Re: College Basketball 2008-2009

[SouthSideRyan]

I think the Big East is probably the best conference this year, but people just love ignoring that they have 4 absolutely pathetic teams at the bottom of their conference. Just because they're 13th-16th doesn't mean they don't count. USF, DePaul, Rutgers, and Seton Hall are all just about on part with the last place teams in every other conference.

[Magnetic Curses]

again

 

[Magnetic Curses]

crean is the coach at a top 5 program because he had a good run over 2 weekends 6 years ago. he will help recruiting because he still has a big name and will reinvigorate the program for a time. but if they're expecting the second-coming of bob knight in bloomington, that ain't gonna happen.

 

and because indiana is still a top 5 program, historically, the prestige of the school will sell itself. crean may make a final four or two at iu, but i doubt he adds to the banner total.

Edited January 29, 2009 by Stannis

[SouthSideRyan]

What a bad year for the mid-majors to be down. With Tennessee now on shaky ground, I have a hard time seeing the SEC get more than 3. Pac 10 will struggle to get more than 5, as will the Big 12. I really don't know where these bids are going to go.

 

You've got Gonzaga/St. Mary's in the WCC.

 

Utah/BYU/UNLV(none of which really have good resumes) in the MWC.

 

Xavier/Dayton in the A-10

 

Then a bunch of 1 bid leagues that would get an at large if they choke in the tourney: Butler, Memphis, Davidson, Utah St.

[CubInOK]

What a bad year for the mid-majors to be down. With Tennessee now on shaky ground, I have a hard time seeing the SEC get more than 3. Pac 10 will struggle to get more than 5, as will the Big 12. I really don't know where these bids are going to go.

 

You've got Gonzaga/St. Mary's in the WCC.

 

Utah/BYU/UNLV(none of which really have good resumes) in the MWC.

 

Xavier/Dayton in the A-10

 

Then a bunch of 1 bid leagues that would get an at large if they choke in the tourney: Butler, Memphis, Davidson, Utah St.

I really wonder what the bracket analysts think when they put 6 Big XII teams in. Mizzou and OSU aren't as good as their records, and A&M can't really score. Beyond Oklahoma, Texas, Baylor, and Kansas, who out of the Big XII should go?

[Productive Outs]

what do florida and pittsburgh have in common?

 

they weren't ranked number 1 when they left freedom hall the last time they visited. duke lost and uconn is number 2... :twisted:

 

we still haven't played our A game yet and are now 7-0 in the beast that is the big east. don't think that the best basketball fans are on tobacco road. tonight 17,500 people, a few hundred short of an official sellout, went out in 5 inch snow and icy conditions to watch your seventh ranked university of louisville fighting cardinals pound south florida by 26, a team that has beaten us 2 or 3 times in 20 or so years. and keep in mind, this is kentucky. people freak out if snow flurries start falling with no accumulation.

 

so to that poster a few pages back, yeah louisville. seriously. no team is playing better than we are right now.

 

there have been two great days in recent history. one was the day that tom jurich announced the hiring of rick pitino. the second was the day that orlando tubby smith announced he was leaving yUK. put in perspective, if rick left tomorrow, tubby would be welcomed here with open arms. what tubby did in 10 years in lessington was an awesome job and we would have been happy with that.

 

kentucky fan right now is kicking himself for running off tubby. billy clyde gillespe isn't long for that job. has he finally signed that contract yet?

 

I love how you can not mention your own team's success without mentioning the University of Kentucky.

 

By the way, the firing of Tubby Smith has nothing to do with Billy Gillispie. I honestly believe that it was simply time for both sides to part ways. It remains to be seen whether Gillispie will equal Tubby's tenure or surpass it. I'm willing to give him more time. Tubby didn't exactly leave him with much.

[Magnetic Curses]

dob, tubby left uk for another job. i don't know if he was going to get fired, but he wanted out, bad.

[Productive Outs]

dob, tubby left uk for another job. i don't know if he was going to get fired, but he wanted out, bad.

 

I realize that. That's what I meant -- he obviously wanted out, and the majority of UK fans wanted him out as well. It wasn't working anymore, probably because of the unrealistic expectations many of us have.

[Magnetic Curses]

dob, tubby left uk for another job. i don't know if he was going to get fired, but he wanted out, bad.

 

I realize that. That's what I meant -- he obviously wanted out, and the majority of UK fans wanted him out as well. It wasn't working anymore, probably because of the unrealistic expectations many of us have.

 

i think kentucky fans have high expectations, but i don't think they're unrealistic. unrealistic would be tennessee fans thinking they're going to win the bcs championship every single season. but everyone forget that i just mentioned tennessee, plz.

[Sosa21MVP]

crean is the coach at a top 5 program because he had a good run over 2 weekends 6 years ago. he will help recruiting because he still has a big name and will reinvigorate the program for a time. but if they're expecting the second-coming of bob knight in bloomington, that ain't gonna happen.

 

and because indiana is still a top 5 program, historically, the prestige of the school will sell itself. crean may make a final four or two at iu, but i doubt he adds to the banner total.

