Re: College Basketball 2012-2013

[weis21]

http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2012-05-22/college-basketball-rankings-2012-13-top-25-mike-decourcy

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/64064/three-big-things-nc-state

 

They are actually featured on ESPN NCAA Basketball page tonight, by chance (above). This is a quote from that piece, "If Purvis is cleared to play, NC State is the prohibitive favorite to win the ACC. North Carolina is just as talented, and Duke is just as experienced, but neither team would combine the two like the Pack."

 

Look, I never would say it's a lock - because it absolutley is NOT - but the pieces are there to make it happen. It's a possiblity and perhaps the best bet. I just get a lot of this "NC State will lose or choke because they are NC State" crap down here and it irritates me. Just like the "Cubs won't ever win it because they'll choke in the playoffs lololol, etc.".

 

I have no clue if that was the angle you were playing, I just get a lot of that down here and I guess I'm a little defensive. If nothing else, I enjoy throwing my predictions/hopes out there and I'll either sink or swim in a few months.

[pitchcs]

I'm not necessarily trying to play that angle, but it's really tough to envision NC State being better than UNC, Duke, Syracuse, etc for longer than just a couple year run.

 

I mean, how on earth do they even come close to surpassing UNC in coolness/recruit desirability/fanbase?

[Guest]

kendrick nunn says demetrius jackson and xavier rathan-mayes are illinois-bound.

 

if so, wow. but it looks like a baseless rumor at this point.

How good are these guys?

[hawkeyecub]

So is Illinois not going to seriously recruit this Finke kid from Champaign then? Has offers from Iowa and Wisconsin, saw he visited Iowa this weekend.

[illiniguy]

kendrick nunn says demetrius jackson and xavier rathan-mayes are illinois-bound.

 

if so, wow. but it looks like a baseless rumor at this point.

How good are these guys?

DJack is going to be a McDAAs, fwiw.

[pitchcs]

So is Illinois not going to seriously recruit this Finke kid from Champaign then? Has offers from Iowa and Wisconsin, saw he visited Iowa this weekend.

 

Going by his offer sheet, I would hope not.

 

Looks like Groce is gonna go after the big boys or fail trying. I am OK with this course of action. Tyler Griffey's/Bill Cole's are pretty much the exact type of player I don't want to see at Illinois anymore.

[Rex Buckingham]

So is Illinois not going to seriously recruit this Finke kid from Champaign then? Has offers from Iowa and Wisconsin, saw he visited Iowa this weekend.

 

Going by his offer sheet, I would hope not.

 

Looks like Groce is gonna go after the big boys or fail trying. I am OK with this course of action. Tyler Griffey's/Bill Cole's are pretty much the exact type of player I don't want to see at Illinois anymore.

 

On that note... Xavier Rathan-Mayes is apparently visiting UI this weekend...

[illiniguy]

So is Illinois not going to seriously recruit this Finke kid from Champaign then? Has offers from Iowa and Wisconsin, saw he visited Iowa this weekend.

 

Going by his offer sheet, I would hope not.

 

Looks like Groce is gonna go after the big boys or fail trying. I am OK with this course of action. Tyler Griffey's/Bill Cole's are pretty much the exact type of player I don't want to see at Illinois anymore.

 

On that note... Xavier Rathan-Mayes is apparently visiting UI this weekend...

If we land him I'm calling him XRM. That is way to much name for me to remember.

[weis21]

I'm not necessarily trying to play that angle, but it's really tough to envision NC State being better than UNC, Duke, Syracuse, etc for longer than just a couple year run.

 

I mean, how on earth do they even come close to surpassing UNC in coolness/recruit desirability/fanbase?

I'm not saying they will dominate the ACC for years to come. I'm saying, for this year, there is a pretty good chance they are the best team.

 

They have a new coach, a new AD, and a new vision. And they've pumped a lot of money into facilities and such. This was a team took over by Gottfried that already had pieces in place from Lowe (who could recuit, but do nothing with talent once there). Gottfried, at least to this point, can recruit just as well and seems to be able to translate that into talent and wins (e.g. Leslie was a "selfish" player, but has given Gottfried all the praise in the world to his new "team-first" attitude). Players have flourished so far under his regime. If he can continue to put a good product on the court - and his reputation as a player's coach - there is a good chance they'll continue to improve. They haven't been relevant in a long while, but this is hardly a University that is foreign to winning National Championships. This is college basketball, all it takes is a good coach. What was Duke before Coach K? (note: that's not an attempt to compare Gottfried to Coach K. Just a reference to how much influence a coach has in NCAA basketball)

[weis21]

As far as "coolness/recruiting desireability", NC has 3 McDonald's All-Americans in the 2012 class. A record for the state. All 3 signed with NC State. I think you may be selling NC State a little short. Which is understandable, because they were horrible under the former AD and for a really long time. But, there is a really, really strong fan base and the basketball culture is top notch once you experience it.

