Big Ten Basketball

[bmkhawk]

OSU is the only contender that has lost at home (to MSU) in the big 10 if my research is correct.

 

Whoever wins this league is going to have to win out at home and split on the road. It is actually possible that the winner could have five losses.

 

I don't like Iowa's chances unless Horner gets miraculously healthy and sheds that brace that makes him even slower than he normally is. They need more offense out of him than what he has given since he has returned.

[UMFan83]

Big 10 teams are 29-10 (.744) at home during conference play, and if you just count the 7 contenders (Illinois, MSU, OSU, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana), their home records are a combined 25-1 (.962) and their road records are 7-16 (.438). This is just nuts.

[stitchface]

wow. I gotta think davis is in big trouble. the hoosiers seem to have completely quit.

[radarluv1]

hoosiers lose by 19. they will have to win some tough road games to have a chance at the title now.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Oops. That's the last time I rely on a vague headline.

 

Either way, they have been about as up and down in the Big Ten as you can get.

 

Why, because they have 2 road losses to ranked opponents?

[Jon]

Oops. That's the last time I rely on a vague headline.

 

Either way, they have been about as up and down in the Big Ten as you can get.

 

Why, because they have 2 road losses to ranked opponents?

No, although the Michigan State loss was pretty ugly. It's because they trailed to Penn State with under 50 seconds left in the game and Minnesota had several chances of beating them before the Hawkeyes won in triple OT at home.

[CP_414]

wow. I gotta think davis is in big trouble. the hoosiers seem to have completely quit.

 

He has to go. I can't understand how anyone can defend this guy. His offense is a joke. IU spots their opponents points at the start of every half because he is outcoached. He has missed the tourney 2 years in a row, and what seemed to be a promising team this year is going in the wrong direction. His seniors, especially Strickland, are no better today than they were the day they came to IU as freshman. He was a recruiter who was put in a job over his head 5 years ago, and we are still paying for it. It hurts even more when you consider the coaches who have been available at one point during Davis tenure at IU. Pitino, Calapari, Matta, Pearl, and Self to name a few. IU deserves better.

[illiniguy]

Oops. That's the last time I rely on a vague headline.

 

Either way, they have been about as up and down in the Big Ten as you can get.

 

Why, because they have 2 road losses to ranked opponents?

No, although the Michigan State loss was pretty ugly. It's because they trailed to Penn State with under 50 seconds left in the game and Minnesota had several chances of beating them before the Hawkeyes won in triple OT at home.

and because Steve Alford is your coach

[fiver]

wow. I gotta think davis is in big trouble. the hoosiers seem to have completely quit.

 

He has to go. I can't understand how anyone can defend this guy. His offense is a joke. IU spots their opponents points at the start of every half because he is outcoached. He has missed the tourney 2 years in a row, and what seemed to be a promising team this year is going in the wrong direction. His seniors, especially Strickland, are no better today than they were the day they came to IU as freshman. He was a recruiter who was put in a job over his head 5 years ago, and we are still paying for it. It hurts even more when you consider the coaches who have been available at one point during Davis tenure at IU. Pitino, Calapari, Matta, Pearl, and Self to name a few. IU deserves better.

 

Luckily, I went to watch a movie this afternoon. Where did IU get beat today? .....Poor outside shooting, lack of paint presence other than Killingsworth, weak side defense, Davis running onto the court hysterically?....???

 

I believe I did hear that White can get a medical redshirt although I seriously doubt that matters. I only see him playing two more years for IU if he fully recovers....He'd probably opt to test the draft waters after his junior year if he does get the redshirt.

[stitchface]

wow. I gotta think davis is in big trouble. the hoosiers seem to have completely quit.

 

He has to go. I can't understand how anyone can defend this guy. His offense is a joke. IU spots their opponents points at the start of every half because he is outcoached. He has missed the tourney 2 years in a row, and what seemed to be a promising team this year is going in the wrong direction. His seniors, especially Strickland, are no better today than they were the day they came to IU as freshman. He was a recruiter who was put in a job over his head 5 years ago, and we are still paying for it. It hurts even more when you consider the coaches who have been available at one point during Davis tenure at IU. Pitino, Calapari, Matta, Pearl, and Self to name a few. IU deserves better.

 

Luckily, I went to watch a movie this afternoon. Where did IU get beat today? .....Poor outside shooting, lack of paint presence other than Killingsworth, weak side defense, Davis running onto the court hysterically?....???

 

I believe I did hear that White can get a medical redshirt although I seriously doubt that matters. I only see him playing two more years for IU if he fully recovers....He'd probably opt to test the draft waters after his junior year if he does get the redshirt.

 

Given his injuries, he'd be foolish not to get the redshirt. There are going to be a lot of doubts about him after two foot injuries. IU at one point was 3-18 behind the arc.

[snoodmonger]

IU fans--if davis is gone, how does that affect the Darrell Arthur recruitment. Is an Arthur committment contingent on Davis being there?

