2005-06 College Basketball Thread

[RynoRules]

On a different subject, I was at the DePaul-Marquette game last night at the Allstate. It was a fantastic display. If Marquette were not so young (and thus inconsistent, as evidenced by their near collapse in the second half), I would label them a dark horse to make the Final Four. Novack and James are sensational players.

 

DePaul, though they fought valiantly in the second half, did not impress me.

[gflore34]

I too was impressed with the play of Randle and Pruitt. Sure, they'll lose a couple more road games but, with the continued improvement of Randle and Pruitt they be quite formidable come tournament time. Speaking of Randle, after Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager, he may very well be the Big Ten' most talented player, his combination of speed, length and jumping ability is amazing.

[Magnetic Curses]

I too was impressed with the play of Randle and Pruitt. Sure, they'll lose a couple more road games but, with the continued improvement of Randle and Pruitt they be quite formidable come tournament time. Speaking of Randle, after Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager, he may very well be the Big Ten' most talented player, his combination of speed, length and jumping ability is amazing.

 

he's definitely one of the best defensive players in the country. however, he has no shot whatsoever, this limits his ability to get into the lane consistently. if he works on his outside jumper, he could be a POY candidate when he hits his senior year.

[rawaction]

I too was impressed with the play of Randle and Pruitt. Sure, they'll lose a couple more road games but, with the continued improvement of Randle and Pruitt they be quite formidable come tournament time. Speaking of Randle, after Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager, he may very well be the Big Ten' most talented player, his combination of speed, length and jumping ability is amazing.

 

Wait til AJ Ratliff for IU puts it all together. He's quick, 42" vertical, wingspan of a 7'er at only 6'2". Indiana Mr. Basketball, led IU in 3pt shooting last season. Just not fitting in this season.

[gflore34]

I too was impressed with the play of Randle and Pruitt. Sure, they'll lose a couple more road games but, with the continued improvement of Randle and Pruitt they be quite formidable come tournament time. Speaking of Randle, after Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager, he may very well be the Big Ten' most talented player, his combination of speed, length and jumping ability is amazing.

 

he's definitely one of the best defensive players in the country. however, he has no shot whatsoever, this limits his ability to get into the lane consistently. if he works on his outside jumper, he could be a POY candidate when he hits his senior year.

 

Good point, he does need a jumper by the way, has Marcus Arnold ever made a shot as an Illini? Thus far, all I've seen from him is shot that's either a little short or an air-ball.

[Andy]

On a different subject, I was at the DePaul-Marquette game last night at the Allstate. It was a fantastic display. If Marquette were not so young (and thus inconsistent, as evidenced by their near collapse in the second half), I would label them a dark horse to make the Final Four. Novack and James are sensational players.

 

DePaul, though they fought valiantly in the second half, did not impress me.

They impressed me when I went to go see them beat ND at the Allstate. That Wilson Chandler kid can play. That team has a bright future.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

On a different subject, I was at the DePaul-Marquette game last night at the Allstate. It was a fantastic display. If Marquette were not so young (and thus inconsistent, as evidenced by their near collapse in the second half), I would label them a dark horse to make the Final Four. Novack and James are sensational players.

 

DePaul, though they fought valiantly in the second half, did not impress me.

 

Steve Novak might be my favorite player to watch in the college game. He has made 6 three-pointers in a game six times and is at 46% for the season. A lot of guys who are great outside shooters can't make free throws. Novak is at 98% for the year.

 

I hope Marquette makes the tournament again. He was great supporting cast for Wade a couple years ago during their Final Four run.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The tents and sleeping bags are outside Pauley - it's rivalry week in LA and USC is coming to Westwood!

 

Freshman Alfred Aboya, who was injured in the loss to Washington on Saturday, has been cleared to play. Cedric Bozeman, who was earlier thought to be out for the year because of torn cartilage in his shoulder has actually started practicing again. :shock:

Edited January 19, 2006 by CaliforniaRaisin

[dalgreen]

I too was impressed with the play of Randle and Pruitt. Sure, they'll lose a couple more road games but, with the continued improvement of Randle and Pruitt they be quite formidable come tournament time. Speaking of Randle, after Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager, he may very well be the Big Ten' most talented player, his combination of speed, length and jumping ability is amazing.

