The 2002-03 season is under way, which means ESPN.com's Answer Man has a full mail bag. As always, he's was eager to answer a few questions from ESPN.com users.

I have a simple request: When Xavier smites Kansas, will you please write a long-winded apology, maybe even a poem, extolling the virtues of West, Sato, Chalmers, and Matta?

	Don't worry, David West and the Musketeers will get plenty of pub this season. But will another A-10 team join Xavier in the NCAAs?

There can be arguments made that Xavier has gotten overlooked in the past because they haven't proven much. They've only been to the sweet 16 once, so maybe they've gotten their allotted share of exposure in the past. This season is different. This is a loaded team with an outstanding coach, and it's going to make some serious noise this year in the tournament.

So pretty please ... with sugar on top, when Kansas falls, recant your previous statement, and give just due to the boundless glory of the Musketeers of Xavier.
Mike Walker
Cleveland

Hey Mike,
Here's a surprise for you, I wouldn't be stunned to see Xavier win the Preseason NIT. Yes, I actually do see the Musketeers as a potential Final Four team with two NBA players in Romain Sato and David West, and a solid veteran point guard Lionel Chalmers. There's no reason to beg for Xavier to get its due. The Musketeers will earn plenty of space throughout the season.

The question: Will the A-10 be reduced to a one-bid league again?

You said: Unless Temple or UMass can win some games prior to New Year's, the answer could be "Yes".

My question: Shouldn't that be any A-10 team wins some games prior to New Year's? I'm sure that Richmond and Dayton and the other A-10 teams (particularly the midwest ones) would like to know that they have no chance of making the NCAAs since people only look at schools with prestige and location (East Coast) not results.

Matt Farney
Dayton, Ohio

Hey Matt,
The answer: Richmond and Dayton certainly could get into the NCAAs, so could St. Bonaventure or Saint Joseph's -- or any other A-10 team that goes on a nice run, gets quality wins and/or wins the A-10 tournament. It's called a projection, not a given. We're projecting that UMass and Temple would be the other candidates along with Xavier, but that doesn't mean we'll be right nor does it mean that Dayton has no chance. It's November. No one said they had no chance. We just didn't mention them this time.

I read your article on freshmen classes, no mention of Villanova's. I read this week's Weekly Word, where you had a question about the freshmen classes, no Villanova. You include North Carolina, but no Villanova. 'Nova's freshman class should have a huge impact on their team, throw them in with four returning starters and you could see a dangerous team come NCAA tourney time. I usually respect your work, but to not include their freshman class in your writings is absurd in my opinion. Do you have a reason for not including them? Please explain.
Gavin Wilk
Dublin, Ohio

Gavin,
Villanova's freshmen were our "rising" of the week in the Weekly Watch. We didn't mention them in our story because we knew we would be writing (see: Kieran Darcy story) on them in New York at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. Hopefully you read that story and saw the Weekly Watch for some pub on the Wildcats' freshmen.

My take of the 8/5 rule is that a school can sign no more than 8 players in two years and no more than 5 in a single year. So how come Arizona signs 9, count 'em, NINE players over two years?? Is there a 'Zona exemption?
Jim Bredfeldt
Bellevue, Wash.

That's because it's a 5/9 rule for this season and it goes back to being a 5/8 rule for next season.

This isn't a question; it's a correction.

I was looking through the ol' Andy Katz archive and noticed a brief about the Wichita State Shockers written on Aug. 9. Pleased and surprised that you'd pick WSU to write something about, I felt compelled to correct an obvious error on your part.

You wrote: "Wichita State's Jamie Sowers, the Shockers' top freshman last season, broke his shooting (right) wrist the first week of July and might be out until the first week in November. Wichita State coach Mark Turgeon is expecting him to be able to play when the season starts a few weeks later, but missing the practice time won't help his cause ..."

While it's true Sowers broke his wrist, in no way, shape or form was he the Shockers' best freshman last season. Three true freshmen started for WSU last season, and Sowers was not one of the three. Randy Burns, a 5-10 point guard from Houston, was the MVC Freshman of the Year, averaging a team-high 12.1 points. Jamar Howard, a 6-5 small forward from Shawnee Mission, Kan., averaged 10 points and five rebounds a game, and was named to the MVC All-Defense team. And Rob Kampman, a 6-8 power forward from Forest City, Iowa, played in 29 of 30 games, averaging 26.7 minutes a game, as well as shooting a team-high 47.8 percent from the 3-point line.

On the strength of those three players -- and Sowers -- returning, WSU was picked third in the MVC's preseason poll. Just wanted to set the record straight, albeit in a tardy fashion.

Go Shockers!
Corbett Smith
Wichita, Kan.

