dalgreen

That was a bad loss for the Cats, but they have also stuck with UW and OSU at home for most of those games, so it's not like they are always that bad. They've also let bad Western Michigan, Miami, and Loyola MD teams stick with them on their home court, not to mention a 1 point win over 0-20 vs. D1 N. Florida and a 2 point win over D3 Wheaton College. They have 3 losses to sub-150 RPI teams, 2 of them at home the other a blowout against Penn St. They have one win against a top 100 team, that being Depaul(69) the 2nd game of the year. You didn't like the rest of my post? I didn't like the rest of your post because it didn't apply to what I was talking about. Illinois against Purdue was one of their worst performances of the year, and definitely their worst of Big 10 play. Yes, if Illinois plays their worst game of the year, they could easily lose to NU, but you predicted UI to lose to NU, you never said anything about they better not play like crap again, or if NU gets hot, it was a flat out prediction, and it's kind of absurd. if I said IU is going to lose to Iowa on Saturday because you know how tough road games are in the Big 10, additionally Indiana looked terrible against U of I, you'd call me out for complete BS, and you'd be completely right. And that's with an Iowa team that hasn't looked nearly as incompetent as NU lately. It wouldn't surprise me in the least bit if Illinois loses to NU. I still think the only reason we won at Minnesota is because Minnesota is a pathetic basketball team. Had Minnesota only been a "really bad" team instead of pathetic, I think they would've beaten Illinois. Anyway, I fully expect Illinois to lose at least one of the two ---at NU or at PSU.

I think this is ESPN's rankings. And any high school team with three losses probably won't be nationally ranked. Understandable. But that doesn't mean a team with 0 losses is necessarilly good. Its high school, how could you possibly rank them? I agree. Ranking high school football and basketball is stupid. I guess it helps the hype.

I think this is ESPN's rankings. And any high school team with three losses probably won't be nationally ranked.

I think it's a joke that it's being said around the league that Williams might be an All-Star. I know you agree, but what more does he have to do?

I hope this is as good as his career gets. Good luck with that. Kelvin Torbert Bracey Wright, it has happened before. That said I don't think it will here. Or Frank Williams? Frank might have been the third best player in Illinois that year behind Corey Maggette and Quentin Richardson, but other than that you are spot on. :roll: It was a joke... Most of my UI Fan buddies love to talk about how great Frank Williams is/was. Then in the next breath they rag on Bracey. Last I checked Bracey was in the NBA and Frankie was in the NBDL. Since you mentioned Bracey, that made me think of that. And I'm not really that big of Bracey Wright fan. I think they rag on Bracey because he was more heralded than Deron Williams coming out of high school. It's a rivalry thing. You better believe you'll hear the same thing if an Illini signee has a better career than Gordon.

I've only seen Rose once and now Gordon once; however, I've been more impressed with Gordon than Rose.

I hope this is as good as his career gets. Good luck with that. Kelvin Torbert Bracey Wright, it has happened before. That said I don't think it will here. Or Frank Williams? :shock: Frank Williams had a very solid career at Illinois. I truly believe he was held down by Self's hi-lo offense. Had Williams played for a guard-oriented coach like Weber, Williams would've had an even more stellar collegiate career.

I admit I do hate it because I am a cable subscriber and have had EI for the past three seasons and I am happy with cable. But I also hate it because MLB keeps talking about trying to bring more fans back so that it can not only remain America's pastime but also America's passion. Yet they do what I consider a stupid move like making fans have to jump through hoops just to see their favorite out-of-market team(s). It appears MLB is just looking out for MLB.

Illinois's remaining schedule vs. Minnesota at Northwestern at Indiana vs. Northwestern vs. Michigan at Penn St. at Iowa I'm not saying it's impossible for Illinois to lose 3 of those games(I assume you meant finish 9-7 when saying win 6 of their next 8), but it doesn't look very likely to me. Bruce Weber stated they need to win 6 of their last eight (including tonight's game) to get an invite to the dance. I think they need to go 6-1 in their last seven. Even if they finish 9-7 in the conference, they will likely lose their first round Big Ten conference tourney game and I think they wouldn't get invited if that happens. I'm an IU fan, I don't like U of I, if you want to disregard my opinion because of that, feel free to do so. Unless U of I starts putting it together I think they lose at NU, and IU, and at Iowa. Unless you are UW or OSU road wins are still really tough in this conference. I don't disregard a fan's opinion just because they root for another team than my favorite team. Based on what you wrote, you were agreeing with my feelings toward Illinois right now. Although I wouldn't rule out a loss at PSU as well. This will be the first time in many, many, many years that I won't be sad to see the seniors leaving on senior night. I really don't like this team much.

Illinois's remaining schedule vs. Minnesota at Northwestern at Indiana vs. Northwestern vs. Michigan at Penn St. at Iowa I'm not saying it's impossible for Illinois to lose 3 of those games(I assume you meant finish 9-7 when saying win 6 of their next 8), but it doesn't look very likely to me. Bruce Weber stated they need to win 6 of their last eight (including tonight's game) to get an invite to the dance. I think they need to go 6-1 in their last seven. Even if they finish 9-7 in the conference, they will likely lose their first round Big Ten conference tourney game and I think they wouldn't get invited if that happens.

This was a huge win only because they haven't been able to "gut" it up and win other games. I'm still not convinced this team can win six out of the next eight or win a conference tourney game to get into the Big Dance. They still can't shoot, they turn the ball over too much and they can't hit free throws. I don't know why MSU didn't start fouling with two minutes left. It would've extended the game and given MSU more possessions since Illinois was only hitting around 50%. The free throw shooting is atrocious and I'm going to give the coaches the benefit of the doubt and assume they do practice free throw shooting a lot. I think the players are just not executing. I heard some announcer say that this was a big win and I disagree. I big win would've been beating MSU at E. Lansing, beating Michigan at Ann Arbor, beating Purdue on the road, or beating OSU and/or Wisconsin at home. Illinois has yet to "steal" a win in the Big Ten. I would call that kind of a win a big win.

