ESPN

Buzzmaster

  (4:05 PM)

Hey everyone, Andy will be here to answer your questions at 4:30, so keep sending them in!

Buzzmaster

  (4:34 PM)

Andy will be here shortly!

Andy Katz

  (4:40 PM)

I'm here. Sorry, lots of breaking news with the early entry deadline in 20 minutes.

Greg (Tempe)

Do you see any improvement from Arizona State this year? Herb got his first recruiting class and it was a pretty good one. I know the Pac-10 is loaded but what do you expect out of the devils this year?

Andy Katz

  (4:41 PM)

It's funny, I was just talking to someone about how the Sun Devils will be improved but at best they'll be projected no higher than ninth.Seriously, how can you put ASU ahead of UCLA, Washington State, Oregon, Arizona, USC, Stanford, Washington and Cal.

Chris, DC

What is J. Green going to do?

Andy Katz

  (4:42 PM)

ESPN.com as well as other outlets are reporting he is staying in the draft. Chad Ford had this story up for us earlier today.

alex marier (washington)

hey andy how do you think washington will fair in the pac 10 this year considering they will no longer have hawes

Andy Katz

  (4:43 PM)

Check out our updated story on the subject shortly. Hawes said he thinks the Huskies will run much more next season and be a factor in the race. I like the team, but still the league is absolutely loaded.

Tony (Brookfield, CT)

Which freshman makes the biggest impact, Rose, Beasley or Mayo?

Andy Katz

  (4:43 PM)

Good one and I'll go with Rose has the most impact as the deciding factor in a possible national title but Mayo and Beasley will put up the numbers because of the current makeup of their teams.

Paul (Luverne MN)

What do you think Kentucky's chances in the SEC are this year?

Andy Katz

  (4:43 PM)

I'd project the Wildcats as No. 2 behind Tennessee right now.

Cory, Mpls

Did J. Green hire an agent yet?

Andy Katz

  (4:44 PM)

Expect it to be David Falk from what I've been told.

quantico virginia

Do you think the celtics will get KG or marion?

Andy Katz

  (4:44 PM)

Neither. My gut after being around the team doing an access piece is that they won't be able to make one of those blockbuster deals.

Dave (Arlington, VA)

Reports say Singletary's staying for his final year. UVA's chance of making the tourney increase from 0% to what, 100%?

Andy Katz

  (4:46 PM)

Yes. That is true. I just spoke with Virginia coach Dave Leitao. Check out the story to see his comments. I agree this makes the Cavs an NCAA-bid contender.

Kevin (Darien, CT)

Any hope that the CT Huskies can return to being a top-10+ team in the next year or two?

Andy Katz

  (4:46 PM)

I'm not sold on the Huskies. It's the same team as a year ago so that means AJ Price, Hasheem Thabeet, Stanley Robinson and Jerome Dyson must improve for this squad to overtake Gtown, Louisville, Marquette and PItt.

Tom, Los Angeles, CA

Recently it seems many players are leaving Cal early. What do you make of this? Hardin seems like the latest in a line of people who are not producing big numbers under Ben Braun yet are leaving early and being picked early in the draft. Is there something there?

Andy Katz

  (4:47 PM)

Tom, this was incorrect. Check out our site. Hardin is coming back to Cal. All is good in Berkeley. There are few football spots better than watching from Strawberry Canyon in the fall. Love the atmosphere around Cal.

Mike, Columbus, OH

Is there any chance both Conley and Oden end up in Portland?

Andy Katz

  (4:49 PM)

I still think it's rare. Portland needs to find a suitor to get another lottery pick and there is some out West that could see the Blazers going with Yi, not Conley if they could get another lottery pick. Oden told me in Orlando that he wants Conley to play without his rather large shadow for the first time. Conley said he wouldn't mind doing that too.

Randell (dc)

Now that Green is gone is Georgetown still # 1 in the Big East?

Andy Katz

  (4:52 PM)

Right now I would go with Louisville one and Georgetown No. 2.

Ryan, Mpls.

Any truth to the rumor the Wolves have given Hawes a guarantee at #7? It would seem to fit the erratic Wolves front office to do such a thing.

Andy Katz

  (4:53 PM)

That was a rumor in Europe at the big man camp. I don't believe that is true. If it were then he wouldn't have struggled with the decision.

Anthony, Chicago, IL

With Rick Majerus now at SLU, do they have a shot at winning the A-10 in the next couple years?