 

Plus, with the [expletive] storm surrounding UNC (not that I expect it to be fully exposed as what it is) and Coach K impending retirement rumors swirling, I'm not surprised the play field has leveled out some.

[SeldomSeen]

So is Illinois not going to seriously recruit this Finke kid from Champaign then? Has offers from Iowa and Wisconsin, saw he visited Iowa this weekend.

 

Going by his offer sheet, I would hope not.

 

Looks like Groce is gonna go after the big boys or fail trying. I am OK with this course of action. Tyler Griffey's/Bill Cole's are pretty much the exact type of player I don't want to see at Illinois anymore.

 

On that note... Xavier Rathan-Mayes is apparently visiting UI this weekend...

I believe Jackson is at Notre Dame this weekend, along with VJ Beachem for his official. ND was the early favorite for Jackson but Illinois seems to have the most recent momentum. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out. I also heard, although not as recently, that Kansas was a real possibility as well. In the end, I would expect it to come down to UI or ND, making this weekend's visit pretty important.

[SouthSideRyan]

So is Illinois not going to seriously recruit this Finke kid from Champaign then? Has offers from Iowa and Wisconsin, saw he visited Iowa this weekend.

 

Going by his offer sheet, I would hope not.

 

Looks like Groce is gonna go after the big boys or fail trying. I am OK with this course of action. Tyler Griffey's/Bill Cole's are pretty much the exact type of player I don't want to see at Illinois anymore.

 

On that note... Xavier Rathan-Mayes is apparently visiting UI this weekend...

I believe Jackson is at Notre Dame this weekend, along with VJ Beachem for his official. ND was the early favorite for Jackson but Illinois seems to have the most recent momentum. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out. I also heard, although not as recently, that Kansas was a real possibility as well. In the end, I would expect it to come down to UI or ND, making this weekend's visit pretty important.

 

Illinois is a pretty heavy favorite at this point.

[Magnetic Curses]

but IU still leads for harris

[SouthSideRyan]

but IU still leads for harris

 

Rumor has it they have a team.

[Formerly Snayke]

Billy Clyde out at Texas Tech.

[Magnetic Curses]

wonder how old style feels about this one

[illiniguy]

Billy Clyde out at Texas Tech.

Exhibit A why you don't always have to go to the elite school. He would have been fine had he stayed at Texas A&M.

[Old Style]

wonder how old style feels about this one

Aww, how cute that you were thinking of me.

[Andy]

Since I don't see it posted in here, Tom Noie of the South Bend Tribune tweeted this weekend that Jackson told ND he will be making his choice this week.

[illiniguy]

Since I don't see it posted in here, Tom Noie of the South Bend Tribune tweeted this weekend that Jackson told ND he will be making his choice this week.

The insiders at Illinois loyalty swear it's Illinois, they're usually pretty accurate. We will see.

[Andy]

Since I don't see it posted in here, Tom Noie of the South Bend Tribune tweeted this weekend that Jackson told ND he will be making his choice this week.

The insiders at Illinois loyalty swear it's Illinois, they're usually pretty accurate. We will see.

I'm sure you will get him. ND doesn't get a big-time prospect unless they're destined to be wildly underwhelming (see Chris Thomas, Luke Zeller) and Jackson sounds like the real deal from all I've heard about him. Haven't followed closely, though.

[Magnetic Curses]

i'll believe we get jackson when i see it.

[illiniguy]

Since I don't see it posted in here, Tom Noie of the South Bend Tribune tweeted this weekend that Jackson told ND he will be making his choice this week.

The insiders at Illinois loyalty swear it's Illinois, they're usually pretty accurate. We will see.

I'm sure you will get him. ND doesn't get a big-time prospect unless they're destined to be wildly underwhelming (see Chris Thomas, Luke Zeller) and Jackson sounds like the real deal from all I've heard about him. Haven't followed closely, though.

I'd love to get him, but I'm a bit leery to get my hopes up on anything Illinois basketball related. Since the last 6 years have been a train wreck.

[hawkeyecub]

So is Illinois not going to seriously recruit this Finke kid from Champaign then? Has offers from Iowa and Wisconsin, saw he visited Iowa this weekend.

 

Going by his offer sheet, I would hope not.

 

He tweeted that he received an offer from Illinois.

[Magnetic Curses]

I KNEW IT!

 

Bob Glauber ‏@BobGlauber

Who says I'm not? "@Sulleymon: are you Tom Crean? #hoosiernation"

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