Thank goodness Minnesota is a pathetic basketball team. If they were just a REALLY BAD basketball team they would've beaten Illinois tonight.

I am still of the opinion if you have to ask if someone should get in the HOF then they shouldn't be elected. But since the Hall of Fame is no longer for the "greatest of the great" baseball players of all time but instead just for the great than I think Bagwell, Biggio and Thome should get in.

I'm certainly not rallying to have Barrett sent away, but I can see where the idea comes from. There are real concerns about his performance going forward which will most likely keep us from signing him to an extension. With that in mind, trading him away if he's not going to be part of a championship team this season makes sense. The only issue I really have comes with availability. The people advocating a Barrett for Wells trade are being ridiculous. That's essentially a lateral move in any event, and that's compounded by the fact that there is a perfect option availabe for CF in JD Drew, while the market for catchers is extremely weak. For me to be willing to trade Barrett away, I better be getting a very young player that will be under club control for a few years, or an older but excellent player signed to a contract for a few more years. Otherwise, I have trouble accepting the massive downgrade from Barrett to whatever crap is available on the FA market. (Bengie Molina? Washed-up versions of Mike Piazza, Javy Lopez, and Mike Lieberthal? Puh-lease...) I have no problem trading Barrett as long as we get someone of tremendous value in return. Barrett has never been on my untouchable list, anyway. We have to remember, the Astros and Cardinals have dominated the NL Central for ten years now without having a good offensive catcher. If you can get a solid#2-#3 starting pitcher or a very productive outfielder in return, I don't know how you can be against that kind of trade.

Call me a cynic or a realist, but why is Hendry considered to have been perfect at this point? Ramirez and Wood have signed for less, but is it because Hendry talked them into it or is it because those two actually would prefer staying in comfortable surroundings or they have pride and believe they "owe" Cub fans a winner? Considering I remember reading and hearing them say in interviews that their first choice was to stay in Chicago even before Piniella was hired, I'd say it was more the latter than due to shrewd negotiating by Hendry. I'll reserve judgment until I see how he constructs the starting rotation and outfield spots.

And here I thought with Guillen's success, then with Macha and Randolph doing what they did we'd be done with this "experience" crap.

Anybody heard anything new on Richard McBride of Illinois? Has he been reinstated? I hope not. Anyway, I'm going to the KU/Washburn exhibition game tonight at Allen Fieldhouse. Looking forward to seeing the "Phog" in person. I should wear my all Illini gear to the game.

I would rather have him be asked, "After watching the World Series, have you finally figured out how important a lead-off guy getting on base consistently is?" Don't ask him that. If he believes you, then he'll think that only the leadoff man needs to get on base, and that he can continue to populate the rest of the lineup with losers like Izturis and Cedeno. Good point. I wonder, right now, in Vegas who is favored to win the 2007 World Series?

I would rather have him be asked, "After watching the World Series, have you finally figured out how important a lead-off guy getting on base consistently is?"

its not like he will anwser and i dont want it to get deleted the cards winning it all is nowhere near as bad as the sox. :shock: I, among some others, would disagree. I think it matters where you grew up or where you live. I still think Cardinal fans are some of the most arrogant fans in all of sports.

You'd have to ask one of the millions of Cardinal fans who labeled him, "not a real Cardinal" as they labeled Whitey Herzog a real Cardinal. Funny thing is LaRussa has won just as many world titles for the Cardinals as Herzog did. I'm still trying to figure out what's more depressing, the Cardinals winning or the Tigers winning the AL pennant after losing 119 games in 2003, with the Cubs coming within 5 outs of the World Series and spiraling downhill ever since?

I absolutely hate the Cardinals, and mostly their fans, but congrats to Tony LaRussa. I lived in St. Louis from 1995-2005, and he has been beaten up by fans and media there ever since his arrival in 1996. Countless, countless times you'd hear fans either at games, at work or during call-in shows, say things like, "The Cards will never win a World Series while LaRussa is manager", or "LaRussa is the worst manager in baseball" or other things. Yes, this is probably the least talented St. Louis playoff team since LaRussa took over, but he did it. Congrats to Walt Jocketty for doing what a competent GM does, hires right people and filling in holes with right players and getting lucky with trades and free-agents. I still say St.Louis fans are one of the worst fans, but congrats to LaRussa and Jocketty. I guess LaRussa is now a real "Cardinal".

I will never call LaRussa a bad manager, but he's not a great one. His decision making in past post-season games cost the Cards more trips to the World Series. I give more credit to Jeff Suppan and Yadier Molina for stepping it up. Had Suppan pitched in the post-season the way he pitched in the regular season and Molina hit in the post-season as he did in the regular season, the Cards would be home watching the Series with the rest of us.

Having lived through 1984 and then 1985, I can live with 2003 and 2004. It's 2005 and 2006 I can't live with. I'm thankful I no longer live in St. Louis.

Maybe to some, sure. But I, for one, never thought Hendry thought Izturis was the great savior at SS. People who think Hendry is an idiot and a bad GM will look at the simplest of post-trade news conference quotes and turn them into more fodder for hating Hendry. What else is the guy supposed to say at the "I just traded Greg Maddux" news conference? That the guy we got in return isn't what we hoped he would be? Yeah, welcome to Chicago, Cesar. . Actually, I prefer to look at the teams he has built and his baseball philosophy as reasons why I think he's a bad GM for my favorite baseball team. If he were the Cardinals' GM, I would think he was brilliant. The trade for Maddux didn't make me dislike him more.