College Basketball

College Basketball Season

Post College Sports editor Matt Rennie and Post staff writer Eric Prisbell took your questions online on the college basketball season.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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Eric Prisbell: Welcome, everyone. This is a busy and fun week, so enough with the small talk. There are tons of questions. Let's start.

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Evanston, Ill.: I'm excited! If Northwestern beats Michigan in the opening round game tomorrow, they'll be 15-15. Hel-lo, N-I-T!

Matt Rennie: Wilbon! It's nice of you to write in.

Eric Prisbell: Many teams can beat Michigan these days...

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Arlington, Va.: Do you have a prediction on what seed ODU will get?

Eric Prisbell: I had a heated debate with some about this a few days ago. I say 12 or 13, two spots worse than Maryland.

Matt Rennie: A heated debate with WHOM? 12 sounds about right.

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Alexandria, Va.: Afternoon, fellas.

Hoo are the Hoos gonna hire after Gillen's last game tomorrow night? It's so hard to believe that a few months ago, we beat 'Zona and were a top 25 team. What's happened down in C-ville?

Eric Prisbell: Bobby Lutz?
Rick Barnes?
Ronnie Arrow?

Matt Rennie: ready for the name I heard was first on their list? Tubby Smith.

OK, stop the laughing. Mike Brey might be a more realistic choice.

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Baltimore, Md.: Can't believe I'm even entertaining the possibility, but ... Virginia Commonwealth finished second in the CAA, took ODU to overtime in the final. Hopefully, at the very least NIT bound. Any outside chance for an at-large to the NCAAs?

Matt Rennie: As I've said in previous discussion, I consider the CAA among the best of the one-bid leagues, but at least in the committee's eyes, it remains a one-bid league (if ODU had lost, it would have tested that theory).

Eric Prisbell:
It'll be a one-bid league, as the Atlantic 10 probably should be.

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Washington, D.C.: Any word on what the odds are that Gist will be able to play for Maryland tomorrow?

Also, wouldn't it be great if we could forget about this ACC-Big Ten challenge and start an ACC-Big East challenge?

Eric Prisbell: I'll find out about Gist in a couple hours when I talk to Gary Williams. If he can't play, that would hurt Maryland against Sharrod Ford.

Why not the ACC-Pac 10 Challenge? I would love to see Nate Robinson match up against Chris Paul or Felton.

That reminds me, I'm keeping Washington as my Final Four pick. They can run with anybody. Lorenzo kicked the club out of practice recently, so hopefully that will help them on the quest for St. Louis.

Matt Rennie: hey, folks, only a few more weeks of gratuitous Washington references by Prisbell! Savor these moments.
I'm glad there's no ACC-Big East challenge because now fans of both leagues can denigrate one another with virtually ZERO evidence to support their arguments. This city was founded on such rhetoric.

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Centreville, Va.: As the Four seed in the ACC tournament, the Hokies need to get some more respect out of these basketball analysts. How are Md., GT and N.C. State in??? VT was 3-2 vs that group this year ... throw in being 2-0 vs miami and they have probably been more consistent than any of them during the ACC season. GT only had one quality win in the acc - Wake. VT beat MD, GT, NC state, and Duke.

Gotta beat GT Friday to make the tournament in my opinion. IF MD beats Clemson and loses to UNC I don't think they deserve a bid.

Eric Prisbell: Good point. But … V-Tech's RPI approaches infinity. Needless to say, Jerry Palm won't be speaking at a Tech booster function anytime soon…Maryland will probably get in by beating Clemson because the bottom of the tournament field is so mediocre this season.

Matt Rennie: Exactly WHOSE booster functions does Palm speak at? If you look at entire body of work, which the committee must do, you can't disregard Tech's losses to VMI and St. john's. I agree if would be tough to take TWO or THREE teams lower in the conference standings, but ...

