College Basketball 2007-2008

[illiniguy]

Who the hell is Verdell Jones? Why is a kid from Champaign, Illinois committing to IU? Is he just not very good?

 

because he was never recruited very hard by weber or his assistants. i'm actually really shocked that he's not headed to minnesota, really shocked.

 

he's got a lot of potential, that's for sure. but with the other guards in illinois, he was high on the illini's wish list for about 2 seconds---decided to bide his time and wait to make a decision, and then found himself out in the cold.

He chose IU for the playing time.

 

that seems to be the word. if he DID have offers from ku and uk, and was more interested in minny and iu, it makes sense that he would have chosen iu so that he could play right away.

 

 

I can't speak for UI, but I'm pretty sure we never offered him. We definitely sniffed around. I believe his dad and Self became friends while Self was at UI. But I'm pretty sure we were lukewarm on him.

Yeah me thinks verdell was telling everyone he had an offer to KU and maybe he had a conditional, but I doubt he could have went there without paying his own way.

[Rex Buckingham]

Jones can turn out to be a solid player, but he's nowhere near as good as he thinks he is...

[SouthSideRyan]

Who the hell is Verdell Jones? Why is a kid from Champaign, Illinois committing to IU? Is he just not very good?

 

because he was never recruited very hard by weber or his assistants. i'm actually really shocked that he's not headed to minnesota, really shocked.

 

he's got a lot of potential, that's for sure. but with the other guards in illinois, he was high on the illini's wish list for about 2 seconds---decided to bide his time and wait to make a decision, and then found himself out in the cold.

He chose IU for the playing time.

 

that seems to be the word. if he DID have offers from ku and uk, and was more interested in minny and iu, it makes sense that he would have chosen iu so that he could play right away.

 

 

I can't speak for UI, but I'm pretty sure we never offered him. We definitely sniffed around. I believe his dad and Self became friends while Self was at UI. But I'm pretty sure we were lukewarm on him.

 

If we offered him it was awhile ago, and has pretty much been off the table for the past year.

[Guest]

South Oak Cliff senior center J'mison Morgan on Monday confirmed that he has asked for his release from LSU.

 

Morgan (6-11, 255) said he submitted the release papers to LSU on Sunday and is considering attending UCLA in the fall.

 

"It was a real hard decision for me," said Morgan, an all-state center. "My comfort level was at LSU, but I felt like UCLA was a better fit for me as far as exposure."

 

- Dallas Morning-News

 

[Magnetic Curses]

Who the hell is Verdell Jones? Why is a kid from Champaign, Illinois committing to IU? Is he just not very good?

 

because he was never recruited very hard by weber or his assistants. i'm actually really shocked that he's not headed to minnesota, really shocked.

 

he's got a lot of potential, that's for sure. but with the other guards in illinois, he was high on the illini's wish list for about 2 seconds---decided to bide his time and wait to make a decision, and then found himself out in the cold.

He chose IU for the playing time.

 

that seems to be the word. if he DID have offers from ku and uk, and was more interested in minny and iu, it makes sense that he would have chosen iu so that he could play right away.

 

 

I can't speak for UI, but I'm pretty sure we never offered him. We definitely sniffed around. I believe his dad and Self became friends while Self was at UI. But I'm pretty sure we were lukewarm on him.

 

he claims that he had a ku offer, take that for what it's worth. i'm skeptical, too.

[brinoch]

He's a very nice recruit for IU. He'll get a lot of playing time very quickly, and that probably put IU over the top (IU is also much closer to home). He was down to Minnesota, IU, and UK, but everyone seemed to figure he was going to Minnesota with IU in second.

 

Amid all the noise and chaos, Crean (with an assist from Dakich) has quickly cleaned house and assembled a nice recruiting class for next year (some were Sampson recruits who stayed with IU). The group of Tom Pritchard (6'8" C/F), Matt Roth (6'3" SG), Nick Williams (6'4" SG), Devan Dumes (6'2" SG), and Verdell Jones (6'4" PG) is a solid group of guys -- Rivals rates Pritchard, Roth, Williams and Jones as 3 star recruits (Dumes is a JUCO transfer with no rating). If Crean can add Maurice Sutton, a three-star 6'10" C, I'll be a very happy camper... what am I saying... I'm already a happy camper since Sampson is gone and Crean has cleaned house since coming on board. But, boy, if Crean can add Sutton... that would really be a boon to IU.

 

2008-2009 will be a tough season, no doubt, but they won't be as bad as many people are predicting.

[CuseCubFan69]

I think it's a bit hypocritical of colleges/coaches to complain about the NBA raiding there players but yet they are going after 8th graders.

[brinoch]

I think it's a bit hypocritical of colleges/coaches to complain about the NBA raiding there players but yet they are going after 8th graders.

 

Not really the same thing. 8th graders still have to go to high school for four years and graduate with a certain GPA and SAT/ACT score to play in college. The NBA can pluck a player out of high school or after one year in college.

[snoodmonger]

Who the hell is Verdell Jones? Why is a kid from Champaign, Illinois committing to IU? Is he just not very good?

