Rowand44

Buehrle should be the opening day starter.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Jan 29, 2007 -> 02:17 PM) LOL, I suspected that as well, but I thought I would let it lie. IlliniKrush, I take offense to the fact that you think Rowand44 is the biggest SIU fan on this site, I have been cheering on the Salukis since I was a freshman at SIU in 96, and I had to introduce R44 to salukitalk to expand his knowledge on Saluki folklore. We are interchangeable 1 and 1A. . If anything, he has the step up on me because he is actually on Campus and I am outta there. And I agree, tSIU is pretty lame. LOL. Well Krush and I are good friends so he knows just how attached I've become to this team. You definitely have been a fan for longer but right now nobody is more of a fan than I am(you and several others are as big of fans), I can guarantee you that. I like 1 and 1a, and I'll make Brian(not you krush) 12.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Jan 29, 2007 -> 02:12 PM) for once i got your back krush, this guy is way over his head. SIU is good, they have no history, and have not done that much. IF you want to hang your hat on Virginia Tech or Arkansas, go right ahead. I Just stop Jimbo, I'm trying to let it go. Don't get me going again. I can argue about this crap all day and I really don't want to here. Just stop.

QUOTE(MarlinFan84 @ Jan 29, 2007 -> 01:43 PM) Cornelius tore his ACL, and while it can be fixed, you are never the same afterwards. Not only, even with complete rebuilding of the ligament, re-injury at some point likely, but it is a gateway to other more serious knee problems. IMO, CC will be a decent bench player and nothing more because of this injury. Not only that, people are talking about him like hes Michael Jordan...the kid hasnt played a game yet, shown nothing, and has a serious injury. I dont get why everyone is putting all their eggs into Cornelius's basket. I hope I am wrong about him, but I highly doubt thats the case. As far as tSIU/Buter in the BB goes...I am not so sure it is as done a deal as everyone thinks. Butler not only has had 2 MVC teams in their OOC this year(Indiana State and Evansville, whom they split with), but also 3 teams next year(Indiana State, Bradley, Evansville). I think the matchup is probably still likely, but you never know...its kind of a catch 22, to have 4 very strong teams on the OOC, but they come from the same conference. Cornelius is very ahead of schedule and might actually be cleared to practice sometime in February, so we'll see what happens. I don't think anyone is "putting all their eggs into Cornelius's basket," but if he can heal from his injury he's going to be a player, just watch. You're right though, we'll see if he can get back from that injury, not easy. As far as Butler goes, ESPN isn't going to care about their scheduling issues, they want the best and most marketable matchup and right now that's definitely SIU-Butler. Now, I still wouldn't be overly shocked if we somehow get Nevada but Butler is definitely the most likely scenario imo. EDIT: Haha, you're Patoka from the other ST aren't you? If so, I've had this BB argument with your for about 2 months now, so we can continue it over there if you wish but I'll drop it here, as I'm sure most here are tired of the SIU/Valley talk.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Jan 29, 2007 -> 12:53 PM) I meant stolen bases, sorry my bad 28 of 33 in Charlotte last season.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Jan 29, 2007 -> 12:39 PM) Can someone explian this whole midconference tourney? It's not a tournament. Basically, a lot of the non bcs conferences enter their teams in a pool type of thing where ESPN eventually makes the best game/matchups they can. As I said earlier in the thread, the thing has become completely watered down but the top matchups should all still be good ones. There are a lot of good teams in it this year with Butler, Nevada, Winthrop, the Valley teams, the top colonial teams, etc. The BB has been a pretty big topic among Valley fans because on one hand for the conferences National outlook, it's not really great to be in this thing but on the other hand, it gives the top teams a real good game and with the scheduling issues that most Valley teams face it's a good way to get a home game against a quality opponent. The top 13 games(I could be wrong about that number)are on the ESPN networks so it's good exposure as well.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Jan 29, 2007 -> 12:48 PM) Does Fields have any speed? Ya, he can run. Fields playing everyday at this point would be a huge mistake.

