It is currently Sat Nov 09, 2024 10:25 pm

All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 51 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:30 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:17 am
Posts: 14391
Location: West Burbs
What about Steve Alford then? (Sorry had to interject some Iowa in the conversation) This is actually his best coaching job since he got to Iowa. I'm actually somewhat warming to him as a coach, not as a human being.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:35 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:15 pm
Posts: 48800
Location: Bohemian Club Annual World Power Consolidation Conference & Golf Outing
pizza_Place: World Fluoridation Conspiracy Pizza & WINGS!
Thanks for that Vince.

I really despise myself for somehow becoming the standard bearer for Bruce Weber. I like the guy as a coach and all...wait, not starting again...

Iowa has done better than I thought. I'd have to look back at my Big 10 prediction but I think I had them 8 or 9.

Maybe I'll update that prior to the Big 10 tourney to show how poorly I predicted.

_________________
You know me like that.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:38 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:17 am
Posts: 14391
Location: West Burbs
I said a good season for Iowa was NIT, 17 wins and 500 in the big ten. With a win Wednesday in Happy Valley, they'd be guaranteed a over 500 mark in the Big Ten and hit 17 wins I think.

I actually never say them getting more than 6 in the Big Ten. Tyler Smith has developed into a good solid 3/4 type player and Haluska should be MVP of the league, but Tucker will get it.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:38 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2005 2:35 pm
Posts: 82060
I would always rather have top recruits over lesser players. However, hasn't the last few tournaments shown that teams comprised of good but not great players who stay 4-5 years even out the competition presented by highly touted but inexperienced younger players?

The superior recruiting classes NEVER get the opportunity to realize their full potential because of defections to the NBA.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:40 pm 
Offline
1000 CLUB
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:55 pm
Posts: 29461
pizza_Place: Zaffiro's
Quote:
One other thing too, going back to the rankings, I believe McCamey and Cole are similarly rated to Deron Williams and James Augustine for what it's worth.

I'm not saying they will be that good. But, if Weber consistently gets top 50-100 guys, he could build a solid program. Throw in the occassional top 20 guy and you have break-out years.


But as you suggest, it's not logical to assume that McCamey will be as good as Williams. If it were, then McCamey would be much more highly rated and Weber wouldn't have wasted all his time and energy trying to woo Gordon, Rose and Turner. Obviously the rankings aren't perfect, but it's telling that Weber hasn't been able to gain commitments from ANY of his "priority" recruits. So the idea of Weber getting a "top 20 guy" to have a breakout year seems like a remote possibility at this point.

But obviously things can change fast. Maybe Weber will overhaul his approach to recruiting--I've heard stories that he's already started changing things around.

_________________
Antonio Gramsci wrote:
The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:40 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:17 am
Posts: 14391
Location: West Burbs
good dolphin wrote:
I would always rather have top recruits over lesser players. However, hasn't the last few tournaments shown that teams comprised of good but not great players who stay 4-5 years even out the competition presented by highly touted but inexperienced younger players?

The superior recruiting classes NEVER get the opportunity to realize their full potential because of defections to the NBA.


In what league GD? Iowa was full of seniors and won the BigTen so I agree with that, but in the NCAAs, Florida was full of younger players and won it all....


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:43 pm 
Offline
1000 CLUB
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:55 pm
Posts: 29461
pizza_Place: Zaffiro's
Quote:
I would always rather have top recruits over lesser players. However, hasn't the last few tournaments shown that teams comprised of good but not great players who stay 4-5 years even out the competition presented by highly touted but inexperienced younger players?

The superior recruiting classes NEVER get the opportunity to realize their full potential because of defections to the NBA.


I'd say you need a mix of superstars and four-year guys. Isn't that what Carolina had two years ago and Florida had last year (and has again)?

_________________
Antonio Gramsci wrote:
The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:44 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:15 pm
Posts: 48800
Location: Bohemian Club Annual World Power Consolidation Conference & Golf Outing
pizza_Place: World Fluoridation Conspiracy Pizza & WINGS!
Quote:
Tall Midget wrote:
But obviously things can change fast. Maybe Weber will overhaul his approach to recruiting--I've heard stories that he's already started changing things around.


He has. My comments are based partly on that fact.

I guess I could have mentioned that a couple hours ago and given us all some of our lives back.

_________________
You know me like that.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:49 pm 
Offline
1000 CLUB
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:55 pm
Posts: 29461
pizza_Place: Zaffiro's
No. This was good. I needed some serious procrastination today. :lol:

_________________
Antonio Gramsci wrote:
The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:06 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2005 2:35 pm
Posts: 82060
Hawkeye Vince wrote:
good dolphin wrote:
I would always rather have top recruits over lesser players. However, hasn't the last few tournaments shown that teams comprised of good but not great players who stay 4-5 years even out the competition presented by highly touted but inexperienced younger players?

The superior recruiting classes NEVER get the opportunity to realize their full potential because of defections to the NBA.


In what league GD? Iowa was full of seniors and won the BigTen so I agree with that, but in the NCAAs, Florida was full of younger players and won it all....


I think the success of the "mid majors" is really a testament to what I was talking about. That was not just a one year wonder either. This has been a trend in the NCAA tourney for several years.

