ESPN

Pat Forde

  (1:59 PM)

Happy Sweet Sixteen, hoopheads -- especially to my alma mater, the Missouri Tigers, who took down Memphis last night for the best win in program history. This will be an abbreviated chat because of TV responsibilities, so let's get to it.

Matt (Los Angeles, CA)

Can Arizona hang with Louisville tonight?

Pat Forde

  (2:01 PM)

Matt: Yeah, I think so. Nic Wise will have to hold up for 40 minutes and make good decisions against a team that can really heat up an opposing PG, and Arizona will have to be tough inside and on the glass against a very long and physical team. But I expect the game to be competitive.

Matt (Nashville, TN)

Whats the latest on the Kentucky coaching front? I'm about to break the refresh button on my browser.

Pat Forde

  (2:02 PM)

Matt: I hear ya. From what I can gather there are meetings going on right now that should lead to either a resignation or dismissal of Gillispie. But that's all I know. I expect something today, but none of us knows when. We're all sitting and waiting, too.

Ben (Houston)

Pat, Future Missouri tiger here (in journalism). Any recommendations for Columbia? Think the Tigers will be this good next year? Thanks!

Pat Forde

  (2:02 PM)

Ben: Congrats and good luck. Get yourself a little cheeseburger at Booch's, pizza at Shakespeare's and (when you're of legal drinking age of course) a beer at Harpo's.

LeVance Fields (Pittsburgh)

Seriously, how clutch am I?

Pat Forde

  (2:03 PM)

Way clutch, bro. That was huge.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Forde, were you surprised about how overmatched Duke looked? Maybe Coach K has lost his touch in terms of the talent-level he recruits.

Pat Forde

  (2:04 PM)

Will: I was stunned. Thought Nova could win, never thought it would be a blowout. I don't know whether K has lost his touch, but I do know Duke has established a new ceiling for itself over the past five years -- and it's not the Final Four.

Brian (Lexington, KY)

What makes you think Kentucky would hire Travis Ford? Why not Donovan or Calipari? Seems like a downgrade to me if they get Ford.

Pat Forde

  (2:05 PM)

Brian: I'm not sure Donovan would take it -- if he does, that's a slam dunk to me. I don't think the school has interest in Calipari. If they take a run at Izzo and he says no -- and this is all just my speculation -- they could turn to a native son who understands the job and has done pretty well for himself.

brett (the ville) [via mobile]

Pat please tell me there is no truth to the rumor that pitino is headed to tucson?

Pat Forde

  (2:05 PM)

Brett: I'd be shocked.

Rob (Webster, NY)

What dose MSU need to do well tonight to beat Kansas?

Pat Forde

  (2:06 PM)

Rob: MSU needs to do what it does best -- play D and hammer the glass. Get balanced scoring. Try to contain Collins and swarm Aldrich. Make someone else beat them.

Cyrus (San Francisco, CA)

How scared should Pitt be of Nova at this point? I'm thinking really, really scared...

Pat Forde

  (2:07 PM)

Cyrus: Healthy respect, but I don't know about outright fear. Nova can win -- and other than the first half against American, Nova has been the better team in this tournament. Should be a great one.

Leigh Anne (Lexington)

Hey Forde - who's in your final four? Memphis blew mine apart last night...

Pat Forde

  (2:08 PM)

Leigh Anne: Blew mine apart, too. (Yes, I picked Memphis to beat my alma mater. Me of little faith.) The other three I have are Louisville, Pitt and Carolina.

Nicole (Florence, KY)

I am so confused! How did UK/BCG get to the point of resignation/dismissal after two seasons? Isn't it really damaging to the program to take this course of action?

Pat Forde

  (2:09 PM)

Nicole: It is damaging, but apparently Gillispie's inability to get along with bosses, co-workers and many others has really burned some bridges. I'm shocked how fast it all unraveled, but it seems to be done -- or very close to done.

Jake (KC, MO)

The perimeter abilities of Leo and DeMarre seem to be an advantage when dealing with Thabeet. Your Thoughts? Also, what a great win last night!

Pat Forde

  (2:10 PM)

Jake: They have a chance to drag Thabeet away from the basket, yes. And to run him in transition. But Mizzou will have to hit outside shots and have to do epic work on the glass against Thabeet, Adrien and Robinson.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Forde, what are the Zags chances tonight against UNC?

Pat Forde

  (2:12 PM)

Will: They've got a chance. They're really talented and have the requisite firepower to hang with Carolina. The question is whether they can guard and stop the Heels at all. Lawson will be problematic, as will UNC's interior. But I'm thinking this is a five-point game into the 80s or 90s.

