TOURNEY V-MAIL: March 21

Q: Do you think the return of Carlos Boozer to the Duke lineup will disrupt the Blue Devils' current small lineup and the success it has brought them? -- Kyle Mikulin, San Marcos, Texas

	Carlos Boozer has missed the tourney so far, but he's due back for UCLA.

VITALE: I don't think it will hurt their chemistry at all. If anything, it's a plus to have a player of his caliber available. I don't think it is going to be a factor to adjust to Boozer. He will have to adjust to the things they are doing. He provides an inside scoring threat and a strong body to neutralize a guy like UCLA's Dan Gadzuric, who has been giving teams fits

. Q: Being a Virginia fan, I was disappointed with the loss to Gonzaga. I really feel the Zags are much better than a No. 12 seed. Given the fact that Gonzaga is now in its third Sweet 16, shouldn't the selection committee take prior tournament success into account when seeding teams in the future? -- Scott Lyons, Fredericksburg, Va.
VITALE: I believe that, especially if they return a nucleus from the previous team. In fairness to the committee, they base a lot of the seedings on schedule strength, and if you don't get opportunities to face the big guys, that will affect the seeding. It doesn't seem to affect Gonzaga when it makes the NCAA Tournament, since it plays so well. Dan Dickau was my top PTPer of the early rounds.

Q: Who is the best big man left in the NCAA Tournament? -- Eric Wade, Denver
VITALE: If you classify Shane Battier as a big man at 6-foot-9, and I will, I'd pick him. He's an inside-outside player and a defensive dynamo. From a low-post perspective, I would take Gadzuric. He represents the old-school, post-play center, and he would get some votes. He has been so effective in the first two rounds.

Q: Has anybody in America done a better job of helping a team mature and holding together a team of young and old than Rod Barnes at Ole Miss? No attitudes on this team; they act more like a family. Being a team is what got them this far. What's your take? -- Eddie Wren, Tupelo, Miss.
VITALE: Barnes has done a great job getting them to play in such an unselfish fashion. Ole Miss plays great team defense and helps really well, utilizing the strength of each player. Rahim Lockhart, Jason Harrison, Justin Reed -- Barnes gets the maximum from his personnel.

Q: How do you feel about the ACC now? It looks like the RPI, and not the Vitale Bald-Dome Index, had it right. -- DMar, Chicago
VITALE: I admit when I am wrong, and the RPI does get the edge based on the first two rounds. The embarrassment of Wake Forest and the disappointing loss by North Carolina stand out, but the league does have two teams in the Sweet 16 again, as it has every year since 1979. Duke and Maryland are heavyweights still standing.

Q: What has to happen for Maryland to beat Georgetown on Thursday? I'm a big Terrapin fan, but you can't help but be concerned about the always-scrappy Hoyas -- and they have a huge front line this year. Just once I would like to see Maryland reach even the Elite Eight. -- Doug, San Diego
VITALE: Maryland has to make shots. If Juan Dixon can knock down shots from the perimeter and Lonny Baxter contributes inside, with its depth, I believe it has enough to win. Craig Esherick's concern is the ability to shoot from the perimeter consistently.

Q: Who are the likely candidates to replace Eddie Fogler as the head coach at South Carolina? Do you think there is any chance that the school might reconsider hiring Bobby Cremins? -- Eric Mason, Florence, S.C.
VITALE: I think Cremins would be a great choice. He would get people excited down there. There are a lot of quality young guys out there. I don't want to speculate too much on guys currently coaching. I know Quin Snyder was high on their list, but I understand he is very content coaching at Missouri, where he should have a top-15 team next season.