ESPN

Jay Bilas

  (3:55 PM)

Welcome to my first chat (of many) for the 2009-2010 season! I cannot wait for the season to get started for everyone, even though several teams played last night. Fire away!

Jim (NC)

Why is it so amazing that unc beat fiu they only won by 16?

Jay Bilas

  (3:58 PM)

Who said it was "so amazing"? North Carolina did a good job in several areas and showed its potential, but it is still very early for a very young basketball team. I think North Carolina is going to be the best team in the ACC this year, but I also think the Heels will take seven or eight losses this year. I thought Larry Drew II was very good last night and will be a very good point guard for Roy Williams. Best frontcourt in the nation, potentially. It was a good start for North Carolina, but I haven't heard anyone credible saying it was an amazing performance. Now, last year's Tar Heels were amazing. Now, the Heels are building toward amazing in the future. Thanks for the question.

bob (columbus)

How good is Evan Turner and Ohio State?

Jay Bilas

  (4:00 PM)

Evan Turner is the best all-around player in the country. I have him as a First Team All-American, and from an "all-around" perspective, I think he is the most well rounded player I have seen since Brandon Roy was at Washington. Turner is the real thing.

Jason (Kansas City)

Hello Jay! Curious as to why you think Michigan State is the #1 team in the nation this year given the losses of Suton and Walton. It seems their team overachieved in the NCAA Tourney (the Izzo way) and will be weaker this year.

Jay Bilas

  (4:03 PM)

I am projecting the Spartans out, Jason. That's all. I picked MSU for the Final Four before last season, along with UNC, UConn and Louisville. This year, I like MSU's athleticism and overall team make-up. but it was a really tough call to put Michigan State over Kansas to start the season. The only question marks are health and leadership. Kalin Lucas and Raymar Morgan have to be vocal leaders, and already Tom Izzo has had injuries that have limited his ability to put his full squad on the floor for practice. Not once has Izzo had his top seven players available for the same practice this season. MSU needs to stay healthy. Reasonable minds can differ, but I really like Michigan State this year.

AR (MN)

Rank last year's Final Four teams in order from most likely to return to the Final Four to least likely.

Jay Bilas

  (4:04 PM)

Michigan State, Villanova, North Carolina and UConn. I think that UConn will be better than most people think, and could be ranked too low to start the year. North Carolina will find its way, but the Heels have a lot of guys with thin waists and no razors in their travel kits. When that team gets older, look out.

CM (brandon )

Is Butler really that good???????? How far could they go in tournment????????

Jay Bilas

  (4:06 PM)

CM, the answer is yes. Butler has a really good coach in Brad Stevens, who looks younger than his players. Matt Howard is the John Pinone of the Horizon League, and Gordon Hayward is one of the best players in the country. Butler has a chance to reach the Elite Eight, and when you can make it that far, you can take it a step further.

GARRETT (MISSISSIPPI)

Jay, Since you are covering the NBA DRAFT!!!! WIth Jennings success will there be atleast a player or two each year that tries overseas instead of college?????????

Jay Bilas

  (4:09 PM)

Could be, Garrett. I am not a fan of the idea, but it clearly can work. But, I think Jennings would have been fine if he had gone to college or gone to the D-League, too. On the flip side, if Jennings had failed, it would not have signaled that Europe is a bad option. I just feel that most kids are not mature enough to take full advantage of it, and there are a lot of pitfalls. I wish Jeremy Tyler well in Israel, but the jury is still out on whether it is the right move for him. It all depends upon the individual and the situation he is placed in.

Pat (Villanova)

Jay, How good can Villanova be this year if their young players really step up?

Jay Bilas

  (4:11 PM)

Final Four good, Pat. Villanova has the most explosive guards in the country, and Jay Wright gives them a lot of freedom to make plays. It will be tough without Dante Cunningham, Shane Clark and Dwayne Anderson, but there is plenty of talent left over and Mouph Yarou will be a big factor. Some feel that West Virginia is better, and that is not unreasonable. But, Villanova is very good and will get better throughout the season.