 

he's definitely one of the best defensive players in the country. however, he has no shot whatsoever, this limits his ability to get into the lane consistently. if he works on his outside jumper, he could be a POY candidate when he hits his senior year.

 

Good point, he does need a jumper by the way, has Marcus Arnold ever made a shot as an Illini? Thus far, all I've seen from him is shot that's either a little short or an air-ball.

 

Brian Randle will be a beast next year after working on his jumper in the off-season. Remember, Luther Head couldn't hit air with his shots his freshman year. Brian Randle can still take the ball to the hole and get to the line. He probably can live without hitting a jumper this year, but he's got to be aggressive and active like he was last night.

 

As far as Marcus Arnold goes, I think his role is to take up minutes and hopefully use up fouls that normally Augustine would get. I'm still disappointed in Augustine's total play.

[dalgreen]

I don't understand the hate on U of I I've seen (not necessarily all here) They lost by 2 points on the road to the #11 team in the country in the Big 10 while their best player went 1-9. A win under those conditions would be quite incredible, yet I'm seeing them slammed in a lot of places. This is a top 10 team, and hopefully by the end of the year Warren Carter will be given the Nick Smith March '05 treatment and this will be a top 5 team.

 

You can't take it personal. Most people who criticize Illinois are just haters, anyway. I can't stand Seth Davis (CBS studio guy) and he predicted Illinois would lose to UW- Milwaukee, Arizona, and Louisville during the tourney...only to finally be right with his North Carolina pick. The problem is people think this team is supposed to be nearly as good as last year's team and we may never see a performance from an Illinois team, let alone any team like that ever. Anything more than two losses this year and some will look at it as a failure.....ridiculous. Looking at the schedule before the season, I had them 3-1 at this point, so their just a game off. I'm a lot more confident with them on the road based on last night's game. The only other real tough banger left this year is Terrance Dials (other than seeeing Killingsworth again) of OSU.

[dalgreen]

I don't understand the hate on U of I I've seen (not necessarily all here) They lost by 2 points on the road to the #11 team in the country in the Big 10 while their best player went 1-9. A win under those conditions would be quite incredible, yet I'm seeing them slammed in a lot of places. This is a top 10 team, and hopefully by the end of the year Warren Carter will be given the Nick Smith March '05 treatment and this will be a top 5 team.

 

By the way, Illini fans get on my nerves with the "Warr-en Car-ter" chant. Just like Cub fans grated my nerves with the "Au-gie, Au-gie" chant.

 

Also, be glad you're not inundated with Big XII basketball like I've endured over the past ten years living in St. Louis and now Kansas. Big XII basketball has no personality to it (as I await a rebuttal from the artist formerly known as CPATT 20 and why Mizzou should be a top 25 team) just like the Pac-10.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't understand the hate on U of I I've seen (not necessarily all here) They lost by 2 points on the road to the #11 team in the country in the Big 10 while their best player went 1-9. A win under those conditions would be quite incredible, yet I'm seeing them slammed in a lot of places. This is a top 10 team, and hopefully by the end of the year Warren Carter will be given the Nick Smith March '05 treatment and this will be a top 5 team.

 

By the way, Illini fans get on my nerves with the "Warr-en Car-ter" chant. Just like Cub fans grated my nerves with the "Au-gie, Au-gie" chant.

 

Also, be glad you're not inundated with Big XII basketball like I've endured over the past ten years living in St. Louis and now Kansas. Big XII basketball has no personality to it (as I await a rebuttal from the artist formerly known as CPATT 20 and why Mizzou should be a top 25 team) just like the Pac-10.

