ESPN

Chris Dortch

  (3:59 PM)

Greetings hoops fans. Glad to be back here today. We're going to focus on the SEC to coincide with Blue Ribbon's SEC copy running on Insider and Andy Katz's interesting column about Vanderbilt. I'm a big fan of Insider and am glad to be a part of it all today.

Chris (Oxford, MS) [via mobile]

Which SEC teams do you think have the talent to make a deep tourny run?

Chris Dortch

  (4:03 PM)

I think given the right match-ups in the bracket, several SEC teams could play for a while. But more specifically, Tennessee is a deep and veteran team, Kentucky is young but very talented and Vanderbilt's personnel really intrigues me. South Carolina and Florida have a chance to emerge out of the rugged East Division and claim NCAA bids as well.In the West, the two Mississippi schools have the depth and the defensive mindset to advance a while. I talked to both coaches last week at the SEC's media day, and I know they like their teams a lot. Andy Kennedy will run and pressure with his talented guards, and Rick Stansbury will take full advantage of his size, including Jarvis Varnado, who has a chance to become the NCAA's all-time leading shot blocker.

Nick (Kentucky)

Do you think Kentucky's talent counters their lack of experience? What is their chance at winning it all in March?

Chris Dortch

  (4:05 PM)

I think to a large degree talent trumps experience. That's provided players buy in to what they're being taught. Coach Calipari has a track record of being able to install a freshman at the point and get him to produce on a team that makes a deep NCAA run. I can't say enough about Patrick Patterson. Kentucky is so deep you don't hear many people talking about Miller or Stevenson, two players who should contribute a great deal.

cooper (Merdian,mississippi)

How do you feel about renardo sydney and do you think Mississppi State has a shot as sweet 16 team with out him

Chris Dortch

  (4:08 PM)

I think State could certainly advance to the Sweet 16 without him. He looked very good in a scrimmage the other day. But I think Rick Stansbury is carrying on as though he won't have the kid. if he doesn't get him, he won't be as disappointed. If he does, it's an added bonus. State would have a formidable front line with him, but it already has size and depth up front.

Jim (Sarasota)

The heels are 4,4, and 5 in the polls. Dont you think this is a little high becuase of the weakness of UNC's backcourt? Can Drew II handle the load to the best frontcourt in the nation? Your thoughts....

Chris Dortch

  (4:10 PM)

We'll start taking questions about other leagues. I did a radio show today and talked about Carolina. My comment was that it wouldn't surprise me if UNC repeated. Am I predicting that? No, but it wouldn't surprise me. The reason is Roy Williams likes Larry Drew and thinks he can get the job done. And if that's true, Carolina has every other ingredient necessary to justify its preseason ranking.

de (buffalo, ny)

what you think of this years clemson team with the addition of top 15 recruiting class and Trevor Booker the best player in ACC?

Chris Dortch

  (4:12 PM)

I like Clemson because under coach Purnell the Tigers are one of the most fundamentally sound teams in the country. Energy is expended on the defensive end of the court, which has enabled the Tigers to gain a toe hold in a awesomely tough conference.

CC (Atlanta)

Can Trey Tompkins move the needle for UGA at all?

Chris Dortch

  (4:14 PM)

He's a great player but he can't do it alone. I like what he represents. And I'm sure Mark Fox thinks the same way. Tompkins is a great instate player. And if Fox and his staff can make inroads recruiting Georgia, they could sustain a perennial NCAA program just with homegrown talent. Georgia in general and Atlanta in particular produces an impressive number of Division I players every year.

Will (Meridian, Ms)

Do you think Jarvis Varnardo is the best defensive player in college basketball right now

Chris Dortch

  (4:16 PM)

To answer that, you would have to decide what you'd rather have--a lockdown perimeter defender or a shot blocker. I've asked several coaches that very question lately, and the consensus answer is that they'd rather have the big man at the rim, a shot blocker capable of erasing mistakes.If that's the criteria you use, and it's definitely my criteria, then Varnado is your guy. This is interesting--he actually knows who Bill Russell was and watches tapes of him!How many young players today study the starts of days gone by? That impressed me, because Bill Russell was a great shot blocker.

Jeff D. (Cincinnati)

Are the Bearcats a little underrated this season? I see a lot of talent and potential on the roster.

