ESPN

Buzzmaster

  (9:51 AM)

Jay will be here at 2 p.m. ET to take all your questions on Friday!

Chris V. (Portland, OR)

I hear all this talk about "body of work," but if you don't have any hardware, isn't that argument shallow? If Michigan State, Memphis, UNC, and Louisville all win their leagues and league tournamnets, how are people still making arguments that UConn and Pitt can be #1 seeds? They haven't won anything.

Jay Bilas

  (2:14 PM)

Winning the league is a great indicator, but what if you didn't have to play road games against the other top teams because of unbalanced schedules? It is a fine line, and there is no rule, but I think it should be the four best teams as the four number one seeds based upon the whole season. If you discount UL's losses against UNLV, Minnesota, WKU and ND, that is fine. And, if any are No. 2 seeds, that is hardly a horrible insult. There can be no rule that handles every scenario.

jon RI [via mobile]

Will the committee give UConn and Pitt one seeds over louisville now and completely discredit conference tournaments?

Jay Bilas

  (2:15 PM)

The Committee won't discredit conference tournaments. But, it won't put everything on them, either. It is a balanced view of the entire picture. One game won't make or break anything.

Steiny (NYC)

What was more surprising? Syracuse beating UConn in 6 OTs, or WVU upsetting of Pittsburgh?

Jay Bilas

  (2:17 PM)

Probably the West Virginia win. Remember, UConn has not been able to beat Syracuse in New York, and the current UConn players have not won a postseason game since 2006.

terry: cleveland, ohio [via mobile]

Do you think any mid majors can get deep in the tourney?

Jay Bilas

  (2:18 PM)

Sure. There are some really good mid-major teams out there. Gonzaga, Butler, Siena are all good teams that can win with a break or two. Those are really good teams.

Michael (Evansville, IN)

Jay,Great call of an epic game last night. As a fellow attorney, I wonder if you've given any thought to the legal ramifications of your proposal to do away with automatic qualifiers for the NCAA tourney.1) For teams like North Dakota St. who have spent millions to make the jump to DI, I'd be arguing that the NCAA allowed the shift to DI under false pretenses.2) For the historically black SWAC and MEAC, they already nudge the NCAA into making sure that both aren't in the play-in game...I'm guessing that an advocate for these 2 conferences who was confronted with the NCAA trying to remove an auto bid, I promise you they'd be calling racism and I promise you that the NCAA would automatically back down.

Jay Bilas

  (2:20 PM)

There are no legal ramifications. There is no guarantee that the system will stay the same forever. Look, the system will not change. There are too many Division I teams, and 343 teams is silly. I love the fact that North Dakota State has made the tournament, it is a great story. But, there are great stories for St. Mary's and Davidson, too. The best 64 would allow the best mid-majors to compete and win, not just for the best stories to be told leading up to the first weekend.

Dave(WVU)

Hey Jay, last night in the Big East we saw a blow out game, game winning lay-up, an upset and an epic game. Your reaction?

Jay Bilas

  (2:21 PM)

One of the best nights of my life. I was honored to be courtside. What a night. West Virginia was great, and the nightcap was unforgettable.

alex( Eagan,mn [via mobile]

how far in the tourney do you think Siena will go?

Jay Bilas

  (2:22 PM)

Could be out on the first day, could get to the second weekend. I doubt that Siena will get to the Sweet 16, but is is certainly possible. Very good team. I think that Edwin Ubiles is really good, and Kenny Hasbrouck is outstanding.

Jason (Philly)

Is VCU guard Eric Maynor one of the top 5 players in college basketball? He would be a superstar if he played in a major conference!

Jay Bilas

  (2:23 PM)

He would be very good in any league. I think that top five in the nation is a little strong, but he is a great player. Remember, some major conference players would look pretty darn good in a VCU uniform, too. Why do people get so worked up over the major v. mid-major thing? It is silly. Good players are good players, and good teams are good teams. Period.

Ben (Charlotte)

Long-term, where do you see Coach B taking the Michigan program? consistently in the tourney? sweet 16s? some say his offense/defense is too gimicky and that will ultimately prevent us from being title contenders, would you agree?

Jay Bilas

  (2:27 PM)

He is a great coach. They should be an NCAA team most every year now. Breaking through was really good, and now that sanctions are in the rearview mirror, UM is going to do very well. I am not a believer in John's system, but it certainly works well for him and he is a great teacher of the game. I think that John's system is designed to win with lesser players. Just like the Princeton system. It will not prevent winning at any level, but it will not be a difference in winning either. How many Princeton offensive teams have reached the Final Four? It is the players, not the system. If he gets players (which he has in Harris and Sims) UM will win big. If not, they will be competitive because John is that good.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Mr. Bilas: Does Penn State need to beat Purdue tonight or would a strong performance basically in Purdue's back yard be good enough?

Jay Bilas

  (2:27 PM)

PSU should be in. So should Michigan and Minnesota. Nothing else should be required from here.

Dixon (Salina, UT)

What do you think of conf. tourneys being played on a teams home court that didn't even win the regular season, like Nevada and UNLV?

