Why do the AP and coaches' polls have Notre Dame ranked ahead of Wake Forest? Wake beat Notre Dame in the NIT Finals and have all nine players who received major minutes returning for this season. I did notice that you disagree with these polls and rightfully have Wake ranked ahead of Notre Dame. -- Ron Castle, Tampa Bay
Dickie V: It's just a matter of choice. It's so early, many teams haven't even stepped on the floor yet. It's a matter of taste, and what remains impressive in your mind from the end of the year. As a voter, I like both clubs, they are very even and both should have sensational years.

	Kenny Satterfield, right, decided to return to Cincinnati for his sophomore season.

What is your opinion about the Bearcats this year? Do you think that they have enough talent returning to be competitive this year? Just pickin' the master's brain. -- Barry Nugent, Kettering, Ohio
Dickie V: Cincinnati has lost its physical strength in Kenyon Martin and Peter Mickael, but the bottom line is Bobby Huggins is still there and they'll be strong on the perimeter. I look for a big-time year from Kenny Satterfield. Steve Logan can make shots and they have some nice newcomers. Donald Little's development in the middle will be big for them because Conference USA will be a dynamite, tough league from top to bottom.

Who do you think is the most dominating center in the nation? What team do you think has a chance to surprise everyone this year? I personally like Alabama and North Carolina. What are your thoughts on these subjects? -- Chris Roat, Folsom
Dickie V: Carolina isn't going to surprise anyone -- everyone expects the Tar Heels to have a phenomenal year. Alabama is a good choice and I also like Georgetown and USC; they can shock many people. As for the best center, if you classify Troy Murphy as a center and not a big forward, he can be dominant. He has the ability to maneuver to the outside as well as score on the inside. Murphy has great range as a shooter and his effectiveness both inside and outside makes him very dangerous.

I'm an alum and diehard Michigan State fan. With the loss of three key players this year, can we rely that much on incoming freshmen Marcus Taylor and Zach Randolph to put us in the Sweet Sixteen? -- Adam Hunt, Williamston
Dickie V: They had a great start in their exhibition win over the Harlem Globetrotters. That's a team with a lot of good college players like Alex Sanders, Jesse Drain and Tyson Wheeler. That's not their show-biz team but one which can play competitively. Michigan State's freshmen made an impact. Taylor handled the ball well and Randolph had 17 points. The key will be if they can make up for the mental-winning capacity that Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson possessed.

I'm here at Xavier University; what are your thoughts on this year's edition of the basketball team? -- Dan Malone, Cleveland
Dickie V: Xavier looks to me like the class of the Atlantic 10 this season. They have a great scorer and rebounder in David West. Maurice McAfee can score and pass. There is also a newcomer to watch in Romain Sato, a 6-4 freshman.

Talk to me about South Florida. Can they go to the Big Dance with B.B. Waldon, Altron Jackson and diaper dandy Jimmy Baxter? -- Gary Stephen Jr., Bellevue, Wash.
Dickie V: I think when you talk about significant players, Altron Jackson is one of them, big-time. Jackson has to be consistent for South Florida to succeed. Seth Greenberg's team has come close in the past and there are a lot of good teams out in Conference USA.

With this likely being Rick Pitino's final season in Boston, do you see him returning to the college ranks? And if so, what are the chances he might land at his alma mater, Massachusetts? -- Michael Shelton, Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Dickie V: A lot of people are already ticketing Pitino as a potential coach at Indiana but I just don't see it. I think that if things don't function the way he projects them to in Boston, and if the Celtics don't make the playoffs, I think there would be a great chance he would go back to the college game. I am not convinced he would be at Indiana. First of all, let's give Mike Davis a chance. People thought Steve Lavin and Brian Ellerbe wouldn't be back when they were interim and they shocked everyone. Indiana has a team good enough to surprise some people, so don't write Davis off. As for Massachusetts, I think Bruiser Flint's team will have a good season. He has a club which can create problems in the Atlantic 10. He's had to live through a standard of winning at the level John Calipari introduced and that has made it tough for him. This is a pivotal year for Flint.

How will the Ducks fare this season? They lost their big three of Alex Scales, A.D. Smith and Darius Wright from last season, but Ernie Kent seems to have the program pointed in the right direction. Can Freddie Jones, Bryan Bracey, David Jackson and company get Oregon back into the NCAAs? -- Tim Pyle, Lawton, Okla.
Dickie V: Oregon hopes to have the kind of success the football program has enjoyed this season. Mike Bellotti has done a great job and the basketball program hopes that rubs off. Unfortunately for the Ducks, the Pac-10 is so tough up on top with Arizona, Stanford, UCLA and USC as a sleeper. California and Ben Braun has a good team. If you are Oregon, you must win at home and then hope to steal a couple on the road.

C'mon, Dickie, don't you think the Heels will dominate Duke this year now that C-Well (Chris Carrawell) is gone? After all, he was their best player. -- TarHeelFan, Alexandria, Va.
Dickie V: Carrawell had a phenomenal year. I believe Carolina and Duke, as well as Maryland, will battle it out in the ACC, which should be the most competitive league in America when you also throw in Wake Forest, N.C. State and Virginia. Matt Doherty will have the Tar Heels motivated for those Tobacco Road showdowns against the Dukies, and they really are something special. Both North Carolina and Duke are close in personnel and they should be classic matchups. Duke has walked to the winner's circle the last five times. It should be very special in the ACC this season.

How do you think Syracuse will do in the Great Alaska Shootout and throughout the season? Also, will you be making any trips to the Carrier Dome this year? -- Bob Czajak, Syracuse, N.Y.
Dickie V: Yes, I will be up at the Carrier Dome for the Connecticut game and I look forward to it. The bottom line is a lot of unknowns for the Orangemen. DeShaun Williams and Preston Shumpert have to go from relief roles to stars, putting big points on the board. Allen Griffin was improved at the point by the end of last season. I see them going center by committee. The Great Alaska Shootout is a first-class, well-run tournament and a good chance to find out how they stand. Jim Boeheim will be able to get a true evaluation against good competition.

My girlfriend has cancer; she is only 21 years old. I don't have that much money. I know back in the day there were ties you could buy that would go to the Jimmy V. foundation. My question is, is there still such a thing? If so, is there a Web site or magazine that I could use to buy a tie or two so I can support this great foundation. Thanks. P.S. Joseph Forte, Player of the Year. -- Kelly Breckner, Aurora
Dickie V: First of all, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your girlfriend. If you want more information on the Jimmy V. foundation, contact 1-800-4-JIMMYV. They have all kind of printed information available about the program, support groups available to give you help and guidance. They can give you other information to show you that you are not alone in the battle.