Chris Dortch

  (4:19 PM)

I think people familiar with the program aren't underrating them. And there's room for upward mobility in the Big East this season, because it won't be quite the beast it was a year ago, leading to greater balance.

Bennie (louisville,ky.)

Could louisville make it 3 in a row elites eights?

Chris Dortch

  (4:21 PM)

Sure. I think coach Pitino's style of play will always make his teams a threat in postseason play, because it's a difficult prep in one or two days for an opposing team. Louisville lost a lot from a year ago obviously, but there's still more than enough talent to win a few games in the tournament.

Brian C. (Hazard, Ky)

Hi Chris, My question is about who is going to give Kentucky the best competition in the SEC?

Chris Dortch

  (4:23 PM)

In the East, I think Tennessee and Vanderbilt can play with Kentucky, though of those two, Vandy has had a lot more success against the Wildcats in recent years. In the West, the two Mississippi schools defend well enough and have experienced guard play to challenge for the overall league championship.

Bob (Buenos Aires)

What do you think Arizona's hiring of Sean Miller? How do you think Arizona will fare this season? And how long until Arizona is back?

Chris Dortch

  (4:25 PM)

I think Sean Miller was a great hire. He proved that by rallying to put together a good recruiting class. Arizona has a chance to be successful in a Pac-10 that will be down from its peak of a couple years ago. I think in many ways, Arizona is already back, because coach Miller will give the program the stability it has lacked the last couple of years.

Cory B. (Independence, MS)

Does Rick Stansbury have the coaching know how to lead this talented group of players he has or is he better as a recruiter.

Chris Dortch

  (4:29 PM)

I think he does. He's one of only six coaches in the country who have coached at just one school and won 200 or more games with a .600 winning percentage. He is known more as a recruiter, but his insistence that his players guard and board have given his program a degree of consistency over the years.

Mike (Dallas, TX)

How do you see the Sooners doing this year? No Blake Griffin but still have Willie Warren and I have heard good thing about Gallon.

Chris Dortch

  (4:32 PM)

We ranked Oklahoma in Blue Ribbon's preseason 25. Coach Capel is building something special there. He's not Blake Griffin (who is?) but if Gallon can board at a high level, the Sooners will be OK.

Craig G. (Fairfield, California)

Hey Chris, do you think CAL will continue their success from Mike Montgomery's surprising first season?

Chris Dortch

  (4:33 PM)

I do. With the best backcourt in the West and an excellent coach, I look for Cal to win the Pac-10 regular season title.

Malik (Gainesville, FL)

I think people are really sleeping on Florida's Erving Walker at point guard. He had better number than Jai Lucas did a year earlier with about 5 less minutes per game, and he's in better shape this year. How far can Florida go if he's a real threat as a sophomore?

Chris Dortch

  (4:35 PM)

I think Erving Walker is the KEY at Florida. He's a shooter by trade, and it's always a difficult transition for a combo guard to make when he's installed at the point. If Walker can handle that position and get his teammates involved, Florida has some nice pieces to get back to the NCAAs. Few teams in the country have as much size. In talking to coach Donovan last week at the SEC media days, I know he's intrigued by the possibilities that size offers him.

ryan (Vermont)

what do you think of Arkansas' chances to compete for the SEC West title

Chris Dortch

  (4:37 PM)

Arkansas has all five starters back, but a virtually new team besides that. There will be an adjustment period in a division where at least three other teams have as much or more talent and more experience. So it'll be tough. But if coach Pelphrey can get a handle on this team, eliminate off-the-court distractions and get it playing the way it did last December, the Hogs can be heard from in the SEC West.

Gavin (Wilmington, NC)

How serious is this eligibility issue with John Wall in KY? Do you think he will miss much time if any at all?

Chris Dortch

  (4:39 PM)

I've heard people say that it's relatively minor and that he'll be fine. But you never know about these things. I was as surprised as everyone else when I heard about it. Clearly he's a next-level talent that has a chance to be the next in a growing list of great point guards to play for coach Cal.

Jason (Chicago)

Hey Chris... A little mid-major question. Do you think Illinois State can finally get into the dance this year after returning some solid players and the MVC should be pretty open this year?

