College Basketball

Eric Prisbell and Adam Kilgore cover college sports for the Washington Post and were online Friday, Feb. 1 at noon ET to take your questions about college basketball.

A transcript of the chat follows.

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Adam Kilgore: You're looking ... LIVE! at the living room of my Blacksburg apartment. The wheat is starting to separate from the chaff, both locally and nationally, as we officially move less than a month away from The Greatest Month in Sports. Plenty of topics to get to: Can Maryland rally to make the tournament? What happened to Virginia? How good is Michael Beasley? Will Jerry Palm go 64 for 64? Onward.

Eric Prisbell: Just one more month to go, everyone. Get your plans ready for March. There may be only one local team in the NCAAs -- maybe more --- but, remember, D.C. is hosting a regional for the first two rounds.

Next week I'm headed to Indy to take part in the media mock selection process. The NCAA will help us simulate the actual process, and it should go late into the night. I'm looking forward to it and will let everyone know how it goes. Let's start. Ask anything you want.

What's the best story line nationally? I think it is Memphis.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: Hi guys! So the Terps beat UVA on Wednesday night. Does this help their tournament chances at all?

Adam Kilgore: Beating Virginia at home is not going to wow the committee unless things change drastically in Charlottesville. But losing that game would have decimated Maryland's chances to earning an at-large bid, so, in that sense, it was an important win. Maryland can ill-afford just about any more losses at home -- the American and Ohio losses aren't going away. The Terps probably have to get to 10-6 in the ACC to be safe. And even then an ACC tournament win would be nice.

Eric Prisbell: I actually disagree with Kilgore on this one. With the win over UNC under its belt, I now think 9-7 in the ACC, plus one in the ACC tournament, would put Maryland in pretty good position to get picked. That would give the Terps a 20-13 record with a win over UNC. Losses to Ohio and American do stain the resume and hurt the RPI, which is a concern. It's at 79 today. It probably needs to get in the 50s, at the very least.

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Westcliffe, Colo.: The best "name" in college basketball has to go to Rhodes Island's Parfait Bitee. Would you agree?

What do you know about this senior guard? Is he a phenom? NBA material?

Adam Kilgore: What a category! Parfait Bitee is an excellent name. But the best name in college hoops belongs to 7-foot-1 center Chief Kickingstallionsims of Alabama State. Here's proof: http://bamastatesports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/kickingstallionsims_chief00.html

Any other nominations, please, please PLEASE send them in.

Eric Prisbell: Great question. I have heard of Bitee, but don't know too much about him other than he is from Cameroon and is a senior. And his team will likely play in the NCAA tournament.

Off the top of my head, it's hard to beat Kilgore's name of the year. I like Longar Longar, personally.

Two favorites from the past:

Scientific Mapp

H Waldman

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Mt. Lebanon, Pa.: Big East personality disorder.

Georgetown is 7-1. St. John's is 1-7.

The "1" is the same team. One a convincing W. The other a convincing L.

What is wrong with that team?

I'm sure the coach would appreciate any advice you'd like to offer. I know I'm hoarse from screaming at the TV screen.

Thanks much.

Adam Kilgore: Actually, this isn't quite right -- Pittsburgh beat Georgetown, but St. John's lone win came against Cincinnati. But your point is well taken, Mt. Lebanon. Don't forget about Pittsburgh's victory over Duke on a neutral floor and the fact that Rutgers beat the Panthers at home, which was stunning; Pittsburgh just doesn't lose at the Pete. It seems like the injury to Levance Fields really messed them up. I've still got faith in DeJuan Blair.

Eric Prisbell: Even considering Pittsburgh's injuries, the Rutgers game was indeed stunning. I thought Rutgers, Northwestern and Oregon State were among the worst teams in a BCS conference.

I'm told recruiting will start to turn for the better at St. john's soon, but it may still take a little time. Seton Hall, meantime, has turned itself into a borderline tourney team. I just did my bracket this morning and had them in it.

