Your Humble Correspondent talked to some media folks/college hoops experts at the Final Four and asked them about their opinion on Kansas State hiring Bruce Weber. Here's what they had to say.

Gary Parrish, national college basketball writer for CBSSports.com:
"The question will be 'Can he recruit kids to Manhattan?' I don't know the answer to that. Any other coach Kansas State would have hired would have faced the same question and you still wouldn't be able to answer it.

"Unless you're one of the top 10, 15 programs, this is the hire you make. You could hire an assistant a BCS-level school; sometimes that turns into Sidney Lowe or sometimes it turns into Shaka Smart. Again, you just don't know. I think this was about as good as Kansas State could do.

"A year ago, people thought Frank Haith going from Miami to Missouri was a big mistake. That worked out OK.

"The good news is Weber inherits a roster that's ready to win right now. Kansas State is in our early preseason top 25. What happens when the current players leave and Weber has to recruit new guys, that's what will be interesting. If Bruce gets good players, he'll win."

Andy Katz of ESPN.com:
"Just because Bruce Weber got dismissed at Illinois, he didn't suddenly become a bad coach. He's a good coach. He'll need to get someone who can help him recruit. He'll also have to find areas from which to recruit players. At Illinois, he had Chicago and St. Louis.

"It was a critical hire for Kansas State because it had an identity based on Frank Martin. I think they needed someone like Bruce. And I think he'll have success quickly because he's inheriting the kind of blue-collar, hard-working players that he's had success with in the past."

Fran Fraschillia, ESPN analyst:
"That's a solid, meat and potatoes hire. Bruce is a great guy who has won a lot of games, he's had success on the national stage. He'll appreciate the fan base and the passion of Kansas State basketball.

"He's taking over team that already has a great work ethic and coupled with his philosophy it should be a great match.

Pat Forde, national columnist for Yahoo!Sports.com:
"I think it's a good hire. I can understand some reticence from Kansas State people about hiring someone who has just gotten fired. I think he's an extremely good coach, he's a solid guy. His teams run good stuff. When he's had good players, he's done very well. He'll need a staff that can recruit well.

"I think they've got a chance to have good long-term success with Weber.

"I think his style of play fits well in the Big 12. His coaching style will not be out of place in that conference.

Mike DeCourcy, national college basketball writer for The Sporting News:
"Bruce has got to find the kind of players he wants to coach. His last couple of classes at Illinois, he could never connect with them. If he finds the player who fits his style, he'll do well. He's best with blue collar, hard-working guys who can move, shoot and pass.

"He's an excellent basketball coach. He can X and O with anybody. He has to have players who can shoot the ball, can pass, who aren't in love with dribbling. At Illinois, he had too many soft guys up front. If he finds guys who can bang around the basket, he'll do great."