I've noticed a change in where the players stand during foul shots this season: They stand on new lines angling away from the foul line, rather than along the edges of the lane. I got on the NCAA basketball Web site to find out why, but their "rules" section hasn't been updated since last season. Can you please tell me the reason for this change? P.S. Very disappointed that you didn't wear your Uncle Sam suit for your entire "Slam Jam" show... -- Cheryl White, Columbus, Ohio
VITALE: Well, I really was excited putting on that Uncle Sam suit, especially since the show ran on election night. I don't think it would have been too cool to sit there for an hour in that outfit. It would have caused a little chaos. As far as the new rules are concerned, only six players can line up along the foul line to eliminate congestion. It was experimental last year, was a positive and then adopted. The other rule involving the foul lane is the use of the trapezoid lane in exempt games. That is used as an experiment, widening the lane, creating more movement in terms of cutting and driving to the basket. I like the trapezoid because it puts more emphasis on the little guy, on penetration and moving without the ball, and opens up the three-second area.

You've got Diaper Dandy Teams, Rolls Royce Teams and the like. How about an All-Walk-On Team? -- Philip Ondeze, Charlotte, N.C.
VITALE: That's an interesting idea. Hey, my all-time all-walk-on player was Jeff Hornacek from Iowa State, and later a star in the NBA.

	North Carolina will miss the leadership of point guard Ed Cota, right.

I know you like the Dukies. I don't, but I have a good reason: I am Tar Heel blue through and through! Anyway, I do enjoy your telecasts, you make any game fun. I honestly feel there is not a better twosome than you and Brad Nessler. I love your enthusiasm and your passion for the college game. My question is: Without an Ed Cota, do you see the Heels with any chance of going back to the Final Four? Give it to me straight, I can take it! P.S. Any chance you could use your status and influence to convince Roy Williams he can still have the Carolina job? As far as I am concerned, the job is still open! Thanks, I appreciate it! May God bless you, Dickie V! -- Mack, Abingdon, Va.
VITALE: Roy is very content where he is at and he has a superb team with great balance at Kansas. Eric Chenowith is showing he has improved from last year. As for North Carolina, I have a great affection for both the Tar Heels and Blue Devils because both programs do things the right way. They graduate players, win basketball games and receive support from fans who show great passion for the game. I think Cota, a four-year starter, an outstanding penetrator and leader, will be missed. He understood how to distribute the rock. North Carolina inside, with its size, will be a major factor, even with a matchup against Duke. The one thing which Duke must do -- as I saw early against Villanova when Mike Krzyzewski only basically used six kids -- is get positive minutes from the bench, from kids like Casey Sanders and eventually a healthy Casey Horvath (currently out with an ankle injury). They can't just rely on a super six or they will be worn down by the competition in the ACC.

I am a huge IU fan and have been for as long as I can remember. I was really sorry to see the General go. My question is: Do you think there is any way that Mike Davis and company can win a Big Ten championship this year? The team is young, but Jeffries especially is playing superbly, and Haston is playing like an All-American. So can they play with conference powers such as Michigan State and Illinois? -- Sam Letts, Boston
VITALE: Indiana can compete, but somehow, some way they will have to find some magic on the perimeter. On the inside, they can match up and hold their own with anyone thanks to Kirk Haston, Jared Jeffries, George Leach blocking shots and Jeff Newton when healthy (he's coming off a foot injury). The perimeter is the issue; they need productivity. They haven't scored the way coach Davis needs them to. Going up against the matchup zone of Temple in the Preseason NIT semifinals is a real test.

What do opposing teams need to do to stop the Arizona Wildcats? -- Rick, Phoenix
VITALE: First they'd have to kidnap Loren Woods when he comes back to the lineup ... with him in the middle, they are a totally different team. We haven't seen the real Arizona team in over a year since Woods was out. He takes them to another level.

What are your thoughts on Alabama's chances this year? I think they have the possibility to sneak up on people like LSU did last year, if they stay healthy. I know they are headed back in the right direction after getting three commitments from great players in the early signing period. I also would like to now what you think about their chances in the future? Do you see any Final Four appearances? -- Kennedy Anderson, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
VITALE: I really think Alabama can be that type of team, though I don't know if they can rival LSU's numbers, finishing with 28 big Ws. 'Bama got a tough break with Jeremy Hays, who has to be the tough-luck kid in college basketball, working so hard to rehab his knee and then developing a tumor on his calf, which is fortunately non-malignant. Hays can only play 15-20 minutes a night. Alabama has outstanding athletes in Gerald Wallace and Rod Grizzard, and coach Mark Gottfried has a team that can create noise in the SEC. That's especially true with some of the early upsets in the league, so they can be a Rip Van Winkle team on the horizon, a la Charlotte.

