01:12 PM EST on Monday, November 7, 2005

Frank the moderator: Kevin is here and will be answering your question soon. Submit something.

Kevin McNamara: Hello everyone. I'll be available for about an hour to talk college hoop. URI and PC have played 1 exhibition game each and looked good. They'll both play again this week. The national polls come out this week as well with several teams kicking off the regular season. Thanks for joining in and fire away!!

Frank the moderator: From an email from Rokul24:
Question: I have always thought Duke received special attention from refs. Could you find the top 5 teams with more attempts from free throw line than their opponents in Div I for the past ten years. I think Duke would be among leaders. Interesting sat, don't you think?
Kevin McNamara: I do not know if this is the case but it wouldn't surprise me. Duke is always one of the better penetrating teams in the country and that leads to foul calls. If you want to check it out, the NCAA has a great web site with all sorts of stats. It's at NCAA.org. Look for college BKB and then statistics. I'll take your word on the Duke angle.

ARamFanInSK: Kevin, I saw you were at the URI exhibition game against Concordia. What did you take from it? I am going to guarentee they win more than 6 games this season!
Kevin McNamara: I agree with that bold prediction. They should win 6 games by Jan. 1. I still need to see Dawan Robinson play to feel good about the Rams' prospects but they are much improved even without him. That is clear. I do have concerns about their schedule. I think it is quite hard with Utah, Houston, Ohio, Manhattan, Providence and Boston College all tough games.

FriarAndy: Hey Kev, Randall Hanke drops 35, was he beating up a small Laval team, or should we expect bigger things from him this year?
Kevin McNamara: Randall won't get 35 every night but he's much improved, for sure. The Laval team didn't have a 6-10 banger like most Big East teams will. Randall will be able to overwhelm smaller frontlines, perhaps like those that Fairfield, Vermont and UNH can offer. Hanke is long, strong and knows where the rim is. Defense, however, is another matter. He needs to protect the lane, and the rim, much better.

Frank the moderator: From an email from Micheal :
I thought I had read PC signed a talented Junior College transfer last spring. Did he end up enrolling in school? If he did I thought he only had to sit out the first semester and will be eligible before they open their BIG EAST schedule. Is that correct? Why do you think the program is having a hard time signing kids? Other than possibly St. John's recent problems I don't remeber a BIG EAST school going into the season with only 10 scholarship kids. Thanks
Kevin McNamara: Michael, I don't know who you're referring to with the JUCO signed last spring. PC did not sign a junior college player last year. They certainly could use one, however. The Friars are painfully thin with only 10 players on scholarship. Recent injuries have exposed that problem.
The good new is Tim Welsh is hoping guards Sharaud Curry and Ray Cross can return to action for Tuesday night's exhibition game. I don't think the program is having a hard time signing kids. They are having a hard time - like most Big East schools not named UConn or Syracuse or LVille- signing good players to fill out a roster. Welsh likes to add players who can help, not just bodies. That is a real challenge for most high Div. 1 programs.

Kevin McNamara: It's hard for all programs, excepting the elite ones, to fill out a roster with 13 players. Who wants to be player number 12 or 13? No one. Providence has done a good job finding competent walk ons but getting more players to buy into the program and bind time on the bench has been a problem.

44: Hey Kevin - Thanks in advance for taking my question. Have you heard anything about the recruits for next year? Specifically, we have supposedly received six verbals: Jones, Cruz, Grier, Mbang, James and Teel. First of all, we only have five slots available, unless someone is leaving the program. And...with respect to Cruz and Teel I'm hearing one or both may be shaky. Any news on these guys or the situation generally?
Kevin McNamara: 44, I count 5 verbals for the Rams. We'll find out this week how many actually sign binding letters-of-intent. I know Vernon Teel has NOT verballed. He's still looking at several schools, including St. John's and Seton Hall. And don;t count the # of scholarships by the # of departing seniors. Coaches will push underachieving players aside if they think they can add new blood. I think the fall of the NCAA's 9/5 limit of new players every year will hurt the game. Bringing in 7-8 new players in a single year benefits only the coaches.

