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Brad (Gadsden,Alabama)

Chris, Is Anthony Grant going to send Alabama to the NCAA tourny his first year?

Chris Dortch

  (4:01 PM)

There's recent precedent in the SEC to suggest a first-year coach could do it (Trent Johnson at LSU last year, Bruce Pearl at Tennessee four years ago). It's definitely possible. Anthony Grant has proven his worth as a head coach, and he inherits an unusual situation in that he's got some talent and decent depth.

Mike (Ohio)

Bob Knight question here. He's been chosen for the IU Hall of Fame and the ceremony is in 2 weeks. Do you think he shows up?

Chris Dortch

  (4:04 PM)

I'll be he does show up. The break between IU and coach Knight was acrimonious, but he's got an appreciation for history--he studies it and he's lived it. So I think the occasion will bring him back. He deserves that honor. I can hear his acceptance speech now ...

brett (louisville) [via mobile]

even with louisville losing 3 key players, we have a deep and talented team, i think we will once again win the big east, sound logical? thanks

Chris Dortch

  (4:06 PM)

Not so sure that Louisville can win the Big East. Villanova's pretty good, after all. And West Virginia's not bad either. But I see no reason the Cardinals can't get back to the NCAA Tournament.

Chris Dortch

  (4:09 PM)

Haven't seen the MAC, but I've heard it's great. The price tag was 57 mil, so you know it's state of the art. I think Monmouth can be a darkhorse, but as you mentioned, Mount St. Mary's and Quinnipiac are solid, along with Long Island. We picked the Mount, LIU and Quinnipiac 1-2-3 in Blue Ribbon.

Josh (daviess county, KY)

Can Western Kentucky get another 1st round win in the NCAA tournament for the 3rd year in a row this year?

Chris Dortch

  (4:13 PM)

I absolutely do. Anytime a team has good guards, and Western has a great one in A.J. Slaughter and a solid point in Anthony Sally, who has made clutch plays in the past and had a great summer working on his game.Sergio Kerusch and Steffphon Pettigrew are double-figure scorers, too.And I also like Ken McDonald. WKU has a tradition of being a stepping stone for good coaches, and I think he's as good as any the school has had in recent years.

Ron (Iowa)

What is your assessment of the Big Ten conference this upcoming season and who is your favorite and dark horse in the conference?

Chris Dortch

  (4:17 PM)

I think the Big Ten is the strongest league in the country this season. Obviously that changes from year to year. It's now the Big Ten's turn. We picked six schools from the league in Blue Ribbon's Top 25.We like Michigan State a lot, and Purdue is once again very strong. The upstarts, or dark horses, if you could call them that, are Minnesota and Illinois. Tubby Smith has proven once again that he's a fine coach by completely reversing Minnesota's fortunes. He's got another NCAA team on his hands. And Illinois might be flying under some people's radar this year, but has size and some good guards. The league will get six NCAA bids.

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Chris Dortch

  (4:20 PM)

We picked Northern Iowa in Blue Ribbon. We like Illinois State, too, but the traditional powers, Creighton and SIU should be in the mix. You'll be able to tell a lot about Creighton early; it plays at Dayton in its season open and then Michigan in the first round of the Old Spice Classic and either Marquette or Xavier in the second round. There are also difficult road games at George Mason and New Mexico.

Adam (Tacoma, Washington)

Hey Chris, i'm a big Washington Husky fan and i'm looking forward to the Dawgs defending their pac 10 regular season title. Any chance they will defend it, plus do you think they'll make the NCAA tournament again and if so how far will they get?

Chris Dortch

  (4:24 PM)

We think the Pac-10 will come down to Cal and Washington. And absolutely, the Huskies are back in the Dance. I like their combination of athleticism and experience.

dan (vermont)

with all that is going on in Binghamton how is it going to effect the rest of the American East?

Chris Dortch

  (4:25 PM)

It obviously took the league title contender out of the equation. It's a traditionally well-balanced league anyway, so Binghamton's demise opens things up.

David (Athens, GA)

Chris, give me something to look forward to with Fox and the Bulldogs...

Chris Dortch

  (4:27 PM)

In talking to coach Fox over the summer, I could tell he knew he had his work cut out for him. But I think his players will mirror his trademark intensity and put forth great effort game in and game out. And I also think Georgia will begin to do a more consistent job recruiting its talent-rich home state.

KJ (Phoenix)

What's your take on Minnesota this season? They have everyone back, plus some great freshman. Can they make a run this year?

Chris Dortch

  (4:29 PM)

Without question. Tubby's done a great job of rebuilding the program, and he's not compromised his philosophy to do it. He's still the same hard-nosed coach he's always been, and he still places a strong emphasis on the defensive end. He's done a great job recruiting Minnesota, too.

Cameron (Oregon)

Is Oregon State on the right track for its first ncaa tournament birth since 1990?

Chris Dortch

  (4:32 PM)

Sure. Beyond Cal and Washington, the Pac-10 is a jumble this year, and Oregon State has positioned itself to be in the mix. Coach Robinson's rebuilding plan is definitely ahead of schedule, and with four starters back to run his system, this team is once again headed for postseason play.

Alex (Knoxville, TN)

Will Devan Downey and South Carolina be a factor in the SEC again this year and make the NCAAy?

