College Basketball

Washington Post College Sports editor Matt Rennie and Washington Post staff writer Eric Prisbell were online Wednesday, March 8, 11 a.m. ET to examine the college basketball season.

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Matt Rennie: Hello, hoops fans. Before we get started, one caveat: We've been asked not to address questions/comments about Sunday's story on Omar Williams in this forum. Because there is so much interest in the topic, we are in the process of setting up a chat to deal exclusively with it. Watch the Post and post.com for the date and time of that one.

Now on with the show ...

Eric Prisbell: Hello, everyone. Live from Greensboro. Lots of MVC and Maryland questions today. I'm surprised there's not more about Mason. If you have any comments, ideas or criticisms this week, drop me an email at espbell@aol.com. Let's start.

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Washington, DC: Hey,

So do you guys read the college chat boards? B/c GW students are maaaaaaaaaaaaad at you (what else is new?). They have streams going with such titles as "How to Strike back at the Post" and "Strategy for Prisbell tomorrow". Just thought you might like to know, since you onlt gave a little blurb to the (boring) A-10 tourney today, and GW obviously thinks they deserved A-01 coverage.

BTW, great write ups on the BET (the second best tourney ion the country) and bubble teams.

Eric Prisbell: To be honest, the day I read an Atlantic 10 message board is the day I put my pen, tape recorder and laptop away, say goodbye to Jerry Palm and Co. and go back to work at the carnival. In other words, I'd rather do NIT bracketology for the next two weeks. It amuses me.

My goal is to make my coverage as good as it can be. Please email me anytime, like many people do, if you have any story ideas, criticism, etc. I like interacting with readers personally to get the pulse.

Matt Rennie: We are handling the A-10 exactly like we handled the CAA, which as a conference is frankly much more interesting. We do a brief box the day the first round starts and then a bigger story when our local participant begins play. that may not satisfy everyone, but it seems fair to me.

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Atlanta, Ga: Help me understand the mystery that seems to be surrounding the Terps chances of dancing. Sport Radio, here in the ATL, keeps saying three games, different websites are saying two - or at least one, and a solid game against BC.

So, Matt, Eric, was to be said for their chances, should they beat GaTech (only)?

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Eric Prisbell: I've gone over the field of bubble teams almost once a day for the past several days. I have 18 teams competing for the last nine slots. Cincy, SH, A&M, UAB, Michigan and Florida State can lock up slots with wins, or maybe even without wins. That would leave only three spots. Hofstra is probably already in, so is Missouri State (yes, another MVC team). That leaves one spot for the likes of Maryland, BYU, Cal, Utah State, etc. to fight over. And they'd better hope there are no upsets.

In other words, Maryland needs to win two games to have a realistic chance. Three, obviously, would be better.

Matt Rennie: I agree that one win is not good enough. the big question in my mind is: What is the Terps' best win without McCray?

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Montgomery Village, Md: Great chats each week.Let me throw out an unusual suggestion.Why not simply expand the NCAA tourney to include all 334 D-1 teams? Seed the top 32 conference regular season champions and pair off all the other teams based on RPI, playing single elimination to determine the other 32 teams in the "Finals". Drop the conference tournaments which for the most part are now irrelevant, except for when there is an upset that results in a much more deserving team being left out of the current 65 team dance. The money "lost" from dropping the conference tournaments would be made up by the additional rounds of the new format. It would do a better job of insuring that the best 32 "at large " teams got in and let performance on the court determine who they would be. Your thoughts?

Matt Rennie: I've actually hears variations of this suggestion before. I guess my feeling is as it stands now, the conference tournaments give everyone (short of the Ivys) a shot at getting into the field of 65. Outside of the abomination that is the play-in game, the NCAA tournament is one of the better-conceived entities in sports, and I wouldn't mess with it much.

Eric Prisbell: I'd like it, I really would. Talk about pure Madness. But I also think it would diminish regular season play too much. This year especially, I think teams that fail to make it won't have a real gripe. The final 3 spots will go to really middling teams. The tournament would not miss them if they were gone.