[CP_414]

IU fans--if davis is gone, how does that affect the Darrell Arthur recruitment. Is an Arthur committment contingent on Davis being there?

 

We would probably lose Arthur, but it doesn't matter. It's not like he is Greg Oden, or Eric Gordon, or Josh McRoberts, or Mike Conley, or any of the other top talent from Indiana that has gone elsewhere. Keeping Davis to get the #19 player in the country would be crazy.

[fiver]

IU fans--if davis is gone, how does that affect the Darrell Arthur recruitment. Is an Arthur committment contingent on Davis being there?

 

I wish I knew the answer to that question, Snood...but honestly I'm not certain that snagging Arthur is worth keeping Davis at IU. Davis has done a decent job of bringing talent to IU, but honestly the university's basketball tradition probably plays just as large of a role as Davis's recruiting prowess. My concern is who will IU be able to allure into succeeding Mike D. It's a high pressure gig...no doubt.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

and because Steve Alford is your coach

 

Stop listening to B&B before you form your Alford opinions. If you dislike him, it should be solely for the reason that he is a bad coach.

[soapy]

IU fans--if davis is gone, how does that affect the Darrell Arthur recruitment. Is an Arthur committment contingent on Davis being there?

 

I wish I knew the answer to that question, Snood...but honestly I'm not certain that snagging Arthur is worth keeping Davis at IU. Davis has done a decent job of bringing talent to IU, but honestly the university's basketball tradition probably plays just as large of a role as Davis's recruiting prowess. My concern is who will IU be able to allure into succeeding Mike D. It's a high pressure gig...no doubt.

 

What a completely pathetic effort from the hoosiers. Jesus.

 

I'm sure they'll lose Arthur if Davis is fired. I thought, at this point, that was the only hold up for Arthur. Having said that, it's not worth keeping a poor coach to get one player (who really isn't guaranteed to be anything great).

 

As you said Fiver, I worry more about who IU would choose to replace Davis moreso then the individual players they may lose. Having said that, I'd think they will lose White and very possibly Vaden if Davis is fired. I'm not sure about the rest.

[fiver]

How absolutely incorrect does Gregg Doyel's article on Davis dated 01/17 look only two games later?

 

http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9171830

 

snippet:

 

".....uncertainty has come from the outside," Davis said. "But look at the players we've had come in here: D.J. White, Marco Killingsworth, A.J., Ratliff, Robert Vaden. ... They've all come here because of me, and despite the uncertainty they've played hard for me -- and I love them for that."

 

Davis has crafted an almost unstoppable offense around Killingsworth and a bevy of 3-point shooters. Opposing teams have to pick the punch they want Indiana to swing at them. Do they double-team Killingsworth and risk leaving a 3-point shooter alone on the perimeter? Indiana entered Tuesday's game leading the country in 3-point shooting at 47.7 percent. Do opponents devote most of their attention to the perimeter, letting Killingsworth go one-on-one in the post? He's averaging 20.2 points per game, and shooting 62.1 percent from the floor.

 

Mike certainly did have the talent on this team for this to be a top 5 team with White on the court...period. What is amazing to me is that this team appears to not be top 25 caliber without White....they will live and die with the three point shot with him on the bench. They've been doing the latter frequently of late, but no one can expect to perpetually lead the nation in three point percentage, IMO. Obviously, Mike Davis wouldn't be in the trouble he's in currently if White didn't get hurt, but I'm just not fond of an offense that cannot seem to generate open looks at the basket inside of the three point arc.

 

If IU continues to falter and does not make the NCAA tournament for a third year in a row, will Davis be fired? Is there any chance he gets the boot even if he he does squeak into the tournament?

[soapy]

How absolutely incorrect does Gregg Doyel's article on Davis dated 01/17 look only two games later?

 

http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9171830

 

snippet:

 

".....uncertainty has come from the outside," Davis said. "But look at the players we've had come in here: D.J. White, Marco Killingsworth, A.J., Ratliff, Robert Vaden. ... They've all come here because of me, and despite the uncertainty they've played hard for me -- and I love them for that."

 

Davis has crafted an almost unstoppable offense around Killingsworth and a bevy of 3-point shooters. Opposing teams have to pick the punch they want Indiana to swing at them. Do they double-team Killingsworth and risk leaving a 3-point shooter alone on the perimeter? Indiana entered Tuesday's game leading the country in 3-point shooting at 47.7 percent. Do opponents devote most of their attention to the perimeter, letting Killingsworth go one-on-one in the post? He's averaging 20.2 points per game, and shooting 62.1 percent from the floor.

 

Mike certainly did have the talent on this team for this to be a top 5 team with White on the court...period. What is amazing to me is that this team appears to not be top 25 caliber without White....they will live and die with the three point shot with him on the bench. They've been doing the latter frequently of late, but no one can expect to perpetually lead the nation in three point percentage, IMO. Obviously, Mike Davis wouldn't be in the trouble he's in currently if White didn't get hurt, but I'm just not fond of an offense that cannot seem to generate open looks at the basket inside of the three point arc.