Dickie V, who has the best chance of winning the NCAA championship? Also, who shoots the best area code J in the NCAA? -- Josh Osness, Merrill, Wis.
VITALE: I picked Duke in my magazine but certainly Arizona is right up there and I also love Maryland. The Terrapins looked so impressive against Louisville and they have depth. The arrival of All-Marco Polo Byron Mouton gives Maryland another scorer and that's special since they return all five starters. We know about their talented trio, which may be the best threesome in America: Terence Morris, Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter. My top member of the All-AT&T Team of long-range bombers is Jason Kapono of UCLA, who can flat out shoot.

Who do you think will be the top prospect from the class of 2000-2001? If Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, etc. had gone to college, do you think either one of these two -- or someone else who did not attend college or stayed in school for the entire time (Baron Davis, Larry Hughes) -- would have been the greatest college basketball player of all-time? Imagine Ed Cota, Jerry Stackhouse, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Rasheed Wallace? Greatest assembled talent of all-time? Cota should be in the league! Best passing guard in college -- ever! -- Charles Johnson, Orangeburg, S.C.
VITALE: There's no doubt if you look at the progress of Bryant and Garnett as NBA superstars that they would have been among the best ever to lace them up in the college game. With collegiate background and the teaching they would have received, in growing as players, they would have put up stats -- but that doesn't tell you if you are a complete player. It's learning the nuances of how to win and I think they would have gained that on the collegiate level. Right now, Shane Battier has to come to the head of the list of future prospects. He comes to the table with everything you like -- size, range as a shooter, a winning attitude, unselfish approach.

How hard is it going to be for the University of Missouri to keep Quin Snyder around after his contract is up? Everyone knows that he is a great coach and will be looking to move on to a bigger-name school in the future. Do you think that he will stick around for some more? -- Scott Hovis, Jefferson City, Mo.
VITALE: Quin Snyder is part of that new breed which is creating a lot of excitement. Guys like Snyder, Matt Doherty, Tommy Amaker, Billy Donovan and Steve Alford are all former players who understood about winning. They are all disciples of guys who knew how to win. Think about Pitino, Knight, Roy Williams, Krzyzewski, Dean Smith. I think Snyder will be a hot item every year; he has enthusiasm, spirit, can recruit and has great personality.

As a longtime suffering Illini fan, who graduated in 1989, do you think Illinois has the talent to make a run at the Final Four with coach Self's more open offense? P.S. I think after this year, once he gets more comfortable with the extra weight, Brian Cook will be the second coming of Tim Duncan. -- Ken Kamper, Chicago
VITALE: If Cook is half the player that Tim Duncan was, you'd have yourself a world-class player. Cook has the potential to be very good, as does another big man in the state of Illinois, DePaul's Steven Hunter. Now is the time to come through. For Cook, he will be tested early against the likes of Maryland, Duke and Arizona, three of the top teams in the nation.

I was at the Memphis-Temple game this past weekend and the Pyramid was electric! I have not seen this much excitement for Memphis basketball in years. How long do you think it will take before coach Cal can turn the Tigers into a national power like they were years ago? -- Hunter Gremore, Memphis, Tenn.
VITALE: If he has all the recruits arrive on campus, led by Dejuan Wagner, I think they will make an impact next year. I was surprised they lost the opener to Temple with all of that enthusiasm. The guard play of the Owls prevailed in the second half, coming back from a nine-point deficit. Certainly, with over 20,000 fans there, the enthusiasm will become contagious. I feel they will win some games which people aren't anticipating, but they will also lose to some people that aren't expected. That's the stage they are going through right now.

My question concerns Freddie Williams, the Texas point guard. I went to high school with Freddie at Evans High in Augusta, Ga. I remember him playing against current NBAers Vonteego Cummings and Will Avery as well as CBA rookie Ricky Moore. He pretty much used these players up when he was in eighth grade and starting varsity for our high school (they were all upperclassmen). He is one of the best ballhandlers I have ever seen (if not the best) and now he has improved his shot. I was just wondering how you think he stacks up against other NCAA guards. Do you think he will make the NBA someday? How far do you think he can take Texas? -- Jonathan Martindale, Athens, Ga.
VITALE: Right now he'd better not worry about the NBA but rather Jason Williams, Chris Duhon and Duke. The pressure will be tough, trying to force turnovers. Rick Barnes told me that Williams is a good ballhandler. Williams came out of Delta JC and he played against good competition, as you said, from his Georgia days. He looks like he'll be a good one.

What does Stanford need to do this year to get back to the Final Four? -- Big Todd, Chico, Calif.
VITALE: If Michael MacDonald gives Stanford the productivity he did in the opener, looking for his shot, that will help a lot. They have size with the Collins twins and Casey Jacobsen gives them a wing player. Curtis Borchardt was a surprise player before getting hurt last year; he gives them size and blocks shots. Justin Davis could be a factor when he returns; he is currently out with an abdominal strain.