Rex Hudler

Look out for UAB in the tournament. They will give whoever they play a major headache.

Ok, so I missed part of this game early in the second half. Enberg has said twice that SIU took over when O'Bryant was sitting on the bench with 3 fouls. My question is, why in the hell would a team's dominant player be sitting on the bench in the second half with three fouls? Why would you allow a team to go on an extended run with the player who has scored half your team's points sit on the bench with three, NOT FOUR, fouls in the second half???

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Mar 5, 2006 -> 08:06 PM) To call JJ Redick overrated is just idiotic. The guy is the No. 1 leading scorer in ACC history. How could he be overrated? Hate Duke all you want (and I do) but I can at least admit that Redick is a super talent who deserves a lot of credit for the s*** he puts up with on a daily basis from opposing fans. Like him or not, the guy is a flat out stud on the court. And based on recent interviews I've seen on him, particularly one with TK and Wilbon on PTI, he seems pretty classy and level headed as well. I agree completely. All great shooters/scorers go through slumps and have off nights. They also sometimes put too much on themselves and that can cause them to miss shots. Redick has become a pretty complete player, much better than I thought he would be. Bad shooting night or not, I enjoy watching him play.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Mar 5, 2006 -> 05:02 PM) Damn...I have to see Kentucky-Florida on CBS. I really wanted to get the Nova-Cuse game. At least you got to see Kentucky lose. That always makes for a brighter day.

UAB beat Memphis Thursday night, so add 1 Top 50 win. I really think UAB is deserving of a bid, although their conference will hurt them. UAB is very difficult to play and makes things exciting. They could knock off any team on any given day. Barring an early fall in teh CUSA Tournament, I say they are in.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 4, 2006 -> 06:11 AM) They're the biggest, most athletic and most talented team in the mvc, no doubt. I will say though, that if our offense is aggressive like it was today, we're going to be fine the rest of this tourny. Rex, Evansville is going to have a decent team next year. Everyone is back, Matt Webster is a solid player, and Jason Holsinger is a very nice looking freshman. I'd love to believe that, but that is what has been said for the past 2 years and it hasn't happened. I'm just not sure the current staff can get them where they need to be.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Mar 4, 2006 -> 11:45 PM) UM and MSU are both 8-8. So the first tiebreaker is head-to-head and they split. The second tiebreaker is record vs. the #1 Seed (OSU). Michigan State is 1-1 vs. OSU, Michigan is 0-2. Therefore MSU is the 6 and UM is the 7. Works for me

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Mar 4, 2006 -> 10:45 PM) UM is 7, MSU is 6 They showed the bracket on TV today when IU was ahead and said that if the game remained the same, IU would be 5, Mich 6 and MSU 7. Mich was slated to play Purdue the 11 seed, I believe. Maybe they were wrong.

I'm just giving you s***. I know you don't like them, which makes taking little shots at you fun.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 4, 2006 -> 05:25 AM) I cheered for them right up until I found McDermott to be a prick in December of 04. What does that have to do with their fans?

He did a little Fuel this week. He was even better than last week.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 4, 2006 -> 04:40 AM) I hate you UNI. Too bad you had to win. Jealous, huh?

SIU pulls away from Evansville late in the first half and cruised to a 71-55 win. I guess the only solace for an Evansville fan is that they got beat by an Evansville native.

Interesting....

Evansville is so bad and I want a new coach there so bad, I am not sure I can actually root for them tomorrow night.

Jimbo, I see you lurking... Are you allowed back yet? LOL

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Mar 3, 2006 -> 04:52 AM) HUGE win for them. That might just get them in. How bout that Squeaky Johnson? Totally took over the game. He made about 3 or 4 amazing defensive plays in the last 5 or 6 minutes. Squeaky can flat out play. He does so many things. I wish IU had half the PG he is. Calipari was quoted earlier this year saying something to the effect of "It's not often that the best player on the floor for a team averages 3 points a game". That was a bit of an exaggeration, but it illustrates the point of how good he is. That was a great game tonight. UAB is a team no one wants to play in the tournament. Their style is a b**** to play against.

I'm hoping Kinnik and Brenna are gone amongst the girls. My guess is Kevin and Bucky for the guys, but I would not be surprised if David is gone this week. I thought Kevin's "I heard it through the grapevine" was about as ordinary as it gets.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Feb 28, 2006 -> 05:29 AM) If Krush gives me my 20 bucks back then I'm down. Seriously, if I had any money I'd be down for that but poor college kid and so on. I'm up for a sig bet if you'd like? No sig bet thanks.... Just hold off on a few beers this week and you should have the $20 in time!

I'm not sure why, but Montgomery just really doesn't excite me. Maybe I need to find out more about him. I guess I liken him to Ty Willingham, both successful coaches at Stanford. I'll try to keep an open mind, so somebody convince me.

Here's $20 that says Gonzaga will be in the Sweet 16. Any takers???

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Feb 28, 2006 -> 05:16 AM) Well their conference is terrible. Also, they played 5 teams when they were ranked and lost to 3 of them. And yeah, how many of these teams will make the tourney? Gonzaga can't defend anyone, they are so overrated it's ridiculous. You said they didn't play anybody. I just corrected you on that. The rest is unrelated.

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Feb 28, 2006 -> 04:06 AM) They also don't play anyone... Maryland Michigan State UConn Washington Oklahoma State Virginia Memphis St. Joseph's Stanford I'd call that someone. In fact, I'd call it pretty damned impressive. They can't control their conference schedule, but they CAN control their out of conference schedule and it looks to me as if they have done that about as good as anyone.

Two things.... 1. Krush, there was a good article in the Indy Star a day or two ago that talked about Greenspan and how he has handled past coaching hires. To a man, everyone that has ever dealt with him said he pretty much handles things himself and reveals no information at all. It is realistic to think Greenspan could talk either directly to several coaches or to those in contact with those coaches and their names never hit the papers other than the standard rumors you hear flying now. So I will be patient and see how all of this plays out. I am not convinced Alford is a slam dunk either. 2. Aboz, while I agree with you for the most part on the current IU situation, I'm not with you completely on Alford. I do think Alford would fit at IU. I do think he could recruit the state. Part of what has been missing with IU is the program having a feeling of family, a feeling of togetherness across the state. If Alford could rebuild that, rally the HS coaches (which his father would certainly help with as he is very respected in the state), then such recruits as those you mentioned would look at the Hoosiers in a much different light. Lately, a recruit looking at the Hoosiers would see an outsider coaching them that always seemed to be on the ropes with his job. If Davis didn't make a personal connection, then the allure of going to IU in recent years just hasn't been there for "local" kids. All that said, I am not convinced Alford is the best guy for the job, but I do think there is a legitimacy to bringing in "one of your own". Many schools and programs, both in football and basketball have had great success staying within the family. Someone with familiarity of the program could have an advantage over someone that does not. Of course, that is not the only criteria, but could be a helpful one.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 27, 2006 -> 04:29 AM) I was telling Boz earlier that I'm really liking Crean too. Matta's my favorite, but tOSU sanctions are the only way that will happen. And I will never accept Alford as a choice at this point in time. We can do much better than that. Although I would be skeptical, I would give Alford a chance. I'm old enough to have loved him as a player, both for his talents and his ability to maximize those abilites with effort. I can still remember the 87 National Championship very vividly as well as the 1993 team that should have been there had Alan Henderson not gotten hurt. If Alford could recruit the state, get the fans, alumni and formal players all back together, then he could win at IU.