illinilaw08

QUOTE(The Critic @ Feb 9, 2006 -> 11:16 AM) Seems kinda hypocritical to get all up their asses one week after probably the biggest gambling day of the year. Last week, gambling = OK, look at the cute office pools and point spreads. This week, gambling = MAFIA, ILLEGAL, DEATH TO ALL WHO GAMBLE..... I find it odd. The issue to me is not is gambling ok, the issue is whether gambling on the sport in which you play is an issue. In my mind, I liken this to insider trading, especially if they are wagering on the NHL. I hate to sound cliche, but the integrity of the game becomes an issue. In addition to this, the Great One is the North American face of hockey. If this blows up and he becomes the new Pete Rose, I can't imagine the backlash that will result.

QUOTE(Jimbo's Drinker @ Feb 9, 2006 -> 12:19 AM) No Valley teams, what a overhype machine. Good teams are.... Connecticut LSU Texas Washington Georgetown Duke Michigan State Final four right now has Uconn and mich state in as locsk. Have you watched Mich St play? The talent is there definitely, but they don't have the depth in the frontcourt Izzo's best teams have had, and Maurice Ager can be stopped. They are the Jekel and Hyde of college basketball this year. Can they get there, yes... are they a lock... far, far from it.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Feb 8, 2006 -> 09:51 PM) We were up pretty big but the Nugs closed the quarter strong. Still a 9 point lead at the half. The ball movement has been tremendous and we are kicking ass in the boards. Tyson with 6 points and 11 boards in the first half. He's a beast and Songalia has been great as well. Hinrich has had some nice passes and Gordon/Noc have looked good too. Haven't seen much Deng or Duhon. Actually I'm starting to think there may be a true shot Duh gets dealt around the break for a guy like Gooden (or another big). I like Duhon a lot but I think its easier to find a backup pg as opposed to a quality big that can score (plus thats kind of a big time need for this team). Yeah, hopefully Tyson can put two halves together tonight. Obviously when Tyson plays well the Bulls are a hell of a lot better team. And I agree, the Bulls really need another big, but I'm not sold on Drew Gooden as that guy.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Feb 8, 2006 -> 07:14 PM) You can't see the list if you aren't a member. Oh, sorry about that. The commits are Brian Carlwell, a 6-10 C from Proviso East ranked as the 5th best center in the country and Richard Semrau, a 6-9 power forward from Ohio. Carlwell is a raw center that is very athletic, Semrau is supposed to be a good shooter.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan99 @ Feb 8, 2006 -> 07:03 PM) Patrick Beverley is not an option and I for one am glad about that. Is that confirmed? I mean I know what he said in the paper and all, but I'm curious as to what would happen if Bruce decided to offer. As far as whether it's wise or not, I've never seen him play, so I can't comment on that.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Feb 8, 2006 -> 06:26 PM) Can someone just give me a real quick list of 06' recruits for the Illini (BB). You don't have to go in-depth if you don't want to. http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=169&p=9&cfg=bb&c=8&yr=2006 That's a list of the commits. The prospects at this point are Leon Freeman and Ramar Smith, both 6-4 SG from Michigan, though they both have grade issues. Patrick Beverley 6-2 SG from Marshall in Chicago (though he and his coach have been upset with Weber for not making an offer yet). That's just off the top of my head. Weber could still bank the scholarship and use it next year, and I have no idea if Weber is recruiting an Junior College guys (I think that recruitment usually picks up in April though I could be wrong about that). Hope that helps.

http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9216412 Very interesting article on Coach K and his sideline antics. Not what I would expect from Doyel.

Thats the second time in the past week that a team has tried a 2 with under 10 seconds left down three against Duke. f***

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Feb 7, 2006 -> 12:59 AM) Generous clock operating and officiating. Oh yeah, once again the Zags show that they are the Duke of the West Coast Confrence.

Holy s***, that was an awful defensive breakdown and some awful work by the timekeeper. Needed some of that against Penn State.

