2012-2013 NCAA Basketball thread

[whitesoxfan99]

Ugh, hate seeing that happen to Udofia.

[Jake]

Illinois really is just in a different league from these guys. We cut our turnovers in half and make free throws at an acceptable rate, it's a blowout. Nevermind the other room for improvement, like Tracy Abrams.

[WHarris1]

After four years of undergrad with absolutely pitiful sports all around I can only hope that as a grad student this basketball team will bring me some joy.

 

Glad they pulled away in the end as they were clearly the better team.

 

Let's go OSU bring it home for the B1G!

[Rowand44]

After four years of undergrad with absolutely pitiful sports all around I can only hope that as a grad student this basketball team will bring me some joy.

 

Glad they pulled away in the end as they were clearly the better team.

 

Let's go OSU bring it home for the B1G!

You're in f***in grad school now? Holy oldness.

[fathom]

Tech looks better than I anticipated, but Illinois even moreso so far

 

GT is screwed beyond belief if Udofia is out for an extended time, which it looks like he might be. GT better pray Solomon Poole becomes eligible after the semester ends.

Edited November 29, 2012 by fathom

[Capn12]

Things not looking too good for my old neighborhood buddy Brad Brownell at Clemson.

 

Doesn't help when your leading scorer gets arrested on gameday for weed.

 

 

I was at the game, and Milton Jennings would have made a difference in the game. Would it have meant a Clemson win? Maybe not, but they wouldn't have been down 20 at the half, or been dominated on the boards in the 1st half like they were.

[Kyyle23]

SIU wins vs Fresno St, Creighton loses vs Boise. All is well in the world for one night

[Buehrle>Wood]

Bertrand is just awesome. Has to be one of the most efficient players in the conference/country.

[chw42]

Bertrand is just awesome. Has to be one of the most efficient players in the conference/country.

 

That layup he made with the foul was ridiculous.

[Buehrle>Wood]

That layup he made with the foul was ridiculous.

Yeah, that will be on SportsCenter top ten. Seemed impossible.

[chw42]

Illinois really is just in a different league from these guys. We cut our turnovers in half and make free throws at an acceptable rate, it's a blowout. Nevermind the other room for improvement, like Tracy Abrams.

 

BP3 made 2/8 free throws or something ridiculous like that. It felt like I was watching DeAndre Jordan shot FTs.

[Buehrle>Wood]

OSU blows it for the conference.

 

 

 

Kidding, more like MSU and Wisconsin did. Still get the trophy though.

 

 

 

They should let the Big East championship between Louisville and Rutgers decide it tomorrow.

[zenryan]

OSU blows it for the conference.

 

 

 

Kidding, more like MSU and Wisconsin did. Still get the trophy though.

 

 

 

They should let the Big East championship between Louisville and Rutgers decide it tomorrow.

 

 

 

Wisconsin blew it for the Big 10.

 

Miami was favored tonight.

[RockRaines]

Ah we had it. s***. Duke is a much more finished product. Liked what I saw though. Thomas needs more shots.

[IlliniKrush]

The Bertrand layup reminded me of Luther's layup against Arizona. You will not stop me from getting to the f***ing rim.

 

Thanks for the 10-0 run Bertrand. Turned that entire game around.

[Soxbadger]

Bo Ryan blew it. No idea what he is doing right now.

[IlliniKrush]

http://twitpic.com/bhdr8x

 

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1806047/JoeTales.gif

[Brian]

Where is that poster who said a few years ago that Bertrand would never make it at Illinois or contribute.....huh...oh...ahem....bye

[RockRaines]

"Duke Makes Point with Comeback"

 

 

Really? I mean, werent they favored?

[illinilaw08]

In regards to a, yes. Or at least he will be able to. He won the 3pt shooting contest this year at Hoosier Hysteria (yes, Hulls participated) and reportedly has a nice soft touch, at least from 15' consitently. Part of why we don't see it now is IU's focus is so much on taking the ball to the hole to try and draw fouls on scoring plays, that he's not initially looking for a jump shot. The few times he took one last night, it seemed like he realized it was open and took it, after he was intitially looking to drive or pass. In regards to b, that remains to be seen. How many 7'ers can though? (I don't watch the NBA) He is about as complete a big man as I have seen lately, but he is far from a banger inside. He'll mix it up and get some rebounds, but he's still growing and getting stronger.

 

Yeah, with the weak draft class this year, I think those questions are irrelevant. You know that Zeller has at least one elite NBA skill - his motor combined with his speed will make him, at the very least, a good NBA player for a number of years. When you look at a top 3 pick (where he certainly falls as of today), if I'm Washington or Charlotte, I want to see how I can feature Zeller offensively. Can he be a pick and pop, pick and roll big? Is he strong enough to finish consistently at the rim? Does he have the ball handling skills to make himself a nightmare off the dribble? I guess my point was that, in a weird way, the vast array of options IU has offensively means that Zeller doesn't get the 20+ shots a night that would enable him to put up Michael Beasley or Blake Griffin type numbers and showcase his full offensive skillset to NBA GMs. There's certainly a difference between featuring that in workouts against a chair and doing it consistently for 30+ games.