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Lincoln, Neb.: Hey fellas,
First thanks for the chat I always enjoy them. Okay now, what is the realistic chance the Terps make the NCAA tourny. Most predictions have them in but I know they will need to beat Clemson to have a shot. Other than beating Duke twice (I know winning in Cameron was huge), what have they done that everyone is so set on them about. Obviously being a huge Terps fan I hope they are correct but the situation they are in really stinks. They have been lucky so far with the mid major tournies as most teams predicted to win have. I know if this continues this will only help them but can you let me know what they really need to do. I sure would sleep better. Thanks and hope you get to this question.

Eric Prisbell: I went back and forth about this for hours studying the teams this weekend. First I had Maryland out. Then everyone else seemed to lose over the weekend. I had Maryland like as my third-to-last team in. It gets pretty bad when New Mexico and Indiana still have a shot, when NC State LOSES a game and bracketologists put them in. It's bad this year. Maryland is in with a win over Clemson. Let's just hope they avoid the Worcester regional.
Bring on Tucson!!

Matt Rennie: Look at it this way: If Maryland ALREADY had a win over Clemson, we probably wouldn't be debating this.

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Warren, Ohio: Who are some top players from lower seeded teams to draft in a scoring March Madness Player Pool?

Eric Prisbell: Excellent question.
Draft Kickert from St. Mary's
Try to grab Bogut early if you can.
Fazekas on Nevada will put up good stats.
Tre Simmons on Washington is someone who can go on a 3-point shooting tear.
Wade on the Cajuns team, I think, is very good.
Yango, the big dude, from Pacific is someone tough to stop

Trade NCM and Garrison for Bogut, then ship Bogut for the entire Washington starting five, which will put up 100 points multiple times next week.

Matt Rennie: Is everyone counting the Washington references?
I completely agree on Bogut, by the way.
What about Niagara's Mendez? If the Purple Eagles can pull a first-round upset, that might be 50 points available in a late round.

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Columbia, Md.: Maybe you guys can help me with a medical problem I recently came down with. Every time I think about Maryland basketball, I get nauseated and start seeing red flashes. Then I black out. When I awaken, I'm usually lying on the floor in the fetal position and somebody has written NIT on my face with black marker. Either of you guys have a good remedy for my condition? One ACC tourney win? Two?

Eric Prisbell: Knock it off. That happened once in Huntsville and it wasn't written on my face, it was my back. And I blame it all on one Mark Komara.

Advice? Sure, burn one NIT bracket per day and continue to drink heavily.

Matt Rennie: I wish we had known about that incident before we hired him.

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Phoenix, Ariz.: After years of lobbying for the ACC tournament to be taken away from a Carolina, Duke, Wake, N.C. State friendly site, Gary Williams finally has his wish with pretty much a home court this year. The only problem is his team stinks and very well may lose the first game against Clemson. What level of blame does Gary get for the Terps terribly disappointing play this year?

Eric Prisbell: He gets his share of blame, and he accepts that blame.
There are a lot of problems with the team. But maybe they can get to the Austin regional anyway, some of us can hope.

Matt Rennie: And this might not be such a home court advantage: The Terps have lost four of their last six in MCI, all in the BB&T.

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Cincinatti, Ohio: Matt, Eric -- care to favor us with some upset predictions for the conference tourneys this week? Thanks, guys.

Eric Prisbell: These are the teams I think will do well, although they may not win the conference tournaments:

Memphis
LSU
Michigan State
Oklahoma
Villanova

Matt Rennie: All good picks if you're taking fliers. I don't think Michigan State or Oklahoma will win their leagues, but i think Villanova and Memphis are intriguing possibilities with decent shots, although each would have to get past a red-hot favorite (UConn. and Louisville, respectively).

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Helena, Mont.: Three of the four #1s are set w/N.C., Illinois and Wake Forest. How about #4? I'd vote for Kentucky.

Matt Rennie: (A) I don't think Wake's No. 1 seed is "set." (B) I think Kentucky very well might get a No. 1 seed, but if it happens, I'll be picking the No. 2 seed to come out of that bracket.

