illiniguy

nope different Matt White

This is Thad Matta's world. The man gets whomever he wants. Stupid Ron Guenther.

Playing time in college > practice time in the NBA. It's not highly unlikely he won't get much time in the NBA. He's not a very good offensive player right now and he would benefit from playing another year in college. I don't think he will stay, but it would be better for him. Yes, something bad could happen to him, and people always throw this out there, but it's highly unlikely. This isn't football. You're really understating his ability on the offensive end. No, he's not Tim Duncan. But he's probably no worse than Samuel Dalembert, and he gets 30 minutes on a bad team. And bad things don't just happen to football players. (Donnie Boyce?) Besides, wasn't even talking on the court. It could be anything (a la Jay Williams.) Staying in college doesn't make much sense. I didn't know being compared to Samuel Dalembert was a good thing for a guy who is supposed to be the next great center in the league. yeah, because that's the point I was making. You're over here talking like Oden is a quadraplegic Greg Ostertag on offense, when the fact is, he's probably just as refined as half the pro centers out there. The difference is, he's 18, not 24. And he'll get better. And if he's smart, he'll do it playing against the best players in the world, not Northwestern's 6'7" center. If he doesn't dominate at the college level how is he going to at the pro level. I know he's 18 and I know he's going to get better - I'm not doubting that. Look at his three biggest games this year (since he didn't play against UNC): Florida: 7 points, 6 rebounds Wisconsin: 10 points, 7 rebounds and 11 points, 5 rebounds. Oh, and since you included it, in one of the games against Northwestern he finished with 5 points and 6 rebounds in 29 minutes (though the other game he got 17 and 17). Obviously we aren't going to convince each other of anything so let's just agree to disagree and be done with this debate. He never really gets the ball in the OSU run it up and chuck a three system. Plus he is a freshman. PLus those list are great. Why don't we do a four year guy first round list as well and see which guys who stayed in college all four years can compare with the guys who never went. You have Duncan, Josh Howard, Steve Nash, and a ton of guys who flopped.

Playing time in college > practice time in the NBA. It's not highly unlikely he won't get much time in the NBA. He's not a very good offensive player right now and he would benefit from playing another year in college. I don't think he will stay, but it would be better for him. Yes, something bad could happen to him, and people always throw this out there, but it's highly unlikely. This isn't football. Oh yeah Kobe and LeBron always go on and on about how they didn't develop at all once they got to the NBA. Well actually LeBron might be a bad example. Lol. You go to college to prepare to make money or get a nice job. He has the job, why should he stay.

He can play, but honestly, with the talent you guys have coming in seemingly every year I don't know if he ever will. I am not trying to slam the kid by any means. I haven't played against him like I have some of the other "names" down here, but I have watched him and he is a good player.

I am holding out hope that Gordon finds a way around the age rule.

Jay Bilas is a fool. He has FSU as getting in with a 6-9 conference record, yet leaves out Texas Tech. Hey Jay should every single ACC team get a bid? God I hate ESPN.

One round? :D

Poor Ryan Zimmerman.

That's pretty silly to say, though your definition of "that good" needsclarification. regardless... A. the Big XII is only ten years old. B. In that short time, it's posted 5 final four teams. (KU twice, OU, OK State, Texas) C. This year it has two legit FF contenders and one darkhorse. D. Texas and KU look to be consistent FF threats with aTm and KSU on the rise. OU and OSU are always threats to be good teams. That's true-I think the Big XII is at its best point that it has been in quite a while (thinking about the Big XII teams even before they joined the conference). Now, the number of titles that the Big XII teams have won in the last 50 years-that's an amazing statistic for a power conference. Does anybody know how many it is? 1? Yup-Kansas, 1988 (although I'm sure you knew that part at least :D) that statistic is still absoutely amazing to me even when I do realize that most of the schools in the Big XII have not been basketball powers for long. I'm sure that statistic will add at least 1 or 2 more in the next 10 years though. Or the same amount as UNLV. Really it should be less than UNLV, but money talks.

My pick for NLROY. Conan O'Brien you're pick for NL ROY? Man, you going out there on your predictions, Outshined. 8-) He could have been ours. 2003 in round 48. Oh well.

I saw it too. Do you think it is more amazing because no other conference team has been able to rise up and challenge them? I mean sure 1/2 is awesome, but how does not one school at lesat get in the neighborhood?

He's more likely to play at 3B right now, imo. No Orlando Cabrerra blocking him at SS. I agree, but shouldn't they lok at the possibility that the kid can field short at a decent level and could hit 40-50 homers there? You know like AROD vaule. That is still great at third, but not as much so as at short. Oh well, I just hope they let him play when he arrives. Oh and am very greatful we picked Ryan Harvey. Yeah, I agree with you - his bat would be more valuable at SS than 3B. But I think that if he's ready for the bigs, I'd do whatever it takes to get him up to Anaheim. And Wood was a late first rounder for a reason compared to Harvey. It's disappointing, but Wood wasn't on too many team's radars at 6 and Harvey was a potential #1 pick. I know, but I am sure Tampa Bay not picking the hometown kid should have told us a little something. Alhtough he was injured, but hey at lest we didn't end up with Sleeth or Stauffer.