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Washington, DC: So, I'm trying to rationalize how the USF loss isn't so bad for Georgetown (dropped our RPI about 20 spots, but whatever). In terms of winning conference tournament games, is it number of games won, or how deep you go? Would possibly the first round bye work against us b/c with it, we would only win maybe one game before falling to UCONN, but without it, we can gt 2 wins before UCONN?

I realize even if it is better to win 2 games but go just as deep, that USF game will really hurt our NCAA seeding.

Matt Rennie: I've wondered about this before and I think it varies. Whoever wins the Syracuse-Cincinnati game today definitely gets a bump, but as I said earlier, I don't think beating Ga. Tech does much for Maryland's resume.

Eric Prisbell: I think the SF loss was about as bad of a loss one could have at this point in the season. It surely hurt G-town's seeding, barring a BET run.

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Annadale, Va: Matt/Eric,

I am a WVU Alum. Should I be worried due to their recent slide, albeit to some other very good teams?

Watching them play, it seems like other teams are figuring out how to guard them on the perimeter and they are not getting open shots and as for their lack of rebounding... This year is it for them with 5 seniors set to graduate. Can they continue the magic of the last 14 months and make another run?

Eric Prisbell: I'd be worried as well. Another team reliant on the three-point shot, NC State, has also struggled. The lack of rebounding probably is too much to overcome in my book. But remember, this is when the run began last year, same cast of characters.

Matt Rennie: What's happened recently is what I expected to happen earlier in the season, given the Mountaineers' tournament run last year. It probably depends a little on their draw, but I still wouldn't want to play West Virginia, at least in the first two rounds.

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Lincoln, Neb: Hey Fellas. I was listening to a local talk radio show here in Nebraska last night and they were really dissing Maryland and Gary Williams for some supposed comments he made on the Missouri Valley Conference and the competition each play. It also got brought up that each school in the Valley has left messages for the Maryland athletic department wanting to schedule a home and home series with the Terps because of those comments to show them that they could play with anyone in the country and that the Valley belongs up with conferences such as the Big East, ACC etc. They make it sound like Maryland will only play these teams if it is at UMD. I do not see why it would be such a big deal for MD to play a team in the Valley on the road because heck they showed they can beat Duke at Cameron and no place is tougher than that. The question I have is how do you think a conference like the Valley would match up with the more elite conferences? Granted I do think the Valley has had a good year but they do not have to play the competition night in and night out like the big conferences do. I hope the Valley does not get 5 bids like a lot of prognasticators are saying because I believe that the seeds they would recieve would have at least 4 of those teams being knocked out the first round of the tourny.

Eric Prisbell: Gary's comments seem to be a hot topic. I'd love to see a MVC-ACC challenge. How would MVC teams do in the ACC? I think the MVC teams would do better than most people think but not as good as the MVC people think. We've been in the front seat on the MVC bandwagon all year long, screaming from the hills like Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music, but I can't agree with what commissioner Doug Elgin told me last week - that the MVC is as good as any league other than the Big East.

Matt Rennie: The truth, as usual, lies somewhere in between. Obviously there's no one in the MVC like Duke or UNC (at least the recent version). But that said, I think at least three teams in the MVC could have managed to go 8-8 in this year's ACC.

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Potomac, Md: I'm reading brackets that have George Mason among the Last Four Teams Out of the bracket, with Hofstra going in their place. All because of the Skinn suspension? How ridiculous is that?

Matt Rennie: I don't think you can say picking Hofstra over Mason is all because of the Skinn suspension. It probably has a little to do with Hofstra's two wins over the Patriots in the past 10 days.

Eric Prisbell: I agree with Matt on all fronts.

The CAA seems like a two-bid league this year.

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Washington, DC: Does GW have to win the A-10 Tourney in order to be seriously considered for a NCAA 2 or 3 seed? Thanks, you are great!

Eric Prisbell: I've wrestled with this one myself. I think two toughest decisions for the selection committee will be Mason (Skinn/CAA, etc.) and GW's seeding. I continue to point back to the Zags in 02. Had a few losses, a better nonconference schedule than GW, and they got a 6. Then they play like a 15 and lose to Wyoming.

I'll say it again: I think GW deserves a 4, but I won't be surprised if they get a 6.

If they lose in the conference tourney, the seed may drop one or two slots.