Eric Prisbell: Arizona, I think, has an outside shot at a top seed. I'd watch them.

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Silver Spring, Md.: I am so sick and tired of reading articles like the one Mike Wise wrote the other day that state that the reason Md. is having such an up and down season is because of the play of John Gilchrist. The reason MD is having an up and down season is because Gary Williams, Nik Caner-Medley, the Washington Post, my own father, etc., all want Gilchrist to be Steve Blake, who he isn't. I went through all Md.'s box scores and came up with a telling statistic. Games in which Gilchrist takes 12+ shots vs Caner Medley taking 12+ shots and Md.'s record (ACC games) ...

Gilchrist 9-4(5-2) <12 7-7(2-7)
Caner Medley 12+ 9-8(6-7) <12 7-3(1-2)

hmmmmmmm -- 7-3 when Caner Medley takes less than twelve shots and 2-7 when Gilchrist takes less than twelve shots .... Who do you want shooting the ball Thursday and Friday as Md. tries to play it's way into the tournament???

Matt Rennie: Silver Spring, my friend, you need to watch the games and not the boxscores. If you couldn't see a disconnect during the Tech game between the point guard and THE REST OF THE TEAM, let alone the coach, then you weren't paying attention.

Eric Prisbell: There are no internal problems at all with Gilchrist and the team. None at all. In fact, Wise will be invited to Gilchrist's birthday party, along with JR Pinnock.

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Willow, Alaska: Pacific is the ONLY conference undefeated. Who would you like to see matched up against them in the big show?

Pacific a Sweet 16 candidate?

Hardwood Grits
Cabin Dweller

Eric Prisbell: No question about it. I think Pacific can beat Duke in the second round.
The Tigers can go to the Sweet 16 unless they get a raw deal in seeding and wind up against Louisville, Washington, UConn or another hot team in the second round. They are a balanced team and I would love to see them play Duke.

Matt Rennie: Grits, dah-ling, how are you? People forget that Pacific pulled a decent upset LAST year, beating Providence. And look at what direction each program went since.

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East Lansing: Eric: enjoy your work. Must be tough having to carry Rennie all the time ...

Anyway, how about Sparty? Do you guys think Izzo has them primed and ready to be a sleeper in the tourney?

Matt Rennie: This is one of my innumerable friends in East Lansing ...

Eric Prisbell: The only reason Rennie can't carry me is because I tend to put on at least 15 pounds this month, although this year I am doing a little better.

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Stuck inside of Mobile ...: Montana or Weber State for the Big Sky title?

Have either of you ever been to one of these locales? How's the local brew? The local chili? The local hoosegow?

... with the Memphis Blues, again.

Eric Prisbell: The NCAA tournament is always better with Weber State in it - that's a given - so I root for Weber State often and always. At times, I still wonder why they got rid of that coach that helped them to the great performance against UNC. I have mixed feelings toward the state of Montana. In short, I hate Butte, Montana.

I've been to both places. I bought Weber State shorts that I still wear during pickup games in the summer.

Matt Rennie: David Larimer, who put in a lot of hours copy-editing the ACC special section that will be in tomorrow's editions, is from Montana and a huge Griz fan, so I'll go that way. Never been but he brought back some huckleberry treats that were FABULOUS.

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Springfield, Va.: What happens to this Maryland team if they lose tomorrow and go to the NIT and bow out early there? I get a sense that Gary Williams just doesn't have an answer for their erratic play and the Terps will struggle next year as well.

Eric Prisbell: What happens to this Maryland team if they lose tomorrow and go to the NIT and bow out early there? They would end their season.

I think Maryland will be better next season because most of the ACC will lose key players to the NBA draft.

Matt Rennie: And Maryland may get an addition-by-subtraction via the NBA draft. Plus, Strawberry should return healthy.