At the "major conference" level, take a team like the Illini of 05. Before the season started, it had been documented in several publications that professional scouts did not think much of their talent (it turns out they were wrong).


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:50 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:15 pm
Posts: 48800
Location: Bohemian Club Annual World Power Consolidation Conference & Golf Outing
pizza_Place: World Fluoridation Conspiracy Pizza & WINGS!
Quote:
Tall Midget wrote:
No. This was good. I needed some serious procrastination today. :lol:


I sometimes feel that some people on here think I'm a clown or a fool so I feel the need to occasionally post on a serious topic and remove all doubt.

_________________
You know me like that.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:20 pm 
Offline
1000 CLUB
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2006 12:45 am
Posts: 13529
Location: People's Republic of Urbana
pizza_Place: Papa Dells
You know Doc, it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it.
Or a reasonable facsimile thereof.

_________________
We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:56 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:15 pm
Posts: 48800
Location: Bohemian Club Annual World Power Consolidation Conference & Golf Outing
pizza_Place: World Fluoridation Conspiracy Pizza & WINGS!
:o

_________________
You know me like that.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:41 pm 
Offline
1000 CLUB
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2006 12:45 am
Posts: 13529
Location: People's Republic of Urbana
pizza_Place: Papa Dells
In all seriousness Doc, I agree with your opinion of Coach Bruce.
I am willing to give him another two years to see what it will be like when he has a roster of his guys. The last couple classes have been thin, but injuries have killed them this season, not to mention motoring issues.
Bruce is a solid coach and I think the next two classes will impress the detractors, when all is said and done.

_________________
We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:09 pm 
Offline
1000 CLUB
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2006 12:45 am
Posts: 13529
Location: People's Republic of Urbana
pizza_Place: Papa Dells
Midge, you make an excellent counter argument to the good Doc.
Bruce is not the best recruiter, but he is an excellent coach. I am willing to give him 2 more years to see what he can assemble.
Initially, I don't think he was prepared to be a coach of a big time program, not from an X and O standpoint but from a recruiting standpoint. Only time will tell is he has learned form this and made the necessary changes. He was able to recruit some good teams at SIU, so I think he can evaluate talent. Maybe, for the first two years or so, he thought the program would recruit itself, because of the Championship season but he was wrong. Hard work goes a long way.
I don't know what the answer is. I am willing to wait and see. I have heard good things about next years' class, but my local sources are biased.

_________________
We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:51 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:17 am
Posts: 14391
Location: West Burbs
So my question is:

Is Lance Painter better suited to recruiting at the Big Ten level than Bruce Weber?

Both came from SIU out of the Gene Keady tree and Painter has made strides with Purdue since Keady left it in the toilet (a la Hayden Fry)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:04 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:15 pm
Posts: 48800
Location: Bohemian Club Annual World Power Consolidation Conference & Golf Outing
pizza_Place: World Fluoridation Conspiracy Pizza & WINGS!
I think some of these Weber recruiting woes are "system" based as well. I don't think the blue-chip superstars are typically looking to be slotted in a system like Weber's.

Now maybe Weber is telling him that they'll change the system to suit their needs. Or maybe he wasn't before and now he is and that is what he changed.

But, guys that are looking to vault to the next level want to come in and show their stuff. Remember the stink Dee Brown made when Weber first tried to implement his stuff. It takes time to get that right but once they have it down it is fun to watch a la '04-'05.

I really do feel that Weber has the ability to take guys and improve their game. Look at guys like Head and Powell. And, so, I do feel if he loads up with top 50-100 guys, he might be able to make more of them than some other coaches.

But, I imagine a guy like Wainwright or Painter might just be telling these top kids come on in and we'll feed you the ball. Just speculation.

_________________
You know me like that.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 5:23 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:17 am
Posts: 14391
Location: West Burbs
They had a tremedous bout of hard luck today, actually playing a good team away from Champaign ;-)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:57 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:15 pm
Posts: 48800
Location: Bohemian Club Annual World Power Consolidation Conference & Golf Outing
pizza_Place: World Fluoridation Conspiracy Pizza & WINGS!
I thought they played Iowa. :wink: :wink:

_________________
You know me like that.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:08 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2006 4:26 pm
Posts: 1564
It seems like the local media think Illinois already is in the tournament or at the worst need to beat Penn St.

However watching ESPN, Jay Bilas and Hubert Davis both think Illinois at this point is out of the tournament.

At this point I would have to agree with the ESPN guys. Illinois most impressive win this year? Michigan St? Indiana? Bradley? They finished
9-7 in a weak Big Ten and were fortunate to play Wisconsin and Ohio St once, both losses at home. I don't see how beating a bad Penn St. team proves anything.

I think Depaul has a much more impressive resume, beating Kansas, Notre Dame and Marquette. I think DePaul is a more deserving invite than Illinois. Yet it seems that according to the local scribes DePaul still has work to do.

Even Loyola has a more impressive victory (at Butler) than any Illinois victory.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:28 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2006 3:29 pm
Posts: 34795
pizza_Place: Al's Pizza
Quote:
However watching ESPN, Jay Bilas and Hubert Davis both think Illinois at this point is out of the tournament.


If Illinois's colors were blue and white, and their coach had a rat face, they would say Illinois was in.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 51 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group