College Basketball 2011-2012

[SpongeWorthy]

lol

[Flames24Rulz]

Typical.

[SpongeWorthy]

Does Leonard contest shots? That was pathetic.

[illiniguy]

Dixon is the only one not playing like an idiot right now.

 

And if I ever meet John Higgins face to face I'm punching him in the throat.

Hope I'm there to see that, I'd love to see you get your ass handed to you.

[Guest]

I'm hoping to get a quick strike in and then flee while his toupee is still in his eyes.

[illiniguy]

I'm hoping to get a quick strike in and then flee while his toupee is still in his eyes.

I guarantee you he's got speed too, you can tell.

[SouthSideRyan]

I HATE trying to play defense down 2-3 points with less than 50 seconds left. Even if we stopped Missouri there, we have 9 [expletive] seconds to set up a 3 point shot. Extend the game.

[Exile on Waveland]

I HATE trying to play defense down 2-3 points with less than 50 seconds left. Even if we stopped Missouri there, we have 9 [expletive] seconds to set up a 3 point shot. Extend the game.

 

Agreed. I think this is a huge tactical error that many, many coaches make. As you said, best-case scenario is still pretty crappy.

[hawkeyecub]

I HATE trying to play defense down 2-3 points with less than 50 seconds left. Even if we stopped Missouri there, we have 9 [expletive] seconds to set up a 3 point shot. Extend the game.

 

Agreed. I think this is a huge tactical error that many, many coaches make. As you said, best-case scenario is still pretty crappy.

 

Generally I agree with both of you, but I do think there are some variables (opponent free throw shooting, strength of your defense, etc.) that can make it worthwhile in many instances.

[Smack]

B1G play starts tonight!

 

Edit, sorry, tomorrow. Looked at calendar wrong...

Edited December 27, 2011 by Smack

[Smack]

Lewis Jackson may have a stress fracture in his back. Obviously a very difficult injury to overcome if true.

[fromthestretch]

Lewis Jackson may have a stress fracture in his back. Obviously a very difficult injury to overcome if true.

 

Crap. It was already shaping up to be a tough season. If they lose Jackson, they're really going to be hurting.

[SouthSideRyan]

Rumors Crandall Head has left the team?

[illiniguy]

Rumors Crandall Head has left the team?

Yep, that's what I've heard. Man I hope Meyers doesn't leave after this year or we really didn't get much out of that great '10 class.

[Magnetic Curses]

Rumors Crandall Head has left the team?

Yep, that's what I've heard. Man I hope Meyers doesn't leave after this year or we really didn't get much out of that great '10 class.

 

meyers by himself was a lot to get out of that class. i don't know what happened with crandall, if true i wish him well but to tell you the truth i see a lot more potential in myke henry, who can actually shoot.

 

it's possible that with bertrand's improved play, that he's getting crandall's minutes, and to tell you the truth, i want o see where it goes. in the right hands, crandall can be a star, it's just too bad he's not like his brother--who over the course of one offseason, turned himself into a great shooter.

[illiniguy]

Rumors Crandall Head has left the team?

Yep, that's what I've heard. Man I hope Meyers doesn't leave after this year or we really didn't get much out of that great '10 class.

 

meyers by himself was a lot to get out of that class. i don't know what happened with crandall, if true i wish him well but to tell you the truth i see a lot more potential in myke henry, who can actually shoot.

 

it's possible that with bertrand's improved play, that he's getting crandall's minutes, and to tell you the truth, i want o see where it goes. in the right hands, crandall can be a star, it's just too bad he's not like his brother--who over the course of one offseason, turned himself into a great shooter.

Best thing to happen to Luther was Dee and Deron. They were gym rats that he hung out with. And Sulley, with a top ten class I expect at least a sweet sixteen out of it. I doubt we get that out of the '10 group.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

Well looks like my prediction that Crandall would be this years malcontent was spot on. Let's wait for all the facts to come out before we rush to judgment. I think there must be more than just playing time at play here.

