Official College Basketball Thread

[Soxbadger]

Wisconsin could be in for a real free fall.

 

You could see it coming the last few games, just not where they need to be to win games.

 

Better get their act together or NIT could be in their future.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

KU v. Oklahoma nooner game.

 

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, GO KU

[Rex Hudler]

What two players did Wisconsin lose? Were they both academic casualties?

[Chisoxfn]

All the Illini fans were ripping the Iowa fans for storming the court after they beat the Illini. How do they explain storming the court after a loss to lowly PSU?

Don't ask me. We were an unranked team who had beaten freaking IU at home. IU which was ranked 11th in the country and they also stormed the court with a win over than undefeated and highly ranked Illinois.

 

I see no reason to knock fans for doing that. Sure, if we were Duke that would be a problem, but Iowa isn't Duke.

 

That said I am ever so scared for our collapse in Evanston this week. I'm also shocked to see Iowa alone atop the big 10 this late in the season with Alford as coach. Man I hope they somehow keep this up.

[Chisoxfn]

Wisconsin could be in for a real free fall.

 

You could see it coming the last few games, just not where they need to be to win games.

 

Better get their act together or NIT could be in their future.

Ya, talk about one loss setting a team into a total collapse. Of course the overall record is still rock solid, but they will have to end the free fall if they want a tourney birth. They once looked like a lock, but they will have to step up and play reasonably solid down the stretch (not amazing or anything, but solid enough).

 

Cause they have some awful losses.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

Please be true

My mom thinks I should stay another year," Rush, Kansas University's talented freshman guard from Kansas City, Mo., said Friday. "I'm probably going to listen to her advice.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"When JaRon was trying to leave, he didn't listen to her (Glenda)," Brandon Rush said. "You know what ended up happening. I learned a lesson from that."

[whitesoxfan101]

Well I woke up yesterday morning thinking I'd watch Illinois put themself in great position to win their league with a blowout win, and watch NIU lose a last second game to see their league title hopes die. Wow I had that one right, but the teams reversed.

[whitesoxfan101]

I'll say this........nothing hurt more than our loss to OSU last year. 

Being 4 seconds away from an undefeated season, then having it snatched away and kids rushing the court in front of you.......hurts, a lot.

 

This hurt me 100 times more. That game meant nothing to me, we had to win 6 in a row as the #1 in the midwest to win it all regardless of what happened that day. We had the Big Ten title regardless of what happened that day. We had the #1 seed in the Big Ten Tourney regardless of what happened that day.

 

Tonight's loss ended all hopes of another Big 10 title, was to one of the worst major college basketball teams in the country, ended the home court winning streak. This is EASILY the worst regular season loss the Illini have had since this run of success started with Kruger.

 

Just embarassing, the team should have just stayed in the locker room at halftime. No heart, no effort......I almost wish they wouldn't be allowed to wear uniforms that say "Illinois" on them the next several games, they don't deserve it.

Edited February 5, 2006 by whitesoxfan101

[greasywheels121]

I'm pretty confident Davis isn't going to be here anymore after this season. This team's probably going to fall out of the top 25, after this week. We've lost 3 of 4, and then we go to Wisconsin on Wednesday. I'm not that confident that we can avoid a second two game losing streak.

 

Yes, Davis really got hurt by the injuries to DJ. Who knows what would have happened with Duke and UConn, if he was in the lineup. However, I'm pretty confident to say that we would've turned some of the uglier losses on our record into wins, with him in the lineup (Indiana State, Iowa, Minnesota).

 

The program will probably even take a bigger slide, if they have to fire Davis, because so many of the players are here because of him. However, I think I'm ready for that. This is getting old.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

I'm pretty confident Davis isn't going to be here anymore after this season.  This team's probably going to fall out of the top 25, after this week.  We've lost 3 of 4, and then we go to Wisconsin on Wednesday.  I'm not that confident that we can avoid a second two game losing streak.

 

Yes, Davis really got hurt by the injuries to DJ.  Who knows what would have happened with Duke and UConn, if he was in the lineup.  However, I'm pretty confident to say that we would've turned some of the uglier losses on our record into wins, with him in the lineup (Indiana State, Iowa, Minnesota). 

 

The program will probably even take a bigger slide, if they have to fire Davis, because so many of the players are here because of him.  However, I think I'm ready for that.  This is getting old.

 

That would allow Darrell "Slim Shady" Arthur to go to Kansas. I still see Bruce Pearl coaching IU next year.

[Rex Hudler]

Greasy, I could definitely see that happening, but let's not give up just yet. Wisconsin is struggling a bit right now so maybe this is a good time for IU to get their first decent road win. I still see an 11-5 or 10-6 finish in the Big Ten and a 5 or 6 seed in the tourney.

 

I really see this team as being one that could have been a Final Four contender with DJ White. Now, I see them as a Sweet 16 contender, but no real surety of getting there. Right now, my guess is they go down in the 2nd round. Whether that will be enough to save Davis or not, I don't know.