Matt Rennie: Dan Steinberg will have a story in tomorrow's print edition addressing this very topic. He's found some interesting parallels with past teams in similar situations.

Suffice it to say that I don't think there's any way GW gets a 2 and I think a 3 is unlikely at best, even with an A-10 tournament win. Like Eric, I'm not saying it's fair, but I think that's what will happen.

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Seattle Hoosier: What do you think about Indiana's chances to do well at the "dance"? They have played Duke (lost-but played them tough), UConn (lost-but played them tough), and beat all the Big Ten competition at least once...

Eric Prisbell: It's intriguing to say the least. Indiana obviously has quality wins, and those are the highlights on the Hoosiers' resume. I like the story line of Davis making a deep run in the NCAA tournament. By deep run, I mean sweet 16.

Matt Rennie: That would be a story, no doubt. It will be interesting to see how much of a commodity Mike Davis will be. There might not be many great openings this off-season, and he might want a year away.

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Chicago, Ill: Wow, it's nice to see that the first poster thinks that the Big East is the 2nd best tourney after the Big Ten, I tend to think of them as fairly even this year. So, has Gary given anyone at the Post an answer to whether or not he'll accept Missouri State's offer for a home and home, since he obviously isn't calling them back and he seems to only like talking about the MVC with the Post.

Eric Prisbell: I talk to Gary at 4 p.m.

Matt Rennie: That should be an interesting conversation.

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Colonial Athletic Association:

Which do think is the most likely scenario regarding the NCAA tourney and the CAA:

1. Only the automatic bid

2. Hofstra gets the at-large bid

3. George Mason gets the at-large bid

4. The CAA gets two at-large bids

GMU losing to Hofstra (who now owns a better record and a higher RPI) twice in the past two weeks is bad news for their at-large chances, I fear.

Eric Prisbell: No. 2

Hofstra and UNC-Wilmington get in, I think. Things could change. Keep track of what the other bubble teams do the next few days. The worst-case scenario played out for Mason. Actually, worse than the worst-case scenario because no one could have envisioned Skinn punching a kid in the groin and getting suspended for the next game. Mason could become the team with the best RPI ever to be left out.

Matt Rennie: I don't think Mason is getting in. I think No. 2 is the most likely scenario, but I also wouldn't be shocked, should enough of the teams Eric mentioned in today's story on the bubble make some noise in the next couple days, if the CAA was left with only its automatic bid after all the talk. That would be a shame.

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Wheaton, Md.: What do you think about Maryland, Florida State, and Clemson's chances to make the NCAAs? Maryland did beat a good Arkansas team, as well as Boston College, and finished 8-8 in conference play. All three of these teams beat their Big Ten opponents in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, which was won by the ACC. Don't all three of these teams merit serious consideration by the selection committee?

Eric Prisbell: Clemson's chances?

Sharrod Ford is not walking through the door anytime soon.

Matt Rennie: Florida State gets in, I think. Maryland has to win minimally two more games, and Clemson has no shot.

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Washington, DC: Now that the Big East tournament (the premiere tournament in the land) has started, will you be on your way to NY or are you stuck covering the ACC tourney?

Eric Prisbell: We've got the BE tourney covered. I'm at the ACC tourney, which could also be good. UNC is turning into a really good story. Might check out the MEAC final if Coppin makes a run.

Matt Rennie: The Post lineup through the weekend, for those curious:

Big East: Camille Powell and Michael Wilbon.

Atlantic 10: Dan Steinberg and Mike Wise.

ACC: Eric Prisbell and John Feinstein.

And crunching all the numbers in order to make his flawless predicitions in Monday's special section: Mr. Tony.

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Silver Spring, Md: As a UNC alum, I'm absolutely floored by how much the Heels have improved this year. They're not the best team in the conference, but they have the potential to upset any team in the NCAA tournament, including UConn and Villanova.

My question is this: what top 10 teams are on the rise that you expect to finish strong in the tourney, and which teams on a downward slide do you expect to falter? I wasn't impressed by Gonzaga's near-loss the other night.

Eric Prisbell: If I were a Zags fan, I'd be petrified. They remind of Wake last year - no defense.