He's more likely to play at 3B right now, imo. No Orlando Cabrerra blocking him at SS. I agree, but shouldn't they lok at the possibility that the kid can field short at a decent level and could hit 40-50 homers there? You know like AROD vaule. That is still great at third, but not as much so as at short. Oh well, I just hope they let him play when he arrives. Oh and am very greatful we picked Ryan Harvey.

I don't get this at all. He can handle short from the times I have seen him play. Now he will go to third where his bat doesn't stand out as much and he will get the treatment from Mike Scosioa(sp). Just like Dallas McPherson, Casey Kotchman, Kendry Morales, and Kendrick did. Anaheim finally wised up and got rid of Kennedy to prevent Kendrick from wating away. It seems they will give pitchers a chance, but love their Darrin Erstads and Rob Quinlans too much.

Who are your ones then? Please say Kansas. well, KU has a better resume than OSU. But I'd go Fla, UCLA, UNC, Wiscy. aTm or KU have a chance if they win out and one of those teams really stumbles. I think the two upsets the past two years will play a factor in KU's seeding. It shouldn't but I bet it does. I go OSU(Lost to four of the best teams in America on there floors and half without Oden), Florida, UCLA, and UNC losing to good teams shouldn't hurt you too much, but it certainly shouldn't ADD to your resume, either. They've beaten no one of real consequence, aside from a good but not great tennessee team. And they got destroyed by FLA. I might feel differently if that game had been even close. Yeah but they might have two more cracks at Wisky. I think they beat them this weekend at home. Then probably again in the BTT.

Who are your ones then? Please say Kansas. well, KU has a better resume than OSU. But I'd go Fla, UCLA, UNC, Wiscy. aTm or KU have a chance if they win out and one of those teams really stumbles. I think the two upsets the past two years will play a factor in KU's seeding. It shouldn't but I bet it does. I go OSU(Lost to four of the best teams in America on there floors and half without Oden), Florida, UCLA, and UNC

We still have to take care of buisness first anyways. That Penn State game is a match up nightmare for us. Then we have to play Iowa there for their senior night. We do have a week to prep for it though, and we have won 2 of 3 from them there. That said I want to win at PSU just in case. Then we need to win a game at least in the BTT to eliminate ourselves from the bubble. We need 2 of 3.

Winthrop has only lost to UNC (by 7), Wisconsin (in overtime), aTm and Maryland. They're better than Illinois. BYU is 5-3 against top 50 RPI teams, and BYU is 3-3, whereas Illinois is 3-8. Just because these schools don't play in the Big Six conferences doesn't mean they're worse than Illinois. I think OSU, Wisconsin, Indiana and Moo all have better resumes than Illinois. I do think Illinois should get in, but they'll have to be nervous about the fates of some teams like Nevada, Winthrop, Butler and Memphis that are probably in even if they lose in their conference tourneys. I agree I said that I borrowed that, I don't think we are better than Winthrop. I also don't think Duke is better than Winthrop.

Who are your ones then? Please say Kansas.

I agree but look at this, I stole it from one of the illiniboards. Look at our 9 losses. At Xavier(They are 16-1 at home). At home to Maryland(They are 1 of only 3 ACC teams with a winning road record). At home to Ohio St. & Wisky(Aren't they #1 & #2 in the country?) At Indiana(Hoosiers are undefeated at home). At Mich. St.(They are 18-1 at home). At Purdue(They are 16-1 at home). At Mich.(They are 16-2 at home). At Arizona. If there is such a thing as quality losses, this is it. We are like fiftieth in the polls, that's ridiculous! Winthrop, Drexel, Akron, BYU, Creighton, Appalachian St, are you kidding me? They are all ranked ahead of us, way ahead. We should be in. Thanks UIloyalfan

The Big Ten will get 5. MSU has a worse resume than Illinois. They just have a Wiscky win. They could lose out, they won't most likely, but could. I don't think Iowa gets in. If they would have played in the preseason like they did the big ten they would have though.

We have it in the dorms over here. Good W for the Illini tonight. We have it in Kansas City with one of the cable providers.

Hell Weber didn't hardly play Carlwell and Smith was terrible. We have 20 wins a good RPI, 37th I believe and a top 30 SOS. We should be in, but who knows we still need to finish strong.

Looks like Bradley is about to get a good player. If you're referring to Smith, I think there's a better chance that the Illinois Department of Corrections might have gotten a good player, not Bradley. They are both probational offenses.I would not be so sure of that. From ESPN: Someone convicted of either might get probation. He's being charged with both. He still might get probation, but I would not be completely shocked to see him go to jail for at least a little while. He has never been in any kind of trouble before. He will more than like get maybe a small(30-90 days) jail sentence and then probably 4 years of probation. I would be absolutly shocked if he was sentenced to prison. He is one lucky SOB that Carlwell is alright. Granted Carlwell was stupid too. College athletics are a joke sometimes. We still don't know if Carlwell is ok. He isn't dead, but I believe the jusry is still out out on the lasting effects this could have on both he and his motor skills.