 

All that said, if they do fire Davis, let's not be so sure there will be a mass exodus of players. Remember many guys on Illinois team wanted to or considered leaving after Bill Self left. The key is who the next coach would be and if he can sell the players on staying. I don't see DJ White leaving. He isn't ready for the NBA and I don't see him sitting out a 2nd consecutive year. Vaden is a possibility, but being an Indiana kid, I would think there is a decent chance a new coach could talk him into staying. If they keep Kerry Rupp around, I think Ben Allen stays.

 

The mindset always seems to be "I'll leave if they fire MY coach" but then when faced with the reality of sitting their asses on the bench for a year, things often change quickly. What players say/think now, may not be what becomes their ultimate decision.

[greasywheels121]

I still see Bruce Pearl coaching IU next year.

 

I don't.

[WHarris1]

:banghead :puke

[Rex Hudler]

That would allow Darrell "Slim Shady" Arthur to go to Kansas. I still see Bruce Pearl coaching IU next year.

 

I don't see Bruce Pearl being a fit at IU. Even if they wanted him, I think he would have a hard time getting out of his contract at Tennessee after only one year. Especially after making such progress this year. They have 24,000+ seats and an unlimited budget if he can win. I think he is there for a good while.

[greasywheels121]

Greasy, I could definitely see that happening, but let's not give up just yet.  Wisconsin is struggling a bit right now so maybe this is a good time for IU to get their first decent road win.  I still see an 11-5 or 10-6 finish in the Big Ten and a 5 or 6 seed in the tourney. 

 

I really see this team as being one that could have been a Final Four contender with DJ White.  Now, I see them as a Sweet 16 contender, but no real surety of getting there.  Right now, my guess is they go down in the 2nd round.  Whether that will be enough to save Davis or not, I don't know.

 

All that said, if they do fire Davis, let's not be so sure there will be a mass exodus of players.  Remember many guys on Illinois team wanted to or considered leaving after Bill Self left.  The key is who the next coach would be and if he can sell the players on staying.  I don't see DJ White leaving.  He isn't ready for the NBA and I don't see him sitting out a 2nd consecutive year.  Vaden is a possibility, but being an Indiana kid, I would think there is a decent chance a new coach could talk him into staying.  If they keep Kerry Rupp around, I think Ben Allen stays. 

 

The mindset always seems to be "I'll leave if they fire MY coach" but then when faced with the reality of sitting their asses on the bench for a year, things often change quickly.  What players say/think now, may not be what becomes their ultimate decision.

 

I guess the rest of Indiana's finally got me buying into the fire Davis kool-aid or something; you know I've been pretty supportive over the years.

 

You're right though. I really feel like we'd be top 5, if DJ was here. Now we're probably out of the top 25.

 

I do hope the players stay, regardless of what happens. I really like what we got, and the talents certainly there. However, with what they've been coached, they don't know what to do with it, when Killingsworth is not in, and that's scary.

[Rex Hudler]

I guess the rest of Indiana's finally got me buying into the fire Davis kool-aid or something; you know I've been pretty supportive over the years. 

 

You're right though.  I really feel like we'd be top 5, if DJ was here.  Now we're probably out of the top 25. 

 

I do hope the players stay, regardless of what happens.  I really like what we got, and the talents certainly there.  However, with what they've been coached, they don't know what to do with it, when Killingsworth is not in, and that's scary.

 

 

You're right. Unfortunately, Sean Kline just can't give us anything. And Ben Allen is more of a 3 than a 4 or 5. I am going to be curious to see how Allen develops because I don't see him being quick enough to play on a wing. He's going to have to develop down low, which will mean gaining a lot of strength.

 

To be honest I am not sure if I want Davis to stay or not. All I really want is for IU to freakin win. But I don't want to be Kentucky and want to fire the coach everytime they lose two games in a row or lose one game they aren't supposed to.

[greasywheels121]

You're right.  Unfortunately, Sean Kline just can't give us anything.  And Ben Allen is more of a 3 than a 4 or 5.  I am going to be curious to see how Allen develops because I don't see him being quick enough to play on a wing.  He's going to have to develop down low, which will mean gaining a lot of strength. 

 

To be honest I am not sure if I want Davis to stay or not.  All I really want is for IU to freakin win.  But I don't want to be Kentucky and want to fire the coach everytime they lose two games in a row or lose one game they aren't supposed to.

 

Allen's getting there. The last two games, he's begun to show some confidence and get some productive minutes. However, his position is still kind of a mystery. He's definitely not quick enough to play just as a forward/guard just yet; it takes him a long time to put up that outside shot. He can play defense like a 4/5, but he's still really timid. It reminds me of DJ at the beginning of last year; he was really afraid to get fouled.

 

And I agree with what you're saying about Davis. I wonder if it will be like this forever, now that Knight was fired, or it was just because it's Mike Davis. It's hard to tell if it's just because Indiana's got such a reactionary fan base, or if there is someone else, people will finally shut up.