Cody (Johnson City, TN)

Any truth to the rumor that Billy Donovan is indeed in Lexington as we speak (err, type)?

Pat Forde

  (2:13 PM)

Cody: I have not heard that, or anything close to that.

Jared [via mobile]

How long do you think Jay Write will remain at Villanova,before some of the bigger programs will come calling?

Pat Forde

  (2:13 PM)

Jared: Jay Wright has already had calls from some of the bigger programs and turned them down. I think the only thing that might lure him away from Villanova is the NBA.

Chad (Dallas, TX)

Thoughts on the OU vs. SU match-up look to you? Got a score prediction? Does OU have the slashers capable of penetrating the zone?

Pat Forde

  (2:14 PM)

Chad: Should be an excellent game. OU will need to shoot the bal well from 3, because it's going to be very tough for Griffin to find room to operate inside that zone. I don't know how successful OU will be slashing and penetrating -- not easily done. I kinda like Cuse in that one.

Adam somerset ky

Will Grant take the Alabama job

Pat Forde

  (2:16 PM)

Adam: It's certainly his to have if he wants it. But he might be waiting to see what goes down in Lexington, and whether Donovan goes that way and creates an opening at Florida.

Jordan hill (az)

Dont you think if i dominate the glass and stay out of foul trouble we will be in good shape tonight?

Pat Forde

  (2:17 PM)

Jordan: I think if you dominate the glass and stay out of foul trouble Zona has a CHANCE tonight. I don't know about being in good shape.

DJ Cuse

Will Mike Anderson be back next year or will he head to Georgia or Alabama?

Pat Forde

  (2:18 PM)

DJ: If Missouri doesn't offer him a fabulously large extension/new contract I will be disappointed. He's earned it. Losing him to a mid-level SEC job would be a bitter blow.

Mitch ( Hazard, Ky

Pat, in an article you posted yesterday about Gillispie and the UK coaching situation, you refered to Coach G as a "jerk" in your closing statements. Care to give us some insight as to why you had to personally attack a man verbally like this. I know "jerk" is only one word, but here in Kentucky, its also a another word used for "idiot"! Here is hoping that UK gives Coach G one more year to prove himself and to prove many ESPN analysts wrong.

Pat Forde

  (2:19 PM)

Mitch: Technically, I was using the word "jerk" in a generic sense. Go back and re-read the column if need be and hopefully you'll see what I mean. I would not personally characterize Gillispie as a jerk -- he's been pretty good to me -- but a lot of people at UK will. And no, he won't get another year.

Paul (Oak Park, IL)

In a non-tourney question, do you think Ernie Kent's days at Oregon are numbered?

Pat Forde

  (2:20 PM)

Paul: Apparently not, or I think they would have done it by now. Unless they're waiting for, say, Mark Few's season to end and don't want to put pressure and speculation on him with an opening in Eugene.

Ty (Detroit, MI)

Pat, no disrespect to Memphis but I think Rece Davis had the line of the night saying Mizzou "aint Rice". I mean we all know Memphis has talent but this was nowhere near as good as last years team and it was a matter of time before they got exposed.

Pat Forde

  (2:21 PM)

Ty: Awesome line by Rece. He's right.

Isaiah, Detroit

Pat, why does it seem fashinable for people to KEEP picking MSU to lose. I mean Big 10 perception aside don't you think people should know better than to underestimate a Tom Izzo team by now?

Pat Forde

  (2:22 PM)

Isaiah: I picked Kansas before the tourney started to make the regional final, which meant a win over Michigan State. But it wasn't an easy pick. I had both teams among the 10 or so I thought could win it all. So no disrespect here toward Michigan State; I just think Kansas is a little better.

Drew (Louisville)

The Billy G news out of Lexington has all the makings of when the media "officially" reported Billy Donovan took the UK job after Tubby left, and the whole thing took on a life of its own - only to fall flat on its face. Is this irresponsible journalism on the part of local reporters putting a 100% guarantee that BCG is gone, and UK has said nothing of the sort?

Pat Forde

  (2:24 PM)

Drew: You never heard anyone at ESPN say Donovan had taken that job. By the end of the day I think you'll have the answer to your question.

cary (Greenup, ky)

Pat, If Billy G leaves and we are hearing rumors now that he is going to stay, who are your top 5 pics for the job

Pat Forde

  (2:25 PM)

Cary: Let's go with Donovan, Izzo, Sean Miller, Travis Ford and John Leslie Pelphrey. OK folks, I gotta hit the road for the TV studio. Enjoy the games tonight, and keep an eye on Lexington for news!