Andy Katz

  (4:53 PM)

Count on it.

Cory Hester (Pittsburgh, PA)

Regardless of Branden Wright leaving, do you think with the talent UNC has coming back that they are a frontrunner in 2007-2008?

Andy Katz

  (4:54 PM)

Yes, the Tar Heels will be a top five team throughout the season. Brandan Wright assured me that Deon Thompson and Alex Stepheson will be better next season than he was this past season.

Ray (MI)

Who do you see as the best fit for Detroit at 15?

Andy Katz

  (4:54 PM)

Look for a scoring wing in the mold of Rodney Stuckey or Nick Young (if he's still there) or maybe Thaddeus Young.

Mike (Springfield)

Come on you have to answer one of these. Where will Conley end up because you know Atlanta will pass on him? Memphis?

Andy Katz

  (4:57 PM)

I say Conley ends up at either No. 4 Memphis or No. 6 Milwaukee. That's based on my conversations with NBA sources.

Scott K. (Spearfish, SD)

Andy, give me your breakdown on Duke next season. Up or down without McRoberts?

Andy Katz

  (4:58 PM)

I'm not sold on Brian Zoubek as the primary low-post scorer, but spots 2-4 are loaded for the Blue Devils with DeMarcus Nelson, Jon Scheyer and the additions of Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith. On paper, Duke has to be No. 2 in the ACC behind North Carolina.

Mark Sewell

Andy - I sat in front of you at Fenway yesterday. Did Jeff Green have anything to do with the fact you left before the 9th (and a possible Bonds game tying HR?)

Andy Katz

  (4:59 PM)

Ha! My 4-year old daughter had lasted all the way through the eighth and I couldn't push the ninth with a likely loaded T ride back to Newton. So, I had to make the call to leave. Why didn't you press me for info or at least ask for some of my daughter's excessive cotton candy?

David (Charlotte)

I have a question specifically about Donovan, but it actually spreads out to many, many others......why do Florida, Winthrop, Creighton and seemingly every other school take back coaches with open arms? Florida may be the extreme example where I can make my case, but it's also the most high profile - Donovan has been flirting, or at least listening, to other offers for the better part of 3 1/2 months. No matter what he says, he had to be considering life outside of Florida. On the 5th chance, he jumped, which is understandable. Then he immediately recants, states publicly his "love" for Florida, and all is forgiven?!?!? I'm sure there is more behind the scenes than let on, but why take him back? The track record of other coaches says that the "2nd time" is never as charmed as the first.....how many times does this go on when schools say NO that we don't know about?

Andy Katz

  (5:01 PM)

It's quite simple why they took him back at Florida and the same for Winthrop (Gregg Marshall last year) and Creighton (Dana Altman): all three of these men have built up too much good will on campus with their work that the schools know they won't get anyone better in the short term. Also, the returns on these coaches were all within a week so there wasn't enough time to start seriously considering life without the coach.

Josh (Richmond, IN)

Andy, I let you and Dickie V cut in front of me in the bathroom for Duke at IU two years ago, with the committment of Top 10 2008 player Devin Ebanks do you see IU annually recruiting some of the best players in the nation?

Andy Katz

  (5:03 PM)

Thanks. Serioulsy, Kelvin Sampson will have Indiana as a traditional power in the Big Ten and nationally and the recruiting proves that it there won't be a dropoff anytime soon.

Nick (Seattle, WA)

Can you see Washington State winning it all next year?

Andy Katz

  (5:06 PM)

Can I see it? No. Is it possible? Yes. The Cougars will be a preseason top 10 team. I wouldn't rule anything out. Tony Bennett has done a phenomenal job.

Alex (New Jersey)

Can you explain the 8/5 recruiting rule? I thought that schools couldn't have more then 5 recuits in a given year and 8 in two? Yet, teams like UCONN had more then that in one year, help me out please!

Andy Katz

  (5:07 PM)

That rule is no longer in effect.

Kevin (Texas at heart)

Are big 12 questions allowed in this chat!?!?! I have a 2 parter. 1 does Texas have a chance to make any noise post Durant? 2 is Augustine going to be a POY candidate?

Andy Katz

  (5:09 PM)

We'll end with this one....Yes, Augustine could be the Big 12 player of the year. And yes Texas does have a shot at making noise in the NCAA. I would expect Texas to be battling with Texas AandM behind Kansas next season.