 

I love the B12 this year. Aside from Texas, there's no one that's really that great, and aside from Baylor, there's no one that's really that terrible. I can see why you'd think it's boring, but as someone with an interest in one of the teams the parity makes it pretty great.

 

Oh, and Mizzou is 6-1 since the Illinois game(the one loss coming on a buzzer beater), beat ranked OU on the road, and is in second place in the B12. And Thomas Gardner shoots 3's for a better percentage than JJ Redick. :D

[dalgreen]

I don't understand the hate on U of I I've seen (not necessarily all here) They lost by 2 points on the road to the #11 team in the country in the Big 10 while their best player went 1-9. A win under those conditions would be quite incredible, yet I'm seeing them slammed in a lot of places. This is a top 10 team, and hopefully by the end of the year Warren Carter will be given the Nick Smith March '05 treatment and this will be a top 5 team.

 

By the way, Illini fans get on my nerves with the "Warr-en Car-ter" chant. Just like Cub fans grated my nerves with the "Au-gie, Au-gie" chant.

 

Also, be glad you're not inundated with Big XII basketball like I've endured over the past ten years living in St. Louis and now Kansas. Big XII basketball has no personality to it (as I await a rebuttal from the artist formerly known as CPATT 20 and why Mizzou should be a top 25 team) just like the Pac-10.

 

I love the B12 this year. Aside from Texas, there's no one that's really that great, and aside from Baylor, there's no one that's really that terrible. I can see why you'd think it's boring, but as someone with an interest in one of the teams the parity makes it pretty great.

 

Oh, and Mizzou is 6-1 since the Illinois game(the one loss coming on a buzzer beater), beat ranked OU on the road, and is in second place in the B12. And Thomas Gardner shoots 3's for a better percentage than JJ Redick. :D

 

I didn't see the Mizzou/Kansas game but let me guess. Fans rushed the court, right? Yes, I know all about the rivalry, but neither team is ranked and both teams are average in a very average conference. What was the point in rushing the court if they did? Oh yeah, the tore down the goal posts after beating Nebraska, too. Glad to see expectations are high in Columbia. Just remember, I told you last summer I'd be razzing you a lot because of my hatred for Mizzou. I still predict they'll win their home games and lose a bunch on the road (I know about their OU win on the road, but losing at home against Colorado?).

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't understand the hate on U of I I've seen (not necessarily all here) They lost by 2 points on the road to the #11 team in the country in the Big 10 while their best player went 1-9. A win under those conditions would be quite incredible, yet I'm seeing them slammed in a lot of places. This is a top 10 team, and hopefully by the end of the year Warren Carter will be given the Nick Smith March '05 treatment and this will be a top 5 team.

 

By the way, Illini fans get on my nerves with the "Warr-en Car-ter" chant. Just like Cub fans grated my nerves with the "Au-gie, Au-gie" chant.

 

Also, be glad you're not inundated with Big XII basketball like I've endured over the past ten years living in St. Louis and now Kansas. Big XII basketball has no personality to it (as I await a rebuttal from the artist formerly known as CPATT 20 and why Mizzou should be a top 25 team) just like the Pac-10.

 

I love the B12 this year. Aside from Texas, there's no one that's really that great, and aside from Baylor, there's no one that's really that terrible. I can see why you'd think it's boring, but as someone with an interest in one of the teams the parity makes it pretty great.

 

Oh, and Mizzou is 6-1 since the Illinois game(the one loss coming on a buzzer beater), beat ranked OU on the road, and is in second place in the B12. And Thomas Gardner shoots 3's for a better percentage than JJ Redick. :D

 

I didn't see the Mizzou/Kansas game but let me guess. Fans rushed the court, right? Yes, I know all about the rivalry, but neither team is ranked and both teams are average in a very average conference. What was the point in rushing the court if they did? Oh yeah, the tore down the goal posts after beating Nebraska, too. Glad to see expectations are high in Columbia. Just remember, I told you last summer I'd be razzing you a lot because of my hatred for Mizzou. I still predict they'll win their home games and lose a bunch on the road (I know about their OU win on the road, but losing at home against Colorado?).

