Dear AskChuck@knews.com:

I am really concerned about the Tennessee men's basketball program.

I came to UT in 1978 and stayed in Knoxville until 1994. I attended a few games in the early 1970s and still make it to a few games every year.

I can remember Stokely rocking in the early 1980s, to watching NIT games with 1,500 of my closest friends at Thompson-Boling Arena in the early 1990s. Thompson-Boling -- with all of its handicaps -- can still be a noisy place for basketball. UT doesn't have to be the greatest team on earth. Just be competitive, make the NCAA tournament and give fans something to cheer about.

What bothers me is that basketball has been treated like a second-class citizen by the UT athletic department for so long, I don't know if there is any hope left in resurrecting the program.

Two days before Christmas, I had a friend who could not find any pocket schedules at the main bookstore on campus at the University Center. However, there were plenty of football schedules at every register. This has gone on for a long time.

UT already has a bad reputation as a football school that treats basketball as an afterthought. Therefore, any "hot" coach on the rise is not coming to UT. The 25-point home loss to Vanderbilt was a continued embarrassment to the university. But like my wife says, "Why should you care when nobody else does."

Chuck, should I care?

Brett J. Tarter

Franklin, Tenn.Of course, you should care. So should the people who seem to be staying away in droves.

It's interesting that you mentioned pocket schedules because I don't recall seeing as many, either.

UT has a made a commitment to men's basketball with an $855,000 annual salary for the head coach that ranked third in the SEC when it was awarded.

Athletic director Mike Hamilton obviously wants to give Buzz Peterson every chance to succeed. It's accurate to say the situation will be reviewed when the season is over -- and Hamilton will make what he considers to be an appropriate decision at that time.

What's happened to Lady Vol shooters?

Dear Chuck,

Got a question for you -- or maybe it's more of an inquiring opinion:

What do you think has caused the cold shooting with the Lady Vols' basketball team?

As far as preparation, there's no questioning Pat Summitt's work ethic. Anyone signing with Tennessee knows they will end up in the national spotlight. I can understand a freshman struggling, but even some of the veterans are having problems.

My dad brought up an interesting point a couple of years ago about Pat releasing an extremely in-depth, informative book about her secrets to success. Do you think it's possible that my dad's hunch is correct: the opposition has used her book to study -- and counter -- her coaching style?

What do you think?

Danny Layman

Decatur, Tenn.I do not think details in a book have much impact on whether a player consistently hits a 15-foot jumper.

Sometimes they struggle with lay-ups, too. Let's just say there's no substitute for confidence.

It's also no secret the Lady Vols rely on defensive intensity to make everything click.

If anything, part of the problem could be mental or physical fatigue from working too hard to get better.

Should UT retire No. 16?

Hey Chuck,

I know this has probably been addressed before, but I have never heard anything about it. I thought UT retired Peyton Manning's No. 16 until I saw Rick Clausen wearing it last season. What's up with that?

Shelly Walker

SeviervilleUT prefers to name streets after its top athletes and most successful coaches -- and save retired numbers for someone who makes the ultimate sacrifice for his or her country.

It's easy to wonder what it actually takes to get a street named after you. But it makes sense to retire a jersey (for instance, No. 16 with Manning on it) rather than the number itself.

Face it, there are only so many numbers to go around. What happens if a top recruit is determined to wear a number that has been retired?

(Hint: If he's also considering Florida, you "un-retire" it.)

About Gray Simons

Chuck,

I had to do a "double take" when I saw former UT wrestling coach Gray Simons' name and picture in your column (last Thursday).

I was a shot putter at UT back in the 1980s and we would practice alongside the wrestlers in the "bubble."

That is how I got to know coach Simons and his athletes. Chuck, I took your advice and voted for him to make the 75-year anniversary team in college wrestling.

I was fortunate to have gotten to know Gray and he is a class act. He definitely had a passion for wrestling and worked countless hours on a limited budget. I can't help but wonder what might have been if the UT athletic department had not dropped wrestling after the team took 8th place in the NCAA Championships back in 1985.

Pat Reid

KnoxvilleA lot of people are wondering the same thing. For more information about the all-time college wrestling team, log onto nwcaonline.com.

Send questions or comments to AskChuck@knews.com. Chuck Cavalaris also hosts The Ticket Sports Page Live on Monday through Friday from 3-4 p.m. on WQBB 1040AM.