The next three weeks, I'd lean on these teams in the bracket:

Nova

UConn (scares me a bit)

Texas

Memphis

Duke (scares me more than a bit)

Nevada can reach the Sweet 16.

LSU can make a deep run if the freshman is healthy.

UCLA is a solid sweet 16 choice. Forget the rest of the Pac-10 this year, although Washington has overachieved to a degree.

Florida, Zona -- to me -- are ripe for early losses in the NCAAs.

Matt Rennie: The cast of characters change but the words "Florida and Arizona are ripe for early losses in the NCAAs" remain one of the seminal truths of basketball.

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Tar-heel madness: Think there's an outside chance of the Heels snatching a #1 seed if they win the ACC tourney in a landslide, including another win over Duke? That would make them a lock for a 2 seed, at least, I would think.

Eric Prisbell: Good question. I've thought about this and I don't think they can get to a 1.

They can be a 2 seed, however.

Duke, Nova, UConn, Memphis and Texas seem to be in line for No. 1 consideration, with Ohio State closing fast. Wait until Greg Oden gets to Columbus.

Early prediction for 2007: UNC, UCLA, Ohio State

Matt Rennie: I think if UNC beat Duke in the ACC final, the Tar Heels would certainly put themselves in the discussion, but I agree with Eric. A 2 seems most likely.

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Alexandria, Va: Big Ups to all the local teams, whether we get 2 teams or 4 in the tourney, what an exciting season. Looks like DC should be on the map for sometime.

Now to Business. I'm a huge Duke fan, but I'm starting to shiver a little. 2 conference losses is no way to end an otherwise stellar season. JJ has looked awful the last 4-5 games. I know Wilbon or TK (their like Twins the Movie) touched on the fact that the race to ACC Scoring and ect... had beat down the poor kid. JJ is historically average in the NCAA, and he's been cold for quite sometime, which won't bode well this weekend. My question. Does Duke make a strong run in the next two tourneys? What is your take on this team after the beatdown their biggest rival gave them at home on Senior night. I hope the Devils get the last laugh, but UNC is just scaring people right now (The old Freshman Adage that Tournament Ignorance is Tournament bliss comes to mind).

Thanks this weekend will be thrilling!

Eric Prisbell: Duke is causing me a lot of anxiety because I picked a Duke-Nova final before the season. Two great seniors, no consistent third option. Can be shaky at the point with a freshman. I will be watching Duke in the ACC tourney very closely. I still think Duke can make a Final Four run, depending upon the matchups.

Interesting to see both Redick and Morrison struggle recently.

Matt Rennie: very interesting. It seems like lots of media saved Redick-Morrison pieces for this past week and both have struggled. The current theme in the ACC is that the UNC freshmen have developed much more rapidly than those at Duke.

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Silver Spring, Md: I am pretty sick of the MVC personally. What is the farthest an MVC team has EVER gone in the NCAA's, the sweet 16? The ACC has 2 team tehre every single year.... Ditto the CAA, go to a final four or two(or better yet win a national title) and then you can complain about only getting 1 or 2 teams in. Shoot Gonzaga, king of the mid majors is proud to hang round of 32 banners..... I would rather see a team like Syracuse that COULD catch fire and go to the final four than a team like Mason that COULD catch fire and win 2 games...

Eric Prisbell: Mr. Penders, don't you have practice in 15 minutes?

Matt Rennie: this year, in particular, has illustrated the chasm between the bigs and the littles in college basketball. I, for one, find it a little amusing that the bigs are feeling so persecuted. we'll see Sunday how it all shakes out.

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College Park, Md: As a Terps fan, I thanked the heavens that Loyola-Marymount didn't steal a bid from a more deserving bubble team (although many would argue that Maryland isn't deserving). Do you foresee any more upsets in the mid-major tourneys, or should all the favorites finish the job and leave as many bids open as possible?

Eric Prisbell: Great question.

The Mountain West is anyone's guess. I'd watch BYU, my darkhorse pick right now. Then you have to wonder if SDS has done enough to get in already. Air Force looks to be on track to have one of the best records ever to be left out.