 

They rushed because it's our biggest rival(something like the 2nd oldest in college basketball) who we just beat in overtime after being down 7 with 30 secs left. The atmosphere lent itself to it, see my sig for more. Colorado was disappointing, but they're not a bad team, and they lost on a buzzer beater like I said.

[dalgreen]

I don't understand the hate on U of I I've seen (not necessarily all here) They lost by 2 points on the road to the #11 team in the country in the Big 10 while their best player went 1-9. A win under those conditions would be quite incredible, yet I'm seeing them slammed in a lot of places. This is a top 10 team, and hopefully by the end of the year Warren Carter will be given the Nick Smith March '05 treatment and this will be a top 5 team.

 

By the way, Illini fans get on my nerves with the "Warr-en Car-ter" chant. Just like Cub fans grated my nerves with the "Au-gie, Au-gie" chant.

 

Also, be glad you're not inundated with Big XII basketball like I've endured over the past ten years living in St. Louis and now Kansas. Big XII basketball has no personality to it (as I await a rebuttal from the artist formerly known as CPATT 20 and why Mizzou should be a top 25 team) just like the Pac-10.

 

I love the B12 this year. Aside from Texas, there's no one that's really that great, and aside from Baylor, there's no one that's really that terrible. I can see why you'd think it's boring, but as someone with an interest in one of the teams the parity makes it pretty great.

 

Oh, and Mizzou is 6-1 since the Illinois game(the one loss coming on a buzzer beater), beat ranked OU on the road, and is in second place in the B12. And Thomas Gardner shoots 3's for a better percentage than JJ Redick. :D

 

I didn't see the Mizzou/Kansas game but let me guess. Fans rushed the court, right? Yes, I know all about the rivalry, but neither team is ranked and both teams are average in a very average conference. What was the point in rushing the court if they did? Oh yeah, the tore down the goal posts after beating Nebraska, too. Glad to see expectations are high in Columbia. Just remember, I told you last summer I'd be razzing you a lot because of my hatred for Mizzou. I still predict they'll win their home games and lose a bunch on the road (I know about their OU win on the road, but losing at home against Colorado?).

 

They rushed because it's our biggest rival(something like the 2nd oldest in college basketball) who we just beat in overtime after being down 7 with 30 secs left. The atmosphere lent itself to it, see my sig for more. Colorado was disappointing, but they're not a bad team, and they lost on a buzzer beater like I said.

 

Just curious, has Quin realized that Jimmy McKinney isn't a point guard, or is he still running point? Let's keep it real, though. Mizzou lost a game on a buzzer beater, but KU lost that game more than Mizzou won it, and didn't Mizzou beat OSU on a buzzer beater? I guess I'm trying to figure out which is the real Mizzou team.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Just curious, has Quin realized that Jimmy McKinney isn't a point guard, or is he still running point? Let's keep it real, though. Mizzou lost a game on a buzzer beater, but KU lost that game more than Mizzou won it, and didn't Mizzou beat OSU on a buzzer beater? I guess I'm trying to figure out which is the real Mizzou team.

 

McKinney runs the offense to start the game, but the way it works doesn't lend itself to a dominant ballhandler. Horton gets a lot of minutes and runs things when he's on the court. You can say KU lost it, but you have to do something right to outscore a team 14-5 in under two minutes(especially the last two minutes of regulation). You're thinking of the OU game with the buzzer beater, Marshall Brown made free throws with 3.something seconds left to give them the win.

 

Ever since the U of I game they've been a different team. They're scoring more, for the most part they're defending better, Gardner has stepped it up to be the best scorer in the B12(Apparently Mike DeCourcy liked him for his midseason All-American team FWIW), and McKinney and Brown have taken turns stepping up to be the second scoring threat. Of course, it's not all great. Brown is an undersized power forward(which spells trouble against teams like Texas), if Gardner has to miss lengths of time with fouls we're in deep trouble, and the win streak has come against several cupcakes plus 3 of 4 B12 games at home. However, with the Big 12 being what it is this year, that may benefit in raising the confidence level of the team, and as of now they're in the driver's seat to finish very well in the Big 12 and possibly make the tournament. It'll just come down to how consistent they can be against a conference deep with teams of similar caliber.