Corbett, I would say good catch ... but Mark Turgeon did tell me he was one of his best freshmen last season and was improving maybe more so than the others in the offseason. He was expecting him to play an even larger role this season. Thanks for reading the archives, but hopefully Wichita State won't have to stay hidden in a file for long.

	Where's the love for St. John's Marcus Hatten?

Every preseason college basketball mag lists Troy Bell as an All-American. ESPN is not excluded from this crime. Why is Marcus Hatten still looked at as a fluke? Hatten outplayed Bell not once, but twice. Bell was shaking his head and rolling his eyes as Hatten blew by him for layups and picked his pocket on defense, not once but twice. Marcus Hatten led the conference in scoring his first season in the Big East with no offensive help. Bell, took a step back. By what logic does Bell receive more credit than Hatten? I'm stumped.
James Deckinger
New York

James,
You are right to fight for Hatten's cause. He doesn't get the pub he deserves. He gets lost amid the plethora of Big East guards with Bell, Brandin Knight and Chris Thomas. He deserves more headlines, and if he can get the help from St. John's freshman Elijah Ingram this season, he should have even more freedom without the basketball.

Interesting. Kentucky fans were "nasty" for booing the head coach of a major rival -- yet when fans of other programs, say Duke, come up with nasty and hateful signs and chants "they are being clever" according to ESPN and others. There are always a handful of fans from all schools that cross the line at any game, unfortunately. But to single out Kentucky fans, especially considering the situation, is extremely biased and unfair.

Why no coverage of the fact that extra security had to be brought out behind the Kentucky football bench at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium early in the football season? You see, the Kentucky players were being pelted with objects, not to mention insults and profanity. (Unlike other conferences, C-USA allows student sections right behind the opponent bench).

I see a lot of hypocrisy in ESPN's constant praise of the Duke fans (delivering a pizza to an overweight player; jingling car keys at a player), yet criticizing Kentucky fans for booing. Pitino did much for Kentucky, but Kentucky did just as much for him. Guess what? Louisville fans used to boo and curse him when he was the Kentucky coach.
Kelly Anderson
Louisville, Ky.

Can you back up your comment on the treatment of Rick Pitino by Kentucky fans? This is what you wrote:

"How ugly will it get when Kentucky plays Louisville Dec. 28? Hopefully not as bad as it was in Lexington when a handful of Kentucky fans were downright mean, distasteful and cruel to Pitino last December."

You make it sound like Kentucky fans are awful, but you do not give any evidence in your statement.

Thank you for your time.
Josh Powell
Murray, Ky.

This mention of a "few" Kentucky fans being nasty and cruel to Rick Pitino struck a nerve with some in Kentucky nation. But the few, especially the one woman who held up a sign that called Pitino a traitor and compared him to John Walker Lindh, was about the most distasteful sign I have ever seen at a game. Pitino lost a brother-in-law and best friend in the World Trade Center bombing. This woman was so insensitive. That sign disgusted a number of people that night. On the whole, Kentucky fans are the most faithful in the sport and they get plenty of points for always showing up. But a few soured that night by taking their love affair for Kentucky one step too far.

I actually have a comment in response to fans being patient. I do care about Clemson basketball and it was not that long ago that Clemson was a middle-tier ACC basketball school.
Brian
Washington D.C.

That's great Brian. Then give Larry Shyatt a chance this season and at the end of the year give us an objective view on the state of the program. Good to hear there is a passion about Clemson hoops.

Andy,
Love reading the Weekly Word. I want your job! What happened to Jonathan Hargett of West Virginia? I remember hearing about him during his freshman season, but I saw on ESPN's team profiles that he is no longer on the team. Also, does Iowa State have a chance to get into the NCAA Tournament as a sleeper team in the Big 12? Thanks.
Rick
Ames, Iowa

Rick,
Hargett got booted off the West Virginia team for NCAA violations, allegedly taking money prior to school. Not sure about his whereabouts now. Iowa State's sleeper chances weren't helped by the indefinite departure of Chris Alexander. He took a leave of absence from the Cyclones, which will hurt Iowa State's inside depth. Getting past Oklahoma State is also a tall order for the Cyclones.

	Ilian Evtimov is a major loss for N.C. State, but won't lose a season of eligibility.

Is Ilian Evtimov going to lose a year of eligibility because of this injury, or will the NCAA allow him to redshirt? He only played 11 minutes, and did not score or play any significant role in a big PRESEASON win.
Matt
Raleigh, N.C.

No, Evtimov will not lose a season of eligibility. He didn't play in a regular-season game, just an exhibition. A player can play in up to three games and be redshirted, and it still won't count as a season.