Chris Dortch

  (4:41 PM)

Yes I do. I got to know coach Jankovich when he was on the Vanderbilt staff, and I always thought if he had the chance to be a D-I head coach again that he'd excel. He got his team off to a great start last year, but the finish wasn't what he wanted. It's a matter of getting his players to be consistent over the course of a season. I think he'll get that done this year.

PJ (Scranton, PA)

Who are some of your favorite mid-majors? Siena and Butler are primed for big years with a lot of returning fire power, and Nevada has a stud in Luke Babbit. Are there any other teams you think can make any kind of run?

Chris Dortch

  (4:43 PM)

If you consider Dayton as a mid-major, then include the Flyers in that group. Going down a notch or two from the A-10, I like Radford out of the Big South. Great size for a team at that level of D-I, and some real momentum after last season.

Ian (atlanta ga.)

Where does Patrick Patterson stand as far as player of the year?

Chris Dortch

  (4:45 PM)

Do you mean national or SEC? I think he'll be the SEC player of the year. And no one who's seen him play would bet against him being national player of the year. That race is pretty wide open. No Tyler Hansbroughs or Blake Griffins this season, but a lot of really solid players. Blue Ribbon chose Cole Aldrich, a kid I really like a lot.

Craig G. (Fairfield, California)

Thanks for chatting Chris. How much disarray is USC in? Do you see a light at the end of the tunnel to turn things around?

Chris Dortch

  (4:48 PM)

I was around Kevin O'Neill quite a bit when I was a Tennessee beat writer back in the 90s. You won't find many better competitors or no-nonsense guys. I think he can pick up the pieces. The question is how will his players react to his style. He's confrontational. Every coach is to some degree though.

Pete (Oxford,MS)

Chris, what is your perspective on Ole Miss this year? All my friends are getting exciting and hyping it up this year...i havent bought in because you cant win against good competition when you will give up 60 points in the paint...

Chris Dortch

  (4:50 PM)

I think Ole Miss has as good a group of guards as you'll find this side of Villanova. Coach Kennedy will take full advantage. But here's the key to Ole Miss' season in my opinion: Reginald Buckner, a freshman from Memphis, was the all-time leading shot blocker in Tennessee prep history. Can he take that skill from Tennessee to the SEC, as Miss. State's Jarvis Varnado did? If he can have anywhere near that impact as an interior defender, Ole Miss will have a special season.

Will (Nashville)

How big of an impact do you see John Jenkins having on Vanderbilt's offensive production this year? Will they focus more on the inside/outside offense now that they have a more prolific scorer to play the 2 spot?

Chris Dortch

  (4:53 PM)

I think John Jenkins will give Vandy some scoring punch it lacked a year ago. But coach Stallings is equally happy to get back Andre Walker after a season-ending knee injury a year ago. He's the type of player that makes his teammates better. VAndy also has more size than it's had in a while. Keep an eye on Festus Ezeli. He looked great on the Australian tour and has game-altering potential as an interior defender and even a scorer. He can shoot a jump hook with either hand.

Chris (NY)

Thoughts on the Cuse? Do you think they can contend for the Big East title in what may be considered a "rebuilding" year?

Chris Dortch

  (4:54 PM)

I do think so. Wesley Johnson was a key piece to have sitting out last year after his transfer. He learned the system and will be ready to roll. The loss of Flynn hurts, but I think coach Boeheim has two solid point guard candidates. Syracuse will be fine at that spot.

Johnny Hazeltine (Las Vegas)

What are the chances Georgia Tech goes from a 2-14 league record to the Tourney? Sweet Sixteen? Final Four?

Chris Dortch

  (4:55 PM)

The tournament is a given. There was talent on hand already, but Favors is a game-changing big man. He loves to do the blue-collar stuff, and he does it well.

Tom D. (Austin, TX)

ACC or SEC, which conference will be better this year?

Chris Dortch

  (4:57 PM)

I can't win on this one, but I'll take a stab anyway. When the brackets are announced, I think the SEC will have more NCAA teams. Cal said seven or eight at the SEC media days last week. I don't think eight, but seven would not surprise me at all.

Chris Dortch

  (4:58 PM)

Thanks again for all your questions. Enjoy the season. Every college basketball season is great, but I've got a feeling about this one. It's going to be fun.