Official 2009-2010 NCAA Basketball Thread

[kjshoe04]

I'm not an ISU basher, but do that many fans really travel that well/care about the team?

Yes.

[nitetrain8601]

When I was in high school I was a bit of a UIC fan, Banks and Bailey were a blast to watch back than.

 

They were. I remember they picked UIC when they could've gone to a bigger school because they wanted to make UIC a powerhouse mid major. Honestly, they were on their way until Bailey stopped taking classes seriously and Aaron Williams showed how dumb he can be. Honestly, UIC probably would've beaten GaTech that year if they had Bailey, but he had to watch from the sidelines.

[Heads22]

"Come to Black Hills State and be on our basketball team! And any other team you wanna be on!"

 

ISU beat the everloving crap out of a decent NAIA team tonight, 96-47.

 

Marquis Gilstrap is as good as advertised. You can already tell this is a much different team than in years past.

[Jenksismyhero]

Well, Kentucky isn't tested at all yet, but the amount of raw talent they have matches anyone in the country. Just because they won't necessarily mesh for a little while doesn't mean they can't still beat teams strictly off talent. In the age we're in of college basketball in which freshmen have and will continue to dominate the game (thank you one and done rule, which I can't stand) it's not that far off to give a class supposedly as talented as theirs credit before they've "proven" anything.

 

I would bet money on John Wall being the #1 pick in the NBA Draft next year, do you really think he needs time to adjust to the SEC East? I'm aware the SEC East is "deep" this year, but that's not saying that much. Calipari, regardless of what you think of him, has proven he can take star studded freshmen and make it into a great team. There's no reason to believe he can't and won't do that this year.

 

I understand the argument, but strictly off talent give me 10 teams that have more than Kentucky as of now.

 

I think there are many differences between his Memphis team and this Kentucky team. 1) Rose was the freshman, but they also had a bunch of upperclassmen (Dozer and Dorsey) that were experienced AND talented. 2) they played in a joke of a conference to get a number 1 seed, meaning that team really only beat about 3-4 decent to good teams in the tournament. They won't get the benefit of having 35 games to prepare for the tournament (though no doubt Kentucky WILL get a higher seed than is warranted) 3) as someone else already pointed out, Kentucky just lost their best player from last year, and it's not like Gillispie was recruiting the world while he was there, so there is no established base of talent to support the freshman.

 

I think the formula for getting to a championship is that you have 2-3 experienced veteran role players and 1-2 blue chip NBA players. Illinois, UNC, Florida, Ohio State, Memphis, Kansas, etc all had such a team. I'm not saying Kentucky can't be good, but the hype is a little ridiculous at this point.

 

 

[gbuk]

I think there are many differences between his Memphis team and this Kentucky team. 1) Rose was the freshman, but they also had a bunch of upperclassmen (Dozer and Dorsey) that were experienced AND talented. 2) they played in a joke of a conference to get a number 1 seed, meaning that team really only beat about 3-4 decent to good teams in the tournament. They won't get the benefit of having 35 games to prepare for the tournament (though no doubt Kentucky WILL get a higher seed than is warranted) 3) as someone else already pointed out, Kentucky just lost their best player from last year, and it's not like Gillispie was recruiting the world while he was there, so there is no established base of talent to support the freshman.

 

I think the formula for getting to a championship is that you have 2-3 experienced veteran role players and 1-2 blue chip NBA players. Illinois, UNC, Florida, Ohio State, Memphis, Kansas, etc all had such a team. I'm not saying Kentucky can't be good, but the hype is a little ridiculous at this point.

 

You bring fair points, and as I said, it's going to be a learning curve that's for sure. However, I'm one who has always believed far more in talent than in experience. I believe that by the time March comes, that extremely talented freshmen have enough experience; that the difference between a lesser talented junior with all kinds of experience and an extremely talented freshmen with limited experience is not very large.

 

Shouldn't your strength of schedule point be more of a diss on Memphis than a compliment? Because that team didn't play anyone their entire conference season that Rose technically had less experience and competition therefore he wasn't as prepared?

 

Kentucky's most talented and best player was and always has been Patrick Patterson, he just never had a point guard or other big men worth anything around him to take attention off of him. Yet even with that and a few constant injuries he averaged around 17 and 9 a game. He's going to have a ridiculously monster year, and I think he will be a huge asset in bringing the experience to these underclassmen.

