badgercub

my point is that randle matches up very well with him. I don't know much about Randall, I was just kinda giving my souting report on Tucker.lol But with Tucker's free throw shooting vastly improved the last few games since the mask came off, if he can get to the line you might see him score some points. All speculation and we'll find out tonight. I'll be sitting right behind Musburger and Lavin third row. I hope that Erin Andrews will be around!!!

it's a pet peeve of mine, that's all. i'm no definitive expert on college basketball, but i know enough about the BT, and wisco (being a current resident and all) to be offended when someone asks me that question. tucker's just not a back-to-the-basket player. he's an inside-out guy, similar to roger powell, but with more skill and less power. he gets his points driving into the lane, shotting from mid-range, and exploiting mismatches down on the blocks. randle is not a mismatch. i'm predicting 10 points from tucker tonight. if i'm wrong, i'll face up. Sorry, if I came across snippy there. Wasn't my intent. I was just pumped about the game and wanted to talk some basketball. I agree that he doesn't play excusively with his back to the basket but he does post up about as much as anyone else on the team. Then again, basketball isn't really my strong suit when it comes to sports. So I could be wrong. 10 points it is! If he scores under 20 then I'll come back and eat my crow as well. God, I hope it's not 10 points. That would be really really bad for Wisconsin's chances of winning. no problem, i understand why you asked it. gentleman's wagers make everything more fun. Just to add my analysis, Tucker is a "post player" who can also slash and step outside. His greatest asset down low is his incredible strength for someone his size, his body control, and his jumping ability. These three things make it possible for him to score against bigger defenders and to draw a lot of fouls. If Randall does not allow an entry pass to Tucker down low, that is when he will step out and try to drive to the basket, or he is able to shoot the 3 (no matter how ugly it looks). Tucker really has no midrange game at all. It's either from 6 feet and in, or behind the 3 point line.

Losing in Ann Arbor won't be as painful since they don't have to go to Champaign nor Bloomington. Depending on what Wisconsin does, losing four Big Ten games may win the confence. I just think it is going to be tough for Wisconsin the rest of the way and I don't think I would consider them the frontrunners, even with the schedule. When you go from a 10 man rotation down to a 7 man rotation I just think it is going to hurt them against Iowa, Mich St., Indiana, Ohio St, and Michigan. I think there home court advantage disappears somewhat due to the lack of depth too, and they have some tough home games against 4 of those teams.

I think Wisconsin at Michigan is going to be a big game on Sat. With the Badgers thinned out roster and how hard it is to win on the road in the Big Ten, if they could somehow squeak out a win at Crisler could go a long way in determining if they stay in the race for the Big 10 Title.

On one hand, I feel for him but on the other hand, he only needed to maintain a 1.85. Yikes, he must've been really down. Stiemsa addressed the media yesterday before the game saying that he has been battling depression for sometime and it has affected his schoolwork all semester. Landry is a whole different story, he apparently has some sort of learning disability and it sounds like he probably has problems taking tests (whether he needs more time, or does better on verbal exams I am not sure). He seems to be very intelligent and well spoken when I have seen him interviewed, I also saw a bio on him where he can play five different instruments not that that makes him smart but I don't necessarilly think he is dumb either. He also went to a school in Milwaukee that is not known so much for it's academics.

Since I don't think you are a bigot, it should be Jaime Navarro Fixed. And thank you for the heads up. Had no idea there was any kind of slur behind that reference, sorry if anyone was unintentionally offended. I didn't think it was intentional

Since I don't think you are a bigot, it should be Jaime Navarro

I remember that. I think the pitchers should worry about their own jobs and cover first on a groundball hit on the right side. Hey Cuse, did you grow up in Syracuse? if so what high school did you go to and when did you graduate? A couple of friends of mine went to Jamesville Dewitt (I think that is the name)

For one, Todd Walker will not be a Cub come opening day. Secondly, isn't the pitching staff the one leading the charge saying they don't want him out there? Can't remember where I hear that, but they were not pleased with his defense up the middle and felt that his lack of ability in turning the double play hurt the Cubs last year. (No links, just remember seeing that somewhere)

Did he redshirt? His HS was in my hs's conference, and he graduated the same year I did I thought ('04). Yes he redshirted last year. Getting on the court this year, he can jump out of the gym, just needs to get his confidence built up. Do you know why Dearon dropped out. Apparently he's transferring to Bradley in Peoria. That's be a pretty big get for BU. He was going to be academically ineligible, he was having problems with keeping up with his classes. Another blow to Wisconisin is now Greg Stiemsa has taken a temporary leave from the team for medical reasons, and Marcus Landry was ruled ineligible for last nights game. This is a crushing blow to the teams depth and if they lose both of these guys for any length of time the Badgers could have a tough time making the tournament. I would say their chances of winning the Big 10 just went out the door.

