gflore34

Watch Baker trot Zambrano out there to start the 6th...

Why does this absolute joke of a hitter (Womack) continue to have soo much success vs. the Cubs!!!!

Jensen basically getting away with a mugging of Augustine may have also played a role in being unable to get him the ball thereby, taking them out of their offense. Nevertheless, I didn't believe they were going to beat UConn but, it would have nice to see them have a shot at it. I'm thinking UConn, after surving a couple of close calls, is going to come into DC focused. To have a chance UW is going to need a 78-11 FT disparity (the same would have held true for the Illini).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/RonMcDon/2002874837.jpg Care to venture a guess as to which player got called for a foul on this play? Then there's this little snippet from UW Center Mike Jensen: "I put my whole body in front of him," Jensen said. "I elbowed him. I butt-fronted him. I shoved him. Whatever it took. A couple times he got frustrated -- he'd push me or shove me -- but I just pushed him right back." Yet, he managed to play 30 minutes with only 1 foul while Augustine was whistled for 4 fouls. Of course, I'm still bitter, I don't deny the Illini committed a lot of fouls, but, its amazing the Officiating only managed to see these fouls while, UW was just as agressive. Jones getting away hand and hip checking Brown at mid court was pathetic.

Apparently if you're wearing Purple hand-checking is allowed not so if you're wearing Orange. McBride gets called for a hand-check and rightly so but, Jones in guarding Brown never hand-checked once?

I'm worried as well but, I'm encouraged by the fact that defense is somewhat of an after thought for the Huskies whereas, it's the Illini' main focus. Illini FG % defense - .403 Huskies - .433 Illini OPP PPG - 58.1 Huskies - 69.4 Illini RPG - 36.0 Huskies - 37.9 I believe the Illini will play solid defense, if they control the boards, I like their chances by the way, Utah State killed the Huskies on the boards the other night something like a +18 rebound margin.

Caught Dr. Mike Marshall on the Score this morning, apparently Prior's mechanics are extremely flawed. In Dr. Marshall words "...he's (Prior) pitching himself into oblivion...” The Dr. guarantees that Prior, after undergoing his program for a couple of off seasons, will emerge (pitching related) injury-free for the remainder of his career with the same release velocity. Does the Dr. know what he's talking about or is he just trying to pitch his product?

MSU better win today. Illinois didn't look that good, nor did Indiana or OSU, and Iowa and Wisconsin have lost. I hate the Hawks with a rabid passion, but I really wanted to see the B10 represented well. I believe the Spartans will win quite handily tonight, the Illini have a chance to win big tomorrow, UW doesn't play much defense and they're not as strong on the boards as the Illini. I really like the Hoosiers chances vs. tournament darling Gonzaga, Killingsworth' going destroy whatever the Zags throw at him down low.

As first and foremost an Illini fan, Big Ten second, I'm disappointed with Iowa' loss today. They were up by 17 with 8+ minutes left! I also didn't think OSU would struggle as much as they did today but, at least they won. The Wisconsin loss was not that shocking, I picked them but, the wise choice was probably Arizona. Bloody Iowa, way to represent the Big Ten, good job.

Bingo!! It was just a matter of time before whatever was ailing Prior was revealed. Did Cubs management really think they fooling anyone with their constant stream of "he's (Prior) healthy we're just taking it slowly" rhetoric? If I'm Jim Hendry I'd go into next offseason with the premise that Prior, because of injury history, is a non-factor. I'd build a rotation without him or Wood for that matter. In fact, after this season I believe Wood is done as Cub, unless he's willing to take a tremendous paycut with an incentive laden contract.

Have the Cubs won the simulated WS yet? Over the last two seasons with Wood and Prior going every game they've probably had a good chance to do so. The Cubs are 35-11 in simulated games over the last two years. JoBo and Rusch haven't held up their end of the rotation. Still 24 games over 500 is pretty nice. 35-11 is real nice, quite probably leading the NL Central, may in fact, be the NL's best record. only record...best record. same difference i guess You're correct about that...

Have the Cubs won the simulated WS yet? Over the last two seasons with Wood and Prior going every game they've probably had a good chance to do so. The Cubs are 35-11 in simulated games over the last two years. JoBo and Rusch haven't held up their end of the rotation. Still 24 games over 500 is pretty nice. 35-11 is real nice, quite probably leading the NL Central, may in fact, be the NL's best record.

Have the Cubs won the simulated WS yet? Over the last two seasons with Wood and Prior going every game they've probably had a good chance to do so.

