Jeff Harman (Joplin,MO): Do you think even with the loss of Julian Wright that Kansas can return to the Sweet 16?
Dick Vitale: When you look at Kansas, one of the keys is going to be whether or not Brandon Rush comes back 100-percent from his knee surgery. If Rush comes back, the perimeter game will be as good as anybody in America. Rush, when healthy and playing at his best, is as good as it gets at the small forward slot. There is no question in my mind that the Jayhawks will be explosive. Losing Wright hurts, but they have enough players available to have a great season.

Ty (Accra, Ghana): Dickie V, come on -- West Virginia not in the Top 40?!?! How come you keep overlooking Jerry West's team? We'll be in the Top 10 by the end of the season.
Vitale: Top 10, you are right, but you are talking about the wrong sport. Even with the loss to South Florida, the Mountaineers could be Top 10 in the pigskin area. Mr. Huggins knows how to put a winner together, but if they finish in the Top 10, he's the national Coach of the Year. Look at how tough things will be in the Big East. Between Louisville, Georgetown, Marquette, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Villanova, Notre Dame, Providence, it is going to be tough to break in the Top 10 of the conference.

Jason: I know Virginia is not at the top of people's lists in the ACC, but they have a lot of talent around Sean Singletary that people don't know about. How far do you think they can go this year and could they be a sleeper team?
Vitale: Singletary is as good as it gets at the guard slot, and his return was big news for coach Dave Leitao. When you think of the ACC, it is North Carolina on top but then it is really wide open after that. There appears to be a lot of parity within the conference. The Cavaliers have a chance to be one of the upper echelon squads after the Tar Heels. I guess you can call them a sleeper team.

Steve Tyson (Lansdale): How do you think Villanova will do this year? How do you think Cory Stokes and Cory Fisher will do this year?
Vitale: Stokes is a guy with a great deal of potential. Put him on the court with Scottie Reynolds and coach Jay Wright will be smiling. Reynolds should have a super soph season and he turned down NBA interest. Wright's club can be a major factor in the Big East.

William Rush: We all know how much you love the freshman stars in college basketball. I live in Louisville, and am a die hard Kentucky fan. Last March 28 the McDonalds All-American game came to Freedom Hall, and one player that I kept my eyes on was J.J. Hickson. I knew of him because he was considering UK at one point and really liked what he brought to the table. This guy is going to be a real star at N.C. State. I just wish Billy G would have gotten a chance to put his recruiting touch on this young man. Just don't forget to mention this kid on your Diaper Dandy list because he has big time athleticism and a huge up side. He deserves the credit.
Vitale: Sidney Lowe will be happy to welcome Hickson to the lineup. His athleticism and versatility will help him get playing time. He will have the chance to prove he is legit.

Dave Stephens , Washington, Ind.: What about the Butler Bulldogs? I noticed they were not in your Top 40, though Butler has one of the best backcourts in the country in Graves and Green. Butler also played Florida better than anyone else in last year's NCAA tourney.
VITALE: You make a legitimate case for Butler because that backcourt knows how to win. I called their run in the NIT preseason event and was impressed with the way they played. They have a new coach in Brad Stevens, and people will play at such a level against them, I don't see them getting the same start. Last year Butler beat Indiana, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Gonzaga to shock people.