 

because he was never recruited very hard by weber or his assistants. i'm actually really shocked that he's not headed to minnesota, really shocked.

 

he's got a lot of potential, that's for sure. but with the other guards in illinois, he was high on the illini's wish list for about 2 seconds---decided to bide his time and wait to make a decision, and then found himself out in the cold.

He chose IU for the playing time.

 

that seems to be the word. if he DID have offers from ku and uk, and was more interested in minny and iu, it makes sense that he would have chosen iu so that he could play right away.

 

 

I can't speak for UI, but I'm pretty sure we never offered him. We definitely sniffed around. I believe his dad and Self became friends while Self was at UI. But I'm pretty sure we were lukewarm on him.

 

he claims that he had a ku offer, take that for what it's worth. i'm skeptical, too.

 

Who knows. He might have. We've probably offered worse players. I believe he dropped 30 on Jerryd Bayless once in an All-Star game.

[Derwood]

is is so hard to believe that a kid from Champaign might not want to play for UofI?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

is is so hard to believe that a kid from Champaign might not want to play for UofI?

 

No. What was hard to believe is that a Big 10 caliber player from Champaign wasn't recruited much by U of I, at least until it was cleared up.

[illiniguy]

is is so hard to believe that a kid from Champaign might not want to play for UofI?

No it isn't. But, why don't you read up on Jones a bit. You might sound less foolish. Let me help guide you, check on his dad also.

[Derwood]

is is so hard to believe that a kid from Champaign might not want to play for UofI?

No it isn't. But, why don't you read up on Jones a bit. You might sound less foolish. Let me help guide you, check on his dad also.

 

i don't really care about Illini basketball. at all. I was just asking

[illiniguy]

is is so hard to believe that a kid from Champaign might not want to play for UofI?

No it isn't. But, why don't you read up on Jones a bit. You might sound less foolish. Let me help guide you, check on his dad also.

 

i don't really care about Illini basketball. at all. I was just asking

Yeah well you are really wrong in your statement. It is possible for that to happen, but in this case it didn't. His faimly was friends with Self, he waited for a scholly offer from him, I don't think it came. In the meanwhile we filled up our schollies with better players. He was stuck and rebounded nicley.

[Magnetic Curses]

is is so hard to believe that a kid from Champaign might not want to play for UofI?

No it isn't. But, why don't you read up on Jones a bit. You might sound less foolish. Let me help guide you, check on his dad also.

 

i don't really care about Illini basketball. at all. I was just asking

 

is it so hard to believe that illini fans don't really care about a kid from champaign?

[Derwood]

is is so hard to believe that a kid from Champaign might not want to play for UofI?

No it isn't. But, why don't you read up on Jones a bit. You might sound less foolish. Let me help guide you, check on his dad also.

 

i don't really care about Illini basketball. at all. I was just asking

 

is it so hard to believe that illini fans don't really care about a kid from champaign?

 

not at all.

[Keener98]

is is so hard to believe that a kid from Champaign might not want to play for UofI?

No it isn't. But, why don't you read up on Jones a bit. You might sound less foolish. Let me help guide you, check on his dad also.

 

i don't really care about Illini basketball. at all. I was just asking

 

 

Thats odd because you always seem to have some kind of comment regarding U of I's basketball team. You know, like Penn States program passing the Illini's :D

[brinoch]

is is so hard to believe that a kid from Champaign might not want to play for UofI?

No it isn't. But, why don't you read up on Jones a bit. You might sound less foolish. Let me help guide you, check on his dad also.

 

i don't really care about Illini basketball. at all. I was just asking

 

 

Thats odd because you always seem to have some kind of comment regarding U of I's basketball team. You know, like Penn States program passing the Illini's :D

 

ZING!

[Exile on Waveland]

He's a very nice recruit for IU. He'll get a lot of playing time very quickly, and that probably put IU over the top (IU is also much closer to home). He was down to Minnesota, IU, and UK, but everyone seemed to figure he was going to Minnesota with IU in second.

 

Amid all the noise and chaos, Crean (with an assist from Dakich) has quickly cleaned house and assembled a nice recruiting class for next year (some were Sampson recruits who stayed with IU). The group of Tom Pritchard (6'8" C/F), Matt Roth (6'3" SG), Nick Williams (6'4" SG), Devan Dumes (6'2" SG), and Verdell Jones (6'4" PG) is a solid group of guys -- Rivals rates Pritchard, Roth, Williams and Jones as 3 star recruits (Dumes is a JUCO transfer with no rating). If Crean can add Maurice Sutton, a three-star 6'10" C, I'll be a very happy camper... what am I saying... I'm already a happy camper since Sampson is gone and Crean has cleaned house since coming on board. But, boy, if Crean can add Sutton... that would really be a boon to IU.

 

2008-2009 will be a tough season, no doubt, but they won't be as bad as many people are predicting.

 

Next year is still going to be a tough season, but if they add another big man that can play some the NIT might not be out of the question.

