Re: College Basketball 2008-2009

[Vanilla Ice]

I'd probably take Lawson over Collison. But, I would never take Ellington over Curry. Curry gave us way more trouble.

[Guest]

Westbrook totally shut down Curry like no one else last season. :)

[Guest]

Watching some of the UCLA exhibition game against Cal Baptist and Jrue looks so smooth and effortless. I can't wait for the real games!

[snoodmonger]

I'd probably take Lawson over Collison. But, I would never take Ellington over Curry. Curry gave us way more trouble.

 

Lawson might have better stats, but I think a healthy Collison is the better player.

[CubbieBum]

Collison no doubt makes a better pro prospect but I think Lawson was better last year. Could be different this year though.

[Vanilla Ice]

I'd probably take Lawson over Collison. But, I would never take Ellington over Curry. Curry gave us way more trouble.

 

Lawson might have better stats, but I think a healthy Collison is the better player.

yea, i could see either one of them.

[Guest]

Collison no doubt makes a better pro prospect but I think Lawson was better last year. Could be different this year though.

 

Of course he was. But, as IMB! pointed out, this is a preseason 2008-2009 team.

[CubbieBum]

Collison no doubt makes a better pro prospect but I think Lawson was better last year. Could be different this year though.

 

Of course he was. But, as IMB! pointed out, this is a preseason 2008-2009 team.

 

Yeah its preseason but its a pretty big deal. Its doesn't carry as much weight as the end of season all-american team but it still carries a lot of weight.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

You're missing the point. Projections for a new season are influenced by last year, but ultimately not bound by them. Players progress, stagnate, and decline.

[weis21]

Preseason lists are pointless other than the fact that they generate conversation and hype.

[Guest]

Got my first look at the UCD men's team today and they looked decent. Two of the starters were out with minor injuries (the coach said they would have played had it been the regular season) and the coach got everybody in the game since it was an exhibition so they didn't look as great as I expected. But they had seven new players to the team (three transfers and four freshmen) so I wasn't surprised that they didn't look outstanding.

 

Oh well, they'll still be far better than they were last year.

 

First regular season game is next Friday at Iowa State.

[hawkeyecub]

Picked up the College Basketball Prospectus today (it's great but I hate how they make their conference predictions) and Iowa's first exhibition game is Sunday.

 

I'm ready.

 

As far as starting lineup, really no one knows at this point. Here's my best guess as of now:

PG- Jeff Peterson

SG- Jake Kelly

SF- Matt Gatens

PF- Jarryd Cole

C- Cyrus Tate

[Flames24Rulz]

SIU might actually have an offense this year as we scored 87 against "Southwest Baptist," who's supposedly one of the better D-2 teams in the land. However, we also gave up 79 points to them.

 

Very frustrating game. Our 'fab five' freshmen all look extremely talented, but there are going to be a LOT of growing pains in the early going. The Coaches vs Cancer tournament should be interesting because if we beat California (PA) and UMass, we'd play Duke in a couple of weeks. We'll get a good look at how good we are then.

 

I still think we'll peak in conference play and that we'll contend for one of the last at-large berths yet again. At least it was actually exciting to see an up-tempo SIU offense.

[Vanilla Ice]

Nolan Smith and Miles Plumlee are officially starters.

 

So it will look like this

 

PG Nolan Smith

SG Jon Scheyer

SF Gerald Henderson

PF Kyle Singler

C Miles Plumlee

 

Paulus, Thomas, and maybe Elliot Williams will be the first people off of the bench.

 

I am very excited about Henderson this year. He has so much potential that first team all-america might not be out of the question. Nolan Smith has looked very good in the preseason. He will bring good defense from the point guard spot for the first time since Sean Dockery. He is much quicker than Paulus. Paulus might make a good 2 guard because his shot is very good.

[rawaction]

IU will start the following, household names.

 

G- Devan Dumes (6'2" JR. JC transfer)

G- Matt Roth (6'3" FR.)

G- Verdell Jones III (6'5" FR from Champagne, IL)

F- Nick Williams (6'4", FR.)

F- Tom Pritchard (6'9" FR.)

 

6'5" Freshman, Malik Story will be a key reserve.

 

I'll be happy if this team doesn't finish last in the Big Ten.

[Guest]

Five days until UCD's first game against Iowa State.

 

I'm actually excited about the team this year and only a small bit of it is because I'll be covering them.

[SouthSideRyan]

IU will start the following, household names.

 

G- Devan Dumes (6'2" JR. JC transfer)

G- Matt Roth (6'3" FR.)

G- Verdell Jones III (6'5" FR from Champagne, IL)

F- Nick Williams (6'4", FR.)

F- Tom Pritchard (6'9" FR.)

 

6'5" Freshman, Malik Story will be a key reserve.

 

I'll be happy if this team doesn't finish last in the Big Ten.