I second that, due to an extremely favorable schedule they'll probably win the Big Ten. And as a result, get seeded, as the Big Ten's best team, fairly high in the Tournament. However, I don't believe they'll make it to the second weekend. Why do you think that? They made it to the Sweet 16 last year, and although they lost a lot from last years team, they are much deeper this year which I think will help them come tournament time. They're deeper no doubt but, beyond Arlando Tucker there's no inside game. Come Tournament time Brain Butch hanging out around the perimeter shooting 3's is not where he'll be most effective. What happens, and you know it well because, things like this always happen in the Tournament, if Tucker gets in foul trouble? I think guys like Landry and Chappel could get the job done inside and if you go with a bigger lineup that creates match up problems even Butch can score inside if he is matched up with someone smaller, or with his outside shot he can draw the bigger defenders out on the perimeter and with the swing offense, the Badgers post their guards as much as their bigs.

I second that, due to an extremely favorable schedule they'll probably win the Big Ten. And as a result, get seeded, as the Big Ten's best team, fairly high in the Tournament. However, I don't believe they'll make it to the second weekend. Why do you think that? They made it to the Sweet 16 last year, and although they lost a lot from last years team, they are much deeper this year which I think will help them come tournament time.

I'm asking for a world series championship. AMEN!!! If you have a budget of 100 million +, your goal should be a World Series Championship every year.

If that's going on, they had better be some lower-level prospects. I think Williams's value is much higher than a lot of people (especially Murph) think. Having Williams in the deal was just my own thinking. Murph or Stone did not mention any names.

What specifically did Stone say about Zito that makes him so convinced that a trade (with the Cubs and Oakland) might be in the futrue? There were not really any specifics. He mentioned that there was a three team deal on the table in which the Cubs sent youngsters to Oakland, Zito to Baltimore, and Tejada to the Cubs. Using this logic, and it is only speculation, he believed Hendry could still possibly make a deal for Zito.

Not to beat a dead horse and bring this up again but..... Just heard Stone and Murph on the Score talking about a possible deal for Zito still being bandied about. I would assume that deal would include Williams going to Oakland with a few other youngsters.

Wisconsin, surprisingly leading the conference at 3-0 looks to extend their unbeaten streak to 4 in the conference for the first time since the 1960's I believe. With how the schedule sets up, and Bo Ryan's record of 33-1 in Big Ten Games at home, does anyone see the Badgers as a real threat to win the conference? If they can take care of Illinois and Ohio St. at home, they just might be able to pull it off.

I would hope Tampa would do that. But why in the world would the cubs? I wouldn't trade Prior alone for those three. Much less Prior and Williams. I gotta agree with you on that one. I wouldn't trade Prior for anything less than a huge impact for many years to come. I'm not sure why his name has ever even been discussed in any deals this offseason. Unless there is something that we aren't aware of, like his arm is currently stapled on with a Swingline. I kind of doubt that. I haven't heard a whole lot of teams showing interest in Huff. Seems to me like it's Tampa that is set on moving him. Lugo seems to be the guy everyone is after. From what I understand, the Cubs never mentioned Prior's name in trade talks. It was either Philly, or Baltimore or whoever that brought up Prior and Z. Hendry didn't immediately squelch rumors about Prior in a deal for Tejada, but he wasnt' actively looking to deal him either.

I went a couple of years ago, and I got most autographs after all the sessions were over and I was hanging out in the lobby/bar/restaurant at the Hilton. A lot of the older players sign as they are coming and going. Randy "Rebel" Hundley got good and liquored up and entertained the crowd for quite some time.