QUOTE(Jimbo's Drinker @ Feb 5, 2006 -> 10:09 PM) Julian Wright is s***ty??? He is probably the best passing big I have seen in a long time. who cares if he cannot shoot 3's. He is starting to become an absolute beast, he was at first hesitant to bang with the big boys. He pulled down 8 boards against thte likes of Bookout and Gray. If illinois thinks guys by the name of Trent Meacham are saviors...hahahaaa. You see Illinois has zero inside game and if they cannot hit their 3's game...well game over. p.s. julian wright is shooting 53.1 percent from the field, that would be second best on the illini. Never said Meacham was a savior, just that he would push Frazier for playing time at the point next year. I will be the first person to admit next year is not going to be a great year for the Illini, and hopefully there will just be one year of Meacham/Frazier running the point before Derrick Rose takes over the reigns (knock on wood). Illinois is struggling on the interior this year as much because their guards don't look to make a solid entry pass as anything else. You can really see Shaun Pruitt getting frusturated in some games by his lack of touches. That being said, yes Illinois does live and die by the three point shot. However, I will not complain about being 20-3 this year with a team that should probably be a 3 or a 4 seed in the tournament. As far as Julian Wright goes, yes of course I would love to see Wright wearing the Orange and Blue, and no I disagree with whoever said he was a s***ty player. Julian Wright is going to be a force, though he would be an even better player if he developed some range on his jump shot, much like Brian Randle for the Illini (not comparing the two as players, just the easiest guy to point out what a different player he could be with a solid jump shot).

Quick question for the board... why is it that NFL coaches NEVER kick the field goal in a situation like today's game?! I know that it isn't a sure bet that the field goal will be made, but you need 2 possessions, and you can't get a second possession when there is no time left on the clock! This happens so often, I cannot comprhend why football coaches do this. Ending rant now. Also of note, I thought maybe Randle-El would get the MVP.

QUOTE(SnB @ Feb 5, 2006 -> 04:13 PM) he's very good at everything but shooting? ...ok He's a pretty good defender, that's about it. Frazier is a good ball handler in addition to being a good defender. He also is one of the few Illini this year that has shown any ability to penetrate and make things happen. In addition, he seems like he is a very tough player (coming back very quickly from that leg injury he had earlier in the year). As noted however, he is a terrible shooter but that is a skill that can be developed. If he never develops that skill, he will be a solid guard to have coming off the bench. Watch out for Trent Meachem next year to push Chester to start at the point. Also, on the subject of Illiniboard, it used to be a pretty solid site three of four years ago. Now it is very difficult to get a solid basketball discussion going there.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Feb 5, 2006 -> 12:28 PM) Guys, like Iowa and some of the better Big 10 teams, Illinois doesn't have the talent to consistently win games. They aren't the team from last year. I know Krush and SNB realize this just like I realize this about my Hawkeyes. Now could either of these teams (along with OSU) make a run deep into the tourney, sure, but none of them is going to win the tourney. Illinois lacks the weapons on offense because if Dee Brown is slowed down they don't stand much of a chance. Its hard to win when you have that going against you. They have managed to do a good job over the course of the season defensiely, which will help them win a lot of games and make the tourney and finish up as one of the best teams in the big 10 (and they still have a total shot at the Big 10 title, they are 1 game behind Iowa and still get to play em in Champaign). Plus Iowa plays down to their competition and could easily get upset by a team like NU. We also still have a home game against MSU, which is not going to be easy. The Spartans match up well against us and Paul Davis seems to be the one guy Hansen has trouble stopping (ie, Hansen who I think is the best defensive big man in the big 10). That said notice I don't include MSU in that mix. MSU hasn't shown up consistently and I think its because they have lacked some defensive intensity at times because in the long run playing consistent defense will allow you to win a lot of games (to be great you'll need offense as well, but if your team can defend you'll find ways to win often). But MSU (in big games) tends to step up that level of intensity plus Izzo is a master at getting his team going down the stretch. They are the lone team in the big 10 that could make noise and make the final 4, imo. I don't see them doing it, but its a definate possibility. But back to my point, too many Illini fans are over-rating the team based on last year. You guys are probably one of the more over-rated teams in the country right now. Its not a knock cause you all have continued to win, but you aren't the 6th or 7th best team in the country (I give Weber and your guys credit for battling and getting there though). Just like GW isn't the 10th best team in the country. You can't get that distinction when you don't play ANYBODY. Plus cause I'm bias I will continue my note that Iowa (as of today) is the most under-rated team in the country. They still have a lot to prove though. I agree to a certain extent. For one thing, Illinois is clearly nowhere near as good as they were last year. Now that being said, there are really only 2 good teams in the country this year... Duke and UCONN. I'm not saying that I expect Illinois to go to the Final Four, but someone has to, and I fully expect there to be 1 Big 10 team there (Iowa, MSU... I'm not sure which one). I also think this is going to be one of the hardest NCAA tournaments to handicap in recent memory because there is a ton of parity this year.