Sam (DC)

Buy or sell: Northwestern goes to the Big Dance this year for the first time ever.

Jay Bilas

  (4:13 PM)

Can I put it on layaway? I think it is Northwestern's best chance in the last twenty years, but this is also the best the Big Ten has been in the last ten years or so. I like Bill Carmody's team, and think that Coble and Shurna can take them to the Dance for the first time ever. That seems impossible, that Northwestern has never made it. I hope they crack the code this year. Those kids deserve it...not their fault that Northwestern has never committed to winning.

Christian (Columbia)

Jay, what are Clemson's chances of stealing an ACC title this year?

Jay Bilas

  (4:15 PM)

Possible, but not likely. Trevor Booker is an absolute man and freshman Milton Jennings will step in right away and play, but I still think that North Carolina and Duke are better. But, Oliver Purnell has done a great job getting Clemson back in the upper division of the ACC. We are going to GameDay in Clemson this year. Everyone will get to see Littlejohn up close and see what a pit that can be for an opponent.

Bill (MN)

Where do you predict the Gophers to finish in the Big Ten and how far do you think this team can go in the NCAA Tourny?

Jay Bilas

  (4:18 PM)

I watched Minnesota play UM-Duluth the other night, and I was really impressed with Tubby's pieces. I had seen quite a bit of Al Nolen, Blake Hoffarber and Lawrence Westbrook, but was really taken aback by the athleticism and explosiveness of Rodney Williams and the quickness and ability of Justin Cobb. If Royce White and Trevor Mbakwe can get back into the line-up, that is a Top 20 team. How far they go depends upon how quickly the younger players mature. That is a versatile and pretty deep roster.

Rob (Providence, RI)

Jay..Why isn't Western Kentucky getting more respect nationally this preseason? They are a top 25 caliber program and a mirror image of an experienced Sienna team who is getting much more hype..Agree?

Jay Bilas

  (4:21 PM)

Yes and no. I have A.J. Slaughter as my Mid-Major co-Player of the Year. He is a pro, and one of the most competitive players on any level in any league. With Pettigrew and Evans and a crop of good newcomers, WKU should win the league. It is not crazy to put Siena ahead of the Hilltoppers, though. Siena is very good, too.

g man (indianapolis)

do you think purdue is a potential 1 seed in the tourney

Jay Bilas

  (4:22 PM)

I do, but I have Michigan State as the best team in the Big Ten. Purdue will be outstanding. A lot depends upon the health of Robbie Hummel. If healthy, he gives them a big time leader on the floor at all times.

Jon (Malvern)

So, what's the difference between Villanova and UNC? Both lost big pieces from their Final Four teams, have solid players returning and great classes coming in. Sounds kind of the same. Right? Find it kind of confusing when one will be back and one will probably struggle because they miss their departed players.

Jay Bilas

  (4:25 PM)

It is not the same. Villanova has better guards this year than Carolina. With Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher, Corey Stokes, Reggie Redding, Dominic Cheek and Malik Wayans, the Wildcats have a better and more dynamic backcourt. As Abe Lemons used to say, if you ain't got guards, you ain't got squat. Nova has guards. Carolina has better big guys, but I would go with Nova's guards this year. Not a "no brainer", but that is the way I see it.

Jordan (Pasadena Tx)

Is Texas the real deal? or is the top 5 ranking for them just a gift?

Jay Bilas

  (4:26 PM)

The Horns are really good, Jordan. And, the media may be wrong a lot, but they are hardly in the gift giving business. Texas has great talent and depth. The only issues may be shooting and some inexperience. But, this will prove to be the deepest and most athletic team Rick Barnes has ever had at Texas.

James (Nashville, TN)

What is the ceiling for Vandy this season? What are their chances in Maui?

