display data from database

I've always bound data to a dataset...

how do I display data without a dataSet?

This is how i usually display data...

SqlConnection myConnection = new SqlConnection(conn);
string sqlQuery = "SELECT * FROM questions";
SqlDataAdapter myCommand = new SqlDataAdapter(sqlQuery, myConnection);

DataSet ds = new DataSet();
myCommand.Fill(ds, "questions");
MyDataGrid.DataSource = ds.Tables["questions"].DefaultView;
MyDataGrid.DataBind();

<%# DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "answer3")%>

Take a look at SqlDataSource class, you can start from here:

SqlDataSource Web Server Control Overview