Official College Basketball Thread

[redandwhite]

When I said they were hosed, I was under the impression that the link posted before was the updated link leaving IU out of the rankings entirely.

 

I'm happy about being ranked, it's a step.

[whitesoxfan99]

Good chance Brian Randle and Shaun Pruitt won't be playing for Illinois tomorrow. The amount of injuries this team has had this year has been ridiculous. They were never going to be a great team even without all the injuries, but they had a chance to be very solid.

[Soxbadger]

Damn, Badger fans need an Illini win against the Hoosiers.

 

Plus Pruitt looked outstanding against Wisconsin and I was hoping hed be able to build on that, because if he could have the same game against IU as he did Wisconsin, Illini had a good chance.

[Rowand44]

that is not updated, ku lost and should be way out of the top 10, those vile pieces of lard.

Uh ya, my bad. Usually when you go to espn.com and the rankings they'll just be blank on monday if they weren't updated yet. I didnt even look at who was where, I just posted that. Whoops.

[MHizzle85]

Good chance Brian Randle and Shaun Pruitt won't be playing for Illinois tomorrow. The amount of injuries this team has had this year has been ridiculous. They were never going to be a great team even without all the injuries, but they had a chance to be very solid.

 

What's the deal on Randle & Pruitt now?

[whitesoxfan99]

What's the deal on Randle & Pruitt now?

 

Pruitt hurt his knee against Wisconsin and Randle has been having problems with his feet. It is possible both play, but Weber said he doesn't think either will.

[RockRaines]

Man they are still putting us a little high on the rankings. I would say top ten is accurate, but #5 is still a little high.

[thedoctor]

Pruitt hurt his knee against Wisconsin and Randle has been having problems with his feet. It is possible both play, but Weber said he doesn't think either will.

 

apparently randle is out for the game because of his plantar faciitis. pruitt will play as much as he can but it probably just depends on how he feels.

[Buehrle>Wood]

Illinois is going to get killed if Pruitt doesn't play. They are a completly different team with him on the court. They are horrendous without him.

[WHarris1]

Good chance Brian Randle and Shaun Pruitt won't be playing for Illinois tomorrow.

The season from hell

[IlliniKrush]

[thedoctor]

douche.

[whitesoxfan101]

Well, if Weber isn't on the hot seat yet (which based on the chatter of the only people that matter in college athletics, the boosters, he is) he's certainly be after a loss tonight. A loss tonight to the team that outdid him for the only good recruit he ever had, on ESPN, on the home floor, eliminating the Illini from the tournament, officially starts a clock that may reach zero by the end of next season. I wouldn't mind it pesonally, I'd love to see a coach that can actually bring in players that can do something. Only guy worth a damn Bruce has brought in is Pruitt.

Edited January 23, 2007 by whitesoxfan101

[Soxbadger]

Thats pretty unfair especially if Pruitt does not play tonight.

 

I doubt Indiana would be faring any better with the type of injuries Illinois has had.

 

Weber has won 89 games during his first three years at Illinois, which are the most wins ever by a Big Ten coach in his first three seasons, and are the second-most wins ever by a Big Ten coach over any period of three-straight seasons. He owns the best winning percentage in the 101-year history of Big Ten basketball, having won 84.8 percent of his games while at Illinois (89-16). Weber also ranks as the second-winningest coach in the nation over the last five seasons, totaling 141 victories.

 

Weber has won 73.3 percent of his games during his eight-year tenure as a head coach (192-70), which is the eighth best winning percentage in the nation among active Div. I coaches. Weber's 192 victories rank as the third-most wins by a head coach in NCAA Div. I history through eight seasons.

 

Some team that does not have a fanbase who is so hell bent on recruiting will get a great coach in Weber if he is fired. When I look at Weber I think of guys like Bo Ryan, who may not be the sexiest recruiter in the world, but know how to win basketball games.

 

Self came to KU from the University of Illinois, where he guided the Fighting Illini to a 78-24 record over three seasons, including two Big Ten regular-season championships, a Big Ten tournament title and three straight NCAA tourney appearances. In Self's first season in Champaign, the Illini advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.

 

Weber has won 11 more games than Self did over a the same 3 year span, he also took Illinois deeper into the NCAA tournament than Self.

 

Maybe it will be 2-3 more years before Weber becomes a destination coach, but unless Illinois has some dynamite replacement lined up, I think Weber has proven himself where it counts, and that is winning games.

[ZoomSlowik]

I think he's earned at least 2 more years after this year before you even think about firing him. He's had one down year so far, everyone is going to have those now and then. Now if they still suck over the next couple of years and it turns out that the recruiting was the cause instead of some injuries and one less than stellar team, than that's another story, but for now he earned some leeway with those Big Ten titles and the Final Four run.

[southsider2k5]

Well, if Weber isn't on the hot seat yet (which based on the chatter of the only people that matter in college athletics, the boosters, he is) he's certainly be after a loss tonight. A loss tonight to the team that outdid him for the only good recruit he ever had, on ESPN, on the home floor, eliminating the Illini from the tournament, officially starts a clock that may reach zero by the end of next season. I wouldn't mind it pesonally, I'd love to see a coach that can actually bring in players that can do something. Only guy worth a damn Bruce has brought in is Pruitt.

 

I haven't posted in here much this year, because it has been kind of a cesspool this year, but Bruce Webber on the hot seat? Come on. The guy is going to get fired because of a mediocre half season, filled with injuries? I thought Sox fans were demanding.

 

Also with that signature... I wonder how many people are saying the samething about recruits signing up by the boatload to be on Illinois's 2-9 football team?