 

The Class of 2009 is shaping up to be a very good class for Indiana, too. Already committed are Maurice Cheek (6'5" SG, four-star #63), Derek Elston (6'8" SF, four-star #96) and Bobby Capobianco (6'8" PF, three-star). Capobianco is expected to jump into the top-100 in the next rankings. The 2010 team could be pretty good by the end of the season.

[Hosak8]

Bobby Maze, PG for Hutchison CC (Hutchison, KS) signed with Tennessee today, adding to a class that already included Renaldo Woolridge and Scotty Hopson. THis class is now possibly a top 5 class.

[SouthSideRyan]

IU's gonna have to load up their nonconferences(Maui's gonna make that tougher than a normal year) to get to the NIT. I'd be surprised if they win more than 5 in the Big 10.

[rawaction]

He's a very nice recruit for IU. He'll get a lot of playing time very quickly, and that probably put IU over the top (IU is also much closer to home). He was down to Minnesota, IU, and UK, but everyone seemed to figure he was going to Minnesota with IU in second.

 

Amid all the noise and chaos, Crean (with an assist from Dakich) has quickly cleaned house and assembled a nice recruiting class for next year (some were Sampson recruits who stayed with IU). The group of Tom Pritchard (6'8" C/F), Matt Roth (6'3" SG), Nick Williams (6'4" SG), Devan Dumes (6'2" SG), and Verdell Jones (6'4" PG) is a solid group of guys -- Rivals rates Pritchard, Roth, Williams and Jones as 3 star recruits (Dumes is a JUCO transfer with no rating). If Crean can add Maurice Sutton, a three-star 6'10" C, I'll be a very happy camper... what am I saying... I'm already a happy camper since Sampson is gone and Crean has cleaned house since coming on board. But, boy, if Crean can add Sutton... that would really be a boon to IU.

 

2008-2009 will be a tough season, no doubt, but they won't be as bad as many people are predicting.

 

Next year is still going to be a tough season, but if they add another big man that can play some the NIT might not be out of the question.

 

The Class of 2009 is shaping up to be a very good class for Indiana, too. Already committed are Maurice Cheek (6'5" SG, four-star #63), Derek Elston (6'8" SF, four-star #96) and Bobby Capobianco (6'8" PF, three-star). Capobianco is expected to jump into the top-100 in the next rankings. The 2010 team could be pretty good by the end of the season.

 

Decent group of guards. No true point, but Dumes can do a little bit of that and shoot the 3. Crawford will be more of the go-to scorer. Williams is a big guard who can create matchup problems inside and out. Roth is a pure shooter. Gonna be light up-front, even with Sutton, but I think IU could be a .500 type team.

[Exile on Waveland]

IU's gonna have to load up their nonconferences(Maui's gonna make that tougher than a normal year) to get to the NIT. I'd be surprised if they win more than 5 in the Big 10.

 

Conference wins are going to be tough to come by next year; same as in Maui. They also play at Wake Forest in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and at Kentucky. However, if the schedule is similar to last year's pathetic non-conference slate they'll have about eight cupcakes at home. I also don't know the NIT's regulations regarding Division II teams, Indiana always seems to draw Chaminade in the first round (which could be an embarrassing loss or a win to help them get NIT-eligibility). Those eight and five in conference actually get them pretty close to .500. It'll be a struggle but the NIT is possible.

[illiniguy]

IU's gonna have to load up their nonconferences(Maui's gonna make that tougher than a normal year) to get to the NIT. I'd be surprised if they win more than 5 in the Big 10.

 

Conference wins are going to be tough to come by next year; same as in Maui. They also play at Wake Forest in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and at Kentucky. However, if the schedule is similar to last year's pathetic non-conference slate they'll have about eight cupcakes at home. I also don't know the NIT's regulations regarding Division II teams, Indiana always seems to draw Chaminade in the first round (which could be an embarrassing loss or a win to help them get NIT-eligibility). Those eight and five in conference actually get them pretty close to .500. It'll be a struggle but the NIT is possible.

Plus the rest of the Big Ten isn't going to be great either.

 

MSU should be great, but they should have been great this year too.

Wisconsin will be very good. Me and 4 other posters on this board would be very good for Bo Ryan. Although he has more talent than people believe.

Purdue is gonna take a step back I think. Losing Martin will not be the non factor a lot think it will be.

OSU will be good, could have been gat had Koufas stayed.

Minn will be ok, still gonna take a bit for Tubby to get his guys in that system.

Illinois is the biggest wildcard in the conference. Either our three guards will do well and we will be good or we could be horrible again.

Iowa lost it's best player, but I like their coaches system and think they will be better than a lot of people think.

Michigan just lost Udoh, I bet they are about the same as last year.

Penn State lost one of their two players. I always mixed the two up, so I don't know if it was cornley or claxton. I imagine with their other guys progressing they will be around the same

Northwestern will be better.

Indiana could be the worst, but I bet they aren't nearly as bad as everyone is predicting.

[brinoch]

No question... it'll be a tough season, and they'll lose a lot of games. But, I'm willing to take a down year or two to properly re-establish IU after the Davis/Sampson debacles.