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Chapel Hill, N.C.: Loving my Heels these days, but that was one STUPID team they played last night. Does Al Skinner EVER get up off the bench and, you know, DO anything? How must Tyrese Rice feel being stuck with that albatross, and with players who don't know how to run or defend an inbounds play? How exactly does Boston College live with such a collection of embarrassments, from the Head Coach down to the managers? They really should be ashamed of themselves.

Adam Kilgore: Strong words, Chapel Hill. Al Skinner seems to always get more out of his team than expected, and he's tremendous at developing unheralded recruits, from Troy Bell to Craig Smith to Jared Dudley to Tyrese Rice. So I won't bash him, but Boston College can never score that big, defining victory, in the regular season or in the tournament. Remember last year, when BC rose to first place in the ACC, then played Duke and Carolina at home in the span of about four days and couldn't win either game? That would be my only criticism.

Eric Prisbell: Wow, that's harsh.

I think Skinner is one of the better coaches around. He is not exactly hauling in Rose, Gordon, Mayo and Love each year. And he has made BC consistently good and competitive. Throw out the Robert Morris loss and this team has done better than I expected.

I'm told Skinner still plays pick-up basketball. I would enjoy including him in our official media pick-up game at the Final Four.

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Fairfax, Va.: Great game (and great atmosphere) the other night for VCU-Mason in Fairfax. I'm a big fan of the CAA tournament: it's very intense given the usual need to win the tourney to get in the NCAAs. Do you guys have any favorite conference tournaments, particularly at the mid-major level?

Eric Prisbell: I prefer covering the Big East tourney over the ACC tourney because of the atmosphere. The ACC tourney has not done it to me the past couple years. It was a little odd having it in Tampa. When in NC, it's just so NC-centric.

I always enjoyed the WAC tournament because it brought together an eclectic group of teams, usually in Tula when I covered it.

I have always dreamed of covering the Missouri Valley tournament -- that could be my favorite.

CAA would rank up there for me, as well.

This year, I might do Conference USA (if Memphis is undefeated) or Big 12, for Beasley and Kansas. To say I am eager for March to arrive is an understatement.

Adam Kilgore: I'm stunned -- STUNNED -- that Prisbell would utter an unfavorable word about last year's setting for the ACC tournament. Atmosphere for the games wasn't so hot, but the atmosphere afterward more than made up for it.

Anyhow ... the CAA is a great one because of the urgency and quality -- even though there's a bunch of great teams, they're all fighting for one spot. Even in years when the CAA sends multiple teams, the at-larges can't be totally certain.

My favorite is probably the Big East, mainly for the Garden and because of my college memories. I covered it a few times as a reporter for The Daily Orange, the Syracuse student paper. And, no, I was not the writer Jim Boeheim cursed for calling Gerry McNamara overrated.

Eric Prisbell: Hey, ATM Adam, the basketball didn't have much to do with the fun everyone encountered down there. There were a couple good games, but it just didn't have the feel of the beginning of March Madness.

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Seattle, WA: Okay, hypothetical. If Memphis loses to Tennessee, is that a bigger deal than Kansas-Kansas State? Does the "conference games are tighter" line work in Kansas's favor?

Adam Kilgore: It would be a bigger deal because Memphis has always had a more realistic shot to go undefeated. Kansas was not going to go unbeaten through the Big 12 -- it's just too hard, most years, to win eight conference road games. By the time Memphis plays Tennessee, it should be 26-0. Every one of the Tigers games will be a big deal at that point. Tennessee could beat them, and if it does, it will be a big story.

Eric Prisbell: I'm not sure what you mean by bigger deal. There is no shame in either loss, assuming Memphis goes down. Both would still be in strong position for a No. 1 seed. if Tennessee beats Memphis, then the Vols make a strong case for a No. 1 seed as well.

How about Houston, which could play Memphis two more times. The Cougars could have half their losses come against Memphis and still not make the NCAAs.