Chris Dortch

  (4:35 PM)

South Carolina will definitely be heard from, and I love Devan Downey. But what a tough division, with Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Florida. An NCAA bid is possible. Coach Horn has recruited more size at the wing spot and I know he thinks his team can defend better in a league that has size and athletic ability at the wings. Last year the Gamecocks had no answer for that. This year they do.

David (Southern, IL)

Chris,With all the turnover at UCLA do they have a chance to make another final four run this year or do they need a year or two more of recruiting to get back to that level?

Chris Dortch

  (4:37 PM)

I don't think a Final Four run is likely, but Ben Howland's teams are never going to be too far out of the NCAA mix. His emphasis on the defensive end means UCLA will always be difficult to beat. He's not as loaded talent wise as he's been though. But that won't last long.

Bryan (Dayton)

Chris, wow college BBall talk, I get excited just thinking about the season coming up. My boys in the blue grass should win the SEC this year, right, and maybe even get to the final four? My guess is coach Cal turns Kentucky back to the envy of the nation within three years, Go Big Blue

Chris Dortch

  (4:38 PM)

You gotta love hoops season! UK fans have every reason to be jacked, too. Inexperience at the guard spots is the question mark, but Cal has gotten a lot of mileage the last two years out of freshman point guards. John Wall doesn't take a back seat to Rose or Evans.

Scott W. (Reno, NV)

The WAC looks like it will be a very competitive league. Do you think it is a two tournament bid conference this year?

Chris Dortch

  (4:42 PM)

I think the league is beginning to re-emerge a bit. As far as two bids, I'm not sure. Strength of schedule could hold down a Utah State, for example. When you talk about multiple bids, teams that don't win their league tournaments have to have played a super challenging non-con schedule and fared well against it.

Evan (Ohio)

Hey Chris, is this the year that Dayton surplants Xavier as the A-10 deep run tourney team?

Chris Dortch

  (4:43 PM)

It sure seems that way. I've been told you haven't lived until you see a Xavier at Dayton game. I've been invited this year, and I'm hoping to make that trip. We ranked Dayton in Blue Ribbon's Top 25.

Nick (Hollywood, FL)

Do you think the Big ten actually wins the ACC-big ten challenge this year??

Chris Dortch

  (4:43 PM)

This is the year!

Lane (Kukuihaele, HI)

Would Jamie Dixon ever consider leaving PITT? Or will top tier recruits got there just to play for him??

Chris Dortch

  (4:46 PM)

I don't think any coach ever rules out leaving, but Jamie Dixon has planted deep roots at Pitt. I think it would take a great job to get him to leave, just like it did for Ben Howland. The good news for Pitt fans: There aren't a ton of UCLA-type jobs out there. Coach Howland and coach Dixon have turned Pitt into a perennial power that plays in a great league. Why leave?

Evan (Ohio)

Chris... what do you think about the depth of the A-10 this year and how many teams do you have getting NCAA berths this year?

Chris Dortch

  (4:50 PM)

I love the A-10 and envy the beat writers who get to cover the league on a regular basis. I think the Ohio schools should feel pretty good about their postseason destinations, but it's a deep and balanced league that could once again put three teams in the NCAAs. It's the only non-BCS league to place three teams in the tournament three years in a row.

Steven (Stillwater, OK)

Chris why the big 12 hate?? You really gonna answer questions about all these mid majors and not the big 12?? Do you see Ok State being competitive at all in the big 12 this year? Also is Kansas the best team in the country in your opinion?

Chris Dortch

  (4:53 PM)

No Big 12 hate! I think the experts can reasonably make a case for it being as strong as the Big Ten. You measure the strength of leagues by two criteria: 1. depth of field, or number of good teams, and 2. Number of teams that have a chance to win the national championship. The Big 12 has two in Kansas and Texas. Oklahoma State will certainly be competitive in the league. Travis Ford's teams don't back down. He's got some firepower and I know he really loves the kid from Kentucky, Matt Pilgrim. What a great get late in the offseason.

Bryce (Fargo)

John Wall, Xavier Henry, Derrick Favor, some good freshman coming in this year. What freshman has the biggest impact this season?

Chris Dortch

  (4:56 PM)

We picked Derrick Favors as our national newcomer of the year. I think in the case of Wall and Henry, the depth or their respective teams will prevent them from needing to do as much as FAvors will do. Not that Georgia Tech isn't talented. It's a top 25 team. But Favors brings what Paul Hewitt needed--a strong rebounder and defensive presence in the paint. I like the kid because he sticks to what he does best and doesn't try to be something he's not. He's a low post operator, plain and simple, and he does it well.

Kevin Dusek (Illinois)

Is there any chance that syracuse can make March Maddness without Jonny Flynn???

Chris Dortch

  (4:57 PM)

We thought so. WE ranked the Cuse No. 15 in the nation. Keep on eye on Wesley Johnson, the Iowa State transfer. Coach Boeheim loves the kid. He'll be a huge impact newcomer in the Big East.

Dave (LV)

You say 6 bids for the Big Ten. Are you including Indiana in that list? I think they will make a big leap this year.

Chris Dortch

  (4:58 PM)

Didn't include Indiana, but I do think coach Crean has the Hoosiers poised to make significant improvement. Just having quality depth to practice with every day has got to help. And there's some Big Ten level athletes there now after a year of being caught short.

Chris Dortch

  (5:00 PM)

Thanks for all the great questions. Blue Ribbon is out, though I'll spare you the sales pitch. You know how to find it if you want it!See you back here next week when the topic will the the SEC.