 

I assumed Taber would start. This is going to be an interesting year for an IU hater like myself. I'd put the over/under at 2.5 for Big 10 wins.

[Exile on Waveland]

IU will start the following, household names.

 

G- Devan Dumes (6'2" JR. JC transfer)

G- Matt Roth (6'3" FR.)

G- Verdell Jones III (6'5" FR from Champagne, IL)

F- Nick Williams (6'4", FR.)

F- Tom Pritchard (6'9" FR.)

 

6'5" Freshman, Malik Story will be a key reserve.

 

I'll be happy if this team doesn't finish last in the Big Ten.

 

I assumed Taber would start. This is going to be an interesting year for an IU hater like myself. I'd put the over/under at 2.5 for Big 10 wins.

 

He's currently hurt. That was the lineup that started Friday's exhibition game. Taber is almost certainly a starter when healthy; I also would guess that you'll see multiple starting lineups throughout the season.

 

They won't win many, but think the over is the best bet there.

[ISUCubsFan]

Five days until UCD's first game against Iowa State.

 

I'm actually excited about the team this year and only a small bit of it is because I'll be covering them.

 

Iowa State is capable of losing that one since our three best players from last year are gone, but I'm hoping superior size and talent can win out over experience. Either way it probably won't be a blowout, ISU only won by 20 in their tune up yesterday with Nebraska-Omaha. I'm still excited for the season though, a decent recruiting class is coming in and anything is better than watching the football team either getting blown out or choking double digits leads.

[illiniguy]

IU will start the following, household names.

 

G- Devan Dumes (6'2" JR. JC transfer)

G- Matt Roth (6'3" FR.)

G- Verdell Jones III (6'5" FR from Champagne, IL)

F- Nick Williams (6'4", FR.)

F- Tom Pritchard (6'9" FR.)

 

6'5" Freshman, Malik Story will be a key reserve.

 

I'll be happy if this team doesn't finish last in the Big Ten.

 

I assumed Taber would start. This is going to be an interesting year for an IU hater like myself. I'd put the over/under at 2.5 for Big 10 wins.

 

He's currently hurt. That was the lineup that started Friday's exhibition game. Taber is almost certainly a starter when healthy; I also would guess that you'll see multiple starting lineups throughout the season.

They won't win many, but think the over is the best bet there.

I don't see who they could beat. Maybe 1 fluke win. I'll take the under.

[Exile on Waveland]

IU will start the following, household names.

 

G- Devan Dumes (6'2" JR. JC transfer)

G- Matt Roth (6'3" FR.)

G- Verdell Jones III (6'5" FR from Champagne, IL)

F- Nick Williams (6'4", FR.)

F- Tom Pritchard (6'9" FR.)

 

6'5" Freshman, Malik Story will be a key reserve.

 

I'll be happy if this team doesn't finish last in the Big Ten.

 

I assumed Taber would start. This is going to be an interesting year for an IU hater like myself. I'd put the over/under at 2.5 for Big 10 wins.

 

He's currently hurt. That was the lineup that started Friday's exhibition game. Taber is almost certainly a starter when healthy; I also would guess that you'll see multiple starting lineups throughout the season.

They won't win many, but think the over is the best bet there.

I don't see who they could beat. Maybe 1 fluke win. I'll take the under.

 

They still play at Assembly Hall. They have a very good coach. Their backcourt could be decent. The Big Ten doesn't have many good teams at all.

 

They probably will be historically bad for Indiana, but I seriously doubt they go winless in the Big Ten. Winless Big Ten teams are extremely rare -- only 2000 Northwestern has done so since 1994 (cursory internet search only went back that far -- and that was 16-game schedule). This IU team is more talented and has far better fan support/homecourt advantage than teams that generally go winless. It's not about picking who they'll beat; no league game jumps out as a sure-fire win. Upsets happen in college sports; especially when average or below-average teams play in hostile environments.

[Andy]

Northwestern and Penn State are still in the Big Ten and there are plenty of teams in that conference capable of playing a bad enough game for IU to beat them. I'll give them 4 or 5 Big Ten wins.

[SouthSideRyan]

Penn St. isn't that bad. Northwestern is at least better than their 1-17 selves from last year.

 

Iowa I think is gonna be pretty awful though. Indiana should beat them at home. Other than that it's up to stealing a few.

[manbearcub]

Penn St. isn't that bad. Northwestern is at least better than their 1-17 selves from last year.

 

Iowa I think is gonna be pretty awful though. Indiana should beat them at home. Other than that it's up to stealing a few.

erm...no. Iowa will improve a bit from a team that won 6 Big Ten games last season.

[XZero771679666304]

Penn St. isn't that bad. Northwestern is at least better than their 1-17 selves from last year.

 

Iowa I think is gonna be pretty awful though. Indiana should beat them at home. Other than that it's up to stealing a few.

erm...no. Iowa will improve a bit from a team that won 6 Big Ten games last season.

 

If you say so.