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San Juan, PR:"Parfait Bitee": Parfait translates to "perfect" in French. Talk about a hard name to live up to.

Adam Kilgore: Peerless Price can relate.

Eric Prisbell: Great point.

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Tournament Sleeper: Who's your pick for the surprise (not necessarily Cinderella) in this year's tournament? I'm talking a team that's had some bad luck in the regular season resulting in a lower than expected ranking. I'd go with Pittsburgh, but the damage they've suffered won't be gone by March...

Eric Prisbell: Three words: Arizona. Arizona. Arizona.

Super talented. Watch Bayless because he won't be around long.

They have played the toughest schedule in the country. They get UCLA on Saturday.

other than that, I like Xavier to avenge last year's heartache in the tourney. And you have to go with Kansas State because it has the best player in the country in Michael Beasley.

Purdue has been coming on strong, and while I think they will make the tourney, I think painter's recruiting will pay off next year.

Adam Kilgore: These are good answers. It seems like Arizona has bee here before and disappointed -- they were supposed to give Florida a game in the second round last year and got beat, handily, by Purdue in the first round.

If North Carolina State rallies enough to make the field, that's my pick. There's so much talent there. If Javier Gonzalez can so much as closely resemble an adequate point guard, they'll be a tough out. Seton Hall is a team to look out for, too. Bobby Gonzalez, when he was at Manhattan, nearly knocked off Syracuse in the first round in 2003, the year Syracuse won it all.

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Evanston, Ill.: As a Northwestern alum, the storyline I've enjoyed is about the addition of Tubby Smith to the Big Ten. Its been nice seeing the small improvements Minnesota has made under him so far this year. Congrats to Tubby on his 400th victory last night. I know MN will end up squarely in the middle, but it would be nice seeing another competitive team added to the mix in the Big Ten in the next few years. My only concern is the comments he has made recently about needing to replace Williams Arena, which would be upsetting, as I drive over for several games each year and consider the "Barn" to be the best college venue I've watched a game at in person. I love the fact that it is so old-school, and with the raised floor really makes is such a memorable experience. I'm curious as to what are each of your favorite venues in college basketball?

Eric Prisbell: Thanks for the observations.

Personally, I have really enjoyed covering games at Stanford, Kansas and Duke. Those really standout to me. I would love to see a game at Butler, but I have not yet. I like field houses.

Adam Kilgore: Watching a game at the Barn from court side is on the short list of things I'd like to experience in the realm of college sports.

Cameron Indoor is obviously great. Notre Dame is an underrated atmosphere for hoops.

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Storrs, Conn.: Cognac! Who knew our guys were that sophistimacated?

Really? Cognac? How much are we paying these guys, anyway?

Eric Prisbell: huskies looking like a solid NCAA tourney team recently.

Adam Kilgore: Don't let Jim Calhoun hear you talking about why he suspended his players, or he'll never talk to you again.

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Chantilly, Va.: Guys: any thoughts on the Baby Gators? Billy Donovan for Coach of the Year?

Looks like his patsy-filled early season schedule was a brilliant move. Let his newbies ease their way into the season, then pounce on an unsuspecting SEC.

They'll be back in the NCAAs this year, maybe even winning a game or two, and back in the championship game in 2010.

Adam Kilgore: Florida is actually another great sleeper. It's surprising the Gators aren't receiving more attention. It's going to be pretty much impossible to beat Scott Drew for Coach of the Year, but Billy Donovan may have coach of the decade locked up. Nick Kalathes is really impressive. There's nothing he doesn't do well.

Eric Prisbell: I think Donovan has done a great job and his Gators have overachieved. They will be fine long term because he is still recruiting well.

Coach of the year? Keno Davis at Drake, Scott Drew at Baylor, John Calipari, Mike Krzyzewski. That's in random order off the top of my head. I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

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Detroit: I really don't know what to make of the Spartans. In their games against UCLA and Texas, they looked like Final Four contenders. Yet, their Big Ten play has been lackluster, even if they are racking up wins. There is no doubting that this team has the talent to get to the Final Four, but I wouldn't be surprised to see this team lose in the first round. Thoughts?