Jay Bilas

  (2:28 PM)

I don't like it, but each league gets to decide how to give out the automatic bid.

Paul (Oak Park, IL)

Jay, how are you even AWAKE after last night?

Jay Bilas

  (2:29 PM)

It was energizing, not draining. How could you not be motivated by what those kids did?

Dan (Syracuse)

What is the most memorable thing about last night? And.....what does last nights game do to your opinion of Syracuse and their chances in the dance?

Jay Bilas

  (2:29 PM)

Too many to name. Incredible heart and passion on that floor. What a battle. I loved every minute.

jb (windy city) [via mobile]

With Michigan St beating Minnesota, are they poised to land that #1 seed?

Jay Bilas

  (2:30 PM)

Yes. Win the Big Ten Tournament and UL loses, and Michigan State will get it.

Steiny (NYC)

What are your thoughts on Baylor upsetting Kansas?

Jay Bilas

  (2:30 PM)

Outstanding players, very average season. They are making a great run. KU is very young, and it showed. But, KU is much better.

Chris (NYC)

Jay, I am starting to think that UCONN can't win the NCAAs without Dyson. I know walker and austrie are good replacements to have, but they arent dyson. Can UConn still take it all the way?

Jay Bilas

  (2:31 PM)

Yes. Look what it took to beat UConn last night? UConn had 27 turnovers and missed 18 free throws. It took six overtimes to beat them. That is pretty good.

Jon, Pittsburgh [via mobile]

Simple as this.... Who is going to win it all Jay?

Jay Bilas

  (2:32 PM)

A healthy North Carolina. The best team.

JB (Detroit - via mobile) [via mobile]

Jay,Settle this argument for me please... More deserving of a 1 seed - MSU or Memphis? I say MSU since conf usa is a joke.

Jay Bilas

  (2:32 PM)

MSU because of the 13 or 14 top 50 wins. I think MSU is better, too. Memphis has the better defense, but MSU is better overall.

Memphis'Tn [via mobile]

WhydoesMemphisgetnorespect?

Jay Bilas

  (2:33 PM)

Because they never use the space bar.

Joe new. York city [via mobile]

Do you think duke is a championship contender

Jay Bilas

  (2:34 PM)

Yes, but not a favorite. I still see Duke as a bit fragile. Coach K says the team is not yet "deeply rooted". He is spending too much time in his garden.

chris (bethlehem, pa)

jay, who is the best coach, in your opinion, in college basketball?

Jay Bilas

  (2:35 PM)

Too many to name. Boeheim, K, Roy, Tubby, Gary W, Crean, Howland, Self, Calhoun, Pitino, a lot of flavors to choose from.

Matt (Los Angeles, CA)

At this point, any shot for Arizona?

Jay Bilas

  (2:36 PM)

Sure. A lot of quality wins. That should make the difference. Arizona should get in.

Andrew (NYC)

Hi Jay, In reading your chats - it seems like you think highly of this Villanova team. Are they someone can see knocking off Louisville in the Garden this weekend? Thanks.

Jay Bilas

  (2:37 PM)

Great guards, and a lot of playmakers. Tough kids. Love the way they play. Nova can certainly win. Remember the game in Philly? Came down to the last possession.

Vince D Framingham,MA

Hubert Davis says Providence is in, Digger Phelps says they're out, What do you think?

Jay Bilas

  (2:38 PM)

No way does PC get in. No way. Didn't beat anybody in the non-conference, beat Pitt, but Syracuse was without two starters. PC falls just short. How could they cough the ball up 26 times yesterday?

Ryan Mathis (Olympia, WA)

Does Maryland have to win against Wake to get into the tourney?

Jay Bilas

  (2:39 PM)

I would recommend it. It would seal the deal.

Brandon (VA)

How is Siena Good? Who did they beat on the Basketball court to prove that to you? They Lost All four of their big match ups this year against Tenn, vs. Oklahoma State, @Pitt, and @Kansas. The only other non-conference games worth mentioning were Holy Cross and Wichita State and Boise State which they went 2-1 against and finally within their conference they went just 1-1 against the next best team, Niagara. I mean I understand that they had a difficult non-conference schedule, but you have to do a little more than that to be considered a legit mid-major threat come march, and to have been considered a possible at large team was absurd!

Jay Bilas

  (2:41 PM)

Brandon, I watch them play. They lost early to some big shots in Orlando, but that team can play. I have been around the game a long time, and Hasbrouck, Ubiles and Franklin are very good. They will play somebody tough, and perhaps win. But, the Saints could lose early, too. That team is really capable.

Matt (WV)

Do you hear about it afterwards from game officials, Big East officials, etc when you make a comment such as the scarecrow comment about Jim Burr?

Jay Bilas

  (2:43 PM)

Nope. I was right. He missed the call and had a really bad game, and if I can criticize coaches and players, I can criticize officials. Burr can take it. And, he can say whatever he wants about me. This is America. I say all of the time that calls are correct and officials do a good job. If I say they are wrong, that is okay too. I am often wrong. But, I admit when I am. So do most of the very best officials.

Jay Bilas

  (2:43 PM)

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!! Jay