Nevada is playing at home, but both Utah State and La. Tech are dangerous. Millsap could take over the tourney for Tech. Scary conference tournament for the Terps and Mason.

Matt Rennie: doesn't it always seem like that midnight Saturday Big West final steals a bid from some of the hopefuls? In some ways, it makes this week more suspenseful than next week.

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Washington, DC: This is just a comment.

I was disapointed that neither of you were able to attend a home GW game this season at the Smith Center.

Eric Prisbell: So was I. It was a magical season and fans have a lot to be proud of.

Matt Rennie: agreed. I thought I'd make it to a Saturday game before my shift, but the Olympics had me working earlier than usual as I pinch-hit for esteemed Olympics editor Tracee Hamilton.

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Washington, DC: Looking at how the bracket is shaping up, I think there is about a 25% chance that GW is in the DC region.

My quesiton is, if GW plays a sweet 16 game at the MCI center what is the most likely reason why you, Prisbell and Rennie, will decline to attend:

A. A dinner date

B. A 2002 MD highlight video viewing

C. American Idol

D. Traffic

Eric Prisbell: E) Missouri State is holding a pep rally.

"The senior prom is in May" -- Gary Williams

Matt Rennie: You know, I've never watched American Idol nor watched a Maryland highlight video nor been on a dinner date with Eric (unless you count a post-tournament sangria-soaked feast at jaleo with about eight other people last year). I have been stuck in traffic.

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Northern Iowa: Where do you see my Panthers being seeded?

Eric Prisbell: Tough call. Nine-ish?

Matt Rennie: Maybe a little better. But what's the difference between an 8 and 9?

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Kensington, Md: If the last two teams getting into the dance are Mason and Maryland, shouldn't they play in Dayton at the play-in game? Let the winner advance as a 10 seed. The two teams forced to play in Dayton at least won their conference's auto bid and deserve the right to both be 16 seeds.

Eric Prisbell: Good point.

But, remember, Gary Williams said yesterday that his team could beat 20 of the 31 automatic qualifiers.

Matt Rennie: Feinstein has been rattling his sabre about this for some time. It's yet another issue that illustrates the divide between the bigs and the littles. But I think the littles are what make basketball unique. If you want to see big schools rule everything, watch BCS football.

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2 wins possible, but probable?: It seems probable that the terps will beat GT, but I dont' think they can beat BC. How do you think that will impact their big dance hopes? The only person in the world, i think, aside from Gary williams and the terps team, that thinks the terps should be in now, is Tony Kornheiser.

You guys think the terps can make it with 1 win?

Eric Prisbell: Highly doubtful.

You'd need a string of upsets, starting today with Rutgers vs. Seton hall.

Matt Rennie: No, I don't think there's any way and said as much to Mr. Tony. But I don't think he and Gary are the only people who share that opinion. I think there's a lot of backlash toward the mid-majors this year.

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Potomac, Md: "I'd love to see a MVC-ACC challenge."

Enough with the Affirmative Action talk already. The MVC is the MVC for a reason. Their RPI is a fluke. It's just like some kid at a DC public school getting into the National Honor Society. In Potomac or McLean that kid would be in a remedial program. The DC kid and the real students are part of the same "society", but anyone with a brain (like the Committee) knows they are far different. The Committee knows regardless of the numbers and the liberal hype that the MVC teams belong in the the military (the NIT), and that teams who play real schedules like ACC and Big Ten teams belong on Wall Street (the Tournament). That's how it is, so keep your tongue in your mouth when the CAA gets shut out and the MVC gets ONE at-large bid. Potomac OUT!

Eric Prisbell: MVC gets one at-large??

The MVC and CAA should get at least seven combined bids. That is probably what is going to happen, like it or not.

Matt Rennie: Potomac, I think you're in for a rude awakening on Sunday. And while you're at it, you might want to spend some time at a DC public school before deciding who works harder to get good grades. Not too many kids being dropped off by the chaffeured Land Rovers.

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Chantilly, Va: Is it my imagination or does this year more than any in recent years provide us with a wide open field in the NCAA tournament? While several teams have had a great year in terms of wins and losses and even strength of schedule, there doesn't seem to be any team out there whose loss on any given night would really be called an upset. Is this one of those years when the winner could easily come out of the blue?