 

Davis was unfortunately in a lose-lose situation from the beginning, when it seems like more than half of the fan base wants you gone, regardless of what you do. It's just crazy to see the 180 people have done, since the Illinois victory. It's hard to stay optimistic.

[fathom]

A couple of comments about Big 10 play from yesterday:

 

- I never thought I'd say this, but Steve Alford is far and away doing the best job of coaching in the conference. Iowa is playing under control, and their system gets the best out of their 5 core guys.

 

- I still get a laugh when Illini fans think James Augustine is going to be a first round pick. There's not much of a market for power forwards who can't shoot from outside 5 feet, can't create their own shot, and still haven't learned to play defense without fouling.

 

- Bruce Weber.....you play to win the game! I couldn't believe how passive the Illini were last night in the final 10 minutes. Penn St. could have won by more if they didn't miss 3 layups in the last 4 minutes.

 

- Wisconsin sucks. They're a 2 person team, and even those guys are ball hogs.

 

- Ohio St. is the best all-around team in the conference. Je'kel Foster might be the most underrated player in the country (along with Tyrus Thomas, Darrel Mitchell, and Joakim Noah).

[SnB]

- I still get a laugh when Illini fans think James Augustine is going to be a first round pick.  There's not much of a market for power forwards who can't shoot from outside 5 feet, can't create their own shot, and still haven't learned to play defense without fouling.

 

I know there are those people out there, but honestly...I don't know any.

 

Every good illini fan I know, doesn't think too highly of augy. He has(d) the potential to be a force on the inside, but was never aggressive enough.

[fathom]

I know there are those people out there, but honestly...I don't know any.

 

Every good illini fan I know, doesn't think too highly of augy.  He has(d) the potential to be a force on the inside, but was never aggressive enough.

 

If you go on the illiniboard after any good performance by Augie, you'll see numerous threads stating how he should be a lottery pick. The same thing happened with Randle after the Wisconsin game. Randle is another guy that won't sniff a second in the NBA until he can shoot outside of 5 feet or play 5 minutes without fouling someone.

[SnB]

If you go on the illiniboard after any good performance by Augie, you'll see numerous threads stating how he should be a lottery pick.  The same thing happened with Randle after the Wisconsin game.  Randle is another guy that won't sniff a second in the NBA until he can shoot outside of 5 feet or play 5 minutes without fouling someone.

illiniboard is impossible to read, just about all the time.

[Heads22]

Colorado @ Iowa State today in a little over an hour. I''m heading out, but I'm guessing the crowd won't be too big after that Kansas deabcle. A win today keeps me happy, a loss makes me sad.

 

ISU had a players only meeting where apparently Stinson and Blalock took charge and talked to the freshmen about what they need to do. We'll find out in about 3 hours, but I could see ISU coming out with some energy just to mess with me.

[Chisoxfn]

I'm pretty confident Davis isn't going to be here anymore after this season.  This team's probably going to fall out of the top 25, after this week.  We've lost 3 of 4, and then we go to Wisconsin on Wednesday.  I'm not that confident that we can avoid a second two game losing streak.

 

Yes, Davis really got hurt by the injuries to DJ.  Who knows what would have happened with Duke and UConn, if he was in the lineup.  However, I'm pretty confident to say that we would've turned some of the uglier losses on our record into wins, with him in the lineup (Indiana State, Iowa, Minnesota). 

 

The program will probably even take a bigger slide, if they have to fire Davis, because so many of the players are here because of him.  However, I think I'm ready for that.  This is getting old.

Once again, under-rating Iowa. We beat ya guys fair and square

[whitesoxfan99]

- I still get a laugh when Illini fans think James Augustine is going to be a first round pick.  There's not much of a market for power forwards who can't shoot from outside 5 feet, can't create their own shot, and still haven't learned to play defense without fouling.

 

- Bruce Weber.....you play to win the game!  I couldn't believe how passive the Illini were last night in the final 10 minutes.  Penn St. could have won by more if they didn't miss 3 layups in the last 4 minutes.

 

 

Agree on point 1. I'm going to have such mixed feelings on his career. Very good player and great rebounder who just never had the attitude to be great and never lived up to his potential

 

As for point 2 I don't think Weber had his best night coaching, but the players got extremely tight and they were playing scared. Augustine wanted nothing to do with the ball, Jamar didn't want to shoot, and Randle wouldn't drive. Rich and Dee were the only ones willing to shoot the ball at all. The one problem this team has had this season is a lack of consistent intensity which really bugs me. Last night they got the big lead, let up completely on D, Penn St. shot the ball incredibly down the stretch and it looked like we didn't care. But a lot of credit to Penn St., they made plays and got every loose ball, and they hit the boards a lot harder than we did.

 

Now somebody wake me up and tell me that game never happened.

[Chisoxfn]

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.