[hawkeyecub]

You can make the argument for parity (which is true) but overall this is the weakest I've seen the Big 12 in a long time. The Big 12 and Pac-10 are just bad this year.

The Big East, Big Ten and ACC will probably gobble up 20, possibly 21 of the 34 at-large bids this year. I could definitely see the Big 12 and Pac-10 combining for only 6-7.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

You can make the argument for parity (which is true) but overall this is the weakest I've seen the Big 12 in a long time. The Big 12 and Pac-10 are just bad this year.

The Big East, Big Ten and ACC will probably gobble up 20, possibly 21 of the 34 at-large bids this year. I could definitely see the Big 12 and Pac-10 combining for only 6-7.

 

Oh absolutely. I'm not going to say that the B12 deserves a ton of bids right now, I just think it's great fun to follow because of the parity.

[dalgreen]

You can make the argument for parity (which is true) but overall this is the weakest I've seen the Big 12 in a long time. The Big 12 and Pac-10 are just bad this year.

The Big East, Big Ten and ACC will probably gobble up 20, possibly 21 of the 34 at-large bids this year. I could definitely see the Big 12 and Pac-10 combining for only 6-7.

 

Forgive the hyperbole, but with 40 teams in the Big East they should get a bunch of bids. I think a 16 team conference is ridiculous.

[dalgreen]

You can make the argument for parity (which is true) but overall this is the weakest I've seen the Big 12 in a long time. The Big 12 and Pac-10 are just bad this year.

The Big East, Big Ten and ACC will probably gobble up 20, possibly 21 of the 34 at-large bids this year. I could definitely see the Big 12 and Pac-10 combining for only 6-7.

 

Oh absolutely. I'm not going to say that the B12 deserves a ton of bids right now, I just think it's great fun to follow because of the parity.

 

I understand your point regarding parity. But shouldn't there be another word used instead of parity (and I don't know what that word would be)? Because to me, parity is when the bottom teams have gotten better to compete with the upper tier teams. In the Big XII the traditional haves have fallen down to the traditional have nots. That's when it's bad. I wonder what KU would be like if that idiot Giddens hadn't gotten himself kicked out of school?

[Andy]

You can make the argument for parity (which is true) but overall this is the weakest I've seen the Big 12 in a long time. The Big 12 and Pac-10 are just bad this year.

The Big East, Big Ten and ACC will probably gobble up 20, possibly 21 of the 34 at-large bids this year. I could definitely see the Big 12 and Pac-10 combining for only 6-7.

 

Forgive the hyperbole, but with 40 teams in the Big East they should get a bunch of bids. I think a 16 team conference is ridiculous.

It's not just that there are 16 teams. Teams like Louisville, Cincinnati and Marquette (any of whom would have a good shot at winning the Big 12) already have two conference losses. The Big East is loaded.

[SouthSideRyan]

None of Louisville, Marquette, or Cincy are even close to Texas's level.

 

I'm not even sure Cincy or Louisville (Dean or not, ST. JOHN'S??) are worhty of being tourney teams.

[da bears]

As the other Mizzou fan mentioned (I dont know the exact name, Im used to the other one, the students rushed the court only because of the dramatic way in which Mizzou came back and won. And, there is such a heated rivalry, that beating them like that just overwhelmed a lot of people. I dont think we would have had Mizzou just beaten kU in a non dramatic fashion.

[da bears]

By the way, I hate Lee Melchioni (sp) more than any other college basketball player.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

A little under 6 minutes left in the first half and UCLA leads USC 29-7. :shock:

 

EDIT: 39-19 at the half. Nick Young held to 3 points, Gabe Pruitt to 2.

Edited January 19, 2006 by CaliforniaRaisin