Jay Bilas

  (4:29 PM)

Very good team, James. With A.J. Ogilvy in the post, Jermaine Beal with the ball, a big time shooter in freshman John Jenkins and a great athlete and all-around player in Jeff Taylor, I think that Vandy can take the Maui title. They went overseas last summer, and that is always good for team building. A lot to be hopeful about with the Commodores. I like their chances.

Tom D. (Austin, TX)

Jay, what do you think about the new charge rule utilizing an imaginary (read-subjective) line?

Jay Bilas

  (4:31 PM)

I am not crazy about it, Tom. But, things move so slowly in college basketball that paining lines on the floor takes up to four years to get through. I think that the NCAA should adopt the dotted line used by the NBA, but reasonable minds can differ. In fact, I think that all rules should be standardized across all levels of basketball. There should not be different rules at different levels. The rules should be the same from the NBA down to high school.

Mike (Cuse)

Thoughts on Brandon Triche?

Jay Bilas

  (4:34 PM)

I thought Brandon Triche did a nice job overall last night against Albany. How did Albany throw the ball away 32 times? Triche is a good athlete and can get into the lane, and he is a good passer. I think he did a nice job defensively, and played angles very well. Syracuse will be good this year, but Jim Boeheim needs some time to teach that group how to play.

Jay Bilas

  (4:34 PM)

I thought Brandon Triche did a nice job overall last night against Albany. How did Albany throw the ball away 32 times? Triche is a good athlete and can get into the lane, and he is a good passer. I think he did a nice job defensively, and played angles very well. Syracuse will be good this year, but Jim Boeheim needs some time to teach that group how to play.

Jay Bilas

  (4:34 PM)

I thought Brandon Triche did a nice job overall last night against Albany. How did Albany throw the ball away 32 times? Triche is a good athlete and can get into the lane, and he is a good passer. I think he did a nice job defensively, and played angles very well. Syracuse will be good this year, but Jim Boeheim needs some time to teach that group how to play.

Ace (Boston)

How much does the loss of Tyrese Rice effect Boston College? Do they have enough to make the Tourny this year?

Jay Bilas

  (4:36 PM)

I think that Boston College will be one of the underrated teams in the ACC this year. I was with Mike Gminski the other night, and we both agreed that BC would be an upper division ACC team and make the NCAA Tournament. Rakim Sanders is going to be a truly outstanding player, and Biko Paris can run the point for Al Skinner. BC is not great on paper, but will be a good team.

Bob W. (Kansas City, Mo)

Why has Xavier Henry fallen off the National map. Sure looks like a dandy from what i have seen!!!

Jay Bilas

  (4:38 PM)

Where is this "national map"? Is it on the table that Digger keeps talking about, when he says that a team or player needs to bring something to that table? Xavier Henry is one of the ten best freshmen in the nation, and that is being conservative. He is big and strong, and can score from anywhere on the floor. Right now, his head is probably spinning a bit with all of the competition every day in practice, but he will be a great playter for Bill Self. He should start this year and be a key contributor. No other Jayhawk can score in as many ways.

Wade (Raleigh)

what do you think of N.C State?

Jay Bilas

  (4:39 PM)

A fine institution. Great art program.

Jay Bilas

  (4:41 PM)

Just kidding....Sidney Lowe has better guards this season. With Julius Mays and Javi Gonzalez, things should be more stable at the point of attack. I really like Tracy Smith as well, and he should lead the team in scoring. Richard Howell will be a big help as well. Things are getting better in Raleigh, but next year will be the bigger year.

Aaron (Brandon, SD)

Badgers in or out of the 65 in the tourney?

