With the 2002-03 season in full swing, ESPN.com's Answer Man continues to see a full mail bag each week. As always, he's eager to answer a few questions from ESPN.com users.

Do you not like Louisville? I log on to ESPN.com everyday, and you nor anyone else talks about how awesome they have been playing. I read about the freshman, no one talks about Francisco Garcia or Taquan Dean. You don't even have them in your personal top 20 teams. What's up with that? Are you from Lexington, Ky., or something, because they are the only people who totally disregard any of our accomplishments. I know we don't have an excellent past, Crum was there way to long. But my God, we have Rick Pitino! It doesn't get much better than that. He has completely changed this team. Maybe they won't win it all, but man they have a fighting chance. Just try to talk about them, they have been kick'in some major butt this year. You probably think this chick doesn't know what she talking about, but you'll see. Lousiville's come'in baby!
Nicole Green
Louisville, Ky.

Nicole,
I did have Louisville in my top 20. I put the Cardinals at No. 11. You're right on Garcia and Dean not getting enough attention. We'll try to remedy that in the near future. But I hardly think we're blowing Louisville off. We've been on top of the Marvin Stone arrival and have given the Cardinals plenty of praise. They're on target to get back to the Dance.

When is the ACC (or even Coach K) going to discipline Dahntay Jones for his countless shenanigans? Though this year he has toned down his obnoxious flexing and screaming after dunks, he is still at the top of the "dirty" scale along with Julius Hodge. At least Hodge got a suspension last year for his cheap elbow on Steve Blake. Sunday night's (Jan. 12) game versus Wake Forest in Durham is a perfect example. Jones did not even get whistled for a foul for his jaw-breaking elbow to the head of Justin Gray. He also tried to start countless fights. Coach K used to run one of the most reputable programs in the country. The kids were tough, played hard, but were also respectable. Though the sportswriters say nothing, the lack of respect for opponents, dirty play, and excessive arrogance are the reasons that the average college basketball fan thoroughly dislikes the Dukies. A team does not have to be CLASSLESS to be good -- and Coach K USED to preach that.
Tim Ramsden
Charlotte, N.C.

The ACC isn't going to do anything about taunting or anything like that. But Jones does get real close to the line before crossing it. He has the sense to nag and push, but not get into fights. He may be an instigator, but he's not a fighter. The Blue Devils need his kind of toughness as long as he doesn't do anything cheap.

I love you work, especially since you realize there is good basketball west of the Big 12. Any way, if (when?) Lavin gets fired, do you think USD (and UCLA Alums) Brad Holland has a shot, or is his name not high-profile enough? Also, do you think my Aztecs have the talent to survive the strong MWC schedule and sneak in to the big dance as an at-large, or will they have to win the conference tournament again.
Aloha,
Kamal Scott
San Diego

No chance. The Bruins would have to go after a coach who has had success in the NCAA Tournament. Holland has done a sensational job at San Diego, but I don't see him making that jump. I'd be surprised if they went with another coach who has ties to the school. But we're still discussing something that is premature. As for the Aztecs, they have the talent to make a run in the conference tournament. They could get hot for three days if Evan Burns can continue to become a go-to scorer for them on the wing.

Why haven't the Hawkeyes of the University of Iowa received any recognition yet. They have played three quality ranked teams in within the last weeks and knocked off Michigan State and Tulsa, barely losing to Missouri. At 10-3, and 2-0 in the Big Ten, what will it take for Iowa to begin to emerge as a contender not only for the Big Ten, but for a solid postseason berth!
Mark Aronowitz
Omaha, Neb.

Mark, you're right.
Iowa should have received more pub lately. The Hawkeyes have been one of the better stories so far this season. Steve Alford has done a sensational job of putting together a contender in the Big Ten -- at least so far -- after losing the core of his team. He weathered some offseason troubles and is maximizing his talent. Maybe the trip to Lubbock really helped.

Andy,
What is wrong with Boston College this year!? With Troy Bell having a good year, so far; freshman Craig Smith living up to (and, perhaps, beyond) the high expectations set for him; and Ryan Sidney being his pesky self, MOST of the pieces seem to be in place. Granted, losing Uka Agbai for the year hurt, but there is NO excuse for losing to Northeastern and being 6-6 at this point in the year. Your thoughts?
Chris Galeazzi
Lynn, Mass.

You're exactly right. But this team isn't playing defense like last year. The Eagles are not finishing games. And they're not as tough down the stretch as we originally thought. Boston College is not getting enough out of their five and wing spot. Bell and Smith can't carry this team offensively. And they've got to come up with some key stops. They're in serious trouble of not even making the NIT.