 

Honestly I'm more worried about contending for Big Ten titles than national titles. I just want to get back to a point where Indiana is "in the mix" for top spot in the Big Ten more years than not. And the occasional Final Four run, yes. People talk about the baseball playoffs being a crapshoot, I'd say the NCAA tournament can be on the ultimate crapshoots.

[hawkeyecub]

Keno Davis is doing one helluva job at Providence.

 

Well they weren't awful last year and did return 84% of their minutes so an improvement to a winning record and around .500 in the Big East was expected.

 

Also you have to look at their Big East schedule thus far. They're 3-0 against DePaul, St. John's and Seton Hall who are a combined 3-20. They've also got two wins over Cincinnati who is probably about a 10th place team. The Syracuse win was nice.

 

They still have 3 games left against Rutgers and South Florida so that should be enough to get them to .500 on it's own. The other 7 games are beastly though.

[CubbieBum]

On a side note I hadn't realized how good Manny Harris has been for Michigan. I knew he was scoring didn't know he was rebounding and assisting too. He's 2nd in the conference in scoring, tied for league lead in rebounds, and 6th in assists. He should win BIg Ten Player of the Year.

[UMFan83]

On a side note I hadn't realized how good Manny Harris has been for Michigan. I knew he was scoring didn't know he was rebounding and assisting too. He's 2nd in the conference in scoring, tied for league lead in rebounds, and 6th in assists. He should win BIg Ten Player of the Year.

 

Your team usually has to be, you know, good to win Big Ten POY.

[CubbieBum]

On a side note I hadn't realized how good Manny Harris has been for Michigan. I knew he was scoring didn't know he was rebounding and assisting too. He's 2nd in the conference in scoring, tied for league lead in rebounds, and 6th in assists. He should win BIg Ten Player of the Year.

 

Your team usually has to be, you know, good to win Big Ten POY.

 

Usually. He's top 2 in two of them and top six in the other. I don't know when the last time someone was that high in all three but I would venture a guess its been awhile.

[Exile on Waveland]

crean is the coach at a top 5 program because he had a good run over 2 weekends 6 years ago. he will help recruiting because he still has a big name and will reinvigorate the program for a time. but if they're expecting the second-coming of bob knight in bloomington, that ain't gonna happen.

 

and because indiana is still a top 5 program, historically, the prestige of the school will sell itself. crean may make a final four or two at iu, but i doubt he adds to the banner total.

 

I don't think anyone expects Crean to be the second coming of Coach Knight. Honestly, no one should expect the second coming of Coach Knight in their lifetime.

 

That said, I do hope fans realize what Crean is. He will be a great energetic program salesman, should recruit extremely well and is a solid -- but not great -- coach. He'll win at Indiana, there is no doubt. I don't expect a National Championship under Crean. I do expect to contend for the Big Ten title often, and hopefully make the Final Four once or twice. Indiana means more in this equation than Crean, though.

 

I think most Indiana fans realize this and are content with it. After six years of the utterly incompetent Davis and two years of the deceptive Sampson, Crean is a breath of fresh air.

[Keener98]

Illinois at Minnesota tonight. Big game for the Illini on the road in a pretty tough place to play, against a pretty decent team. Lets go Illini! Continue the march towards the Big Ten Title.

[illiniguy]

On a side note I hadn't realized how good Manny Harris has been for Michigan. I knew he was scoring didn't know he was rebounding and assisting too. He's 2nd in the conference in scoring, tied for league lead in rebounds, and 6th in assists. He should win BIg Ten Player of the Year.

 

Your team usually has to be, you know, good to win Big Ten POY.

 

Usually. He's top 2 in two of them and top six in the other. I don't know when the last time someone was that high in all three but I would venture a guess its been awhile.

Did Andre Woolrdige win BTPOY? I know he is the last guy to lead the conference in assists annd points.

[SouthSideRyan]

what do florida and pittsburgh have in common?

 

they weren't ranked number 1 when they left freedom hall the last time they visited. duke lost and uconn is number 2... :twisted:

 

we still haven't played our A game yet and are now 7-0 in the beast that is the big east. don't think that the best basketball fans are on tobacco road. tonight 17,500 people, a few hundred short of an official sellout, went out in 5 inch snow and icy conditions to watch your seventh ranked university of louisville fighting cardinals pound south florida by 26, a team that has beaten us 2 or 3 times in 20 or so years. and keep in mind, this is kentucky. people freak out if snow flurries start falling with no accumulation.

 

so to that poster a few pages back, yeah louisville. seriously. no team is playing better than we are right now.

 

there have been two great days in recent history. one was the day that tom jurich announced the hiring of rick pitino. the second was the day that orlando tubby smith announced he was leaving yUK. put in perspective, if rick left tomorrow, tubby would be welcomed here with open arms. what tubby did in 10 years in lessington was an awesome job and we would have been happy with that.

 

kentucky fan right now is kicking himself for running off tubby. billy clyde gillespe isn't long for that job. has he finally signed that contract yet?