[Soxbadger]

In 2-3 years things may change, but right now it feels so premature to be saying Weber needs to go. Last year Wisconsin tanked for a variety of reasons at the end of the season, but I cant remember 1 Wisconsin fan say anything about replacing Bo Ryan.

 

I guess I just cant understand how you can seriously consider firing a coach who has had the success level as Weber for a bad year. Down years are going to happen, but I dont see any reason why Illinois is not going to be one of the top 3 Big 10 programs for the next few years.

[ZoomSlowik]

In 2-3 years things may change, but right now it feels so premature to be saying Weber needs to go. Last year Wisconsin tanked for a variety of reasons at the end of the season, but I cant remember 1 Wisconsin fan say anything about replacing Bo Ryan.

 

I guess I just cant understand how you can seriously consider firing a coach who has had the success level as Weber for a bad year. Down years are going to happen, but I dont see any reason why Illinois is not going to be one of the top 3 Big 10 programs for the next few years.

 

I disagree with that last part, I think it's highly possible that the team just won't be as good with the level of recruits he's signed so far. In their system he needs guards that can do some damage, and right now Smith seems to be the only guy that fits that billing, and McCamey appears to be the only other potential impact guy. He's going to need some guards to step up, or they could be in trouble. Either that or the big guys, of which it appears he's actually been able to recruit a few decent ones, are going to have to carry the team. I'm not sure how likely that is.

Edited January 23, 2007 by ZoomSlowik

[WhiteSoxfan1986]

In 2-3 years things may change, but right now it feels so premature to be saying Weber needs to go. Last year Wisconsin tanked for a variety of reasons at the end of the season, but I cant remember 1 Wisconsin fan say anything about replacing Bo Ryan.

 

I guess I just cant understand how you can seriously consider firing a coach who has had the success level as Weber for a bad year. Down years are going to happen, but I dont see any reason why Illinois is not going to be one of the top 3 Big 10 programs for the next few years.

 

But Wisky still made the tourney. Right now it doesn't look so good for the Illini, and if they don't make it this year, and next year they don't make it or barely sneak in, Bruce has to go. You can't fire him after this year though.

[greasywheels121]

Since you guys are discussing it, this is a thought Rex had earlier that I thought was interesting:

 

Has Bruce Weber done anything that Mike Davis didn't do? He went to the NCAA Championship with someone else's players. The direction of the program seems to be headed in a similar direction IU's was after the run to Atlanta.

 

From what it looks like to me, Davis was the better recruiter, but Weber seems to be more stable emotionally. I guess anything can happen, but for all the "props" Weber gets as a great coach, I haven't seen him do anything different than what Davis did at IU at a similar point.

[SnB]

I think most illini fans would agree to that. We all knew those weren't weber's players in '05, but we also saw how great his system was working.

 

I don't think anyone is doubting his ability as a coach and a teacher, but the lack of recruiting and overall just bad luck (crazy amount of injuries) has killed him this year.

[thedoctor]

i'm not to the point yet that i'm really even willing to consider firing weber. frankly, i think at this point calling for his firing or suggesting it's imminent presupposes a lot of things that i don't think are established yet.

 

now there's no doubt that weber has his shortcomings and he needs to be held accountable for those. but in general i still think he's a helluva coach and someone who can get it done here.

[whitesoxfan99]

I think he's earned at least 2 more years after this year before you even think about firing him. He's had one down year so far, everyone is going to have those now and then. Now if they still suck over the next couple of years and it turns out that the recruiting was the cause instead of some injuries and one less than stellar team, than that's another story, but for now he earned some leeway with those Big Ten titles and the Final Four run.

 

His recruiting needs to improve, but his last 3 commits (McCamey, Watkins, and Richmond) have shown improvement. Both Watkins and McCamey add much needed athleticism on the perimeter and are potential impact guys. Like I said, the talent level wasn't there for this to be a great team, but there was certainly enough to compete for 3rd in the Big 10. But then you have McBride get suspended for his DUI, Randle having abdominal and now feet problems, Frazier being constantly banged up, Jamar severely spraining his ankle and then losing all of his confidence, Semrau having to redshirt because of an infection his chest. Just ridiculous what this team has gone through this year. That doesn't even take into account Carter missing a game because of injury and Pruitt having bone chips in his hand in addition to the knee injury now. Very few teams are going to have success with that many players in the rotation being injured.

[thedoctor]

His recruiting needs to improve, but his last 3 commits (McCamey, Watkins, and Richmond) have shown improvement. Both Watkins and McCamey add much needed athleticism on the perimeter and are potential impact guys. Like I said, the talent level wasn't there for this to be a great team, but there was certainly enough to compete for 3rd in the Big 10. But then you have McBride get suspended for his DUI, Randle having abdominal and now feet problems, Frazier being constantly banged up, Jamar severely spraining his ankle and then losing all of his confidence, Semrau having to redshirt because of an infection his chest. Just ridiculous what this team has gone through this year. That doesn't even take into account Carter missing a game because of injury and Pruitt having bone chips in his hand in addition to the knee injury now. Very few teams are going to have success with that many players in the rotation being injured.

 

good points. my assumption about this year's team was that it would take all of the non-con to find itself, and by the time big ten play rolled around it would have a better identity and be a more solid team. but the injuries kept that from happening, so instead it's happening now.

 

i know people look at injuries as a big excuse, and there's no doubt that's a valid point. but i would challenge any team to lose the key players illinois has lost from a rebuilding team and still have great success.

[WHarris1]

Since you guys are discussing it, this is a thought Rex had earlier that I thought was interesting:

I guess in the accomplishment sense it works, but as far as anything else...I don't see it.