Why are mid-majors (e.g. under appreciated Fresno State) signing up for the Bracket Buster on Saturday, which will be played Feb. 22? Can you say "counterintuitive"? The mid-major that wins has only beaten another, albeit "good", mid-major, and the losing team just signed up for the NIT. Instead, Bracket Busters should be played between a top mid-major team and a probable at-large, major conference, team. Right?
Thomas
Chicago

Yes, in theory, but that won't happen. So the mid-majors must get games against other mid-majors with high power ratings. If Hawaii plays Creighton on Feb. 22 then that is a better game for Hawaii then playing UTEP. It gives the Rainbow Warriors another potential quality win late in the season. The same could be true for Creighton, which could get something out of playing Hawaii then say Drake.

Can ESPN, say ,"We're hypocrites?"

About a week ago, I was on the ESPN website and saw that the Arizona Wildcats were your preseason No. 1 pick for basketball. I got the ESPN mag today (Nov. 25th issue) and it also said the same. I go back to you website to see the article on Luke Walton (Wild Child) just for comparison, and lo-n-behold, Oklahoma is now your preseason No. 1 pick. All I have to say is this. This makes me lose all respect for your magazine and I guess ESPN for that matter. Not, that I have anything against OU, but ESPN says one thing and even goes as far as to print it in their magazine, than change it on their website! Again, hypocrites!
C. Monteverde
San Diego, Calif.

I've got an easy answer for you: ESPN The Magazine picked Arizona. ESPN.com picked Oklahoma. We have two different writing staffs that do work together, but have independent opinions. The Magazine is primarily Dick Vitale's picks. There's nothing wrong with us disagreeing. We're not the same medium, so we can agree to differ. As for ESPN.com picking Arizona as a "preseason" No. 1, the Wildcats were ESPN.com's No. 1 team during our summer rankings in July -- prior to eligibility and injury issues altered our preseason rankings on Nov. 13.

I read an article of yours last week about college basketball facilities. Not even once did you mention Florida State's brand new $10 million practice facility. Is this because you haven't seen it? You need to recognize what this facility is going to do for Leonard Hamilton and FSU. We are going to have an edge in recruiting because of this facility and our staff. Coach Hamilton knew what he was getting himself into and already has a top 10 recruiting class for next year. GO NOLES!
Lance Troester
Tallahassee, Fla.

Lance,
I didn't mention Florida State, but I could have and we will get to writing about Seminoles this season. We already checked in with Leonard Hamilton at the start of practice. And the answer is "no" on whether or not I have seen the facility yet. I would like to soon.

You mentioned that the selection committee will allow Boston College to play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Fleet Center if the Eagles are "the right seed for that site." You also mentioned that Utah will not be allowed to play in Salt Lake City because the Utes are the host school. According to their own athletic website, BC is the host school for the Fleet Center games. Why would the selection committee give BC special consideration -- assuming they play well enough to earn a high seed -- as a host school, while Utah remains forced to abide by the rule?

As a BC student, I would love to see our basketball team play close to home, but I think the opportunity to play in front of the home crowd should be open to all the host schools. In the hockey tournament, there is no such rule prohibiting host schools from having their teams play at the host site. Granted, there are fewer teams in the hockey tournament, so there's less of a chance that a Cal-Pitt game would happen. But if the NCAA is truly adamant about regionalizing the first weekend of the tournament, wouldn't it make sense for them to lift the "host school rule"? Do you think there is any chance of the NCAA doing away with this rule in the near future?
Daniel Fleming
Boston

Daniel,
Thanks for looking out for us. This was called: "wrong information" from the committee. We were told that Boston College wasn't the host, so it could play in Boston. But we found out that the Eagles are, just like you said, and so the Eagles cannot play at the Fleet Center. I agree with you. They should lift the host school rule. Just because a school's SID is the tournament manager that doesn't mean the Eagles would have any more advantage than if BU ran the event.

This past summer I believe you had written in one of your columns that the NCAA might be getting a proposal to allow college athletes five years eligibility with or without a redshirt year. First of all, is my memory correct on that and secondly, if it is correct, where does that proposal stand at the present time and what is the likelihood that it would go through?
Harry Branting
North Platte, Neb.

The five-year eligibility ruling didn't come up at the October management council meeting. It might get on the agenda in April. Not sure if it could pass yet.

As a Michigan State alum, I was disappointed to read that Marcus Taylor has apparently failed in his attempt to make the NBA (even being cut last week by the developmental league). Although I disagreed with his decision to leave, I had wished him well. What are your thoughts on where Taylor will end up?
John
Canton, Mich.

If Taylor isn't tough enough to go through the minor leagues and stick it out then he'll end up back in Michigan soon. He's got the talent to be a pro, but he's going to have to find his way to the league on a harder path. Taylor's early departure after his sophomore season was one of the worst decisions a player has made recently. It's a shame because he's not a bad seed. He's very likeable and wasn't a product of the sneaker-sponsored summer-league circuit.

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