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Blacksburg, Va.: Who other than the top three in the ACC do you see in the Big Dance? Do the Hokies stand any chance of getting in, and what would they need to do this weekend to make it back to the tourney for the first time in a decade?

Eric Prisbell: Georgia Tech and Maryland.

If it's anybody else, I'm in hot water because I've only completed capsules for five ACC teams and deadline flew by about three days ago.

Matt Rennie: You're telling me! If the Hokies beat Georgia Tech, you better be in this office Friday night.

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Detroit, Mich.: Matt,

I know that you are a University of Michigan graduate and that you are a die-hard Wolverines fan. What happened to Blue this season? The season looked so promising after last year's NIT championship. Will Tommy be fired do you think? Thanks in advance for your valuable insight.

Matt Rennie: Shouts out, Motown. My mom just flew in from Detroit this morning to visit my wife and kids (I, of course, will never see her before she leaves Sunday).
Michigan rarely was able to put its best personnel on the floor thanks to injuries and criminal problems off the court. Amaker can't be blamed for the former, tho he has to take some responsibility for the latter.
I don't think he'll get fired this year, tho if someone came calling (Virginia, hello?), he might want to cut bait and get a fresh start.

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Lincoln, Neb.: What is wrong with Gist?

Eric Prisbell: Gist bruised his knee in Monday's practice. Update later today.

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Ames, Iowa: Matt, I think Iowa State might be the most underrated team in the country. What do you think of their chances in the NCAAs?

Matt Rennie: Ah, Ames, a drinking town with a basketball problem. Clearly, its denizens can't be trusted with their own personal computers (nor with Hennessy and coffee back at 2 in the morning, but that's another story).
The 'Clones certainly finished strong, which should count for something. They better beat Baylor, but then I think they're in and a team I wouldn't want to play in the first round.

Eric Prisbell: I think Iowa State is a poor man's Maryland.

And Ames is a poor man's Amarillo.

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Baltimore, Md.: I just took UConn to win the whole shebang at 21:1 odds. What do you think of that pick, and who are some other dark horses with a chance to win it all?

Eric Prisbell: To win it all?
What's the odds for Washington?
Check Louisville.
Check Villanova's odds, too.
Take a long look at Arizona.
Look at the SEC, then look away.

Matt Rennie: 21 to 1 on UConn? I'd have to check the Huskies' Beyer Speed Figures, but I'd think that's fairly astute wager.

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Springfield, Va.: Did Chris Paul's cheap shot punch to Julius Hodge kill his chance to be both ACC and NCAA player of the year?

Eric Prisbell: I don't think so. As far as nationally, Andrew Bogut has been so dominant I don't think he can be overlooked.

Matt Rennie: Mark Schlabach would tell you that this incident was completely out of character for Paul; it was just more public. I see Bogut has joined Washington and Texas-Corpus Christi in the Prisbell Hall of Fame.

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Arlington, Va.: Enough with Maryland. Lets talk about a team that beat them, GW. Two wins in the A-10 tournament and GW should be dancing, agreed?

Eric Prisbell: I think if GW gets to the final of the A-10 tourney they are in. The bottom of the field is so weak, they'd have to be in. But they deserve it, I believe.

Matt Rennie: Agreed. But it would be nice to see the Colonials put together the consistency to win the thing.

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Arlington, Va.: How far does GW have to go in the A-10 tournament this week to get into the field of 65?

Eric Prisbell: The A-10 final.

Matt Rennie: asked and answered.

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Beached Terrapin: So can we expect John Gilchrist to invite Exree Hipp to that party?

Eric Prisbell: Hipp only holds his own parties.

Matt Rennie: Have you ever been?

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Washington, D.C.: I heard a rumor there is in fact a third team from the D.C. area, in addition to Maryland and Georgetown, that plays basketball and is on the bubble. Is it true, and if so, any idea who that team would be?

Eric Prisbell: Hmmm. Not sure. Maybe it's GW, but maybe it's a mystery team like Mike Wise's rec league team. That's always a possibility. Wise's team has a worse RPI than Longwood.