How about some love for Siena freshman Michael Haddix? All he's done is step in and transform this team into a MAAC title contender and one of the more dangerous teams on the east coast. They're not getting any consistency from Prosper Karangwa, and they're still winning ... and Haddix is the reason. Also, note that they have really stepped up since Antoine Jordan stepped up. Do you think they can win the games against teams they should be beating, on the road (that's always been their stumbling block) and finish at least in the MAAC's top three, so they have a fighting chance come tournament time?
Tom
Alexandria, Va.

Here's the love, we ran with your question. Siena did come up with a major win over Providence at home. But the MAAC title might go through Manhattan this season. The Jaspers seem like the team to beat. Siena can knock them off and so could Iona. This should be an interesting race down to the final week of the regular season. I'm not going to predict the 1-2-3, but Siena will be in one of those spots.

I have a two-part question. First, what does Jason Conley's transfer from VMI to Missouri do for the program, specifically recruiting? Second, from all accounts, Quin Snyder was a huge factor in Conley's decision to attend Mizzou and it doesn't seem to be a coincidence that since Snyder took over, the Tigers go further and further into the NCAA Tournament. After season after season of mediocrity in the final years under Norm Stewart, the program finally seems to be on track, no doubt due to Coach Snyder. But is Snyder at Mizzou to stay? Or is he just marking time until Mike Krzyzewski retires?
Blake Simmons
Kirksville, Md.

Getting Conley allows the Tigers to add an impact scorer in mid-December of 2003. They might not have been able to land a newcomer with as much scoring pop if they went the freshman or JC route. That was more than two questions. But Snyder does seem like he's staying put. He certainly could be lured elsewhere, but that doesn't seem to be the case. He's probably not first in line for Duke whenever that happens -- which probably won't be for another 7 to 10 years at least.

I have been wondering why college basketball has never had a postseason all-star or senior-type game. Every major sport and college football has all-star and senior games at the end of the season. They have the camps and such, but that is not the same. Is there a reason why there not such an event. Has the NCAA ever considered this? What a better way to reward a senior for staying all four years than to give him one more game and a chance to show off in front of the scouts one more time. Just wanted your two cents on this. Thanks!
Todd Wetton
Columbia, Mo.

They have this: it's called the Portsmouth Invitational in Virginia. That's where the scouts want to see the seniors one more time to see if they're worthy enough to be invited to the Chicago pre-draft camp in June. Having another all-star game wouldn't work with all the missed class time, the letdown from March Madness and the lack of a time slot for television (baseball starting). The NABC has held an all-star game at the Final Four, but it hasn't been a big drawing card.

Please explain the Penn Quakers to me! They make no sense. Are they good, lucky, overrated, underrated?
Ben
Austin, Texas

I can't. I don't understand them, either. I saw them beat Temple. I read the stories and talked to USC about their win over the Trojans. If Penn is making shots they can beat a number of teams from high major conferences. If they don't then they're in trouble. It's pretty simple, but that's what it comes down to for this team to win outside of the Ivy this season.

Finally, Omaha and the rest of the college basketball world is waking up to the talents of the Creighton Bluejays. Lets project that CU finishes the season at 29-5 (a bit conservative with the way they are playing). In lieu of Gonzaga getting a horrible seed last year, how good of a seed can CU receive? Did the selection committee learn from last year's mistakes?
Dan Messina
Omaha, Neb.

Creighton does have quality wins over Notre Dame (neutral court), Nebraska (at least its a road Big 12 win), BYU (home) and a "good" loss at Xavier. The Bluejays will get another RPI-type game in the Bracket Buster event. But Creighton might find it hard to get higher than a six seed like Gonzaga because of the strength of schedule out of the Missouri Valley Conference. Creighton could be another interesting test case for the selection committee.

What ever happened to Tim Floyd, late of Iowa State and the Chicago Bulls? Will he return to college basketball, and if so, what are the possibilities? Also, how about Lon Kuger? Would he like to return to the college game , and where might he emerge?
Ken
Huntsville, Ala.

Floyd is living in New Orleans. He says he wants to coach again soon, but isn't committing to either the NBA or college. Both Floyd and Kruger will be hot commodities during the coaching carousel this spring. But both are better fits for schools in college towns rather than big-city campuses where there is intense pressure like the NBA jobs they were fired from within the last year.

Wanted to get your thoughts on the impact the seemingly wretched Pac-10/Fox TV contract will have on the conference. As you discussed in a prior column, the conference showed OSU/ASU instead of the two top 10's in Oregon/Arizona. Here in the Bay Area, Fox Sports has not shown a single live Pac-10 conference game yet, offering Sharks hockey instead. There wasn't even Cal/Oregon footage for ESPN to show highlights -- a great win for Cal & few people even saw any live footage. Will this comical lack of television exposure hinder Pac-10 teams in any way come March? Thanks.
Dalton
San Francisco

It won't hinder them for the selections, but it does hurt their national profile. It's ridiculous. The Pac-10 needs to be more assertive with its television package and put the best games on. Getting every team on in a contract is not the future. The future is about ratings and the best teams and most competitive games are what rates.

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