TOURNEY V-MAIL: March 17
Q: I would like to know why the Big Ten always gets at least seven teams in the tournament. Then, once these seven are in, five of them are out in the first round. That leaves Michigan State and one other lucky sucker to carry the baggage for the rest of the confrence. I think the committee needs to re-evaluate how it decides what teams make the tourney. Maybe the Big Ten isn't the super conference everyone thinks it is. -- Kevin Deacon, Syracuse
VITALE: The committee chooses the best 34 at-large teams, no matter which conference they come from. Penn State and Iowa cemented bids by playing well in the Big Ten tournament. Certainly the losses by Indiana, Ohio State and Wisconsin on the first day left people questioning the Big Ten. Illinois and Michigan State have the potential to carry the league banner for a while.
Q: Given the first-round upsets, shouldn't the tournament selection committee be taking a hard look at the obvious parity that exists in college basketball when it makes its selections? Point being that there are so many great young basketball players today that the majors can't possibly grab them all. The "minor" conferences have shown that great coaching has also helped narrow the gap. It appears that the criteria for picking the very best 64 teams needs to be re-evaluated. Your feelings? -- Al Saban, Cedar Rapids
VITALE: I think the upsets show that there is great parity in college basketball. It also has me wondering whether some of these power conferences are recruiting the right players. They may be taking kids who are highly ranked in the scouting services. It takes chemistry to win.
The mid-majors don't often get the opportunity to prove themselves, so you don't hear as much about them until we get to the tournament. A school like Gonzaga has proven itself the last three years. Butler is not a fluke. These are good programs.
Q: With the terrible first-round performance by Oklahoma State, do you think the Cowboys got into the tourney for sentimental reasons? Or did this factor in? -- Christi, Dallas
VITALE: I think you have to give credit to USC for its performance against Oklahoma State. The Cowboys did win 10 games in the Big 12 and took Texas to the wire in the conference tournament. I don't know that the tragedy earlier in the season had anything to do with their selection. I would say it probably didn't have anything to do with it.