Matt Rennie: Oh, give me a break. Perhaps if we had sent a third writer and a second columnist to the GW-St. Joe's game, the Colonials would have stayed within 10.

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Where's the love?: How about some discussion of the Big East Tournament? Who is going to come out strong? And what's up with Syracuse? Are they just tired? And can they get rested enough to go to the sweet 16 in the NCAA's?

Eric Prisbell: I like how Villanova and UConn are playing now.

I still see Cuse getting to the Sweet 16.

But I'll stick with nova as my sleeper pick for today.

Matt Rennie: Agreed. Villanova and UConn. are as hot as anyone in the country.

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Arlington, Va.: Despite the loss to Gonzaga in the WCC championship game, will Saint Mary's still receive a birth in the tournament?

Eric Prisbell: Yes, St. Mary's has been one of the best stories of the year. The Gaels definitely deserve it.

Matt Rennie: St. Mary's not only deserve it, but might be around for the weekend, too.

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Kensington, Md.: Hey there fellas,

Do my Dayton Flyers have to win the A-10 tourney to get into the NCAA's or can they afford to just win a couple of games and get in?

Sincerely,
Overly Optimistic

Eric Prisbell: I think Dayton has to win it.

Matt Rennie: Really? If I were taking anyone as a sleeper in the A-10, it would be Xavier.

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Arlington, Va.: What does the loss to Ohio State mean for the Illini? Do you subscribe to the "it's good for them to drop a game before the tournament" theory?

Eric Prisbell: I think you try to win all the games you can. That's what Jerry Tarkanian, the last team to coach an undefeated team into the tournament, believes, so I do, too.

Matt Rennie: I don't believe in the "good loss." The Illini will still get a No. 1 seed, tho. No question.

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Transplanted from S.C. to Washington, D.C.: Will Oliver Purnell be the man to finally turn around Clemson basketball? Oh, why did Rick Barnes leave us?

Eric Prisbell: Maybe. But they need to get Ford a few more years of eligibility.
They also have a good recruiter as an assistant. What's his name? What's his name? Nickelberry, I think.

Matt Rennie: Purnell's situation is interesting. What's better? Coaching at a good program in a mid-major league or at the worst program in the best conference?

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Baltimore, Md.: Hmm. UConn is already down to 15-1.

Odds on your other longshots:
Arizona 16-1
Louisville 20-1
Villanova 25-1
Washington 18-1

What do you think about Kansas -- will all its seniors give it an advantage in the tourney?

Eric Prisbell: 20-1 on Louisville is great. Grab that.

Take Washington for the Final Four, too.

Matt Rennie: I've liked Kansas all season, though I'm starting to worry the Jayhawks may be banged up at the wrong time.

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Tempe, Ariz.: Eric -- I have read your columns all year regarding the Terps and listened to the players say the right things. All year Garrison, Gilchrist, Caner-Medley, coach Williams have all said the team is ready to play better and turn things around. Well, after a year of talk they are 7-9 in conference and looking directly at the NIT. Can you put together what went wrong with these guys?

Eric Prisbell: One of my many friends from Tempe …

There are plenty of problems:
The defense has been poor lately.
Gilchrist at times has been a distraction.
The front court has been a disappointment.
The loss of DJ strawberry really hurts.
Not every opponent is Duke.

Matt Rennie: But other than that?

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Washington, D.C.: I'm all for small schools getting into the tourney, but isn't it completely ridiculous that a 12-18 team can get in just by getting hot in their conference tourney? How many way more deserving schools just got their hopes crushed? Without getting too BCS-ish, there needs to be some kind of rule to keep sub .500 teams out.

Eric Prisbell: I actually like the fact that a team like Oakland can get into the tournament. It's pure craziness, which is what this month is all about.

Matt Rennie: I agree. And this is why the field should never be expanded beyond what it is. The conference tournaments already mean everybody technicalltechnicalot to win it all.