At some point Reddick going to run out of gas, he's working on fumes as it is, IMO Duke' the first 1 seed to bite the dust.

If my KU vs Syracuse or Cubs '03 experience is a an accurate barometer, never. Yeah the Cubs one I have pretty muched blocked out. But, then every year since then someone has had to end their drought making me think it was our turn and we just pissed it away because we had to pitch to Mike Lowell becuase we didn't want Lenny Harris to beat us in game one. Thank you Dusty. The KU one, sheesh you have already won once in your lifetime and are very good every year. Some of us have to seize the day more than others. Hell, I still haven't gotten over '84 and '89, I firmly believe the NL's best team was not represented in the '84 and '89 WS. The Cubs were so close in '03, however, at least, the NL's best team was represented in that WS (even though it pains me to write it).

Tired of the soap opera? Yes. Willing to watch Wood walk after the season? Yes, unless this season is dominating. Willing to even let Prior think about walking? No, and it's pointless to even bring that up. He's not a free agent, he's under Cubs control and still a valuable commodity. Rusch isn't anything to write home about and he doesn't take the ball every fifth day, luckily for us, because he sucks so bad. Let's not pretend we'd be happier with 200 innings of garbage than 150 innings of even Prior's B game. At this point I wish the Cubs would stop focusing, or pretending to focus, on having Prior ready for the 2nd game of the year. Just focus on having him ready. It's obvious all is not right. You don't get to mid-March without knowing when a guy will make his first spring training start without there being a problem. If they feel he needs more simulated games, just do the simulated games. Quit BSing us with make believe timetables that you don't even believe in. More frustration on my part in suggesting that Prior should be allowed to walk after this season - I was mistaken on the details of Prior' contract status for next season. Like you, I'm tried of the Cubs BS, I'm also very tried of what appears to be a constantly injuried Prior. If it isn't one thing, its another but, something is always wrong Prior.

Anyone else growing tried of the annual Prior/Wood injury soap operas? I'm to the point where I wouldn't mind seeing both of them walk after this season. Granted, Maddux, Williams and Rusch aren't much to write home about but, at least they take the ball every fifth day.

My thoughts as well, as a Illini fan I say f*** 'em, bring them all on... Oh well we get the best team early, if we could get past them I would love our chances to win the whole shebang. Sadly I am having nightmares about McBride trying to create shots against Rudy Gay. After beating UConn the remainder of the Tournament would seem anti-climatic.

My thoughts as well, as a Illini fan I say f*** 'em, bring them all on...

I thought that Illinois should have got a 3 at the worst. yep, we got the ol' joan collins special, like Big Ten teams always do. But they're Duke... Nothing new, typical treatment by Commitee as far the Illini are concerned. With a few exceptions ('89, '01 and '05) they managed to seed the Illini the furtherest form home and in a loaded region. I understand the seeding but, San Diego? The Duke announcers on ESPN seemed to be impressed with BC so they should be ahead of your Illini too. Of course, for that matter, so too Kansas and LSU. Heck, it'll be a minor miracle if they manage to beat the fearsome, near impregnable two some of Air Force and UW.

I thought that Illinois should have got a 3 at the worst. yep, we got the ol' joan collins special, like Big Ten teams always do. But they're Duke... Nothing new, typical treatment by Commitee as far the Illini are concerned. With a few exceptions ('89, '01 and '05) they managed to seed the Illini the furtherest form home and in a loaded region. I understand the seeding but, San Diego?

I think Iowa has real good chance to win today, let's see if Brunner and/or Hansen can get Dials in early foul trouble. I really don't like the way OSU plays perhaps, it was fatigue but, yesterday I saw Dials in the paint and four other players standing around the perimeter. No movement, they were just waiting to take another 3. This is not Big Ten's best team, if they do get a #1, it'll be weakest of the #1's and real good candidate to be the first #1 to go down.

Sometimes I get the impression the Officials think the crowds come to watch them...

\ I believe this hinges on their perimeter game, beyond Dials they haven't much, if anything inside, if they continue to shoot the 3 as they have lately they'll go down in the 2nd Round. On the other hand, if they have another stretch as they did against UM, MSU and Illinois, they'll make the FF.

BTT, thus far, OSU is having a tough time with PSU, down by 5 with 7:56 left in the 2nd Half. They're 6-24 from 3 land, this team (OSU) is going to go down early in the NCAA, if they don't pick up their shooting. Second round upset waiting to happen...