 

I guess it really just comes down to me believing far more in talent than in experience. I've always felt that way and always will. Sure you need to have some upperclassmen, but if I could take 5 first round NBA draft picks as freshmen versus 5 upper classmen experienced guys not necessarily tailor made for the NBA, I'm taking the freshmen.

[Rowand44]

So for our last exhibtion game on Saturday we get to play Southern Indiana and THE Jamar Smith. Thought some of you U of I fans might find that interesting.

[chimpy2121]

Cuse lost to Le Moyne.

[Heads22]

Cuse lost to Le Moyne.

 

Wes Johnson with 32, though.

 

 

Why is Conan in your sig?

[Felix]

Our top recruit Royce White got arrested for shoplifting at the Mall of America and then assaulting a cop. Add in a JUCO addition in Trevor Mbakwe who also isn't starting the season with the team due to assault charges, and things are getting pretty ridiculous for the Gophers. Devron Bostick was also suspended indefinitely for rules violations, but no more information was given.

 

So yeah, not the way this season was supposed to start

[kev211]

I'm not an ISU basher, but do that many fans really travel that well/care about the team?

We will be on thanksgiving break, and 95% of the student body is from the Chicagoland area so there isn't too much traveling involved. Also because of that same reason tons of alumni are up there so instead of taking the 2 hour drive down to normal this year to see their team why not make the trip into the city instead.

[Heads22]

Onto a slightly more relevant ISU, we play three games in Chicago this year.....anyone going to any of them? St. Louis, Northwestern or Notre Dame, and Duke...

[kev211]

Onto a slightly more relevant ISU, we play three games in Chicago this year.....anyone going to any of them? St. Louis, Northwestern or Notre Dame, and Duke...

You finished 10th in the big 12 last year, and ISU only lost to Kansas St. who finished 4th in the big 12 by 4 pts in the last minute @ Kansas St. last year(Iowa St. lost by 15 @KSU). Therefore I'd say your statement is based on nothing.

[Brian]

You finished 10th in the big 12 last year, and ISU only lost to Kansas St. who finished 4th in the big 12 by 4 pts in the last minute @ Kansas St. last year(Iowa St. lost by 15 @KSU). Therefore I'd say your statement is based on nothing.

 

And SIU played at UIC a few years ago where we alum thought we could out draw UIC. We couldn't. Stop overrating the following power of ISU. UIC fans are loyal and will out draw ISU easily that game.

 

That said, UIC was a lot better back when we played them compared to now so who knows.

[Kyyle23]

Im tuning all of this ISU nonsense out, until they can make the dance its worth nothing. They may of handed SIU their hats the past 2 years, but they havent done anything else.

 

 

Just out of curiosity, has Jenk figured out how many schollies he has for the upcoming years? Im reading about a lot of walkons and additions and verbals, yet also reading that they dont have the schollies to cover it.

[Sonik22]

If ISU doesn't make the dance this year then good luck in the future. After Osiris is gone they're done, plus SIU and Creighton are only getting better.

[Heads22]

You finished 10th in the big 12 last year, and ISU only lost to Kansas St. who finished 4th in the big 12 by 4 pts in the last minute @ Kansas St. last year(Iowa St. lost by 15 @KSU). Therefore I'd say your statement is based on nothing.

 

 

Well, this year we have in Craig Brackins an HM Preseason All-America and one of only two unanimous preseason All-Big 12 first team picks. Marquis Gilstrap is Big 12 preseason Newcomer of the year, and despite the fact that they're picked for 8th in the conference, they SHOULD be an NCAA team. I've watched Iowa State teams for a long time, and they've got the potential to be more dangerous than the '05 team that went 4-3 against teams in the Top 20.

 

That and ISU's Hilton Coliseum is easily a tougher place to go into than Normal. Maybe Jimbo will even back me up on this, crazy ISU-KU voodoo notwithstanding.

[ZoomSlowik]

How exactly is Gilstrap the pre-season Big 12 newcomer of the year? We're talking about a conference that's adding Avery Bradley, Wally Judge and Xavier Henry. That seems quite dumb to me...

[Heads22]

How exactly is Gilstrap the pre-season Big 12 newcomer of the year? We're talking about a conference that's adding Avery Bradley, Wally Judge and Xavier Henry. That seems quite dumb to me...