Do you think this is a better move than non-tendering him? Trading him is indeed a better move than non-tendering but he would have been good as a backup OFer especially now that we all know Grissom will be our guy. Oh I agree with that. I think he would have been a good speed option off the bench as well, a la the Red Sox use of Roberts. Don't you normally want guys who can make a little contact coming off of the bench? Someone who strikes out as much as Corey I think would be useless off the bench. Not ripping on Patterson, just the type of player he is, too bad to see him fail so miserably the last few years. His demeanor gives you the feeling that he just doesn't have the desire anymore (at least not in Chicago)

I usually pay no attention to college hoops until about the middle of February, but I took a glance this weekend. I will not take a stand and say they will win the conference, but I think Wisconsin stands more of a chance than everyone predicted. they only play Illinois and Indiana once, both at home. that alone should save them a couple of conference losses. They are young, but don't underestimate Bo. really amazing what he has done considering he gets no out of state talent to come to UW. They also have an easier conference schedule relative to other contenders. They don't have to go to either Assembly Hall, and their trips to MSU and Iowa aren't until the very end of the conference schedule. Big Ten Wonk brought it up today as well. With only UW and IU of the contenders not having a loss, Wisconsin has a nice upper hand to win the conference title. EDIT: This wasn't meant to demean Wisconsin in any way, they're a very good club. You didn't come off as demeaning at all. Realistically the Badgers were picked to finish in the second tier of the Big Ten this year. They have 11 freshman and sophmores on the team, nobody expected them to start the way they have.

Their two best players, Alando Tucker and Kammron Taylor, are from out of state. Taylor is from Minneapolis, MN and Alando Tucker is from Lockport, IL (Far SW Burb of Chicago). Also, look at their recruting class: Mickey Perry and DeAaron Williams both from Illinois. Its nice that Bo is picking up the pieces in Illinois. Perry is a great athlete and a fine shooter. Solid college (not pro caliber) player. Admittedly I don't know much about Williams. Williams just recently left the team, which is too bad. Rumor has it he was going to become academically ineligible and he was not happy with the amount of playing time he was getting. I hear he is transferring to Central Illinois and will possibly end up at Bradley. Next years class includes a kid from NYC by way of Delavan, WI, a kid from Iowa and another 6'10" kid from the Wisconsin Dells area. Also this years recruiting class has highly touted Joe Krabbenhoft from North Dakota, and Marcus Landry from Milwaukee.

Tucker's a worthy choice no doubt. Despite my dunktastic sig, as of the moment I'd waver a bit on putting Ager in there. He's just flat out disappeared in two consecutive games. Brown has been the more consistent player, and while Ager was lighting it up earlier in the season, Brown was still getting his points, is a bit better defensively, and now has better shooting percentages across the board. Davis really hasn't impressed either, especially after his 2 point performance on Sun. (although he did have 9 rebounds I think.) but Shannon Brown was unstoppable.

Wow, I knew we had been tough on MiSt, but I didn't realize it was that bad. I was suprised it turned out the way it did. I think we have found out that it's going to be tough to win on the road in the Big Ten this year. Bo Ryan has got Izzo's number. Ryan is 7-1 against Izzo and there is no love lost between the two, dating back three years ago when a couple of freshman for the the Badgers (Tucker and Devin Harris) threw down an alley oop pass and dunk at the end of a game in which Wisconsin was winning handily. Izzo took exception with it and made some comments, but has never been able to do anything about it. I was at the game and MSU looks horrible, other than Brown they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn and halfway through the second half when they got down by 19 it looked like they just dropped their heads and quit.

Anyone have any extra passes they would be willing to sell? I actually can only go Friday afternoon/evening so I would only need it for one night. My family runs a charitable foundation, and I am going to be coming down to try and get some autographed baseballs to be used for a silent auction this summer and an annual golf outing. Also does anyone know what players are scheduled to be there on Friday night and whether they will be signing autographs? I know Ferguson Jenkins has a boothe where he charges $5 or so for his autograph (all proceeds go to his foundation) Just wondering if it will be possible to get some good autographs (really looking for like Banks, Sandberg, Fergie, Williams, etc...) Hall of Famers that people other than just us Cub fans would be willing to bid on at silent auction.