I gotta say, AD would help the Bulls out if only it would mean no more minutes for Malik Allen. I have no idea what the Knicks are thinking here, as has been posted over and over in this thread, they already have too many players at that position. And I agree, Larry Brown is getting exactly what he deserves here.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2317958 Didnt see this anywhere, the Knicks trade AD for Rose and a first round pick. The Knicks now have about 7 guards who can't pass and wont play defense to go with Channing Frye and Eddy Curry.... and they just traded away a solid expiring contract. At least thats my initial reaction. Any other thoughts?

Alright, here are my two cents. I grew up an Illinois fan, I love the school and I love the Chief, but I understand that part of this is because I am removed from the heritage that the Chief offends. I will accept the fact that th Chief is offensive to a minority group that has, quite frankly, been shat on in this country. However, I do not think that anyone should minimize the impact the Chief has had on many graduates of the University of Illinois. It brings chills to me everytime the Chief stands at halfcourt or midfield and people in the stands sing the Alma Mater. But like I said, I understand why others are bothered by this and why the Chief is going to go. It just is not a black and white issue to the university because there is a lot of donor money at stake here. As far as the Seminole-Illini argument goes, I took a Native American history class as an undergrad here, and I raised the issue in class of the Seminole tribe. The answer I received was that the majority of Native American groups do find the Seminole mascot offensive and want it to be retired. All these groups hands are tied however because the Seminole tribe does not have an issue with it ($$$ playing a major factor there).

I've gotta talk about the Illini game tonight, and has I have been preaching all year, I will continue to do so, the Illini need Randle and McBride to be a very good team. Dee and Augie can take a team so far, but those two guys are the X-factor between a second round exit and a potential final four team.

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Jan 31, 2006 -> 04:21 PM) Yeah, and turning the heat to the NCAA, not the university. They can just say "it's the ncaa, we had no choice" even though i think they all want to get rid of the Chief anyway. Yeah, that it a very good point. The NCAA has actually provided the university with a way out of a difficult situation. They can still keep the alumni happy in that they are pushing the appeal process as far as it can go. On a personal note, it will be very sad to see the Chief go, but the handwriting has been on the wall for some time now.

QUOTE(sec159row2 @ Jan 30, 2006 -> 03:02 PM) tequila....... enough said..... I hear that. Four or five years ago I had a god awful night with tequilla, last year one of my friends bought me a tequilla shot, it immediately came back up. Now I can't even smell the stuff without getting nauseous.

Didn't see this anywhere, but it's the latest from Sam Smith... as accurate as a weatherman. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...bulls-headlines Not really a trade that I see happening from the Celtics perspective, but it's a deal I would not mind to see the Bulls make.

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Jan 26, 2006 -> 09:25 PM) You are correct thedoctor... http://texastech.scout.com/3/recruiting-grades-code.html I just found that link about a week ago, I could have used that for the past 5 years. Oh wow, that link is awesome. Thanks for that.

Ricky Davis > Wally in my mind by a lot. The Celtics get the expiring contract and get out of Blount's contract, but as was mentioned previously, Wally has a pretty s***ty contract as well. Worst thing about this deal is there goes my hopes Pierce will get dealt to the Bulls.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Jan 26, 2006 -> 07:54 PM) good commitment today for illinois. jeff cumberland a four-star recruit from rivals and scout, chose the illini. cumberland is out of brookhaven high school in columbus, ohio. jeff cumberland rivals story also, illinois is looking good for four-star receiver kenny britt out of virginia. britt eliminated virginia (one of his other leaders) today. Cumberland is a very good get. Hopefully his grades are in order and he is playing TE for the Illini next year.

The synopsis for Mighty Ducks 4 sounds exactly the same as the first Mighty Ducks. No way a lot of these movies will ever get made.