Eric Prisbell: This was expected to be one of Izzo's better teams, and I still think it could be. I think they are in good position for a two seed right now. I would not be disappointed in that. I always have a hard time picking against Izzo in the tournament.

Adam Kilgore: Agreed on Izzo and the tournament. Sparty took UNC to the wire last year in the second round. Raymar Morgan is one of the more underrated elite players in the country.

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Westcliffe, Colo.: Did Huggy recruit Beaseley? If so, why didn't he follow him to the Mountaineers?

Mountaineers1.

Mountaineers2 is my favorite team from the back hills. And one that goesn't get any mention..even though they're #2 in conference.

Rufus in the Sangres

Adam Kilgore: Beasley stayed at K-State because of assistant coach Dalonte Hill, who coached and befriended Beasley while Hill coached for the D.C. Assault AAU team, which Beasley played for. Beasley committed to Charlotte originally because Hill coached there, and when Huggins hired him at K-State, Beasley switched. K-State made sure to lock up Hill when Huggins took the job at West Virginia, and Beasley is a big reason why. There's a horde of D.C. Assault players heading to K-State; it's like K-State is the Illinois of hoops in terms of importing D.C.-area talent.

Eric Prisbell: That sums it up. Huggins told me last week when I went out to Morgantown what was long perceived: That Beasley would have gone anywhere Hill was. They are really close.

Hill is also in the news today and will sit out the next game.

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Karl Hobbs: What's going on? I've been to the NCAA's the last three years, and now I am going to have hard time even making it to A-10 tournament. I guess I should have moved on when the going was good. Where have I gone wrong this year?

Eric Prisbell: The league was expected to be much stronger than last year, and it is. Five teams are in position to make the NCAAs, and Temple and Charlotte are also formidable. Saint Louis is a bit of a mystery. I thought GW would finish around the middle of the pack, but that does not look like it will be the case. That tourney in Atlantic City should be lots of fun, considering how competitive the league is.

Adam Kilgore: Bad karma for recruiting players with nonsense high school diplomas. Not that he's the only who does it.

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Downtown in the Rain: Re: "Perfect" and "Peerless" How about Jesus Shuttlesworth?

Adam Kilgore: Or God Shamgod.

Eric Prisbell: King James

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Arlington, Va.: I grew up watching Big Five basketball in Philly, which always created a lot of excitement for the local teams -- still does. That type of format would be perfect in D.C., where Georgetown, Maryland, GW, Mason, and American could play each other every year to determine who is the city champion. This would be great for local recruiting and interest in college hoops. What are the arguments against this? Why won't the local teams consider this? Thanks.

Adam Kilgore: It doesn't happen because Maryland and Georgetown would have too much to lose and too little to gain. And it's a real shame that can't happen.

Eric Prisbell: I agree. And it's not going to happen anytime soon.

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Cary, N.C.: No love for the 3rd place squad in the ACC? Wow. VT has done all of this with six freshmen. The future definitely looks bright, but this year's squad has Hokie nation dreaming of a return trip to the NCAAs. I would have dismissed them too, but at this point you have to start giving Greenberg and crew credit. They play great D. They are legit.

Adam Kilgore: Seth Greenberg is certainly the leading candidate for conference coach of the year. Lots and lots of folks thought Virginia Tech would win four ACC games all season. To get to the tournament, the Hokies pretty much to go 10-6 in the conference. A 9-7 finish, even with two wins in the ACC tourney, would give Tech 13 losses. That's a whole bunch. The losses to Richmond and Old Dominion aren't going away. But what its doing in the league is both very impressive and very surprising. Jeff Allen and J.T. Thompson are going to make one bad frontcourt in the coming years.

