The player who makes the Mountaineers go is senior point guard D.J. Thompson, a 5-foot-8 senior jitterbug who leads ASU in scoring (14.3), assists (5.1), steals (2.4) and is second in rebounding (4.0).

	MAILBAG Have questions or feedback? E-mail Bill Trocchi. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

"Everybody questioned why we brought in a 5-8 point guard, now everybody is looking for the next 5-8 point guard," Fancher said. "We'll be sorry to see him go."

Despite Appalachian State's lofty RPI, Fancher knows the only way it will earn an NCAA berth will be to win the Southern Conference tournament in Charleston. If the Mountaineers finish in the top five in the league during the regular season, which is almost a certainty, they will have to win three games in three days, something they were able to pull off in Puerto Rico just before Christmas.

"We've been beaten on the third day of the conference tournament two years in a row," Fancher said. "We mentioned that after the [championship game in San Juan.] We're playing for a much bigger prize in March. This is the type of three-day preparation we need. We can look back at that tournament."

Bloggers Beware

If you visit Albany coach Will Brown's Web site, you can read his thoughts on a lot of topics, including Bobby Knight's hitting a player under the chin earlier this year ('I do not think he did anything wrong"), how much talent St. Bonaventure has ("plenty"), and how the Siena series should work ("the winner of the game hosts the game the next year"). One thing you will not read -- at least not any longer -- is his opinion on the America East's scheduling, which has the Great Danes playing four games in eight days.

Brown ripped the league and was suspended for one game by the conference. His post has since been removed from the site, but here is how it originally read:

How can you make a team play the 9th, 11th, 13th and 15th? You have no prep time and no practice time. We pride ourselves on our preparation and scouting reports. This makes it very difficult to be well prepared. Hopefully the AE Conference officials take a look at this mess because that is exactly what it is! One big mess!

The America East responded, explaining in a release there is "a process in place where coaches and administrators have an opportunity to comment on and request changes of their schedule. This process was completed with Albany in September."

Albany appealed the suspension and lost, so Brown sat out the Binghamton game last Saturday, an 83-72 defeat.

Sports information director Brian DePasquale said Brown does not wish to discuss the matter further, but he did speak to the local media before the Binghamton game.

"I've never had any issues with the America East Conference in the past," Brown said. "If you're asking me was I surprised? Yes. Do I feel they should have reprimanded me [instead of a suspension]? Sure. I do think a game is a little extreme, but that's a decision they feel was necessary and in the best interest of this league. I'll deal with it and hold my chin high."

The loss counted against Brown's career record, but didn't cost him any money. DePasquale said Brown will continue his blog for the rest of the season.