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Champagne, Ill.: What about the Flying Ilini? This team is much more complete than the 1989 team coached by LouDo Henson!

Eric Prisbell: Yeah, I heard they are having a decent season.

I'll pick them to reach the final and lose to UNC.

Matt Rennie: So who beats Washington in the Final Four? UNC or Illinois?

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Henderson, Nev.: Hey guys, it seems Gary Williams has failed this year to do what he does best, mold a team into his image. The team plays most nights with no intensity especially on the defensive end. Given that Gary hasn't lined up any great recruits for next year and most if not all of the key guys will be back next year, does it suddenly look bleak for Maryland basketball? Or will Gary get the team somehow to play better next year and beyond?

Eric Prisbell: I think there will be more stability next season, and also a sense of urgency within the program. I think Maryland will have a strong season next year.

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Arlington, Va.: Fellas,
I've been hearing Big East fans talk about how dominant their conference has been all season.
I guarantee that if the top eight teams in the Big East played the top eight in the ACC, the ACC would go 7-1.
Thoughts?

Also, how many teams from the Big East/ACC get in? I think it's unfair to penalize the middle of the pack teams in the ACC because the top three teams are so good. Carolina, Wake and Duke would be the top three teams in ANY conference -- therefore, it's tougher to get in-league victories in the ACC.

Eric Prisbell: 6 from the Big East
5 from the ACC

but things could change this week.

Matt Rennie: My thoughts are that I would love to see you get together with one of the ACC fans who write regularly to this chat.

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Arlington, Va.: Who do you think will be this year's Gonzaga, i.e. a previously little known or overlooked school that catches fire in the tourney and becomes an instant fan favorite? Last year it might have been Nevada, although Manhattan came close after beating Florida but then couldn't hang out against Wake Forest. What about Pacific this year?

Eric Prisbell: Well, I've been emailing quotes from coaches - Mark Fox, Bob Thomason, Lorenzo Romar - to my fiancé to get her pumped up for the tournament. (It hasn't worked; in fact, it makes her nauseous.) But she pinpointed Pacific as THE sleeper this season and I tend to agree.

I could easily see Utah in the Sweet 16 because Bogut might go on a tear.

Matt Rennie: People have become so tournament-savvy, the definition of sleeper has changed. It used to be any team that wasn't on TV all season. Now EVERYONE is on TV.

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Salt Lake City, Utah: I was wondering your perspective on Maryland's lack of consistency this year. Most experts think Gilchrist is a major reason for the team's demise but is it really that simple of an answer? Will replacing him with an unproven Sterling Ledbetter this year make that much of a difference? The makeup of next year's team right now looks pretty much exactly like this year's selfish underachieving bunch which doesn't bode well for future success.

Eric Prisbell: I could see Ledbetter providing some stability at point guard. But Sterling is not capable of what John did last year in the ACC tournament. So you may gain one thing and lose another.

Matt Rennie: Tho right now, I think Ledbetter playing might lead to better performances from players such as NCM and McCray.

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Arlington, Va.: So, does John Gilchrist have a "spectrum" disorder (such as ADHD) that causes him to lose concentration unless he is in an intense, adrenalin-induced emotional state? What have you heard about this? Thanks.

Eric Prisbell: I have no idea. But, and I am being totally serious, who doesn't? I mean, your description basically sums up me throughout school and in any month except March. I'm serious. I think everyone has some issues, but a lot of people don't have them seen in a public forum.

Matt Rennie: That's an excellent point. I lose concentration during these chats.

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Berkeley, Calif.: Any chance Mo Cheeks would want to coach in the NCAA?
Is UVA an attractive enough position to lure him?

Eric Prisbell: Good question. I really like him. I'm not sure of the answer, but I have a good friend in Portland, so I'll ask him.

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Matt Rennie: Thanks for all the questions, folks. Enjoy the games this weekend and have a good Selection Sunday.

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