Jay Bilas

  (4:45 PM)

I assume you mean Wisconsin. Are there any other Badgers in Division I? Wisconsin is "IN", and you can book it. I think Wisconsin will be much better than the preseason prognosticators seem to think. Both Travon Hughes and Jason Bohanon will be better, and Jon Leuer, Keaton Nakivil and Jared Bergeron will be better as well. I like Jordan Taylor off the bench, too. Very good defender. Will the Badgers win a beauty contest in warm-ups? No. But, they will win games. I would recommend sunscreen in Maui for some of the fairer skinned Badgers, though. It is much warmer than in the Wisconsin Dells, and the water slides are all outdoors.

Doug (virginia)

why is virginia not being noticed. they return their top 6 scorers from last year, along with the acc rookie of the year and a better coach

Jay Bilas

  (4:48 PM)

I don't mean this to sound disrespectful, but when you bring back your top players from a bad team, that is not always great news. Will UVa be better? Yes. I really like Sylven Landesberg. He is big, very good off the bounce, and he has a knack for getting fouled. Mike Scott and Sammy Zeglinski are solid players, too. But, I would not book Final Four plans just yet. Give Tony Bennett some time.

Andrew (Albuquerque)

Do you think the Vols can challenge Kentucky for the SEC championship?

Jay Bilas

  (4:52 PM)

Don't get a lot of Vol questions from Albuquerque. The answer is yes, but I still think Kentucky is the better team. Tennessee will be able to get back to pressing this year, mostly because they should be smarter and more willing. Bruce Pearl is much more comfortable in an uptempo and chaotic system. Bobby Maze and Scotty Hopson have to be better this year. You know that Tyler Smith will bring it every game.

Jay Bilas

  (4:52 PM)

Don't get a lot of Vol questions from Albuquerque. The answer is yes, but I still think Kentucky is the better team. Tennessee will be able to get back to pressing this year, mostly because they should be smarter and more willing. Bruce Pearl is much more comfortable in an uptempo and chaotic system. Bobby Maze and Scotty Hopson have to be better this year. You know that Tyler Smith will bring it every game.

Jay Bilas

  (4:52 PM)

Don't get a lot of Vol questions from Albuquerque. The answer is yes, but I still think Kentucky is the better team. Tennessee will be able to get back to pressing this year, mostly because they should be smarter and more willing. Bruce Pearl is much more comfortable in an uptempo and chaotic system. Bobby Maze and Scotty Hopson have to be better this year. You know that Tyler Smith will bring it every game.

Jay Bilas

  (4:52 PM)

Don't get a lot of Vol questions from Albuquerque. The answer is yes, but I still think Kentucky is the better team. Tennessee will be able to get back to pressing this year, mostly because they should be smarter and more willing. Bruce Pearl is much more comfortable in an uptempo and chaotic system. Bobby Maze and Scotty Hopson have to be better this year. You know that Tyler Smith will bring it every game.

Andrew (Corvallis, OR)

Drop some pac-10 knowledge on me. How about those Beavers?

Jay Bilas

  (4:59 PM)

What do you want to know? I think that Roeland Schaftenaar (god, I miss Joe Smith) is one of the most underrated players in the country. He can score, handle and pass from the middle of the floor, and has a great feel for the game. Calvin Haynes has really come along nicely and matured into a good player, and the lefty is the team's best athlete. Lathen Wallace was the Beavers' best shooter last year in the tape I watched, and I really liked Omari Johnson, who can reabound run and step away. If Johnson improves his free throw shooting, he will be a solid force in teh Pac-10. I am not certain on the status of Roberto Nelson, but I think that Craig Robinson has a team that can contend for upper division status in the Pac-10 and perhaps crack the NCAA Tournament. OSU used to be one of my favorite teams to watch when I was in high school, with Mark Radford, Ray Blume, Charlie Sitton and Steve Johnson. That team could really press. I saw them get beat in Pauley Paviion in the NCAA Tournament by Kansas State with Rolando Blackman and Ed Nealy. Great coaches with Ralph Miller and Jack Hartman. Those were the days, except for the shorts.

andrew C. (michigan)

how good will michigan be this year with manny harris, zack novak, and deshon sims. how far will they go in the tornament!!!!!!!!!!

