First important note, Aaron Gray will be doing an ESPN Nation Chat on Tuesday at noon. You can start putting in your questions now. I’ll try to remind everyone again on Monday or Tuesday morning.

So onto this week in the ESPN.com chats. Rece Davis had a couple Pitt questions to field.

Josh (Da ‘Burgh): Where does Pitt’s Aaron Gray rank among the most improved players in the nation?

Rece Davis: Considering the distance he covered…I can’t think of anyone MORE improved.
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Jack (Atlanta): More LOVE for Tennessee!! I know Pitt isnt a sexy program and that they might not be an elite team (top 5), but why dont these kids and especially the coach get more love? This was a rebuilding year and they have only lost 3 games by a total of 12 points. Florida and Tennessee are getting too much love being out of the SEC!!

Rece Davis: Everybody wants love. Love, love, love….maybe it’s the Valentine’s thing. I think Jamie is doing a great job. Taking Krauser off the ball occasionally…the improvement of Gray. Fields, Young making contributions. Very good team…tough-minded and a big threat in the tournament.

Keiran Darcy has some Marquette and Pitt comments.

Conor (Chicago): With that big win, how is Marquette looking?

Kieran Darcy: Marquette is looking very good, I think. Their remaining Big East schedule is relatively easy (by Big East standards) — they’ve got Providence at home, and Notre Dame and Louisville on the road, in addition to their home game tomorrow against Pittsburgh. Tom Crean has done an excellent job, and they should go Dancing — a pretty great accomplishment since they were pegged in the preseason to finish 12th in the conference.
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JB Pittsburgh: Com’on Kieran, whats up with Pitt. Can we get some props here or what?

Kieran Darcy: Pitt’s been very impressive. They’ve got a guard-post combo in Krauser and Gray that can get them to the Sweet Sixteen, maybe even beyond. Let’s see what happens.

And we can end it with some snark predictions from Joe Lunardi.

Greg Milwaukee, WI: Joe, What do you think about Marquette and their chances against Pitt Saturday night?

Joe Lunardi: I like Pitt’s chances to join the growing list of Big East teams to lose on their first trip to Milwaukee.

A lot of pressure on Marquette as well to avoid the emotional letdown.

Ray Fittipaldo has his weekly Q&A.

Q: The way Carl Krauser has handled the younger players on the team this year (consoling and mentoring), do you see any possibility that he will be added to Dixon’s coaching staff after he leaves? I really don’t see him making it at the next level, but he seems to have a good head on his shoulders, and I think he would be an asset to the staff; especially with the group of players that will be left behind after he graduates.

Fittipaldo: Krauser is good enough to play professional basketball and make a lot of money. It might not be in the NBA, at least not right away, but he can go make a nice buck overseas. Most players try to exhaust their playing potential before entering coaching. I suspect Krauser will see what’s out there for him professionally. If you’re looking for a former Pitt player who might be a future coach, look to Brandin Knight. If he is not able to come back from his leg injury and play again, he told me he wants to pursue coaching opportunities.

Other questions concern whether Hudson is a complete or partial bust, not starting DeGroat (a weekly question), Gray and dunking and Herb Pope.