The Answer Man is back! And it's never too early to focus on the future. Andy Katz answers a few questions from ESPN.com users he receives each week.

What is your analysis of Ohio rising senior Brandon Hunter? He had an up-and-down 2001-02 season after finishing second in the MAC Player of the Year voting as a sophomore in 2000-01. Will the Bobcats be the preseason favorite in the MAC?
Charles Vincy
Columbus, Ohio

Charles,
Hunter will be the preseason player of the year, even if Ball State's Theron Smith returns to school. If Smith returns then Ball State will likely be dubbed a co-favorite with Ohio. The pressure is on the Bobcats to produce after losing in the first round of the MAC tournament. This team has the talent to make a Kent State-like run (although Elite Eight is a little too far for this crew) by getting in the tournament and winning a game or two. Hunter's game expanded when he learned he could take the ball outside and make 3s against North Carolina. The key for the Bobcats will be at the point where they'll need more consistent play before they're taken too seriously.

Is it true that North Carolina State will be playing in the Jimmy V Classic this year?
Justin Pearson
Miami, Fla.

Justin,
The answer is yes. Finally, the late Jim Valvano's team will be in the event named after him. The Wolfpack will be joined by Oregon. Oklahoma was a lock before scheduling became an issue. The other spot is also still be discussed.

How good do you think the Bearcats of Cincinnati are going to be next year? I know a lot of people are quick to think that just because Steve Logan is gone, not only our offense but our entire team is down the drain. But in fact that is not the case. It seems like they never get the respect that they deserve. They are going to do the same thing next year as this past year. They won't be picked to win the C-USA title and they won't be in anyone's top 25. But by the end of the year they will have their 25-plus wins and number 8 in a row in C-USA.
Matt
Cincinnati, Ohio

Matt,
You're right about the lack of respect. Cincinnati should have been in the preseason top 25, but that omission seemed to give the Bearcats even more fodder to prove everyone wrong. Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins is down-playing this squad after losing Logan, Donald Little, Immanuel McElroy and Jamaal Davis. But the Bearcats still have one of the best players in Conference USA returning in Jason Maxiell and Leonard Stoke should get quality touches with Logan and McElroy gone. The Bearcats will be inexperienced, but defense and rebounding still should be this team's forte. I'd be surprised if the Bearcats aren't in the thick of Conference USA's race by late February.

Why aren't the Wyoming Cowboys getting any love in the pre-preseason polls by all the media experts? They return four of five starters from last year (and Chris McMillian, who was the starter from the year before)? I know Uche Nsonwu-Amadi declared for the draft, but he already said he's coming back next year, unless he's a lottery pick. They did beat media darling Gonzaga and took everyone's pre-preseason No. 1 Arizona to the last two minutes in the NCAA Tournament.
John Eisel
Laramie, Wy.

John,
The answer is simple: because it's Wyoming. I've been there many times and it's simply not on the national radar screen, even though the Cowboys should be the pick to win the MWC again. It will take another season like this past one for Wyoming to get some consistent national "love." Nsonwu-Amadi is doing the right thing by getting out some feelers on his true draft position. He won't be hurt by testing the waters. The Cowboys will miss Josh Davis on the offensive backboard but they'll still be tough to defend and Marcus Bailey is still one of the harder matchups in the MWC. Steve McClain's decision to stay in Laramie means this program can start to maintain rather than constantly rebuild.

Will Lonny Baxter be drafted? I have heard very few people discussing his chances of being drafted. Most seem to think he will not.
Nick
College Park, Md.

Nick,
He should be drafted, but in the second round. I have yet to talk to an NBA scout who thinks Baxter is in the first round. That's why his decision to bypass Portsmouth wasn't too smart. He could have helped his stock by making an appearance. He has to play in Chicago. If he doesn't then he's getting poor advice. Baxter will still be dogged by NBA teams because of his height and limited moves.