Jay Bilas

  (5:02 PM)

Very good. I think that Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims form perhaps the best one-two punch in the Big Ten, and Michigan has some shooters around them and a kid from Los Angeles named Darius Morris who can step in and play some point for John Beilein. It all comes down to how the Wolverines shoot the ball. If they make shots, they win. If they don't, they lose. Pretty simple. This will be a solid NCAA team with Sims and Harris, and should play in the second weekend because of those two. GREAT kids, both of them.

Coach (Morgantown)

Can you please make me understand how the NCAA can only punish John Wall (UK) for 2 games while Deniz Kilici (WVU) gets 20 when both infractions were more or less the same and not that serious?

Jay Bilas

  (5:06 PM)

Just the odd priorities of the NCAA, Coach. I hate it when the NCAA punishes players for playing basketball. Some kids are out for a few games for playing in a summer league. Other kids are out because they accepted some expense money from people they know. And, others are out the longest for playing basketball on a team that had a pro on it. The kid takes no money, shows no intent to be a pro, and is nailed for twenty games because of someone else? That would be like declaring a student ineligible for studying with an employed person or a graduate student. Silly. The NCAA gets it right more often than they get it wrong, but when they get it wrong, they really geti it wrong.

Daniel Mathews (Spokane)

Lets hear your thoughts on Gonzaga and the WCC. Do you think Gonzaga rebuilds or reloads?

Jay Bilas

  (5:09 PM)

Reloads. The big men are very good. Robert Sacre will be the next in a long line of All-WCC bigs from Gonzaga, and Elias Harris is a big time athlete. With Demetri Goodson, Matt Bouldin and Steven Gray, that is a terrific line-up. Perhaps not the great depth and experience of last year, but very, very good.

Eric (Madison)

Are the freshman at Illinois good enough to take the Illini to the Elite 8 or Final 4?

Jay Bilas

  (5:12 PM)

If the Illini get there, it will not be the freshmen. It will be guys like Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale, and Alex Legion. The freshman to watch out for is D.J. Richardson. He could start for Bruce Weber. Illinois will be a good team, and will be in the NCAA Tournament.

Willie (Topeka, Kans)

Where will K-State end up this year and how do you see the addition of Curtis Kelly and Wally Judge bolstering the Wildcats' performance? Do you think we have a shot at finishing above 4th place? Go State!

Jay Bilas

  (5:14 PM)

Top half of the Big 12, which means around the Top 20 all season. Frank Martin has some quality returnees, and nobody plays any harder than do the Wildcats, especially on defense. With Denis Clemente, Jacob Pullen and Dominique Sutton, Martin has a really good perimeter and also has Curtis Kelly (the lefty UConn transfer) and Luis Colon inside. Wally Judge will be good, but his head is spinning right now with all that is being thrown at him. Give him some time and he will be very good.

Tom D. (Austin, TX)

Jay, i know you saw a Duke practice this week. What is your gut feeling on that team's chances at the Final Four?

Jay Bilas

  (5:17 PM)

A Blue Devil in Austin? Duke will be very different this year. Defense will be less denial pressure and more containment to keep people out of the lane. More size and fewer slashing athletes. Can Duke make it to the Final Four? Yes. A favorite? No. I really like the pieces that Coach K has, and I think it will be a fascinating team to watch. A real key will be the team's ability to feed the post and to keep the floor spaced to take advantage of the bigs inside. A top ten team through the season, in my judgment.

Jay Bilas

  (5:19 PM)

Thanks for all of the questions!! See you next time. And, for Colin of New York....you asked the same question one hundred times, dude! How much time do you have on your hands, and did you get carpal tunnel syndrome puching that same question in over and over again?! The Johnnies will be better, but I don't know if they break through this year. Tough league, as you know.