CubbieBum

The worst half they have played since early last season without a doubt. Didn't score until 4 minutes in and just played sloppy offense all half. The defense wasn't great but turned on at the end when Duke started to pull away. Both Moore and Hummel blew chunks and Purdue is down just 8 so if either one gets going in second half Purdue can be right back in it.

I also find it odd that an IU team that will win single-digit games has to play on the road against a top-25 team. But that's just me. It's good for the Big Ten, you figure IU was losing their matchup no matter who they played. I guess matching them up with UNC would have been going too far. Ha ha, I suppose that is true. I'd still have preferred IU play the sacrificial lamb against, say, Virginia (who IU could possibly beat at Assembly Hall). Playing UNC would've been payback for the Heels, I suppose. The best IU team in the Challenge era, 2001-02 national runners-up, played the worst UNC team during the stretch, the 8-20 squad. That's pretty much been IU's luck in the Challenge. Their best team two teams have played poor teams, while their worst two teams have played good teams (remember 2003-04 IU which finished 14-15 having to play at Chris Paul's Wake Forest team -- a 100-67 loss). Nevermind IU -- which hasn't been anywhere near the best Big Ten team over the Challenge era -- also getting saddled with a defending national champion, a national champion-to-be and a #1 ranked team. If your going to have a sacrificial lamb (which is what IU is in this Challenge) you don't use one of your home games. IU was going to lose in this Challenge pretty much no matter what so you mine-as-well have them play on the road and give a team that has a real shot the home game.

All time leader in runs, all time leader in steals (no one will ever come close to this one), a 10 time all-star, a gold glove winner, a silver slugger winner, a career OBP of over .400 and a lot of other things that's just what i remember off the top of my head. He is a runaway as the best leadoff hitter in league history followed closely by Soriano.

Well Oklahoma looked pretty good and we lost to them in OT. Will see what happens this week against Duke and what happens with Oklahoma and if they're for real. Yeah, hopefully they learn from that game. There were a couple of critical offensive breakdowns late, that cost them the win. yea we definitely played some of the worst offense I've seen in the last minute and a half or so. I think they got frustrated by the calls and got scared to run the offense. To be honest while I was glad he did it I think Painter's non-stop yelling at the refs didn't help get the team focused. At the end of OT I was actually hoping Painter would just blow and go all Gene Keady on the refs asses (after the called foul oh wait no its an inadvertent whistle).

And Marquette lost to Dayton last night. Not a great weekend for the Big East. Aww shucks I feel bad about that.

That's the bowl most likely to have the BSU v. BSU game. Rick Chryst the MAC Commish said he is talking to WAC commish and Motor City Bowl guys to get it done but Boise is resisting because they want it to played at their home field (sound scared to me). Both schools are in talks right now and Ball State has already said no to playing it in Boise. It's still unlikely but its really up to a bowl to step up and ignore tie-ins or Boise to quit demanding it be played in Boise. The Independence Bowl that Andy mentioned previously would be a good fit because both conference tie-ins fell short of having enough teams qualify to fill all of their slots. The game is supposed to be Big 12 vs. SEC, but Colorado (after losing to Nebraska) and Auburn (after losing to Alabama) are both ineligible, leaving both conferences short. From what I've read Ball State is willing to play in a bowl at a neutral site but it's Boise State that's balking (unless it were to play TCU).Louisiana Tech is most likely going to the Indy Bowl. They're not gonna trade it to travel some place half across the country when they can play 70 miles from home. The bowl can invite who ever they want. Its not Louisiana Tech's to trade.

That's the bowl most likely to have the BSU v. BSU game. Rick Chryst the MAC Commish said he is talking to WAC commish and Motor City Bowl guys to get it done but Boise is resisting because they want it to played at their home field (sound scared to me). Both schools are in talks right now and Ball State has already said no to playing it in Boise. It's still unlikely but its really up to a bowl to step up and ignore tie-ins or Boise to quit demanding it be played in Boise.