Eric Prisbell: The past two seasons, the most talented teams have won national titles. If that is the case this year, it's UConn. I think the national title picture consists of 5 or 6 teams that can win it. After that, there might be 25 teams with a decent chance at making a surprising run. More parity after the top group this year, I think. But if history is any indication, lean on the favorites.

Unexpected champions - Kansas, Villanova and NC State - haven't come through since 1988. Go with the most talented teams - Uconn, Nova, Texas, Duke and Memphis.

Matt Rennie: I think the selection of the at-larges and the seedings of some of the automatics (GW, Gonzaga) is more intriguing than ever. But I think I could pick five teams right now -- U-Conn., Villanova, Memphis, Texas, and one other, say Duke right now for the sake of discussion -- and be pretty confident one of them will win it all.

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Lusby, Md: Hofstra? Missouri State? No way should either go before the Terps. Yeah, I know they have nice RPIs, but put them in the ACC and neither one does better than 4-12. I know it's Maryland's own fault that they're on the bubble, but the idea of taking teams like Hofstra and Missouri State is absurd. Just look at schedule strength. If Maryland plays the 250th instead of the 11th toughest schedule, like many of these mid- and low-major teams, they have 23 wins and are in.

Eric Prisbell: I'd be surprised if both hofstra and Missouri State do not get in over Maryland.

Matt Rennie: I'm not clear on why Maryland should get credit for LOSING to Duke and UNC. Again, whom have the Terps beaten this season? And more importantly, whom without McCray?

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Herndon, Va: Gentlemen: Local schools and their NCAA shots: George Mason - dead; Georgetown - lucky to reach the Sweet 16; GWU - Sweet 16 IF Pops is back; Maryland - NCAA if two wins at the ACC, then who knows??

Agree?

Eric Prisbell: Mason is not quite dead, but they probably need a few bubble teams to lose.

Matt Rennie: I think you're in the ballpark, Herndon, but I still think the Hoyas are a tough out despite the South Florida loss, which was abysmal. Maryland might get in with two wins, but I not only don't think it will win two, I don't think they'll do anything in the tournament if they're lucky enough to get there. I don't see how beating Miami at home and Virginia on the road -- both barely -- is making many forget how flawed this team is.

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Gaithersburg, Md: Hello - did either or both of you make it to the Charlotte game on Saturday? It was a real party - Dan Steinberg commented on George Washington student radio WRGW yesterday about the great atmosphere. How far do you think the Colonials will go in the NCAA tourney?

Eric Prisbell: Sweet 16.

Matt Rennie: Agreed, if Pops is healthy, and GW doesn't get a bad draw (i.e. a team that could really slow down the tempo and take away GW's athleticism; I don't think there are many teams like that.)

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Bethesda, Md: Matt,

Why do you say there is backlash toward the mid-majors?

Matt Rennie: well, read on ...

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Arlington, Va: Just a comment - The day when one of the "biggies" actually schedules a home and home with one of the mid-majors is the day that I will start taking their criticism of the mid-majors more seriously. At this point they sound like nothing other than spoiled little babies.

Eric Prisbell: Thanks for the question, Coach. And, yes, I think your conference, the MVC, will get five in.

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Washington, DC: You and the other so-called experts are rating Hofstra, Missouri State, George Mason, MVC teams, and assorted other weaklings higher than the Terps? Are you on drugs? HOFSTRA??? And, we're supposed to believe that the ACC should get the same number of teams into the Dance even though it has expanded? Give me a break.

HOFSTRA?????

Eric Prisbell: I would rate Missouri State and Hofstra over Maryland right now. Mason is in trouble. We know the situation -- Maryland probably needs two wins. We'll find out on Sunday.

Maryland is 2-7 on the road.

Matt Rennie: and here's the "backlash" I was talking about.

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College Park, Md: I have a two-part question:1. When the NCAA Selection Committee chooses the field, does it select the better team or the team that had the better season?

2. What side dishes will Prisbell be eating with his crow when Maryland makes the tournament?

Eric Prisbell: It will probably be an oatmeal cookie, or six of them, because that's about all they have during these regionals. Just match Maryland with a Missouri Valley team so we can write about Gary Williams and the band of MVC coaches engaging in a steel-cage death match - Jerry Palm as the ref.