This old sportswriter was flabbergasted to read on ESPN.com that the new coach at Arkansas was conducting practices with his team these past few days or weeks. Players even were interviewed and commented about how well he handled practices, his being "one of the guys", etc. Since when can the coach be on the same court with the players in the springtime or until the official opening date of practice in the fall?
Ken Bronson
Topeka, Kansas

The rule has been in place for a few seasons. Coaches can conduct individual workouts with players, with no more than four at one time. That allows them to do some two-on-two drills with guards and forwards. There is a limit as to the number of times you can conduct the workout in the week (two hours a week). You can do two one-hour sessions. This rule allows coaches contact with their players in the spring before they leave for the summer and in August and September when they first get on campus.

Andy,
Would you please explain the NCAA rule(s) that involve breaking a LOI? For example, why will some kids lose two seasons if they do not honor their LOI, and some kids only lose one season and others, (Kenny Adeleke last year never went to DePaul after signing a LOI there) can play immediately without any lost seasons? What scenarios create each action?

Billiken fans are extremely interested in your answer as we apparently may lose both of our fall signees, Ryan Hollins and Nick Kern, both apparently are thinking of not honoring their LOI they signed with Saint Louis due to Lorenzo Romar taking the University of Washington job. Because of the 5/8 rule, if both would leave and the Billikens would not be able to sign a player(s) to replace them, the Billikens would be handcuffed likely for two seasons and not be able to use those two scholarships since we have large senior and junior classes that will graduate as well the next two seasons. Doesn't seem to be the spirit of the rule as opposed to the kids that turn pro early. Your thoughts?
Roy Mueller
Belleville, Ill.

The National Letter of Intent rules are confusing. If a player doesn't get a release and goes to another school then he would be looking at the two-year scenario. If he gets a release then it can be cut down to one. But a player can appeal the letter and play immediately if the NLI committee grants a waiver. This is going on for players like Kennedy Winston at Alabama and Armando Surratt at Miami, Fla.

What do you think of Georgetown next year? Given that they only lost one senior, and they underachieved in 01-02 anyway, do you think they can make a run at a Big East title?
Stephen
Houston

Stephen,
Georgetown lost only Kevin Braswell. The Hoyas still return the heart of their roster with Michael Sweetney inside, Harvey Thomas at small forward and the backcourt of Drew Hall and Tony Bethel. Bethel will replace Braswell and Hall can be one of the better shooters. Georgetown should challenge for second in the Big East West Division title with Syracuse and Notre Dame. Pittsburgh is the overwhelming favorite to repeat in the West Division. The Big East East Division is more balanced with every team but Virginia Tech and Providence a contender.

There has been talk that if Larry Brown leaves the Sixers, Tubby Smith will be the leading candidate to replace him. If that does happen, which I think it won't; who will replace Smith at Kentucky? Calipari, Donovan, Pelphrey?
Joey Lee
Lebron, Ky.

Brown said he's staying, but if something ever changes then Smith would be high on the list. If Smith ever left Kentucky in the near future, look for the names like Rick Barnes (Texas), Tom Crean (Marquette), Ralph Willard (Holy Cross), Bill Self (Illinois), Mark Few (Gonzaga) and Kelvin Sampson (Oklahoma). Billy Donovan would be atop their list, but Florida AD Jeremy Foley will never make the move about money. He'll match or top anything Kentucky would ever offer. But every indication is that Kentucky won't have to deal with this problem this season since Smith appears to be staying unless the NBA comes calling after the playoffs.

What impact will Neil Fingleton have on Holy Cross basketball? Can he take them past the first round of the NCAA's?
JC
Mattituck, N.Y.

Fingleton will alter shots and block a few, too, every game. But his presence in the Patriot League will be hard to duplicate. No one will be as tall and few can take up the same amount of space. The Crusaders will have to play differently with him in the game, but it's hard to imagine that they could do better with him after nearly taking out Kansas in the first round last season.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. He answers questions on college basketball weekly.