And as I say the BB games will be announced at 5, the leaks start coming through. Bradley at VCU is going to be one of the top games. That should be a real fun game.

QUOTE(MarlinFan84 @ Jan 29, 2007 -> 11:14 AM) The Big 10 got demolished in last years tournament, and they didnt lose respect. Id love the Dawgs to play at Duke and end their OOC home win streak...even the gurantee would be quite large(probably $90-100K...UNC was going to give us $80K for a gurantee in Chapel Hill and we turned it down). Losing Tatum and TY is going to hurt next year, but we get Fay(who, IMO, would of been 4 star talent on scout and rivals if he didnt play at the class A level), and a pure scorer in Brandon Wood. Evans will redshirt most likely, but according to anonymous coaches we stole him. I am not predicting success next year, as our current OOC as it stands is going to be tough and the Valley is getting stronger every year, but I nevertheless hope for the best. I'd predict Wood to redshirt as well but we'll see. Don't forget about Cornelius, he'll make an even bigger impact than Fay next season imo. QUOTE(Jimbo @ Jan 29, 2007 -> 11:31 AM) agreed, i dont believe Southern would do very well playing big conferences every game for 2 months, especially on the road. Sorry im not a believer, never have been. Big conference have better talent, and much tougher venues. Hell ISU sucks(sorry heads, but hilton is really tough to win at. Well 15 and 12 against the bcs conferences this season and mostly on the road or at neutral sites says otherwise. Whatever, I'm going to try and let this go again, nobody is switching anyones opinion for now, the Valley is just going to have to win again in the NCAA's. Kyyle, the BB games are announced at 5 today and there is actually a selection show on espnu which should be interesting. I'm like one of 3 people in America to get that channel so I'll be watching.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Jan 29, 2007 -> 10:16 AM) 7 seed means a victory over a 3 seeded Kansas team in the 2nd round not too hard. That'd be the third round but fair enough.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Jan 29, 2007 -> 09:45 AM) The valley needs a final four team, without that its just a nice story every year. Not exactly the easiest thing to when the best seed you get is a 7. It'll happen eventually but it's going to be harder for the Valley because of the seeding issues.

QUOTE(MarlinFan84 @ Jan 29, 2007 -> 09:37 AM) Except no one says that. Hell, this year, IU's win over SIU is their signature victory on their resume. No one says it but are Valley games shown at the beginning of sportscenter? If we're lucky we get the last 30 seconds of college gameday. Look, me, you and others believe that the Valley teams can play with anyone and we've proven that we can, problem is from a national point of view, we're still a "mid major." That's why the conference needs to keep winning and winning and maybe eventually we'll shred that label and get some major programs to start playing our teams in 1-1's. Right now, this league has the hardest time in the world scheduling opponents because major conference teams will just not play us at home for a variety of reasons.

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 10:42 PM) Chuck Garfind from CSN just interviewed Buerhle from Soxfest and they talked and Buerhle said right now he wants to come back to the Sox, and he thinks theres a 100% chance he'll be back. However he said a deal would have to be done before the season or after the season if a deal were to get done. Says his heart and soul is for the White Sox and doesn't want to go anywhere else. Buerhle pretty much is saying all the right things as usual... hopefully KW can get something done soon. Buerhle means a lot to this organization and fan base.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 09:18 PM) Stanford over UCLA That was one of the stranger games I've seen in a while.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 06:36 PM) The point is, mid-major schools need to get rid of the little guy paranoia that thinks the term is always negative. Alright, I guess I'll continue this. It's not about paranoia, it's the fact that none of the top "mid majors" can get anyone to play them on their home court. Why would a major conference team want to play a "mid major" on their homecourt? That's why like greasy said it's looked at as non beneficial for a team like IU to play in Carbondale. Numbers wise, rpi wise, quality win wise there is great benefit to playing that game but nationally is it going to be perceived as a great W if IU came in here and won? Probably not. That's why so many SIU fans have a problem with that label, it has nothing to do with paranoia, it has everything to do with scheduling games and getting national notoriety. QUOTE(He_Gawn @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 06:43 PM) I'm not sure why they would. I don't think that team would be nearly the same without Tatum. JT is great but he is no where near the whole team. We're still returning 3 starters including the most dominant big man in the league, we have 2 real good talents coming in/back from injury, and we return everyone who matters from the bench. 8 of our top 10 are still coming back. We'll also be a bigger team then we've been in a while which should help against teams like IU. The team will be fine next season.

