A.: Sure. Top 10 nominee Brendan Wright opted to attend North Carolina rather than Kentucky, prompting Dave Telep to suggest beat writers should "start referring to North Carolina's class as the deepest and most talented recruiting class in the country." Old friend Jerry Tipton of the Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader adds insult to Tubby Smith's injury by reminding readers that Wright was "the prospect believed to be at the top of Kentucky's recruiting wish list."

Q.: Last week Lorenzo Romar had his wish granted when Spencer Haws, also a Top 10 nominee, opted to attend the University of Washington, much as had his father, uncle, and grandfather. Any word on how long Hawes expects to remain a Husky?

A.: Yes. Spencer will most likely be "one and done" in Seattle.

Q: Ryan Appleby spent a lone season at Florida before transferring to Washington. Will he start for the Huskies?

A: To be determined. Greg Johns of the King County (WA) Journal, however, believes that Appleby, all of 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, "holds the keys to much of the Huskies' hopes this year."

Q.: Staying in the State of Washington, what have you heard about the Bulldogs?

A.: Gonzaga was last week picked to win their sixth consecutive WCC crown.

Q.: Yawn. Anything else?

A.: Yes. ESPN's "College GameDay" will air on location in Spokane for the 'Zags February 11 game against Stanford.

Q.: Cal forward Marquise Kately recently withdrew from the school. How does his perhaps temporary departure impact the Golden Bears?

A.: Hard to tell. Kately had this summer lost his starting job to Leon Powe(rful) and Kansas transfer Omar Wilkes. But as a 9.5 points per game contributor last season, he would have been an invaluable sixth man (even while in Braun's doghouse).

Q.: Any chance Kately might transfer?

A.: Yes. Though past performance is no guarantee of future results, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and New Mexico State have recently done well in this department. If interested, Utah could also get in the hunt. Kately in 2002 made an official visit to Salt Lake City after verballing to the Golden Bears but before enrolling at Cal.

Q.: Enough with the rumor mill. Tell me about basketball-related charitable giving.

A.: Ask and you shall receive. Illinois' Orange Krush Foundation on Media Day presented a check for $350,000 to 37 worthy causes. Herb Sendek, Matt Brady, Norm Roberts, Derek Whittenberg, and Joe Jones are among those scheduled to speak today at the New York City Coaches for Hurricane Katrina Relief Charity Basketball Coaches Clinic at St. Raymond High School in The Bronx.

Q.: Norm! Long time.

A.: Indeed. Importantly, St. John's is again charging students for men's basketball tickets. Last year's free tickets were the result of a one year probation promotion.

Q.: A friend is really interested in watching Michigan State. Any ideas on scoring tickets?

A.: Besides getting them comped? Try here.

Q.: Listening to Media Days I'm unable to attend doesn't do it for me. Any suggestions?

A.: Sure. One. Tomorrow, watch Conference USA's "Basketball Slam" live on College Sports TV.

Q.: Louisville recently left Conference USA. In your recent Fox Sports column, you opined that Brian Johnson would have to "return at better than full strength" if the Cardinals are to repeat as Final Four participants. Any update on Johnson's progress?

A.: Yes. Unfortunately, Rick Pitino expects no more than 15 to 20 minutes per game from the redshirt freshman. With Ellis Myles and Otis George gone and Amir Johnson and Clarence Holloway never having arrived, depth will (again) be an issue for Louisville.

Q.: But the Cardinals are expected to, at the absolute minimum, return to the NCAA Tournament, yes?

A.: Indeed. According to ESPN's Digger Phelps, the Cardinals and seven other Big East clubs will -- annually -- go dancing; the 16-team league is "going to get eight teams in every year."

Q.: Every year?

A.: You heard Digger.

Q: Is Phelps ever wrong?

A: All the time...

Q: Yoni, please stop. What happened the last time you mocked Digger?

A: (Shifts uncomfortably in seat). He was right and I was wrong. Notre Dame upset the then-undefeated Boston College Eagles.

Q: Serves you right. Tell me about Lon Kruger.

A: Why should I? Read UNLV's latest press release for yourself...It is hard to believe it has now been 14 years since the Runnin' Rebels have won an NCAA Tournament game.

Q: Changing subjects, what in the world was Hawaii junior center Stephen Verwers thinking?

A: I have no idea. "Napoleon Dynamite," however, was a darn good movie.

Q: That it was. Cast member Ellen Dubin is a Toronto native. Think she's disappointed her Raptors lost to Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv on Sunday?

A: Yes. The loss was historic -- and suggests Toronto is not exactly playoff material.

Q. Fair enough. Heard any interesting observations from the Israelis?

A: Yes. When asked before yesterday's game if he had gone to synagogue on Saturday, Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Pini Gershon responded: "I leave going to the synagogue for the most important games. This is not one of them." Consider Gershon's statement a direct rebuttal to Jalen Rose's postgame spin.

Q: Any surgeries of note?

A: One, on Sunday. The Tar Heels' Mike Copeland will miss the next two to four weeks after undergoing undergoing surgery on his right knee.

Q: Anything else we should know?

A: Kimmani Barrett over the weekend chose to attend LaSalle rather than Seton Hall, St. John's, DePaul, Marquette and West Virginia. Prior to Barrett's visit to LaSalle, his coach at Paterson Catholic, Tommie Patterson, gave him a list of 34 (!) questions to ask the Explorers' coaching staff, ranging from "Who else are you recruiting at my position?" to "What are your plans for me going into my freshman year?" Dr. John Giannini & Co. answered every one (to Kimmani's satisfaction).

Q: Thanks again for your time. We know you must be busy given the start of practice and the release of Season Two of "Arrested Development" on DVD.