 

I love how you can not mention your own team's success without mentioning the University of Kentucky.

 

By the way, the firing of Tubby Smith has nothing to do with Billy Gillispie. I honestly believe that it was simply time for both sides to part ways. It remains to be seen whether Gillispie will equal Tubby's tenure or surpass it. I'm willing to give him more time. Tubby didn't exactly leave him with much.

 

UK made the tourney last year with one of Gillispie's players contributing. The guy who scored 92 points in one game happens to be a Tubby guy.

[illiniguy]

what do florida and pittsburgh have in common?

 

they weren't ranked number 1 when they left freedom hall the last time they visited. duke lost and uconn is number 2... :twisted:

 

we still haven't played our A game yet and are now 7-0 in the beast that is the big east. don't think that the best basketball fans are on tobacco road. tonight 17,500 people, a few hundred short of an official sellout, went out in 5 inch snow and icy conditions to watch your seventh ranked university of louisville fighting cardinals pound south florida by 26, a team that has beaten us 2 or 3 times in 20 or so years. and keep in mind, this is kentucky. people freak out if snow flurries start falling with no accumulation.

 

so to that poster a few pages back, yeah louisville. seriously. no team is playing better than we are right now.

 

there have been two great days in recent history. one was the day that tom jurich announced the hiring of rick pitino. the second was the day that orlando tubby smith announced he was leaving yUK. put in perspective, if rick left tomorrow, tubby would be welcomed here with open arms. what tubby did in 10 years in lessington was an awesome job and we would have been happy with that.

 

kentucky fan right now is kicking himself for running off tubby. billy clyde gillespe isn't long for that job. has he finally signed that contract yet?

 

I love how you can not mention your own team's success without mentioning the University of Kentucky.

 

By the way, the firing of Tubby Smith has nothing to do with Billy Gillispie. I honestly believe that it was simply time for both sides to part ways. It remains to be seen whether Gillispie will equal Tubby's tenure or surpass it. I'm willing to give him more time. Tubby didn't exactly leave him with much.

 

UK made the tourney last year with one of Gillispie's players contributing. The guy who scored 92 points in one game happens to be a Tubby guy.

Plus the glaring weakness on the team right now is also a Billy guy. cough DeAndre Liggins cough.

[hawkeyecub]

On a side note I hadn't realized how good Manny Harris has been for Michigan. I knew he was scoring didn't know he was rebounding and assisting too. He's 2nd in the conference in scoring, tied for league lead in rebounds, and 6th in assists. He should win BIg Ten Player of the Year.

 

Your team usually has to be, you know, good to win Big Ten POY.

 

Usually. He's top 2 in two of them and top six in the other. I don't know when the last time someone was that high in all three but I would venture a guess its been awhile.

Did Andre Woolrdige win BTPOY? I know he is the last guy to lead the conference in assists annd points.

 

No he was robbed by Bobby Jackson from Minnesota.

 

Iowa also finished 2nd to Minnesota that year. Of course Minnesota later had that title stripped for massive academic fraud which I believe Jackson was involved in. Iowa should have had the POTY and their first regular season basketball title in 18 years.

 

That team really got hosed all around. They were 22-9, 12-6 in the Big Ten but got stuck with an 8 seed somehow. Beat Virginia in the first round and lost a close game to eventual national champion Kentucky in the 2nd round. Tied at halftime, led late in the second half, lost by 6. After the championship Pitino said their toughest game of the tournament was Iowa.

 

Dre was such a stud.

[Andy]

On a side note I hadn't realized how good Manny Harris has been for Michigan. I knew he was scoring didn't know he was rebounding and assisting too. He's 2nd in the conference in scoring, tied for league lead in rebounds, and 6th in assists. He should win BIg Ten Player of the Year.

 

Your team usually has to be, you know, good to win Big Ten POY.

If Harangody leads the Big East in scoring and rebounding again (he's doing both rather easily right now) and doesn't win Big East POY, I'll be pissed regardless of ND's standing, and I'd imagine the same applies to Harris and UM.

 

If Harris proves to be the best player, he should win the award. If not they should change it to conference MVP and be done with it.

 

That said, I'm sure someone will prove to be at least as deserving for a more competitive team.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

Dennis Felton is out at Georgia. SEC is going to have some interesting openings this year.

 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5infDWrP4anLI53gy6uNDsY0FnQwgD960SVHG0

[bcl412]

I'm going to the Iowa/MSU game tonight. I went the the last three and Iowa won, including last years 43-36 thriller.

 

I'm praying for the upset tonight but it will be tough as hell. :beg:

[mul21]

What the hell happened to Mizzou last night? Butters? Tiger?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What the hell happened to Mizzou last night? Butters? Tiger?

 

I didn't see but a couple minutes of the game after it was already in hand, but from what I can gather, Mizzou didn't play well, they couldn't force K-State into turnovers like both teams have done all year, and 2 guards from K-State shot a combined 10 for 14 from 3. It seems reminiscent of how Mizzou beat Texas last year, get a lead at the half, then don't miss a shot the rest of the game.