Frank the moderator: From BC fan
What do you think of BC? and what do the Big East team think of BC (since they left)>
Kevin McNamara replied: Hello BC, I think BC could be a bit overrated. The Eagles have 5 good players, very thin in a league like the ACC. The key is the possible return of Sean Williams from suspension. If he's back, the Eagles will be an NCAA team and a major factor in the ACC. If he's not, you may see Craig Smith out of position at center. Now Smith is a true beast. Maybe a top 5 player in the country. Jared Dudley and Sean Marshall are good, too. I'm not a big Louis Hinnant fan but he's not bad. And frosh Tyrese Rice is reportedly very good. But the Eagles need more. And wait until they see how hard it is to win at Clemson or Georgia Tech, let alone Maryland or North Carolina.
Big East schools don't like BC. At all. They won't see many non-league games with the Eagles. Providence and BC could start a series next year but nothing is signed just yet.

Cranston: How do you think the Friars compare to other teams at about their level in the Big East--St. John's, DePaul, Marquette and Rutgers?
Kevin McNamara: I think the Friars compare favorably to each of those teams but the difference between all of them is razor thin. I could see several teams tied in the standings from spots 11-14, for example, with 4-12 records, perhaps. How do you break those ties? I have to get clarification from the Big East on that one. It is a huge headache, but very important since #12 team goes to New York for Big East tourney and #13 stays home. Watch out for St. John's, by the way. They are dangerous with Darryl Hill. And very, very tough. We'll see if DePaul and Marquette can match that Big East toughness. Oh, and Seton Hall should be in this mix as well. They'll have their problems in the conference.

Frank the moderator: Kevin -- talk a bit about the other top teams in the country?
Kevin McNamara: The AP poll will be released this week. Wednesday, I believe. I am a voter and went the following way: 1. Texas, 2. UConn, 3. Duke, 4. Kentucky.
I think Texas has the deepest and most versatile team around. A great guard in Daniel Gibson, a slew of good big men - PJ Tucker, LaMarcus Aldridge, Brad Buckman. They're very good.
UConn is loaded, especially once Marcus Williams returns in late December. Duke has a great 1-2 combo in JJRedick and Sheldon Williams and everyone is raving about frosh Greg Paulus and Josh McRoberts. kentucky also returns a lot of good players.I also like Michigan State. They'll roll in the Big 10.

ARamFanInSK: After now seeing URI and PC play a game, albeit exhibition, has your prediction for the in-state rivalry changed any, or does URI still have the edge in your mind?
Kevin McNamara: I love it. Nov. 7 and the URI-PC game is in the cross hairs. I think I picked URI by 5 a few weeks back. After looking at both teams, I'll stick with that. The homecourt is a decisive factor. And in Dawan Robinson, the Rams should have an edge in star power. But, again, I have to actually lay eyes on a healthy Dawan before I sign on to the Rams' rising fortunes.
By the way, get your tickets now. That game will be sold out, for sure.

Frank the moderator: From an email from Joe
Kevin, How do you think The Friars will do in their Out of Conference early in the Year ???? I have them going 8--3 or 9--2 if they are Lucky.
Kevin McNamara: The games you should be very concerned about are at Wichita, at Rhode Island, vs. Florida and vs. Memphis. Also, San Diego State at home is far from a gimme. This team will have to mature quite quickly to be ready for those types of games. 9-2? I'd be shocked. 8-3 would be very impressive. Those 5 games I mentioned will be very tough. And these Friars are not above stubbing their toe in a game they should win (like Winthrop last year). Watch out for Northeastern on that front.

friarman: How do see the Friars ending up in the out of conference schedule?
Kevin McNamara: friarman, See above. This is no cupcake schedule. In fact, it's probably too tough for such a young team.

Kevin McNamara: Guys, Things are winding down here. Fire off your last minute questions. I hope you pass the word to your pals. We'll be doing these chats almost every Monday. Watch Projo.com for updates.

friarman: What do you feel are the keys for PC to get into the top 12 of the Big East and make it to MSG?
Kevin McNamara: FMan, I would say quick development of the young players, specifically Geoff McDermott and Sharaud Curry. They look like the 2 best ones to me. Also, getting Dwight Brewington's head in shape is a top rpiority. He neds to be on board, happy and thriving. There are some issues with him right now.
Herbert Hill's defensive development is also vital. I have real concerns there.

friarman: I would agree this is a tough schedule but that's the hand delt them from past commitments...and the loss of players, who do you feel will step up the most among the frosh and sophs?
Kevin McNamara: Again, I like McDermott and Curry in the frosh class. That doesn't mean JKale and Weyinme won't be good. They could both surprise. Randall Hanke is ready for a big year, especially on offense. With 10 on scholarship, they literally need everyone to contribute.

Kevin McNamara: Thanks for joining in. We'll definitely hold another Chat on Nov. 21, a Monday. Also, look for the Journal's college BKB preview package on Sunday, Nov. 20.