Don't think it will kill them. They can win most of their games for the next month and I would think he will be back in a month or so. Hawaii isn't paradise after all.

I believe one of the Bookout teams started in the top-10 but promptly dropped out. ahh, that's right. bookout-gray started in the top 10 and then failed miserably the rest of the year OU definitely got the benefit of the doubt with the FTs, but they also live to pound the ball inside, while purdue just shoots and shoots and shoots. when 80 percent of your points are from outside the paint, you aren't going to shoot many FTs. When 80 percent of your points are inside the paint, you're going to shoot a lot of free throws. Oh I agree with you there. As I agreed with Andy when he texted me it was called pretty fairly first half when it 19-2 but late in the game Purdue drove more and wasn't getting any calls. The one that stuck out was when Purdue was up 1 with about a minute to go and Kramer drove into the lane. He likes to do the running one handed shot from the free throw line just like E-Twaun. He got hit on the arm and the ball fell about a foot short of the rim. When someone misses the rim by a foot shooting one of his shots he got fouled somewhere. That was one of the first instances where the announcers started mentioning bad calls. Oh an if any still doubts Lavin is not a Purdue homer then watch the game and see how he not once goes off on bad calls against Purdue.

"Okla: 46 FT's Purdue 5 FT's, fouls in called from final 10 on Purdue:11 Okla: 4, FT's in final 10 Purdue: 3 Okla: 24 ... So who won this game OK or refs?" That's my facebook status right now. The one call when two players are shoulder to shoulder with ball next to the sideline and the ref calls a foul from the far side really raises a question for me. He couldn't see the ball through players. They eventually ruled it a inadvertent whistle but if that was so then why did he point at a purdue player and single it was a foul against him and why did the refs have to argue for 2 minutes. If it was inadvertent the ref would have just said so right away. Overall I thought the game was a great one and Oklahoma is definently better than I thought they would be. Purdue too six straight threes in the second half and hit five of them at one point. That's how they got up by 9 but thats also when the calls really started to get questionable. I feel screwed out of a win and know it will hurt because the selection committee won't remember all the calls in March just who won but it was a great game. Hummel being in foul trouble killed Purdue.

I don't think Harangody being sick hurt too much. If he was healthy McAlarney wouldn't have had a chance to do what he did. UNC is just too good right now and already seemed pretty gelled despite Hansborough being out. They will have to be hurt for someone to beat them.

I think I've seen him once in college after watching him for four years in High School. Is he athletic enough to possibly catch on with a team in the pros or the D League? He was a freak in high school and could fill it up like nobody's business. He's fun to watch, but I'm not sure he's got what it takes to get to the next level. One thing he's got against him is that he's just not a very good shooter. The guy has great instincts when it comes to rebounding though. He might make it overseas somewhere. You don't get highly athletic 6'4" guys who can rebound overseas too often. Skip Mills who played at Ball State plays down in South America and the same team offered Peyton Stovall a contract. I'm sure Green is as good of a talent as those guys and with the exposure of being on a top team he will get an offer he just might not accept like Stovall didn't.

Calasan is 6'9, 250. Johnson is 6'10, 215. Calasan is a much more physical player. While neither is a great matchup for Griffin, Calasan's a better rebounder than Johnson. While I'll agree that Johnson is a better defensive player, his approach to shot blocking will just get him in foul trouble against a much stronger player like Griffin. It doesn't really matter anyway. They're both going to get a lot of minutes, unless one of them gets in foul trouble early. Their heights are misleading. You should really look at wingspan. Johnson has the arm length of a 7-footer while Calasan has the arm length of a 6'8" guy. Add in Calasan is glued to the floor and Johnson supposedly has a vertical of 30 inches or more and Johnson becomes more like a 7'-7'1" guy and Calasan a 6'8" guy. Like I said neither can stop Griffin but Johnson is averaging 1.8 blocks a game in 20 minutes so he can at least affect Griffins shots. The only thing I can think of that might make Calasan a better option is offensively. Calasan can shoot the three and thus draw Griffin out of the paint. That might actually be what Purdue does. Play Calasan and have him be on the perimeter more often so they can get o-rebounds and drive inside.

