
East Lansing, Mich.

"I don't think you are giving the Illini enough respect. Their only two losses are at Maryland and at Arizona. To have Oklahoma State as a No. 1 seed is similar to having the BCS decide who is number one in college basketball. The toughest team they have played this year is UMKC. Also, Mizzou was beaten by 20 points on their home court. Do they really warrant a higher seed than the team that beat them at home?"

Rick Walden
Kansas City, Mo.

"Thank you for actually recognizing the Butler Bulldogs. All year long, they have really gotten no recognition at all. Finally, someone realizes, besides the Butler fans, that these guys are for real and are even better than the team that ran Wake Forest off of the floor in the first round of the NCAA Tourney last year. The Bulldogs are going to be a team to watch throughout the rest of the season."

Pat Johnston
Indianapolis, Ind.

"Okay, Hold on a second ... Miami, Butler, and Ball State are in the Power 16 and Cincy is not? Sure, the Bearcats have one loss, which was to Oklahoma State, the No. 6 team in the nation, but besides that they are 8-1 -- with 8 straight wins. I'd guarantee you that if the Bearcats had played Oklahoma State at a different date (not the first game of the season), the final score would have been in favor of Cincy. Furthermore, Cincy has been decimating their opponents and have the NUMBER 1 SCORING DEFENSE in the nation. Just look at the UC-Xavier game. Xavier has won 4 of the last 5 meetings (twice when UC was ranked number 1), but this time UC won by 20! C'mon, the Cincinnati Bearcats definitely deserve to be in the Power 16 ... they are a force to be reckon with."

Sunny Patel
Cincinnati, Ohio

"I'm the first to tell you I won't be objective in my love for the Gonzaga Bulldogs (not Zags). But come on! People on the East Coast need to wake up. If you don't think Gonzaga is one of the top 16 teams in the country you are dreaming. They have three big-time big men (Turiaf, Violette, and Gourde) and an all-American candidate in Danny Dickau. They can beat ANYONE because they believe they can. Plus, they can shoot the lights out on any given night. Patience, execution, defense, and shooting will win many games. I like their chances. And if you still don't believe me ... fine. The proof will be in the pudding come crunch time. Watch out East-Coasters ... you are in for another predictable surprise."

Loren Baker
Spokane, Wash.