 

Not sure, but he was the coaches pick. I'm not sure if it can't be a freshman or what, but he won it.

[Palehosefan]

How exactly is Gilstrap the pre-season Big 12 newcomer of the year? We're talking about a conference that's adding Avery Bradley, Wally Judge and Xavier Henry. That seems quite dumb to me...

 

Bradley and Henry will have too much talent around them to put up huge numbers. Newcomer of the year should be a two man race between Wally Judge and Gilstrap. Gilstrap is an instant impact SF type that could end up averaging something like 15 and 7, depending on how much he feeds Brackins inside. They will challenge Collins and Aldrich for the best 1-2 punch in the Big 12.

 

Well I'll also add my guy David Tairu in there as well for TTU, he's supposedly Ronald Ross II in practice so far. That would be fun.

Edited November 4, 2009 by Palehosefan

[RockRaines]

Does anyone else read those Blue Ribbon reports? I just read the OSU one and it was all sunshine and candycanes, and I was wondering if they are all so positive.

[ZoomSlowik]

Bradley and Henry will have too much talent around them to put up huge numbers. Newcomer of the year should be a two man race between Wally Judge and Gilstrap. Gilstrap is an instant impact SF type that could end up averaging something like 15 and 7, depending on how much he feeds Brackins inside. They will challenge Collins and Aldrich for the best 1-2 punch in the Big 12.

 

Well I'll also add my guy David Tairu in there as well for TTU, he's supposedly Ronald Ross II in practice so far. That would be fun.

 

Henry I can buy that argument, just threw him in there because he's another big name recruit coming into the conference. I would think Bradley will put up plenty of numbers for Texas though, he's pretty damn athletic, will be a key scoring option and could end up being their primary ball-handler as well.

[kev211]

If ISU doesn't make the dance this year then good luck in the future. After Osiris is gone they're done, plus SIU and Creighton are only getting better.

Good thing it's still this year. But they'll only be down 1-2 years. Our freshman class we have this year is legit so they will be good in 2ish years hopefully, and we have one great commitment already this year.

[Palehosefan]

Henry I can buy that argument, just threw him in there because he's another big name recruit coming into the conference. I would think Bradley will put up plenty of numbers for Texas though, he's pretty damn athletic, will be a key scoring option and could end up being their primary ball-handler as well.

 

Don't forget that Texas has Dogus Balbay and Justin Mason returning as upperclassmen at the PG/SG role. They also have Jai Lucas, UF transfer, ready for PG minutes this year, as well as Varez Ward who might be the best athlete on the team along with Bradley. Bradley is a tremendous talent, but he's going to be playing in a group that is 5-6 deep with guys that can play and have more experience.

 

I also forgot J'Covan Brown, who red-shirted last year, he will get some minutes as a red-shirt frosh at SG. Texas is loaded.

Edited November 5, 2009 by Palehosefan

[Jenksismyhero]

Does anyone else read those Blue Ribbon reports? I just read the OSU one and it was all sunshine and candycanes, and I was wondering if they are all so positive.

 

 

Yeah, for the most part they focus on the upside to each player, and then try to temper any inflated expectations at the end.

[ZoomSlowik]

Don't forget that Texas has Dogus Balbay and Justin Mason returning as upperclassmen at the PG/SG role. They also have Jai Lucas, UF transfer, ready for PG minutes this year, as well as Varez Ward who might be the best athlete on the team along with Bradley. Bradley is a tremendous talent, but he's going to be playing in a group that is 5-6 deep with guys that can play and have more experience.

 

I also forgot J'Covan Brown, who red-shirted last year, he will get some minutes as a red-shirt frosh at SG. Texas is loaded.

 

Most of those guys are depth/role player types outside of Lucas, who won't be eligible until the second semester, and possibly Brown (haven't really seen him play). There's a reason that Texas struggled with their backcourt at times last year: it was all of those guys getting minutes and Abrams being forced to play the point for long stretches.

 

Bradley is clearly the most talented player in the bunch and should get considerably more PT than the rest of those collected masses. I don't think it's a stretch to say he could replace most of AJ Abrams' production. That's a bit different than Henry's situation where Collins is clearly ahead of him on the list of scoring options and Taylor likely is as well.