Anywho, I'm going to drop the argument, no need to continue it. The point is, Rex...I'm blaming you if IU doesn't come here next season.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 05:58 PM) SIU is a mid-major, plain and simple. If you don't like the tem, that's your problem. But SIU doesn't have the budget nor the advantages the schools in the big conferences have. So whether they are a a top 20 team, a top 5 team or in 10th place in the Valley, they will be a mid-major. The term does not have anything to do with the quality of the team. Lastly, there is no way IU backs out of that game. There is no reason for them to. Says who Rex? There is no true definition of "mid major" as it's basically a made up term. Problem is that most people use the term by quality of the team. Best example being Gonzaga, as most people say that they shred their "mid major" label. If you're using the term by athletic budget, then fine but most people do use it by if you're capable of playing with top teams. Lastly, I hope you are right, but to say there is no shot of IU buying out that game is completely untrue.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 05:45 PM) Enough of this ludicrous talk about IU being afraid to go into SIU. They went into Kentucky this year, not to mention Duke and UConn. IU always plays a tough schedule, so to think they would weasel out of a game with a mid-major is a joke. The only game I know that IU ever backed out of was a scheduled game at Texas Tech right after Bobby Knight was named their Head Coach. That was more of a mutual agreement between the two schools, than IU backing out. Rex, don't be surprised if they "weasel" there way out of that game. First off, like Zach said, the contract wasn't made when Sampson was there, 2nd, the contract was only made because of football considerations and third, no major conference schools ever, ever, ever come to Carbondale. I hope I'm wrong but I'm expecting IU to buy it out. Thanks for the mid major label too, I guess when you're one of 15 teams to make the NCAA tournament the last 5 years, you're a mid major.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 05:14 PM) Hello again. Tiger wins his third straight, fifth overall Buick Invitational; it's also his seventh consecutive PGA Tour victory. Insane.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 04:34 PM) This isn't football, plus the team wants to watch cable TV at night. Ha, that's an acceptable excuse. Brian is talking about your championship team in 02 though that came into Carbondale and got beat.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 10:39 AM) Why would IU buy out of it? Cause no one ever wants to play in Carbondale.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 09:19 AM) The Salukis OOC home games next year are gonna be really tough if they draw Butler, but I really like that. If they get Butler in the bracketbuster, they already have Butler and Indiana coming to the Arena, Murray State is always in the mix, and possibly St Marys again. I hope Carlton Fay is as good as Salukitalk.net thinks he is. Hopefully IU doesn't buy out of that game. As for Fay, from everything I've read he is the real deal, I haven't seen him play though.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Jan 28, 2007 -> 09:07 AM) Is it already a given that the Salukis are getting an away game? Ya. They set the home/away teams before the season starts.

So the bracketbuster games are announced tomorrow, here's a list of the bajillion teams in this thing: http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/columns/060822.htm. Overall, this event is completely watered down but the top games will still be really good. The consensus is that we're going to get Butler which makes the most sense and is something I've been hoping for, so hopefully that's how it turns out. If we do indeed get them, I'll be making the trip to Indy which should be a lot of fun. Anybody have any matchups they'd like to see? A matchup I'd personally love to see is VCU-Winthrop.

It's going to be like having my heart ripped out when I see Mark in another uniform.