Eric Prisbell: I think Clemson will wind up in third. The question is where there will be a fourth team worthy of making the NCAA tournament. Miami is on the verge of being that team. 9-7 would put Tech in the conversation for the tournament. And 9-7 might be enough in a league that is still rated No. 1.

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Fairfax, Va.: Love March Madness but hate all the teams finishing 6 or 7 in their conference getting in. Conference champs and tournament winners don't mean as much anymore. What about limiting conferences to no more than 4 teams. No. 1 and No. 2 in the ACC tournament and the next best team in the two divisions for a total of four. Makes how you do during the year important as well as the tourney. What do you think?

Eric Prisbell: Good point. It would never happen though because the big school coaches want more big schools in the tournament, not less. And I'm not sure how fair it would be to a conference like the Big East, which has 16 teams and is certainly deep enough for more than 4 teams to be worthy.

Adam Kilgore: I think if there's one thing in college sports that doesn't need tinkering, it's the NCAA tournament.

Well, actually, that needs tinkering, too: The final two at-large teams need to play in the play-in game, not two teams that have already earned their way in by winning their conference. Otherwise, I'd say it's doing OK.

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Alexandria, Va.: Is what's happened to Virginia's basketball team the sports gods way of equaling what happened with their football team this year? Or what is really happening down there?

Adam Kilgore: Virginia's season is just as surprising at Virginia Tech's, but for the wrong reason. Not a confident group right now. Dave Leitao has been a successful coach in part because of his aggressive (I guess that would the word) demeanor. But right now, with losses piling up, that could be hurting the players psyche a little bit. He talked about finding the fine line between telling the team their play is unacceptable and not hurting confidence this morning on a teleconference.

Two more clear problems: Sean Singletary is not himself because of a hip pointer, and Tunji Soroye's absence is hurting the Cavaliers more than anticipated. They have actually no shot blocking presence on defense, and teams are having their way with Virginia inside. Down the stretch against Maryland, the Terps scored on their final 11 possessions. Leitao tried counteracting the inside problems by starting in a zone against Maryland, but it was obvious the Cavs weren't comfortable -- Maryland scored 30 points in the first nine minutes.

Eric Prisbell: Kilgore knows the team better than anyone, and I think that's a fair look at it. A major disappointment, along with NC State.

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Arlington, Va.: How much longer must Wolverine basketball fans suffer? I don't know any reasonable fan that expected much from the current team, but how many more years do you think it will be until Beilein can at least get them into the tournament?

Adam Kilgore: It's hard to put it to a timetable, but I'd have a lot of faith in Beilein if I was you. If he recruited the kind of player he wanted at West Virginia, he should have no trouble at Michigan. I think he's one of the best coaches in the country. My guess is by 2010, between the current players learning his system and a couple years of brining in his own guys, Michigan will be back in the tournament.

Eric Prisbell: Lucky they beat Northwestern. You want to blame someone, blame Lloyd Carr, he's been blamed for most things out there.

Once Beilein gets his players, who shoot from 22 feet and run backdoors, he'll be fine.

Adam Kilgore: We've also got a highly regarded guest chatter chiming in -- it's our boss, college sports editor Matt Rennie, a Michigan native and a UM grad. His thoughts:

How many "more" years? Check me if I'm wrong, Sandy, but this is his first season since taking over a program that had fallen into disrepair from years of neglect. Beilein was great hire, and the Wolverines will be playing in the 2010 tournament and be in the sweet 16 in 2012. In the meantime, check out the 'M' icers, coached by the legendary Red Berenson, who are off to a record 22-3-1 start.

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Kingston, R.I.: Here's the scoop on Parfait Bitee: He was recruited as a multi-guard who wound up playing mostly the 2 his first two years. Last season, because of injuries he was force-fed into the point-guard role. This year he's scoring 10.3 points a game, shooting 49 percent from 3 and has a 2-1 assist-turnover ratio. He's also a lock-down defender.