 

If IU continues to falter and does not make the NCAA tournament for a third year in a row, will Davis be fired? Is there any chance he gets the boot even if he he does squeak into the tournament?

 

I think he'll be let go if they "back into" the tournament (or "squeek in" as you put it). I think Greenspan expects more. The expectations placed on this team before the season (rightfully so) make it even worse, IMO.

 

The season isn't over because of a few bad games, but they've got their backs against the wall at this point. This team should be performing much better (especially offensively) with the talent they have. Strickland and Ratliff have been particularly dissapointing to me. I really thought Ratliff was going to have a breakout year and I expected more scoring from Strickland now that he's been moved from the point. Vaden shows flashes of being a great player, but somebody else needs to step up to help with the scoring load.

 

When you don't shoot a single free throw through the first 34 minutes of the game, something is terribly wrong with your offensive approach.

[fiver]

I'd think they will lose White and very possibly Vaden if Davis is fired. I'm not sure about the rest.

 

I've heard this previously. Is Davis really that charismatic? Does White really deem his tutelage to be more important than the extra year of eligibilty and/or to play for the Hoosiers? It was fairly obvious why some of the best players didn't want to "torture" themselves under Knight. IMO, keeping White will very much depend upon who IU would hire subsequent to Davis's potential departure.

[SouthSideRyan]

Let's say IU only wins their absolute gimmes the rest of the way, (They should beat Iowa at home, but it's not that far-fetched to see a loss there.) and they lose the first game in the Big 10 tourney. That'd put them at 16-12 but they'd only have one bad loss, that being to Indiana St. Couple that with wins over Illinois, OSU, and at UK. Is that enough to put them in the tourney?

[illiniguy]

and because Steve Alford is your coach

 

Stop listening to B&B before you form your Alford opinions. If you dislike him, it should be solely for the reason that he is a bad coach.

I dislike him because he defended Pierre Pierce and even went so far as to say he was the victim in his first sexuall assualt charge. The man was the national president of the FCA when he was in college, yet he sided with a rapist over a real victim. The fact that he has destroyed Iowa's program I like hjim for. I realize you guys are good this year, but after this year you guys will be really horrible.

[Rusch33]

Iowa's cupboard indeed will be bare.

 

But what about Illinois'?

 

No Augustine or Brown next season for the Illini.

[hawkeyecub]

and because Steve Alford is your coach

 

Stop listening to B&B before you form your Alford opinions. If you dislike him, it should be solely for the reason that he is a bad coach.

I dislike him because he defended Pierre Pierce and even went so far as to say he was the victim in his first sexuall assualt charge. The man was the national president of the FCA when he was in college, yet he sided with a rapist over a real victim. The fact that he has destroyed Iowa's program I like hjim for. I realize you guys are good this year, but after this year you guys will be really horrible.

 

Find me where he said Pierre was the vicitim. Not once did that take place. He also never sided with Pierre over the victim. I also doubt that you know what actually took place, but it surely wasn't rape. There are a few reasons why the female and her family were so willing to settle so that the details didn't go public.

 

Also how can you say we're good this year but will be "really horrible" afterward? You were on this board this summer saying that our lack of success the past few years wasn't Alford's fault, it was because we had no talent. So first of all how are we good without any talent this year and why will be worse if we aren't losing any talent?

And who can forget your guarantee after the '03 football season that Iowa football would take a big step backwards because we were losing Gallery and Russell. Of course we improved by 2 games between the two years, but hey who cares.

[wolf stansson]

Iowa's cupboard indeed will be bare.

 

But what about Illinois'?

 

No Augustine or Brown next season for the Illini.

Uhh? Gordon, Smith, Frazier, McBride, Pruitt, Randle, Semrau, maybe Freemen, Beverly, and Rose. Am I forgetting anyone?

 

I'm sure they'll be ranked at least.

[hawkeyecub]

Iowa's cupboard indeed will be bare.

 

But what about Illinois'?

 

No Augustine or Brown next season for the Illini.

 

Illinois is loaded. They'll be fine without Dee and Augustine next year. Sure they'll miss their experience and leadership, but they have more than enough talent to overcome that. They haven't exactly fallen apart without Head and Williams.

 

As far as Iowa goes, the cupboard isn't bare. Will we be as good next year? Highly doubtful. It will be a much less experienced team and they won't be as strong inside. But we return our best overall player (Haluska) and will be very deep in the backcourt and have some solid recruits coming in who can make an impact.

We'll need some big play out of Tate inside and improvement from our current big men (plus Thompson and Reed). Looby has been very impressive in practice and will be a poor man's blend of Thomas/Hansen.

Landing Tyler Smith would be huge. We won't contend for the Big Ten, but we can make some noise.

[radarluv1]

i think illinois will be down quite a bit next year. our guards will be pretty weak with frazier or brock at the point, and 2 guys who do little more than shoot open 3s at the 2 guard. we definitely will need big contributions from randle, if he's up to it. our big guys will be average, imo.