Oklahoma vs. Arizona....err, UAB. OU-UAB. Ha oh I fogot about that. Think we should have no problem with BC, but Blake Griffin is disgusting. I think we'll struggle to guard him. Who'll guard him? Just pray that he gets in foul trouble early. Calasan is physically stronger than Johnson, so Calasan would probably be the best option to put on him. That's what I'm thinking, but Calasan is a hacker, I don't have a good feeling about him stopping him. Will see though I'm not sure Purdue will stop Griffin at all. I'm also not sure that will keep them from winning. If OU doesn't shoot well, the Sooners will get beat. OU is weakest at guard. I know nothing about Purdue, other than they're good. My guess is Purdue knows they have no one really suited to play Griffin so they will concentrate on shutting everyone else down. Purdue has one of the best if not groups of perimeter players in the country so I think they can shut down OU's guards and wing players. Griffin will dominate but most everyone else should struggle. Purdue will take OU getting points inside while they get points outside. Also I would say Johnson is the better player for Griffin. Yes Calasan is the stronger one but he isn't strong enough for Griffin. Griffin can over power both pretty easily therefore I think Johnson just because of his height, athleticism and shot blocking ability is the better go. He could at least affect shots and maybe block a few. Calasan wouldn't be able to do much of anything.

It really doesn't bother you? Not only was Snyder fielding awful teams by the end of his tenure, but he's about 70 years old and hasn't coached in 4 years. Furthermore, how is he going to recruit any talent there knowing that he's just a placeholder coach? With all the JUCO's they have leaving after next year they might have a 30 man roster in 2010. Well, last time I checked, Joe Pa is 81, and I don't see any signs of him slowing down. Sure he had a few bad teams thrown in the mix, but Penn State is doing well. Age is just a number, and as long you're doing the job, I could care less if you're 105 years old. Also, I'd be careful if I were a KU or a MU fan, considering that Snyder's team has completely owned those two schools during his first time around. Really, it's going to depend on who Bill is going to get his assistants. One way or another, it has to be an improvement over Ron Prince's coaching staff, as they were all just awful. Did you not see his 80 second 40-yard dash to the bathroom two years ago?

That's a total load of bullhowry. Those computers should be removed from the rankings effective immediately; they have zero credibility. And so do the other two polls used. The coaches poll is a complete joke.

By first place I meant points. No really I meant points not overall standings. You don't believe me? Well well ... yeah ok I miscalculated and I'm still in second.

Brey always leaves the starters in longer than I would. I'm not sure if it's extra caution or what, but I guess it's better than taking them out too quickly. Tomorrow's game with Texas will be huge and a great measuring stick for the Irish. Should be a good game. I am curious to how the Texas D will do against a real good big man. They can get better on offense, but the Texas defense will help them win a lot of games this season. I will be too busy being on the sidelines as Ball State finishes its undefeated season to care about Notre Dame losing in basketball.

Looks like a Fontenot and Theriot platoon. Could work out very well.

Got 61 points from everyone on my team excluding Brees and Moore. Got I believe 78 points from Moore and Brees to claim victory. Oh and I should be taking over first place. Lick'em!

My dad says it that way. As he would say, "I don't speak English I speak Hoosier."

Should be a good game. We should've won last year (blew a 17-point lead, which turned out to be one of 11 losses by seven points or less that year), and are 2-1 so far this year, but both were home wins over bad teams. If we win, it'll be because Jarrod Jones has another good game. He's been a nice surprise to start the year. UWM has a gaggle of newcomers who are fun to watch, and look like a solid team this year. Funny you could say the exact same thing about Ball State. UWM going down.

those are actually correct they can be done either way but newspapers, or at least the one I work for wants the apostrophe

you know there's a difference in writing for a message board and for a newspaper. I don't care about making everything perfect on a message board and anyone who does needs to get a life. I don't even see what you are talking about

stupid Michigan and its only being able to beat one top 5 team