 

Couple thoughts from last night's Illinois game:

 

1) Tracy needs to work on what he does when he penetrates deep. Seems that he gets tunnel vision, gets caught in the air, and commits turnovers that way. Certainly fixable.

 

2) Would be nice if the lightbulb went on for Egwu on the offensive end. He's a hard worker with a steep learning curve since he picked up basketball late. He seems to have a soft touch around the rim, and maybe that projects to a breakout junior year.

 

3) Bertrand, DJ and Tyler Griffey look so much more confident shooting the ball this year. Bertrand especially. Luther Head is the last Illini I can think of that made such an improvement. Their jumpers even look a little alike.

 

4) Very excited for the true road game at Gonzaga a week from Saturday. A win there and I might start believing this is a 4 or 5 seed instead of a bubble team.

[farmteam]

Yeah, with the weak draft class this year, I think those questions are irrelevant. You know that Zeller has at least one elite NBA skill - his motor combined with his speed will make him, at the very least, a good NBA player for a number of years. When you look at a top 3 pick (where he certainly falls as of today), if I'm Washington or Charlotte, I want to see how I can feature Zeller offensively. Can he be a pick and pop, pick and roll big? Is he strong enough to finish consistently at the rim? Does he have the ball handling skills to make himself a nightmare off the dribble? I guess my point was that, in a weird way, the vast array of options IU has offensively means that Zeller doesn't get the 20+ shots a night that would enable him to put up Michael Beasley or Blake Griffin type numbers and showcase his full offensive skillset to NBA GMs. There's certainly a difference between featuring that in workouts against a chair and doing it consistently for 30+ games.

I agree with this entirely, but a question just popped into my head: An NBA team is going to have way more options than even a fantastic college team, so will that show how fits in? I suppose, though, that if you're picking a player in the top 3, you want him to be able to dominate. I think in a normal year, Zeller would be worthy of an 8-12 pick; solid, you know what you're getting, but he won't be a superstar.

[witesoxfan]

I agree with this entirely, but a question just popped into my head: An NBA team is going to have way more options than even a fantastic college team, so will that show how fits in? I suppose, though, that if you're picking a player in the top 3, you want him to be able to dominate. I think in a normal year, Zeller would be worthy of an 8-12 pick; solid, you know what you're getting, but he won't be a superstar.

 

Versatility at higher levels is a requirement too. In college, he can just be pidgeonholed into that spot and succeed due to his talent, but the players in the NBA are at another level.

[Jenksismyhero]

Yeah, with the weak draft class this year, I think those questions are irrelevant. You know that Zeller has at least one elite NBA skill - his motor combined with his speed will make him, at the very least, a good NBA player for a number of years. When you look at a top 3 pick (where he certainly falls as of today), if I'm Washington or Charlotte, I want to see how I can feature Zeller offensively. Can he be a pick and pop, pick and roll big? Is he strong enough to finish consistently at the rim? Does he have the ball handling skills to make himself a nightmare off the dribble? I guess my point was that, in a weird way, the vast array of options IU has offensively means that Zeller doesn't get the 20+ shots a night that would enable him to put up Michael Beasley or Blake Griffin type numbers and showcase his full offensive skillset to NBA GMs. There's certainly a difference between featuring that in workouts against a chair and doing it consistently for 30+ games.

 

Couple thoughts from last night's Illinois game:

 

1) Tracy needs to work on what he does when he penetrates deep. Seems that he gets tunnel vision, gets caught in the air, and commits turnovers that way. Certainly fixable.

 

2) Would be nice if the lightbulb went on for Egwu on the offensive end. He's a hard worker with a steep learning curve since he picked up basketball late. He seems to have a soft touch around the rim, and maybe that projects to a breakout junior year.

 

3) Bertrand, DJ and Tyler Griffey look so much more confident shooting the ball this year. Bertrand especially. Luther Head is the last Illini I can think of that made such an improvement. Their jumpers even look a little alike.

 

4) Very excited for the true road game at Gonzaga a week from Saturday. A win there and I might start believing this is a 4 or 5 seed instead of a bubble team.

 

I'm with you. At this point I'd rank the Big Ten as follows:

 

IU

OSU

MICH

 

IL/MINN

 

MSU

WIS

NW/IOWA

PUR

NEB

 

PSU

 

[southsider2k5]

I agree with this entirely, but a question just popped into my head: An NBA team is going to have way more options than even a fantastic college team, so will that show how fits in? I suppose, though, that if you're picking a player in the top 3, you want him to be able to dominate. I think in a normal year, Zeller would be worthy of an 8-12 pick; solid, you know what you're getting, but he won't be a superstar.

 

Seven footers who can play at all are hard to find. He'd be a top 5 pick most years.

[Boogua]

Seven footers who can play at all are hard to find. He'd be a top 5 pick most years.

Eh, Brook Lopez even went 10th overall and he averaged 19 pts, 8 rebs, and 2 blocks a game his sophomore year before coming out. Meyers and Drummond (albeit both raw) didn't go top 5. Hibbert didn't go top 5. There's obviously differences with all those players, but Brook Lopez is the best comparison I could find. Zeller's upside is limited and I don't think he'd go top 5 in good drafts either.

Edited November 29, 2012 by Boogua