(They pick the best 34 at-large teams, the teams, in my opinion, that have the best chance to win a game and advance.)

Matt Rennie: As for your first question, how better to evaluate teams than their bodies of work over the course of a full season? I don't buy "Well, this team didn't play very well the past four months but they're still better."

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Cleveland Park, Washington, DC: St. Joe's coach Phil Martelli has said that a team that faces GW in the A-10 Championship game should be considered for the NCAA tourney. Do you agree? If LaSalle or UNC-Charlotte plays GW close, should they get in? (Martelli's scenario doesn't leave room for his Hawks, as they would have to face GW earlier in the tournament, if at all).

Matt Rennie: One decent argument I heard the announcers make during the GW-Charlotte game was that Charlotte could easily finish among the top three in the CAA and that seems to be putting UNCW, Hofstra and Mason in the mix, but Charlotte is getting no such consideration. It's a little tought to argue with that.

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washingtonpost.com: washingtonpost.com's Jason Feller will be online Wednesday, March 8, at noon ET to field questions and comments about the "Tip-Off Challenge," where readers can pick the best local men's college basketball team of all time.

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Washington, D.C.: Just wondering...how do you select the questions for the chat? Is it the two of you or a moderator? Any advice for getting our getting our questions in? Does it help to submit early? Thanks!

washingtonpost.com: It helps to be polite and have good spelling.

Eric Prisbell: We've got tons and tons of questions here. Some are better than others. But I like all of them. Thanks for sending them in.

Matt Rennie: We try to vary the topics somewhat, but if we get 20 questions along the same theme, we might address it mroe than once. Our producer, the mighty Kim, is the first line of defense, but then Eric and I choose and get to as many as we can within the hour (or in this case, longer).

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Bethesda, Md: My coworker thinks the Terps beating BC in the Quarters will be enough to get them in the Tournament. I think he's nuts--BC gets no respect from the Committee (and rightfully so, but that's another discussion). I think the Terps MIGHT have a chance if they make the final by beating Carolina, but to be safe they better take the ACC Tournament.

Eric Prisbell: I think 2-1 in the ACC tournament would give Maryland a pretty good chance to earn one of the final three slots and enter the NCAA tournament as a No. 12 seed.

Matt Rennie: Two wins puts them in the discussion, where they haven't been in a long time. But again, it will depend on how many at-large bids are left for the taking. Maryland better hope there are a lot.

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Washington, DC: Anyone notice that DePaul didn't even make the Big East tournament with an RPI in the upper 80s. Only 2 A-10 teams (GW & StJ)have RPIs that are significantly better than that (Temple & LaSalle similar). What's the definition of a mid-major again?

Eric Prisbell: Mid-major? What's that? I've never really thought about that term? Well, as most of you know, we've discussed this dreaded term at length since November. No one wants to be called a mid-major. Valley teams told me they hate it. What's next, the SWAC prohibits use of the word. It's become the most hated term in college basketball.

Matt Rennie: And it doesn't really make any difference. As GW has shown this year and Gonzaga has shown for many years now, your conference doesn't have to define your program.

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In the Talons of the Jays: I'll be in a meeting during your wonderful discussion of

the Valley, Big East and that other, forgetable conference

with Duke and those other 11 lackluster teams, so I'm

getting this question in early. What's the tournament

pecking order of the MVC. Obviously SIU and then Wichita

State and then what?

Eric Prisbell: In terms of seeding, you can almost shuffle up the five Valley teams and spill them out anywhere from 7-11. Five should get in, and Creighton should draw Maryland in the first round of the NIT on a neutral court in Norfolk, Neb. - better yet, stage it at Indian Hills C.C. in Ottumwa, Iowa.

I'm starting to like Bradley more and more.

Matt Rennie: A Maryland-Creighton game would be truly hilarious -- and about the only way I can get Eric to volunteer to cover the NIT.

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Matt Rennie: We're WAY out of time folks. Thanks for checking in. We'll have LOTS of bonus programming next week to kick off the tournament. See you then.

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