[SouthSideRyan]

Well looks like my prediction that Crandall would be this years malcontent was spot on. Let's wait for all the facts to come out before we rush to judgment. I think there must be more than just playing time at play here.

 

The fact that that smug [expletive] Peoriaman is talking about it leads me to believe the same.

[BleacherBadger]

Illinois's mid-season downfall is coming along quite nicely this year.

 

Start 10-0, get expectations high, and then lose 2 of 3 (almost all 3, save an escape at home vs. 4-6 powerhouse Cornell). Malcontent players, people transfering, people blaming Bruce, talk of the one young potential star going pro.

 

Yes yes, shaping up to be a quintessential Illini basketball season.

[NewUserName]

Am I the only one missing Leonard as a pro prospect at this point? At least NBA, I guess there are plenty of pro leagues where he could play.

[apete6]

Am I the only one missing Leonard as a pro prospect at this point? At least NBA, I guess there are plenty of pro leagues where he could play.

 

Leonard would probably be a top 15-20 NBA center right now. The lack of big guys who can defend the post and score without tripping all over themselves in the NBA right now is insane. It's probably the weakest the center position has ever been. A guy like Nene is probably a top 5-8 center in the entire league. Leonard will be a first round pick forsure, the only question is if the rest of this season and the workouts gets him into the lottery.

[Bruno7481]

Transfers happen all the time. Except of course nobody ever leaves IU willingly, in that case they are "Creaned".

 

Too bad it didn't work out, I know some of you were very high on him when he committed.

[NewUserName]

Am I the only one missing Leonard as a pro prospect at this point? At least NBA, I guess there are plenty of pro leagues where he could play.

 

Leonard would probably be a top 15-20 NBA center right now. The lack of big guys who can defend the post and score without tripping all over themselves in the NBA right now is insane. It's probably the weakest the center position has ever been. A guy like Nene is probably a top 5-8 center in the entire league. Leonard will be a first round pick forsure, the only question is if the rest of this season and the workouts gets him into the lottery.

 

I am not sure that he is that good of a defender. Whenever I watch it seems he does not do a good job keeping his body square between his guy and the basket and often is trying to block shots from behind. I know I am an MSU fan and Izzo stresses positioning and blocking out. I am quite sure that Illinois bigs are not taught the same. Maybe I am wrong but Illinois bigs seem to try to deny too much and often get themselves out of position for rebounds.

[apete6]

Am I the only one missing Leonard as a pro prospect at this point? At least NBA, I guess there are plenty of pro leagues where he could play.

 

Leonard would probably be a top 15-20 NBA center right now. The lack of big guys who can defend the post and score without tripping all over themselves in the NBA right now is insane. It's probably the weakest the center position has ever been. A guy like Nene is probably a top 5-8 center in the entire league. Leonard will be a first round pick forsure, the only question is if the rest of this season and the workouts gets him into the lottery.

 

I am not sure that he is that good of a defender. Whenever I watch it seems he does not do a good job keeping his body square between his guy and the basket and often is trying to block shots from behind. I know I am an MSU fan and Izzo stresses positioning and blocking out. I am quite sure that Illinois bigs are not taught the same. Maybe I am wrong but Illinois bigs seem to try to deny too much and often get themselves out of position for rebounds.

 

That's a fair point. I'm not an Illinois fan either, but am very impressed by Leonard. If you look at the NBA, the shot blocking from the weakside is almost the main job of a center as there just aren't that many centers that require constant guarding and that get the ball in the post to do their damage (ala Shaq or Hakeem), so coming over to block shots is more important than on-ball defense, which, as you pointed out, Leonard needs a lot of work on.

[SouthSideRyan]

Illinois's mid-season downfall is coming along quite nicely this year.

 

Start 10-0, get expectations high, and then lose 2 of 3 (almost all 3, save an escape at home vs. 4-6 powerhouse Cornell). Malcontent players, people transfering, people blaming Bruce, talk of the one young potential star going pro.

 

Yes yes, shaping up to be a quintessential Illini basketball season.

 

You forgot win in Kohl Center as per usual.