Eric Prisbell: That's right, I do remember that he is a great man-to-man defender. I didn't know about the offense, though. Thank you for the scouting report on Mr. Bitee. I'll remember that when doing capsules for the NCAA tournament.

Adam Kilgore: Great stuff, Kingston. Thanks much.

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That's why I wish again..: That I was back in Michigan..

Down on the bench.

So John Beilein is happy to have traded Morgantown for Losertown?

Where's Bill Frieder when he's needed?

Thanks.

Eric Prisbell: How about Steve Fisher?

Adam Kilgore: Probably off angling for his next job at the dumbest possible time.

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Arlington, VA: Wow, the Terps look good, I mean real good, they play good defense, run the offense now and can score against a zone. I'm actually psyched when David Neal gets into the game as our first big man off the bench. Their 4 deep now with Tucker, Dupree, and Bowie. Can this team only lose 3 more ACC games to go 10-6 and make the tourney?

Adam Kilgore: Sure they could, but there's not much room for error. Anything could happen -- if there's one team that's proved that much, it's Maryland -- but it's safe to pencil in Feb. 13 at Duke as a loss. So then the Terps would need to go 7-2 with this slate:

at Georgia Tech

at BC

NC State

Florida State

Virginia Tech

at Miami

at Wake

Clemson

at Virginia

Supposing the Teprs don't lose at Comcast, they'll still need to win three road games. None of them will be easy.

Eric Prisbell: It won't be easy. 9-7 is a bit more realistic, but still hard.

Needing six more wins, I'd say:

at GT

NC State

FSU

V-Tech

at Wake Forest

at UVA

What it shows is how big of a hole Maryland finds itself after the losses to Ohio and American.

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Birmingham, Ala.: Re: Names - Fly Williams of Austin Peay - when they ran the break the cheer was "The Fly's open, Let's Go Peay!"

Eric Prisbell: Are you serious? Well, that's my new favorite, if true. I've always wanted to go to a game there.

here is hoping the Governors hold off Murray State to win the Ohio Valley.

Adam Kilgore: That's the greatest cheer in the history of college sports.

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RE: Chapel Hill's Comments: What does Al Skinner ever do? Well, he gets his team to The Dance every year.

That poster must be the same "fan" who yelled that wonderful comment at Osby after the Maryland game....

Eric Prisbell: I still cannot believe that some students were seen crying after the Maryland loss. I find that, well, troubling on a number of levels.

Adam Kilgore: Good defense of Al Skinner.

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San Francisco: Regarding the GU-WVU game, on super slow-mo that block either occurred at the last possible millisecond, or one millisecond after. Either way, great no-call. Of the real Big Beast title contenders, GU (7-1 in BE) still has to play Louisville twice and travel to Marquette, both of whom are 5-3, and they lost to Pitt. What is your 1, 2, 3 pick for the BE at the season finish, and who wins the tourney?

Eric Prisbell: The tourney is anyone's guess because the league is so deep.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Louisville make a run. If they can survive the injuries, Pitt will be right there. I keep waiting for Marquette to come alive. They have to play much better on the road. I still see G-town as the favorite and in good position for a No. 2 seed.

Adam Kilgore: Seton Hall, Seton Hall, Seton Hall. They might not finish in the top three, but don't sleep on the Pirates at the Garden. They've won five straight Big East, two of them on the road and one against UConn. They're coming into the Verizon Center tomorrow, and it should be a great game. Eugene Harvey may currently hold the title of best New York City point guard -- he's scoring almost 16 a game with five boards and 3.4 assists.

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Eric Prisbell: Thanks a lot, everyone. Enjoy the Super Bowl and Super Tuesday. Patriots 38, Giants 24.

Adam Kilgore: As always, thanks for the great questions. If anyone reading is headed to Blacksburg for the Virginia-Virginia Tech game, be awfully careful once you get on this side of the mountain. The roads are caked in ice at the time being; hopefully it warms up.

Anyway, enjoy the games this weekend. Pats 41, Giants 17.

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